
The pandemic preparedness dividend—investing today to prevent and mitigate tomorrow's pandemics
The world remains dangerously unprepared for the next biological threat. The 2021 Global Health Security (GHS) Index gave African nations an average score of 29 out of a possible 100, which leaves significant room for improvement.
The Africa Health Security (AHS) Index is a comprehensive, independent assessment of epidemic and pandemic preparedness across Africa. The AHS Index is developed by NTI | bio, in partnership with the Brown University Pandemic Center and Economist Impact, in collaboration with Science for Africa Foundation, the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) and the University of Tunis El Manar (Tunis, Tunisia). Funding is provided by the Gates Foundation.
The index, launching in 2026, will enable leaders to measure, finance and advance improvements in health security and create an evidence-based accountability framework to track progress towards better epidemic and pandemic preparedness in Africa.
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NHS Lanarkshire's Wishaw health improvement team host summer family fun day
Vibrant and well-attended afternoon welcomed people of all ages for a free, outdoor celebration packed with activities, entertainment and important community connections. NHS Lanarkshire's health improvement team in Wishaw hosted a spectacular summer family fun day. Tea in the Garden took place at University Hospital Wishaw's King George V Community Garden. The vibrant and well-attended afternoon welcomed people of all ages for a free, outdoor celebration packed with activities, entertainment and important community connections. Families enjoyed a huge variety of hands-on activities, including cycling, arts and crafts, sports, gardening, pony visits, African drumming, archery, circus skills, tic-tac-toe, rounders and more. The day also provided an opportunity to explore the local services available from the wide range of wellbeing organisations who took part. Vicki Trim, health improvement lead - University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: "It was a brilliant day. We loved seeing families so engaged and relaxed - children were smiling from start to finish. "North Lanarkshire's health and social care partnership works together to bring a number of events to the community throughout the year to help raise awareness of health and wellbeing opportunities. "We'd like to share a massive thank you to all the partners and volunteers who made the day such a success, and a special thanks to Tesco who kindly donated the refreshments." Organiser Grant Murdoch, health improvement practitioner - Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire, added: "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to find out about the fantastic local services available right here in the community. "Events like this really help build connections and give people a chance to experience the amazing work happening and support offered. "We were delighted with the turnout and hope that attendees, as well as the organisations who participated, had a great day." Shadia Muhammad, a local parent, went along with her eight-year-old son. and said: "We got a message through the parents' and teachers' group and came along. "We did the drumming, made a 'sticky' at the arts and crafts tent and played football. "My son loved it - it was hard to get him away. "It's great to see something like this. We've lived here a long time but this is the first event like this I've seen. "It's so important for keeping kids active and off screens during the holidays." Another grandparent shared: "I brought my grandson, who is two and he loved the ponies and the ambulance, and just running around outside. "My daughter and I work in the hospital, so it was nice to have a day like this where he could explore and enjoy being outdoors. We had a lovely day."


The Guardian
30-07-2025
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Two months after first going to hospital, a 65-year-old woman was dead – and her doctors are blaming the cosmetic creams she used on her face and body for decades. The anonymous patient, from Togo, is one of a string of recent cases reported in medical journals of cancers in black African women linked to skin-lightening creams and lotions, prompting dermatologists to call for better regulation. The melanin found in darker skin typically offers some protection against the sun damage which can cause cancers. 'Patients with black skin have a natural SPF of about 15, just by having pigmented skin,' says Prof Ncoza Dlova, head of dermatology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,. 'If they remove that melanin [with skin lightening creams], they're actually removing the natural protection.' Estimates of skin lightening product use in African countries range from 25% to 80% of women. 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Economist
24-07-2025
- Economist
The pandemic preparedness dividend—investing today to prevent and mitigate tomorrow's pandemics
Announcing the Africa Health Security Index The world remains dangerously unprepared for the next biological threat. The 2021 Global Health Security (GHS) Index gave African nations an average score of 29 out of a possible 100, which leaves significant room for improvement. The Africa Health Security (AHS) Index is a comprehensive, independent assessment of epidemic and pandemic preparedness across Africa. The AHS Index is developed by NTI | bio, in partnership with the Brown University Pandemic Center and Economist Impact, in collaboration with Science for Africa Foundation, the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) and the University of Tunis El Manar (Tunis, Tunisia). Funding is provided by the Gates Foundation. The index, launching in 2026, will enable leaders to measure, finance and advance improvements in health security and create an evidence-based accountability framework to track progress towards better epidemic and pandemic preparedness in Africa.