Advancing Sickle Cell Disease Management in Africa: Drawing Lessons from the UK’s NHS Investment in Automated Red Blood Cell Exchange Technology (Spectra Optia®)
Burden of disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a significant public health challenge across Africa, with 75% of SCD cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Without proactive measures, it is estimated that 50-90% of affected children do not survive beyond their fifth birthday.[1] However, recent advancements in treatment, particularly red blood cell exchange technologies, offer […]
Bridging the Healthcare Divide: Private Equity’s Impact on Cardiovascular Diagnostics in Africa
Burden of disease Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of disability and premature death on a global scale, contributing substantially to the escalating costs of health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that CVDs are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year with over 75% of […]
The Crucial Role of the Private Sector in Strengthening Medicines Regulation for Effective Public Health Response in Africa
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the urgent need for equitable access to quality healthcare products across Africa, highlighting the necessity of fortifying medicines regulation on the continent. Effective medicines regulation plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of healthcare products. In the context of […]
What should an Ideal EMR/EHR System for Sub-Saharan Africa Look Like?
Developing countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), account for a large percentage of the global disease burden, e.g. Malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis, etc. 1 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria claim approximately 3 million lives in SSA each year.2Â This has further been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessing healthcare in SSA poses […]
Building Patient-Centric Digital Health Ecosystems Across Africa
Introduction to Discussion Digital health is a critical component in creating a path toward a stronger African health system beyond the pandemic. With reference to the WHO’s building blocks of the health systems, digital health can gradually improve health outcomes, responsiveness to health needs, and reduce the financial burden of the African population. The existing […]
Reform: Expanding Africa’s Production of Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics
Introduction to Discussion The world is currently on its way to widening the coverage of COVID-19 vaccine boosters. However, in February 2022 most of the world’s countries, including most African countries, did not have enough vaccines to cover all health workers or risk groups, never mind the rest of the population. In September 2022, about […]
An Enabling Environment for Local Production of Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics in Africa
One of the goals of Agenda 2063 of the African Union is “healthy and well-nourished citizens”, aspiring to the health and well-being of Africans. [1] In this regard, Africa CDC has launched Africa’s New Public Health Order [2] with a focus on five core pillars, namely: Strengthen African institutions for public health Expand manufacturing of […]
