News Location Channel: Africa

Curbing Harmful Medicines: The Promise of a Unified African Health Products Regulatory System

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:55:38 EST

A harmonised African body could stem deaths from fake and substandard medicines--especially antimalarials and antibiotics--by bolstering oversight, saving lives, and strengthening health systems.

UC Davis Doctor Trains Pediatric Anesthesiologists in Country with Critical Shortage

UC Davis Health — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:50:11 EST

Like many countries across the globe, Zambia is experiencing a severe shortage of anesthesiologists. Niroop Ravula, a pediatric anesthesiologist at UC Davis Health, traveled to Zambia with Orbis International to train Zambian colleagues on anesthesiology tools that are standard in the U.S.

Pioneering Tests Could Improve the Assessment of Dementia in Ageing Africans

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:30:44 EST

Researchers have introduced improved cognitive tests to assess dementia in older Africans, part of the HAALSI-HCAP study in rural South Africa. These tools, tailored for local contexts, enhance global ageing research and could inform a national survey. With dementia rates rising, findings will aid prevention and policy.

'The Splendid Tapestry of African Life': UP's Prof Adekeye Adebajo's latest book launch

University of Pretoria — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:35:11 EST

After the launch of his latest book, Professor Adekeye Adebajo, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship at the University of Pretoria (UP), said that he hopes the book will provide South African audiences specifically with insights into African economics and politics and the role South Africa plays in Southern Africa's broader economy.

Pioneering Tests Could Improve the Assessment of Dementia in Ageing Africans

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:35:01 EST

Researchers have introduced specialised dementia tests tailored for older African adults, improving on standard cognitive assessments. These tools, part of HAALSI-HCAP, aim to address data gaps in Africa's ageing studies. The initiative aligns with global efforts and may inform national dementia surveys in South Africa.

Although Art Coverage Has Improved, Older Adults Face Considerable Barriers to HIV Prevention, Including Educational Disparities and Gender Inequities, Particularly in Rural Settings

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:30:27 EST

Study Shows Type 2 Diabetes Doubled in Sub-Saharan Africa in 6 Years

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:45:00 EST

This study highlights the rapid rise of type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, with prevalence doubling in six years among middle-aged individuals in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The findings, published in The Lancet Global Health, suggest prior estimates were too low and stress the need for targeted health interventions.

'Who Defends Human Rights Defenders?' - UN Special Rapporteur During UP-Hosted Roundtable Discussion

University of Pretoria — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 05:20:51 EST

The University of Pretoria's (UP) Centre for Human Rights recently co-hosted a roundtable discussion in conjunction with the Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders to address increasing safety concerns for human rights defenders.

Evolutionary Tradeoffs: Research Explores the Role of Iron Levels in COVID-19 Infections

Binghamton University, State University of New York — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:35:25 EST

Our immune systems rely on iron to function, but so do invading viruses and bacteria. New research from Binghamton University, State Univerity of New York studying healthcare workers in Nigeria during COVID, reveals that very early in the arms race -- when an infectious disease is emerging and still very new to humans -- iron nutrition tradeoffs are in play.

Libreville commitment on the elimination of mercury-containing skin-lightening cosmetics in Africa

Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:00:02 EST

BRI staff traveled to Gabon to participate in a high-level workshop with UNEP and WHO under the Global Environment Facility project, Eliminating mercury skin lightening products. The meeting brought together more than 150 people from 13 African countries.

Database Paves the Way for First Study to Compare Wild Animal Hunting Patterns in African Tropical Forests

Wildlife Conservation Society — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 20:05:15 EST

Advances in data availability and accessibility have resulted in a groundbreaking new study on wild animal hunting in African tropical forests. It suggests that the commercial trade in wild-sourced meat is increasing, and highlights the urgent need for countries to develop robust frameworks to ensure hunting and trade is sustainable in a growing commercialized sector.

Expert Available: Kenya's President Rejects Finance Bill After Violent Protests

George Washington University — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:40 EST

Kenya's president said Wednesday he will not sign a finance bill that included tax hikes, bowing to pressure from protestors had stormed parliament, launched demonstrations across the country and... ...

CDC Concerned Over Monkeypox Spread in Africa

George Washington University — Tue, 28 May 2024 11:05:26 EST

Africa is no longer the carbon sink of the world

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:00:03 EST

In only nine years between 2010 and 2019, Africa has turned from being a net carbon sink, to being a net carbon source.

Building Financial Resilience in Africa to Address Labor Trafficking

School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:55:04 EST

Through a multi-institutional partnership funded by the U.S. Department of State, a new research partnership seeks to reduce vulnerability to labor trafficking by enabling youth and young adults to achieve financial security and stability at home.

Droughts may trigger HIV transmission increase among women in rural sub-Saharan Africa, study finds

University of Bristol — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:00:00 EST

Droughts have the potential to increase the spread of HIV for women living in rural parts of Africa, researchers at the University of Bristol have found.

WCS Joins Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi to Advance Conservation Efforts

Wildlife Conservation Society — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:05:49 EST

The Wildlife Conservation Society was honored to be invited to participate in a high-level event today hosted by His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, at Maputo National Park.

Protected areas for elephants work best if they are connected

Duke University — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:05:36 EST

Conservation measures have successfully stopped declines in the African savanna elephant population across southern Africa, but the pattern varies locally, according to a new study.

New study concludes finding cure for malaria may be even more challenging than thought

Case Western Reserve University — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 12:05:37 EST

Researchers who have studied malaria for decades, hoping to find a cure, long thought they'd identified a type of blood that seemed to defend against the disease. But a new study published Dec. 5 in Cell Host & Microbe concludes that even some people with the protective blood type became infected. The question now is, "how?"

New Agreement Provides Long-term Annual Funding to Protect Climate-Critical Madagascar Wilderness Area

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 14:05:34 EST

Madagascar's Makira-Masoala wilderness will receive an annual $1 million grant through a new agreement between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF), with support from Arcadia.