Author: Tiphaine Marilyn

Women’s health is a critical part of community health, yet it is sometimes discussed only in relation to pregnancy or childbirth. In reality, women’s health is much broader. It includes physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being throughout every stage of life—from adolescence to adulthood and into menopause. Understanding these different stages and the health challenges that can arise is essential for prevention and early treatment.In this interview, Nurse Akpor shares her professional insights on the common health issues affecting women, the importance of preventive care, and how women can take proactive steps to protect their well-being.Q: To start, how would…

It is one of the most widely held beliefs about kidney health across Africa  that drinking plenty of water can flush out disease, reverse damage, and keep the kidneys functioning normally. It sounds logical. It feels healthy. And it is, in large part, dangerously wrong. Let us be clear: water is essential. Staying well hydrated helps the kidneys filter waste, prevents kidney stones, reduces the risk of urinary tract infections, and supports overall kidney function in healthy individuals. But here is what the science firmly establishes once kidney damage has occurred, no amount of water can reverse it. Chronic kidney…

Malawi has launched a rapid and decisive response to a newly detected polio threat, successfully vaccinating approximately 1.3 million children in just four days following the confirmation of a circulating variant poliovirus case in late January 2026  the first reported in the country since 2022. The four-day vaccination campaign, conducted across eight districts in Malawi’s Southern Region, deployed the novel oral poliomyelitis vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in line with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recommendations. An impressive 97% of targeted children were reached, with Blantyre District recording a remarkable 109% coverage surpassing its initial target. An additional 42,000 children who…

Siemens Healthineers has launched two new blood-based brain biomarker assays, offering researchers a less invasive, scalable path to detecting Alzheimer’s disease earlier than ever before. With nearly 10 million new dementia cases diagnosed globally every year and Alzheimer’s accounting for up to 70% of them the urgency for faster, more accessible diagnostic tools has never been greater. Today, Siemens Healthineers answered that call with the launch of two groundbreaking research assays: the Atellica IM Phosphorylated Tau 217 (pTau217) and the Atellica IM Brain Derived Tau (BDTau) both now available for research use. These fully automated blood tests measure two key neurological biomarkers strongly associated with Alzheimer’s progression. Crucially,…

A landmark study of over 333,000 patients reveals that stopping GLP-1 medications like Ozempic erases critical heart-protecting benefits within just six months. Published Wednesday in the journal BMJ Medicine, the study delivers a stark warning to the millions of people currently taking GLP-1 receptor agonist medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). While these injectable drugs are widely known for their dramatic cardiovascular benefits  significantly reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious heart complications  researchers have now confirmed that those benefits vanish surprisingly quickly once patients stop treatment. What makes the findings particularly alarming is the speed…

For generations, colorectal cancer has been dismissed as an “old person’s disease.” It was something to worry about after 60, perhaps 70. Young, healthy adults  particularly across Africa rarely gave it a second thought. That assumption is now not just outdated; it is deadly. The data is alarming and urgent. Colorectal cancer is rising at nearly 3% per year in people under 50, even as incidence has declined slightly in the overall population. Today, one in five people diagnosed with colorectal cancer is under the age of 55 and it is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among young…

Millions of African children are going to school hungry  and health and education leaders say that is no longer acceptable. The 11th Africa Day of School Feeding, held in Gaborone, Botswana from February 28 to March 1, 2026, brought together ministers, development partners, civil society, and health experts from across the continent with one urgent mandate: transform school nutrition from a basic safety net into a powerful engine for child health and national development. Co-organised by the Government of Botswana and the African Union under the theme “Ensuring Access to Nutritious Meals, Clean Water, and Hygiene: Promoting Safety and Resilience…

When flu season arrives, most people focus on avoiding fever and body aches. Yet the influenza virus poses a special threat to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) system the very gateway through which it enters and wreaks havoc. Protecting yourself from the flu is essential for safeguarding your hearing, your voice, and your respiratory health. Influenza viruses enter the body through the nose and mouth, attaching to cells in the upper respiratory tract. This explains why flu symptoms so frequently include sore throat, nasal congestion, and cough. But the damage does not always stop there. The inflammation caused by…

It begins as a simple cold a runny nose, a slight cough, perhaps a mild fever. Parents comfort their child, assuming the illness will pass. But for millions of children worldwide, this familiar scenario escalates into something far more serious: otitis media, an inflammation of the middle ear that stands as the most common childhood illness after the common cold and the leading cause of preventable hearing loss in low-resource settings. Otitis media refers to infection or inflammation of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum containing the tiny bones essential for hearing. Acute otitis media presents with rapid…

For Sore Throat and LaryngitisThis kitchen-made hack soothes a raw, painful throat and helps calm laryngitis by coating irritated tissues. Ingredients: – 2 tablespoons raw honey (natural antibacterial) – 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin (available at pharmacies, adds soothing thickness) – Pinch of ground turmeric (anti-inflammatory) – Pinch of ground gingerMethod: Mix all ingredients in a small jar until smooth. Take one teaspoon as needed, letting it slowly coat your throat before swallowing. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The honey fights bacteria, glycerin provides a protective coating, and turmeric reduces inflammation. ENT Benefit: Reduces throat pain, suppresses…