COVID-19 puts health research to the test in Africa

Paul Adepoju  Nature Medicine Africa’s health-research landscape has been steadily growing, but the COVID-19 pandemic might accelerate the continent’s research-capacity building. “There is a growing army of epidemic frontline researchers who have been in the trenches before [COVID-19]. There was great Ebola mobilization of researchers, medics, community leaders, etc. to combat Ebola [and they] have…

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COVID-19: Shincheonji Church Runs Second Plasma Donation Drive

Over 1,500 Shincheonji Church of Jesus members have started donating blood plasma for research purposes after recovering from Covid-19, as the organization bolsters its efforts to help contain the virus. Donors from the church in South Korean city Daegu started undergoing the process on August 27 and will continue until September 4. This is the…

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In the shadow of Covid-19, silent killers re-emerge

Opinion by Nick Prince Deadly infectious diseases are threatening to regain a foothold in many countries, fueled by Covid-19 and the unprecedented effort to contain this ongoing global pandemic. Vaccinations are down across the Asia Pacific and in most areas of the world. Diseases such as polio, measles, and tuberculosis are at very real risk of re-emerging…

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COVID-19: The Union’s Wave Money platform to support people with MDR-TB

In Union-managed areas of Myanmar, COVID-19 is causing disruption to the provision of care and support to people with tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Despite the pandemic, The Union is continuing to provide DOT (Directly Observed Treatment) and home visits to people with MDR-TB. Home visits are also an important means by which Union…

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First Lady commissions medical equipment and refurbished ward to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital

First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa today officially handed over medical equipment and commissioned a refurbished ward at the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare. The initiative came into being as a result of the contribution to the COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts through a partnership between two Telecoms giants – NetOne and TelOne. The collaboration saw the two…

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African water and sanitation projects critical to preparedness for COVID-19-like pandemics

By Wambui Gichuri Wambui Gichuri is the Acting Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development and Director, Water Development and Sanitation at the African Development Bank (https://www.AfDB.org/)As the prevalence of COVID-19 accelerates across Africa, over 40% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to clean water and are unable to heed the…

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COVID-19 hampering the fight against GBV: Katswe Sistahood

By Joyce Mukucha Katswe Sistahood has bemoaned the negative effects of the Covid-19 induced lockdown which disturbed the implementation of their fight against gender-based violence(GBV) under the Start Awareness Support Action (SASA)! Faith Initiative. The organisation revealed that drug abuse amongst youths and the prevalence of teenage pregnancies were on increase during the unprecedented times…

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Betty Kaseke soldiers on with community development despite damaging rumours

The philanthropy in the “Iron Lady” as Betty Kaseke has come to be known because of her ability to conquer criticism and character assassination has refused to die as she focuses on community development through the Betty Kaseke Foundation. Carrying the poise of a beauty queen that she is, Betty Kaseke yesterday through her foundation,…

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Masawara companies come together to help the Chikomba community

Companies in the Masawara Group, which is comprised of the Zimnat Insurance Group, Cresta Group of Hotels, Minerva Risk Advisors, BIC, Dandemutande and Grand Re-Insurance, have come together to “Make Life Better” for the Chikomba East community. As part of the “Simukai Development Project” which is a village initiative started by Hon Dr Sekai Nzenza…

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Saving lives, economies, and livelihoods campaign launches in Africa

H.E. Amira Elfadil Mohammed, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission; H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy; and Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the “Africa Against COVID-19: Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods” campaign during the Africa CDC weekly press briefing on…

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New Higherlife Foundation programme to help childbirth

Philanthropist and pan-African businessman Strive Masiyiwa is mobilizing funds to support the maternal, child-birth sections of Zimbabwe’s largest referral hospitals. Masiyiwa’s action follows recent media reports of seven babies that were reportedly stillborn in one night at one of the country’s largest referral hospitals, after urgent treatment was said to have been delayed due to…

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Communities plunged into vulnerability

By Habakkuk Trust The prevailing harsh economic conditions coupled with the devastating impacts of climate change have plunged communities into the doldrums of vulnerability.  Growing food insecurity is the norm in most rural areas as the Government’s Food Insecurity Mitigation Program seems to fail to cope with increasing vulnerability in rural households. The situation which…

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Victory: ZPCS ordered to stop ill-treatment in prison

By Kumbirai Mafunda A Zimbabwean court on Friday 14 August 2020 ordered Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) to stop the persecution of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe political party leader Jacob Ngarivhume and allow them access to basic rights while in detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Through their lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa,…

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MSF welcomes WHO revision in TB guidelines

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has welcomed the revision made by WHO to its tuberculosis (TB) guidelines, allowing for safe use of a treatment regimen including both bedaquiline and delamanid for patients suffering from drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), while urging a faster uptake in India for patients with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). The drugs bedaquiline and delamanid…

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51st Union World Conference on Lung Health to be held virtually 20-24 October 2020

Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and a member of the White House COVID-19 taskforce to deliver keynote address on COVID-19 science In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) has announced today that the 51st Union World Conference on Lung Health (Union…

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Tourism: COVID-19 responses must not undermine solidarity and confidence

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General, World Tourism Organization This goes hand-in-hand with a responsibility to preserve the spirit of international solidarity that has characterized our response to this shared crisis, a response that has included international institutions, the civil society at large and individual citizens. Again and again, the pandemic puts us to the test and…

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What Drives In the Crypto Industry?

