AGP Executive Report

Maternal Health Tech: MTN and the Gates Foundation backed a Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier, a digital ecosystem linking women, frontline workers and facilities, targeting 500,000 women by 2030 and training 5,000 workers with an initial $25m start. Ebola Preparedness: Nigeria’s NCDC tightened border surveillance for travellers from Ebola-affected countries, requiring health declaration forms for higher-risk arrivals while keeping a risk-based approach for others. Local Health Systems: A Liberian mother’s ordeal highlights strain on healthcare delivery, while WHO-linked work on patient safety and childhood cancer care points to wider system gaps across the region. Climate & Health: New research warns El Niño heat could drive hundreds of thousands of extra heat-related deaths globally, with Africa facing rising hunger and health risks. Health Knowledge in Africa: A North-West University professor argues Africa already holds the data and expertise to tackle hypertension, diabetes and infectious diseases—if research is better supported. Public Health Awareness: South Africa’s Durban North mosque open day includes free checks like pressure, sugar and eye tests, blending community outreach with prevention.

Maternal Health Push: Gates Foundation and MTN Bet $25m to deliver an AI-powered maternal health platform via affordable smartphones and data plans in Nigeria, aiming to reach 500,000 pregnant women by 2030 and flag risks earlier. Pandemic Preparedness: Ethiopia pledges $240m to CEPI’s global pandemic plan (with Norway and the UK also contributing), backing a 2027–2031 strategy to strengthen vaccine readiness and response. Ebola Response: DRC begins an Ebola vaccine trial for health workers as cases remain high, while Africa CDC and partners stress travel and outbreak-control measures. Tele-robotic Surgery in West Africa: Redeemer’s Health Village in Nigeria reports West Africa’s first 500km telerobotic surgery, marking a new remote-care milestone for cancer treatment. Dementia Awareness: World Alzheimer’s Day coverage highlights dementia’s growing burden in Africa and calls for better recognition, caregiver support, and patient-centered care. Health Systems & Safety: WHO flags uneven progress on patient safety across Africa, urging stronger lab systems and safer care pathways. Public Health Surveillance: Nigeria continues polio surveillance after a suspected acute flaccid paralysis case in Kano, reinforcing rapid reporting to rule out or detect poliovirus. Health Tech & Research: Ghana advances clinical trial capacity and WHO strengthens public health capability at the University of Ghana. Malaria Funding Warning: Scientists warn “almost unprecedented” cuts to UK malaria science could weaken future pandemic planning, citing malaria research’s wider health “spillover” benefits.

Cholera Preparedness: WHO and KSrelief signed a $5.3m deal to boost cholera detection and rapid response across Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, aiming to protect over 6 million people. TB, HIV & Malaria Research: WANETAM-4 launched a five-year programme to strengthen West Africa’s research, training and lab capacity, targeting TB multimorbidity, malaria elimination and HIV drug resistance. Maternal Health & Care Access: In Yemen’s Mokha, fighting has shut many facilities, but Mokha General Hospital keeps essential services running for pregnant women, newborns and urgent surgeries. Health Supply Drones: Zipline secured an eight-year Côte d’Ivoire expansion deal to deliver vaccines and blood to more facilities, potentially serving 12 million people. Myopia Treatment Deal: Ligand acquired a tiered royalty interest in Santen’s Ryjunea® (atropine eye drops) for pediatric myopia progression across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Malaria Setback Warning: Botswana’s malaria gains are being reversed by insecticide resistance, weather shocks and weakening resources, with neighbours also reporting surges. Health System Accountability: South Africa’s NPA withdrew charges against suspended police commissioner Fannie Masemola over the Medicare24 tender, clearing the way for a possible reinstatement decision. Food & Health Equity: A study warns fairer vaccine sharing by population need could save millions in the next pandemic, with public trust also playing a role.

Patient Safety in Focus: WHO’s regional survey finds uneven progress on patient safety across Africa, with biggest gaps in information and learning systems as NCDs drive rising demand for safer, continuous care. One Health Push: Tanzania plans Sh216bn over five years for livestock vaccination and identification, linking animal health, surveillance and traceability to protect food security and incomes. Ebola Watch (DR Congo): DRC begins Ebola vaccination for frontline workers in the epicentre of the outbreak, as health officials warn the situation remains serious. Health Access Under Strain: A Liberian church-run clinic in Margibi County is struggling to keep low-cost care running for hundreds of patients each month. Digital Health Equity: A new report warns Africa’s digital revolution risks leaving women behind due to unequal access to devices and affordable connectivity. Health & Rights: Civil society groups demand the immediate release of Niger Delta activist Daniel Ezekiel, alleging torture and unlawful detention.

