Health Check - A breakthrough in treating chronic pain
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One in five of us suffer with chronic pain globally and the exact cause of it is often unknown making it very hard to treat. However, in what has been hailed as a remarkable breakthrough, a gene has been identified that is critical for regulating pain signals. Professor David Bennett, head of Clinical Neurology at Oxford, who led the research explains.
BBC Africa’s health correspondent Dorcas Wangira joins Claudia to delve into a decade-long research programme that found child mortality rates almost halved when poorer families in Kenya were given $1000 unconditionally.
Chhavi Sachdev reports from India where government efforts to curtail rising rabies infections from stray dog bites has caused mass uproar.
We explore the drivers behind a global wildfire paradox where scientists have observed a decline in the total area burned by fires but found the number of people exposed to wildfires has increased.
Plus, Dorcas brings us the latest on the $9.7 million worth of contraceptives due to be destroyed after the scaling back of USAID.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant producers: Katie Tomsett and Alice McKee
Published on Wednesday, 27th August 2025.
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