A recent partnership between Orange, GAVI and the Cote d’Ivoire Ministry of Health called “M-Vaccin Côte d’ Ivoire” is aiming to increase child immunization rates in regions with the least coverage. Orange will utilize a text and voice messaging system to inform patients of the importance of vaccination in the local language. Families are also reminded of their children’s immunization … Read More
Congress approves additional funding to fight TB globally
While great strides have been made in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), it still remains one of the top ten leading causes of death globally. With the added threat of antimicrobial resistance, drug-resistant TB is becoming an increasing public health crisis. In fact, TB accounts for 30 percent of all deaths due to drug resistance. Last week, the United States … Read More
Paraguay Receives Malaria Elimination Certification by WHO
Paraguay became the first country in the Americas in 45 years to receive certification from the WHO for eliminating malaria on Monday. This designation follows the country being identified in 2016 as one of 21 countries that had the potential to eliminate malaria by 2020. “Receiving this certification is a recognition of more than five decades of hard work in … Read More
Nipah Virus Demands Investments in R&D
Nipah virus may not be as commonly known as other infectious diseases such as Ebola or Zika, but the devastating disease has already claimed 17 lives in Kerala, India in the latest outbreak. The infection produces flulike symptoms, which often lead to acute respiratory infection. Encephalitis, or brain inflammation, also an effect, can prove fatal in some circumstances. The virus … Read More
First List of Essential Diagnostics Could Make a Big Impact
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a Model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics. The list contains approximately 115 lab tests that the WHO believes should be provided under every health care system. Because testing varies so greatly from country to country, experts hope this list will help standardize how diagnoses are made across the globe. Late and … Read More
New Device Tests Blood at a Fraction of the Time and Cost of a Lab
A new device named “Lab on Chip” has been developed in Canada and can test blood samples on the spot for measles and rubella. Researchers are hopeful that the device will soon be able to test for a wide range of infectious diseases. Taking advantage of the technology known as microfluidics, the device is able to move a drop of … Read More
Combatting Ebola Outbreak with a New Vaccine
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently experiencing its 9th outbreak of Ebola since first detection of the virus in 1976. This outbreak is believed to have started in early April in the town of Bikoro and has already infected 32, killing 18. Health officers are determined to contain the outbreak rapidly, fearing it will spread. Dr. Tedros Adhanom, … Read More
Drug Resistant Typhoid, the Current Face of Antimicrobial Resistance
A strain of typhoid that is currently spreading through Pakistan is resistant to five different antibiotics, more than any previous outbreak. So far there have been 850 cases across 14 districts since 2016. The strain is expected to disseminate globally and replace weaker strains. Only azithromycin has been identified as a successful treatment. Pakistan is no stranger to Typhoid outbreaks, … Read More
Graduation: a milestone to applaud or cause for concern?
In our latest newsletter, we wrote an insights piece on transitional funding and how countries, and specifically the health of people living in these countries, are affected by the process. On March 15, the United Nations announced that four countries would soon graduate from the list of least developed countries (LCDs). The countries are Bhutan, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and … Read More
Nature-Based Solutions for Tackling Water Scarcity
Every year, World Water Day brings attention to the dilemma of water scarcity and the importance of sustainably managing fresh water resources. Now more than ever, it is essential to pave the way for innovative solutions in water management. In the recently published UN World Water Development Report, Audrey Azoulay, Head of UNESCO said that “5 billion people will be … Read More