A new study in Uganda shows a simple way to protect babies from malaria. Malaria is a common sickness in Africa that causes much suffering. At the same time, a child's death in Nigeria has made people angry. They want big changes in the country's healthcare system.
In western Uganda, scientists tested a method using baby wraps. They treated cloth wraps with permethrin, an insect repellent. About 400 mothers and babies joined the six-month test. Half of the mothers used treated wraps for their babies. The other half used normal wraps. Babies in the treated wraps were two-thirds less likely to get malaria. This is important because it helps stop mosquito bites during the day. Professor Edgar Mugema Mulogo said this method is cheap and easy. It can help fight a disease that hurts young children a lot.
In Nigeria, healthcare problems are very serious. A young child named Leo recently died. Leo was the son of a famous writer. His death has made people look closely at Nigeria's weak healthcare. Reports say Leo was given too much medicine during a normal operation. This has led to a lawsuit against the hospital. People are now demanding more responsibility and big improvements.
Nigeria's hospitals have little money and few supplies. Many doctors are also leaving the country. About 16,000 doctors have left Nigeria in seven years. This makes it hard for patients to see a doctor. Power cuts also make care difficult. Dr. Anthea Esege Nwandu said, "This is a wake-up call." She said people must demand honesty and action for mistakes.
The government in Lagos is looking into Leo's death. The study in Uganda offers hope for malaria. However, Nigeria's situation shows the need for more money and better management. Losing skilled doctors will make healthcare worse. These two stories show the different health challenges in Africa.