Metro

Africa: WHO calls for policy to end bacterial meningitis by 2030

Published

2 years ago

September 10, 2022

As the spread of bacterial meningitis continues in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has implored countries in the continent to step up plans to curb the disease.

WHO wants African countries to ramp up the implementation of a new roadmap, which was launched on Thursday, to curb outbreaks on the continent by 2030.

The health body believes that if the roadmap is fully implemented, it would save more than 140,000 lives each year on the continent and significantly reduce disability.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, said a resurgence of meningitis occurred after COVID-19 hit the continent and overwhelmed national health systems.

“Major outbreaks caused by meningitis Group C have been recorded in seven of the African Sub-Saharan meningitis belt countries in the past nine years. The most recent was a four-month outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which claimed more than 200 lives just last year,” she said.

Bacterial meningitis occurs worldwide but Africa remains the most affected continent, especially in the “Meningitis belt” that extends from Senegal to Ethiopia.

A total of 2,628,283 cases and 151,808 deaths caused by meningitis were reported by 53 African countries from 1928 to 2018, which places meningitis as the leading bacterial cause of morbidity and mortality in children by its importance and severity on the African continent.

Related Topics:bacterial meningitis Featured WHO

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

14 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.