Your Africa Health News Bites For July by Dara Oloyede

Headlines

• Kenya: Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Alcohol
• South Sudan: Cholera Outbreak
• Ethiopia: Remarkable Improvements in Nutritional Health
• Botswana: Increase In Schools, Decrease in HIV Infection Rates
• Liberia: New Ebola Outbreak
• Nigeria: Obio Community Health Model

 

Kenya: Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Alcohol

In lieu of recent deaths due to illegally brewed alcohol, the government has began an operation to get rid of and prevent the sale of  illegally brewed alcohol (bbc.com). “The government has revoked all licenses for bars and other outlets selling home brew, which can be laced with methanol” (bbc.com). The home brew has been reported to destroy families, lead to impotency in men, and cause many deaths (bbc.com).

For more information check out this article at bbc.com: Kenya Begins Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Alcohol

South Sudan: Cholera Outbreak

According to the UN Children’s Agency, about 29 people have died from a cholera outbreak (America.aljazeera.com). 484 People have been documented to be sick, and cases are still rising (America.aljazeera.com). “Children under 5 comprise 13% of the cases” (America.aljazeera.com). The WHO (World Health Organization) reported that the outbreaks last year infected over 6,000, and 167 people have died (America.aljazeera.com). The Cholera outbreak adds more difficulties to a region currently amidst conflicts that have displaced and continue to displace many (America.aljazeera.com). 

For more information check out this article at America.aljazeera.com: UN:29 Dies In South Sudan Cholera Outbreak

Ethiopia: Remarkable Improvements in Nutritional Health

Ethiopia has had many remarkable improvements since 2000 (allafrica.com). “Under-five child stunting rates have dropped from 58% to 40%, child wasting as dropped below 10%, and the prevalence of underweight in young children has declined from 41% to 25%” (allafrica.com). The International Food Policy Research Institute and Transform Nutrition, have said that these improvements are due to some things such as better feeding practices for infants and young children, “advances in empowering women, stronger social safety nets, and better roads and infrastructure” (allafrica.com).

For more information check out this article at allafrica.com: Africa: What's Driving Ethiopia's Remarkable Improvements in Nutritional Health?

Botswana: Increase In Schools, Decrease in HIV Infection Rates

In Botswana, “increasing secondary school attendance slashed HIV infection rates of adults, with the greatest drop among women” (allafrica.com). A study in the Lancet said that an extra year of school after primary school reduced peoples chance of infection by 1/3 (allafrica.com). Jacob Bor, a Global Health Researcher said that, “education is a cost-efficient way of preventing HIV infection in countries where the virus is a severe burden” (allafrica.com).

For more information check out this article at allafrica.com: Botswana: More School Slashes HIV Infection in Botswana

Liberia: New Ebola Outbreak

Several weeks ago Liberia had been declared Ebola-free, but recently 2 cases have been reported after a death (bbc.com). The new cases were reported in the same area where the person had died, and that area has now been quarantined (bbc.com).

For more information check out this article at bbc.com: Ebola crisis: Liberia's new outbreak spreads

Nigeria: Obio Community Health Model

“The vast majority Nigerians have no access to affordable and quality health care; most must pay out of their own pocket for basic health care of doubtful quality” (voices.nationalgeographic.com). The author of this article, Babatunde Fakunle, describes the ‘Obio Community Health Insurance Program’. The Obio Community Health Insurance program was created out of a partnership between the Shell Petroleum Development Company and Rivers State government. The goal of this organization is to provide health care to people who cannot afford quality health care. The WHO and other important health organizations have supported the Obio model. To read more about the strategy, development, and results of this model check out the article at voices.nationalgeographic.com: Obio Community Health Model “Wipes Away Tears” in Nigeria

 

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Dara Oloyede is the African News Correspondent for Engage Africa Foundation. She is currently a Sociology and Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder in Colorado. She was born in Nigeria, and currently is involved in the African Students Association. She currently works at Community Health on her campus as a student coordinator and gives presentations centered on promoting student wellness through education and support. She hopes to pursue Graduate studies in Public Health after graduating with her Bachelors degree. During her free time she likes to read books, hang out with friends, go to the movies, concerts, as well as events that celebrate different cultures.