The critical pharmaceutical situation in Sudan 2023: A humanitarian catastrophe of civil war.

The situation in Sudan have deteriorated since the ongoing war outbreak in April 2023. This article sheds light on the pharmacological status in Sudan in terms of shortage of supply, rising demands, and regulatory issues. The ongoing civil war has acutely impacted the dilapidated pharmaceutical status of Sudan, patients have suffered from the paucity of medical services forcing an out-of-control rise in underreported morbidity and mortality. To mitigate this uprising issue, an increase in stakeholder communication is crucial to deal with this national threat and establish a system for reporting the shortage.

A cross-sectional survey of public knowledge of the monkeypox disease in Nigeria.

The Monkeypox Disease (MPXD) gained attention due to its widened geographical distribution outside of Africa, Hence, a it was declared a global health emergency. The index case in Europe was from a Nigerian traveller. This study assessed public awareness and knowledge of the MPXD by conducting an online, cross-sectional survey of educated Nigerians. A total of 822 respondents were recruited using the snowball sampling method between the 16th to 29th of August 2022. More responses were retrieved from the Northeastern geopolitical region (30.1%, n=220) than other regions. Descriptive statistics revealed that 89% (n=731/822) of the study participants were aware of the MPXD but only 58.7% (n=429/731) of them had good knowledge of the disease with a mean knowledge score of 5.31±2.09. The main knowledge gaps were in the incubation period of the disease, the signs and symptoms, its mode of transmission, and preventive practices needed to curb the spread of the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Specifically, only 24.5% (n=179) of them knew that MPXV can be transmitted via sexual contact. Most of the study participants (79.2%, n=651) opined that we can prevent the occurrence of public health emergencies in the future. The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that of the socio-demographic variables, the male gender (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.22,2.33); Ph.D. level education (1.44; 95% CI: 1.048,4.23); and being homosexual (OR:1.65; 95% CI: 1.07,3.78) were significantly associated with good knowledge of MPXD. Despite the varying prevalence across the country, the region of residence within Nigeria did not influence the knowledge of MPXD among the respondents. The knowledge gaps necessitate intensified public health risk communication with a focus on modes of transmission and the preventive measures needed to curb the spread of the MPXV.

Challenges faced by African healthcare workers during the third wave of the pandemic.

Africa experienced the third wave of the coronavirus disease in 2019, which caused an 18% rise in cases in most parts of the continent. As of January 2022, the region had an estimated 10.4 million cumulative cases and more than 233,000 deaths, which add up to the burden on the fragile healthcare system, which continues to face a shortage of staff and resources. In addition, the progression of the pandemic further threatens the supply of healthcare workers in Africa due to the increased risk of infection and death, where more than 10,000 healthcare workers in 40 countries have been infected with the virus. This is amid low vaccination coverage, with only 27% of healthcare workers in Africa being fully vaccinated against the disease. Despite the delayed start and slow progression of the pandemic in Africa, there are increasing concerns over the challenges on the African healthcare workers such as economic insecurity and stressful working conditions, which are associated with limited access to personal protective equipment and other vital resources such as ventilators. In addition, the pandemic further predisposes African healthcare workers to social stigma, burnout, insomnia, depression, and fear of safety in their families. The aim of this study is to highlight the challenges faced by African healthcare workers, provide recommendations for change, and emphasize the need to prioritize their physical and mental well-being.

A review on acute, severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children: A call for concern.

Hepatitis is defined as the inflammatory reaction of the liver parenchyma. It is either acute, which resolves within six months or may be chronic. An outbreak of severe, acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children was reported in nearly all World Health Organisation (WHO) regions except in the Africa. As per the recent update on the 26th of May, approximately 650 cases have met the WHO's probable criteria. While some are yet to be confirmed, the WHO warns that the figure may be underestimating the real situation. The observed clinical presentation includes outstanding immoderate levels of transaminases, vomiting from the previous presentation, pale/mild stools, and jaundice. So far, the viruses which can cause viral hepatitides, like Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, have not been detected in any of the identified cases. Some literature reported human enteric adenovirus type 41F in the majority of cases aged sixteen or younger, with few cases of co-infection with SARS-CoV-2. Currently, only several hypotheses have discussed the causality of the outbreak. However, no consensus has been reached. During this outbreak, it is important to adhere to both hand and body hygiene, general infection and control prevention strategies, and lastly, case presentation matching the criteria of case definition set by the WHO. Said identified cases should be reported to concerned health authorities on an urgent basis and must be kept under proper surveillance.

Third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: Challenges and recommendations.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved in different waves and is currently in its third wave for the majority of countries around the world. Each wave emanated with its own set of challenges. Lower- and middle-income countries such as most African countries have faced additional challenges compared to high-income countries. This paper highlights the challenges faced by Africa during the third wave of COVID-19 and proposes recommendations and strategies to contain the spread. We conducted a mini-review for the newly released articles and researches about the challenges faced by Africa during COVID-19. Fragmented healthcare sectors, limited healthcare resources and emergence of co-infections in COVID-19 patients, inadequate vaccination rollout and political conflicts are the major challenges faced by the African countries. Our recommendations to defeat this outbreak and subsequent pandemics is to raise the public's awareness about vaccines through campaigns and social media in order to lessen vaccine hesitancy. Governments as well should focus on under-served and vulnerable populations, patients with comorbidities, and communities living in endemic-striking settings as these people are more prone to the severe form of the disease. Moreover, by adopting socio-ecological perspectives, one can implement multi-level integrated interventions to help control COVID-19 more effectively.

Viral infections amidst COVID-19 in Africa: Implications and recommendations.

Viral infections have been on the rise for the past decades. The impact of the viruses worsened amidst the pandemic burdening the already overwhelmed health care system in African countries. This article sheds light on how the coronavirus together with the already existing viral infections, some of which re-emerged, impacted the continent. The strategies in place such as immunization, education, will have to be strengthened in all African countries to reduce the burden. Furthermore, governments can further collaborate with other countries in creating guidelines to reduce co-infection of the diseases.