Category: Global Health

We also look at whats happneing across the world

Gates Foundation’s Annual Goalkeepers Report shows COVID-19 has stalled 20 years of progress, calls for a global response to end the pandemic

Healthtimes

THE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched its fourth annual  Goalkeepers Report, featuring new data showing how the ripple effects of COVID-19 have stopped 20 years of progress toward the  United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). HealthTimes Reporter The report shows how economic damage has reinforced inequities in Africa and derailed achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; spotlights countries innovating to meet challenges. The report provides the most contemporary global data set for how the pandemic is affecting progress toward the Global Goals, showing that, by nearly…

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Unhealthy Commodity Industries & COVID-19: Alcohol Manufactures, Fast Foods and Beverages Makers Exploit COVID-19 For Commercial Gains

Michael Gwarisa

BEER companies adapting their logos to lung icons, burger companies geo-tracking customers with the lure of lockdown freebies, and soft drink giants donating thousands of cans to the homes of struggling communities in Mexico illustrate the multitude of ways in which unhealthy commodity industries have leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic for commercial gain, a new report has exposed today, launched during the 3rd Global Week for Action on NCDs. Signalling Virtue, Promoting Harm: Unhealthy commodity industries and COVID-19, authored by the NCD Alliance and the SPECTRUM Consortium, is a preliminary exposé…

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COVID-19: Children From Poorest Households Have Suffered Greatest Loss Says Latest Save The Children Survey

Healthtimes

THE COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the education of children from poorer backgrounds and is widening the gap between rich and poor and boys and girls, a new global survey by Save the Children revealed today. Save the Children conducted the largest global survey of its kind among some 25,000 children and adults on the impact of the pandemic and according to the survey, over the past  six months since the pandemic was announced, the most vulnerable children have disproportionately missed out on access to education, healthcare,…

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Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Paused After Participant Develops Rare Illness Says AstraZeneca

Healthtimes

LATE-stage trials for a leading coronavirus vaccine have been suspended after a study participant suffered a “potentially unexplained illness”. AstraZeneca has put on hold phase three trials of a vaccine being developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford. The Australian Government last month signed an agreement with the UK-based company to secure the potential COVID-19 vaccine, if its trials prove successful. In a statement, AstraZeneca said it “voluntarily paused” the phase 3 clinical trial — which kicked off in July — to allow a review of the “single event”…

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New collaboration between Novartis and Africa Medical Supplies Platform To Facilitate Supply Of COVID-19 Related Medicines

Michael Gwarisa

THE African Union through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) has integrated vetted medical suppliers to ensure rapid access to affordable COVID-19 related supplies The collaboration aims to help alleviate supply and logistical constraints in the African Union member states; Portfolio of 15 generic and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines from Sandoz division will be sold at zero-profit to governments through Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) to 55 African and 15 Caricom eligible countries; the African Union through the AMSP has integrated vetted medical suppliers to ensure rapid access to affordable COVID-19…

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Condomless sex sufficient to pass on hepatitis C between men

Michael Gwarisa

INVESTIGATIONS have concluded that  Hepatitis C transmission during anal sex can take place without bleeding, trauma or sharing of injecting equipment and exposure to semen. HealthTimes The  intensive investigations  are well documented in the  United States report in the journal PLOS ONE where  ten cases of recent hepatitis C infection in eight gay men living with HIV were conducted. The study was designed to investigate whether blood exposure is necessary for hepatitis C transmission during anal intercourse or if the virus can be passed on through condomless anal intercourse without…

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New UNAIDS Report Raise Concerns Over Human Rights Abuse For Persons Living With HIV, Key Populations & Health Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

Michael Gwarisa

A new report published by the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has noted high incidences of human rights abuse for health workers, persons living with HIV and key populations at high risk of HIV infection since the pandemic was reported in several countries. By Michael Gwarisa The report, “Rights in a pandemic – Lockdowns, rights and lessons from HIV in the early response to COVID-19″   is a snapshot in time, focusing on the very early days of the pandemic, from February till mid-May 2020, drawing attention to…

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WHO Reports 90% Disruptions To Key Health Services Since COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a first indicative survey on the impact of COVID-19 on health systems based on 105 countries’ reports amidst data collected from five regions over the period from March to June 2020  which illustrate that almost every country (90%) experienced disruption to its health services, with low- and middle-income countries reporting the greatest difficulties. HealthTimes Most countries reported that many routine and elective services have been suspended, while critical care – such as cancer screening and treatment and HIV therapy – has seen high-risk…

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Africa Declared Polio Free, WHO Director Salutes Partners

Healthtimes

Africa Regional Certification Commission certified the WHO African Region as wild polio-free after four years without a case. With this historic milestone, five of the six WHO regions – representing over 90% of the world’s population – are now free of the wild poliovirus, moving the world closer to achieving global polio eradication. Only two countries worldwide continue to see wild poliovirus transmission: Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) congratulates the national governments of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region for today’s achievement. Ending wild…

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Dapirivirine Ring Not Substitute For Other HIV Prevention Methods- Dr Mgodi

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi MBChB, MMed, Investigator of Record, HPTN-084 Zimbabwe – University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences Clinical Trials Research Centre, and HPTN Executive Committee Member

THE Dapirivirine Vaginal Ring, a new effective HIV prevention tool for women, is not a substitute for existing  HIV prevention methods but rather an innovation to expand prevention options for women, Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi an HIV expert and histopathologist   has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Twitter Question and Answer session that was organized by HealthTimes, Dr Mgodi said women need safe and effective biomedical HIV prevention strategies for use throughout their lives and the Dapirivirine ring presented women with such an opportunity. Studies of other HIV prevention…

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