Africa faces a profound challenge in retaining the healthcare professionals required to sustain its population. The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts a global shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030. Alarmingly, Africa is expected to bear the brunt of this, with a predicted shortage of 5 to 6 million workers. This shortfall is not merely a number. It is…
Tag: Health Equity
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The Depression Treatment Gap affects Millions in South Africa
New modelling suggests South Africa’s depression burden remains large, even as prevalence has edged down slightly over two decades. One important issue is the depression treatment gap, which still affects many living with the condition. Estimates indicate depression among people aged 15 and older fell from about 5.1% in 2002 to 4.5% in 2024. That still translates to more than…
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African Genome Diversity: Wits-Led AGenDA Adds 1,000 Genomes
Wits University scientists are helping to close one of healthcare’s most significant evidence gaps. They are leading work to expand the number of African genomes in global datasets. The goal is simple: Make genetic research and its clinical tools work better for African populations. Africa is the anatomical home of modern humans. It also exhibits the highest genetic diversity. People…
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Long-acting Injectable PrEP: Transforming HIV Strategies
South Africa is currently bracing for the most significant paradigm shift in its HIV response in over a decade. The national health authority has officially approved long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). There are plans to roll it out across the public sector in the coming year. For public health advocates, this development represents a potential turning point for prevention. It…
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Lenacapavir Access Under Scrutiny by Health Advocates
A global coalition of health advocates is intensifying its campaign against pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences. They demand equitable access to its revolutionary long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir. Activists are calling for a universal generic price of $40 per person per year for all low and middle-income countries. They warn that Gilead’s current policies entrench life-threatening inequities in the global…
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Gilead’s Lenacapavir to Reach High-Burden Nations ‘At Cost’
The US government and Gilead Sciences have announced a landmark plan to supply the long-acting HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, at cost to high-burden countries. This initiative aims to protect 2 million people via PEPFAR and The Global Fund. In a major step forward for global public health, the United States State Department announced a groundbreaking plan on Thursday. The aim…
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Lenacapavir injection: The new frontier in HIV prevention
At the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P) in Peru, groundbreaking data on the lenacapavir injection revealed its remarkable efficacy in HIV prevention. With a single injection every six months, the drug completely halted new HIV infections among women and girls. It achieved a 96% risk reduction for other gender-diverse individuals aged 16 and up. Despite lenacapavir’s transformative potential,…