Page 6 - Africa

Mpox emergency response hit by scarce financing amid WHO calls for support

WHO has released $1.45 mn from its contingency fund for emergencies, while African Union has approved $10.4 mn from its existing Covid funds for Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

Monkeypox outbreak: Causes, symptoms, and cases outside Africa

The director-general of World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared that the spread of monkeypox or mpox in Africa is a global health emergency.

Mpox now a global health emergency; 'easily transmitting': Causes, symptoms

Monkeypox (or Mpox) is part of the same virus family as smallpox but typically causes milder symptoms, such as fever, chills, and body aches

Extreme heat endangering children in West, Central Africa, says UNICEF

Children in West and Central Africa are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, which further endangers their health, according to a new report by UNICEF. The frequency of heatwaves in the region has more than quadrupled since the 1960s, according to the report published on Wednesday. West Africa experienced an unprecedented heat wave earlier this year that led to a surge in deaths. One hospital in Mali reported 102 deaths in the first four days of April, compared to 130 deaths in the entire month of April last year. It's unknown how many of the fatalities were due to the extreme weather as such data cannot be made public under the regulations imposed by the country's military rulers. The extreme heat is creating health concerns for children and pregnant women as it is linked to higher chances of stillbirths, low birth weight and preterm births, according to the report. Exposure to high levels of heat also leaves children more vulnerable to developing chronic diseases and contracting

Mpox outbreaks in Africa declared global health emergency. What is mpox?

The World Health Organization has declared that the increasing spread of mpox in Africa is a global health emergency, warning the virus might ultimately spill across international borders. The announcement by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus came after a meeting of the UN health agency's emergency committee. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a public health emergency on the continent on Tuesday. WHO on Wednesday said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year, which already exceed last year's figures. So far, more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in a single country -- Congo. Scientists are concerned by the spread of a new version of the disease there that might be more easily transmitted among people. Here's a look at what we know about mpox, and what might be done to contain it: What is mpox? Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there were outbreaks of a

WHO declares mpox public health emergency of international concern

The mpox has been detected in 10 African nations this year, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said

Africa declares mpox a public health emergency. Here are the key details

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation is convening its own expert meeting to consider making a similar emergency declaration over mpox

Crucial to focus on cancers unique to low, middle-income nations: US expert

Low and middle-income countries are grappling with dual burden of non-communicable diseases and infection ailments, and it is crucial to "direct more attention" towards cancers prevalent or unique to such countries, a US-based cancer expert has said. Citing data, Dr Shobha Krishnan also said that as cancer cases in India are projected to rise by nearly 13 per cent by 2025 compared to 2020, the "urgency to exchange knowledge and best practices is critical". Krishnan, founder and president of US-based Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC), was in India recently to take part in the first-ever US-India cancer dialogue held in Delhi earlier this month. In June 2023, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reaffirmed the strong health partnership between the US and India by announcing new commitments to accelerate the fight against cancer, including convening a US-India cancer dialogue to advance the prevention, early detection, and treatment of ...

Giant Indian flag unfurled atop highest peak of African continent: MoD

Days ahead of the 78th Independence Day, an expedition team under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence has unfurled a 7,800 sq ft Indian national flag atop Uhuru Summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of the African continent. The defence ministry in a statement on Saturday said it aims to "inspire future generations of 'divyangjan' and other underprivileged youth to pursue their dreams, no matter how daunting they may seem". In the run-up to the 78th Independence Day, "the 'divyangjan expedition team of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, has unfurled 7,800 sq ft Indian national flag atop Uhuru Summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of the African continent," it said. The team led by Group Captain Jai Kishan, including Uday Kumar and others undertook Mission Kanchanjanga National Park to Mt Kilimanjaro (Mission K2K) to script another historic achievement, "as for the first time an amputee climber successfully completed the endeavo

US destroys Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen; F-22 jets land in West Asia

US forces successfully destroyed one Houthi uncrewed surface vessel in the Red Sea, it said in a press statement on Thursday

Mpox outbreak in many African countries: Know symptoms, treatment and more

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that causes painful skin boils as well as fever, headache, and muscle aches. It is spread by close contact between people

Nigeria becomes first African basketball team to qualify for Olympic QFs

Ezinne Kalu had a giant smile on her face as she joined her teammates for a celebratory run around the court with Nigerian flags. Nigeria had reached a place no African country in men's or women's basketball had ever gone before the quarter-finals of the Olympics. Kalu scored 21 points and Nigeria secured a spot in the elimination round in Paris by downing Canada 79-70 on Sunday for its second win of the Olympics. It means a lot, you know, not just to us as a team, but to the entire world of Africa, Kalu said. "It only gets harder from here." When the final buzzer sounded, the team went to midcourt to start celebrating, with an assistant coach using her phone to record the moment. The Nigerians stopped to high-five the Canadians and then returned to celebrating with a midcourt huddle. An assistant coach grabbed a flag from a fan for photos on the court, and the Nigerians took their time hugging and posing for more photos as they savoured the moment. Surreal. This isn't going to

Serum Institute rolls out new high efficacy malaria vaccine in Africa

A new high efficacy malaria vaccine co-developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the University of Oxford was officially rolled out on Monday when Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa became the first country to begin administering R21/Matrix-M. The vaccine, which was granted World Health Organisation (WHO) approval last year, is said to have undergone a rigorous regulatory process and clinical assessment and was found to be highly effective and affordable. As a low-dose vaccine, it can be manufactured at speed and scale which is seen as critical to stemming the spread of the mosquito-borne disease. Reducing the malaria burden is finally within sight. Today's start of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine roll-out marks a monumental milestone after years of incredible work with our partners at Oxford and Novavax, said SII CEO Adar Poonawalla. At Serum, we believe that it is every person's right to have access to affordable and essential disease prevention. That's why we have committed to ...

