About 5 million children in the 17 malaria-endemic African countries, which represents more than 70 percent of the global malaria burden, have been protected from the disease after being inoculated, Gavi said in a statement issued Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
Gavi Chief Executive Officer Sania Nishtar described the consistent rollout of the malaria vaccine as a game changer in combating the mosquito-transmitted disease.
“This early data is a small indicator of the potential public health impact of a program we hope to scale up dramatically by the end of this decade, protecting tens of millions of children around the world, and reducing the stress malaria imposes on African health systems,” Nishtar said.
The successful implementation of pilot malaria vaccination programs in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi from 2019 to 2023, which reached 2 million children and led to a 13 percent drop in overall child mortality, has informed rollout in other high-burden countries on the continent, according to Gavi.
In addition to vaccines, other vital interventions like mass distribution of insecticide treated nets have been pivotal in reducing malaria transmission and deaths in Africa, Gavi said.
The introduction of malaria vaccine in African countries grappling with strife, including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was hailed by the agency for revitalizing malaria fight, Gavi noted.
In 2025, Gavi plans to introduce malaria vaccines in six to eight new countries, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali and Burundi, protecting an additional 13 million children by the end of the year.
Between 2026 and 2030, Gavi aims to help high-burden countries protect an additional 50 million children with four doses of the malaria vaccine upon availability of funding, it said.
The funding will bolster immediate response measures, including deploying a multidisciplinary team of 12 public health experts within the next 24 hours.
The team, comprising epidemiologists, infection prevention and control (IPC) specialists, laboratory experts, and risk communication officers, will work on the ground to strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, IPC measures, and community engagement.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu declared an outbreak of Marburg virus in the country on Monday, January 20, 2025, after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in Northwestern Tanzania’s Kagera Region.
The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys and is similar to the Ebola virus.
This marks Tanzania’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following an outbreak in the Bukoba District of the same region in March 2023 that resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.
“Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and that of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” he added.
Dr. Kaseya has engaged with President Suluhu and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the outbreak response.
In addition to financial support, Africa CDC confirmed it had provided diagnostic and sequencing resources to Tanzania’s public health laboratories. PCR test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with further supplies in the pipeline.
Technical assistance will also be provided to strengthen pathogen detection and genome sequencing capabilities. The efforts aim to ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, better characterizing the virus for an effective response.
Support will extend to improving case management protocols and enhancing Tanzania’s capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC announced that the agency will work closely with the Tanzanian government, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to stop the virus from spreading further.
The Marburg virus is a highly virulent disease that can spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated surfaces, or infected animals. The symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea, often leading to severe haemorrhaging in advanced cases.
During a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on January 17, 2025, the government approved the inclusion of 14 advanced medical services, including cancer treatment, in the CBHI package.
Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana outlined on Saturday that services to be covered include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, kidney transplants, interventional cardiology, minimally invasive surgery, and hip and knee replacements.
The addition of new services to the scheme aims to ease the financial burden on patients and families struggling with the high costs of essential treatments. All the new services are expected to be fully integrated into the CBHI, which currently covers 92% of Rwandans, by June.
“By June 2025, all the 14 services will be fully integrated into the scheme,” Dr. Nsanzimana affirmed.
Mutuelle de Santé has been covering 90% of medical expenses, but chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer are excluded, leaving patients to bear the full cost, with treatments often running into millions of Rwandan francs.
The government’s decision to include cancer treatment under CBHI is expected to transform access to healthcare for thousands of families across the country. This expansion reflects Rwanda’s continued investment in its health sector, with improved infrastructure and advanced medical equipment enabling high-quality treatments.
In tandem with the expanded CBHI package, the Cabinet also approved a revision of health service tariffs, which were last updated in 2017.
Dr. Nsanzimana explained that outdated tariffs no longer reflected the actual costs of healthcare services. The revised tariffs ensure affordability for advanced treatments while maintaining government subsidies for essential services.
Under the new tariff structure, the cost of a CT brain scan for CBHI beneficiaries has dropped from RWF 45,000 to RWF 16,283, with a co-payment of just RWF 1,628.
Similarly, for a normal delivery at a public health facility, a CBHI beneficiary will now pay RWF 1,126, up slightly from RWF 926, while insurance covers RWF 11,261 of the cost.
