The antiretroviral medicine lenacapavir, delivered via injection every six months, is almost completely effective in preventing HIV. But it is expensive at present, and millions will need to be initiated on it every year to make a dent on HIV transmission in South Africa. CAPE TOWN – South Africa has the biggest population of people […] Continue reading ->
African scientists, institutions and communities are helping advance the development of new TB vaccines. Governments must now work together to prepare national systems, secure fair pricing and ensure scientific progress leads to timely and equitable access. When I visited the University of Cape Town Lung Institute and the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) in […] Continue reading ->
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Ebola outbreak passed the 100-day mark on Monday with over 5,515 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths – and health experts warn that the response needs to be accelerated to bring the world’s fastest Ebola outbreak under control. While the case fatality rate is almost 48%, the DRC’s Ministry of […] Continue reading ->
BLANTYRE, MALAWI – As early as 6:30 am, Malawi’s community health workers are already scattered across urban and rural neighbourhoods, dressed in sky-blue uniforms with square cooler boxes slung over their shoulders. For four days in mid-August, health surveillance assistants (HSAs) across the country walked from door to door, administering the novel oral polio […] Continue reading ->
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – For nearly two years, Sierra Leone’s Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill has been stuck in a political and social tug-of-war that has little to do with the technical business of passing a health law. Instead, the country is wrestling with who gets to define reproductive health in the country: […] Continue reading ->
RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States’ rapid dismantling of its HIV funding since January 2025 has caused the worst financial crisis for the sector in decades – but the US government’s willingness to host an information session on its new America First Global Health Strategy on the eve of the International AIDS Conference earned […] Continue reading ->
RIO DE JANEIRO – Zambia is hopeful that it can reach an agreement with the United States to salvage funds for its HIV programme, but South Africa remains frozen out of any new US funding for its HIV programme, government officials told journalists at a media briefing at the International AIDS Conference on Wednesday. Last […] Continue reading ->
RIO DE JANEIRO – Donor funding for HIV dropped by 25% in 2025 – a staggering drop of $2.1 billion – driven by the United States slashing its funding, according to analyses by KFF and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This is the largest single-year drop ever, reducing funds to 2007 levels, according […] Continue reading ->
RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading ->
PRETORIA, South Africa – Multilateral agencies and funders urged African nations at last week’s Africa Clean Air Forum to speak the language of finance to attract investment in improving the continent’s air quality. Air pollution is the second leading risk for death in Africa after malnutrition. Four African countries feature in the top 10 most polluted […] Continue reading ->