Living through a flood led to mental health issues in about a quarter of people, a new study across four African countries shows. The logic then goes that if people can be protected against experiencing the trauma of a flood, their mental health will be better too. With extreme rainfall and storms set to hit…
ORT SA introduced a trilingual AI study companion to supplement its big data analytics training programme. Non-profit educational organisation ORT South Africa, in collaboration with marketing agency GAS Marketing Automation, has introduced a trilingual artificial intelligence (AI) study companion for its beneficiaries. Named Funda Nam, which means ‘study with me’ in isiXhosa, the AI learning…
Not every snakebite injects venom. When venom enters the body, however, it can cause snake envenoming. This is a potentially fatal condition and it mostly affects poor rural communities across tropical and subtropical regions who don’t have easy access to medical care. As researchers with decades of combined experience in snakebite and tropical disease epidemiology,…
A 2026 Lancet Global Health analysis using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data finds that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are accounting for a growing share of Africa’s health burden. In 2023, NCDs resulted in an estimated 263 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), with one DALY representing one year of healthy life lost. NCDs caused an…
Around 12% of the world’s total cancer cases in 2024 were likely caused by an infection, according to new research from the World Health Organization (WHO). The study, published today in The Lancet Oncology, analysed the frequency and causes of different cancers, specifically examining the role of infections. It linked 2.3 million new cancer cases…
The gate of Mt Elgon National Park. PHOTO/Mt Elgon Foundation/ Kelvin Maima. By PATRICK MAYOYO Elephants living on Mount Elgon may be using certain plants to treat illness, according to new research that draws on decades of observations by members of the local Sabaot Indigenous community. The study, published in Scientic Reports, documents reports of…
The first five years of life lay an important foundation for children’s future schooling, health and earnings. Yet over 77% (table 2) of children in sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to early childhood care and education. This places them at risk of not reaching their development potential. In response, governments across Africa are increasingly committing…
Political violence refers to the use of force by groups pursuing political goals. It can include attacks on civilians, armed clashes, riots and explosions, all of which cause obvious and immediate harm. But the effects of political violence can continue long after the violence itself has ended. The immediate effects of war, such as poverty,…
Nairobi — Poverty may have a greater influence on healthy brain ageing than a cancer diagnosis, according to a new study by the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute (AKU-BMI), highlighting the role of socioeconomic conditions in shaping long-term cognitive health. The three-year Brain Resilience Kenya (BRK) study tracked 404 Kenyan adults aged 35…
Altron Digital Business MD Craig Stewart Altron Digital Business (ADB) has concluded a first-of-its-kind benchmark study focused on how employees experience technology across eight major institutions in the financial services industry. The Employee Technology Experience Index (TEXI) measured employee sentiment across eight core technology categories using a standardised scoring methodology. The findings reveal the scale…
