Page 3 - Africa

WHO launches $1.5 bn drive against bacterial meningitis outbreaks in Africa

The World Health Organisation on Thursday said it is launching a USD 1.5 billion campaign, hopefully including a new vaccine, to eliminate outbreaks of bacterial meningitis across Africa by 2030. Meningitis vaccinations for more than 50 million children in Africa have been delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting fears of a resurgence of the deadly disease. In a race against time", WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said that a next generation vaccine against meningitis will be rolled out in 26 African countries most affected by the disease. She said WHO hopes to authorize the vaccine by the first quarter of 2023, which would then enable donors to buy it for Africa. Moeti said the vaccine, has shown in clinical trials to be safe and effective against multiple forms of meningitis. The vaccine could be rolled out next year and administered in widespread drives until 2030, when the WHO hopes to have stopped bacterial meningitis outbreaks in the continent of 54 ...

At least $1 bn needed to avert famine in Somalia: UN humanitarian chief

The UN humanitarian chief has predicted that at least USD 1 billion will be needed urgently to avert famine in Somalia in the coming months and early next year when two more dry seasons are expected to compound the historic drought that has hit the Horn of Africa nation. Martin Griffiths said in a video briefing from Somalia's capital Mogadishu that a new report from an authoritative panel of independent experts says there will be a famine in Somalia between October and December if we don't manage to stave it off and avoid it as had been the case in 2016 and 2017. The undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs told UN correspondents that more than USD 1 billion in new funds is needed in addition to the UN appeal of about USD 1.4 billion. That appeal has been very well-funded, he said, thanks to the US Agency for International Development, which announced a USD 476 million donation of humanitarian and development aid in July. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network, created by

UP Inc forges tie-ups in Africa, Europe to achieve $1 trn economy target

The 13 thriving business clusters in Denmark are seen having a good potential for joint ventures, import and export, especially for the MSME sector

South Africa's Aspen, India's Serum Institute sign vaccines deal for Africa

South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare has signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India to manufacture and sell four Aspen-branded vaccines for Africa

Africa CDC says renaming of monkeypox variants by WHO will curb stigma

The head of Africa's public health agency says he's really pleased that the World Health Organisation is renaming the strains of the monkeypox disease to remove references to African regions amid concerns about stigmatisation. The variant of the disease formerly known as the Congo Basin is now called Clade 1 and what was previously known as the West Africa clade is now called Clade 2, the U.N. health agency announced last week, saying it will hold an open forum to rename monkeypox altogether. We are very glad that now we can be able to call them Clade 1 and Clade 2 rather than make reference to these variants using African regions, Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a briefing Thursday. "We are really pleased with that change in naming, which will remove stigma from disease-causing variants. More monkeypox deaths have been reported on the African continent this year than anywhere in the world. A total of 3,232 cases, ...

First UN-chartered freighter leaves Ukraine with grain for Africa

The first grain freighter chartered by the United Nations left the southern Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi with wheat for Africa, according to the governor of the Odessa region, Maksym Marchenko

Ship reaches war-struck Ukraine to load up with wheat for Africa

A ship docked in a Ukrainian Black Sea port to begin loading up with wheat for hungry people in Ethiopia

Africa CDC in 'advanced' talks to obtain monkeypox vaccines: Official

There are no discussions with the private sector because all available doses have already been bought by countries, he said.

US adopts new sub-Sahara strategy to counter Russian, Chinese influence

The US is adopting a new strategy to cooperate more closely with countries in sub-Saharan Africa and push back the influence of China and Russia in the region, the White House said in a statement.

Africa only continent to report monkeypox deaths, but has no vaccine doses

More than 2,100 monkeypox cases have been recorded in 11 African countries and 75 people have died, the Africa CDC director said.

To save the planet, it is time poor nations get paid for protection

DRC is the first developing nation to decide if rich countries aren't serious about paying the costs that their carbon emissions will impose on poorer ones, they will have to raise the cash themselves

India extends 222 LoCs worth $14.07 bn in Africa, 37 LoCs to neighbours

The LoCs projects in African nations are spread across sectors roads, railways, power, ports and shipping, education, telecom, health, and aviation

Huge funding announced to roll-out first malaria vaccine in Africa: WHO

WHO welcomed the announcement by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, of international support worth nearly USD 160 million for the next 3 years to facilitate increased vaccine access to children

WHO panel may again consider declaring monkeypox a global emergency

World Health Organisation's emergency committee convenes Thursday to consider for the second time within weeks whether to declare monkeypox a global crisis

Time is ripe for India to explore trade deal with AfCFTA: Commerce Secy

AfCFTA brings together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight regional economic communities to create a single market for the continent

CII-Exim Bank conclave: Goyal calls for deepening trade ties with Africa

The trade between India and African countries has been balanced with exports of trade and services of about $40 billion and imports of $49 billion, Goyal said

Ghana confirms first two cases of deadly Marburg virus disease

Ghana has confirmed the country's first two cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD), the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said.

Global charity provides $28.5 million to 19 countries hit by drought

A global charity has announced $28.5 million to help families in 19 countries, mostly in Africa, facing the worst global hunger crisis in decades

Monkeypox cases triple in Europe: WHO; Africa calls for sharing supplies

WHO's Europe chief warned Friday that monkeypox cases in the region have tripled in the last two weeks and urged countries to do more to ensure the previously rare disease does not become entrenched

Witnesses say more than 200 killed in Ethiopia ethnic attack Nairobi

It is one of the deadliest such attacks in recent memory as ethnic tensions continue in Africa's second most populous country