Health – Page 21 – Science Africa

09 Dec, 21

Omicron Variant, a Cause to Worry as Young People Most Affected

By James Ochieng “The new variant Omicron has proven to spread faster than the other COVID-19 variants and is affecting individuals more so the youth and the young population who are not in the vaccination bracket,” said Prof. Walter Jaoko an expert in Medical Microbiology and Tropical Medicine during an African Science Media Center (AfriSMC) […]

09 Dec, 21

Omicron Variant: Countries Urged to Enhance Surveillance among Other Measures

By Saumu Juma The detection of the Omicron variant in South Africa has resulted in tension globally as its intensity compared to the Delta variant which was termed deadly remains unknown. In order to contain the spread of the variant, scientists are doing research and giving recommendations. According to Prof. Walter Jaoko, an expert in […]

COVID-19 Linked to Rise in Malaria Cases, Deaths

By Naomi Kitur New data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted malaria services, leading to a marked increase in cases and deaths. According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. This represents about 14 million more cases […]

04 Dec, 21

Botswana Making Strides in Elimination of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

By Sharon Atieno Globally, 15 countries have been certified for eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. None of them had an epidemic as large as Botswana. The country has the world’s fourth highest HIV prevalence (20.3%) but has made significant strides in fighting the virus. So much so, that the World Health Organization (WHO) awarded Botswana the […]

COVID-19: Africa Intensifies Omicron Variant Detection, Prevention as Cases Rise

By Mary Hearty African countries are stepping up measures to detect and control the spread of the Omicron variant as weekly new COVID-19 cases in the continent rise by 54% due to an upsurge in southern Africa. The Omicron variant has now been detected in four countries, with Ghana and Nigeria becoming the first West […]

03 Dec, 21

Kenya: Bungoma Increases Hospital Births through Payment of Traditional Birth Attendants

By Peter Oliver Ochieng In a bid to encourage women in Bungoma County to give birth in hospitals, birth companions, previously known as (Traditional Birth Attendants – TBAs), will be paid for every pregnant woman they ensure delivers in a health facility as opposed to delivering in homes, which contributes to high mortality rates due […]

15.2 Million More Vaccines for Africa

By Mary Hearty The Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation have announced the delivery of 15.2 million vaccines purchased under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative to help scale up COVID-19 vaccination efforts across Africa. Through Saving Lives and Livelihoods, the Mastercard Foundation is committed to purchase vaccines for […]

AstraZeneca: Scientists find Cause of Blood Clotting after Vaccination

By Saumu Juma A team of scientists have found that the cause of blood clotting in some people after being vaccinated by Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is due to a protein in the blood which is attracted by a key component in the vaccine. According to the experts from Cardiff and Arizona State Universities in United States, […]

02 Dec, 21

Omicron Discovery Exposes Double Standards in Responses to the Pandemic

By Daniel Otunge Dutch health authorities have revealed that they had found the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 eleven days earlier before South African authorities announced its discovery. The question is, why didn’t the Dutch tell the world about it earlier? With this revelation, it is safe to say that Omicron was already spreading in […]

Donors Urged to Transform Approach to Funding Sexual, Reproductive Justice

By Naomi Kitur There is need for a radical transformation of the way donor nations and philanthropies fund sexual and reproductive health justice and activism, experts and activists say. At a virtual press briefing convened by Aspen Institute New Voices Fellowship, experts and activists, both of whom are fellows at the instsitute, said that they […]