Reviving science in Sierra Leone
The Science Granting Councils Initiative is helping Sierra Leone’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation Council recover from the impact of Ebola.
Plates and spoons to tackle malnutrition in Malawi
Meal planning initiative post Cyclone Freddy in Malawi ensures nutrition, fostering recovery and well-being.
Raspberry pill shields kids from TB threat
The TB drug is both affordable and child friendly.
Health surge coordination
Over 90 per cent of African countries should be able to coordinate healthcare worker surges and other emergency measures within five years under a new plan.
Malawi battles breast cancer
Intensive training equips Malawi’s health workforce to educate women in rural areas about breast cancer.
Climate pledges ‘fail farmers’
Farmers comprise 60 per cent of Africa’s population but climate pledges leave them out in the cold, say activists.
Africa climate tech ‘missing’
Systems for monitoring weather and water in Africa are “missing, outmoded or malfunctioning”, researchers warn.
Anthrax spreads in West Africa
Anthrax outbreak in West Africa underscores vital need for funding vaccinations.
‘Regulate online bushmeat sales’
Governments should regulate bushmeat sales to protect species biodiversity and public health, a study says.
The attraction of push-pull
Researchers say that a technology implemented in western Kenya reduced pest numbers while increasing maize yields.
Uganda’s anti-gay law sparks rage
There are concerns that the law will affect access to health care in vulnerable communities’.
AI predicts African crop yields
Artificial Intelligence tool uses satellite remote sensing to predict agricultural output across 47 countries.
Nigeria eyes health scale-up
President’s pledges to scale up national health insurance must come with action on health worker shortages, say analysts.
‘Tough’ rice beats flooding
Two flood-resistant rice varieties are sustaining small-scale African farmers affected by climate change.
Uganda’s anti-gay bill
The anti-homosexual bill would increase stigma and discrimination of LGBTQ people and limit HIV care, warn campaigners.
Malaria shot okayed without WHO
Approval of a new malaria vaccine for children in Ghana and Nigeria will reduce child deaths, say experts.
Food taboos fuel malnutrition in pregnancy
Food taboos lead to nutrient deficiencies and perpetuate malnutrition in families.
Tanzania fights Marburg cases
Rapid response teams have been sent to Tanzania to investigate its first-ever Marburg outbreak, says the WHO.
Nigeria faces diphtheria surge
Vaccination gaps have led to more than 60 deaths from the disease, say heath experts.
Unlocking Africa’s livestock potential
First African director of global livestock research institute pledges to improve resilience through innovation.
Nigeria’s currency scarcity hits healthcare
The scarcity of new bank notes has hampered access to healthcare services, putting lives at risk.
Africa steps up GM crop production
African scientists are increasingly turning to genetic engineering technology to improve crop yields, biotechnology experts say.
Rains to fail again
The Horn of Africa ‘urgently requires’ US$2.4 billion to avert a drought crisis.
Solar geoengineering persists despite concerns
An NGO has doubled its grants for research into the impacts of solar radiation management in developing countries.
Power cuts ‘undermining research’
South African researchers say that the continuing energy crisis is harming the integrity of their work.
Increasing vaccine production
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of vaccine production in Sub-Saharan Africa.
COVID-19 and R&D spending
Innovations for food security
Three tech innovators in Africa win US$1.5 million prize to scale up their innovations for aiding food security.
Higher COVID-19 death risk in pregnancy
Researchers say COVID-19 vaccination must be prioritised in women of reproductive age to cut risk of death in pregnancy.
Nature waives fees
Company expands waiver programme for researchers from low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) to include flagship titles
AI used to predict mosquito’s age
A machine learning technique that predicts the ages of mosquitoes is a win for malaria control, say researchers.
Why Malawi has cholera outbreak
Inadequate support for Malawi’s water and sanitation sector is fuelling the continuing cholera outbreak.
Halting pesticides misuse
Tackle smallholders’ misuse of pesticides in agriculture by enforcing regulations, says an expert.
Bright future for African astronomers
African astronomy is in a “golden age”.
New tool for HIV prevention
Zimbabwe approves a long-acting injectable drug for use by HIV-negative people to cut the risk of acquiring HIV.
Kenya opens door to GM food
Kenya’s decision to lift a ten-year-old ban on GM foods could boost biotechnology R&D and food security.
Call to halt forest loss from mining
Policies to halt mining-induced deforestation are critical as demand for minerals grows, say environment experts.
Struggling to end open defecation
Africa will likely miss the SDG target of ending open defecation by 2030 as basic sanitation remains lacking.
Kenyans bolster potato output
A community action project that uses tissue culture technology is aiding higher yields of potato in Kenya.
