Author: Alberta Appiah

WHO has recently launched updated data on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators tracking the link between air pollution and health. The release of data on ambient and household air pollution highlights critical inequalities: while fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels dropped globally until 2020, they have since remained largely unchanged, with low- and middle-income countries facing significantly higher exposure risks than high-income nations, increasing risks for public health and the environment.  “As the custodian of environmental health-related SDG indicators, WHO is committed to providing robust, evidence-based data, which is essential for bold decision-making. We cannot address the climate and air pollution crisis…

THE Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 1,274 confirmed cases. Infections among health workers have also risen to 96, according to the agency. Dr Wazih Cho, Data Analyst and Epidemic Intelligence Officer at Africa CDC, said this on Monday during a webinar on the Ebola outbreak. “In the past 24 hours, 47 new confirmed Ebola cases and 12 deaths were reported in the DRC, 96 per cent of which originated in Équateur Province. “Cumulative figures now stand at 1,274 confirmed cases with…

The UN General Assembly adopted a new Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS this week reaffirming global commitments to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. However, for the first time since political declarations on HIV began in 2001, the declaration was not adopted by consensus. And importantly, the US delegation voted against the declaration. Deputy US Representative to the UN, Tammy Bruce, said in a comment rejecting the declaration that it strayed too far from the targets for ending AIDS “by including divisive topics”. The declaration acknowledges that progress toward the 2030 goal is off track, highlighting widening funding gaps, disruptions…

After three decades of implementation of the Support Program for the Preservation of Biodiversity and Fragile Ecosystems in Central Africa (ECOFAC), stakeholders believe that conservation, protection of endangered species, and reductions in poaching are the prime successes of the initiative.  Their perceptions are captured in a new evaluation report of the six-phase ECOFAC programme, which kicked off in 1992 thanks to the European Union (EU)’s political will to advance sustainable management of Central Africa’s natural resources. The report was prepared by Belgium-based ADE (Evidence for Better Policy) and the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF).  ECOFAC, now in its sixth and…

At the recently held Clean Cooking Summit in Paris in 2024, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the seven-decade-old African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, reiterated the pressing need for clean cooking solutions in Africa. Highlighting an alarming situation, Adesina referred to a statistic of 900 million African people who are bereft of clean cooking facilities, leading to a surge in premature deaths due to indoor pollution. 

South Africa has appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to advance its probe into the claimed genocide by Israel against the Palestinian population. This call comes after the ICC’s decision in March to investigate possible war crimes in occupied territories including the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. 

The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) midterm review of its Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2022-2026 for Madagascar marks substantial strides in supporting the nation’s agricultural and infrastructure development. The review confirms success in two key areas of focus: helping agricultural transformation aimed at restoring food security promoting employment and building infrastructure to facilitate inclusive growth.

Washburn University, located in Topeka, Kansas, is stepping onto the global stage by announcing its hosting of a major conference tailored for African business development leaders. The event is intended to illustrate the evolving business landscape on the African continent, offering insights into potential investment, entrepreneurship, and sustainability opportunities.

Amazon, the global E-commerce giant, has expanded its footprint with the opening of a full-scale African headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. This strategic move aims at offering localized experiences and seamless access to the vast global Amazon marketplace for its South African customers.

Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and newly appointed African Union’s (AU) Special Envoy for Infrastructure Development, has confirmed that his recent AU role will not interfere with his ongoing political activities in Kenya.