Buyers United: How Low- and Middle-Income Countries Can Get a Better Deal on Pharmaceuticals

04/07/2022 Iain Barton & René Berger

The wider use of pooled procurement in national health systems can help low- and middle-income countries get a better deal on pharmaceuticals – here’s how and why. Low- and middle-income countries are making strides in bolstering their domestic pharmaceutical sectors—evidenced by the recent deal between South Africa’s Afrigen Biologics and Belgium’s Univercells, to develop the […] Continue reading ->

DRC Declares End of 14th Ebola Outbreak -Vaccinations Reduced Deadly Virus Toll

04/07/2022 Editorial team

The Ebola outbreak that erupted on 23 April in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today was declared to be over by DRC and WHO authorities – with fewer cases and deaths than previous episodes thanks to a swift response including vaccinations. The outbreak erupted in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province in the country’s […] Continue reading ->

True Dimensions of Monkeypox Outbreak in Africa Obscured by Testing Gap

30/06/2022 Paul Adepoju

WHO and Africa CDC are trying to close a huge testing gap for monkeypox that has left some health workers reliant on symptomatic diagnosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) and African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) acknowledge they will not be able to gain a clear understanding of the monkeypox outbreak in […] Continue reading ->

WHO Considers if Monkeypox Constitutes a Global Health Emergency

23/06/2022 Raisa Santos & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

A World Health Organization emergency committee met Thursday to determine if the monkeypox outbreak spreading in non-endemic countries constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The closed door meeting, including 16 committee members and eight advisors, will make a recommendation to WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who will decide whether to designate […] Continue reading ->

How Scientists in Botswana Discovered Omicron: A Look at Diagnostics in LMICs

23/06/2022 Maayan Hoffman

The Global Health Matters podcast with host Garry Aslanyan. It was 11 November 2022 when Dr Sikhulile Moyo and his team of scientists in Botswana discovered Omicron in a sample of SARS-CoV2 that looked different from the rest. “We sent it back to the lab to have it re-sequenced,” Moyo recalled. But by 19 November, […] Continue reading ->

The Fuss Over Who Should Declare Public Health Emergencies in Africa

20/06/2022 Paul Adepoju

Africa CDC wants to be able to declare public health emergencies of continental security but the WHO warns this could be a risky move that could isolate African countries and create confusion regarding response. The World Health Organization’s African Regional Office (WHO AFRO) has found itself explaining its disapproval of the Africa CDC’s quest for […] Continue reading ->

Ukraine Warns of ‘Severe Food Shortage’ From Russian Invasion

15/06/2022 Raisa Santos

Russia’s ongoing refusal to let Ukranian grain lift its blockade of Black Sea ports is causing a global food crisis and has led to allegations that the country is weaponizing” the world’s food supply. Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the world will face a “severe food crisis” as Russia’s war continues […] Continue reading ->

African Solutions to African Problems: Reframing Science Innovation

10/06/2022 Quarraisha Abdool Karim

Africa has the scientific and intellectual capital to develop new interventions to tackle global health challenges. Particularly when local problems emerge, surely local research is the best path towards a solution. But pursuing this path requires funding that will support and promote the growth and expertise of Africa’s scientists. Africa is plagued by many epidemics […] Continue reading ->

Eritrea Has Yet to Start COVID-19 Vaccinations as Most African Countries Lag Far Behind Global Targets

09/06/2022 Kerry Cullinan

Eritrea has yet to start vaccinating its citizens against COVID-19, whereas two African countries – South Africa and Tunisia – are now offering citizens over 50 a second COVID-19 booster vaccine. However, but the vaccination rate on the continent is far behind the global vaccination target of 70%. Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director of […] Continue reading ->

Doubling of Monkeypox Cases Outside of Endemic Countries Raises New Alarm Bells at WHO

01/06/2022 Raisa Santos & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

In just a matter of three days, the number of monkeypox cases reported to WHO outside of central and west Africa has doubled – with reports Wednesday of some 550 cases in more than 30 countries outside of the countries where the disease is endemic, WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press […] Continue reading ->