African experts call for end to vaccine nationalism to boost pandemic fight
By XINHUA Rich countries should end vaccine nationalism that is to blame for a supply crunch in Africa and slowing down efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the continent, experts said at a webinar on accelerating COVID-19 vaccination in Africa on Wednesday. Michel Sidibe, the African Union’s special envoy for the African Medicines Agency, said
Ghana launches National Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness and improve public health
By CGTN Africa The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and partners to launch the 2021 National Breastfeeding Week celebration under the theme, Protect Breastfeeding: A shared responsibility. This year’s event will focus on raising awareness and galvanizing action on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health. The week-long
Ebola virus in survivors can trigger outbreaks years after infection, scientists say
By AFP Ebola survivors can relapse and trigger outbreaks at least five years after infection, and long-term follow-up of former patients is needed to prevent devastating flare-ups, according to new research. Scientists already knew Ebola could lie dormant in survivors, who test negative because the virus is in tissue rather than circulating in the blood. But
Number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in South Africa hits 15,447,034
By Jerry Omondi South Africa has administered 15,447,034 COVID-19 vaccine doses, the highest tally recorded in Africa so far. The country ramped up its vaccinations as it seeks to contain further spread of the virus in order to fully reopen its economy. By Wednesday, the number of fully vaccinated people had reached 7,609,183. The latest data
South Africa immunization committee: No link between deaths and COVID-19 vaccine
By Grace Kuria South Africa’s National Immunization Safety Expert Committee (NISEC) Chairperson, Professor Hannelie Meyer has announced that no South African has died from the COVID-19 vaccine jab. This even as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) continues to investigate the safety of vaccines. Meyer said SAHPRA and NISEC received 88 reports of death
Nigerian economy to grow by up to 3% this year
By Reuters Nigeria estimates its economy will grow between 2.5 percent and three percent this year, Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele said on Tuesday, after an easing of lockdown measures and increased vaccinations boosted business, including international and local travel. Africa’s largest economy had contracted in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, though in the fourth quarter it managed