Zimbabwe decriminalizes the transmission of HIV
The decision aims to strengthen the country’s HIV response by reducing the stigma and discrimination that often prevents people from receiving prevention, care, and treatment services.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigerian mom designs solar-powered cribs that put an end to baby jaundice disease
The Crib A’Glow can now be found in 500 hospitals across Nigeria and neighboring Ghana. It has already been used on 300,000 babies.
Nearly 200 countries pass historic resolutions linking animal welfare and the environmental crisis
The crucial resolution will help develop a better understanding of the relationship between improving animal welfare and tackling the drivers of wildlife loss, climate change, pollution and pandemic diseases.
U.N. adopts landmark resolution that aims to end plastic pollution
The measure calls for an international negotiating committee to set the terms of a treaty on plastic pollution by the end of 2024.
Global guinea worm cases drop to 14 total in 2021
The Carter Center began leading the global eradication effort in 1986, when the crippling and potentially deadly parasitic disease infected 3.5 million people.
Girls in Seychelles to receive free sanitary products
Sanitary products will be made available free of charge to all girls in Seychelles in both state and private secondary schools as of the new school year in January 2022.
Uber and Opibus partner to deploy up to 3,000 electric motorcycles in Kenya by end of 2022
After the successful completion of a pilot program in Kenya, Opibus and Uber have announced a strategic partnership to scale the use of electric motorcycles in Africa.
12 international donors pledge $1.5 billion to support protection of the Congo Basin forests
The 500 million acres of forests may be the last significant land-based tropical carbon sink in the world, making the forests vitally important in the global fight against climate change.
Botswana decriminalizes homosexuality
Botswana’s Court of Appeal has declared the government’s appeal unsuccessful, effectively decriminalizing homosexuality in the country, a big win for the LGBTQ+ community.
China makes billion-dose vaccine pledge to Africa to help overcome the coronavirus pandemic
China will donate a billion vaccines, advance billions of dollars for trade and infrastructure, and write off interest-free loans to African countries to help them recover from the pandemic.