AFRICA bears a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases with malaria, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, cholera, Ebola, Lassa fever, and other tropical diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya having a profound impact on morbidity and mortality.
Writing in Science, Professo Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (Ceri) at Stellenbosch University and Dr Cheryl Baxter, head of Scientific Support at Ceri, said various factors contribute to the higher prevalence and incidence of infectious diseases in Africa, including socioe-conomic challenges, limited access to health care, inadequate sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, climate-related factors, and endemicity of certain diseases in specific regions.
According to the authors, a skilled workforce is crucial to addressing these challenges.
“Unfortunately, many countries in Africa often lack the required resources, and aspiring scientists frequently seek educational…