Photo : AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AFP
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph
Uganda: Ebola cases rise, 23 deaths, says WHO
On 27 August, the World Health Organization said 23 people died after the declaration of the Ebola Sudan strain outbreak in Uganda. It said there have been 36 Ebola cases- 18 confirmed and 18 probable cases. The outbreak has now spread to three districts in central Uganda, raising a fear of further spread. Uganda’s health ministry said: “The Ministry of Health Rapid Response Teams remain on ground to the confirmed cases.” The East African countries have issued alerts following the announcement of the outbreak. The WHO says the Ebola Sudan strain has a lower fatality rate than Ebola Zaire, a strain that killed 2,300 in Democratic Republic of Congo between 2018 and 2020. (“Uganda Ebola cases rise amid 23 deaths - WHO,” BBC, 27 September 2022)
Nigeria: Catastrophic health crisis in the country, says MSF
On 27 September, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical charity agency said there is a catastrophic health crisis in north-western Nigeria. It said an extraordinarily large number of children are suffering from acute malnutrition. It added, this year alone, the group has treated nearly 100,000 children with the condition where 17,000 required hospital care. The Humanitarian response towards the region had been poor, with greater attention is given to north-eastern Nigeria which has been going through a long-running Islamist insurgency. (“Nigeria facing health crisis - MSF,” BBC, 27 September 2022)
Sao Tome and Principe: Oppositions win the legislative elections
On 27 September, the National Electoral Commission’s (CEN) preliminary data showed the Independent Democratic Action (ADI), the opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, won the legislative elections in Sao Tome and Principe. According to the CEN data, the ADI won the elections with a total of 36,549 votes. The Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe\Social Democratic Party (MLSTP\PSD) led by the current Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus came second with 25,531 votes. Patrice Trovoada, the former Prime Minister of the country and the leader of ADI claimed the victory with majority seats, announcing that he will head the government. (“Sao Tome opposition wins legislative vote,” Africanews, 27 September 2022)