Issue #2 — APHN Newsletter

Editorial by Aisha

Welcome back friends of APHN!

Our monthlies keep coming in showcasing selected news and happenings to share with you. With the year coming to an end, the US elections and rising covid 19 cases around the world, it is indeed a very eventful period.

African voices are making rounds in Conakry, Guinea as opposition members allege that President Alpha Condé, who has been in power since 2010, is positioning himself to change the constitution to then run for a third presidential term in late 2020.

Despite efforts in most countries across Africa to partially reopen their schools, millions of children were not able to physically return to school.“COVID-19 has halted education for millions of children in West and Central Africa, a region that was already facing many challenges to provide quality education to every child, even in humanitarian contexts,” — Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

How African leaders have reacted to Joe Biden’s victory

The relationship between some African countries and the US weakened under incumbent Donald Trump, who at times blasted leaders and largely ignored the continent, unlike his predecessor Barack Obama.

The African Union Commission’s chair person Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Twitter he looked forward to a new, stronger USA-Africa relationship based on “mutual respect”.

As for U.S. relations with Africa, the campaign promises a change in tone, the restoration of “mutually respectful engagement,” and the revival and reinvigoration of diplomacy. It reaffirms American support for African democracy and economic growth. It specifically endorses a continuation of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative and looks for diversity in the U.S. diplomatic service. These goals, too, can be largely achieved through presidential executive authority — culled from Council of foreign relations.

So what this could mean for Cancer prevention in Africa

BioVentures for Global Health (BVGH) launched African Access Initiative (AAI) with the vision of creating a new, and truly sustainable, partnership model among African governments, industry, academia, and oncology healthcare professionals to transform cancer patient care in Africa. Driven by the self-defined needs of African partners, AAI currently engages 33 hospitals across Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden founded the Biden Cancer Initiative and hosted the September 21 Biden Cancer Summit with the aim of doubling the rate of progress against cancer.

“We are at an inflection point in the understanding and treatment of cancer and are starting to break down barriers and change the culture in ways that are needed to deliver what patients deserve — a cancer research and care system that puts saving lives above all else. The commitments we have received, including AAI, bring us closer to developing the right systems, the right culture to get us there,” said Biden. During the Summit, Dent articulated AAI’s vision of quadrupling progress against cancer in Africa by establishing partnerships around access to diagnostic technologies and innovative, high-quality medicines. — culled from Business wire.com

Facts about cancer in Africa

• African women with breast cancer have poor outcomes due to the fact that they present younger and often too late; have more deadly tumor types; and do not have access to lifesaving breast cancer medicines.
• Men of African descent are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer at a younger age.
• Cervical cancer rates are four times higher in Africa than in the United States.Liver cancer rates are 50% higher in Africa than in the United States.

Happenings

World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day is commemorated annually on November 14. The WHO Africa region commemorates the international community with celebrating Diabetes on this day. This day helps to ensure the re-commitment of strengthening the prevention and control of diabetes in the Africa region. This year’s theme is “Women and Diabetes — our right to a healthy future”. 38.9% of women in the region above the age of 18 were obese which is a risk factor for diabetes. Additionally, pregnant women may experience gestational diabetes, in which blood glucose levels rise temporarily. Surveys that were carried out indicate that up to 15% of adults aged 25 to 64 have diabetes on the continent. Diabetes is expected to rise to 23.9 million cases by 2030, which will pose a severe health challenge to the African continent.

Stories From the Field

Meet Dr. Michael Alumuku

Meet Dr. Michael Alumuku! A graduate of Karazin National University Ukraine who inspired us recently with the launch of his non-profit organization African Young Leaders for Global Health. He currently works as a program associate for Caritas Nigeria under the Center for disease Control funded by Gates project for HIV epidemic control. We wondered what inspired him to launch an NGO that seeks to connect African Youth and Professionals through Global Health and he shared his motivation for this.

In the course of his work as an HIV care and treatment doctor, he witnessed several HIV patients financially incapable of affording the care they need and unable to even pay for their transportation fares to come for monthly clinic appointments and drug refills. One time he met a teenager who walks long hours to the hospital for her Anti Retro Viral drug refills. The young girl was an orphan who catered for herself and sells fruits to pay her tuition ifees through high school. Her circumstance was a turning point for Michael, and knowing that there are a lot more vulnerable persons out there who lack access to healthcare due to extreme poverty fueled his passion to do something about it. He founded African Young Leaders for Global Health, the first youth led nonprofit aimed at evidence-based advocacy to reduce health inequalities in Africa and ensure attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

His organization has partnered actively with several organisations to host virtual capacity building programs and webinars. He holds Certificate courses from Harvard University, London school of tropical medicine and Hygiene and The University of Washington. He has authored and co-authored several publications in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Michael is passionate about strengthening health systems in leveraging on the power of youth collaboration from across the continent. Keep an eye on his initiatives as Africa comes together for Global Health.

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