HEALTH - The African Mirror

Oct

28

2025

Kigali facility revs up Africa’s vaccine self-reliance

HEALTH

A new European financial backing of BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine facility in Kigali marks a defining step in Africa’s long-term pursuit of health and industrial self-reliance, moving the continent’s vaccine manufacturing ambitions from concept to implementation. This month, on October 13, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission announced a €95 million (approximately US$126 million) blended financing package to accelerate construction of BioNTech’s state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing site in Rwanda. The package, comprising a €35 million (US$47 million) grant and up to €60 million (US$80 million) in loans, forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and builds on…

Oct

24

2025

By MARYA LIEBERMAN

Cancer drug quality in Africa is a worry: what we found in a 4-country study

HEALTH

THE number of people receiving treatment for cancer has risen dramatically in the last decade in many African countries. For example, 10 years ago in Ethiopia and Kenya, cancer care was available to only a few thousand patients per year in a few hospitals. Today, over 75,000 people receive cancer treatment each year in each of these countries. Over 800,000 people on the continent are diagnosed with this disease each year. But medicine regulatory agencies in many countries don’t have the capacity to measure the quality of anticancer drugs. This is particularly problematic for two reasons. Firstly, the high cost…

Oct

18

2025

By ANTHONY IDOWU AJAYI and CAROLINE W. KABIRU

Pregnant teens in Kenya’s low-income areas avoid health care because of fear and stigma

HEALTH

“I feared people and feared the doctors because they would probably judge or insult me. So, she (mother) told me no, that should not be the case, and so she offered to take me.” These were the words of Wanjiru (not her real name), a 17-year-old adolescent mother from an informal settlement in Nairobi. Her story reflects the deep fear and stigma that many pregnant adolescents experience when navigating access to antenatal care services. Her case is typical of a broader problem, where judgmental attitudes from health providers and community stigma discourage young girls from accessing essential antenatal care. Globally,…

Oct

17

2025

By SIPHIWE DLAMINI

Fruit juices in South Africa are getting a free ride: why they should have the same health warning labels as fizzy drinks

HEALTH

SOUTH Africa is facing a sharp rise in obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Between 2010 and 2019, the prevalence of diabetes nearly tripled from 4.5% to 12.7%. This increase is linked to lifestyle risk factors, including drinking sugary beverages, eating unhealthy foods, and not getting enough physical activity. To help tackle the problem, the government has introduced several public health measures targeting key risk factors, including unhealthy eating. One of the most prominent measures was the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2018. The tax targets added sugars, encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products like soft drinks and…

Oct

15

2025

By CLOUDIUS RAY SAGANDIRA

Africa imports over 70% of its medicines. Making active ingredients locally would change this

HEALTH

AFRICA carries a heavy health burden. It accounts for 25% of the global disease burden despite having only 18% of the global population. The situation reflects deep-rooted challenges in healthcare access, infrastructure, and socioeconomic conditions. Yet the continent produces only 3% of global medicines. It imports over 70% of its medicines. This makes medicine expensive and supply unreliable, dependent on global supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly exposed this vulnerability. Major medicines exporting countries such as China and India imposed export restrictions to prioritise domestic needs. This left African manufacturers unable to source critical ingredients and medicines. As a result,…

Oct

09

2025

By PETER S MILLARD

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…