In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a “silent pandemic” of drug resistance to mutated bacteria, viruses and parasites is gaining ground and requires major government investments in antibiotic research and development (R&D), a group of experts has warned. “People are dying across the world from drug-resistant infections. This is a problem of today, and […] Continue reading ->
While India’s COVID-19 pandemic continues to burn through that country’s health system, concerns are mounting that Latin America may become the next global pandemic flashpoint — issues that the World Health Organization (WHO) is rightly trying to highlight to its broad global constituency of policymakers, influencers, and the general public. All the more reason why […] Continue reading ->
The UK government has been accused of “using tactics reminiscent of the Trump era” after cutting millions in aid for family planning. Boris Johnson’s government is set to slash its commitment to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by 85% – from an expected contribution of £154m to just £23m – in an enormous blow […] Continue reading ->
Several African countries struggling with vaccine rollout programs are forced to donate COVID-19 vaccine doses to other countries before the lifesaving drugs expire, the Africa CDC revealed on Thursday. Details of the “donations” are sketchy, but Africa CDC director John Nkengasong, during a media briefing, disclosed how one African country, the Democratic Republic of Congo […] Continue reading ->
A new study of stroke patients hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic, has found a higher rate of young and healthy stroke victims, as compared to averages before the pandemic began. The researchers in 136 hospitals across 32 nations found that some 25% of stroke patients who had also been sick with COVID-19, were under the […] Continue reading ->
While aid is rushed to India, WHO’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called out rich countries to donate more “desperately needed” coronavirus vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean – in the face of persistently high levels of COVID-19 infections in that region, which has consistently been one of the hardest hit by the […] Continue reading ->
A handful of five countries that forcefully acted to eliminate COVID-19 transmission fared better over the duration of the pandemic than others – experiencing far fewer deaths, faster economic recovery, and the preservation of a greater range of personal liberties, according to a sweeping review, published in The Lancet on Thursday. The review of policies […] Continue reading ->
JOHANNESBURG – A new agreement to slash the price of HIV self-tests in half could ultimately assist eight million people estimated to be unaware of their HIV status to know they are infected – and get them on treatment. The agreement announced on Wednesday between the Geneva-based international health agency, Unitaid, and the US-based global […] Continue reading ->
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – Pakistan and its three estranged neighbouring countries – India, Iran and Afghanistan – are all struggling to restrain their large populations from attending deeply rooted and centuries-old cultural, religious festivals – so as to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region. The cultural, political, and religious gatherings in all four developing […] Continue reading ->
As India restricts COVID-19 vaccine exports to address its domestic surge, the World Health Organization (WHO) is poised to give the Chinese vaccine, Sinopharm, emergency use listing (EUL) this week – potentially catapulting China into becoming the biggest global supplier of COVID-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). However, Sinopharm is reported to be […] Continue reading ->