News, economies and societies across Africa
Health
Public health systems, disease outbreaks and the money that keeps clinics running: this section reports on health across the continent, together with medical research that concerns readers everywhere.
Show more
Recent coverage includes the WHO data hub bringing 47 countries into a single regional view, the Economic Commission for Africa’s call for a new fiscal compact as health budgets tighten, and Ethiopia’s plan linking health investment with climate resilience and peacebuilding. Earlier reports followed COVID-19 control, Omicron in Botswana and a suspected Ebola case in Ouagadougou.
Wider research stories cover long COVID, the risk of very hot drinks for the oesophagus, counterfeit medicines and new approaches to depression and painful memories.
For an overview of how care is organised, start with the piece on challenges facing healthcare systems. These articles inform but do not replace medical advice.
38 stories
Page 2
Latest stories
Zambia and the US sign a five-year health agreement
Lusaka says the final text drops the specimen clause and narrows US access to programme data, after months of protest over patient records.
Plague is still a risk where wild rodents carry it
The infection never vanished from nature. How plague spreads from wild rodents and fleas to people, how to recognise its forms, and why early treatment…
Africa CDC opens a pilot clinical research certificate
A course for mid-career health professionals starts in Addis Ababa, followed by hands-on placements at research organisations in four African countries.
The plague never went away: where cases still occur
Plague still appears in Africa and the US each year. How the disease spreads, its three forms, and why antibiotics work if given early.
Kenya traces contacts and flight travellers after first imported Bundibugyo Ebola case
The patient travelled from the DRC through Uganda before reaching Nairobi. At least 28 contacts are under follow-up, while authorities seek 23 passengers and four…
WHO health data hub brings 47 African countries into one regional view
A new WHO platform will connect national and regional health data, support forecasting and help governments identify service gaps while retaining control of their information.
Ethiopia links climate resilience, health investment and peacebuilding in development agenda
Ethiopia’s development agenda is increasingly connecting climate adaptation, social protection, health services and conflict-sensitive resource management as pressures on rural communities intensify.
ECA calls for a new fiscal compact as Africa’s health financing tightens
The UN Economic Commission for Africa is urging finance and health ministries to make multi-year commitments as domestic budgets, external aid and household spending come…
Challenges in healthcare systems across Africa
Across Africa, healthcare systems are under relentless strain, and policymakers must confront a mosaic of interlocking problems that undermine basic care. Chronic shortages of trained…
Scientists Reveal Simple Method to Erase Bad Memories, Promising Hope for Emotional Healing and Mental Well-being
In an intriguing breakthrough, scientists have identified a novel method to alter the way we recall negative memories, offering potential new avenues for treating challenging…
“It’s Hot Enough to Hurt You”: Scientists Warn That Very Hot Tea and Coffee Can Burn Your Esophagus (And Raise Cancer Risk)
Tea, originating from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, is the second most consumed beverage worldwide, trailing only behind water. Once a medicinal drink…
“Half Never Fully Recover”: New Study Finds Long COVID Haunts Millions Across Africa (and some countries face rates up to 86%)
The impact of COVID-19 continues to reverberate across the globe, but its lingering effects are particularly pronounced in Africa. Recent research indicates that nearly half…