Health What share of African children under five years are underweight? Source World Bank Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) - Sub-Saharan Africa Short answer What share of African children under five years are underweight? An estimated 16.9% of children under 5 years old were underweight in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020. ... Back Full answer
Health What share of African children under five years are stunted? Source WHO Global Health Observatory Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) (JME) Short answer What share of African children under five years are stunted? 30.7% (61.4 million) of children under five years old were stunted in WHO’s Africa region in 2020. ... Back Full answer
Health Is cholera on the increase or decline in Ghana? Source The Ghana Weekly Epidemiological Report (GWER) Short answer Is cholera on the increase or decline in Ghana? The Ghana Health Service (GHS) reported that it recorded no cases of cholera in 2020. ... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Health What is the Covid-19 variant found in India? Source Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism – Three for three: Understanding the 3 COVID variants circulating during SA’s third wave Short answer What is the Covid-19 variant found in India? The Delta or B.1.617.2 variant of SARS CoV-2 (previously known as the “Indian variant”)was first detected in India in December 2020 and became the most commonly reported variant in the country from mid-April 2021. The mutations in the Delta variant’s spike protein help the virus to bette... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Health Which Covid-19 vaccine is more effective against the variant found in India? Source Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism – Three for three: Understanding the 3 COVID variants circulating during SA’s third wave Short answer Which Covid-19 vaccine is more effective against the variant found in India? Although it is still too early to know, there is some evidence suggesting that the Delta variant reduces vaccine efficacy. Data from cases in England showed that the effectiveness of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines had been lowered after one dose from 51.1% to 33.5%. But after a second shot... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health Are Covid-19 vaccines untested and deadly? Source WHO – Status of Covid-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process Short answer Are Covid-19 vaccines untested and deadly? The WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is a procedure for assessing unlicensed vaccines, therapeutics and in vitro diagnostics during public health emergencies with the ultimate goal of expediting the availability of these products to people who need them. The assessment weighs the threat posed by the ... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health Does the Covid-19 vaccine reduce your lifespan? Source The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA) in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Short answer Does the Covid-19 vaccine reduce your lifespan? All available Covid-19 vaccines have been assessed for safety and have also been found not to interfere with the human Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) so it does not reduce a person’s life span. ... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health Is it true that doctors test for Covid-19 by looking for the Covid-19 virus in your body? Source US Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Testing Overview Short answer Is it true that doctors test for Covid-19 by looking for the Covid-19 virus in your body? Yes. A Covid-19 viral test looks for the virus in your breathing passages. There are different types of viral tests. One type looks for genetic material from the virus. This is usually called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Another type looks for proteins on the virus. This is usually called an ant... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health Does human breast milk neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19? Source American Society for Microbiology study, (WHO) paper on COVID-19 and breastfeeding, and the (CDC). Short answer Does human breast milk neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19? As the evidence currently suggests, there is limited risk that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via human milk. Consequently, the World Health Organization and other organisations (including Unicef, CDC, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) recommend that mothers continue to breas... Back Full answer