Nigeria tackles emerging diseases
West African scientists can now diagnose emerging diseases in 24 hours thanks to a high-tech Nigerian lab.
Malaria vaccine data ‘best yet’
Scientists behind a new malaria vaccine say it was up to 80 per cent effective in trials on children in West Africa.
Africa faces burgeoning food bill
Africa’s annual food import costs will surge if food production issues are not tackled, say experts.
Educating farmers on fall armyworm
A multi-pronged communication campaign helps farmers beat the destructive crop pest in Rwanda.
Africa battles climate injustice
Africa is hit hard by climate change despite contributing less than four per cent of global carbon emissions.
GM soybean boosts yields
Researchers genetically alter soybean plants to use sunlight more efficiently, increasing yields by a third.
Nigeria eyes HPV vaccine rollout
Nigeria plans to include HPV vaccines in routine immunisation to curb cervical cancer but costs remain prohibitive.
Cassava disease discovery unveiled
Researchers discover a gene resistant to the destructive cassava mosaic disease, paving the way for better varieties.
Gearing up against the Marburg virus
Africa must activate public health measures at border controls to contain the spread of Marburg, urge experts.
Tackling Africa’s flooding problem
African governments need to create sustainable drainage systems and enforce laws to help combat flooding.
Monkeypox rapidly spreading
The WHO has declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern barely two years after it declared covid-19 the same.
Boosting COVID-19 vaccines uptake
Africa is seeing increased uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, which could help high-risk individuals, experts say.
Young lives at risk as heat rises
About 6,000 heat-related deaths a year in Africa could be avoided if Paris climate target is achieved, say researchers.
‘Equity gap’ in genomics tech
Genomics technology is driving advances in medical science but lower-income countries are missing out, warns WHO.
Funding push for malaria, NTDs
Country leaders and donors commit to eliminating malaria and NTDs at key summit in Kigali.
Monkeypox surveillance needed
Good surveillance and diagnostics are central to containing monkeypox which is spreading rapidly worldwide.
Shorter, effective TB treatment
Nigeria aims for nationwide rollout of a shorter TB treatment regimen after an initial success in four states.
Improve antibiotics access to beat ‘silent pandemic’
The ‘silent pandemic’ of antimicrobial resistance can be beaten by improving access to treatment, new research says.
Study spotlights malaria immunity
Scientists compare immune responses of people infected with malaria for the first time to those previously exposed.
Strengthening disease surveillance
Increased local capacity could boost genetic sequencing of COVID-19 virus, and aid disease surveillance.
Fighting childhood cancer
With inaction, Africa risks having 50 per cent of the world’s childhood cancer cases by 2050, says a report.
Timely tool fights fall armyworm
Researchers have created new models that can predict the best time to manage fall armyworm.
‘Climate change literacy needed’
Climate impacts of southern Africa storms must be communicated and factored into recovery, say scientists.
Tackling malnutrition with insects
Fortifying African porridge with amaranth and cricket could be key to preventing malnutrition, research suggests.
Tackling violence in girls ‘pays off’
Community projects to prevent violence against women and girls have health and economic benefits, say researchers.
Climate change to impede health access?
Most people in three Ghanaian regions could be cut off from health services by 2050 due to flooding, a study says.
Short regimen effective and safer
One-day treatment of a deadly fungal infection is as effective as the seven-day treatment, with fewer side effects.
Using genomics to boost food systems
An initiative seeks to sequence 100,000 species in Africa to boost resilient and sustainable food systems.
Breaking the vicious cycle
Scientist and ex-Mauritius president Ameenah Gurib-Fakim says busting stereotypes about girls in science is a must.
Climate-smart policies yield results
Modelling tool predicts that climate-smart policies could boost crop production by about 700 per cent.
Banana waste combats potato pest
Using recyclable banana waste technology kills potato pests and boosts yields by up to five times, say researchers.
‘Confusion’ over breastfeeding and HIV
Breastfeeding in South Africa has been undermined by changes in guidelines for women with HIV, a study says.
Bed net boost for malaria battle
A bed net treated with the insecticide chlorfenapyr, which immobilises mosquitoes, proves effective in trials.
Rice farms breeding mosquitoes?
In the last two decades, malaria cases in African villages with rice farms have risen almost twice as much as in other areas.
Invasive species and climate change
Climate change adaptation plans should be reworked to include invasive species control, a study suggests.
Cross-border polio vaccination drive
A mass vaccination drive to control a recent polio outbreak has begun in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
Smart bra detects breast cancer
Nigerian inventor says her breast cancer diagnostic device could hit the market by July.