Ebola Watch (DRC): The DRC’s Ebola outbreak is nearing 3,700 deaths and almost 7,700 confirmed infections, with new cases and deaths reported mainly in Ituri as vaccination and care efforts continue. Telemedicine & Surgery (Nigeria): Nigeria recorded its first tele-robotic surgery, with a surgeon remotely removing a cancerous kidney in Abuja from Ogun. Health Innovation (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwe’s aviation regulator cleared BVLOS drone deliveries for medical and pathology logistics, aiming to link rural facilities to central labs. HealthTech Startups (West Africa): ECOWAS will fund and showcase 60 startups at the ECOWAS Startup Awards, with top winners taking seed grants and tracks including HealthTech. Public Health & Safety (Namibia): Namibia warned that poor waste management is driving baboons into communities, raising risks for vulnerable residents. Digital Scam Alert (Nigeria): Kaspersky says AI is helping fraudsters imitate SARS tax emails and fake PDF sign-ins ahead of the tax deadline. Justice & Rights (Nigeria): Campaigners and politicians are demanding transparent probes after 37 suspected illegal miners died in NSCDC custody, calling for accountability. Water Security (Namibia/Liberia): Namibia pushed water investment action at the UN, while Liberia is building a climate-resilient water project pipeline to attract financing.

Ebola Response in DR Congo: Congo expanded Ebola vaccination to frontline workers in Ituri, with health workers and thousands already vaccinated as authorities push to slow transmission. Maternal Mental Health: Nigeria highlights postpartum depression risks and urges early recognition, treatment and support to protect mothers and mother-child bonding. Drug Supply Worry: A new analysis warns Africa’s push to build drug factories could outpace demand, as the continent still imports most medicines and active ingredients. Public Health at Airports: Germany reported a rare “airport malaria” outbreak near Frankfurt, linked to an infected mosquito transported on a plane, killing three. Food Safety: Ghanaian experts warn improperly processed cassava can release cyanide and trigger konzo, a paralysing neurological disease. Climate Pressure on Farmers: Kenyan tea farmers say climate impacts are cutting yields and incomes, even as global tea prices rise. Health Tech & Training: Nigeria explores transnational education partnerships to strengthen practical STEM, including health sciences, via robotics and applied labs. Journalism Under Threat: South African investigative journalist Micah Reddy and fixer Kooki Mahmoud went missing in Djibouti, prompting calls for transparency and safety checks.

Ebola Vaccines in DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo has started vaccinating frontline health workers in Bunia, Ituri, using Ervebo, as the outbreak—now at 7,541 confirmed cases and 3,639 deaths—surges; the campaign targets Bunia and Mongbwalu and is expected to cover 20,000 workers over 6–9 months. Tele-robotic Surgery in Nigeria: Nigeria’s Redeemer’s Health Village, with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital, carried out the country’s first tele-robotic operation—real-time robot-assisted kidney cancer surgery—showing remote specialist care can work across distances. AI for Health in Africa: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged at least $1 billion over two years to expand equitable AI for frontline communities, with a major focus on African healthcare, agriculture and education. Wildlife Ranger Safety: Kenya’s wildlife rangers are calling for better protection, with reports that over half lack life insurance despite deadly risks on the job. Public Health Tech & Access: Rwanda and Pakistan plan a bilateral trade deal that includes healthcare and pharmaceuticals, aiming to strengthen supply and investment links. Sports & Health: Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is ruled out of AFCON qualifiers due to a groin injury.

Ebola Response: DR Congo has started vaccinating healthcare workers in Bunia, Ituri—the epicentre of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak—using Ervebo for front-line staff while clinical trials assess protection against the current Bundibugyo virus; the campaign targets about 20,000 workers across Ituri and North Kivu over 6–9 months. Child Health: An ophthalmologist in Edo State warns parents not to delay cataract treatment in children, saying late care can permanently damage vision. Maternal & Adolescent Support: Ghana’s ADDRO commissioned an Early Childhood Safe Space Centre in Sandema to support adolescent mothers with childcare, psychosocial help, nutrition support, and sexual/reproductive health education. Health System Accountability: South Africa’s North West hospital upgrade tied to a R28m contract remains incomplete, with allegations of overpayment and possible fraudulent tender documents. Social Protection for Health: Nigerian civil society groups are pushing for expanded social protection to cover informal workers with pensions, health insurance, and unemployment/employment injury support. Health Diplomacy & Capacity: China and Tanzania signed an agreement to expand the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, adding a 100-bed facility and research labs to boost cardiovascular care. Health Policy Focus: WHO’s Africa health ministers meeting in Addis Ababa adopted strategies on health workforce, early childhood development, health financing, and regulation of medical products amid shrinking external aid and rising debt.

