Tag

Sub Saharan Africa

All articles tagged with #sub saharan africa

business1 month ago•2 min saved

Uber exits Nigeria and Uganda, leaving only four African markets

Uber has ceased operations in Nigeria and Uganda effective September 2, 2026, following a strategic review of its African portfolio. The move leaves the company active only in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa on the continent. The exit coincides with a global restructuring involving 3,000 job cuts and a pivot toward autonomous vehicle technology. While Uber cites shifting investment priorities, the departure highlights ongoing challenges in the Nigerian market, including high operating costs and regulatory disputes.

via BBC|

#business #nigeria #ride-hailing

world4 months ago•5 min saved

Aid cuts threaten HIV prevention gains, UN warns

A U.N. UNAIDS report warns that global HIV prevention progress is at risk due to major aid cuts, with PrEP use down 38% from 2024 to 2025 and condom funding slashed in some countries, threatening hard-won gains even as new infections fall to about 1.2 million in 2025 and AIDS deaths drop; roughly 9 million people remain untreated, and while treatment programs have stayed resilient, reduced prevention funding and weakened community services could undo progress, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

via The Washington Post|

#funding-cuts #hiv #prep

demographics5 months ago•10 min saved

Most of the World Is Below Replacement Fertility, Reshaping Aging Populations

A Voronoi-style visualization of fertility rates across 236 countries shows about 71% of the global population lives in countries with below-replacement fertility (2.1 births per woman). India (~1.94) and China (~1.02) sit below replacement, while Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates (Chad 5.94, Somalia 5.91, DR Congo 5.90). Fertility has fallen from about five births per woman in the 1960s to a 2024 global average of roughly 2.2, with future growth increasingly concentrated in high-fertility regions, shaping aging populations, labor markets, and long-term demographics. The data come from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 Revision, using 2025 estimates.

via Visual Capitalist|

#demographics #demography #fertility

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Malaria as the Invisible Cartographer of Ancient Africa

A Science Advances study shows malaria risk helped shape where Sub-Saharan Africans lived over 74,000 years, using mosquito distribution models and paleoclimate data to compute a 'malaria stability index' and revealing humans avoided high-malaria zones until around 14,000–13,000 years ago, a shift that aligns with the emergence of the sickle cell mutation and highlights disease as a key driver of ancient human geography and population structure.

via Indian Defence Review|

#ancient-human-settlements #anopheles-mosquitoes #malaria

health10 months ago•3 min saved

Global HIV/AIDS Efforts Threatened by Funding Cuts and Disruptions

The article discusses how recent cuts in international aid from the US, UK, and Europe have severely impacted HIV/AIDS care in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to increased infections and deaths, especially among key populations like LGBTQ+ individuals and young women. Despite some signs of recovery and increased domestic funding, the overall situation remains dire, emphasizing the need for political courage and sustainable local responses to combat the epidemic effectively.

via The Guardian|

#aid-cuts #health #health-funding

health1 year ago•10 min saved

Lung Cancer: The Hidden Epidemic in Our Region

Lung cancer is a hidden epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, largely underdiagnosed due to systemic issues, misdiagnosis, and lack of data, despite being the deadliest cancer globally. The region faces rising smoking rates, limited screening, and poor healthcare infrastructure, which contribute to late-stage diagnoses and high mortality. Improving data collection, awareness, and prevention strategies are crucial to addressing this neglected health crisis.

via NPR|

#health #healthcare-infrastructure #lung-cancer

health1 year ago•1 min saved

Rising HIV Rates Among Young Women and Girls Raise Concerns

UNICEF has raised concerns over the high rate of new HIV infections among young women and girls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where nine out of ten new infections among adolescents are girls. Despite advancements in treatment, access remains limited for children and teenagers, with only 65% of those aged 15-19 receiving antiretroviral therapy. The report highlights the need for increased investment in prevention and treatment to meet the U.N.'s goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

via VOA Asia|

#adolescents #health #hiv

health1 year ago•4 min saved

Caste's Impact on Childhood Stunting in India

A study highlights the significant role of caste in India's high childhood stunting rates, which are higher than those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite economic growth and affirmative action, marginalized groups like adivasis and Dalits face greater malnutrition due to entrenched caste discrimination. The research underscores the importance of addressing social identity factors in tackling child malnutrition in India, where 35% of children under five are stunted.

via BBC.com|

#caste-system #childhood-stunting #health

global-demographics2 years ago•2 min saved

"Global Fertility Decline: Impending Population Shrinkage by 2100"

