25th August, 2010
Malaria Infection Rate goes Down in Mtwara District
The Citizen (March 22, 2011)
The malaria infection rate decreased by five per cent in Mtwara District last year.The Malaria coordinator in the Mtwara District Council, Mr Fedson Magafu, told The Citizen over the weekend that the battle against the killer disease was more successful last year than in 2009.
He said in that year about 64,809 cases of malaria were detected from various health facilities in the council. However, in 2010 the number decreased to 61,637 cases, showing a five per cent decrease
Read the full article here
WHO Announces Essential Drugs to Treat Maternal and Child Health Problems
Ghana News Agency (March 21, 2011)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday released a list of about 30 medicines, which are essential for treating common diseases of mothers and children. The medicines used for maternal and child health-related problems was complied by experts in maternal and child health and medicines who analysed the WHO list of essential medicines to know which medicines would save lives most.
Read the full article here
Uncertainty Over Role for Traditional Birth Attendants
IPS News (March 15, 2011)
When the ban on traditional birth attendants was lifted last year, pregnant women quickly appeared at Dorothy Chirwa's door in Malombe village in Mangochi, a district on the southern shores of Lake Malawi. Chirwa was among the thousands of TBAs banned from providing women with care in 2007.
Read the full article here
African Society for Laboratory Medicine to kickoff in Addis Ababa
New Business Ethiopia (March 11, 2011)
Laboratory medicine professionals will convene in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia from March 14–16, 2011, to officially launch the newly established African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM). The meeting will bring together officials from African Ministries of Health and leading organisations and associations in laboratory systems strengthening from Africa and around the world.
Read the full article here
40 Percent of Murang'a Babies Born At Home, Says Medic
Nairobi Star (March 10, 2011)
A Murang'a medic has raised concern over the increasing cases of home deliveries in the district. Murang'a District Hospital boss Dr Charles Kigo said more than 40 percent of babies are born at home as mothers have ignored the need for antenatal care.
Read the full article here
US Funding to Train 140,000 African Health Workers
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (March 10, 2011)
The United States is spending up to $130 million over five years to develop, expand, and enhance medical education in African countries that receive support from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In the process, the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) aims to train 140,000 new African health care workers and, in order to encourage their retention on the continent, to build clinical and research capacity in Africa.
Read the full article here
US And Partners Commit Science to Saving Mothers And Babies
AllAfrica.com (March 9, 2011)
The United States -- joined by Canada, Norway and other partners -- announced an initiative March 9 to commit science and technology to saving more lives in rural, underdeveloped villages around the world. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton explained the U.S. commitment to the development initiative, Saving Lives at Birth, at a Washington press conference.
Full Article at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201103100036.html
Fear Battles Fatalism in Africa's AIDS Fight
Reuters (March 9, 2010)
Messages from years of AIDS campaigns are finally filtering down to the dingy streets of Johannesburg where sex workers turn tricks. But all of that can vanish in an instant when a customer offers a little more cash to have sex without a condom.
Full Article at: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/308281/fear-battles-fatalism-africas-aids-fight
MPs Pass Generic Drug Bill after Push from K'naan
CTV News (March 10, 2011)
Rapper K'naan said Canada must "step up" to save lives in the developing world and MPs heeded his call Wednesday, passing an NDP private member's bill that will make low-cost generic drugs more readily available to millions of people in Africa.
Full Article at: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110309/knaan-africa-drugs-bill-ndp-110309/
K’naan Presses MPs to help World’s Poor as Generic-drug Vote Looms
The Globe and Mail (March 8, 2011)
"I’m taking time away from recording my new album to support Bill C-393 to help get affordable, life-saving medicines to people who need them most. Growing up in Africa , I saw first hand the terrible consequences of diseases like AIDS, TB and malaria," K'naan said in an email to The Globe and Mail on Tuesday.
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Tacaids Probes Reports on HIV/AIDS `Medicine`
IPP Media (March 8, 2011)
The Tanzania Commission for AIDS (Tacaids) and other health stakeholders have deployed a team of experts to Loliondo to investigate reports that a retired priest has discovered herbal medicines for curing HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer, asthma and hypertension.
Full Article at: http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=26792
AMREF Helps Gongo la Mboto Victims
In 2 EastAfrica (March 7, 2011)
AMREF in Tanzania launched a three-day training to 20 health care workers who will provide psychological and counselling to Gongo la Mboto bomb blast victims.
Full Article at: http://in2eastafrica.net/amref-helps-gongo-la-mboto-victims/
Jonathan tasks African leaders on HIV/AIDS, TB control – The Guardian
The Guardian (March 4, 2011)
President Goodluck Jonathan has decried the increasing rise in Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Africa, urging the continent’s leaders to adopt policies and legislations that would strengthen its poor health systems.
