Africa CDC warns of widespread drug resistance across Africa
The Africa CDC, in its latest study titled "Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership," released Wednesday, said the "alarming rate" of antimicrobial resistance across 14 African countries poses an urgent continental public health threat.
The study, the largest of its kind conducted in Africa, analyzed more than 187,000 test results from 205 laboratories between 2016 and 2019 in 14 countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, and Nigeria, revealing a growing ineffectiveness of antibiotics against common bacterial infections.
Drug resistance occurs when bacteria change in ways that make antibiotics used to treat infections less effective. The phenomenon results in common infections becoming harder to treat, more expensive to manage, and more likely to spread, according to the study.
It highlighted drug resistance as a growing epidemic affecting multiple countries across the continent. One of the "most concerning" findings is that resistance to a powerful group of antibiotics, known as third-generation cephalosporins, is exceptionally high in Ghana and Malawi.
The study also revealed demographic disparities in drug-resistant infections, with older adults and hospitalized patients being particularly vulnerable. It said the existing demographic disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to protect at-risk populations.
The Africa CDC also highlighted "serious gaps" in laboratory infrastructure and data collection systems. Findings reveal that fewer than 2 percent of health facilities were equipped to test for bacterial infections, and only 12 percent of drug resistance records were linked to patient information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Stay alert for chikungunya fever threat, leading expert tells Hongkongers
Hongkongers should remain vigilant against chikungunya fever, leading expert Yuen Kwok-yung has said, stressing that the mosquito-borne disease could cause prolonged and severe joint pain due to weak immunity levels among the population. Yuen, chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong's department of microbiology, issued the warning on Thursday following recent outbreaks in mainland China, including 3,000 cases reported in Guangdong province's Foshan city. While the last chikungunya fever cases registered in Hong Kong were in 2019, Yuen said that any potential outbreak in the city could be on a large scale. 'Any outbreak could be major because we have no immunity, so we should not take it lightly,' he told a radio programme. 'Normally, you might only experience a fever, rash and swollen joints. Most people will be fine, but you must not forget that if you have a chronic illness, it can be very serious to those who are very old or very young. 'It can affect your brain and cause inflammation of the retina or even retinal detachment. It can also impact the heart.' Yuen pointed to the recent surge in cases in Foshan, where the number of infections had increased from 478 on July 15 to more than 2,500 just seven days later. Mainland authorities reported on Wednesday that the caseload in Foshan had jumped to 3,000, with most of them being logged in the Shunde district. The World Health Organization on Tuesday also issued an urgent call for action against chikungunya fever as the virus had been affecting other parts of the world, including Réunion Island, Madagascar, Kenya and India. Europe has also seen a growing number of imported cases and some local transmission. Chikungunya fever is spread by Aedes albopictus mosquito bites, with cases typically developing fever and joint pain that can last for a long period. Other potential symptoms include muscle pain, nausea and rashes. 'After being infected, some people mistakenly believe they'll feel better in a few days, but that's not the case. The joint inflammation and swelling can persist for more than three months in about 40 per cent of patients,' Yuen said. 'For some, these symptoms can even last for years, leading to premature joint degeneration. The name 'chikungunya' itself comes from an African language and means 'to become contorted', which describes how the intense joint pain can cause people to hunch over. This is why everyone should take the disease seriously.' He urged residents returning from affected areas to seek medical attention immediately if they developed a fever, to be tested for the chikungunya virus, and to apply mosquito repellents with Deet. Infectious disease specialist Dr Joseph Tsang Kay-yan also warned that the joint pain from chikungunya fever was not limited to the period of illness. 'Even after the fever subsides, this pain can persist for weeks, months or even years, which can be considered a long-term after-effect,' he told a separate radio show. 'Sometimes, there's a chance that long-term use of painkillers will be needed to reduce inflammation and pain.' Tsang warned that the risk was indeed higher for the elderly and stressed that complacency was not an option when it came to older people, newborns and those with chronic illnesses, as they were considered special groups who could face complications. Hong Kong last recorded cases of chikungunya fever in 2019, with the tally reaching 11 patients. The city also reported two cases in 2018, one in 2017 and eight in 2016. All cases between 2016 and 2019 were imported. Lee Ming-wai, pest control officer in-charge at the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, said authorities were monitoring the Aedes albopictus index through gravid traps. He added that the index during June's peak mosquito season was similar to that of the previous few years. 'The department will continue to monitor the situation at boundary control points using these traps, and will intensify mosquito extermination efforts if Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are detected,' Lee said. 'The department will promote a citywide mosquito eradication campaign to clear stagnant water and reduce mosquito infestation.' - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Feature: Rewriting norms -- Emirati women thrive in traditionally male domains
