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The Monkeypox virus, declared a global emergency outbreak, has garnered increasing response globally. The African healthcare community has not translated urgency in its response to the increasing outbreak. The multisectoral influence of COVID-19 has ensured that response patterns to the emerging outbreak must hold ground for proactiveness. The push for stronger health systems reiterated with the COVID-19 pandemic ensures that a successful response requires awareness of knowledge management, multisectoral and international collaboration and strengthening of systems capacity. The intricacies of the infection transmission ensure that interventions must promote equity and justice as well as financial protection of the population.

According to UNHCR UK, over 89.3 million individuals worldwide, among whom 27.1 million were under UNHCR mandate, were forced to flee their homes as of 2021 due to conflict, persecution, human rights violations, and violence [1]. [...]the World Health Organization (WHO) data revealed that refugees and migrants are not included in many countries’ national health strategies and subsequently lack access to health care [6]. Adequacy in the international protection of refugees ensures they gain access to concrete and quality protection services. [...]countries should include refugees in their strategic health plans.

Background Suboptimal water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices constitute a serious public health risk, affecting one-third of the world's population. Remarkable progress has been made to improve WASH; however, challenges remain, with rapid population growth adding pressure on WASH systems. This study explores the current state of WASH practices and diseases in Africa, identifies challenges, and proposes public health recommendations for sustainable implementation. Main body The staggering burden of WASH-related diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa, threatens public health, with millions of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to poor WASH practices annually. Notable challenges plaguing WASH practices in the region include poverty, malnutrition, poor data reporting, illiteracy, climate change, and poor healthcare financing. This results in adverse health consequences, including waterborne infections like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrheal diseases. Additionally, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, trachoma, lost productivity, and environmental pollution from soil and underground water contamination have been implicated. Geographical disparities, cultural norms, and inadequate funding further complicate efforts to improve WASH infrastructure and practices. Globally concerted efforts are required to address these issues and permit WASH practices to protect human health by preventing infectious diseases and contributing to economic growth. Strong financial frameworks, skills training, and tools like WASH Fit are recommended for a stronger WASH approach in Africa. Conclusion The consequences of poor WASH extend beyond public health, impacting economic growth, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. WaterAid’s policy recommendations prioritizing government administration, institutional capacity enhancement, and more financial resources are expedient.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significantly impacted the global economy, by forcing people to stay indoors and creating a ‘new normal’ of living. Rwanda has made notable efforts to fight the pandemic. However, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s economy are numerous and the refugees residing in Rwanda are not spared these effects. As of December 2020, 164,000 people were granted refugee status in Rwanda according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The majority were from neighbouring countries in the Great Lakes regions, including DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Burundi. The impact the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy has led to a decline in donations to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which in turn has significantly reduced the food rations of refugees. Such paucity will no doubt cause unprecedented impacts on the people residing in refugee camps, who completely depend on humanitarian aid to meet their basic food requirements. This lack of access to adequate and affordable food will expose refugees to extreme hunger and starvation, putting their lives in danger by triggering forced returns, infections, social conflicts and thus higher morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, such stressful environments would no doubt put the mental health of these already vulnerable communities at risk. It is unsurprising that refugees are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to local population, including higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is an issue as they are also less likely to receive support than the general population. Refugees in Rwanda are under the responsibility of UNHCR and WFP, who should ensure adequate food assistance is provided to refugees and therefore ameliorate the risks to health that result from food shortages, safeguarding these vulnerable communities.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a lethal viral disease that has severe public health effects throughout Africa and a case fatality rate of 10%-40%. CCHF virus was first discovered in Crimea in 1944 and has since caused a substantial disease burden in Africa. The shortage of diagnostic tools, ineffective tick control efforts, slow adoption of preventive measures, and cultural hurdles to public education are among the problems associated with continued CCHF virus transmission. Progress in preventing virus spread is also hampered by the dearth of effective serodiagnostic testing for animals and absence of precise surveillance protocols. Intergovernmental coordination, creation of regional reference laboratories, multiinstitutional public education partnerships, investments in healthcare infrastructure, vaccine development, and a One Health approach are strategic methods for solving prevention challenges. Coordinated efforts and financial commitments are needed to combat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and improve all-around readiness for newly developing infectious illnesses in Africa.

As of 15 October 2024, Rwanda’s Marburg Virus Disease outbreak had caused 62 cases and 15 deaths (case fatality rates 24.2%), with significant transmission among healthcare workers. World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control issued warnings and travel advisories, emphasizing strict protocols. We discussed the local and global implications of such a situation here.

