AGP Executive Report

Ebola Response in DR Congo: WHO has started patient enrolment for the PARTNERS trial to find the first effective treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, testing MBP134 and remdesivir (and a combo) with Africa CDC support as cases and deaths continue to rise. Ebola Financing Push: South Africa’s Ramaphosa urged African leaders and partners to turn $1.5bn Ebola pledges into fast financing, technical help and medical countermeasures, calling for safe access and protection for frontline workers in the conflict-hit outbreak. Clean Cooking Rollout (Nigeria): Nigeria has launched the policy framework and inaugurated a National E-Cooking Steering Committee to move from talks to implementation, aiming to scale clean cooking technologies through coordinated investment. Menstrual Health: A pan-African summit in Johannesburg spotlights Africa’s “silent menstrual health emergency,” tackling stigma, period poverty, and long-delayed diagnosis of painful disorders. Water Safety (South Africa): uMngeni-uThukela says it has reduced the earthy taste compound 2-MIB in eThekwini’s drinking water through tighter monitoring and treatment adjustments. Public Health Guidance: A Nigerian audiologist warns against unsafe ear-cleaning practices like cotton buds, stressing the ear’s self-cleaning role and the risks of injury and hearing loss. Clean Water & Coral Restoration (Seychelles/Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi’s coral restoration project is scaling up heat-resilient reef rebuilding, framed as a model for ocean health and climate resilience.

Ebola Response in DR Congo: WHO says the Bundibugyo Ebola trial is moving ahead with MBP134 antibody (alone and with remdesivir), while Tedros warns mistrust and violence remain major hurdles as cases keep rising. Rapid Testing Push: A race for a rapid Bundibugyo antigen test has narrowed to five manufacturers, aiming for field trials in eastern Congo within weeks to speed isolation and containment. Ebola Strain on Health Systems: AP reporting from the outbreak’s epicentre highlights the human toll, including deaths of children and health workers, with no approved treatments for this strain and vaccine timelines still uncertain. Digital Health for NTDs: eHealth Africa showcased climate-resilient digital tools for frontline Neglected Tropical Disease management at ADHS in Abuja, including a climate risk assessment and an NTD decision support app. AML/CFT Capacity Building: GIABA (ECOWAS) is briefing ambassadors and training journalists in Dakar on anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing, with a focus on transparency and beneficial ownership. Animal Health Alert (ASF): Bacolod City and La Libertad in Negros Oriental confirmed African Swine Fever, triggering biosecurity, random testing, and condemnation of infected pigs.

Ebola Response: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak keeps worsening, with reports of spread into a fourth province and deaths passing 400 as health systems struggle to keep up. Cholera Alert: WHO says Sudan’s latest cholera wave has killed 120 people, with 1,102 suspected cases in war-affected areas where clean water access is collapsing. Lassa Fever Crisis: Nigeria’s Lassa fever toll is rising fast, with 214 deaths reported and a case fatality rate now at 25%, pushing the disease into a true emergency level. Digital Health & AI: UN highlights how AI is accelerating health research and early disease detection, while warning that governance rules are lagging behind. Health Tech Investment: The World Bank approved a $1.25bn Nigeria package (2026–2032) that includes support for health and nutrition for 40 million people alongside jobs and private investment. Aero-Medical Care: Nigeria’s Kasi Healthcare signed for up to two Airbus H135 HEMS helicopters to boost emergency response and patient transfers. Traditional Medicine Safety: Tanzania’s health researchers are urged to scientifically test traditional remedies to expand treatment options and strengthen universal health coverage. Animal Health Spillover: African swine fever has been confirmed in parts of the Philippines coverage, with intensified biosecurity—an example of how fast outbreaks can spread and disrupt food systems.

Ebola Response Funding: UN warns the DRC and wider Africa Ebola outbreak could cost the continent up to $3.6bn and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs, as Africa CDC pushes for urgent support for drug trials and regional readiness. Ebola Spread Watch: Africa CDC reports Uganda has an isolated Marburg case, while DRC Ebola figures keep climbing and health workers are among those infected, raising pressure on surveillance and care capacity. Cervical Cancer Push (Ghana): CDA Consult calls for a more coordinated national drive to tackle cervical cancer, urging free HPV vaccination, better screening access, and stronger public education to clear misconceptions. Maternal Health (Nigeria): Kano targets zero maternal mortality, with renewed focus on improving care and outcomes for mothers. Health & Safety (South Africa): Border Management Authority mourns a fatal bus accident near Beitbridge that injured seven repatriation passengers, highlighting the need for safer transport and emergency response. Community Sports for Health (UAE): Abu Dhabi Summer Sports backs active lifestyles, with leaders stressing sport’s role in healthier communities.

