Category: Health Advice

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden, with around 96 per cent of all cases and deaths in 2020.    As a result of drug resistance, medicines to treat the life-threatening disease become ineffective.  Worrying signs  Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. … Read More

“SDG 6.2 is about ending open defecation and providing access to safe sanitation and hygiene, and it is the furthest off-track of all the SDGs, and furthest in terms of underfunding,” said Ann Thomas, Team Leader, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH Programme Division, UNICEF, at a UN Headquarters press conference on Thursday. ‘Sanitation crisis’ In a 2020 estimate, 3.6 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation… Read More

Uganda is going through a major outbreak of the deadly disease, and there have been 141 confirmed cases to date, and 22 probable cases.   Confirmed deaths total 55, with probable deaths at 22, while 73 people have recovered from the disease.   Global effort  The outbreak was declared on 20 September.  Since then, the Ugandan authorities and partners have… Read More

WHO’s updated landmark Family Planning Handbook, launched on Tuesday, informs health workers on protecting access to family planning services during emergencies, and provides policy makers with the most current information on contraceptive options.  “Family planning promotes self-actualization, empowerment, as well as health and wellbeing, and reduces maternal and infant deaths through the prevention of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion”, said… Read More

The advice marks a significant departure from earlier practice, reflecting the immense health benefits of ensuring caregivers – generally mothers – and preterm or small babies, can stay close after birth, without any separation.  WHO recommends that skin to skin contact, also known as “kangaroo mother care”, should begin immediately after these little ones take their first breath, without any… Read More