The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), has announced the first 10 recipients of its catalytic grant fund, awarding nearly $2 million to strengthen pathogen genomic surveillance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The grants aim to enhance the use of genomic analysis, a technology that decodes the genetic makeup of viruses and bacteria, enabling scientists to track disease spread, develop vaccines, and inform public health responses. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Wellcome, the fund is hosted by the United Nations Foundation. ALSO READ Nigeria now beneficiary…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Shakira Abubakar, a resident of Ogijo, a boundary community between Lagos and Ogun States, received the news of her pregnancy with joy, but that joy was nearly threatened when she entered labour prematurely, giving birth to her son at 27 weeks gestation. By Oluwafunke Ishola “I was at the salon plaiting my hair during a visit to my mother at Yaba when I experienced a sharp pain in my stomach. “From there, I was rushed to the hospital, where I was examined and told it was a contraction. I was shocked, and scared and burst into tears, but my mother…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set a December 1 deadline for bank customers to report any issues with cash withdrawals from bank branches or ATMs.
A new World Health Organisation (WHO) report reveals slow progress in addressing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), nearly five years after COVID-19’s emergence. While 71% of countries now have active infection prevention and control (IPC) programs, only 6% met WHO’s minimum IPC requirements in 2023-2024, far below the 90% target set for 2030. HAIs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pose a significant threat, with patients facing up to 20 times the infection risk compared to those in high-income countries. Basic IPC measures, combined with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, are highlighted as cost-effective strategies to reduce HAIs and antimicrobial…
The African region has emerged as a global leader in the fight against HIV, achieving significant milestones in the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. In a statement marking World AIDS Day 2024, Dr. Moeti commended the continent’s progress in diagnosing, treating, and achieving viral suppression among people living with HIV. Seven African countries have already met the UNAIDS targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to be on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to achieve…
Research by the University of Bonn and CABI’s Regional Centre for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, revealed that animal products, including milk, eggs, and fish significantly enhance childhood nutrition in Africa. Drawing from representative data covering over 32,000 child observations in five African countries, the research demonstrates that diets incorporating animal products effectively reduce malnutrition and associated developmental deficiencies. The study’s findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and remain embargoed until December 2, 2024, at 9 p.m. CET. Globally, approximately 150 million children under five experience stunted growth, a condition linked to insufficient nutrient…
This week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on a State visit to France just after his return from Brazil. This is the Nigerian president’s first State visit to France since 2000. My good friend, Prof Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, in an article on the visit in Jeune Afrique magazine, argues that the stake for France is to improve its relationship with Africa’s most populous country after the catastrophic disaster that followed the failure of Operation Barkhane and its being chased out of the Sahel. He doubts that much can be gained by the visit given the troubles of governance in…
36 kilograms is the average amount of plastic packaging waste generated by a single EU citizen per year. Longer-term projections are equally grim, with the amount of plastic waste estimated to triple by 2060 globally. Increasing consumption is driving the search for alternatives – biodegradable and durable materials that would not only replace but also outperform synthetic plastics. Today, bioplastics are often named as one of the solutions for a more sustainable future, yet few know that this material is not a result of recent scientific work. Back in 1926, a French researcher Maurice Lemoigne discovered a way to produce bioplastic…
Documents from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have revealed state governments’ contributions to non-import VAT pool. Agora Policy, on its X handle @AgoraPolicy highlighted the contributions of the non-import VAT pool made by the states between January and October 2024. In the 10 months, the lowest contribution was N3.33bn (Imo) while the highest was N2.21trn (Lagos). Within that period, four states contributed less than N10 billion; 26 states contributed between N10 billion and N50 billion; three states contributed between N51 billion and N100 billion and three states contributed above N100 billion. The states that contributed less than N10 billion…
Tech professionals are now well-practised in using ChatGPT for coding and development, including the new Canvas feature. However, the AI can still make mistakes. By Megan Crouse Two years ago, on Nov. 30, ChatGPT burst onto the scene, igniting a global fascination with generative AI and transforming it into a must-watch innovation for both consumers and technology professionals. Since then, ChatGPT has expanded, and the wheels of AI regulation have started to turn. TechRepublic asked tech professionals how their work with ChatGPT has evolved, both personally and within the broader tech industry. New features introduced in 2024 Over the last…