A study published in the Lancet warns that by 2100, populations in 198 of 204 countries will be shrinking due to dramatic declines in fertility rates, with most births expected to occur in poor countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This demographic shift will lead to a divide between "baby boom" in poorer countries and "baby bust" in wealthier countries, posing significant challenges for global economies and necessitating reorganization of societies. The study emphasizes the need to prioritize sub-Saharan Africa in efforts to address population growth, climate change, healthcare infrastructure, child mortality rates, and extreme poverty.

via Al Jazeera English|

#fertility-rates #global-demographics #global-economy

economics-africa2 years ago•3 min saved

"Africa's Debt Spiral: Struggling with Prolonged Restructuring Efforts"

Sub-Saharan Africa is facing its worst-ever debt crisis, with several countries already in default and 22 countries at heightened risk of over-indebtedness. The rise in interest rates and over-indebtedness is hindering countries' ability to finance their development, exacerbated by the fall in commodity prices and the Covid pandemic. Efforts to restructure debt for 40 African countries have been challenging, with private lenders often balking at the terms. The debt spiral is preventing investment in vital infrastructure, health systems, and education, leading to dangerous currency fluctuations and increasing inflation, impacting the daily lives of poor people. While debt restructuring is important, it should not come at the expense of investments in infrastructure, health, and energy to support economic and societal development.

via The East African|

#debt-crisis #debt-restructuring #economics-africa

international-trade3 years ago•0 min saved

President Biden's Commitment to AGOA Renewal and US-Africa Trade Summit

President Joe Biden expresses strong support for the reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a bipartisan law that has been crucial for U.S. trade with sub-Saharan Africa for over two decades. He urges Congress to reauthorize AGOA promptly and update it to align with the economic opportunities of the future. AGOA has been instrumental in promoting private-sector-led economic growth, diversifying African exports, and creating thousands of quality jobs in Africa. President Biden is committed to working with Congress and African partners to extend AGOA beyond 2025, fostering deeper trade relations, regional integration, and unlocking Africa's immense economic potential for mutual benefit.

via The White House|

#african-growth-and-opportunity-act #agoa #economic-growth

international-relations3 years ago•2 min saved

Germany's Shift in Perspective: Recognizing Africa's Importance and Exploring New Opportunities

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to sub-Saharan Africa highlights the region's growing importance as an energy-rich area and the need for Germany and Europe to strengthen ties with African nations. The trip, prompted by crises in other parts of the world, serves as a wake-up call for Germany's passive role in Africa. The conflict in Ukraine and the chaos in the Middle East have emphasized the importance of diversifying energy sources, making Africa a key player in the global energy market.

via Business Insider Africa|

#africa #energy-market #germany

science3 years ago•5 min saved

Neanderthals Inherited 6% of Genome from Extinct Humans, Study Finds

A study published in Current Biology reveals that Neanderthals inherited at least 6% of their genome from an ancient lineage of early modern humans. The research team compared Neanderthal genomes with a diverse set of genomes from modern indigenous populations in sub-Saharan Africa and found that all sub-Saharan populations contained Neanderthal-like DNA. This suggests that an ancient lineage of modern humans migrated to Eurasia over 250,000 years ago, interbred with Neanderthals, and then died out, leaving a population with predominantly Neanderthal ancestry. The study also found that carrying modern human DNA in the Neanderthal genome is detrimental to fitness, as modern human gene variants were preferentially lost from coding sections of the genome. This research provides new insights into human evolution and sheds light on early modern human evolution in Africa.

via Phys.org|

#genetics #human-evolution #interbreeding

education3 years ago•1 min saved

Global Teacher Shortage: Urgent Need for 44 Million Educators

According to a report by Unesco, the world needs an additional 44 million teachers to provide education for every child. The report highlights a global shortage of teachers, with 9% of primary school teachers leaving the profession in 2022, double the rate in 2015. While the shortage has been reduced from 69 million in 2016, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for a third of the global teacher shortage, needing 15 million teachers to meet the goal of universal primary and secondary education by 2030. The report also identifies challenges faced by teachers globally, including high stress levels, lack of supplies, poor leadership, and low salaries. In regions affected by insecurity, such as parts of Africa, school closures further exacerbate the education crisis.

via The Guardian|

#education #education-crisis #global-shortage

migration3 years ago•2 min saved

Tragic Discovery: Dozens of Migrants Found Dead near Tunisian Border

At least 27 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been found dead in Libya's western desert near the border with Tunisia, according to Libyan authorities. Tunisian security forces have been accused of forcefully expelling migrants, leaving them stranded in the desert without food or water. Tensions have risen between migrants and the local population in Tunisia's coastal areas, which have become the main launching point for migrants trying to reach Europe. In a separate incident, 41 migrants are believed to have drowned off the Tunisian coast. Libya has been a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty, with human traffickers taking advantage of the country's instability.

via The Associated Press|

#desert #libya #migrants