Category: AFRICA

Africa Accelerates Genomic Science to Tackle Epidemic Threats

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Addis Ababa Africa is increasingly becoming the frontline of global disease outbreaks. According to data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent recorded a 40% increase in outbreaks, from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024. In the past year alone, Africa has battled multiple health threats, including a deadly cholera outbreak in Southern Africa, escalating cases of Mpox in Central and East Africa, and Marburg and Ebola outbreaks in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda respectively. While many of these outbreaks…

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Africa CDC Urges Media to Champion Health Security at Journalist Workshop in Addis Ababa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Ethiopia ADDIS ABABA: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has urged African journalists to play a more active role in combating disease outbreaks and the growing threat of health misinformation, as the second continental media roundtable workshop opened today in Addis Ababa. In his opening remarks, Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director General of Africa CDC, highlighted the media’s unique ability to influence public perception and promote accurate health information across the continent. You shape narratives, fight misinformation, and connect institutions like Africa…

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Tsitsi Masiyiwa Leads Launch of $500 Million Fund to Save Newborn Lives Across Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a monumental step toward improving maternal and newborn health in Africa, Tsitsi Masiyiwa has led the launch of the Beginnings Fund, a $500 million initiative aimed at saving the lives of newborns and their mothers across sub-Saharan Africa. Announced by her husband, billionaire philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa, the fund was borne out of a heartbreaking story shared on a Zoom call—about a woman who lost her triplets in a hospital. The grief sparked a powerful response from Tsitsi and her global partners, turning sorrow into a force…

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Malaria Linked to Childhood Cancer in New Study

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa  A groundbreaking new study published in The Journal of Immunology has unveiled how Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the deadliest strain of the parasite, contributes directly to the development of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) — the most common childhood cancer in equatorial Africa and New Guinea. The findings offer the strongest evidence yet linking malaria and childhood cancer, and could have far-reaching implications for cancer prevention strategies in malaria-endemic regions like Zimbabwe. Although scientists have long observed a correlation between P. falciparum malaria and Burkitt lymphoma, the biological mechanism behind…

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Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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Rampant Sexual Networks Hinder Mpox Response in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Efforts to curb the spread of Mpox among African Union member states remain a challenge due to widespread and interconnected sexual networks, HealthTimes has learned. Uganda currently leads in new Mpox cases, accounting for 50% of all recorded infections in Africa over the past six weeks. The majority of cases in Uganda stem from the Clade 1B strain, which is sexually transmitted. Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have collectively recorded 94% of confirmed cases since the beginning of the year. Speaking during the…

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CheckUp Health’s AI-Powered Healthcare Innovation Earns International Recognition

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter  CheckUp Health, a pioneering AI-powered healthcare platform founded by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Fungai Ndemera, has gained international acclaim after being shortlisted as a finalist in two categories at the prestigious Medilink Midlands Business Awards 2025 in the UK. The nominations—Delivering Innovation into Health and Care and Advances in Digital Healthcare—underscore CheckUp Health’s commitment to transforming primary healthcare through cutting-edge digital solutions. With a mission to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency, CheckUp Health has made significant strides in digital health innovation. The platform, which has been successfully implemented in…

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Africa CDC Hosts Mental Health Leadership Program In Harare to Address Growing Crisis in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa A 10-day Mental Health Leadership Program has kicked off in Harare, Zimbabwe, amid growing calls for governments to prioritize mental health as a public health emergency, HealthTimes has learned. The training program, aimed at equipping leaders from various sectors with the necessary skills and capacity to address the growing burden of mental health-related challenges on the continent, is being hosted by the University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with the  Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC). The programme is supported by Wellcome Trust and will run from…

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Africa CDC Confirms Mpox Vaccine Production to Start in 2025

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, told a media briefing that local production of the Mpox vaccine on the continent will commence this year, although he did not provide specific timelines. In 2024, Africa CDC partnered with Bavarian Nordic to enhance vaccine manufacturing capabilities within Africa. The partnership aims to strengthen health security across the continent. We have the outcome; we have now started discussions with the successful bidders,” said Dr. Kaseya. “At the moment, we are finalizing some…

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