Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

Health Check

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Health Check: More cases of Covid in Africa than official figures suggest

Magazines & Reviews

A woman in a face mask in Zambia

2022/04/06 GMT

More cases of Covid in Africa than official figures suggest

BBC World Service - Health Check, More cases of Covid in Africa than official figures suggest

Results from Zambia suggesting more cases of Covid in Africa than official figures suggest

Results from research in Zambia suggesting more cases of Covid in Africa than official figures suggest plus good news that Guinea Worm disease may be on the brink of eradication.

Claudia Hammond talks to Chris Gill, Associate Professor at Boston University School of Public Health and co-author of a new paper revealing the devastating impact of Covid in Zambia. By conducting post mortem Covid swabs on more than 1000 bodies taken to a morgue in Lusaka, his work suggests a staggering 90% undercount of cases and goes a long way to countering the so called African Paradox – a narrative suggesting that Africa skipped Covid.

Jane Chambers reports from Chile on progress to get 90% of people living with HIV to know their status, have access to antiretroviral therapy and to achieve viral suppression. Out of an estimated 77,000 people living with HIV in Chile – 70,000 know their condition. But there’s one statistic which is worrying health care professions. 16,000 individuals are aware they have HIV but aren’t taking the free medication which they’re entitled to. What are the factors influencing this decision and what are the consequences?

Plus Claudia’s studio guest Professor Monica Lakhanpaul of University College London discusses her brand new research on how to encourage young people to take Asthma treatment, and  good news that Guinea Worm disease may be on the brink of eradication.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Erika Wright

(Picture: A woman wearing a face mask stands on a busy street in Zambia. Photo credit: PixelCatchers/Getty Images.)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Health Check

More cases of Covid in Africa than official figures suggest

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service