Africa health news

Here are some recent health news stories from Africa:

Malaria

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria cases in Africa have increased by 2% in 2020 compared to the previous year, with 229 million cases reported. (Source: WHO)
• A new malaria vaccine, RTS,S, has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in children in Africa. (Source: EMA)

Ebola

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported a new outbreak of Ebola, with 12 confirmed cases and 6 deaths as of March 2023. (Source: WHO)
• The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC a public health emergency of international concern. (Source: WHO)

HIV/AIDS

• According to UNAIDS, 1.5 million people in Africa were newly infected with HIV in 2020. (Source: UNAIDS)
• A new study has found that antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child by 70%. (Source: The Lancet)

Tuberculosis

• The WHO has reported a 10% increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases in Africa between 2019 and 2020. (Source: WHO)
• A new TB vaccine, M72, has been shown to be 50% effective in preventing severe TB in adults in Africa. (Source: The Lancet)

Other health issues

• According to the World Bank, 1 in 5 people in Africa lack access to basic healthcare services. (Source: World Bank)
• A new study has found that air pollution in Africa is responsible for an estimated 1.1 million premature deaths per year. (Source: The Lancet)
• The WHO has launched a new initiative to improve mental health services in Africa, with a focus on reducing stigma and increasing access to care. (Source: WHO)

Healthcare infrastructure

• The African Union has launched a new initiative to improve healthcare infrastructure in Africa, with a focus on increasing access to quality healthcare services. (Source: African Union)
• A new study has found that many African countries lack the necessary infrastructure to provide quality healthcare services, including inadequate staffing, equipment, and facilities. (Source: The Lancet)

Research and innovation

• A new study has found that a low-cost, portable device can detect malaria in just 10 minutes, with a sensitivity of 95%. (Source: The Lancet)
• Researchers have developed a new vaccine against meningitis, which is a major public health concern in Africa. (Source: Science Magazine)

These are just a few examples of the many health news stories from Africa.