Substance Use & Rehab Funding: Ghana’s NACOC is in talks with WAPCAS Plus and Open Society Foundations to secure sustainable funding for a Rehabilitation Fund, including harm-reduction guidelines and a nationwide drug-use survey. Ebola Vaccines in DRC: MSF is launching the BRAVO study to follow frontline workers in the DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak and assess ERVEBO’s impact, as cases remain a serious threat. Youth Health Policy: UCT-hosted Ubuntu Rising 2026 gathered young health leaders to push nine recommendations, spotlighting Africa’s health workforce shortages and youth employment gaps. Niger Miners’ Deaths: Nigeria’s SERAP and HURIWA are urging UN action and independent investigations into reported deaths of 37 people in NSCDC custody and alleged lethal force against protesters in Minna. Workplace Safety Probe: South Africa’s LLE alleges underpayment and health-and-safety violations at Tongaat’s Nani’s Roti factory, including claims about undocumented workers. Zoonotic Disease Readiness: Kerala’s proposed veterinary public health wing to tackle zoonotic diseases remains unimplemented despite repeated Nipah spillovers. Food Systems & Nutrition: New research challenges AGRA’s “Green Revolution” model, warning it may be undermining traditional, more resilient foods and worsening hunger. Border Biosecurity: US CBP at Detroit Metro intercepted potentially destructive giant scale insects from Cameroon—an example of how exotic pests can threaten agriculture.

Outbreak Readiness: West African lab scientists in Lomé warn health systems are weakening and urge governments to boost outbreak detection and diagnostic capacity, citing lessons from Ebola and COVID-19. Ebola Watch (DRC): MSF says the DRC Ebola race is “far from over,” with transmission still spreading to new provinces even as some areas slow. Malaria Control (Nigeria): Borno’s first lady flags off 5 million insecticide-treated nets, stressing nets are an evidence-based tool and distribution will be monitored. Maternal Pain & Opioids: A study of 540,000 C-sections finds rural women are more likely than urban peers to receive opioid prescriptions after discharge, raising equity concerns. Mining Custody Deaths (Nigeria): Atiku and other political figures demand independent investigations into 37 suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody in Niger State. Agriculture Tech (Nigeria): Nigeria nears completion of field validation for Sentinel-X to fight fall armyworm, aiming for wider adoption after multi-state trials. Food & Wellness (Ghana): A Ghana-focused report highlights antioxidant benefits of commonly sold fruits, linking them to free-radical protection. Health System Funding (Somalia): The US agrees to give the UN another year to wind down support for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, affecting logistics including medical services.

Methanol Poisoning in Nigeria: At least 48 people died and about 100 were treated after suspected methanol-tainted local alcohol in Ondo state, with 182 affected across Odigbo and Irele, and police arresting 15 suspects linked to production. Health Financing Push: The UN Economic Commission for Africa convened a high-level advisory group on health financing, urging stronger coordination between health and finance ministries as aid shrinks and debt tightens. Workforce Gap Warning: WHO released its health workforce accounts showing global staffing gains but stark regional inequities, with shortages and uneven distribution still limiting access to care. Sudan Cancer Care Under Fire: In Sudan’s Nuba Mountains, a hospital run by a medical missionary is treating cervical cancer patients despite war-driven collapse of local services and dangerous travel for care. Maternal & Child Nutrition Alarm in Nigeria: Former First Lady Aisha Buhari met Atiku Abubakar, who warned that worsening child malnutrition is deepening under the cost-of-living crisis. Public Health & Safety: South Africa’s SANDU backed urgent court action to protect post-retirement medical benefits for SANDF retirees, while South Africa’s BI Phakathi’s viral street encounter highlighted the need for care for the visibly unwell homeless.

Ebola Update (DR Congo): WHO and Africa CDC say the DRC Ebola outbreak is still serious and not yet proven to have peaked, with transmission easing in Ituri but rising fast in North Kivu, where treatment capacity is under heavy strain. Patient Safety (Nigeria): Nigeria’s health ministry marks World Patient Safety Day with a push for safer care for people living with noncommunicable diseases, targeting risks across prevention, diagnosis, treatment, referral and long-term management. Regulation (Africa): The African Medicines Agency signs an MoU with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority to strengthen regulatory cooperation, harmonise medical product oversight and build capacity. Health Systems (Africa): UNFPA highlights that better distribution of health workers could help cut maternal deaths, while WHO warns dementia is becoming a major health challenge in Africa. Public Health (Mpox): WHO reports Africa accounts for about 75% of global mpox cases, keeping regional risk in focus.