Ebola Response Under Strain: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged to 1,333 confirmed cases (399 deaths), with WHO warning the response is still below what’s needed to stop transmission fast, as funding and infection-control readiness lag. Misinformation Fight: In Congo, health workers are battling Ebola rumours on WhatsApp—beliefs in witchcraft are shifting, but fear is rising as people demand more government support. Funding Pressure: Africa CDC says Ebola clinical trials in Bundibugyo face a shortfall, while UN warnings put the outbreak’s potential cost to Africa at up to $3.6bn and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Health System Disruptions: A suspected Ebola case triggered emergency isolation protocols at a Glasgow hospital, later testing negative—highlighting how quickly health services must mobilise. Public Health & Safety: Ghana reopened the Achimota transfer station with Zoomlion after floods worsened waste problems, aiming to reduce sanitation risks. Maternal Health Boost: Gates-backed work in Kano helped reduce maternal mortality, saving 507 mothers. Cancer Screening Push: Katsina launched cervical cancer screening for 500 women, part of wider prevention efforts.

Ebola Economic Shock: The UN warns a Central Africa Ebola outbreak could cost Africa up to $3.6bn and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs if urgent containment fails. Regional Response Pressure: Reports also highlight ongoing Ebola spread and the need for faster, better-supported regional readiness as cases rise in the DRC and concerns grow for neighbouring countries. Public Health Alert in Europe: Scotland hospitals tightened protocols after a traveller returned from an Ebola-affected country and was confined for testing and treatment, with officials stressing the risk remains low. Health Systems & Access: A South Carolina transplant coverage gap shows how long kidney waitlists can be, while living donation is framed as a lifesaving option. Digital Health Milestone: Zooniverse marked a billionth image classification, underscoring how public participation can accelerate research across fields including medicine. Community Health & Safety: Nigeria’s Catholic youth chaplains were urged to report child abuse allegations to Church and civil authorities immediately, placing safeguarding at the centre of youth ministry.

Ebola Response: DR Congo’s Ebola crisis keeps worsening, with Africa CDC reporting cases and health worker infections rising and urging stronger regional readiness and logistics support. Public Health Funding: The World Bank approved a $750m loan for Kenya, with priorities including healthcare systems, social protection, infrastructure, and climate resilience. Maternal & Child Health Under Strain: An investigation from Ondo State reports pregnant women and children sleeping in churches after Atlantic Ocean flooding swallows communities, with residents blaming coastal erosion and alleged oil-linked dredging. Health Access & Trust: South Africans are reportedly shunning healthcare clinics, citing fear of judgment and privacy concerns, even as awareness of health issues grows. Digital Health Reality Check: Nigeria’s digital health push is being criticized for pilots that “launch beautifully” but fail to last, with fragmentation and short funding cycles blamed. Food & Nutrition: FAO warns Africa’s fish supply is lagging behind surging demand, threatening food security and nutrition. Innovation & Care Delivery: Uganda boosts regional Ebola logistics, while Kenya researchers unveiled an eco-friendly tsetse fly shield to protect livestock and people from trypanosomiasis. Wellness & Lifestyle: A guide to yellow watermelon highlights its vitamin A/C and potassium, while Panado promotes on-the-go fever and pain relief for children.

Ebola Response: Africa CDC and WHO have launched a Continental Incident Management Support Team in Uganda to coordinate faster, more unified action against the DRC outbreak, with support for Uganda, DRC and nearby vulnerable areas. Ebola in DRC: The outbreak has now spread to a fourth province, with WHO reporting 1,274 confirmed cases and 360 deaths, and health officials warning real numbers may be higher. Public Health Policy: COMESA is consulting member states on harmonised AI and digital inclusion policies to reduce new inequalities as AI expands across the region. Health Innovation: Early clinical trial results for the schistosomiasis vaccine SchistoShield show strong immune memory responses in U.S. and African participants, supporting its potential to prevent and treat the disease. Health Systems & Access: A 3D scanning and printing prosthesis project in The Gambia aims to speed up custom socket production for amputees, using local hubs and UK/EU support. Community Health & Nutrition: Zambia’s Ministry of Education signed an MoU with Food 4 Education to strengthen school feeding with better procurement, data use and monitoring. Disaster Preparedness: Togo’s civil protection agency held pre-exercise training with U.S. partners to improve emergency response readiness.

