Niger has successfully become the first African country and the fifth globally to be declared free from onchocerciasis, a deadly parasitic disease known as river blindness. Onchocerca volvulus is the parasite that causes river blindness and is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black fly, mainly found near rivers. Marking a significant breakthrough, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation Director-General, on Thursday congratulated the nation for…

To control the spread of the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the World Health Organisation pledges to support the national health authorities of Uganda with $1 million from its Contingency Fund to accelerate early action. This was contained in a document made available on their website on Thursday, following its confirmation of the outbreak. In its effort to bring the virus under control, WHO noted that senior public health experts…

With chronic renal problems often diagnosed too late, here’s how to stay vigilant and get yourself checked over The UK is facing an unprecedented kidney disease crisis, one which could cost the NHS up to £11 billion per year by 2033 if left unchecked. This is due to the number of patients with chronic kidney disease ending up on dialysis machines, due to one or both kidneys failing, a growing demand which…

Staying active during pregnancy can boost your mood, improve labour and help you recover afterwards. It’s commonly said that pregnant women should lift as little as possible. But for Krissy Cela, a personal trainer, fitness icon and businesswoman with an activewear empire, that simply wasn’t an option. “After I found out I was pregnant, I kept doing what I had been doing for more than a decade at that point,…

Patients and health care advocates said the abrupt decision to halt U.S. funding for a lifesaving H.I.V. program led to widespread confusion. The backtracking didn’t help. As he does every three months, Sibusiso traveled on Wednesday morning to a clinic in the capital of Eswatini, a tiny southern African nation, to get a refill of the H.I.V. medication he needs to save his life. When he arrived, the door was…

George gave up alcohol to support his wife of 14 years during her final months. He explains why now, as a single dad, he’s staying sober As I held my wife Imogen’s frail hand – too frail and weak for her 44 years – on her last night of life, I had never been more clear-minded. The weeks leading up to her eventual death from stage four bowel cancer had been the…

The Scottish government is considering free IVF for single women – as a solo mother myself, I think the plans couldn’t come soon enough As I approached 40 without meeting a suitable partner, I realised having a baby on my own using donor sperm might be my only route to motherhood. I also realised very early on that I’d get no help from the NHS.  A cursory Google search informed me that…

Cases of dementia are rising rapidly among Britain’s ageing population. Protecting against it begins with looking after your heart There are 900,000 currently living with dementia in the UK and that’s predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2050. Frightening as the figures undoubtedly are, we all have the power to dramatically reduce our risk – and it begins with looking after our hearts.  A landmark new statement released by the…

Stories like mine are rarely told because there’s no happy ending – instead I just feel bitterness and grief when I see a woman with a buggy When I saw this week’s news that the number of single women undergoing IVF or artificial insemination has tripled over the past decade, from 1,400 in 2012 to 4,800 in 2022, I cried in the toilet at work. I knew it would unleash a slew…

Most of us are increasingly aware of the importance of gut health, with its link to every aspect of our overall wellbeing – from our immune systems to our moods. We know that to enhance the quality of friendly bacteria in our microbiome, the community of microorganisms within our intestines, we should be eating kefir for breakfast, ordering kimchi with our sushi and drinking kombucha with our evening meal. Fewer of…

Police have recorded 504 cases of child sexual abuse in UK high street hotel chains in 2023, according to data shared exclusively with BBC News. Of these, 92% (464 cases) involved physical contact with a child, and 40% (203 cases) were classified as rape. The data, provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), reveals that most incidents occurred in budget hotel chains, often located near transport hubs like train…

In a landmark legal ruling, a tribunal has determined that a nurse, Sandie Peggie, is not obligated to use female pronouns for a transgender doctor, Beth Upton, in the context of an ongoing legal dispute. The case centers on Ms. Peggie’s claim that she was forced to change in front of Dr. Upton, whom she considers to be male, in the female changing rooms of Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. Key Tribunal…