Ebola Watch: West Africa lab scientists met in Lomé to tackle diagnostic gaps as Ebola threatens parts of the region, urging stronger prevention and preparedness. Local Health Supply: Kenya opened WHX Nairobi with a push for local healthcare manufacturing and better equipment maintenance so hospitals aren’t left with “equipment graveyards.” Regional Maternal Health: The EAC and UN agencies agreed a framework to coordinate RMNCAH, HIV, youth health and universal health coverage across East Africa. DRC Ebola: WHO said the outbreak remains severe even as some parts slow, with transmission still active in key provinces. Public Health & Data: Africa CDC moves to harmonise behavioural intelligence to strengthen outbreak response and health planning. GBV Prevention: Cape Town mayoral candidates put gender-based violence and femicide on the agenda, while a school programme in Tsakani trained learners on consent and reporting. Food Systems: AbbeLabs and ISRIC signed a soil partnership to improve fertility advice and land degradation assessment for more resilient farming. Humanitarian Crisis: UNICEF warned renewed Yemen fighting has displaced 57,000+ children in two weeks, disrupting health and schooling.

Ebola vs. cholera pressure in DR Congo: WHO says Ebola response is gaining ground, with transmission declining in Ituri and no new cases in South Kivu since May, but the outbreak is still killing across seven provinces. Cholera surge in eastern DR Congo: In Bukavu, South Kivu, cholera treatment centres report a steady influx of critically ill patients, with UN data citing 39,400+ suspected cases and 1,173 deaths since January–August. Health system capacity boost: Ethiopia becomes the first civilian Emergency Medical Team in WHO’s African Region to receive international classification after verification of governance, clinical care, logistics and infection prevention. Child eye health push: An ophthalmologist urges pregnant women and parents to start eye checks early to prevent avoidable childhood blindness and warns against unqualified treatment. Gender equality update: WEF says the gender gap is 69.2% closed but full parity will take about 120 years at current progress. Nigeria digital ID drive: Tinubu orders NIN enrolment to reach 95% coverage by December 2026, using ward-level and mobile registration. Medicine safety focus: African regulators push for harmonised systems to monitor medicine safety. Women’s health and rights: UNFPA calls for accelerated action as Africa accounts for 70% of maternal deaths. Youth athletics in Liberia: LIAFO backs structured grassroots pathways to grow youth athletics and physical education. Public health and climate accountability: A development cooperation analysis warns that skepticism is shrinking aid impact unless confidence and outcomes improve.

Ebola Update (DRC): UN officials say the outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is showing progress, but remains “massive,” with WHO warning it’s too early to confirm the peak and that control will take months. Child Health (Cancer): A Lancet Oncology study estimates Africa accounted for 38% of global childhood cancer deaths in 2023, with persistent gaps in early diagnosis, specialist care and treatment access. Access to Care (Dermatology): A landmark global study finds a “crisis” in skin-care access, with Africa at just 0.26 dermatologists per 100,000 people versus six per 100,000 in Europe. Public Health (Epilepsy Myths): In Kenya’s Kikuyu subcounty, teachers were found promoting dangerous seizure myths (like putting a spoon in a child’s mouth), prompting an awareness drive with first-aid training. Women’s Health & Equity: The WEF Global Gender Gap Report 2026 says parity is 69.2% closed but full equality may still take 120 years, with political empowerment lagging. Health Tech (Pathology): MGI launched VisiOmics in Europe, bringing AI-enabled multiplex immunofluorescence pathology into routine lab workflows.

Adolescent Health: Ghana’s Ghana Health Service reports 53,415 adolescent pregnancies from January–July 2026, including 1,501 among girls aged 10–14, with officials warning that keeping girls in school is key to cutting teenage pregnancy. Ebola Preparedness: South Sudan has no Ebola cases, but the ICRC is boosting readiness as DRC’s outbreak continues to threaten cross-border care and trauma services. Hepatitis B Care Gap: A new analysis says hepatitis B screening in Africa’s antenatal clinics needs more than test kits—funding for staff, supplies, follow-up and newborn vaccination is missing. Cancer Capacity: Tanzania says it will build nine comprehensive cancer centers by 2030, citing near-universal HPV vaccine coverage and expanded radiotherapy access. Digital Health & AI: OpenEvidence and Penn Medicine announce AI clinical decision support, with plans to extend tools to Botswana via the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. Sports & Health Infrastructure: Kenya wins the 2029 World Athletics Championships bid, a major boost for local sports development and public health visibility.