Health - Page 2 - Intelpoint

Lassa fever death rate shows an overall decline, despite a rise in 2023

Lassa fever cases and deaths have shown significant variations over the years, but the death rate decreased in the first ten months of 2024 despite rising in 2023. This downward trend reflects improvements in early detection, medical interventions, and public health measures.

For many communities across Nigeria, Lassa fever remains a serious health concern, especially in rural areas with limited access to healthcare facilities. As efforts to combat the disease intensify, public awareness campaigns, proper hygiene, and access to treatment have played a vital role in reducing fatalities and giving hope to affected families.

Note: Data for 2024 only include the first ten months of the year

The Western Pacific region has 205.6m people living with diabetes, the highest globally

Today, World Diabetes Day, we’re reminded of the urgent need to address the growing impact of diabetes across the globe. This day is a call to action to support preventive measures, raise awareness, and improve healthcare access for those affected by this chronic condition. In the Western Pacific region alone, 205.6 million people are living with diabetes, and it also has one of the highest percentage of diabetes-related deaths (7.0%) in people under 60. By comparison, Europe, while also heavily impacted, reports a lower death rate among this age group. Though Africa has the lowest number of people living with diabetes, it has a high percentage of diabetes-related deaths in people under 60.

27% of the global malaria cases in 2022 were recorded in Nigeria

In 2022, two out of every three of the world’s 249 million malaria cases were found in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria leading the numbers at a staggering 67 million cases.

North Africa accounts for five of Africa's nine malaria-free countries

As of October 2024, only nine African countries are certified malaria-free: Egypt, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritius, Libya, Morocco, Seychelles, and Lesotho. Egypt and Cape Verde are the newest members of this group. Over 40 African countries remain uncertified, with the continent recording 233 million malaria cases in 2022.

7 of the top 10 countries with the highest unmet need for contraception are African

On #WorldContraceptionDay, it's vital to highlight that in 2023, many women and girls aged 15 to 49 globally still have unmet contraceptive needs. Samoa (28%), Angola (27%), and Liberia (25%) are among the top 10 countries. Notably, seven of the top 10 are African, underscoring the urgent need for better reproductive health services.

Libya leads Africa with 9.1 dentists per 10,000 people; Nigeria struggles with 0.2

As of 2022, Libya had the highest dentist availability in Africa. Many top African countries have fewer than 5 dentists per 10,000 people, with several falling below 1, and Nigeria at just 0.2. The WHO recommends at least 2 per 10,000 for adequate care.

Only 7 African nations meet the WHO's recommended doctor-to-population ratio

As of 2022, only seven African countries met the WHO's recommended doctor-to-population ratio of 10 doctors per 10,000 people. Cape Verde, Seychelles, Libya, Eswatini, Tunisia, Mauritius, and Algeria are leading the way in healthcare accessibility in Africa. However, the continent still averages only 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people.

Africa and Asia most affected by lack of drinking water in children's schools

A recent UNICEF report shows that 293m children worldwide did not have drinking water in their schools in 2023. Six African and four Asian countries make up the top ten, with Ethiopia and Nigeria occupying first and second positions, respectively, with 33.2m and 29m children. The top five countries account for 42% of the total affected population.

Chad and Nigeria had the lowest life expectancies in Africa as of 2023

The African countries with the highest life expectancies as of 2023 are: Algeria - 77 years, Tunisia - 77 years, Cape Verde - 77 years, Mauritius - 76 years. The African countries with the lowest life expectancies: Central African Republic - 55 years, Lesotho - 55 years, Nigeria - 54 years, Chad - 54 years.

World AIDS Day: Number of people living with HIV and people living with HIV receiving treatment globally since 2001

World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year as a day dedicated to raising awareness about the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. In 2020, there were an estimated 37.6 million people infected with HIV globally, and 27.4 million people living with HIV receiving treatment.

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