NAIROBI, Kenya – Dementia is rapidly becoming a significant public health concern across the globe, with projections estimating 150 million people will be affected by 2050. “Dementia is a health, financial and social problem of almost unimaginable proportions,” said George Vradenburg, founding chairman of the board of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC). “It may prove […] Continue reading ->
Targets that aimed to reduce the use of antimicrobials in the livestock industry have been dropped from the latest version of the draft UN Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), reportedly as a result of pressure from major meat-producing nations and the veterinary drug industry.  The draft declaration, which aims to curb growing pathogen resistance […] Continue reading ->
Tens of millions of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa will experience “catastrophic levels” of intimate partner violence because the world is failing to make progress on the climate crisis, according to new projections by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. The report, jointly produced by UNFPA, the International Institute for Applied Systems […] Continue reading ->
Manufacturers of antibiotics are dumping waste into waterways that is driving antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warns the first-ever guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) on waste water management and AMR. Antibiotic pollution is “largely unregulated” and a “neglected” issue,  according to the WHO guidance, which explains how to mitigate liquid and solid waste during the formulation […] Continue reading ->
While COVID exposed the urgency of ensuring that Africa can manufacture vaccines, the current mpox and cholera outbreaks have painfully underscored the continent’s vulnerability. African countries affected by mpox are dependent on vaccine donations from wealthy countries, while a dire global shortage of cholera vaccines has forced the World Health Organization (WHO) to advise countries […] Continue reading ->
The mpox outbreak – characterised by the all-too-familiar lack of vaccines for Africa – provided added impetus to the global negotiations for a pandemic agreement, which resumed at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva on Monday.  Ethiopia, speaking for Africa, said that mpox, recently declared a public health emergency of international concern, “calls […] Continue reading ->
Fundamental policy changes aimed at fixing India’s seemingly intractable air pollution health crisis were suggested at the India Clean Air Summit (ICAS) held in Bengaluru recently.  Among the dozens of presentations by air quality scientists and officials, five key elements emerged for policy action that can speed up the reduction of air pollutants. These involve: […] Continue reading ->