Investing in the Cryptocurrency Market can be an interesting venture for the right person. It offers high results with very little risk involved. Those who are knowledgeable about the technology lurking behind such currencies may feel comfortable investing in this industry. Those who are new to the industry can find a spot to learn about…

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The rising prominence of communication, thanks to COVID19

By Charles Dhewa In much of the world including developing countries, COVID19 has repositioned communication as the key driver in project implementation. Before the pandemic, many organizations were reluctant to increase the communication budget. Working from home and restrictions in the movement have seen ICT channels and tools moving to the centre of most communication…

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Masiyiwa calls for local community leadership in stemming the spread of COVID-19

African Union (AU) Special Envoy for COVID-19 and businessman Strive Masiyiwa has called on community leaders – including chiefs, religious leaders, councillors and members of Parliament – to lead in arresting the spread of COVID-19 at the local level. Masiyiwa writes: A dear friend called me the other day quite distressed because his brother’s wife…

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Africa CDC, ARC launch COVID-19 modelling tool for Africa

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and African Risk Capacity (ARC) have launched two COVID-19 modelling tools for Africa: COVID-19 Potential Outcomes Scenarios and COVID-19 Spread Simulation Tool for Africa. The tools will help African Union Member States in evaluating the potential magnitude of COVID-19 in their countries and in making…

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How African farmers are dealing with bad news brought by COVID-19

By Charles Dhewa From the Masaai livestock owners in Kenya failing to access veterinary products to farmers in Lupane district of Zimbabwe failing to access usual markets due to lockdowns, COVID19 has resulted in uniform collective grief among food producers across Africa. To the extent dealing with droughts, locusts, fall army worm and other shocks…

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Old Mutual Zimbabwe Donates PPE Worth over 250 000 Rand to St Anne’s Hospital

Yesterday, Old Mutual Zimbabwe and its local subsidiaries, including Cabs Zimbabwe, handed over a consignment of personal protective equipment worth 250 000 Rand to St. Anne’s Hospital. The donation is part of Old Mutual’s pledge to contribute towards the fight against COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. The consignment donated included 34 200 gloves, 16 000 masks, 5…

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ZiCHIRe BC engages adolescent boys on SRHR through Brotha2Brotha initiative

The Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research (ZiCHIRe) trained Harare mentors for the Brotha2Brotha (B2B) programme. This is a sport-oriented initiative that seeks to mentor boys into responsible young men. There is a gap in terms of addressing boys and young men’s needs. Adolescent girls and young women and key populations needs were given priority by…

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UNFPA releases over $2.5 million for GBV and SRHR services during the COVID19 pandemic

…Prevention and response to Gender Based Violence for women and girls at risk to be prioritised Harare, 7 August 2020 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released over $2.5 million to support the Government of Zimbabwe and various implementing partners to continue providing quality sexual reproductive health and Gender-Based Violence services during the…

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Communities exercise self-governance in the face of Covid-19

By Habakkuk Trust Rural communities in Matabeleland have taken it upon themselves to curb the increase in imported cases arising from illegal returnees. The issue of border jumpers making an illegal entry into the country without undergoing screening and testing has been a cause of concern in recent weeks. Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Teams…

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EIB and Afreximbank direct EUR 300m of support to African COVID response

4th  August 2020:- ·         Accelerated EIB financing under Team Europe initiative ·         Over 25% of funds dedicated to women in business and climate action ·         Pan-African rapid response to alleviate COVID-19 impact and support climate action ·         Scheme to support trade and ensure medical supplies continue The European Investment Bank (EIB), the lending arm of the European Union, and the…

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“A Breach of Religious Liberty”: International Community Reacts to Chairman Lee’s Arrest

At 1:20 am on August 1, Chairman Man Hee Lee, the founder of Heavenly Culture World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and leader of religious movement Shincheonji was arrested amid investigations pinning the blame for South Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak on his church. This came after holding a 10-hour arrest warrant hearing regarding five Shincheonji officials…

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Programme Announced as Registration opens for the 2020 Durban FilmMart Virtual Edition

…Brave New Cinema Durban, South Africa: The Durban FilmMart Institute (DMI) has announced the programme for the 11th Durban FilmMart (DFM) Virtual Edition, which takes place from 4 to 13 September this year.  “Using the theme Brave New Cinema, we are bringing together leading and emerging African film professionals in an online space, to benchmark…

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Vaccine trials start and end with the community

By Githinji Gitahi, Lolem Ngong, George Kimathi It starts and ends with the communities. Communities will drive the success or failure of the COVID-19 vaccine trials and immunization uptake. Scientists, policymakers, and public health experts must start involving communities now as discussions and plans progress toward finding a vaccine — not after the scientific breakthrough but before. In recent decades,…

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