It’s been another ‘milestone week’ for the fight against malaria. The archipelago island nation Cape Verde became the third country in Africa to officially eliminate the disease. Meanwhile in Cameroon, a ‘world first’ routine malaria vaccination programme has begun. A little girl called Daniella received the first vaccine in a clinic near capital city Yaoundé on Monday. BBC health reporter Philippa Roxby joins Claudia Hammond in the studio to gauge what progress we’re making against a disease which kills 600 thousand people in Africa every year.
Philippa also brings brand new research from the US that shows how air pollution, particularly from forest fires, can cause more people to suffer with eczema. Figures from one study suggest that dermatology visits rose eightfold in Boston in August 2023 compared to the same period a year earlier, while wild fires raged in Canada.
Mike Powell leaves an audio update on the latest in his journey to having a kidney transplant. David Mataix-Cols, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Science at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden discusses his new research that helps to explain why some people who suffer with health anxiety have a higher risk of dying. It’s become known as the ‘hypochondria paradox.’ And Philippa and Claudia hear about a collaboration between a cardiovascular surgeon and a two Michelin Starred chef; Doctor Nirav Patel and Fredrik Berselius have created a free cookbook designed as a training tool to improve heart surgeons’ dexterity. Search 'The Heart Surgeon's Cook Book' for more.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Jonathan Blackwell & Clare Salisbury Researcher: Imaan Moin
Whooping cough on the rise
Conflict's impact on a neglected disease
What’s happening with girls’ mental health?
Is turbulence injuring more and more flyers?
Nigeria rolls out world’s first 5-in-1 meningitis vaccine
How we hope
Puerto Rico declares dengue fever emergency
Pig kidney transplanted into patient
Should we stop talking about long Covid?
A promising new cancer treatment
One billion obese people
Junior doctors strike in South Korea
Global Trade v Health Equality
Dengue outbreak in Latin America
Getting vaccinations to remote South Sudan
Surviving Noma disease
Endurance
Are outcomes better with female surgeons?
2024 in global health
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Good Mood Revolution
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins