World Mental Health Day: Let’s Make Mental Health a Global, and an Everyday Priority
World Mental Health Day is a global event that aims to promote and raise awareness about, and eradicate stigma associated with mental health conditions. It was first observed in 1992 and it is commemorated every year on 10th October. The theme of the day this year is to make mental health and well-being for all […]
Revolutionise: Boosting Africa’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Capabilities
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, are diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Some of these diseases can easily be spread from one individual to another, directly or indirectly. The major infectious diseases causing morbidity and mortality in Africa include malaria, HIV/ AIDS, acute respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, […]
Pharmacists United in Action for a Healthier World
25th September was chosen as the date for World Pharmacists Day as a memorial of the formation of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) which occurred on the same day in 1912. FIP is the global body that represents pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. The day was chosen to recognize the role that pharmacists play in society […]
Manufacturing medical products in Africa: the need is clear, goals have been set, what remains is action
For the last two years, the terms ‘Africa’, ‘manufacturing’, and ‘medical commodities’, especially vaccines, have been discussed at length by different stakeholders. Most conversations have been around and/or about the disease burden, supply versus demand of medical commodities and the risks posed by the continent’s heavy reliance on importation. The common output has been an […]
Digital health – an enabler for better health in Africa
In healthcare systems, digital health solutions have the potential to facilitate substantial developments in the quality and delivery of services. For instance, with the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare delivery has deviated from regular face-to-face methods to remotely accessed methods [1]. Digital health is a broad term that includes the use of information and communication technology, such […]
Reinforcing the New Public Health Order to Bridge the Gaps in Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Non- Communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are diseases that are not transmitted from person to person. NCDs are of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.[1] In the Africa region there are four main types of NCDs: cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and […]
Fostering Intergenerational Solidarity towards Improving Africa’s Health Systems
On 12th August 2022, the world commemorated International Youth Day (IYD). The day’s main aim is to highlight issues affecting the youth as well as acknowledge their role in society and celebrate their advocacy efforts. This year’s theme was on Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages. Intergenerational solidarity means social cohesion between generations […]
The Monkeypox Outbreak once again reveals Vaccine Inequity in Africa
The outbreak of the Monkeypox virus has once again exposed Africa’s vulnerability in access to vaccines, vital drugs, and health technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, it was evident that the exercise was not all inclusive nor was it adequately planned. Africa received a very small proportion of vaccines, […]
Think Global, Act Local: Highlights of the 75th World Health Assembly
If one is looking for a simple analogy that explains the importance of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) then this will be it. The WHA is the main decision body of the WHO comprising of representatives of 195 countries (member states), who come together to agree on the organization’s priorities and […]
The Role of the Private Sector in Health Financing Strategies towards UHC in Africa
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has been globally defined as; “all people receiving quality health services that meet their needs without exposing them to financial hardship”. Governments play a leading role in the health systems, and public spending is, and must stay predominant in healthcare financing. However, there is a concern about the sustainability of and […]
