Website: https://thehealthyafrican.com
Email: contact.healthyafrica@gmail.com
Effective / Published: October 9, 2025
Part A — Editorial Policy (Final)
1. Purpose and scope
The Healthy African (THA) produces health information and educational materials intended for patients, caregivers, community health workers, and healthcare professionals across African settings. This Editorial Policy describes how content is commissioned, created, reviewed, published, corrected, and archived to ensure accuracy, transparency, cultural relevance, and trustworthiness.
2. Core principles
- Evidence‑based: We prioritize high‑quality evidence (guidelines, systematic reviews, clinical trials) and clearly describe evidence levels when high‑quality data are lacking.
- Accuracy: We ensure factual correctness through sourcing, clinical review, and fact‑checking.
- Transparency: Author credentials, reviewer names, funding, and conflicts of interest (COIs) are disclosed.
- Cultural relevance: Content is adapted for regional relevance and offers low‑resource alternatives where appropriate.
- Accessibility: Plain language summaries, TL;DRs, and printable guides support broad use.
- Independence: Editorial decisions are independent from advertisers and sponsors.
3. Content types covered
- Clinical guidance and how‑to resources
- Patient education and public health campaigns
- Opinion pieces and commentary
- Sponsored content and partner features (clearly labeled)
- Links to external resources
4. Authorship and contributor standards
- Credentials: All clinical content lists author names and professional credentials (e.g., MBChB, MD, RN, MPH). Affiliations and areas of expertise are provided where relevant.
- Declarations: Contributors must declare financial and non‑financial COIs before submission. Declarations are published with the article when relevant.
- No ghostwriting: Substantive editorial control rests with named contributors and the The Healthy African (THA) editorial team.
5. Commissioning, review and publication workflow
- Commission / submission: Content is commissioned by editors or submitted using contributor guidelines.
- Editorial triage: An editor assesses relevance, scope, and ethical considerations.
- Clinical review: Clinical content is reviewed by at least one licensed clinician. High‑risk topics require two independent clinical reviewers and senior editorial sign‑off.
- Fact‑checking: Editors verify references; claims are tied to sources where possible.
- Editing for audience: Content is edited for clarity, cultural context, and reading level.
- Pre‑publication checks: Confirm disclosures, image permissions, and privacy compliance.
- Publication: Articles include author(s), credentials, publish date, last reviewed date, reviewer(s), and a sources list.
6. Sourcing and citation standards
- Prefer primary sources and authoritative guidance (WHO, national ministries of health, major specialty societies).
- When relying on preprints or non‑peer‑reviewed data, label the evidence and explain limitations.
- Provide publication year and links to abstracts or open access sources where possible.
7. Conflicts of interest, funding and sponsorship
- Declarations: Authors and reviewers declare COIs prior to publication; major conflicts are published alongside content.
- Funding transparency: Funding sources for content development, partnerships, and research are disclosed.
- Editorial independence: Sponsors may fund content but cannot direct clinical recommendations.
8. Advertising and sponsored content
- Advertising is visually and procedurally separated from editorial content.
- Sponsored content is clearly labeled and follows a distinct production process with sponsor disclosures.
- We will not accept sponsorship requiring promotion of products contrary to evidence‑based practice.
9. Corrections, retractions and version control
- Minor corrections: Typographical or minor factual corrections are updated and noted in a change log.
- Major corrections/retractions: If significant errors materially affect recommendations, we will publish a correction notice or retraction, prominently label the article, and notify subscribers when appropriate.
- Version history: A version history is maintained for substantial article changes and is retained in editorial records.
10. User‑generated content and comments
- Comments and user stories are moderated. They do not constitute medical advice and are not endorsed by The Healthy African (THA).
- Personal health stories require written consent and de‑identification before publication.
11. External links and third‑party content
- Links are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement.
- Where external guidance differs materially from our recommendations, we provide context and explain differences.
12. Privacy and patient confidentiality
- We do not publish identifiable patient information without written consent. Clinical images require consent unless de‑identified.
13. Accessibility and language
- We write in plain language, include TL;DRs, and provide summaries. We support translations and regional adaptations that undergo the same review process.
14. Implementation and enforcement
- Editorial Board: A standing Editorial Board provides oversight, resolves disputes, and reviews high‑impact content.
- Training: Regular training for editors and contributors on bias, evidence appraisal, and culturally sensitive communication.
- Records: Editorial records (COI declarations, reviewer reports, version history) are retained for a minimum of five years.
15. Policy review schedule
This policy is reviewed annually or after any significant incident or change in clinical guidance. The Editorial Board records policy version and revision dates.
16. How to raise editorial concerns
Email: contact.healthyafrica@gmail.com
Subject line: “Editorial Concern”
Include: article URL, description of the issue, and supporting documents. We acknowledge receipt within 5 business days and aim to investigate promptly.
Part B — Medical Disclaimer
Effective date: October 9, 2025
Important — read carefully
The materials on The Healthy African (THA) (www.thehealthyAfrican.com) — including articles, images, videos, downloads, and other content (“Content”) — are provided for educational and informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
No doctor‑patient relationship
Your use of this website, contact via forms or email, or interaction with our content does not create a doctor‑patient relationship. Diagnosis and treatment require individualized assessment by a licensed healthcare professional.
Not medical advice
Content is general in nature and may not be applicable to your circumstances. Do not delay or forgo seeking professional medical advice based on information from this site.
Emergencies
If you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency (e.g., severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness), seek immediate emergency care or call local emergency services. The Healthy African (THA) is not an emergency response service.
Telemedicine and remote consultations
Where offered, telemedicine is governed by separate terms, informed consent, and privacy statements. Remote assessments have limitations; some conditions require in‑person evaluation. Prescribing may be restricted by local laws and platform policies.
Accuracy, currency and sources
We aim for accuracy but do not guarantee completeness or timeliness. Medical knowledge changes; content may become outdated. Check references and official guidelines and consult qualified clinicians for personal care.
External links
We link to external resources for convenience; links do not constitute endorsement. We are not responsible for the content or practices of linked sites.
Limitations of liability and no warranties
To the maximum permitted by law, The Healthy African (THA) and its contributors disclaim liability for any damages arising from use of the Content or inability to use the site. All Content is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties.
Children and minors
Content about children is intended for caregivers and professionals; seek direct clinical care for children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13 without parental consent; see our Privacy Policy.
Intellectual property and reuse
Content is owned or licensed by The Healthy African (THA). Reuse requires written permission and proper attribution unless a permissive license is stated.
Governing law and jurisdiction
These disclaimers are intended to be interpreted under the laws of the country in which The Healthy African (THA) (thehealthyafrica.com) is legally registered and operating. If you operate in or receive care in other jurisdictions, local laws may also apply. Consult legal counsel to confirm obligations for telemedicine, licensing, and advertising in all jurisdictions of operation.
Review cycle and urgent corrections
- Review: This Medical Disclaimer is reviewed at least annually and whenever services or laws change materially.
- Urgent corrections: If an error is discovered that may affect patient safety, we will post a prominent correction notice within 7 calendar days and update content and stakeholder communications within 30 calendar days where feasible.
Contact
For questions about this Medical Disclaimer or related editorial practices, contact: contact.healthyafrica@gmail.com
Legal notice
This Medical Disclaimer is a template and does not constitute legal advice. Seek local legal counsel to ensure compliance with applicable laws, professional regulations, and telemedicine rules in the jurisdictions where you operate.