By Henry Neondo Use of contraceptives has sharply risen in Africa than ever before and this is mostly among married but sexually active women, a report by FP2030 reveals. The latest FP2030 Measurement Report took a deep dive into 15 African countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda,…
World Malaria Day 2022 Official Statement
By H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission The African Union Commission joins the world to commemorate World Malaria Day 2022 under the theme “Advance Equity. Build Resilience. End Malaria” as we all strive to meet the global goal to eradicate malaria by 2030. I am…
Resurgent measles outbreaks: Partners call for renewed efforts to vaccinate all children
The global measles crisis is an urgent wake-up call to the need for countries to ensure that all children – no matter where they live – receive life-saving vaccines. Countries in the African Region have also experienced a resurgence of measles, including outbreaks reported in at least 9 countries (Chad, Cameroon, DR Congo, Liberia, Guinea,…
Nairobi meet to explore Africa climate change technologies
By Herman Opondo Representatives from government, private sector, and finance and research institutions will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, 9–10 April 2018 to deliberate on climate change technology transfer. Organised by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), a founding United Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) consortium partner, the meeting will be held during Africa Climate…
WHO pushes for Malaria prevention on World Malaria Day, 25th April
Herman Opondo At an event on the eve of World Malaria Day in Nairobi, WHO called on Monday for accelerated scale-up of efforts to prevent malaria and save lives. WHO data show that in sub-Saharan Africa, which shoulders 90% of the global malaria burden, more than 663 million cases have been averted since 2001. Insecticide-treated…
Africa unified against threat of polio
More than 190 000 polio vaccinators in 13 countries across west and central Africa will immunize more than 116 million children over the next week, to tackle the last remaining stronghold of polio on the continent. The synchronized vaccination campaign, one of the largest of its kind ever implemented in Africa, is part of urgent…
Mass poisoning in Limpopo National park
By Don Pinnock The ongoing Asian demand for lion bones has led to an horrific wildlife poisoning in the Limpopo National Park, just over the Mozambican border from Kruger Park. A mere two kilometres from the Machampane tourist camp, a research team came across the carcases of two nyala, a warthog and an impala laced…
Poachers still given lifeline as CITES Parties fail to agree full ban on international trade in lion parts
Parties today at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP 17) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Johannesburg voted in favor of a much diluted decision by establishing a zero annual export quota for bones, claws and teeth removed from the dead carcasses of wild lions to be traded for…