Malaria

Amid the dense forests and expansive horizons of northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a sinister enigma unfurls—an affliction stealthily ceases life, as if by shadowy design. Imagine shuffling through this verdant landscape only to learn that over 53 souls have already been claimed. How does one contend with such a mystery? Among health practitioners, anxiety brews, their minds grappling with the belligerent malignancy that walks among them. In the beleaguered community of Bikoro, where the illness first…

A Mysterious Surge of Malaria in Northwest Congo: Hundreds Affected, Scores Perished What happens when time-tested certainties suddenly seem uncertain? In northwest Congo, hundreds are pondering this very question with fear in their hearts and suspicion in their minds. Their existence has been upended by a sudden, harrowing increase in malaria cases, with the illness cresting over 1,000 instances and resulting in at least 60 heart-wrenching fatalities. While malaria remains a grimly familiar foe within Congo's Equateur…

In a surprising move that has sent shockwaves through the humanitarian community, the military junta in Niger has issued an expulsion order for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Strikingly, they provided no official rationale for this decisive action, leaving many to speculate about the motivations behind it. The ICRC has been a steadfast presence in Niger since 1990, tirelessly delivering crucial healthcare services to over 120,000 individuals affected by armed conflict. Their commitment to alleviating…

Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya The global fight against pandemics like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis faces a precarious moment. Why? On a fateful Tuesday, the Trump administration in the United States pivoted, deciding to freeze the supply of essential, lifesaving drugs intended for countries supported by US-AID. Ironic, isn't it? A world grappling with medical crises now finds itself cut off from a vital supply line. In an abrupt curtain call, a memo surfaced, targeting contractors and partners associated with US-AID. The…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has celebrated a significant breakthrough in public health, marking its successful introduction of malaria vaccination into its nationwide immunization framework. As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the DRC now stands as the 15th country in Africa to roll out malaria vaccines. Prior to this, 14 other nations—namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South…

Chad has launched a comprehensive vaccination initiative that includes the R21 malaria vaccine, representing a significant advancement in safeguarding the health of its younger population. This ambitious campaign is set to provide the PCV13, rotavirus, and malaria vaccines to an impressive total of 19.7 million children aged between six months and five years. Notably, the malaria vaccine will specifically benefit 168,522 children across 28 targeted districts. By incorporating the malaria vaccine into its national…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has bestowed Egypt with the distinguished title of malaria-free, a momentous achievement that signifies a remarkable triumph in public health. This accomplishment is the culmination of nearly a century-long commitment by this North African nation to eradicate a disease that has shadowed its history since the dawn of civilization. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Malaria has been intertwined with Egyptian civilization for millennia.…

Nigeria has taken a significant leap forward in the battle against malaria, receiving a remarkable shipment of one million doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, courtesy of the Gavi Alliance. This marks a pivotal moment in the nation's ongoing struggle against this deadly disease. The vaccination campaign is slated to kick off in November, focusing on the states of Kebbi and Bayelsa, both of which suffer from high rates of malaria. With this move, Nigeria finds itself among the pioneering countries globally to embrace…

In Madagascar, a dozen civil society organizations concerned within the well being sector are calling for extra funding within the battle in opposition to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, a battle "hampered and overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic," they…

Combine an anti-malarial drug with the Mosquirix vaccine to reduce malaria incidence and mortality in young African children by almost 75%. This is the surprising conclusion of a study published in the English scientific journal The New England Journal of Medicine, published after an experiment that took place over three years.…