HEALTH - The African Mirror

Oct

25

2020

Algerian president, 75, self isolates as pandemic spreads

COVID-19

ALGERIA’S 75-year-old President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is self-isolating because some officials in "upper ranks of the government" are sick with COVID-19, he has said in a Tweet. Tebboune took office in December in an election that came amidst months of mass protests which forced his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power after 20 years. "I assure you, my brothers and sisters, that I am well and healthy and that I continue my work," he said, saying his decision was taken on the advice of medical staff. The global pandemic struck Algeria's economy as it faced long-term challenges posed by the decline of…

Oct

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Can the United Nations protect human rights in the age of COVID-19?

COVID-19

ON the 75th anniversary of the U.N.’s founding, experts warn human rights violations are flourishing and say the U.N. must adapt CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON DEFENDING human rights, a key mission of the United Nations, it seems, has never been harder. A global pandemic has deepened inequality, pushed millions out of work and seen governments enforce restrictions on people's movement and ramp up surveillance. Oct 24 marks 75 years since the U.N. was founded in the aftermath of World War II. The Thomson Reuters Foundation asked five former and current U.N. advisors how COVID-19 is impacting it's ability to protect human rights…

Oct

24

2020

By The African Mirror

WHO warning: World at critical juncture, some countries on “dangerous track”

COVID-19

THE world is now at a critical juncture in the COVID-19 pandemic and some countries are on a dangerous path, facing the prospect of health services collapsing under the strain, the head of the World Health Organization has warned. "We are at a critical juncture in the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the Northern hemisphere," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference. "The next few months are going to be very tough and some countries are on a dangerous track." "We urge leaders to take immediate action, to prevent further unnecessary deaths, essential health services from collapsing and schools…

Oct

24

2020

By The African Mirror

Why Kenya’s pro-poor health financing reforms miss their mark

HEALTH

EDWINE BARASSA, Director, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Nairobi Programme, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme EVELYN KABIA, Health Economist, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme KENYA has made several reforms in recent years intended to expand health service coverage to a wider population, and with a specific focus on the poor, and to reduce financial hardship due to healthcare costs. The first of these reforms, in 2013, was the abolition of user fees at public primary healthcare facilities. The second, announced the same year, made maternity services free at all public facilities. This was upgraded in 2017 to a public funded health scheme for…

Oct

23

2020

By The African Mirror

Refusing to wear a mask in Ethiopia could cost you two years in jail

COVID-19

DAWIT ENDESHAW ETHIOPIA can jail people for up to two years if they deliberately violate restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the attorney general's office said, amid concern that citizens are becoming lax after a state of emergency was lifted. The restrictions prohibit shaking hands, not wearing a mask in a public place, seating more than three people at a table or not keeping "two adult steps" - around six feet - apart. "Now it is as if COVID is no longer there, the public is not taking care," Health Minister Lia Tadesse tweeted on Thursday. "This will…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

South African researchers are looking at medicinal plants for possible COVID-19 treatments

HEALTH

SOUTH Africa has a long tradition of using plants for medicinal purposes. Some of these, such as Aloe ferox, Sutherlandia frutescens and Kiggelaria africana, have been studied as sources of useful compounds. But most still need to be scientifically validated as treatments for particular diseases. DEPIKA DWARKA, Post doctoral Fellow, Durban University of Technology Medicinal plants are gradually gaining prominence in scientists’ search for potential treatment agents for COVID-19. Currently, there is no specific antiviral drug to treat this new respiratory disease. Most treatment strategies focus on managing symptoms and supportive therapy such as supplementary oxygen and mechanical ventilation. My…

Nov

27

2020

By The African Mirror

Sixty km queues as COVID turns Kenyan border crossing into lorry park

COVID-19

BAZ RATNER THE queue of lorries snakes down the narrow tarmac road, stretching back as far as the eye can see on both sides of a sign that reads: "Welcome to Busia, the gateway to east and central Africa". Before COVID-19, Kenyan driver Joseph Kimani used to reckon with a five-hour wait to cross from there into Uganda with his cargo of diesel. Now the queue on the Kenyan side, which he and other drivers say extends for upwards of 60 km (37 miles), take five days to clear and, for them, life on the road has become literally that.…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Sudan’s former PM Sadiq al-Mahdi dies from coronavirus in UAE

COVID-19

SUDAN’S last democratically elected prime minister, Sadiq al-Mahdi, who was overthrown in the 1989 military coup that brought Omar al-Bashir to power, has died from a coronavirus infection, his party has announced. Mahdi, aged 84, had been hospitalised in the United Arab Emirates three weeks ago. His moderate Umma Party was one of the largest opposition parties under Bashir, and Mahdi remained an influential figure even after Bashir was toppled in April 2019. Sudan's transitional administration, which governs under a power sharing deal between the military and civilian groups, declared three days of mourning. Last month, Mahdi's family said he…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

EXPLAINER – When and how will COVID-19 vaccines become available?

COVID-19

JULIE STEENHUYZEN and CARL O’DONNELL PFIZER Inc with partner BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc have released trial data showing their COVID-19 vaccines to be about 95% effective at preventing the illness, while AstraZeneca Plc this week said its vaccine could be up to 90% effective. If regulators approve any of the vaccines in coming weeks, the companies have said distribution could begin almost immediately with governments around the world to decide who gets them and in what order. The following is an outline of the process: WHEN WILL COMPANIES ROLL OUT A VACCINE? Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have already started…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Egyptian inventor trials robot that can test for COVID-19

COVID-19

WITH Egypt facing a second coronavirus wave, an inventor is trialling a remote-control robot which can test for COVID-19, take the temperature of patients, and warn them if they don't wear masks at a private hospital north of Cairo. Mahmoud el-Komy, who designed the robot, called Cira-03, says it can help limit exposure to infection and prevent the transmission of the virus. His creation, which has a human-like face and head and robotic arms, can take blood tests, perform echocardiograms and X-rays, and display the results to patients on a screen attached to its chest. "I tried to make the…