Africa’s leading research bodies have launched the Clinical Trial Community (CTC), a platform that will provide quick and real-time visibility of African clinical trials sites, capacity, and capability. The first of its kind on the continent, the CTC platform will also link relevant initiatives that support the conduct of trials; enable timely ethics and regulatory review; and…
Shaking up the workplace in a matter of days
By Khomotso Molabe Chief Information Officer at Standard Bank South Africa The COVID-19 crisis has shown the business world that it is possible to completely overhaul the way we do things in a matter of weeks or even days. When the severity of the pandemic became more evident and South Africa announced a national lockdown…
Kenya joins Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign for a malaria-free Africa
Kenya has joined the pan-African movement to strengthen local, national, and regional efforts towards a malaria-free Africa. As part of the campaign, individuals, families, communities, as well as political and business leaders will be urged to make a personal commitment to step up the fight against the disease. The East African nation, which accounts for…
Rising aflatoxins in food import worry East Africa states
By Joseph Checky Abuje The East Africa partner states have expressed fear that there is increasing levels of aflatoxins in the foodstuff imported into the region. “The fight against aflatoxin can be won by putting in place the necessary legislation, regulations, standards, coordination, infrastructure, capacity development, and innovation,” he said, noting that efforts are…
Ilara Health Secures $1.1M Grant to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes in Kenya
Ilara Health, the health-tech company which provides a point of care diagnostic testing to small primary care clinics in Kenya, has received a $1.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will be used to develop effective antenatal care (ANC) interventions and tech-based solutions for pregnant women unable to access…
Urgent call to African leaders to support women access to lifesaving malaria treatment
The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria has Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to leaders and health policymakers across Africa to better protect millions of pregnant women and their newborn children from the devastating consequences caused by malaria in pregnancy. Malaria strikes hardest against pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa, who are…
Is HIV/AIDS conquerable? Study provides positive news
By Joseph Checky Abuje Ongoing study on a first proof-of-concept studies of bNAb VRC01 for prevention of HIV by the International AIDS Vaccine Institute (IAVI) is showing significant viral reduction among HIV positive participants and safety to users and tolerability. The study aims to make artificial antibody mediation protection (VRC01) proves successful. The study…
64 nations formally sign up to COVAX facility
64 higher-income economies are pooling financial and scientific resources, to insure themselves against the failure of any individual vaccine candidate and secure successful vaccines in a cost-effective, targeted way. These 64 economies include commitments from 35 economies as well as the European Commission which will procure doses on behalf of 27 EU member states plus Norway and Iceland.…