Health

A global coalition set up to fight disease epidemics is investing up to $8.4 million to develop a synthetic vaccine system that could be tailor-made to fight multiple pathogens such as flu, Ebola, Marburg and Rabies. The deal, between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and a team of scientists at Britain’s Imperial College London, is aimed at progressing ...

Chinese scientists have designed a new biodegradable and bioactive material that can enhance wound-healing and skin regeneration. It is difficult for skin wounds to completely heal in cases of large-area burns, severe microbial infections and diabetes. Chronic wounds greatly increase the pain and medical costs of patients. There is, therefore, a great need for biomedical materials that can facilitate wound-healing ...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has charged African governments to improve funding support for HIV testing, care and treatment. WHO said that the improved funding support would ensure all citizens get access to the services they need to live productive lives. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said this on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in her message ...

The International Rescue Committee on Friday, November 30, 2018 said an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the second-worst in history. “As of today, the outbreak has seen 426 cases of infection, 245 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 57 per cent,’’ the U.S. humanitarian organisation said in a statement. The ...

A university don has urged nations to resort to the use of information, communication and technology (ICT) in biological diversity conservation efforts. Prof. Moussa Moustafa, vice president and dean, Faculty of Information Systems and Computer Science, October 6 University in Egypt, told a side event at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Sharm El Sheik that ICT offers hope in eradicating ...

At the first Galien Forum Africa held from November 27 to 28, 2018, the policy and advocacy action tank, “Speak Up Africa”, launched a multisectoral platform designed to accelerate the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa. NTDs are a group of communicable diseases that affect 1.58 billion people globally, 39% of whom live in Africa. Even though these ...

Malaria infections rose for the second year in a row in 2017, following half a decade of decreases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Monday, November 19, 2018. In its annual malaria report, the UN health agency estimated 219 million cases in 2017, 2 million more than in 2016. “As progress stagnates, we are at risk of squandering years ...

During the World Summit for Innovation in Health Care (WISH), the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa to support the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN). Within the United Nations, the WHO directs international health and leads partners in global health response. The WHO ...

A high percentage of skin lighteners sold worldwide contain dangerous levels of mercury, according to test results contained in a new report by the Zero Mercury Working Group. In 2017 and 2018, 338 skin-lightening creams from 22 countries were collected and tested for mercury. Ten per cent of the creams (34 creams) had mercury concentrations vary many times higher than ...

As countries strive to comply with the 1ppm mercury content cutoff provision pertaining to cosmetics in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a new study has listed a range of measures by which to reduce exposure to mercury from skin lighteners. It also explores renewed opportunities for collaboration with all levels of government and civil society. Scheduled for release at the ...