HEALTH - The African Mirror

Jun

30

2020

Superspreaders: Why Covid-19 is difficult to curb

COVID-19

TEBADI MMOTLA AS the government eases its lockdown regulations and reopens the economy, the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing rapidly. South Africa has surpassed China, where the outbreak began, in infections. Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize. Photo: GCIS This is a concern for Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize, who recently published an article in The Sunday Times newspaper detailing a typical day fighting Covid-19. In the piece, Mkhize describes being worried that although people are dying and others are battling to breathe on ventilators, some South Africans are not taking the pandemic seriously. He fears many will realise the magnitude of the…

Jun

29

2020

By The African Mirror

Think vitamin D deficiency is not common in Africa? Think again

HEALTH

REAGAN MOGIRE, PhD Fellow, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme THE PREVALENCE of vitamin D deficiency, and the number of diseases associated with it, seems to be increasing worldwide. Africa is known to have a huge burden of disease, but little is known about the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. In our recent paper, we reviewed and analysed all published studies that assessed the vitamin D status of healthy populations in Africa. The average prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was much higher than we expected. Exposure to sunshine for a few minutes is enough to provide sufficient vitamin D. This is…

Jul

07

2020

By The African Mirror

SA’s North West politicians hit by COVID-19 storm

COVID-19

STAFF REPORTER The upper political echelons in the North West province of South Africa has been hit by a mini-COVID-19 tsunami. Job Mokgoro.Photo: nwpg.gov.za The Premier of the province Job Mokgoro and Saliva Molapisi, a member of the North West executive council for Public Works and Roads have tested positive for COVID-19. The development comes a day after their colleague, Gordon Kegakilwe, who was responsible for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, died from COVID-19 pneumonia. Mokgoro and Molapisi have now gone into self-isolation. "Premier Mokgoro is not incapacitated to carry out his duties as he was only presented…

Jul

07

2020

By The African Mirror

AIDS battle risks 10-year setback from COVID-19, UN warns

HEALTH

KATE KELLAND THE GLOBAL fight against AIDS was faltering even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and this newly-emerged viral disease is now threatening to put progress against HIV back by 10 years or more, the United Nations has warned. "The global HIV targets set for 2020 will not be reached," the U.N.'s AIDS agency said in a report. "Even the gains made could be lost and progress further stalled if we fail to act." Latest data from 2019 show that 38 million people worldwide are now infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, the report said, a million…

Jul

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Kenya announces phased re-opening of the country from coronavirus lockdown

COVID-19

AYENAT MERSIE and OMAR MOHAMMED KENYA’S President Uhuru Kenyatta today announced a phased re-opening of the country from a lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, lifting restrictions in and out of the capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa. "Today I order and direct that the cessation of movement into and out of the Nairobi metropolitan area, Mombasa county and Mandera county that is currently enforced shall lapse today or at 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) tomorrow, Tuesday the 7th of July 2020," said Kenyatta in a televised address. Kenyatta extended the current nationwide nightly curfew…

Jul

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Powerless in a pandemic: Solar energy prescribed for off-grid healthcare

HEALTH

MEGAN ROWLING AS SIERRA Leone emerged from an Ebola epidemic in 2015, it was clear that health facilities lacking a reliable energy supply had been a big obstacle to treating patients. But putting solar panels on the roof of every clinic wasn't the right answer either as often such projects fall into disrepair within a year, said Nick Gardner, the Sierra Leone manager for the U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Instead, the government and UNOPS decided to bring electric power to 94 communities - starting with their health centres - by using nearly $50 million in aid funding to…

Apr

14

2022

By The African Mirror

Unintended pregnancy rates are highest in Africa: a look at the complex reasons

HEALTH

THE United Nations Population Fund recently released the 2022 State of World Population report. It highlights that almost half of all pregnancies between 2015 and 2019 were unintended. That amounts to roughly 121 million unintended pregnancies each year. Unintended pregnancy is defined as pregnancy among women who were not planning to have any (more) children. This includes pregnancies that occurred earlier than desired. The report also says over 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortion. And 45% of all abortions performed globally are unsafe. About 7 million women a year are hospitalised as a result. Author ANTHONY IDOWU AJAYI, Associate…

Apr

12

2022

By The African Mirror

Kenya puts in place tougher labelling for baby foods, bottles, teats and pacifiers

HEALTH

THE Kenyan government has provided more stringent measures for the labelling of feeding bottles, teats and pacifier packages. It wants the labels of these products to include a warning that their use can have negative effects on breastfeeding. The new regulations show the government’s commitment to revisiting a law passed in Kenya in 2012 that laid the ground work for key regulations around the marketing of breast milk substitutes. These substitutes include infant formulas, follow-on formulas and any other food or drink, alongside feeding bottles and teats, intended for babies and young children. Author ANTONINA MUTORO, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, African…

Mar

03

2021

By The African Mirror

Festival gives Sudanese film lovers drive-in cinema

COVID-19

SUDANESE moviegoers are enjoying what organisers are saying is their first drive-in cinema after a festival showcasing the country's resurgent, post-uprising film scene moved outdoors this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About 100 vehicles gathered in a Khartoum parking lot across from giant screens showing Sudanese and European films on Friday, the start of a week-long festival organized by the British Council. "We're watching films from our cars, and that's something that has never happened before in Sudan," said Asmaa, among festival attendees sitting inside, next to, and on top of their cars for the nighttime screenings. Once heavily…

Mar

03

2021

By The African Mirror

142 countries to get 237 million doses

COVID-19

SOME 237 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine are expected to be delivered to 142 countries by the end of May through the COVAX facility, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, told a news conference that vaccine deliveries were planned on Tuesday to Angola, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo said his West African country, which has begun its innoculation campaign with COVAX doses, aimed to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of 2021.