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
Covid vaccines: bad news, good news
Vaccinating Africa against Covid-19
Covid-19 vaccines prevent 100% of deaths
Brazilian city’s Covid crisis: ‘It’s like Hell’
First days of India’s Covid vaccination programme
WHO warns against vaccine rollout unfairness
The first year of the pandemic
How children think about maths and time
Ambiguous loss: a different kind of grief
In Iran, one in five infected by coronavirus
Gene therapy for sickle cell disease
Milestone in HIV prevention for women
Another week, another Covid-19 vaccine success
Measles outbreak threat due to Covid
Covid vaccine ‘90% effective’
Covid-19 vaccines: Unknowns and dilemmas
Covid-19 plasma therapy trial results ‘disappointing’
Coronavirus update
Autism: the problems of fitting in
Lighting the brain after birth
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Good Mood Revolution
Global News Podcast
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins