Bird flu outbreak highlights potential risks for global food security
While the impact of the outbreak on global food supplies and nutrition is currently low, experts say that the outbreak serves as a warning of how disruptive the virus could be to agrifood systems and how dangerous to animal — and potentially human — health. Read more.
Donors learning to align with health priorities of African governments
As donors increasingly recognize the importance of supporting locally determined priorities, African governments and their partners work to lay out more concrete visions for the future of health care on the continent. Read more.
Can FAO’s roadmap to transform agrifood systems meet its climate goals?
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s ambitious effort to get the world to transform food systems could have broad-reaching implications. But not everyone is on board with the direction of travel. Read more.
How Big Pharma kept COVID-19 vaccine negotiations in South Africa secret
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, multinational drug companies sought to dictate the terms on which the South African government could negotiate for access to COVID-19 vaccines, according to newly released confidential contracts and documents. Read more.
The struggle to provide health care to refugees, migrants in South Africa
It’s not easy for NGOs to deliver health services to refugees and migrants in South Africa without stoking the xenophobic outrage that causes those communities to shy away from services in the first place. Read more.
Local doesn’t mean low cost: Serum Institute shares global scale-up plans
The Serum Institute of India wants to consolidate its reputation as the vaccine manufacturer for the world’s poorest. Read more.
No easy answers in shift away from animal-based foods
Experts seem to agree that there needs to be a shift in diets away from animal-based foods to avoid the worst effects of climate change. But how or how much remains up for debate. Read more.
New hepatitis B guidelines could boost response in sub-Saharan Africa
The new guidelines are specifically designed to increase access to testing and eligibility for treatment for patients in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for 70% of all new HBV infections. Read more.
Emerging genomics hub in Africa aims to transform disease response
Having faster access to information on the genomics of a disease could help contain outbreaks by speeding the delivery of appropriate vaccines and diagnostics. The hub aims to ensure that genomics technology is widely adopted. Read more.
Good intentions, bad outcomes: The dangers of donated medical devices
COVID-19 spurred an increase in gifted medical devices but the donations have left some facilities in the global south overwhelmed, without the training to utilize the equipment or the funding to maintain it. Read more.