Category: Health

The global health body now faces a $2.5 billion budget deficit, including a $1.9 billion gap in its planned $4.2 billion budget for 2026-27 and an additional $600 million deficit through the end of 2025, according to senior WHO officials who spoke at a recent global staff ‘Town Hall’ meeting.

Health Policy Watch, a nonprofit global health news outlet, reports that the U.S.—historically the WHO’s largest donor—has yet to pay its 2024 dues of $130 million, further deepening the organization’s financial crisis.

In total, the country owes WHO $260 million for the 2024-25 period, funds that are unlikely to be paid following newly elected President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the organization.

While the U.S. withdrawal will only take effect in January 2026 due to a required one-year notice period, the financial repercussions are already being felt.

Raul Thomas, WHO’s Assistant Director General of Business Operations, highlighted that the withdrawal of U.S. funding has played a key role in the crisis. The country contributed nearly $1 billion in both fixed and voluntary payments in 2022-23. The loss of these funds means WHO must now make significant budgetary adjustments to continue its core operations.

In response, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced strategic reductions across all levels of the organization, beginning with senior leadership.

Speaking to WHO staff via Zoom, he emphasized that the organization will undergo a prioritization exercise to focus on its core functions and maximize its impact despite reduced resources.

“Everything is on the table, including merging divisions, departments, and units, and relocating functions,” Tedros stated, adding that the prioritization process will be completed by the second half of the month.

He assured that the cuts will be guided by strategic need rather than contract type or grade level.

A newly formed “prioritization working group” led by Deputy Director General Dr. Mike Ryan, alongside Regional Directors Hans Kluge (Europe) and Hanan Balkhy (Eastern Mediterranean), will oversee the restructuring efforts. Thomas and WHO Chief Scientist Jeremy Farrar are also part of this team.

President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. from WHO marks the second time he has pursued such action. During his first term, he initiated the withdrawal in response to what he claimed was WHO’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic. His successor, President Joe Biden, reversed that decision upon taking office. However, upon his return to the White House in January 2025, Trump swiftly signed an executive order to withdraw again.

While the full impact of the U.S. withdrawal will only take shape in 2026, WHO officials are already bracing for the financial and operational consequences of losing its largest donor. The organization now faces tough choices to ensure that it continues its global health initiatives with significantly reduced funding.

The study, conducted at the TASK clinical research site in Cape Town, South Africa, is a first-in-human single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial. It is assessing the safety and pharmacokinetics of AKG-100 in both healthy volunteers and pulmonary TB patients. The study will enroll approximately 100 participants.

Dr. Daryl Drummond, Chief Science Officer at Akagera Medicines, expressed optimism about the progress. “The completion of the first cohort in this study is an important milestone as we progress a novel long-acting injectable and targeted treatment option for patients with pulmonary TB,” he said.

“AKG-100 demonstrated promising preclinical data, and we believe that its addition to drug-resistant TB treatment regimens will improve anti-TB activity and provide a favorable safety profile.”

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, disproportionately affecting low-income populations. Despite being both preventable and treatable, TB continues to claim nearly two million lives each year, with 400,000 of these deaths occurring in children.

“TB is the greatest killer in human history. One out of seven people who ever lived has died from it. Nearly two million of the poorest people in Russia, India, Africa, and China die from it every year.” said Michael Fairbanks, Executive Chairman of Akagera Medicines.

AKG-100 is a pegylated liposomal formulation of an oxazolidinone antibiotic. Liposomal drug delivery systems offer significant advantages, including improved drug stability, increased drug solubility, and reduced toxicity.

“Liposome-encapsulated drugs are a promising area of drug delivery research. This formulation enhances drug efficacy by increasing uptake and retention by target cells, allowing for higher drug concentrations at the site of action,” explained Dr. Sachin Marulkar, Chief Medical Officer of Akagera Medicines.

The study’s successful completion of its first cohort marks an important step in the development of a more effective TB treatment. AKG-100’s long-acting injectable formulation is expected to provide much-needed flexibility and improve treatment adherence, especially in resource-limited settings.

Many TB patients struggle with the lengthy and demanding treatment regimens currently available, leading to poor compliance and the rise of drug-resistant strains.

Founded in 2018 in Kigali, Akagera Medicines is dedicated to developing innovative lipid nanoparticle formulations of antibacterial drugs and mRNA vaccines. In 2022, it established a 100%-owned subsidiary in Kigali for manufacturing and clinical trials.

Among its founding and current board members are Ambassador Dr. Albrecht Conze, Dr. Paul Farmer of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, former Chair of the Global Fund for Malaria, HIV, and TB, and Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF. UN Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza and Philippe Watrin, Chief Investment Officer of the RSSB, also serve on the board.

Task clinical research, which is conducting the trial, is a leading multinational research institute based in Cape Town, South Africa. It has completed over 100 clinical studies focused on infectious diseases.

