A breakthrough study has identified the genetic risk factors that contribute to increased prostate cancer in African men. The study, the largest of its kind, recruited 7,500 men from eastern, southern and west Africa.
Seventeen years ago, African Union member countries committed to spending 1% of gross domestic product on research and development. By 2019, the continent’s average remained only at 0.42% – far below the global average of 1.7%. Not a single African country has met the 1% target. South Africa, the continent’s leader in research and development spending, peaked at just 0.85% of
GDP.
Founded by renowned and experienced African biostatisticians, Optima Clinical aims to revolutionize data management and biostatistics globally, focusing on clinical trials in low resource settings.
The mpox outbreak in Africa is yet another example of how infectious diseases perceived to be “someone else’s problem”, and affecting mainly poor, developing countries, may suddenly pose unexpected global threats.
As East African countries grow their investment in satellite technology for communications, defence, security, research, disaster management and weather forecasting, the region is also growing as a launch and test site for the industry.
The aim of vaccination is to prevent infection with the bacterium that causes cholera: Vibrio cholerae. Vaccination can also reduce the risk of severe illness that requires hospitalisation.
A large body of research has shown that teens who openly discuss sex and sexuality with their parents reduce their risky sexual behaviour, leading to improved reproductive health.
The Conversation Africa asked Idris Mohammed, a professor of infectious diseases and immunology and former board chair of Nigeria’s National Programme on Immunisation, to explain the new vaccine and its likely impact.