Read the full article here
Canoe Sporting to Promote Tourism and AMREF's Work in Uganda
allAfrica.com (November 17, 2010)
Uganda has launched a canoe sporting event on Lake Victoria to promote the country's tourism potential and raise funds for health projects.
A team of Ugandan journalists, Kenyans and members of the Italian Canoe Federation on Tuesday flagged off the Lake Victoria Kayak Expedition from the Source of River Nile in Jinja to Kisumu in Kenya. The journey will take five days.
Full Article at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201011180196.html
Katine project: The Lessons Learned
The Guardian (November 11, 2010)
The Guardian invited a panel of experts to discuss the lessons learned from the Katine development project. Read Madeleine Bunting's analysis of the event and see the edited highlights on video.
Full Article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2010/nov/11/katine-project-lessons-learned
Nation Tops Region in Infant, Maternal Health
allAfrica.com (November 1, 2010)
Rwanda has been ranked top in the Eastern Africa by the Partnership for Maternal, New born and Child Health (PMNCH), in the fight against child mortality and maternal deaths.
Speaking to The New Times, Dr Flavia Bustreo, the organisation's director, attributed the country's success to political commitment towards eliminating child and maternal mortality.
Full Article at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201011010548.html
Kenya Hard Hit by Mortality Rates
Capital News (October 29, 2010)
Kenya is still grappling with high maternal and child mortality rates, with at least 8,000 mothers dying annually despite the problem being preventable.
Reproductive Health Technical Advisor Dr Gathari Ndirangu said on Friday that the number of mothers dying during pregnancy, child birth and immediately after delivery due to complications that arise was still unacceptably high.
Full Article at: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Kenya-hard-hit-by-mortality-rates-10340.html#ixzz142KMfV2o
AMREF Tightens up Monitoring after Lapse over Katine Wells
The Guardian (October 28, 2010)
AMREF has been forced to tighten up its financial monitoring practices following concerns over the distribution of money for the water component of the Katine project in north-east Uganda.
Full Article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2010/oct/26/katine-water-monitoring
Why Misdiagnosis is Such a Bitter Pill
The Standard (October 25, 2010)
It was supposed to be a simple procedure to reverse the side effects of an anti-malarial drug for the 29-year-old woman. A week earlier, her eyes had turned yellow. But the moment she set foot in the first medical facility, Veronica Kirigo’s life changed dramatically.What she thought was routine treatment became a life threatening condition.
One year down the road, all her resources were drained as she began numerous laboratory tests which yielded nothing but more worry.
Full Article at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000020961&cid=159&
New Plan to Fight TB
Sowetan Live (October 14, 2010)
THE World Health Organisation yesterday unveiled a revised plan to combat TB, which kills about 2million people every year worldwide. The Global Plan to Stop TB will focus more on scientific research and new technologies to improve testing methods, treatment drugs and finding a vaccine.
Its objectives are to ensure universal access to healthcare to all TB patients and to increase the global cure rate from 86percent to 90percent.
Full Article at: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2010/10/14/new-plan-to-fight-tb
4,500 Lives at Risk as AIDS Clinic Shuts
Daily Monitor (October 12, 2010)
At least 4,447 children living with HIV face intensified agony after an institution caring for them announced likely closure of its support programme due to a funding shortfall. Dr Emmanuel Luyirika, the country director for Mildmay Uganda, said they are broke and could freeze paediatric services within six months.
Full Article at: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1031034/-/cmhm07z/-/
Breakthrough in Malaria
Top News (October 11, 2010)
In a massive discovery of recent time related to malaria, scientists have found out the way the parasite that causes malaria is able to resist the drug that is used to fight it. The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
The scientists have taken a note of the gene that is responsible for the resistance that is shown by the parasite and the infection it causes. The parasite is known to counter the drug artemisinin.
Full Article at: http://topnews.co.uk/214444-breakthrough-malaria
Africa in Quest for Local Drugs
Daily Nation (October 11, 2010)
Countries across the continent have joined hands to form the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) to strengthen research towards developing homegrown pharmaceutical products tailored to local health needs.
The network’s 12 member board that will lead the initiative, and on which Kenya sits on behalf of East Africa, was launched in Nairobi on Monday.
Full Article at: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Africa%20in%20quest%20for%20local%20drugs/-/1056/1030500/-/df9584z/-/
U.S. Will Increase AIDS Fund Donation
The Wall Street Journal (October 5, 2010)
The Obama administration is expected on Tuesday to announce a large increase in its pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and to call for reform of the organisation.
The pledge of $4 billion over the next three fiscal years to the Geneva-based organization comes as governments and donors around the world have slowed increases in spending to combat HIV/AIDS, with weaker economies straining budgets.
