Hope Mafaranga

  On this HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, IAS – the   International AIDS Society   – calls for the re-engagement of all stakeholders, especially in Europe, in funding HIV vaccine research and development (R&D).  After more than 40 years since HIV was discovered, there have been breakthroughs in curbing acquisition through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART). However,  1.5 million people  acquired HIV in 2021 – one million above the 2020 global targets  for ending the AIDS epidemic  – and a quarter of the 38.4 million people living with HIV globally do not have access to treatment. A vaccine remains the most effective prevention method and is still elusive.   Between 2019 and 2020, funding globally for HIV  preventative vaccine R&D decreased  by 5.5% or USD 46 million. In comparison, European funding decreased by 31%, significantly undermining pathways to an effective vaccine.  “We call on Europe to not abandon the quest for an effective HIV vaccine. The

  Researchers used aerial and satellite imagery, as well as machine learning, to map the carbon stock of every overstory tree in Rwanda—the first such inventory in the world. https://eos.org/articles/mapping-rwandas-trees-from-above

  An investigation by global tobacco industry watchdog STOP has resulted in the addition of 25 new organizations to its  Tobacco Industry Allies database . The database, launched in 2019, now includes 135 groups across 33 countries.   The tobacco industry are allies are categorized under ‘Third Party’, ‘Front Group’ or ‘Astroturf’ using  definitions outlined by STOP . All these groups have some form of link to the tobacco industry. The investigation demonstrates that these organizations are increasing in number and are being created across the globe and at every stage in the tobacco supply chain.    Many of the newly added allies promote newer nicotine and tobacco products while others are retailer associations, business groups and farmer “advocates.”   The database permits you to search tobacco industry allies by name, location, or classification. It also gives you the option to easily share information with your networks.

  The Global Fund warmly welcomes the decision by the United Kingdom to renew its strong commitment to help end AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and strengthen health and community systems around the world.   Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell announced a pledge of GBP 1 billion to the Global Fund for the coming three-year period.   “We are incredibly grateful to the United Kingdom for this renewed commitment to accelerate progress toward ending HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and strengthening health and community systems everywhere,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Over the past 20 years, British taxpayer support has helped save 50 million lives.  The UK’s new GBP 1 billion pledge is instrumental to helping us save millions more lives, get back on track following the reversals from COVID-19, and strengthen global health security.”   The new pledge comes on top of the record-breaking US$14.25 billion raised by the Global Fund last September in New York at

By Hope Mafaranga In Vancouver, Canada,  The State Minister of Health for General Duties Sarah Opendi has said Uganda will be free from Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by 2020. Opendi said 37 districts have attained the targeted disease elimination status and mass treatment was stopped. According to World Health Organisation, NTDs a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries. The diseases affect more than one billion people and cost developing economies billions of dollars every year.  Populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals and livestock are those worst affected. “In December 2018, the district of Moroto, Nakapiripirit  and Nabilatuk conducted their last round of mass treatment and  the ministry is the process of conducting final impact assessment and  this will mark the end of treatment in the country ,” Opendi sa

Genome Editing a potential to eliminate human diseases By Hope Mafaranga Scientists have asked African leaders to adapt to genetically modified  modern technology including genome editing, saying it has the potential of eliminating human diseases and improve  food security.   Prof Yaye The appeal was  by Prof. Yaye  Gassama the chairperson of Africa Union  High Level Panel on Emerging Technology  during the Africa Biennial Bioscience Communication ( ABBC) 2019  symposium in at Sheraton Hotel Pretoria, in South Africa.  She called upon leaders to  pass laws and regulations that allows research and commercialization of genetically modified products. Prof. Gassama, said, said, genome editing has the ability of curing leukemia,  AIDS can be defeated  by eliminating HIV gene  in infected cells. Genome Editing is a way of making specific changes to a target location of the DNA of a cell or organism. An enzyme cuts the DNA at a specific sequence, and when this is repaired by