"I Was Blind, But Now I See" Celebrating Malawis Progress on World NTD Day — Global Issues

"I Was Blind, But Now I See" Celebrating Malawis Progress on World NTD Day — Global Issues

Vainesi, a former trachoma trichiasis patient, cheers in celebration knowing that trachoma has been eliminated in Malawi. Vainesi had suffered with the pain caused by trachoma for 10 years before a local disability mobiliser encouraged her to go to the hospital for treatment. Opinion by Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera (lilongwe) Monday, January…

WHO calls for more action to end ‘cycles of poverty and stigma’ related to tropical diseases — Global Issues

WHO calls for more action to end ‘cycles of poverty and stigma’ related to tropical diseases — Global Issues

To mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, the UN agency has released a report highlighting progress and challenges in delivering care for these 20 conditions, which mainly affect the world’s poorest people.  NTDs are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, and can be…

COVID-19 remains an international health threat — Global Issues

COVID-19 remains an international health threat — Global Issues

Tedros’s decision follows the advice offered at the latest coronavirusEmergency Committee meeting last Friday, held at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva via videoconference. “There is little doubt that this virus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals for the foreseeable future,” the Committee said. It…

Blood test could detect Alzheimer’s disease early: study
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Blood test could detect Alzheimer’s disease early: study

Alzheimer’s disease could be diagnosed 3.5 years earlier, thanks to a simple blood test. A study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College in London found a blood test that can potentially predict the risk of developing the deliberating disease years before…

Destruction of Ukraine’s Healthcare Facilities Violates International Humanitarian Law — Global Issues

Destruction of Ukraine’s Healthcare Facilities Violates International Humanitarian Law — Global Issues

On March 6, 2022, Izyum Central City Hospital (Kharkiv oblast) was attacked as a part of what appears to have been a large-scale carpet-bombing campaign. Reportedly, the hospital team had also marked the hospital with a big red cross that could be seen from the air. Credit: UHC by Ed…

New Business Technology Transfer Provides Benefits for African Pharmaceutical Industry — Global Issues

New Business Technology Transfer Provides Benefits for African Pharmaceutical Industry — Global Issues

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation will be hosted by Rwanda. It is part of the African Development Bank’s commitment to spend at least USD 3 billion over the next ten years to support Africa’s pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing sector. Medical and pharmaceutical experts pose for a group photo with their…

Disconnected Citizens Are Kept Away from Opportunities — Global Issues

Disconnected Citizens Are Kept Away from Opportunities — Global Issues

An activist during COP27 in Egypt. Credit: Oliver Kornblihtt / Mídia NINJA Opinion by Bibbi Abruzzini (brussels) Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Inter Press Service BRUSSELS, Jan 25 (IPS) – In 2022, Saudi Arabia “quietly” sentenced Salma al-Shehab to 34 years in prison over her Twitter activity, marking the longest Saudi sentence…

Pope, Sasakawa in Global Appeal for a Leprosy Free World — Global Issues

Pope, Sasakawa in Global Appeal for a Leprosy Free World — Global Issues

Pope Francis and Yohei Sasakawa, Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination led a global appeal to end leprosy and the stigmatization of those impacted. The pope’s statement was read to the second international symposium on Hansen’s Disease in Rome hosted by the Holy See, Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, the French…

.54 billion needed to tackle unprecedented health needs in 2023: WHO — Global Issues

$2.54 billion needed to tackle unprecedented health needs in 2023: WHO — Global Issues

In its appeal, the WHO said that a staggering 339 million people now need humanitarian assistance globally.   Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the UN agency’s Director-General, urged donors “to be generous” and help WHO to save lives, prevent the spread of disease within and across borders, and support communities as they…

WHO calls for action to totally eliminate trans fat, ‘a toxic chemical that kills’ — Global Issues

WHO calls for action to totally eliminate trans fat, ‘a toxic chemical that kills’ — Global Issues

Industrially produced trans fat – commonly found in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads – is responsible for up to 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year, the UN agency said.  WHO has released a status report that follows up on its 2018 call for the…