It is led by Professor Andreas Diacon, a recognized expert in TB research who received the 2016 Scientific Prize from the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

The global burden of TB extends beyond human health, with significant economic and geopolitical implications. TB-infected mothers are associated with a six-fold increase in perinatal deaths.

The World Health Organization warns that a large TB infection pool, coupled with factors such as drug resistance and inadequate case detection, continues to fuel the epidemic.

Political conflicts further complicate efforts to control TB, while the disease also poses a direct threat to wildlife. Many animal species, particularly primates, are vulnerable to TB due to increased exposure to eco-tourists.

Cancer cells typically hide from the immune system by displaying minimal recognizable proteins. However, in this new study, researchers disrupted protein production within the cancer cells, forcing them to produce abnormal proteins.

These new proteins made the cancer cells more visible to the immune system, prompting a stronger immune response capable of targeting and destroying them.

In tests using mouse models, the method successfully activated immune cells to target and inhibit tumor growth.

When combined with existing immunotherapy treatments, the approach led to the complete eradication of tumors in approximately 40 percent of the mice, according to Yardena Samuels, who led the research.

This innovative technique holds significant promise for improving cancer treatment, particularly for cancers with fewer mutations.

The research team is now investigating how the method can be applied to various other cancers, including breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers, hoping it will lead to more effective, widespread therapies in the future.

With five out of seven people lacking access to safe surgery and 4.2 million dying within 30 days of operations each year, experts at the inaugural Advancing Medical Education in Africa Conference (MedEdAfrica 2025) this week highlighted how these interventions, paired with innovative training, are reducing risks and reshaping healthcare education.

“When the lights go off mid-operation, our headlamp comes on, and we continue,” said Professor Nobhojit Roy, a Lifebox governing board member and surgery professor at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE).

Lifebox’s headlamps, distributed across 116 countries, tackle a universal hurdle: power interruptions.

In Rwanda, like many other countries in the region, they have illuminated operating theaters, with Prof. Roy describing them as a “practical fix” in cases of power hitches, ensuring surgeries can continue uninterrupted even with the slightest interruption.

Senait Bitew Alemu, Lifebox’s Chief Programme Officer, highlighted the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist as a cornerstone of their Clean Cut project, which includes components such as proper hand hygiene, skin antisepsis, sterile equipment and environment, and timely antibiotic prophylaxis.

In Rwanda, the non-profit organization focused on improving the safety of surgery in low-income countries has been implementing the Clean Cut program in four facilities, including CHUK, Kabgayi, Kigeme, and Kirehe. According to the organization, globally, Clean Cut has demonstrated a 35% reduction in infections among all patients.

“A patient shouldn’t return with an infection,” Alemu said, emphasizing the importance of safer recoveries for mothers post-cesarean.

Pulse oximeters, which monitor oxygen levels, have also played an important role in safer surgeries.

“It’s a device you saw during COVID,” Prof. Roy noted.

A pulse oximeter is the only piece of equipment included on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and is a minimum standard for safe anesthesia. Yet, operating rooms across the world still lack this essential device, putting millions of lives at risk, according to Lifebox experts.

Since 2011, Lifebox has distributed more than 35,000 pulse oximeters in 116 countries. Coupled with the training of more than 14,000 healthcare providers on safe surgeries, these efforts are making surgery safer for more than 200 million patients.

Additionally, as part of efforts for safer surgeries, Lifebox, in partnership with Smile Train, is equipping 650 operating rooms with Smile Train-Lifebox Capnographs. These essential monitors ensure patients receive adequate oxygen during anesthesia. While they have been used universally in high-income countries for decades, they remain absent in many low-resource operating rooms.

The MedEdAfrica conference, launched Monday at the Kigali Convention Centre, drew over 600 medical educators, students, healthcare leaders, and policymakers from Africa and beyond.

Hosted by UGHE, the Ministry of Health, and partners, it birthed the Consortium of Medical Schools in Africa (COMSA) to foster collaboration.

Speaking during the opening of the conference, Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana stressed the importance of evolving education to meet a shifting health landscape.

“Diseases have moved from malaria to cancer as life expectancy rises,” he said. “We need specialists, and fast.”

Lifebox supports the ministry through a nine-month nursing fellowship at Butaro Teaching Hospital, which began two months ago and is ongoing.

“Nurses are the backbone,” Alemu affirmed. “We’re training them in safety, leadership, and sterilization,” she added.

The Lifebox training program, targeting general nurses in perioperative roles, aims to cascade training across Rwanda, with five initial trainees set to mentor others.

{{Reforms on medical training
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Professor Abebe Bekele, UGHE’s Dean and COMSA co-chair, emphasized the need for education reform across Africa to address existing gaps.

“Africa can’t afford 15-20-year training timelines,” he said, advocating for shorter, intensive programs and multi-level training to meet rural healthcare demands.

