HEALTH - The African Mirror

Nov

25

2020

As winter approaches, Egypt braces for second coronavirus wave

COVID-19

IN Egypt's bustling capital people pack shops, cafes and public transport, many of them disregarding the rules that they should wear face masks in these spaces and keep one meter apart. Official warnings about a second wave of coronavirus infections are widely dismissed. Egypt's first wave of COVID-19 subsided in the summer and restrictions on movement were gradually relaxed. Up to now, the population of more than 100 million appears to have been spared the surge in infections seen in European countries. However, officially confirmed infections, which give a partial picture due to limited PCR testing and the exclusion of…

Nov

25

2020

By The African Mirror

EXCLUSIVE-South Africa confirms going for COVAX vaccine scheme for 10% of population

COVID-19

ALEXANDER WINNING THE South African government is going with the COVAX global COVID-19 vaccine distribution scheme, with a committed purchase for 10% of its population of 58 million, a senior health official has revealed. Khadija Jamaloodien, director of affordable medicines at the health ministry, told Reuters South Africa had not yet signed the commitment agreement to participate in the COVAX facility but would do so once officials had completed the necessary administrative processes. The country's initial strategy is to protect the vulnerable, including healthcare workers and priority groups, she said. A group of experts had advised the government to commit…

Nov

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Major new study unveils complexity and vast diversity of Africa’s genetic variation

HEALTH

AFRICA is the cradle of humankind. All humans are descendants from this common pool of ancestors. Africa and its multitude of ethnolinguistic groups are therefore fundamental to learning more about humankind and our origins. ZANÉ LOMBARD, Principal Medical Scientist, Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand A human genome refers to the complete set of genetic information found in a human cell. We inherit our genomes from our parents. Studying the variations in different people’s genomes gives important clues to how genetic information influences people’s appearance and health. It can also tell us about our ancestry. To date, very few African…

Nov

24

2020

By The African Mirror

UNICEF says to ship 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to poor nations in 2021

COVID-19

LIN TAYLOR NEARLY 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be shipped and flown to developing countries next year in a "mammoth operation", the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said on Monday, as world leaders vowed to ensure the fair distribution of vaccines. UNICEF said it was working with over 350 airlines and freight companies to deliver vaccines and 1 billion syringes to poor countries such as Burundi, Afghanistan and Yemen as part of COVAX, a global COVID-19 vaccine allocation plan with the World Health Organization (WHO). "This invaluable collaboration will go a long way to ensure that enough transport capacity is…

Nov

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigeria to bar those who flout COVID-19 test rules from flying

COVID-19

NIGERIA will bar passengers who fail to follow the country's COVID-19 protocol from flying for six months, according to an official. Passengers returning to Nigeria are currently required to test for COVID-19 both before they board return flights and seven days after they arrive. They also must pay for the tests in advance. Dr Sani Aliyu, coordinator of Nigeria's COVID-19 task force, said 60% of those who pre-paid for tests had failed to show up for them. "These passengers will not be allowed to travel for a period of six months," Aliyu said. "We hope that we do not need…

Nov

24

2020

By The African Mirror

WHO says $4.3 bln urgently needed for vaccine sharing scheme

COVID-19

THERE is a risk that the poor and vulnerable will be trampled on in the stampede for coronavirus vaccines, the head of the World Health Organization has announced, adding that $4.3 billion was needed urgently for a world vaccine-sharing scheme. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was speaking at a virtual briefing in Geneva. Dozens of countries have signed up to the global vaccine plan known as COVAX, which was set up by the WHO and the GAVI vaccine group to provide vaccine doses for countries that could not otherwise afford them. It has so far raised $5 billion, including more than 500…

Nov

23

2020

By The African Mirror

W.H.O envoy fears third wave, calls Europe response to COVID-19 ‘incomplete’

COVID-19

A World Health Organization (WHO) special COVID-19 envoy predicted a third wave of the pandemic in Europe in early 2021 if governments repeat what he said was a failure to do what was needed to prevent the second wave of infections. "They missed building up the necessary infrastructure during the summer months after they brought the first wave under the control," the WHO's David Nabarro said in an interview with Swiss newspapers. "Now we have the second wave. If they don't build the necessary infrastructure, we'll have a third wave early next year," said Nabarro, a Briton who campaigned unsuccessfully…

Nov

23

2020

By The African Mirror

World’s first COVID-19 vaccine will be available in December in the US

COVID-19

THE first Americans could receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as December 11, the chief scientific adviser for the U.S. government's vaccine program said on Sunday. "Within 24 hours from the approval, the vaccine will be moving and located in the areas where each state will have told us where they want the vaccine doses," Dr. Moncef Slaoui, part of the "Operation Warp Speed" vaccine program, told NBC's "Meet the Press." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's outside advisers will meet on December 10 to discuss whether to authorize the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech…

Nov

22

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 exposed Kenya’s debt vulnerability though measures helped – IMF

COVID-19

OMAR MOHAMMED COVID-19 has exposed Kenya's debt vulnerabilities though official measures including monetary policy easing have helped shield the economy from the impact of the pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said late on Friday. The Fund said it hoped a deal on a new lending facility for Kenya could be presented to its board in early 2021, noting that economic activity in the East African country was starting to pick up despite a drag from sectors such as tourism. Measures including lowering interest rates, letting lenders restructure some loans, targeted tax cuts, and programmes to help vulnerable families had…

Nov

21

2020

By The African Mirror

From COVID-19 despair to being South Africa’s “Cake King”

COVID-19

KIM HARRISBERG FOR Davy Tsopo, a WiFi password changed his life. When Tsopo lost his cleaning job at a Johannesburg restaurant during lockdown, a neighbour thought sharing his password might help distract Tsopo from his money worries. At first, Tsopo watched episodes of U.S. reality baking show Cake Boss to pass the time as he and his wife cared for their newborn son, but soon found himself scribbling down recipes for chocolate gateau, scones, biscuits and red velvet cake too. "This is where it all began," said Tsopo, 35, holding a worn-out notebook filled with the recipes in the kitchen…