HEALTH - The African Mirror

Jan

01

2021

Tech’s long COVID-19: What privacy battles will define 2021?

COVID-19

UMBERTO BACCHI THE coronavirus pandemic added a new layer to the ever-developing debate around privacy and technology in 2020, as governments and companies turned to tools like contract tracing apps and employee monitoring software. As the year comes to an end, the Thomson Reuters Foundation asked privacy experts around the world what issues will shape the conversation in 2021: MASS SURVEILLANCE - Ella Jakubowska, policy officer, European Digital Rights, Brussels "In 2021, one big challenge for civil society will be protecting fundamental rights in Europe from the threat of mass surveillance. On the one hand, the European Commission is poised…

Jul

15

2022

By The African Mirror

A journalist breaks the silence on fibroids

HEALTH

ATIENO ODERA, BIRD STORY AGENCY LYING on the hospital bed surrounded by family members and medics, Fatma Mohammed, 36, was trying to recall what had happened to her and how she had ended up there – and most importantly, what had triggered the sudden turn in her once-vibrant health. This was not the first time she had suffered from a sudden dizzy spell and lost consciousness, however. The difference was that this was the first in a public space. It was highly traumatising. She wanted answers. Though doctors had previously diagnosed her as suffering from uterine fibroids, they had yet…

Jul

13

2022

By The African Mirror

SA confirms 3rd monkeypox case in tourist from Switzerland

HEALTH

SOUTH Africa has confirmed a third case of monkeypox, in a 42-year-old male tourist from Switzerland, the health department of the Limpopo province said. The tourist, who is holidaying in South Africa, presented with symptoms including a rash, muscle ache and fatigue. His infection was confirmed as monkeypox by South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases. "Three contacts have already been identified and none of them have developed signs thus far," Limpopo health official Phophi Ramathuba said in a statement. Earlier South Africa reported two monkeypox cases not linked to travel. Monkeypox is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms…

Jul

16

2022

By The African Mirror

Africa is a treasure trove of medicinal plants: here are seven that are popular

HEALTH

ADEYEMI OLADAPO AREMU and NOX MAKUNGA PLANTS have directly contributed to the development of important drugs. The antimalarial treatment artemisinin, pain medication morphine, and cancer chemotherapy taxol are just three examples of drugs derived from plants. Africa is endowed with up to 45,000 plant species – about 25% of the world’s plant genetic resources. More than 5,000 plant species from this enormous African resource are used in traditional medicines. Medicinal plant specialists Associate Professor Adeyemi Aremu and Professor Nox Makunga highlight some of these plants. Artemisia afra. Dr Marietjie Stander Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd. (African wormwood) Artemisia afra is…

Mar

06

2022

By The African Mirror

Young Africans, sexual health and social media: which messages work, which don’t

HEALTH

THE increasing use of social media, particularly in African countries, offers several opportunities to promote messages about sexual health behaviours among young adults on the continent. Author EMMANUEL OLAMIJUWON, Research fellow, University of St Andrews It can complement existing sexual health promotion strategies, particularly when physical distancing measures limits opportunities to meet and interact in person. In addition, the fact that social media platforms allow for multi-directional communication opens new possibilities. Young people don’t just need to be passive consumers of sexual health information. They can also actively engage on sexual health issues in their private space at a time…

Mar

05

2022

By The African Mirror

Nearly 3 mln Malawian children to get polio shot after rare outbreak

HEALTH

MEDICS will vaccinate about 2.9 million young children against polio in Malawi, the United Nations said, after a three-year-old girl fell sick in the capital with Africa's first case of wild poliovirus in more than five years. The southern African country declared a polio outbreak two weeks ago after tests confirmed the infection and showed the strain was linked to one circulating in Pakistan, where it is still endemic. "The resurgence of the wild poliovirus in Malawi ... is cause for serious concern," Rudolf Schwenk, the head of the U.N. children's agency UNICEF in Malawi, said in a statement. "Vaccination…

Mar

02

2022

By The African Mirror

Kenya’s push to promote traditional food is good for nutrition and cultural heritage

HEALTH

A few years ago, traditional vegetables and local foods in Kenya were largely perceived as foods of the poor and of the past. Local markets were dominated by three exotic vegetables: cabbage, kale (locally known as sukuma wiki) and Swiss chard (spinach). Author PATRICK MAUNDU, Ethnobotanist, National Museums of Kenya Unhealthy ‘junk’ food was gaining popularity, especially among younger people. This trend was worrying because Kenyan communities risked losing their healthy traditional foods and the cultural heritage associated with them, including language, knowledge, skills and practices. This carried the risk of serious consequences. First, it would narrow dietary diversity. Second,…

Mar

01

2022

By The African Mirror

Like COVID, TB is a pandemic and must be treated as an emergency

HEALTH

IN 1993, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared tuberculosis (TB) a global public health emergency. It urged nations to coordinate efforts to avert millions of deaths. Author RICHARD E. CHAISSON, Director, Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University In January 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19, another airborne infectious disease, a public health emergency of international concern. The similarity between the global responses to these two pandemics ends there. The scientific, public health, medical, and pharmaceutical communities’ responses to COVID-19 in the past two years has been spectacular. Within two weeks of declaring COVID-19 a global emergency, the WHO had convened…

Dec

04

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenya has imposed a holiday season COVID-19 vaccine mandate: why it’s premature

COVID-19

KENYA is to impose restrictions on access to public spaces for those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 from December 21. This, along with the opening up of COVID-19 vaccination to young people over 15, is an attempt by the government to meet its national target of 10 million vaccinated before the new year. Catherine Kyobutungi weighs in on the pros and cons of Kenya’s vaccination strategy. Author CATHERINE KYOBUTUNGI, Executive Director, African Population and Health Research Center Is Kenya’s decision on mandatory vaccinations the right move? Vaccination mandates are premature in my view. The country has struggled for…

Dec

04

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa hit by fourth COVID wave driven by Omicron

COVID-19

WENDELL ROELF SOUTH Africa is being hit by a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant which has been detected in seven of the country's nine provinces, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said has revealed. Omicron, which has raised global fears of a surge in infections, was first detected in southern Africa last month and has prompted governments across continents to impose travel curbs and take other measures to contain it. Phaahla told a media briefing that he hoped that the variant could be managed without causing too many deaths. He urged South Africans to get fully vaccinated,…