He termed the reforms as crucial to supporting initiatives such as the 4×4 program launched in July 2023, which aims to quadruple the number of healthcare workers in the country within four years, with a target to achieve this by 2027.

Thomas Weiser, a Stanford surgeon and Lifebox collaborator, echoed this call for change: “We’ve trained doctors the same way for 120 years—it’s too slow.” He proposed simulation and task-sharing with non-medical doctors, noting, “Nurse anesthetists handle 80% of rural US anesthetics.”

Minister Nsanzimana pushed for a tech-driven overhaul, stating, “The demand is growing, and we must respond by aligning medical education with healthcare needs. There is no debate—medical education is crucial. The burden of disease is increasing and evolving. We have moved from primarily dealing with malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis to addressing chronic illnesses like cancer and organ failure. These shifts are recent—perhaps in the past decade—but they are significant.”

He added, “AI is already transforming fields like radiology and pathology. Should we continue training the same number of specialists in these fields, or should we adapt to the changing landscape? Technology is not replacing healthcare professionals, but it is shifting how we work. We must integrate these advancements into medical education.”

Prof. Roy reinforced this urgency: “With population growth, we need faster training—15 years won’t cut it.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that respiratory infections cause between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths annually, with 99% of these occurring in children from low-income or developing countries.

One of the challenges often encountered is that many people still resist seeking medical attention for respiratory illnesses, opting instead to take over-the-counter medications or resort to herbal remedies.

Dr. Fentahun Alemu Tsegaw, a pediatrician specialist in treating respiratory diseases among children, based at Baho International Hospital explained that these conditions require careful attention and should be managed thoroughly due to their potential severe impact on a child’s health.

He said that respiratory diseases, particularly airway allergies, are common among children. There are two main types; Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever), which is caused by allergens in the air and results in constant sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery discharge from the nose, and Asthma, which affects the airways, causing them to swell and leading to symptoms such as severe coughing and difficulty breathing.

Fentahun noted that airway allergies are especially prevalent in children and can be spread through genetic factors or environmental triggers, such as polluted air, dust, and pollen.

“Respiratory diseases can be triggered by several factors, including air pollution from agricultural activities, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and even smoking near children, all of which put them at greater risk,” he stated.

He advised against placing children in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, like smoke-filled rooms, and ensure that windows are opened to allow fresh air to circulate.”

He further explained that if respiratory diseases are not properly managed, and medical attention is delayed when symptoms appear, the risks of complications increase. For instance, untreated asthma can lead to chronic chest pain and even be life-threatening.

Fentahun mentioned that there are six approved medications specifically for children over the age of two, which can be prescribed to treat respiratory conditions. Treatment must be adjusted according to the child’s condition and must be done under medical guidance.

He advised anyone suffering from respiratory conditions to promptly seek medical help, educate parents on how to care for children during illness, avoid exposure to smoke, unpleasant odors, and extreme temperatures, and follow prescribed medication and medical advice.

To further protect and treat children with respiratory diseases, Baho International Hospital launched a week dedicated to children’s health, focusing particularly on respiratory illnesses. This initiative began on March 24, 2025, and will run until April 5, 2025.

Baho International Hospital boasts international specialists in treating a variety of diseases and offers expert advice on maintaining your health.

Through a groundbreaking oculoplastic surgery in the UAE, Jovi has regained not only a natural appearance but also the confidence that had eluded her since childhood.

The procedure has allowed her to heal from decades of emotional distress and regain a sense of completeness.

{{A childhood accident that changed everything}}

At just seven years old, an innocent game with friends took a tragic turn when a stick struck her eye, causing irreversible damage. The injury led to the removal of her eyeball, a loss that shaped her self-image for decades to come.

As she matured, the emotional scars ran even deeper than the physical ones. Jovi struggled with self-esteem, avoiding social interactions and shying away from mirrors. “I believed there was no solution for me. I felt different, incomplete. I hated looking at my reflection and lacked confidence,” she shared.

Despite building a happy family life, the emotional weight of her condition remained. For years, she resigned herself to the belief that her situation was permanent, until she discovered a potential solution through Dr. Fairooz PM, a Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon at Medcare Hospital in Sharjah.

{{A life-changing opportunity}}

Upon consultation, Fairooz explained that Jovi’s eye socket had significantly shrunken over the years due to the absence of an eyeball, making it nearly impossible for her to wear a prosthesis comfortably.

However, with advancements in oculoplastic surgery, a new approach offered her hope, socket reconstruction to restore volume and allow for a natural-looking prosthetic eye.

“Jovi had been living with this trauma for decades, convinced that there was no viable solution. Our goal was not only to improve her appearance but also to help her heal emotionally. She deserved to see herself as whole again,” Fairooz explained.

