Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

In a major step to combat a leading threat to infants, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever guidance on immunizing babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This virus is known as the primary cause of severe lower respiratory infections in children globally, claiming approximately 100,000 lives and causing over 3.6 million hospitalizations annually among children under five. Alarmingly, half of these deaths occur in infants younger than six months, with a staggering 97% happening in low- and middle-income countries where critical medical support like oxygen is often scarce. Published in its Weekly Epidemiological Record, the WHO position…

Multivitamins lining pharmacy shelves might look appealing, often appearing as colourful gummies, sweet syrups, or simple tablets, but Pharm. Tokonila Helga Thomas delivers a crucial message during an interview with Health Pulse Magazine for the Health Community of West Africa Association(HCOWAA) : they are medicines, not mere supplements. Speaking on responsible use, Pharm. Thomas emphasized that these products, while containing essential vitamins, demand the same caution as any other medication. “People who are deficient or weak are those that usually take them, before anyone takes them, they would have to consult a healthcare professional. Self-medicating with multivitamins, carries significant health…

Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Oceng, announced the end of the country’s eighth Ebola outbreak on April 26, 2025, 42 days after the last case was discharged. The outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, was declared on January 30, 2025, and spread across seven districts and three cities, including Kampala. The swift response from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), WHO, UNICEF, and partners helped contain the outbreak, despite the absence of approved vaccines or treatments for the Sudan strain. Communities played a key role in…

The World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have announced the expansion of the Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA) to seven countries on the continent. Africa experiences a disproportionate number of disease outbreaks, and this partnership aims to enhance disease surveillance and epidemic intelligence, enabling countries to better detect and respond to public health threats. The partnership, launched in 2023 in six countries, will expand to Rwanda in its second phase, running from 2025 to 2028. At its core is a collaborative surveillance…

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) Commission have renewed their strategic partnership with the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva that took place from May 19th to 27th, 2025. This renewed agreement underscores the joint commitment to advancing health security, universal health coverage, and sustainable development across the African continent, amidst unprecedented financial challenges in the global health landscape. The agreement, signed by AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, and WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, marks a defining…

The World Health Assembly has made significant strides in addressing pressing global health issues, adopting landmark resolutions on rare diseases, health financing, and science-driven health policy. These moves underscore the commitment of Member States to ensuring equitable access to healthcare and promoting inclusive policies. The rare diseases resolution, a first of its kind, recognizes the significant burden of these conditions, which affect over 300 million people worldwide. The resolution urges countries to integrate rare diseases into national health planning, improve diagnosis and care, and promote access to affordable treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been mandated to develop a…

The global healthcare landscape is undergoing significant transformation, and the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) is at the forefront of this evolution. By harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the organization is spearheading initiatives that promise to revolutionize healthcare delivery in West Africa, particularly Ghana. A testament to this commitment is the successful organization of its 8th Symposium on AI APPLICATIONS- WEST AFRICAN HOSPITAL NEEDS EXCHANGE MEETING, themed “Strengthening Hospital Support and Regional Medical Supply Systems.” During his welcome address, the Vice President of HCOWAA, Mr. Prince Opoku Dogbey outlined a plan to integrate AI in healthcare…

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed two more cases of Mpox, bringing the total number of cases registered in the country to 4.  The most recent instances were discovered in the Greater Accra and Western regions, and neither individual had any known relation to previously reported diseases. Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General of the GHS, said in a statement released on Sunday, May 18, 2025, that the service has implemented stricter contact tracking and other public health measures to stop the virus’s possible spread. Health officials are encouraging the public to remain vigilant and stick to preventive practices…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has overhauled its Covid-19 vaccine approval process, a move that could restrict future shots to older Americans and those at higher risk of severe infection. According to Dr. Vinay Prasad, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, the agency will now require more stringent evidence from vaccine manufacturers to approve updated Covid-19 shots. Under the new guidelines, updated vaccines will likely be available this fall for adults 65 and older and those with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19…

Hong Kong is dealing with a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections, marking the highest positivity rate in respiratory samples in over a year and reigniting concerns about the virus’s lingering threat to the elderly and immunocompromised. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported a sharp rise in cases, with test positivity rates jumping from 6.2% to 13.7% in just four weeks since early April, accompanied by increased viral concentrations in sewage and rising hospital admissions.  Health authorities confirm that the current wave is fueled by declining immunity rather than new, more dangerous variants. Between March 23 and April 19, Hong…