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Tag: Health & Environment

Africa South Africa World 

Omicron: AU, UN criticize travel restrictions on African countries

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , 0 comment

– Advertisement – The African Union and United Nations have strongly criticized travel restrictions placed on several Southern African countries following the confirmation of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the restrictions could lead to “travel apartheid”, describing them as “deeply unfair, punitive and ineffective” in stopping the spread of the variant. He said Africans should not be collectively punished for sharing health information with the world. The AU chairperson Chairperson Mahamat Faki said wealthier nations should help the continent increase its vaccination…

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Africa East Africa World 

Kenya’s government to deny services to unvaccinated citizens

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , 0 comment

– – From next month, Kenyans who haven’t been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be prevented from accessing government services. The move is aimed at increasing the population of Kenyans who have been vaccinated against covid-19. According to the country’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe, unvaccinated people would be banned from public transport, local airlines and train services. He said in a statement that “The current decline in the number of new infections may be attributed to a build-up of immunity both through natural exposure to the disease and the ongoing vaccination exercise. Nonetheless…

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Africa Southern Africa World Zambia 

Zambian activists lament surge in Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , ,

– – Mental health activists in Zambia, have lamented the extent to which young people’s mental health is affected by alcohol and substance abuse. According to research, mental health disorders are a leading cause of health disability in 10-to-24-year-olds in Zambia and a recent report released in Lusaka, reveals that the country has experienced increased numbers of children committing suicide, because of the same. These activists have now launched a Campaign on Mental Health for Children to fight the menace. According to the activists, Alcohol and other substance abuse have…

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Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana: 8 dead from suspected outbreak of yellow fever

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – At least eight people have died in Ghana’s Savannah Region from a suspected outbreak of yellow fever. Laboratory samples have been shipped for confirmation after tests for other viral Haemorrhagic Fevers like Ebola, Lassa, Marburg and Zika came out negative. Health officials said the affected persons are nomads in some communities, north of the country. In a statement the Ghana Health Service said “The affected persons are nomads in selected communities in West and North Gonja of the region who have never been vaccinated against yellow fever.” “The disease…

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Africa Ghana World 

The largest oral history project of global black doctors and nurses

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , , ,

– – The Armah Institute of Emotional Justice has announced that its flagship project, THE BLACK FRONTLINE has started gathering stories of 100 doctors and nurses in Ghana as part of the largest oral history project. In a statement the institute said “in total, 300 stories will be gathered of global Black doctors and nurses in 3 countries on 3 continents; 100 in Ghana, 100 in USA and 100 in UK.” The project is hoping to frame the pandemic through doctors and nurses stories and experiences. THE BLACK FRONTLINE is…

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Africa World 

Covid-19 aid falling short in Africa

Elwin Mandowa, , , , ,

– – The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for African governments to strengthen social protection systems and fulfill people’s rights to social security and an adequate standard of living, Human Rights Watch said today. Many African governments introduced measures like cash transfers and food assistance in response to the rising poverty and hunger occasioned by the pandemic, but most households received no support. The World Bank forecasts that the Covid-19 crisis will have pushed an additional 29 million Africans into extreme poverty by the end of 2021. “The Covid-19 crisis has wreaked…

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Africa Ghana World 

WHO gives approval for mass use of malaria vaccine in Africa

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

The world health organization has given approval for the use of malaria vaccine across Africa after successful pilot. The vaccine – called RTS,S – was piloted in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi as part of an immunization exercise. Now the World Health Organization says the vaccination was successful and should now be rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions malaria transmission is high. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said on Wednesday that it was “a historic moment”. “The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough…

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Africa World 

World leaders urged to protect most vulnerable against climate change

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – More than 2,000 young leaders and youth-led organisations from across the Commonwealth have urged governments to respect the needs and contributions of the world’s most vulnerable groups, in the lead up to global climate talks in Glasgow in November. The Commonwealth Youth Statement on Climate Change, appealed to governments to include youth, women, the elderly and people with disabilities in decision-making on climate change-related policies. Noting that 1.5 billion people in the Commonwealth are under the age of 30, young people call on leaders to ensure additional, predictable finance…

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Africa North Africa World 

Algeria starts producing its own Covid-19 vaccines

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – Algeria has now started producing its own Covid-19 vaccines as it announces plans to produce 8 million doses each month. Production started on Wednesday according to the country’s Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane. The Covid-19 vaccine being produced in Algeria was developed by Chinese firm Sinovac. Algerian officials said the development is a major achievement following the launch of the production process at a factory in the eastern city of Constantine. “Algeria aims to achieve other projects of this kind,” Benabderrahmane said with officials saying production could be doubled in…

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Africa Central Africa World 

DR Congo: Meningitis outbreak declared with 129 deaths

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – The World Health Organization has declared an epidemic of meningitis in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. So far 129 people have died from the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. In a statement it said a total of 261 suspected cases have been recorded with a “high case fatality ratio of 50 percent.” “Confirmatory tests carried out by the Institut Pasteur in Paris detected Neisseria meningitidis – one of the most frequent types of bacterial meningitis with the potential to cause large epidemics,” the statement…

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