Addressing neglected tropical diseases in Africa: a health equity perspective.

Africa accounts for over one-third of the global burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Although continental efforts have been made to combat these diseases, there still exists a significant gap in the fight, ranging from a lack of data to multisectoral participation and, most critically, health inequity. Here, we assess the effort made to combat challenges caused by health disparities to prevent and control neglected tropical diseases. This article engages a health equity view to addressing the need for inclusion in achieving universal health coverage towards eradicating NTDs and outlines strategies to achieve such. Health disparities exist, and there is substantial and irrefutable evidence for them. Inequitable distribution and limited access to basic and essential life resources such as water, housing, toilets, soap, and literacy continue to facilitate the existence of NTDs such as Schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and trachoma, the occurrence of which can be avoided if affected populations have better access to those resources. To eradicate NTDs, health disparities must be addressed to provide excellent health care to all populations and adequate universal health coverage for long-term sustainability. NTD programmes need to be data-driven to ensure better decision-making and ensure the inclusion of diverse population groups including women, children, and youths. This will ensure that no one is left behind, drawing upon the sustainable development goals. Community participation and engagement should also be considered as an essential approach to ensure people are at the centre of health programmes and their implementation.

Healthcare systems strengthening in Africa: The call for action to achieve SDG 3.

The responsibility to achieve human right to health is a specific mandate to the organization, people, and action within the health system, with adequate support from government and private sectors. Therefore, positive growth from the past health development, seems to decline due to certain factors such as governance and economy, as observed through researches in different regions in Africa. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the health systems, with a call for action to support the sustainable development goal 3 in achieving quality health by 2030.

Strengthening Africa's capacity for vaccine research: Needs and challenges.

Vaccine development and production harbinger the control and eradication of infectious diseases. Vaccination played a huge role in the curtailment of disease outbreaks like smallpox and polio, especially in Africa. Despite the high demand for several vaccines in Africa due to the highly infectious disease burden, the continent still lacks adequate capacity for vaccine research and development. This paper aims to discuss the need and challenges of Africa to strengthen its capacity for vaccine research and development and also highlight practical recommendations. Some of the needs for Africa to prioritize vaccine research and development include; improving quality of life and well-being, cost-effectiveness, independent preparedness and response to local outbreaks, and increased access to funding. Challenges associated with vaccine research and development include the cost of the investment, risk of failure; poor ethical framework and legislation; lack of adequate funding; lack of political will & support; and poor surveillance system. Strategies to create sufficient research funds, an efficient surveillance system, and a legislative framework are clearly described. In conclusion, strengthening vaccine research capacity in Africa requires the political goodwill of African governments and strategic partnerships with international organizations and institutes. The challenges facing this development and possible solutions have been highlighted in this article.

Early marriage and teenage pregnancy: The unspoken consequences of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Early marriage and its sad consequences to the girl child and socio-economic development of the nation has been an age-long issue being advocated against in many parts of Nigeria. At the onset of COVID-19, the teeming efforts to curb this issue almost got jeopardized with harsh economic situations in many households due to the lockdown and the willingness to marry off their girls to reduce this burden. Closure of schools and cases of sexual gender based violence also impacted the prevalence of early marriage during the pandemic in Nigeria. We also argue in this commentary that the pandemic has so much impacted on programs aimed at ending early marriage in the nation. Therefore, if serious and concerted efforts are not taken by relevant stakeholders, more girls will be at risk of early marriage and teenage pregnancy with their related health consequences. They will also be left behind in fulfilling their potentials and their aspirations cut off with early marriage, thus sustainable development cannot be achieved.