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…
Farmers need seeds they can trust
By Joshua Masinde Seed companies play a crucial role in delivering improved seed varieties to smallholder farmers. Masindi Seed Company Limited, located in Uganda’s mid-western region, is one such enterprise. It traces its beginnings back to the Masindi District Farmers Association (MADFA) more than a decade ago. At the time, the association, which was…
Experts attribute deforestation, climate change to heavy rains in East Africa
By Checky Abuje East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda among others are badly hit by flooding leading to the destruction of homes, infrastructure and lives. As the result of the intensive and prolonged rainfall there is the rise in water levels of major water bodies and flooding in several areas of these countries,…
President Kenyatta picked to Chair the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced his four priorities for his two-year term as Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). His overall aim is to eliminate malaria from the continent by 2030. The game-changing agenda addresses major challenges in the battle against malaria. These challenges include the insufficient engagement of women, children and…
Tanzania steps war against malaria
Determined to lessen the malaria burden, the United Republic of Tanzania has announced the launch of its national Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaign, becoming the 11th nation to join the ever-growing Pan-African movement. Tanzania is among the highest-burden countries with 93% of the population at risk of malaria The campaign was launched during the…
Kenya begins to nationally vaccinate girls with Cervical Cancer Vaccine
Kenya has Friday launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the country’s routine immunisation programme. Around 800,000 girls across Kenya will be protected against cervical cancer annually, Sicily Karuiki Cabinet Secretary for Health announced. The vaccines, provided through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will aim to reach all girls aged 10 in two doses administered six…
Ebola response, too little, too late!
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has called on the Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to demonstrate resolute leadership on Ebola or resign. The call, coming shortly after the WHO finally declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 17 wants the…
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…