Monthly Archives: June 2016

//June

Niger Republic is pioneering thermo-stable vaccine for Rotavirus

Niger’s Rotavirus vaccine premieres on Al Jazeera English 

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams in Maradi, Niger are trialling a first-of-its-kind, thermo-stable vaccination for Rotavirus, a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, killing an estimated 450 000 children around the world each year.

“Vaccines for Rotavirus do exist and the disease is completely preventable,” says Dr Stephen Nurse-Findlay, one of the hosts of Al Jazeera’s award-winning medical show, The Cure. “But these vaccines must be kept below eight degrees celsius, which makes it difficult to reach children in remote communities where resources are limited,

PSN visits Pfizer, plans to implement drug distribution guidelines

PSN seeks harmonization between pharmacists and other healthcare workers

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has pledged to implement drug distribution guidelines and curriculum training for pharmacists in Nigeria. The president of the association, Ahmed Yakasai, said this when he and other executives of the society paid a courtesy visit to Pfizer Nigeria in Lagos.

He said the society under his leadership would also aggressively pursue insurance cover for pharmacists, and harmonization between pharmacists and other healthcare workers.

He described PSN as an organisation that was set up to maintain high standards of Professional ethics and discipline among its members;

Novartis partners Medicines for Malaria Venture to develop next-generation antimalarial treatments

Novartis partners Medicines for Malaria Venture to develop next-generation antimalarial treatments

Novartis  (NVS) has announced plans to further expand its long-standing partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). Novartis will lead the development of antimalarial compound KAF156 with scientific and financial support from MMV in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This agreement sets out the terms and conditions for the development of KAF156 and its future availability to patients.

“With a child dying from malaria every two minutes and the threat of drug resistance growing year-on-year,

Nigeria’s urine Malaria test, other ground-breaking healthcare solutions grab Innovation Prize for Africa

Nigeria’s urine Malaria test, Ground-breaking healthcare solutions grab the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2016 total cash Awards of US$150 000!

In a glittering ceremony that marked the five-year milestone anniversary of the Innovation Prize for Africa the landmark programme of the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) innovative healthcare solutions took pole position this year, offering ground-breaking responses to address Africa’s prevailing malaria and HIV/AIDS burdens. Out of a total of 985 applications, 10 nominees were selected, and from these Dr Valentin Agon of Benin was selected overall winner,

UN calls for global responses to challenges posed by the world drug problem

In commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General has called for “a global response that is simultaneously effective, compassionate and humane,” to the challenges posed by the world drug problem.

“I call on countries and communities to continue to improve the lives of everyone blighted by drug abuse by integrating security and public safety with a heightened focus on health, human rights, and sustainable development,” said the UN chief in his message on the Day.

The illicit trade in drugs fosters transnational organized crime networks,

UN reports sharp increase in number of heroin users

The number of people suffering from drug use disorders has increased disproportionally for the first time in six years in 2014, while the number of people who used at least one drug stayed at five per cent of the adult population, according to the annual report prepared by the United Nations.

The World Drug Report 2016, which examines the health impact of using opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS), was released last week by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June.