Author: Pavel Chamabe

Some scientists are warning about a less obvious consequence of climate change, its impact on human reproduction, particularly male fertility. A study conducted by the National University of Singapore, which examined the sperm of 818 men, found that heatwaves increased the risk of low sperm count by nearly 46%, making conception more difficult. A similar finding was observed in a 2023 Chinese study involving nearly 2,200 samples, which concluded that “exposure to heatwaves was significantly associated with a reduction in sperm quality.” A more recent and in-depth study conducted in Argentina has quantified this phenomenon with greater precision, providing crucial…

A stringent 900-calorie liquid diet recommended by the NHS may help people reverse their type 2 diabetes. Although this diet can be challenging, requiring participants to eliminate all solid foods for several months and then gradually reintroduce smoothies, soups, and meal replacement snacks, it has shown promising results. According to a year-long study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, around one-third of the hundreds of participants who completed the program achieved significant outcomes, losing nearly 16 kg (2.5 stone) and attaining diabetes remission. This program, funded entirely by the NHS, is distinct from the Wegovy weight loss injection…

Recent findings from the Performance Monitoring for Action Burkina Faso (PMA-Burkina Faso) research platform indicate a significant decline in the prevalence of modern contraceptive use among married women. These results were shared with stakeholders during a dissemination workshop hosted by the Institute of Population Sciences (ISSP). After years of steady growth, the latest data shows a notable drop in the use of modern contraception among married women. Data collected from 235 healthcare sites, 5,306 households, and 6,089 women aged 15 to 49 between December 2023 and February 2024 reveals that the prevalence rate of modern contraceptive use among married women…

Ousman, a refugee in Adré, began experiencing fever, muscle aches, and joint pain, to the point where he could no longer walk even short distances. He also suffered from stomach pain and frequent vomiting. He did not yet know that he was suffering from hepatitis E, a disease mainly transmitted through contaminated water and caused by poor hygiene conditions. Since the beginning of 2024, an outbreak of hepatitis E has been affecting eastern Chad, particularly in refugee camps. By 9 June, 2,894 cases had been reported across seven camps, with eleven deaths, resulting in a fatality rate of 0.4%. The…

Algerian authorities have blocked the authentication of diplomas for physicians for nearly a year, attempting to curb the mass exodus of medical professionals from the country. The Minister of Higher Education, Kamel Baddari, formally approved this proposal on July 13 in answer to an inquiry from MP Abdelouahab Yagoubi on the length of this limit.Baddari defended the freeze by claiming that it was a short-term step towards finding a way to deter physicians from leaving the country. He did admit, though, that international recruiters get around the problem by using Algerian or their own nations’ embassies, so this strategy hasn’t…

A major breakthrough in the fight against malaria has been made with the introduction of the RTS, S, and R21 vaccines. Through targeting the same protein on malaria parasites, both vaccinations could significantly lower the number of child malaria cases and fatalities.Because studies and circumstances fluctuate, it can be difficult to interpret vaccine effectiveness estimates because of changes in immunisation techniques, follow-up times, and malaria transmission levels.Research shows that a seasonal strategy optimises effectiveness; nevertheless, compared to age-based methods, seasonal vaccination requires more work to execute. While the R21 results are based on a mere 12-month period, the RTS, S…

More than thirty midwives from the Ga Central Municipal Health Directorate received training on the mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B as part of campaigns to increase public awareness of the disease. This project, which was spearheaded by MP Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi and the Municipal Health Directorate, aims to enhance data management, encourage early immunisation, study the reasons, and prevent transmission.The Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr. Edwina Appiah, emphasised the significance of this training by pointing out that women are most impacted by hepatitis B, which has a prevalence rate of 13% in Ghana. In order to avoid illness,…

Senior officials from the WHO regions of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean have convened in Chad, the country hosting the greatest number of Sudanese refugees, to evaluate the critical health needs of those impacted by this escalating humanitarian crisis. Millions of people are fleeing the war and famine in their native Sudan. The mission aims to strengthen cross-border humanitarian operations in Sudan’s Darfur states and provide critical medical care to affected communities. It seeks to improve the effectiveness of WHO operations in Chad, Sudan, and the offices of the African Region (AFRO) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO). “As the…

A Pretoria court ruled this July that several mental patients who were sent to unlicensed care facilities in 2016 died due to the negligence of two government employees in South Africa. At least 144 mental patients passed away from pneumonia, dehydration, or diarrhea between 2016 and 2017. As part of a cost-cutting effort, approximately 1,300 patients were hurriedly transported to 27 “ill-prepared” institutions, as opposed to “concentration camps,” according to a government probe. Relatives were transferred without notifying their families. In recent years, this tragedy has significantly impacted South African society. The Gauteng Department of Health, which oversees the province…

Nadja discovered she was HIV-positive two years ago while preparing for her wedding. Eight months after getting married, she became pregnant and started worrying about her baby’s health. She dreaded that her child might be born HIV-positive due to her own condition. In Comoros, all HIV-positive pregnant women, including Nadja, receive support through the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program. This program provides medical and psychological follow-up to protect children from the risk of contamination during pregnancy or childbirth. The prevalence of HIV among pregnant women in the Comoros is 0.03%, and the Ministry of Health aims to eliminate all…