Full Article At: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704847104575532443902592212.html
‘No HIV Drugs, No Vote’ Campaign On
Daily Monitor (September 17, 2010)
People living with HIV have started a “no HIV drugs, no vote” campaign ahead of the 2011 general elections to propel candidates to prioritise HIV/AIDS treatment in their manifestos. The group, comprising people living with AIDS and activists, said they would not vote for any candidate who does not have plan on combating HIV/AIDS.
Full Article At: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1012412/-/cnowdnz/-/
Kenya Urged to Make Fistula Cure Free
Captial News (September 15, 2010)
AMREF has called on the government to make treatment of fistula, a medical condition affecting women, free. Project Manager, Reproductive Health Dr Khisa Wakasiaka told Capital News that treatment of fistula, a condition caused by obstructed labour during childbirth should be made accessible like it is with HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
Full Article at: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Kenya-urged-to-make-fistula-cure-free-9831.html
Financing Public Health in Africa
Inter Press Service (September 14, 2010)
Campaigners for increased health financing welcome the commitment by African Union member states to direct more resources to health. But the needs of the continent seem to dwarf available budgets. Africa, is home to 12 percent of the world’s population, yet accounts for 22 percent of the total global disease burden. More than 68 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS are also found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Thomas Kibua says even if every African states were to increase allocation to the health sector to 15 percent, none of the three health-related millennium development goals will be achieved.
Full Article at: http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=52832
New Report Says Investment in Malaria Prevention Pays Off
VOA News (September 14, 2010)
A new report by health experts at several top universities in the United States and the World Health Organization says money spent on programs to prevent malaria work and have saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in 34 African countries over the last 10 years.
Full Article at: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/New-Report-Says-Investment-in-Malaria-Prevention-Pays-Off-102910964.html
Tribes in Kenya Wage Water War
In These Times (September 6, 2010)
As tribal warfare rages over increasingly scarce water and grazing land, armed battles over cattle are becoming more destructive and spreading across national borders. Exhausted by the 110-degree temperature, Loochi Kidewa walks beside his cattle and goats with the rest of his tribe toward an underground spring. Nervous, they approach the water guardedly. Loochi abruptly swings the AK-47 strapped across his shoulders and fires randomly into the distant hills, only to be reprimanded by a man walking by him for wasting ammunition.
Full Article at: http://inthesetimes.com/article/6335/tribes_in_kenya_wage_water_war
New Two-Hour TB Test
Integrated Regional Information Networks - IRIN (September 5, 2010)
A new, accurate, easy-to-use test can diagnose tuberculosis (TB) - including drug-resistant strains of the disease - in less than two hours. It has the potential to save thousands of lives in developing countries, where current tests are often unreliable, take weeks to process, or are simply unavailable.
Full Article at: http://us.oneworld.net/article/369456-new-two-hour-tb-test
Malaria Drugs Sent to Africa Being Stolen at High Rate
VaccineNewsDaily.com (September 3, 2010)
A recent study has shown that free malaria drugs sent to Africa by international donors are being stolen and resold on commercial markets. From 2007 to 2009, American and British experts randomly bought malaria medicines from 11 private pharmacies in African cities. Of 894 samples, 58 were found to have been supposedly donated to government hospitals and clinics, according to the report. This was particularly true for artemesinin combination drugs, which are among the best for treatment of malaria, the AP reports. In 2007, it was found that 15 percent of the donated drug had been stolen for resale. This year, it was found that nearly 30 percent had been stolen.
Full Article at: http://vaccinenewsdaily.com/news/215109-malaria-drugs-sent-to-africa-being-stolen-at-high-rate
How to Worsen Africa's Health Crisis
Wall Street Journal (August 30, 2010)
Faced with Africa's devastation by HIV/AIDS, people are looking for scapegoats. Global pressure groups and now the World Health Organization are targeting "Big Pharma." The drug companies do make easy targets but that doesn't make them villains. The life-saving treatments they create remain Africa's best hope. The misguided battle against pharmaceutical companies' patent rights will only make Africa's health crisis worse.
Full Article at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703578104575396931433315508.html
The HIV Shift
The Independent (August 25, 2010)
New studies in Uganda show that married or co-habiting couples today stand a higher risk of contracting HIV than single or young people. This marks an astonishing shift in the pandemic's infection patterns in the country.
Full Article at: http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/features/features/42-features/3379-the-hiv-shift
South Africa Becomes a Victim of its ARV Treatment Success
IPS News (August 24, 2010)
South Africans are already on life long antiretorviral (ARV) Treatment and this number is supposed to triple in the next decade if the South African government keeps to its implementation plan. But the proepect of the government being able to meet its target is being threatened by a lack of funds.
Full Article at: http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=52572
South Sudan State Blames Spread of HIV/AIDS on Ignorance
Sudan Tribune (August 23, 2010)
A branch of southern Sudan's HIV/AIDS Commission says that ignorance and communication breakdown is hindering the efforts to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
Full Article at: http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article36048
