Category: Global Health

We also look at whats happneing across the world

Texas doctor who promoted ivermectin as COVID treatment suspended from hospital

Healthtimes

A doctor was temporarily suspended from a Texas hospital on Friday for promoting anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a COVID treatment on Twitter. Dr Mary Bowden, an ear, nose throat doctor at Houston Methodist Hospital, had recently joined the staff before she had her privileges revoked. She had posted a series of pro-ivermectin tweets on her social media and also slammed the vaccine mandate. ‘Ivermectin might not be as deadly as everyone said it was,’ she had tweeted on November 10. ‘Speak up!’ The drug ivermectin has not been approved by…

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Urgent need for vaccine to prevent deadly Group B streptococcus

Michael Gwarisa

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) reveals the alarming global impact of Group B streptococcus (GBS) – a common bacterium that can be transmitted in the womb, during birth, or in the early weeks of life – leading to around 150,000 deaths of babies each year, more than half a million preterm births and significant long-term disability. The report calls urgently for the development of maternal vaccines against GBS to reduce this toll, emphasizing they could be…

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Dr Tedros Runs Unopposed For WHO Director General Post Second Term

Michael Gwarisa

THE incumbent World Health Organization (WHO) Director General emerged the preferred candidate to head the global health institution for the next five years. By Michael Gwarisa According to a statement that was released by WHO, the election process began when Member States, through a circular letter sent by the WHO Secretariat in April 2021, were invited to submit proposals for candidates for the Director-General position. The deadline for submission of proposals was 23 September 2021. The appointment of the next Director-General of the World Health Organization will take place at…

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CDC Tells UK To Reconsider Vaccination Linked Travel Ban

Healthtimes

THE Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a Specialised Technical Institution of the African Union, has issued a statement asking the United Kingdom (UK) government to reconsider their recent intended ban on travel for foreigners who would have received  other vaccines outside the United Kingdon. According to the U.K government, the restrictions which will be enforced starting at 4:00 am on Monday 4th October 2021. According to U.K government sources1, the new rules will discriminate between the recipients of COVID-19 vaccines not based on the vaccine received…

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WHO Recommends Newest COVID-19 Treatment…As MSF Calls For Equal Access To The Medications

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the two-drug treatment cocktail, casirivimab/imdevimab, for people with COVID-19. HealthTimes Reporter The development comes in the midst of calls by the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on the US pharmaceutical corporation Regeneron, the manufacturer and patent holder of these drugs, to take immediate actions to ensure the medications are affordable and accessible for everyone who needs them and forego any monopoly on these new treatments. Given the massive need for COVID-19 medicines around the world, Regeneron should make casirivimab and imdevimab available at a reasonable…

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MSF Turns Heat On Global Leaders To Ensure Equitable Vaccines Distribution

Michael Gwarisa

THE Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is capitalising on the ongoing United Nations (UN) General Assembly to pressure leading global leaders and vaccines manufacturers to remove restrictions on vaccines access for low and middle income countries. By Michael Gwarisa Dr. Maria Guevara, the MSF International Medical Secretary who is attending the UN general assembly  highlighted the urgent need for concrete  actions that should be taken to turn a corner on the COVID-19 pandemic. The global response to the pandemic has failed to deliver equal and equitable access to date, with the…

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UK Aid Cut On Global AIDS Response Deals Major Blow To AIDS Progress

Healthtimes

A new report has warned that the world is gradually sleepwalking towards a new AIDS emergency  following the United Kingodom’s decision to cut its level of official development assistance from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income. Health Reporter According to the report titled, Jeopardising Progress: Impact of UK Government AIDS Cuts on HIV/AIDS Worldwide, there is urgent need for action to get the HIV response back on track. The report also shows how COVID-19 has disrupted HIV services, leading to significant declines in HIV testing and referrals to treatment…

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Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown Appointed WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organization today announced the appointment of The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing. Mr Brown is widely credited with preventing a second Great Depression through his stewardship of the 2009 London G20 summit. He mobilized world leaders to commit an additional $1.1 trillion to restore credit, growth and jobs to help the world economy through the global financial crisis. Health Reporter More recently, Mr Brown has tirelessly called on wealthy nations as well as the…

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Skipping Breakfast Increases Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes In Adults- Study

Healthtimes

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL studies have indicated that breakfast skipping is associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. According to a recent study, there was a greater risk of type 2 diabetes in adults who skipped breakfast as compared to those adhered to a consistent breakfast routine. The study looked at data on 96,175 people to see if skipping breakfast had an impact on their health. What they found, was that the more people skipped breakfast – the more days a week – the higher their risk of type 2 diabetes,” said Cleveland…

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A New Virus ‘Nipah,’ Deadlier Than COVID-19 Emerges In India, Kills Boy 12

Healthtimes

A 12-year-old boy has died in India of Nipah, a rare virus that is far deadlier than COVID-19 — and one that health officials have long feared could start a global pandemic. The unidentified boy died Sunday at a hospital in Kerala, the southern state already battling the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the hard-hit country, officials there said. He had already visited two other hospitals before his death, putting him in contact with potentially hundreds of people — with up to 11 showing potential symptoms, NDTV reported. Previous…

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