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Tag: Health & Environment

Africa World 

Covid-19 aid falling short in Africa

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , 0 comment

– – 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, , , , , , 0 comment

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, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – 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, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – 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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Africa Central Africa World 

DR Congo: 12 dead; over 4000 sick from toxic leak

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – At least 12 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a result of toxic leak. The toxic substances were leaked from a diamond mine in neighboring Angola. About 4,500 people have also fallen sick as a result of the incident in the south of the Country. The country’s environment minister Eve Bazaiba said DR Congo would ask for reparations for the damage caused but did not specify an amount. After a visit to Kasai province, where the Tshikapa River turned red and many fish died,…

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Africa Featured World 

G20 countries urged to urgently vaccinate the world’s small states

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has called on G20 members to urgently work with the Commonwealth and other partners, particularly the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization, to urgently put in place a robust plan to vaccinate the world’s 42 smallest states and shield them from COVID-19. Speaking at the annual Health20 Summit, she said: “As the pandemic unfolded, we were urged to act selflessly to protect the most vulnerable. As some of the more affluent countries of the world start to emerge from the crisis, we must…

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Africa Ivory Coast West Africa World 

Ivory Coast begins vaccination against Ebola

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – Ivory Coast has begun an Ebola vaccination programme following the confirmation of its first case since 1994. The country’s health ministry said the family of the infected teenager and health workers involved were the first to be given the jab. Health official Serge Ehole said that they planned to have vaccinated by Wednesday “all the 2,000 people that we consider exposed from the community, and also people from the health system and security”. The infected teenager tested positive on Saturday after arriving in the commercial hub, Abidjan, on…

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Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana tightens Covid-19 restrictions as it battles a third wave

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – The government of Ghana has tightened its Covid-19 restrictions to curb the outbreak of the pandemic as the country battles a third wave of infections. Among others, there is a ban on receptions after social gatherings especially funerals. The Covid-19 taskforce is also stepping up enforcement of protocols including mandatory wearing of face masks. In a televised address to the nation, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo said all funerals must be held in open air spaces within a two – hour duration. The President Akufo-Addo warned against flouting of…

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Africa Business World 

Soros Economic Development Fund acquires Mologic Ltd

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – A group of philanthropic funds and investors led by the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has announced the launch of Global Access Health (GAH), a social enterprise that will seek to expand access to affordable state-of-the-art medical technology through decentralized research, development, and manufacturing in and for the Global South. The group has financed the acquisition of Mologic Ltd, a world leading innovator in the development of lateral flow and rapid diagnostic technologies including tests that can help combat…

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