Gaborone — When Karen Nakawala-Mayond experienced a nagging backache she put it down to her love for high heels. And then when she started bleeding in between her monthly periods, she thought it was the onset of menopause. That was until her gynaecologist insisted that she be screened for cervical cancer. After her results came […]
Tag: Noncommunicable Diseases
2023 was a busy year for healthcare in South Africa. There were several policy developments, landmark court cases, important pieces of legislation, and some changes in leadership. Yet, take a step back and not much seems to have changed. Shortages of healthcare workers persist, corruption is still rife, budgets tight, and our health governance crisis […]
Uganda has found itself at the center of a growing health crisis, one that isn’t always immediately evident but carries significant financial implications. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) identifies Uganda as one of the 48 countries facing a concerning diabetes-related health issue. The spotlight in this article falls on Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a […]
IN SHORT: Cancer is a large group of diseases, with a variety of treatments tailored to the type of cancer and how far it has progressed. Claims that a herbal remedy offers a cure are irresponsible and should be ignored. “Cancer is a very common disease nowadays. It is manifested by the tumor, breast cancer, […]
As a type 1 diabetic, first diagnosed days away from slipping into a hyperglycaemic coma, diabetes education is near Bridget McNulty’s heart. Eyes ablaze and hands trailing the air, McNulty is impassioned. “And that gives me goosebumps,” she says, “I mean, it is life-changing. It takes away the fear and it takes away the stigma.” […]
What do you do when you are told that your loved one has a serious illness or condition that cannot be cured or leaves them with serious complications until death? For many families in Rwanda and the patients themselves, it is a huge dilemma. Take an example of Emmanuel Nyandwi, who was involved in a […]
In 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) publicised a global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. To achieve this goal, the organisation recommends that 90% of girls be fully vaccinated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine by the age of 15; and that 70% of women be […]
Ahead of World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released the latest estimates of the global burden of cancer. WHO also published survey results from 115 countries, showing a majority of countries do not adequately finance priority cancer and palliative care services, as part […]
South Africa has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Africa, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). In 2021, an estimated one in nine adults in the country had diabetes and one in three were at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 90% of diabetes cases in the country. There […]
One morning in 2019, Marie-Claire Nshongore woke up to a sharp pain in her left breast, one she had never felt before. The pain remained constant and gradually intensified over time. Upon self-examination, she discovered a small lump in her breast, and when she looked in the mirror, she noticed that the affected breast appeared […]
In Nigeria, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has advocated increased awareness campaigns against cancer. As nations globally mark this year’s World Cancer Day, the global health body – the World Health Organisation (WHO) – has released troubling statistics about the disease. WHO, in a statement, said the number of new cancer cases globally will reach […]
Gaborone — Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected early and managed effectively. It is the fourth most common form of cancer among women in the world. For the first time ever, the world committed to eliminating cervical cancer when in 2018 World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced a […]
Every two minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer, despite the existence of effective tools, like vaccinating against the major cause of HPV to prevent the majority of cases and eventually eliminate this disease. However, the adoption of a one-dose HPV vaccine schedule, recommended by the WHO, pushes progress, with 37 countries already adopting or intending to adopt […]
In the largest single round of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Africa, Nigeria on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, introduced the vaccine into its routine immunization system, aiming to reach 7.7 million girls to stem the menace of cervical cancer among women. Mostly caused by the HPV, parents can avoid the physical and financial pains of […]
Unknown to many of her teeming fans, veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede was the first female network broadcaster in Nigeria. More significantly, she has stayed the course, a rarity in her field and as she turns 70 in a few days, she has no plans whatsoever of slowing down. She tells WO why. Congratulations as you […]
Doing ‘the right thing’ for one’s health, be it eating well, exercising, or going for an annual HIV test or blood pressure check, is easier said than done. One way to nudge people to make these ‘right’ decisions is to offer rewards or incentives. Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s Vitality programme is probably the best local […]
Non-communicable diseases are killing more and more people in South Africa yet the government missed out on raising a total of more than R15 billion for prevention efforts, argues Dr Evelyn Thsehla. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, cancers, heart diseases, and chronic lower respiratory diseases, have surpassed HIV and tuberculosis in terms of annual […]
Dakar — Healthcare for women is moving forward, from having their sexual and reproductive rights left out of many countries’ policies to having access to contraceptives and health services previously denied to women. But science and innovation can accelerate women’s healthcare even more, and experts at the Grand Challenges meeting in Dakar, Senegal, under the theme […]