Terrorism, organised crime rampant in Sahel, spilling into West Africa: UN

Terrorism and organised crime by violent extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State are a pervasive threat in Africa's volatile Sahel region and are spilling over to West Africa's coastal countries, the top UN envoy for the area warned on Friday. Leonardo Simao, the UN special representative for the Sahel and West Africa, said the focus on combating terrorism has had limited effect in stopping rampant illegal trafficking in the Sahel and the effort needs more police. It's drugs, it's weapons, it's human beings, it's mineral resources, and even food, Simao said after briefing the UN Security Council. According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' new report on the Sahel and West Africa, hundreds of people have been killed in the first half of 2024 alone in terrorist attacks, many of them civilians.. The vast majority of deaths occurred in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, whose ruling military juntas in March announced a joint security force to fight terrorism, though t

South Sudan peace talks face collapse as it gears up for first election

South Sudan peace talks that almost reached completion faced a stumbling block with opposition groups demanding a newly passed bill allowing the detention of people without an arrest warrant scratched out in order to sign a proposed agreement. Kenya has been hosting the high-level meetings since May between government representatives and rebel opposition groups who were not part of a 2018 agreement that ended a five-year civil war, leaving about 400,000 people dead and millions displaced. Despite the agreement, violence often erupted in the country of 9 million. Pagan Amum Okiech, negotiating on behalf of the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance, told the Associated Press Tuesday night that it would be meaningless to sign any agreement if the draconian National Security Act is signed into law by the president." Last week, parliament voted in favour of the 2015 bill and President Salva Kiir will have to approve it within 30 days for it to become a law. This comes ahead of the ...

Highly contagious African Swine Fever reported in Kerala's Thrissur

An outbreak of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious and deadly swine disease that can affect both farm-raised and feral (wild) pigs, has been reported from a farm in a village in Kerala's Thrissur district, officials said on Friday. Due to the outbreak of swine fever, which can be readily transmitted from one pig to another through direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected pig, the Thrissur district collector has ordered the culling of 310 pigs at a private farm in Thrissur district's Madakkathara panchayat, they said. "The disease was confirmed in the pigs owned by Kuttalapuzha Babu of Veliyanthara in the 14th ward. The district Collector has directed the district animal husbandry officer to cull the pigs and bury them," according to an official release here. A team consisting of doctors, livestock inspectors and attendants will conduct the culling process, and further primary disinfection measures will also be taken, it said. The area within a one-kilometre radius of

India sees Africa as natural partner; will be at top of our priorities: EAM

Describing India-Africa ties as "deep-rooted", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said Africa will be at the "top of our priorities", and New Delhi looks forward to a mutually beneficial and respectful relationship in the true spirit of being a 'Vishwa Bandhu'. In his address at an event held here to celebrate Africa Day, he also said India has expanded its diplomatic footprint in Africa with the total number of Indian missions in that continent now standing at 45. The Union minister shared some data and information related to India-Africa ties in multiple sectors, from education to infrastructure, and said for all these reasons and more, "India and Africa must engage and must work together very closely". He recalled the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 when he said -- 'India's priority is not just Africa; India's priority is Africans -- every man, woman and child in Africa. Our partnership with Africa is beyond strategic concerns and economic benefits. I

BII vows $75 mn to Symbiotics' 2nd green basket bond for emerging markets

British International Investment, the UK's development finance institution, on Tuesday said it has committed USD 75 million (about Rs 625 crore) to the second green basket bond arranged by emerging markets access platform and financial lender Symbiotics Investments. The green lending programme will increase financing to small-scale green projects across Africa, South and South-East Asia through MSME lenders, with 50 per cent of the financing earmarked for India, British International Investment (BII) said in a statement. It will focus on supporting new MSME lenders not included in the first green basket bond. The first green basket bond supported 11 MSME lenders in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tunisia, Botswana, Kenya, Bangladesh and Nepal, it added. "Partnering with Symbiotics on a second green basket bond signifies a continued commitment to empowering smaller financial institutions and supporting sustainable development in climate-vulnerable regions," BII Managing Director and Head o

Macron, African leaders push for vaccines after Covid exposed inequalities

French President Emmanuel Macron is joining several African leaders on Thursday to kick off a planned $1 billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa, after the coronavirus pandemic exposed gaping inequalities in access to them. The launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, which will provide financial incentives to vaccine manufacturers, offered a momentary break for Macron from domestic political concerns as legislative elections loom on June 30 and July 7. Many African leaders and advocacy groups say Africa was unfairly locked out of access to COVID-19 treatment tools, vaccines and testing equipment that many richer countries bought up in huge quantities after the pandemic swept the world starting in 2020. WHO, advocacy groups and others want to help Africa get better prepared for the next pandemic, which many health experts say is inevitable. When the coronavirus pandemic began, South Africa was the only country in Africa with any ability to .

Modi wraps up Italy visit, meets world leaders at G7 summit: Key takeaways

India was among 12 countries and five international organisations invited to the G7 summit by Italy