The changes also include tailored rates for private insurance holders, East African citizens, and international clients, ensuring a comprehensive and equitable tariff system.
As part of the reforms, the government has committed to reviewing health service tariffs every two years to ensure they remain aligned with economic realities and healthcare advancements.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, addressing an online briefing on Thursday about the multi-country mpox outbreak and other health crises, stressed the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat mounting public health emergencies.
“We see that the number of disease outbreaks in 2024 was more than in 2023… In 2024, we had 213 events, while in 2023, we had 166. We hope that this year will be different from the last year,” Kaseya said.
The Africa CDC chief identified cholera, measles, dengue, mpox, and diphtheria as the top five high-burden diseases in Africa for 2024.
Cholera was “the first killer in Africa,” as the African continent reported some 204,115 cholera cases and 3,747 deaths last year. Measles followed closely, with 234,320 cases and 3,220 deaths in 2024.
Mpox ranked third in fatalities among the five high-burden diseases, with 21 African countries reporting 77,888 cases and 1,321 deaths since the start of 2024, according to data from the African Union’s specialized healthcare agency.
Kaseya highlighted the pressing need for Africa to address public health emergencies more effectively, citing the compounded effects of climate change, urbanization, and other contributing factors.
The Africa CDC chief also called for significant investment in laboratory infrastructure, critical public health facilities, and local vaccine and medical equipment production. He emphasized the need to boost the continent’s public health workforce, improve genomic sequencing for priority diseases, and bolster national public health institutes to enhance their role in managing health emergencies.
“We are following what is happening in Africa in terms of diseases, and we know exactly what is happening, when, and where so that we can respond by supporting our members,” Kaseya said.
The procedure was carried out to treat fetal anemia caused by insufficient blood, particularly low red blood cells.
If left untreated, this condition could lead to fetal death or premature delivery in the early stages of pregnancy.
Dr. Nshimiyumuremyi Emmanuel, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at CHUK, explained that the problem arose from a blood type mismatch between the mother and the fetus.
The mother had blood type O-, while the fetus had Rh-positive blood. This mismatch caused the mother’s immune system to produce antibodies that attacked the fetus’s blood, leading to anemia.
The pregnant woman, who was seven months along, initially sought care at a health center but was referred to a district hospital. Upon further examination, it was discovered that the fetus had low blood levels, necessitating intervention at CHUK.
Upon arrival at CHUK, an ultrasound confirmed that the fetus was indeed anemic. Further tests revealed the mother’s blood type and the cause of the immune reaction.
Normally, women with Rh-negative blood receive medication after childbirth to prevent future immune responses. However, in this case, the woman had not received the medication, possibly due to an oversight during her previous delivery.
Given the urgency of the situation and the rarity of the procedure in Rwanda, the medical team decided to proceed with the transfusion, using blood that matched the mother’s type. This prevented her immune system from attacking the fetus’s blood.
“The procedure was successful, and the fetus is doing well,” said Dr. Nshimiyumuremyi. “We will continue monitoring the baby and provide further transfusions until birth to ensure a safe delivery.”
He also stressed the importance of early screening for pregnant women, including checking for blood type compatibility with the fetus, and taking immediate action if issues arise.
“Blood transfusions in the womb are rare in Rwanda and the region. This breakthrough demonstrates our medical progress and underscores the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in saving lives,” he noted.
During the procedure, specialized needles were used to inject blood directly into the fetal bloodstream, a delicate and precise task.
Dr. Nshimiyumuremyi assured that the blood transfused was of the universal O- type, ensuring no adverse effects for the fetus.
He urged expectant mothers to undergo early prenatal check-ups, including blood type tests, to ensure compatibility with their babies and called on healthcare workers to quickly refer mothers with Rh-negative blood to higher-level facilities for further care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had issued a health alert on Tuesday, indicating that nine suspected cases of Marburg virus disease had been reported over the past five days in the Kagera region, with at least eight people having died.
The global health agency, citing reliable information from local sources, noted that the cases were reported in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba, where symptoms such as high fever, vomiting with blood, and severe weakness were observed in the affected patients.
However, Tanzania’s Health Minister, Jenista Mhagama, announced on Wednesday that after laboratory tests, all samples from the suspected cases had returned negative for the Marburg virus.
