Weekly Health News Highlights
Food pairing and why it matters: Weekly Health News Highlights (25th November to 1st December, 2024)
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02/12/2024
AstraZeneca to withdraw Covid vaccine
After more than three billion doses, the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is being withdrawn.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68977026
Global Fund and African Civil Societies Reaffirm Commitment to Support Community-led Response to Climate Change
Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, forced displacement, decreased air quality, and increased food, water, and economic insecurity – all of which have a negative impact on health.
Experts: Accessible treatments not helping severe patients of asthma
Scientists at the Makerere University Lung Institute have urged the government to revise its essential lists of medicines and incorporate medicines that work well for patients who suffer from severe asthma.
Healthy eating for people living with HIV
Reduce the amount of salt you use in cooking. You could use more spices, herbs, garlic, and lemon to add flavor, for example.
https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/healthy-eating-people-living-hiv
WHO Results Report 2023 shows notable health achievements and calls for a concerted drive toward Sustainable Development Goals
With 96% of WHO country offices providing 174 country reports on achievements, the report shows progress towards 46 targets and highlights challenges.
The new guidance aims to reduce bloodstream infections from catheter use
The World Health Organization (WHO) published the first global guidelines to prevent the occurrence of bloodstream and other infections caused by the use of catheters placed in minor blood vessels during medical procedures.
Governments agree to continue their steady progress on proposed pandemic agreement ahead of the World Health Assembly
Governments meeting at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva agreed to resume hybrid and in-person discussions over the coming weeks to advance work on critical issues, including a proposed new global system for pathogen access and benefits sharing.
Alarm as fake breast cancer drug floods Kenyan market
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has asked Kenyans to be on alert for a batch of falsified Herceptin 440 mg (Trastumuzab 440 mg), which is said to have flooded the market.
https://nation.africa/kenya/health/alarm-as-fake-breast-cancer-drug-floods-kenyan-market-4620652
Ghana reduces malaria deaths by 90 percent
Ghana’s fight against malaria has seen a major breakthrough with a 90 percent reduction in malaria mortality since 2012.
https://www.scidev.net/global/podcast/ghana-reduces-malaria-deaths-by-90-per-cent/
Whooping cough: Vaccine expert ‘very worried’ by whooping cough deaths
UK health officials say there have been 1,319 cases of whooping cough in England in March, up from 900 in February, giving a total of nearly 2,800 so far this year.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68990222
Rwenzori sub-region decries unequal access to SRH/HIV services
People who fall under the evolving acronym of LGBTQI+ say their access to these services has become erratic and inadequate since the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 came into force last year.
HIV self-testing kit launched
The Ministry of Health has launched the Community CheckNow HIV-self-testing kit. The kits are meant to help communities know their HIV status in real time.
https://www.independent.co.ug/hiv-self-testing-kit-launched/
