As African countries baulk at One Health requirements in the draft Pandemic Agreement being negotiated in Geneva, Rwanda’s success in containing its Marburg outbreak underscores the essential role of international partnerships and a strong health system in containing human-animal outbreaks KIGALI, Rwanda – The Egyptian fruit bats look like innocuous little furry grey umbrellas hanging […] Continue reading ->
Civil society groups have urged World Health Organization (WHO) member states to “continue to advance a pandemic agreement that can lay the essential groundwork for equitable, collective preparedness and response” ahead of the 13th meeting of the negotiating forum on Monday  (17 February).  Only 10 negotiating days are left until the World Health Assembly in […] Continue reading ->
KIGALI, Rwanda – Behind blue scaffolding walls marked “China Aid for shared future”, a massive expansion of Masaka District Hospital is underway. The hospital will expand from 330 to at least 830 beds, and it is destined to become the country’s top teaching hospital, with completion set for July. China has provided a $42 million […] Continue reading ->
CAPE TOWN – A coalition of South African civil society groups have urged South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to “step up” and lead a coordinated national and regional response to prevent “mass healthcare disruptions, preventable deaths, and surges in new HIV infections and drug resistance,” in the wake of the US President Donald Trump’s cut off […] Continue reading ->
Parties embroiled in the conflict around Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are discussing a humanitarian corridor to enable supplies and staff to address the mpox outbreak, according to Dr Yap Boum, Africa CDC’s deputy incident manager for Africa.  Last week, the M-23 militia, reportedly supported by Rwanda, took over the […] Continue reading ->
Social isolation as a driver of poor mental health was discussed for the first time at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board meeting (EB) on Wednesday. Several member states called for WHO guidance on addressing loneliness and social isolation, and for measures to combat these to be included in the body’s Comprehensive Mental Health […] Continue reading ->