Amref forms team to review universal health coverage progress in Africa
African countries that announced universal health coverage are set for review of the programmes following formation of an independent commission by the African Medical Research Foundation (Amref). African countries, with the weakest health infrastructure in the world, have committed to universal healthcare by 2030 in line with United Nation’s Sustainable...
Ecotourism now big risk to great apes and other animals in the wild
Wildlife veterinarian Stephen Ngulu starts his typical working day watching from a distance as the chimpanzees under his care eat their breakfast. He keeps an eye out for runny noses, coughing or other hints of illness. These days, Ngulu and others at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in...
US recall of troops from Somalia may cut off intelligence flow for Kenya
The decision by outgoing US President Donald Trump to withdraw American troops from Somalia is expected to force Kenya and Ethiopia back to the drawing board as the move by Washington will cut off intelligence flow the two East African countries need badly to keep Islamist militants at bay. The...
Illicit foreign markets driving up theft of eastern Africa tortoises, turtles
For some communities on the Indian Ocean coast of Africa, tortoises and turtles are potent love potions. Their body parts are harvested and sold to men and women looking to tie down their lovers in a long-term bond of marriage. To foreigners from the United States and Europe, turtles and...
Rugby Africa dishes out €276,000 to 11 unions on the continent
Rugby Africa has disbursed €276,490 to 11 affiliates on the continent to enable them to prepare for the 2021 after a difficult 2020 rugby season. The fund will enable 11 of the 39 Unions – Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana – start...
South Sudan: For Juba, $7.22m water project means better health and peace
Access to drinking water in South Sudan is a crucial issue for peacebuilding and dealing with community disputes that could undermine the country’s emergence from conflict and crisis Farida, her school bag on her back and her face betraying a hint of a smile, sings softly on her way to...
Samoura: Fifa keen to save football from coronavirus
Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura took part in the closing session of the World Football Summit today to discuss issues that ranged from disruption, wokeness and the impact of the Fifa Covid-19 Relief Plan on global football. In an interview with South African broadcaster Carol Tshabalala, Fatma Samoura spoke about...
Ghanaian environmentalist bags this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize
The world’s foremost award honouring grassroots environmental activists, the Goldman Environmental Prize, was this year bagged by Ghanaian environmental champion Ezekiel Chibeze. The selection panel cited Chibeze’s commitment to pushing for good governance in Ghana’s environmental sector and leadership in Ghana, across Africa and globally. The Goldman Environmental Prize is...
Yippies or disgusting yobs: Spectre of drunk and disorderly Kenyan yodellers
The arrest of 20 teenaged children in Nairobi’s Kahawa Sukari and at least 40 others in Webuye, western Kenya in just one week, sheds more light on a phenomenon that began unfolding since schools closed indefinitely following the outbreak of coronavirus more than nine months ago. The story despondent youth...
AstraZeneca Covid vaccine: A scientific red flag with flashing lights
Manufacturers of a third coronavirus vaccine announced positive results in clinical trials last week, setting off yet another round of excited news reports. This one, produced by a partnership between a University of Oxford research institute, its spinout company Vaccitech and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca does not need to be...
