Health and medicine

20 years ago, in February 2001, the "Human Genome Project" resulted in the publication of the first human DNA sequence, the first mapping of our genetic code. Since then, the genome of more than one million people has been sequenced around the world, with so many small mutations and variations. Ambroise Wonkam, professor of medical genetics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and chair of the African Society of Human Genetics, wants to start a project of unprecedented scale in Africa: the sequencing of DNA…

The bar of 100 deaths due to Covid-19 was crossed in Togo over the weekend of 20-21. March. In particular, with the presence of the British variant, pollution cases are increasing and the epidemic is progressing faster. Faced with this situation, the authorities are considering new measures in the next few days. The situation is taken seriously in Togo. The Scientific Council and the President of the Republic, Faure Gnassingbé, are increasing the number of consultations these days. And with good reason: the pollution…

Unicef ​​and the Ministry of National Education are leading an information campaign for young people on hygienic management of menstruation. According to a survey, 21% of young people go to school every month in Burkina Faso and Niger because of their period, which has a negative impact on their school performance. During this campaign, young girls and boys learn to better understand the female genitals…

At a time of the resurgence of the Ebola epidemic, focus on the Institute of Applied Biological Research in Guinea (Irbag) in the Kindia region, 135 km from Conakry. It is located on the grounds of the former Institut Pasteur, which was founded in 1922 by Dr. Calmette, who mainly owed the tuberculosis vaccine. It is a jewel of colonial architecture, its archives are full of treasures for historians.…

A mobile clinic has been wandering around Greater Tunis for a year. The device was set up at the start of confinement in March last year and makes it possible to reach out to the field people in great insecurity, homeless, excluded from the system. Report on board Médibus. Until now, this homeless man in his sixties refused to…

Faced with the easing of the population in terms of barrier movements and the resurgence of the epidemic throughout the territory, especially in the center and north of the country, the National Gendarmerie has just announced the resumption of old regulations decided by the Ministries of Interior and health. It is clear, social distance, sanctions for not wearing a mask and above all the obligation to bury the dead from Covid or suspected of having died by Covid at their place of death. A hard blow to the Malagasy people,…

South Africa, the country most affected by the coronavirus continent, crossed the million mark over the weekend since the epidemic began. The country is currently experiencing another wave with a variant of the virus appearing to be more contagious and responsible for most new cases. New restrictions were announced on Monday, December 28th.…

Soumaïla Cissé died on Friday, December 25, in Paris, where he was treated under contract with Covid-19. More than any other neighborhood in Bamako, Badalabougou is in mourning. The former leader of the opposition against Mali had established his family home there. It is also the headquarters of his party, the Union for Republic and Democracy (URD), that pays tribute to his memory. In Niafunké, the…

Nearly two months after the start of the offensive in Tigray, Sudan received nearly 55,000 refugees fleeing fighting in the neighboring area. Humanitarian organizations ring alarm bells when the situation is urgent. The UN World Food Program needs $ 24.6 million to meet the immediate needs of Ethiopian refugees in Sudan. The…

In one month, Burkina Faso registered 2,000 new cases of Covid-19 contamination. A situation that worries the response committee, especially when the celebration of the end of the year comes. Ouagadougou, the capital, has only 1,000 positive cases and about 20 people are already in hospital. Health officials demand that barrier measures be followed to avoid saturation of health centers.…