Patients with sickle cell not protected?
Study is a step towards developing treatments, but there is more work to do.
Less than a third
Of 25 African countries analysed, only 27 per cent of healthcare workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as the Omicron variant sweeps the continent.
Laser treatment for glaucoma
Laser treatment could be twice as effective as eye drops for treating glaucoma, says a study.
Only 1 in 7 cases detected
WHO launches rapid test drive.
Small-scale fisheries ‘neglected’
Policymakers are overlooking small-scale fisheries despite their role in the livelihoods of millions, report says.
COVID-19 vaccine ‘tech hub’
Africa could start producing COVID-19 vaccines in 2022 at a technology transfer hub planned for South Africa.
COVID-19 vaccination in jeopardy
Africa to miss COVID-19 vaccination target of ten per cent of people in every nation by September.
Africa ‘has highest COVID death rate’
Almost half of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Africa die from the disease – more than the global average, a study finds.
Learning lessons from Ebola
Lessons from the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa are helping the region to control COVID-19, researchers say.
Using rains to predict droughts
Onset date of rains could help predict droughts in food-insecure regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.
‘Prepare for extreme weather’
New dams and early warning systems are needed as Kenya braces for more floods and droughts, say researchers
Imported car pollution danger
Africa faces pollution risks from low-quality used cars imported from wealthy countries.
Pollution linked to COVID-19 deaths
Long-term exposure to air pollution generated by human activity is linked to COVID-19-related deaths.
Vaccine doubters’ COVID risk
Vaccine fears mean world risks falling short of COVID immunity levels – study.
Public role in disease detection
A community-based system detects 26 per cent of suspected vaccine-preventable diseases, a study says.
Lab in a suitcase to monitor water?
Portable lab with the capacity to screen millions of bacteria in water samples could boost water safety
Triggering TB, malaria and HIV deaths
COVID-19 could increase TB and malaria deaths by 20 and 36 per cent respectively over the next five years.
Football for tackling HIV
Three-year project uses football to increase self-testing for HIV by 30 per cent, says a report.
Strong economy bad for malaria control?
Ghana’s strong economy and subsequent reduced donor support could make malaria elimination by 2030 a challenge.
How to increase maize yields
Planting flowering plants around farms increase maize yields by 53 per cent, study says.
Africa’s COVID-19 R&D priorities
Africa’s COVID-19 R&D priorities show a need to focus on key populations including patients with HIV.
COVID-19 stigma and mental health
Africa’s fragile health system seems not ready to handle mental health issues resulting from COVID-19.
Fighting food insecurity during pandemic
To prevent COVID-19-induced calamities, Africa needs to have inclusive food systems, says a report.
Public transport and COVID-19
Africa needs urgent actions to ensure that its weak public transport does not fuel COVID-19 spread.
Bereavement as a public health threat
It is more common for African mothers to see a child die than have all of their children survive infancy.
Poorest countries risk cancer surge
Lack of funding and awareness leave weaker health systems in the lurch, WHO cancer report shows.
Prevailing HIV knowledge false?
About twice as many new HIV infections occurred from surrounding communities into hotspot communities.
Senegal’s secret ‘vaginal tobacco’
Women use tobacco concoction for sexual pleasure or conception, but the risks are high, writes Fo-Koffi Djamessi.
Disease time bomb for Africa
Vaccine preventable diseases could cost Africa US$ 22.4 billion and more than 915,000 deaths.
New malaria control chemical?
New chemical prevents mosquitoes from becoming resistant to the standard insecticides for treating bed nets.
Time to forget about the rains?
Rainfall is not the main driver of the onset of vegetation growth in Africa, a study says.
Malaria resistance blood risk
Africa’s biggest gene study has shown a link between resistance to severe malaria and diseases such as sickle cell
TB vaccine a ‘game-changer’
The experimental M72/AS01E vaccine could save millions of lives if further trials are successful, researchers say
Nutrition challenge in Africa
Malnutrition choking every African sub-region
Malaria ‘can be eradicated’
Expert commission claims that eradication is possible in the next 30 years, but doubts remain over how it will be funded.
Filling the fertiliser gap
Researchers look at how to make fertilisers affordable for all farmers, while mitigating the environmental risks.
Inadequate water education programmes
Only one per cent of African universities have water education programmes, a study has found.
Sweet potato as dual-purpose crop
Sweet potato leaves and roots could boost food security and address nutritional deficiencies in rural households.
Increasing access to global markets
New digital platform aims to aid translation of African languages to spur access to global markets.
Harmonised seed policies needed
Harmonisation of seed policies in Africa should be accelerated to help transform agriculture
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