Pauline Kairu

2 months ago | nation.africa | Pauline Kairu

Kenyan researchers are spearheading the development of a groundbreaking dietary supplement that could revolutionise maternal and child health across the world. The project, named ‘Mother’s Micronutrient Supplement for Pregnancy and Lactation’, will develop and test an improved dietary supplement tailored to the needs of pregnant women, with the goal of reducing risk of low birth weight and enhancing the health and development of mothers and children.

Nov 21, 2024 | nation.africa | Pauline Kairu

A new study has revealed alarming evidence of African children with severe malaria beginning to show partial resistance to the world’s most effective malaria drug—artemisinin. This discovery from Uganda provides the first evidence to date that resistance to a lifesaving malaria drug may be emerging in the group of patients that accounts for most of the world’s malaria deaths - young African children suffering from serious infections.

Nov 15, 2024 | theeastafrican.co.ke | Pauline Kairu

Africa could refine crucial minerals like lithium, nickel, manganese, and copper at up to 40 per cent lower costs than competitors worldwide by 2030, according to a new study. This cost advantage, the findings show, could present an opportunity for the continent to capture a greater share of the global battery and renewable energy markets, playing back into the global supply chains as the world moves to green energy.

Nov 14, 2024 | nation.africa | Pauline Kairu

Administering iron supplements to children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa may be a critical step in promoting optimal brain development, according to recent research. Iron supplementation has historically been approached with caution in children with HIV due to concerns that extra iron might increase the risk of infections.  Iron is essential for various vital functions in the body, including transporting oxygen and energy production, and it plays a crucial role in brain development.

Nov 12, 2024 | theeastafrican.co.ke | Pauline Kairu

Iron supplements may just be safe for children with HIV, helping them develop their brain, new findings say. The details are contained in a study published in Lancet HIV, which show that iron supplements can improve haemoglobin, the pigment cells need to carry oxygen in the body, and iron levels in children with HIV without increasing infection risks. It suggests that controlled iron supplementation may be beneficial for this population without the feared adverse effects.