HEALTH - The African Mirror

Oct

09

2025

Male circumcision is made easier by a clever South African invention – we trained healthcare workers to use it

HEALTH

VOLUNTARY medical male circumcision is one of the most important ways to reduce new HIV infections. The foreskin contains receptors that the HIV virus can attach to, and removing it reduces HIV transmission from women to men by about 60%. But cost and access issues have been barriers for many men and boys in southern Africa. With US funding being cut for HIV programmes, it is increasingly important to scale up voluntary circumcision programmes using local resources. Together with Bonginkosi Eugene Khumalo, head of the circumcision programme at Northdale Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal, we did a study to evaluate the training of…

Oct

07

2025

By YEWANDE O. ADDIE

Vaccines and motherhood: are AI generated health messages working in Kenya and Nigeria?

HEALTH

PICTURE this: an artificial intelligence (AI) system creates a bright, youth-focused social media post for young Kenyans, complete with local slang and the phrase “YOUNG, LIT, AND VAXXED!” This message tackles the fear that vaccination will affect fertility – a fear that has serious health consequences. But something feels off about an algorithm trying to sound cool while discussing reproductive health. This scenario is one of dozens of health messages analysed in a recent study of health campaign communication in Nigeria and Kenya. Our research team analysed and compared 120 health messages: 80 from traditional sources like health ministries and…

Oct

03

2025

By IDO LEKOTA

SA pioneers global fight against fake medicines with groundbreaking national action plan

HEALTH

SOUTH Africa's launch of its National Action Plan (NAP) for the Prevention of Substandard and Falsified Medical Products (SFMPs) marks a transformative milestone in the continent's public health landscape. This comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy strengthens prevention, detection, and response mechanisms to combat SFMPs in the medical product supply chain. Grounded in the World Health Organisation's (WHO) draft Handbook, the plan emerges from a year-long pilot collaboration between South African authorities and WHO, positioning South Africa as a pioneering leader in pharmaceutical regulation and health security. The Global Threat of Substandard and Falsified Medical Products SFMPs represent a significant threat to global…

Sep

09

2025

By Professor Lieketseng Ned

Breaking down barriers: Why healthcare workers need disability training now

HEALTH

WORLDWIDE, there is growing recognition that attitudes and misconceptions among healthcare providers remain significant barriers to healthcare for people with disabilities, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These negative attitudes create substantial obstacles to accessing quality healthcare, leading to misdiagnosis, overlooked health conditions, poor communication, and unequal treatment. In celebration of Casual Day, we showed our support for the full inclusion and equity of people with disabilities. We should also pay attention to this important issue. This year's theme, "Beyond the Label: Embracing Unity Through Inclusion and Diversity," encourages people - including health practitioners - to look beyond…

Sep

05

2025

By BONIFACE OYUGI

Ethiopia’s emergency medical response system is up and running – what other countries can learn from it

HEALTH

ETHIOPIA has built a national emergency medical team and hosts Africa’s first World Health Organisation (WHO)-certified regional training hub. It offers a robust, African-led model for strengthening health emergency response systems across the continent. The Conversation Africa asked Boniface Oyugi, who has researched the emergence of this medical team and regional centre, what other African countries can learn from Ethiopia’s experience. What is Ethiopia doing to build emergency services? Ethiopia, a diverse and populous nation of 126.5 million people (2023), faces humanitarian challenges driven by climatic shocks, conflict and food insecurity. Flooding, too, has displaced families and increased the risk…

Sep

02

2025

By The African Mirror

South Africa faces vaccination crisis as 220,000 children miss life-saving shots

HEALTH

SOUTH Africa is grappling with a dangerous vaccination gap that has left hundreds of thousands of children vulnerable to deadly diseases, according to new data that places the country among the world’s top 20 nations with the highest number of unvaccinated children. A staggering 220,000 South African children received zero vaccines in 2023, creating what health experts call “zero dose communities” where entire groups of young people remain defenceless against highly contagious diseases like measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough. “We are witnessing entire groups of children falling through the cracks,” warns Dr. Zeina Elian, Vaccines Medical Head for Sanofi Africa.…

Aug

15

2025

By LYNN SMITH

4 tips for a healthy heart from a biokineticist

HEALTH

THE human heart is an extraordinary organ. About the size of a fist, it works hard to pump over 7,500 litres of blood daily, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body while simultaneously removing waste, regulating core body temperature and supporting the health of organs and tissues. But the heart is vulnerable. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for nearly one-third of all deaths. Deaths related to cardiovascular disease contribute 38% of all noncommunicable disease-related deaths in Africa. In South Africa, cardiovascular diseases cause almost one in six deaths, equating to approximately 215…

Aug

12

2025

By The African Mirror

Kenya to host Continental Medical Regulation Conference in November

HEALTH

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya will host more than 300 international delegates for a major scientific conference focused on strengthening Africa's medical product regulation and manufacturing capabilities, organisers announced. The Scientific Conference on Medical Products Regulation in Africa (SCoMRA VII) will take place November 11-13, 2025, in Mombasa under the theme "Regulatory Harmonisation: Unlocking Africa's Potential in Health Product Manufacturing and Trade." The conference is jointly organised by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Medicines Agency, along with other partners. It represents the continent's primary forum for collaboration on regulatory systems strengthening and innovation. Focus on Self-Reliance The…

Aug

11

2025

By OBASANJO BOLARINWA, ALIU MOHAMMED, and CLIFFORD OBBY ODIMEGWU

Sexual health is an extra struggle for women with disabilities: findings from 10 African countries

HEALTH

EVEN after more than three decades of global efforts to promote inclusive sexual and reproductive health policies, many women with disabilities in Africa still face serious challenges. Their rights are often overlooked, and they have limited access to contraception and other essential services. Lack of access to sexual health knowledge or contraception doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is driven by factors like poverty, gender inequality, limited education, and cultural or legal norms. The lack of access can lead to a chain of avoidable sexual and reproductive health issues. Examples are unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and increased risk of HIV.…

Jul

31

2025

By FORTUNATE MOKOENA

First malaria treatment for babies is a major step to ending the disease in Africa – biochemist

HEALTH

THE first malaria treatment for babies and very young children of 2 months up to 5 years was approved for use by the Swiss agency for therapeutic products, Swissmedic, in early July 2025. Until now, babies and very young children have been treated with medicines formulated for older children. The Conversation Africa asked Fortunate Mokoena about the significance of this approval and what it means for the battle against malaria in Africa. She is a biochemist working on the identification of novel therapeutics for diseases that disproportionately affect children under five, including malaria and pneumonia. How important is this drug…