{{A complex but transformative procedure}}

Given the deterioration of Jovi’s eye socket, a highly specialized procedure was required. Fairooz recommended socket reconstruction using a Dermis Fat Graft, a technique that transplants tissue from another part of the body to restore lost volume and create enough space for a prosthesis.

“This surgery required absolute precision,” said Fairooz. “Any miscalculation could have affected the aesthetics of her face. We carefully reconstructed the socket and deepened the fornix, ensuring the prosthetic eye would sit naturally.”

The intricate surgery lasted three hours, followed by a ten-week healing period. Once the recovery process was complete, a customized ocular prosthesis was designed to match the color and structure of her natural eye, seamlessly restoring symmetry to her face.

Beyond the medical transformation, this journey was about Jovi reclaiming her identity. Living with an eye condition for over three decades had profoundly impacted her psychological well-being. Now, for the first time since childhood, she could look in the mirror without feeling self-conscious.

“This wasn’t just about physical appearance. For patients like Jovi, losing an eye isn’t only a medical issue, it’s an emotional struggle. Restoring their confidence is just as significant as the surgery itself,” Fairooz emphasized.

Having lived in the UAE for 17 years, Jovi was overwhelmed with emotions when she saw the final result.

“For years, I felt like people only saw what I had lost. Now, I feel like myself again. This surgery has changed my life in ways I never imagined. I can smile freely and engage socially without fear. I am endlessly grateful to for getting a fresh start,” she said.

This conversation took center stage at the 4th Annual Conference organized on March 14, 2025, by Happy Family Rwanda Organization in partnership with UNESCO under its Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) program.

Since 2022, this gathering has provided a platform for religious leaders and other stakeholders to engage in discussions aimed at strengthening families and empowering the youth.

This year, the focus was on how religious institutions and the media can contribute to reproductive health education.

Dr. Ben Alexandre Mpozenzi, who oversees education, health, and social welfare programs at UNESCO Rwanda, emphasized that religious leaders and the media are key influencers in shaping youth perceptions, particularly in matters of sexual and reproductive health.

Justin Nsengimana Rafiki, Executive Director of Happy Family Rwanda Organization, highlighted the need for collaboration with religious institutions to combat teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence.

He explained that faith leaders hold significant influence over their congregations, making them ideal messengers for essential reproductive health knowledge.

Leaders from various religious denominations reaffirmed their commitment to incorporating reproductive health education into their teachings while ensuring that moral and spiritual values remain intact.

Bishop Antoine Dr. Nzayisenga, head of the Anglican Mission Episcopal Church, stated that addressing reproductive health aligns with religious teachings rather than contradicting them.

He noted that as spiritual leaders, they are responsible for both the spiritual and physical well-being of their congregants.

Sabine Gasengayire, leader of Efatha Church, shared that her church has already taken steps to integrate reproductive health education into their programs. She explained that three times a month, they hold sessions for children aged 12 and above, providing separate discussions for boys and girls as well as joint lessons.

This approach, she said, helps counter misinformation that young people may receive from unreliable sources.
She encouraged other religious leaders to embrace similar initiatives, stressing that it is vital for young people to understand their bodies, recognize potential risks, and learn how to make informed decisions that safeguard their future.

She added that such education ensures that young people grow into responsible adults who contribute positively to both their faith and society.

The conference also addressed the role of the media in reproductive health education, urging media outlets to focus on content that informs and empowers young people rather than promoting misleading narratives.

Evariste Nkunda, Head of Health and Social Welfare in Nyarugenge District, commended religious institutions for their involvement in tackling societal challenges.

He emphasized that the government alone cannot address all issues affecting young people and families, making the role of faith-based organizations essential in fostering positive change.

Happy Family Rwanda Organization continues to lead various programs focused on health, education, and economic empowerment to strengthen families and communities.

The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced.

Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.

In response to the latest outbreak, Tanzania’s health authorities set up coordination and response systems, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, at the national and regional levels and reinforced control measures to swiftly detect cases, enhance clinical care, infection prevention as well as strengthen collaboration with communities to raise awareness and help curb further spread of the virus.

Growing expertise in public health emergency response in the African region has been crucial in mounting effective outbreak control measures.

Drawing on experience from the response to the 2023 Marburg virus disease outbreak, WHO worked closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly scale up key measures such as disease surveillance and trained more than 1000 frontline health workers in contact tracing, clinical care and public health risk communication.

The Organization also delivered over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment.

“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania.

“While the outbreak has been declared over, we remain vigilant to respond swiftly if any cases are detected and are supporting ongoing efforts to provide psychosocial care to families affected by the outbreak.”

Building on the momentum during the acute phase of the outbreak response, measures have been put in place to reinforce the capacity of local health facilities to respond to potential future outbreaks.

WHO and partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and other equipment for disease detection and surveillance and other critical services.

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly.

Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.

In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.