She reassured the international community that the country had strengthened its disease surveillance systems and monitoring efforts, emphasizing that authorities would continue to keep WHO and other global organizations updated on any developments.
“We would like to assure the international organisations, including WHO, that we shall always keep them up to date with ongoing developments,” Mhagama stated in a statement.
Tanzania experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in the Bukoba district in the Kagera region. It killed six people and lasted for nearly two months.
The Kagera region is known to harbour zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, which are natural hosts of the Marburg virus.
WHO had assessed the national risk level as high due to the outbreak’s high case-fatality ratio (CFR) of 89%, its geographic spread across two districts, and the involvement of healthcare workers among the suspected cases.
As these cellular factories gradually slow their production, they unveil the striking silver tones that characterize mature hair. At the heart of hair pigmentation lies melanin, the remarkable compound responsible for giving our hair its distinctive color.
Produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, melanin comes in two primary forms: eumelanin, which creates brown and black pigments, and pheomelanin, responsible for red and blonde shades. These pigments combine in varying proportions to create the vast spectrum of natural hair colors observed in humans.
Jenipher Niyonziza, a Medical Doctor based at Ruhengeri Referral Hospital in Musanze district explains that melanocytes don’t work alone in this intricate process. She says that they partner with hair follicle cells, orchestrating a complex biological dance that determines hair color.
Niyonziza, who exhibits a keen interest in Dermatology says that during hair growth, melanocytes transfer melanin to keratinocytes, the cells that form the hair shaft. “This transfer occurs through a fascinating process called melanin unit transfer, where pigment-containing packages are delivered to growing hair cells,” she says.
As one ages, several changes occur within the hair follicles that contribute to the silvering process. The melanocytes gradually become less efficient at producing melanin, and some may stop functioning altogether.
This decline isn’t uniform across all hair follicles, which explains why some areas of hair turn gray while others retain their original color. The process typically begins with a reduction in melanin production, leading to lighter shades before eventually resulting in white hair.
Niyonziza also says that genes play a crucial role in determining when and how quickly hair turns silver. Scientific research has identified several genes involved in the timing of hair graying, including IRF4, which helps regulate melanin production.
These genetic factors explain why some people begin to notice silver strands in their twenties while others maintain their natural color well into their fifties or beyond.
{{Environmental influences and stress factor on hair color}}
While genetics set the stage for when hair begins to turn silver, environmental factors can significantly impact this timeline.
Oxidative stress, caused by factors such as pollution, UV radiation, and certain lifestyle choices, can accelerate the graying process by damaging melanocytes and disrupting melanin production. This explains why smokers often experience premature graying compared to non-smokers.
Recent scientific research has revealed fascinating insights into the relationship between stress and hair graying. Chronic stress can affect the melanocyte stem cells responsible for maintaining the population of melanin-producing cells.
When these stem cells become depleted, the affected hair follicles can no longer produce pigmented hair, resulting in silver strands.
{{Medical conditions and the role of nutrition}}
The food we eat can influence the health of our hair follicles and their ability to produce pigment. Essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, folate, copper, and vitamin D play crucial roles in melanin production and overall hair health.
A deficiency in these nutrients may contribute to premature graying, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining natural hair color.
Several medical conditions can influence the graying process. Autoimmune disorders, thyroid problems, and vitiligo can all affect melanin production and lead to premature graying.
Understanding these medical connections helps healthcare providers better diagnose and treat underlying conditions that may be contributing to unexpected hair color changes.
According Niyonziza, while the natural graying process is generally considered permanent, some research suggests that addressing underlying nutritional deficiencies or health conditions may help restore some hair color in certain cases.
However, these instances are relatively rare and typically occur only when the graying is caused by reversible factors rather than natural aging.
The emergence of silver hair represents more than just a cosmetic change; it marks a natural milestone in the human biological journey. While society has traditionally viewed gray hair through the lens of aging, many people now celebrate their silver strands as a symbol of wisdom and authenticity.
This shift in perspective has led to the “silver revolution,” where individuals proudly showcase their natural hair color transition.
As scientists continue to explore the mechanisms behind hair graying, seeking to understand better how to maintain or restore natural hair color, recent advances in stem cell research and genetic studies offer promising insights into potential future treatments for those who wish to maintain their natural hair color longer.
The journey from pigmented to silver hair involves complex biological processes influenced by genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices. Understanding these mechanisms not only satisfies scientific curiosity but also helps make informed decisions about hair care and maintenance.