Ebola Response Boost: Africa CDC, WHO and Uganda launched a Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team in Kampala to strengthen coordinated, country-led Ebola preparedness and response across Uganda, DR Congo and nearby at-risk states. Maternal Health Support: Oxfam in Ghana donated GH¢1.5m in medical equipment and essential drugs to Kasoa Polyclinic to strengthen maternal and reproductive healthcare. Cancer Care Delays: A Kenya study on gastrointestinal cancers at KNH found patients waited about two months for treatment, and a Patient Navigation Programme didn’t significantly shorten overall delays—highlighting system capacity gaps. Sanitation for NTDs: In Bungoma, residents are adopting Sato modern pan toilets to reduce contact with waste and curb neglected tropical diseases linked to poor sanitation. Young South Africans & Life Cover: Momentum Life Insurance data shows 62% of death claims for people under 30 involved unnatural causes, mainly road accidents—urging earlier life insurance and income protection. Medical Aid Tax Tip: South Africa’s SARS auto-assessments begin 1 July; Medshield says members can optimise medical scheme tax credits during the 2026 filing season. Drug Mule Arrest: A 23-year-old South African woman was arrested at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo after X-rays confirmed drug-filled capsules, with forensic testing to follow. Chikungunya Vaccine Approval: Bavarian Nordic’s VIMKUNYA got Health Canada approval for chikungunya prevention for ages 12+ as a single-dose option.

Ebola Response Boost: Africa CDC, WHO and Uganda launched a Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team to strengthen cross-border coordination as the DRC outbreak strains access and community trust. Food & Nutrition Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC rolled out a “Read the Food Label” campaign, warning that rising packaged foods are fuelling diet-related NCDs like hypertension and diabetes. Medicine Security: Ghana’s Pharmaceutical Society urged government to scale local drug manufacturing to 70% of needs, warning heavy import dependence is a national security risk. Cancer Care Spotlight: Medserve-LUTH Cancer Centre retained its “Most Outstanding Oncology Centre in Nigeria” award for a fourth straight year, highlighting advanced oncology services in Lagos. Public Health Systems: India handed Seychelles 500MT rice, 8,500MT cement and the first tranche of six ambulances, with Indian paramedics set to train local technicians. Energy for Development: Zimbabwe’s geothermal potential is being pushed as a reliable baseload power option to support Vision 2030. Animal Health Watch: Philippines provinces Aklan and Guimaras tightened ASF border controls, temporarily banning swine and pork from affected areas to protect local livelihoods. Policy & Health Costs: A report says Kenya spends far more on external debt than health, arguing IMF-backed austerity limits investment in frontline services.

Ebola Response: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak keeps worsening, with health authorities warning cases have crossed 1,200 and deaths are rising as community resistance complicates contact tracing and care. Cross-Border Public Health: Saudi Arabia has tightened travel and visa access for travellers linked to Ebola-affected African countries, aiming to slow cross-border spread. Heat & Health: A deadly European heatwave is moving east, with France reporting around 1,000 extra deaths and hospitals seeing major surges in emergency visits, while extreme temperatures also threaten infrastructure and public safety. Clean Cooking & Respiratory Risk: In Kenya’s Siaya County, unclean cooking energy is tied to a heavy respiratory disease burden in children under five, prompting free screening and treatment camps. Health Systems & Leadership: Nigeria’s former NCDC boss Dr Ifedayo Adetifa received a UK Faculty of Public Health Fellowship by Distinction, highlighting continued public health leadership. Disaster & Safety: A Johannesburg building fire killed five people after locked exits and overcrowding trapped residents, renewing calls for safer building compliance.

Ebola Surge in DR Congo: The US CDC has activated its highest emergency level as DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak climbs past 1,200 cases and 321 deaths, with Uganda reporting additional cases; officials warn contact tracing and treatment capacity must improve fast. Nigeria Health Tech Push: President Bola Tinubu approved the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, appointing Dr Obi Adigwe to coordinate Nigeria’s digital-health agenda. Food Safety in Nigeria: NAFDAC launched the “Read the Food Label” campaign in Abuja to help consumers make healthier choices and reduce salt intake. Public Health Under Heat and Dust: Europe’s deadly heatwave continues to overwhelm hospitals and drive event cancellations, while Saint Lucia issued guidance for Saharan dust that can worsen asthma and other breathing problems. Kenya Rights Alarm: Rights groups allege protesters were dumped and tortured after arrests, with one person still missing. Ebola Preparedness Beyond Congo: Saudi Arabia suspended travel/visas for three African nations over Ebola concerns. Uganda Oil Milestone: Uganda is set to begin crude oil exports in October 2026 as the Kingfisher project nears first oil. ASF Biosecurity in Africa: Negros Occidental (Philippines) tightened African Swine Fever defenses—relevant for regional biosecurity lessons.

