Background: There is exponential growth in the interest and implementation of genomics research in Africa. This growth has been facilitated by the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative, which aims to promote a contemporary research approach to the study of genomics and environmental determinants of common diseases in African populations. Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe important challenges affecting genomics research implementation in Africa. Methods: The observations, challenges and recommendations presented in this article were obtained through discussions by African scientists at teleconferences and face-to-face meetings, seminars at consortium conferences and in-depth individual discussions. Results: Challenges affecting genomics research implementation in Africa, which are related to limited resources include ill-equipped facilities, poor accessibility to research centers, lack of expertise and an enabling environment for research activities in local hospitals. Challenges related to the research study include delayed funding, extensive procedures and interventions requiring multiple visits, delays setting up research teams and insufficient staff training, language barriers and an underappreciation of cultural norms. While many African countries are struggling to initiate genomics projects, others have set up genomics research facilities that meet international standards. Conclusions: The lessons learned in implementing successful genomics projects in Africa are recommended as strategies to overcome these challenges. These recommendations may guide the development and application of new research programs in low-resource settings.
The rapidly growing broadband internet and mobile applications penetration and uptake provide immense opportunities and challenges across Africa. There is an increasing concern to national and regional security due to incidence and impact (cost)of cybercrime emergence and spread, cyberespionage and attack (e.g., hacking, hijacking or illegitimate and illegal use) of governments, private and public firms and other stakeholders' domains endangering healthy business, survival and performance opportunities in most African countries. Yet, only 11 (20.3%) out of 54 countries has implemented cybersecurity (CS) laws and regulations. Promoting cybersecurity and cyberspace preparedness and rapid response initiatives, preventive and protective countermeasures are vital and imperative. The rise of the digital economy is not just changing how organizations conduct business. Cybersecurity is a strategic decision by governments, industries, businesses and consumers driving this change need to step up their capabilities and be accountable for cyber-attacks, hacking, automated frauds and epidemic proportions of ransomware worldwide. Here, authors analyzes cybercrimes and mobile money frauds activities in most affected African countries and highlights practical and costeffective awareness and capability approaches and strategies in building and establishing local and regional cooperation and collaboration for secured,effective and sustainable cyberspace information and data sharing and business transactions. Moreover, promoting personal data and information rights and privacy to e-commerce/etransaction legislations and regulations best practice is crucial against cyber-attacks and its impact, in increasing productivity and sustainable economic prosperity in Africa.
Introduction:We usually believe that young adults in general, are a population that is healthier. As a result, in low middle income countries, public health policy-makers pay little attention to student's health status. However, this assumption may undermine the academic performance of some college students.Objective: The aim of our study is to describe the health status of the UdM students, during the 2016-2017 academic year. Methods:We used a multi-stratified random sample of about five hundred students. We assessed both clinical and biological data available in the students' health records.Results: When considering signs and symptoms of disease based on clinical and biological findings, about 25.0% of students were in good health. The proportions of clinical signs and symptoms varied between 0.4 to 21.9%, with high blood pressure prevailing the most. Students who drank alcohol beverages from occasional to frequent use, were estimated at 34.8%. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus was 12.8% and 1.4% respectively; while 12.4% of blood sugar was above the cutting point of 1.20 g/l and 8.0% of students were overweight. Anemia from all etiologies was estimated at 15.5%; allergy, cardio-pulmonary, and digestive disorders were found at 14.8%, 13.1% and 10.6% respectively. Conclusion:Findings from this pioneered research in a low middle income country raised awareness that college students in UdM, like their counterparts elsewhere, are experiencing health disparities; calling public health decision-makers to increase their actions for better care and value in student's health.
The significant economic imperatives and ramifications of rising emerging chronic disease epidemics unmet health needs and persisting infectious diseases public health burden is huge across Africa. The article assesses unmet chronic diseases threats and epidemics need and potential threats and emerging issues in strengthening and deepening pragmatic health policy reforms and contextual transformations needed. We call for immediate collective partnership and action to implement innovative and pragmatic initiatives to various facets of personalized telemedicine and artificial intelligence for health to community-centered health systems policy reforms and transformations. Strengthening inter-sectoral partnerships and collaboration is crucial in creating value-needs investment and new perspectives in improving quality preparedness, prevention and smart response needed in achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research collaboration and transformative solutions on preparedness, smart health system preventive and management solutions is critical needed multifaceted risk factors and emerging epidemics-related impacts in Africa. Hence, leveraging on telemedicine and artificial intelligence innovative and smart healthcare solutions are highlighted in tackling emerging and rising non-communicable disease epidemics, infectious diseases threats/epidemics related child-maternal mortality to health system drawbacks and ageing population dilemma. Also, the need to advance in Africa traditional medicine and digital health communication approaches integration and practice in promoting health information for all in remote Africa communities for national and global health security, ecological development and economic prosperity.
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