HEALTH - The African Mirror

Aug

28

2020

Malawi to lift COVID-19 air travel, school restrictions from Sept

COVID-19

MALAWI will allow airlines and schools to resume operations from September 1, as it seeks to limit the economic and social damage from its coronavirus lockdown, authorities have announced. Schools and airports have been closed since March, when the government imposed a lockdown to try to contain the epidemic. Malawi has recorded 5474 cases and 173 deaths from the virus so far, although the real figure may be higher as fewer than 50,000 tests have been conducted. The main international airport in the administrative capital Lilongwe will now open to limited flights next week. "The government has carefully considered adverse…

Aug

28

2020

By The African Mirror

Gambia president extends state of emergency as COVID-19 cases surge

COVID-19

GAMBIA’S President Adama Barrow has extended by 21 days a state of emergency in mainland Africa's smallest nation as coronavirus cases surged, according to a government statement. Gambia, with a population of just over 2 million, has reported 2,743 cases since the outbreak in March, and 93 deaths. The daily reported cases were relatively low until mid-July. Cases have increased exponentially in the country, which is mostly surrounded by Senegal, in the last couple of weeks, prompting the government to reimpose restrictive measures. Neighboring Senegal has reported 13,294 cases with 277 deaths. Public gatherings in Gambia have been banned, dusk-to-dawn…

Aug

27

2020

By The African Mirror

Kenya extends coronavirus curfew as cases rise outside capital

COVID-19

GEORGE OBULUTSA and AYENAT MERSIE KENYA’S president has extended a nationwide curfew for another 30 days, saying coronavirus cases were rising in areas outside the capital. In a televised address, Uhuru Kenyatta also ordered bars and nightclubs shut for another 30 days - but increased the number of people allowed to attend weddings, funerals and other events. He said infections were slowing in Nairobi and the port and tourism hub of Mombasa. "This crisis has however began to percolate to the counties. The new frontier of this invisible enemy is increasingly shifting to the counties and to our rural areas,"…

Aug

27

2020

By The African Mirror

Namibia Apartheid politician turned independence advocate dies of COVID-19

COVID-19

NYASHA NYAUNGWA DIRK Mudge, a white Namibian who began his political life with the pro-Apartheid National Party but later lobbied for Namibia's independence from South African white-minority rule, has died after contracting COVID-19, aged 92. He died in a hospital in the capital Windhoek late on Tuesday. A polarising figure, Mudge's opponents accused him of delaying Namibia's independence from neighbour South Africa by setting up a 1975–77 national conference. It aimed to make small reforms that would appease Namibia's indigenous population and prevent a full-scale independence war with rebels. Namibia, a former German colony, had been run by South Africa…

Aug

27

2020

By The African Mirror

Kenya condemns women to ‘death by unsafe abortion’, campaigners warn

HEALTH

NITA BHALLA THOUSANDS of women are dying every year in Kenya due to botched backstreet abortions, campaigners have warned, 10 years after the introduction of safeguards to abortion access when a woman's life is in danger. Kenya's 2010 constitution broadened access to abortion, permitting it when a woman's life is at risk or in case of an emergency, and guaranteeing the right to life and reproductive health services. But a report by the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) released ahead of the anniversary on Thursday said disregard for the provisions was fuelling stigma, resulting in the deaths of thousands of…

Aug

26

2020

By The African Mirror

The eradication of polio in Africa holds lessons on beating COVID-19

HEALTH

MOHAMMED MUKHIER and MATSHIDISO MOETI Africa has reached a momentous milestone which underlines that the continent can overcome seemingly impossible health challenges such as COVID-19. Today (25 August) an independent body of experts has certified the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region as free of wild poliovirus. This is only the second virus in history to be eradicated from the continent since the eradication of smallpox 40 years ago. The achievement—which comes after years of collective effort and determined progress—provides crucial lessons to sustain immunization generally, and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Our first lesson during the campaign…

Aug

25

2020

By The African Mirror

In the face of COVID-19, rich countries are in danger of abandoning the poor

COVID-19

YOUBA SOKONA COVID-19 has upended life as we know it, devastating livelihoods and economies around the world. It has delivered a devastating indictment on how little we have done to address existing problems around human rights and injustice. The loss of human life is already clear. As of mid-August, there were more than 21 million cases and 750,000 deaths. Borders that had opened for now closing again. Lockdowns advertised for a few weeks are now running into months. While the United States, China, Brazil and Europe are dominating global media coverage, the impacts are felt acutely in the world's 47…

Aug

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Fastest man alive tests positive for coronavirus

COVID-19

KATE CHAPPELL WORLD-RECORD sprinter and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has tested positive for the coronavirus and is self-isolating at his home in Jamaica after last week celebrating his 34th birthday with a big bash mask-free. Jamaica's health ministry has confirmed that Bolt, who holds world records in the 100m and 200m distance, had tested positive after he posted a video on social media around midday saying he was waiting to hear back on his results. "Just to be safe I quarantined myself and just taking it easy," Bolt said in the message that he appeared to have taped…

Aug

25

2020

By The African Mirror

WHO cautious on COVID-19 plasma as U.S. issues emergency authorization

COVID-19

JOHN MILLER THE World Health Organization was cautious about endorsing the use of recovered COVID-19 patients' plasma to treat those who are ill, saying evidence it works remains "low quality" even as the United States issued emergency authorization for such therapies. So-called convalescent plasma, which has long been used to treat diseases, has emerged as the latest political flashpoint in the race to find therapies for COVID-19. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday authorized its use after President Donald Trump blamed the agency for impeding the roll-out of vaccines and therapeutics for political reasons. The technique involves…

Aug

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Algeria’s main lab anchors COVID-19 response

COVID-19

Heroes of WHO Africa’s COVID-19 response WHEN a sample sent to the referral laboratory in the capital Algiers gave a positive result, the Ministry of Health announced Algeria’s first COVID-19 case on 26 February, becoming the second African country to confirm the virus. Since then, dozens of people have caught the infection. Unlike years past, it now takes just two hours to analyse such specimen. In addition to speed, the laboratory is also striving to ensure testing integrity – an important cog in the efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19. Sample collection, transportation and analysis are critical steps in…