Ebola Watch: WHO says a rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain in DRC has confirmed transmission in Uganda and may reach South Sudan, with a Lancet study pointing to spread starting weeks before the outbreak was officially declared—raising alarms for border surveillance, contact tracing and safe burials. Ebola Response (US): The CDC has activated its highest response level and will ship experimental treatments to the region as cases and deaths climb in DRC. Digital Health Push (Nigeria): President Tinubu approved the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office and appointed Obi Adigwe as pioneer coordinator, aiming to harmonise Nigeria’s digital-health agenda and standards. Extreme Heat (Europe): A record-breaking “heat dome” is driving major health impacts across western Europe, with emergency calls and heat-related hospital visits surging. Food Safety/Health (Nigeria): NAFDAC launched a nationwide campaign urging Nigerians to read food labels to curb diet-related disease risk. Energy & Health (Kenya): TotalEnergies says it has fully renewed its transport fleet in Kenya, cutting emissions and improving safety on petroleum routes.

Ebola Escalation: The U.S. CDC has raised its DRC Ebola response to its highest Level 1 as the Bundibugyo outbreak surges past 1,200 infections and 321 deaths, with cases also reported in Uganda—while officials say the risk of spread in the U.S. remains low. Ebola Death Toll Update: DRC health authorities report Ebola deaths have now exceeded 300, with the outbreak still not at its peak and containment complicated by conflict and displacement. Ebola Countermeasures: The U.S. is sending experimental Ebola treatment doses to affected countries and preparing 2,500 diagnostic tests to speed detection and guide response. Vaccines Spotlight: Africa Vaccination Week closed with a reminder that immunisation is saving lives, citing measles catch-up gains and progress toward malaria vaccine rollouts. Health Policy in Nigeria: President Tinubu approved the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, appointing Dr Obi Adigwe to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health agenda. Public Health & Environment (Ghana): Experts warn Ghana’s crop-waste burning is driving dangerous air pollution and health harms, urging farmers to cut open burning. Food Safety (NAFDAC): NAFDAC renewed its push for Nigerians to read food labels to tackle diet-related diseases.

Ebola Response: WHO says two potential treatments for the DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak will start trials next week, testing MBP134 and remdesivir alone or together as cases near 1,100 and deaths rise. Public Health Preparedness: Kenya’s health ministry says new Ebola quarantine/isolation facilities are purely preparedness, not proof of local cases. Malaria Control: Nigeria’s Adamawa State kicks off integrated seasonal malaria chemoprevention and insecticide-treated net distribution, targeting 1.15m residents with millions of nets and antimalarial doses. Health Access via Power: Liberia completes solar installations for 121 health and education facilities across 13 counties to power vaccine refrigeration, medical equipment and digital learning. Diagnostics & Care: Roche Diagnostics appoints a new India leader and names a successor for Africa, aiming to expand access to advanced diagnostics. Climate & Health Risk: A Saharan dust plume is forecast to sweep toward the US Gulf Coast and Mississippi, with possible air-quality impacts.

Ebola Funding Crunch: Africa CDC says the DRC–Uganda Ebola response now needs $1.4bn, triple earlier estimates, warning only 13% of pledges have been released and access to displacement camps is worsening the crisis. Vaccine Pipeline: UNICEF and Gavi have launched a request for manufacturers’ interest to speed development and scale-up of a Bundibugyo Ebolavirus vaccine for faster access when candidates are ready. FGM/C Pushback: End FGM/C Network Africa and partners warn 22.7m girls still face risk by 2030, calling for stronger African-led action, survivor leadership, research and accountability. Clean Cooking for Health: Nigeria’s Greenplinth Africa is driving an 80m clean cookstoves programme starting in Lagos to cut household air pollution, deforestation and health harms while creating jobs. Air Quality Access: Ghana’s Afri-SET West will open an air quality sensors loan library in July to expand community monitoring and support health-focused environmental decisions. Indoor Air & Babies: UCT research links household air pollution and maternal smoking to higher rates of premature birth, low birth weight and newborn breathing distress. Energy Poverty: A UN SDG7 update says 655m people still lack electricity and 1.8bn rely on polluting cooking fuels, stressing urgent action for health and development.