By Evelyn Kahungu and Venter Mwongera As the Horn of Africa grapples with the worst desert locust infestation in 70 years, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN-FAO) warns that the infestation represents an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods in an already food insecure African continent. Ethiopia, Eritrea,…
Climate Change could lead to rise of Dengue fever and Malaria infections
By Checky Abuje More than 8bn people could be at risk of malaria and dengue fever infections by 2080 as a result of the global warming. A new study has found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, temperatures will increase leading to rise of conditions that encourage malaria-carrying mosquito. According to…
Weak research funding hampers Africa Covid-19 clinical trials
By Joseph Checky Abuje Africa’s weak funding for research, poor research governance structures and weak health systems continue to hamper its place in vaccine development. Dr Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, a Senior Clinical Project Manager at the Drug for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) during a webinar seminar with African science journalists that while the researchers in…
COVID-19: Hope for African countries as GAVI, UNICEF pact to secure PPEs, diagnostics
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has urgently made US$ 40 million available to UNICEF to secure personal protective equipment (PPE), diagnostic tests and other vital supplies on behalf of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sudan, and Togo among others as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPE delivered will help these…
18th CITES conference: Africa governments spar over elephants’ future
The fate of African wildlife hangs in balance as the 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) begins tomorrow (Saturday) in Geneva. Government representatives of most of the 183 member parties attending the 18th CoP will take key decisions that might affect…
Sustainable food and agriculture: IITA Youth Agripreneur program wins the 2019 International innovation award
The youth program of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has won the 2019 International Innovation Award for sustainable food and Agriculture. The award is in recognition of IITA’s commitment to improving both agribusiness opportunities and creditworthiness of youth across Africa. The award which is the first of its kind and funded by the Government…
A clinical trial to find a new treatment for visceral leishmaniasis begins in eastern Africa
A new study to find a safer, efficacious and more patient-friendly treatment and improved diagnostic tools for people living with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) begun in eastern Africa. The study is within the new wider Afri-KA-DIA Consortium that got funding from The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). VL is a neglected tropical disease…
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…
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