Musings From Abroad

More African countries set to approve novel malaria vaccine, R21

Published

2 years ago

April 21, 2023

The manufacturer of the novel malaria vaccine, R21 has revealed that more African countries are set to approve the use of the medication, with 20 million doses available for them to buy this year.

The vaccine, dubbed a “world-changer” by scientists at Oxford University, and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and Novavaxwho, received approval from Ghana last week as the first nation to allow it for public use.

Ghana’s West African neighbour, Nigeria’s medicines regulator also granted approval for the use of the vaccine this week.

Detailed information about the malaria vaccine from large-scale trials is not yet publicly available. It is also not yet known how the poorest countries will pay for the shot.

The approvals are uncommon as they were done before consultation with the World Health Organisation which is inconsistent with previous practice by African nations with little resources where WHO has been allowed to conduct early reviews.

Officials of WHO revealed at a high-level meeting this week that at least 10 other African countries’ regulatory authorities were reviewing trial data to assess the shot and more of them are expected to approve it in the coming weeks.

“We expect many more countries to come through,” Mary Hamel, the WHO’s malaria vaccine implementation head, told the expert meeting on Tuesday. “They are sovereign countries that can make their own decisions for their vaccines.”

Serum Institute Chief Executive, Adar Poonawalla told journalists that although demands were not entirely guaranteed, his company would produce 20 million doses of the Oxford shot “at-risk” in the next two months.

“We are committed to making the R21 vaccine available to people who need it most,” Poonawalla said.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable. According to WHO, Africa is home to 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths. Children under 5 accounts for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region.

Related Topics:Africa Featured Malaria Malaria Vaccines

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Musings From Abroad

Swiss company Mercuria partners Zambia’s IDC in new metals trading firm

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, on Thursday, it has established a metals trading arm with Zambia, the second-largest producer of copper in Africa.

The trading unit is jointly owned by Mercuria and an arm of Zambia’s Industrial Development Company (IDC), and its purpose is to allow Zambia to engage directly in the minerals trading market.

The joint venture “envisages the establishment of a vehicle to market and trade Zambian copper by mutual leverage,” according to a statement from Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of IDC.

The southern African nation wants to increase copper output to roughly 3 million metric tonnes within the next ten years, and in 2023, it produced roughly 698,000 tonnes of copper, down from 763,000 metric tonnes the year before.

In June, the Zambian government announced that it would establish a minerals trading unit.

Investors including First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold are ramping up production, with output set to receive a further boost once Vedanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines restart activity.

“Our joint venture with IDC marks a significant milestone for Zambia as it positions itself more strategically in the global minerals market,” Kostas Bintas, Mercuria’s global head of metals and minerals, said in the statement.

Musings From Abroad

Blinken to reveal UN Sudan funding additions

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Additional financing for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to strengthen civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, will be announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations on Thursday.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will centre on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to strengthen civil society, and the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price said.

“So part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price said.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organisations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement towards a ceasefire.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States would keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually end hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he said.