Background Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous platelet concentration recently used in the reproductive field. Studies had conflicting results regarding its effect on pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to solve the debate on the safety and efficacy of PRP in women undergoing assisted reproduction and assess the influence of covariates on the outcomes of PRP infusion. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science in May 2023. We included randomized and non-randomized clinical trials as well as cohort studies assessing intrauterine PRP in sub fertile women undergoing assisted reproduction (IVF/ICSI). For the quality assessment, We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 1, the ROBINS-I tool, and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. We pooled the data using RevMan version 5.4. Results The data from 23 studies were pooled. PRP had favorable outcomes compared with the control group on clinical pregnancy rate (RR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.09; P < 0.00001), live birth rate (RR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.47; P  = 0.001), and miscarriages (RR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.72; P  = 0.0002). Women with repeated implantation failure had a significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate (RR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.49 to 2.24; P  < 0.00001), live birth rate (RR:1.83, 95% CI: 1.33 to 2.51; P  = 0.002), and miscarriage rate (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.31 to 068; P  = 0.0001). Conclusion PRP showed promising results in assisted reproductive techniques. Further large and multicenter RCTs are required to compare the doses of PRP while identifying the specific population with the most benefits from PRP.

Monkeypox is a rare disease but is increasing in incidence in different countries since the first case was diagnosed in the UK by the United Kingdom (UK) Health Security Agency on 6 May 2022. As of 9 August, almost 32,000 cases have been identified in 89 countries. In endemic areas, the monkeypox virus (MPXV) is commonly transmitted through zoonosis, while in non-endemic regions, it is spread through human-to-human transmission. Symptoms can include flu-like symptoms, rash, or sores on the hands, feet, genitalia, or anus. In addition, people who did not take the smallpox vaccine were more likely to be infected than others. The exact pathogenesis and mechanisms are still unclear; however, most identified cases are reported in men who have sex with other men (MSM). According to the CDC, transmission can happen with any sexual or non-sexual contact with the infected person. However, a recent pooled meta-analysis reported that sexual contact is involved in more than 91% of cases. Moreover, it is the first time that semen analysis for many patients has shown positive monkeypox virus DNA. Therefore, in this review, we will describe transmission methods for MPXV while focusing mainly on potential sexual transmission and associated sexually transmitted infections. We will also highlight the preventive measures that can limit the spread of the diseases in this regard.

Introduction Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases continue to pose a severe threat to public health in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and globally. Community-related interventions, such as community e-Health literacy, can contribute to the preparedness to respond effectively to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This study investigated the relationship between e-Health literacy and SSA countries’ perceptions of the importance of readiness for potential pandemics. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted in sub-Saharan African countries (Nigeria, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Africa) among adults aged 18 years and above between July 2020 and August 2021, respondents were recruited through a non-probability sampling technique. Participants were asked to self-report the perceived importance of 13 items on future pandemic preparedness scored on a 5 Likert-point scale. The four key dimensions of pandemic preparedness were online medical consultation, online courses, messaging for healthcare, and shopping. E-Health literacy was the key exposure. The questionnaire was adapted from a previously validated e-Health literacy scale. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire online. Data analysis was done using Stata and descriptive statistics including frequency, proportions, means, and standard deviation were used to summarize variables. Inferential statistics including chi-square and logistic regressions were used to test the significance of association between e-health literacy and pandemic preparedness setting the level of significance at 5%. Results A total of 1295 people participated in this study. Roughly half of all participants, 685 (52.90%), were aged between 18 and 29 and 685 (52.90%) were females. The standardised average (SE) e-Health literacy score was 29.55 (0.19). Shopping was perceived as the most important dimension of pandemic preparedness across participating countries (mean (SE) of 3.32 (0.06) and above across all countries for online shopping), while online medical consultation was the least perceived as important (mean (SE) of 2.88 (0.08) or less in two countries for instant health advice from chatbot). In the fully adjusted model, e-Health literacy was associated with 8 out of 13 items of the perceived importance of the pandemic preparedness questionnaire. Those include online consultation with doctors (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.21), telephone health advice (OR = 1.07, 95%CI 1.00–1.15), medicine delivery (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.03–1.06), getting medicine prescribed in a hospital visit/follow-up in a community pharmacy (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.05–1.10), receiving health information via email (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.17) and via social media (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.14), online shopping (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.11) and instant streaming courses (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.16). Conclusions The higher e-Health literacy scores were associated with a higher perception of most elements as important in future pandemic readiness. Strengthening e-Health literacy can be a key element of the preparation for pandemics in SSA countries.

Stem cell therapy (SCT) is a promising solution for addressing health challenges in Africa, particularly non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With their regenerative potential, stem cells have the inherent capacity to differentiate into numerous cell types for tissue repair. Despite infrastructural, ethical, and legal challenges, SCT holds immense promise for managing chronic illnesses and deep-seated tissue injuries. The rising prevalence of NCDs in Africa highlights the need for innovative strategies and treatment options. SCT offers hope in combating conditions like burns, osteoarthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, heart failure and cancer, potentially reducing the burden of NCDs on the continent. Despite SCT’s opportunities in Africa, there are significant obstacles. However, published research on SCT in Africa is scarce, but recent initiatives such as the Basic School on Neural Stem Cells (NSC) express interest in developing NSC research in Africa. SCT research in African regions, notably on neurogenesis, demonstrates a concentration on studying neurological processes in indigenous settings. While progress has been made in South Africa and Nigeria, issues such as brain drain and impediments to innovation remain. Clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of stem cell treatments, emphasising both potential benefits and limitations in implementing these therapies efficiently. Financing research, developing regulatory frameworks, and resolving affordability concerns are critical steps toward realizing the potential of stem cell treatment in Africa.