Whether choosing to embrace the silver or seek ways to maintain natural color, knowledge of these processes empowers humanity to approach the transition with confidence and understanding.
As research continues to unlock new insights into hair biology, additional factors that influence the graying process may be discovered.
Until then, appreciating the intricate science behind this natural transformation helps one view silver strands not as a sign of aging but as a testament to the fascinating biological processes at work within the human body.
The new medication, designed to reduce the risk of HIV infection among individuals, is being tested at two health centers in Kigali: Gikondo and Busanza.
The pilot phase began on January 3 and is expected to last for a year, during which time the effectiveness and acceptance of the treatment will be evaluated. Based on the results, plans for a nationwide rollout may follow.
Dr. Basile Ikuzo, the Director of the HIV Prevention Unit at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), explained that the injectable form, known as Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered once every two months.
The treatment offers a significant advantage over the daily oral PrEP regimen, providing a more convenient and discreet option for individuals facing adherence challenges.
“This is not for the general population but specifically for high-risk groups such as female sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), discordant couples, and adolescent girls and young women,” Dr. Ikuzo told The New Times.
The new injection could also help reduce the stigma often associated with daily oral PrEP, particularly among younger people.
Rwanda has seen notable success in its fight against HIV, with new cases dropping from 10,000 annually a decade ago to around 3,000 today.
Dr. Ikuzo emphasized that expanding prevention methods is crucial to continuing this progress.
“This initiative is part of our broader strategy to ensure everyone at risk has access to the best tools for protection,” he added.
Injectable PrEP, like oral PrEP, will be provided free of charge, and the RBC has already begun efforts to raise awareness about this new option. A larger public education campaign is expected to roll out by the end of June, targeting those most at risk.
The Ministry shared this message on its X account, urging the public to take preventive measures during the cold months, as flu cases tend to peak at this time of year.
“Influenza A, which is caused by the Influenza virus, typically affects people during the colder months. The virus is especially common among children under five, pregnant women, and elderly individuals with weakened immune systems,” the Ministry said.
Symptoms of the flu include severe coughing, chills, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite and thirst, sore throat, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and fever, particularly in children. According to the Ministry, “As of this year, 6.6% of the population has been affected by Influenza A across the country.”
The data shows that the virus was most prevalent between April and July in 2022, and between January and May in 2023. For 2024, the flu is expected to peak from January to March.
The Ministry advises people to take preventive actions such as frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with others, and seeking medical help if flu symptoms appear. “We encourage everyone to be vigilant and adhere to these health protocols,” the Ministry added.
The University of Kigali Teaching Hospitals (CHUK) echoed these precautions, advising its staff, patients, caregivers, and visitors to take special care during this period of heightened flu activity.
CHUK issued a statement on January 6, 2025, reinforcing the importance of flu prevention measures. By staying alert and taking proper care, the spread of Influenza A can be managed effectively, safeguarding public health during this season.
The Mpox outbreak, which began on July 24, 2024, has affected 52 districts, with over 784 confirmed cases and significant disruptions to public health infrastructure.
WHO and Uganda’s Ministry of Health have made significant strides in containment and response efforts, including deploying 5,000 health workers, setting up 25 isolation units, and mobilizing surveillance and risk communication strategies nationwide.
Despite the advances, the funding shortfall threatens to derail critical interventions such as infection prevention, case management, and community awareness initiatives.
With $11 million still needed from the total $12.9 million response budget, WHO has called on global partners to step up their contributions.
Current support has primarily come from nations like the United States, Germany, Canada, and others, alongside the WHO Foundation.
“More funds are needed to bridge the 85% funding gap given the high utilization rate of available funds and needs on the ground,” WHO Representative Dr. Charles Njuguna emphasized.
“WHO calls all partners to urgently support the Government of Uganda through increasing their financial contributions towards the Mpox response,” he added.
The WHO stressed that immediate action is essential to prevent the outbreak from further escalating and ensure a sustained, robust response.
Additional funding will expand health worker training, establish permanent isolation spaces, and enhance mental health services.
The Mpox outbreak in Uganda originated in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where an outbreak has been ongoing since January 2023. To date, the DRC has reported over 22,000 suspected Mpox cases and more than 1,200 suspected deaths.
