Two largely opposing proposals for a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – the last outstanding piece of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Pandemic Agreement – were tabled during the seventh round of negotiations, which ended on Friday. Africa consolidated behind a “federated” model, while the European Union and its developed-country allies backed a “hybrid” […] Continue reading ->
Unitaid is quietly searching for its next leader behind closed doors amidst growing demands for transparency. Whoever takes the helm of the market-shaping agency will inherit an organisation that faces acute financial shortfalls and mounting pressure for institutional reform. As Unitaid celebrates its 20th anniversary, severe cuts to the agency’s funding threaten to disrupt the […] Continue reading ->
Two months after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo, the outbreak is “continuing to outpace the response” – and with 2,073 people infected and 796 dead, this is the fastest outbreak ever, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus told a media briefing on Thursday. “Intense […] Continue reading ->
Nearly 90% of infants globally received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2025, while around one-third of girls globally received at least one dose of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer. This is according to the annual World Health Organization (WHO)-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization […] Continue reading ->
As artificial intelligence drives rapid health innovations, global guardrails, equitable data, and local capacity are needed to ensure equitable progress. To address this, a landmark framework launched by three United Nations agencies lays out a strategic roadmap for innovators. Meanwhile, health leaders emphasise that lower-income regions must become co-creators of future innovations. New guidelines for […] Continue reading ->
HPV vaccines have transformed cervical cancer prevention, but the next generation of vaccines must better reflect regional disease patterns, including the HPV35 genotype prevalent in Africa.   The recent WHO Global Status Report on Cancer paints a sobering picture. Among the many challenges, human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the world’s most serious infectious causes of […] Continue reading ->
Africa can no longer afford to manage cancer care as a perpetual crisis. Instead, policy leaders must recognize this crisis for what it truly is: the ultimate ‘stress test’ for national health systems.  The WHO Global Status Report on Cancer, published this week, highlights the persistent inequities in access to timely cancer diagnosis and treatment […] Continue reading ->