DUBAI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Amid the roaring hum of towering cranes at Dubai's Jebel Ali Port, Emirati engineer Hind Al-Kaabi skillfully directs a series of precise maneuvers to load enormous containers onto a cargo ship heading to South Asia. In a professional setting long dominated by men in the country, Al-Kaabi distinguishes herself as one of many Emirati women challenging traditional gender roles. "When I started working here five years ago, most of my colleagues were men," said Al-Kaabi, now a senior operations supervisor in the automation department at DP World, a multinational logistics company based in Dubai. "Today, we have a fully Emirati women's team managing smart crane systems and even developing algorithms to optimize shipping operations," she added proudly. "We don't just ask for equality -- we practice it on the ground." Women's empowerment is a key pillar of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s Vision 2031, which promotes increased female participation in economic, scientific, and technological sectors, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields. "We are working to remove cultural and institutional barriers to women's participation," said Mona Al Marri, vice president of the UAE Gender Balance Council, in an earlier statement. "We encourage women to enter fields once seen as off-limits, like aviation, artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and maritime transport." Al-Kaabi is not alone in challenging the workplace norms. In Sharjah, materials science graduate Noura Al-Suwaidi now supervises a production line at one of the UAE's new industrial robotics factories -- part of the country's national industrial strategy. "I oversee more than 20 robots on assembly lines," said Al-Suwaidi. "My role is not just operating them, but also monitoring performance and refining the software. This used to be a male-only environment, but now it's a natural space for ambitious Emirati women." In Abu Dhabi, Fatima Al-Naqbi leads a research team at the Nawah Energy Company's nuclear research center. "Working in nuclear energy was never considered a traditional path for Emirati girls," said Al-Naqbi. "But today, the state, family, and society all encourage it." Recent data from the UAE Ministry of Community Empowerment shows that the percentage of Emirati women working in engineering and technical fields rose from about 17 percent in 2015 to over 35 percent by 2025 -- a clear sign of accelerating integration of women into advanced sectors. Leadership roles have also seen growth: women now hold nearly 28 percent of leadership positions in semi-governmental companies, thanks to localization and gender balance policies designed to promote women's involvement in decision-making. At DP World, female participation in operational and field roles has doubled in the past three years, driven by the company's "Towards Full Partnership" initiative aimed at attracting and developing female talent in nontraditional workspaces. Federal and local UAE institutions now offer mentorship and training programs to young women as early as high school, paving the way for careers in technical and industrial fields. These efforts are supported by organizations such as the UAE Gender Balance Council and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council. "Empowerment is not a feminist slogan -- it's an economic and developmental necessity," said Maryam Al-Hammadi, policy director at the Ministry of Community Empowerment. "The country cannot realize its future competitiveness without investing in the full potential of both men and women." For Al-Kaabi, the transformation is more than just numbers. "Every morning when I put on my helmet and walk along the dock," she said, "I feel like I'm not just carrying a work bag -- I'm carrying the responsibility of opening a new path for the women of my generation."
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Chinese, Ghanaian doctors break new grounds with minimally invasive surgery
ACCRA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The 14th Chinese medical team and Ghanaian doctors have successfully carried out the first laparoscopic transabdominal anterior hernia repair within the West African country's public hospital system. The surgery was performed Wednesday at the Lekma Hospital in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, led by Yang Yongguang, chief of the Chinese medical team, and Mahamadu Zakariah, chief of the surgery department of the hospital. "Sometime in February this year, I developed a health issue with pains in my abdomen. An X-ray conducted at the 37 Military Hospital revealed I was suffering from a hernia and was booked for surgery in August," said Godwin Seglah, the 46-year-old patient who underwent the surgical treatment. In a recovery ward, he told Xinhua that a Chinese friend introduced him to the Chinese medical team at Lekma Hospital. "I came here on Tuesday and was taken through the surgery on Wednesday. At first, I was scared, but I am feeling better now. The doctor did a wonderful job. And now I'm picking up and don't feel the pain I used to have when the hernia started anymore. I hope to recover fully soon," he added. Yang described the surgery as "a breakthrough, from zero to one." "We hope to apply minimally invasive techniques to more procedures in the future to serve the people of Ghana," he said. Commonly appearing in the abdominal, groin, navel, or surgical scar areas, a hernia occurs when internal parts of the body, such as organs or tissues, push through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall.
