FEATURE
Africa's Surge in Antibiotic Use Amid COVID-19 Raises Concerns Over Antimicrobial Resistance
Time to read 1:07 Information released by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a significant surge in unwarranted antibiotic usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, reigniting concerns over the silent proliferation of antimicrobial resistance.
Source: WHO Press release
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Nigeria leads global effort with introduction of revolutionary 5-in-1 Meningitis vaccine
Time to read: 1:23. Nigeria has made history by rolling out a new vaccine for the prevention of meningitis. Men5CV®, which the WHO endorses, is effective against five strains of meningococcus bacteria
Source: WHO
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Global deployment of rapid diagnostic tests to boost fight against cholera
Time to read: 1:17. More than 1.2 million cholera rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) will be dispatched to 14 countries, marking the largest-ever global deployment of such tests. The first shipment of these crucial kits arrived in Malawi on the 5th fo April, with subsequent deliveries planned for countries including Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria, and Zambia.
Source: WHO
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Africa bears heaviest toll of escalating viral hpatitis crisis, warns WHO Global Report
Time to read: 01:44 The latest WHO Global Hepatitis Report reveals a concerning trend: deaths from viral hepatitis are on the rise
Source: WHO
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World Health Day 2024 - Address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization
View time: 01:25 This World Health Day 2024, the theme is your health, your right
Source: WHO
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The WHO releases investment case for increasing funding for TB screening and preventative treatments
Time to read: 1:22mins. Ahead of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an increased investment in tuberculosis screening and preventive treatments.
Source: WHO Press Release
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WHO releases new manual to support diagnosis of mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders added in ICD-11
Time to read: 55 seconds. The WHO announced the release of ICD-11 CDDR, a new comprehensive diagnostic manual for mental, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Source: WHO Press Release
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Marching Forward: African Ministers commit to ending Malaria deaths in the region
Time to read: 1 minute, 26 seconds.Ministers from 11 African countries have united in signing a declaration to implement the 'High Burden, High Impact Approach' aimed at ending malaria in the region.
Source: WHO Press Release
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Obesity is now the world’s most common form of malnutrition
Time to read - 2:33mins. A recent global analysis published in The Lancet has revealed that the total number of children, adolescents, and adults worldwide living with obesity has surpassed one billion. This trend, combined with the declining prevalence of underweight individuals since 1990, marks obesity as the most common form of malnutrition in most countries
Source: Lancet, WHO
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Takeouts from the 2024 Budget Speech: Generally nothing to see here
Time to read: 00.54mins. Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the health sector is set to receive an allocation of R848 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, with at least R1 billion directed towards the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Source: Televised debate, Business Insiders, Moneyweb
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Slowly creeping in - Cholera making a come back
The country has reported 46 suspected cases of cholera and five laboratory-confirmed cases between January 1st and February 1st, 2024
Source: Department of Health
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The NHI - the President's just looking for his pen
In the weeks leading up to the event, there had been much speculation regarding the future of the NHI Bill. Would he or wouldn’t he sign it in?
Source: Various
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"Its a NO from us, Mr President" - Business Lobby groups push back on NHI Bill
The NHI does not pass constitional muster. So say lobby groups Business Unity SA (Busa) and Business for SA (B4SA) who have urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to send the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill back to the National Assembly.
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UK to announce measures to curb vaping in the youth
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to unveil measures on Monday aimed at reducing youth vaping, reinforcing the government's dedication to preventing younger individuals from purchasing tobacco.
Source: Reuters, Daily Maverik
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World-first roll-out of malaria begins
Shipments of the world's first WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, RTS,S, have commenced, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against malaria.
Source: Gavi.org, WHO
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Opening Marks by WHO DG at WEF 2024
In his opening address on January 17, 2024, the WHO Director-General highlighted the profound global disparities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized the critical role of local production and regulatory capacity in addressing health inequities.
Source: World Economic Forum, 2024, WHO
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Gates foundation announces largest-ever budget and commits to further increases in years to come
The Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation announced that it has approved its largest-ever budget. $8.6 billion will be spent on healthcare initiatives, and the organisation has committed to increasing its annual spending to $9 billion by 2026.
Source: Gates Foundation
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Shortage of funds in public sector leaves newly qualified SA doctors jobless
It appears that budget constraints in the public healthcare system have once again resulted in a lack of job opportunities for as many as 800 newly qualified doctors.
Source: Department of Health, SAMATU, Daily Maverick, Bloomberg
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Indian Government to tighten up drug manufacturing standards after overseas deaths
Indian authorities have given local manufacturers just six months to upgrade their standards to bring them inline with global requirements. This comes of the back of a number of overseas deaths linked to drugs manufactured in the country.
Source: Asian Times, Reuters, Straits Times
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Western Cape health department pilots telehealth robot in critical care unit
George Regional Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit is a test case for a groundbreaking telehealth initiative that aims to link clinicians working in units in underserved facilities with their counterparts in better-resourced hospitals.
Source: Department of Health, Western Cape
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Devastating orofacial gangrene disease noma, has been designated Neglected Tropical Disease status.
Noma (Cancrum oris), a devastating oro-facial gangrene that affects mainly children, has been added to the list of neglected tropical diseases
Source: WHO, American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
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WHO releases Global status report on road safety 2023
Wednesday 13 December, Geneva: The WHO released the Global status report on road safety 2023 yesterday in Geneva. The report is the 5th edition since 2010.
Source: WHO
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Concerns raised as NHI Bill approved by NCOP
The NHI Bill has been approved by the National Council of Provinces, raising concerns over lack of due processes
Source: Business Tech, Daily Maverick, EWN
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Professor Harry Seftel Dies
Professor Harry Seftel dies, aged 94
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Results of Impact trial, show that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition
Results of Impact trial, show that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition
Source: Lancet
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MNG004-World Health Organisation requests information from China regarding outbreak of respiratory diseases
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WHO releases notification of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus in Kenya and Tanzania
The WHO has issued two outbreak notifications for vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (cVDPVW) – one in United Republic of Tanzania and the other in Kenya
Source: World Health Organisation Press release
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Minister urges vigilance as new cholera case confirmed - 26 July 2023
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World Health Organisation releases updated edition of Model Lists of Essential Medicines
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