By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Last week, the Governor’s office reported that the California National Guard’s (Cal Guard) Counterdrug Task Force has seized more than 9.5 million pills containing fentanyl and 5,000 pounds of fentanyl powder at ports of entry across the state since January of this year.

The seizures are estimated to have a street value of $43 million.

Gov. Gavin Newsom reinforced the deployment of Cal Guard service members from 155 to 400 at state ports of entry. State data showed that fentanyl is primarily smuggled into the country by U.S. citizens through the various ports of entry. The state has plans to spend $60 million over four years to expand the work of the Cal Guard in preventing drug trafficking by transnational criminal organizations.

“Each month, the California National Guard continues the life-saving work of supporting local, state, and federal agencies in keeping dangerous and illicit drugs out of our communities. I thank Cal Guard for making our neighborhoods safer,” said Newsom.

The State government has implemented a statewide action plan to end the fentanyl and opioid crises. Last year, Newsom launched a Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis, a framework that outlines State plans to support overdose prevention initiatives, hold the opioid pharmaceutical industry accountable, tackle drug trafficking, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids and fentanyl.

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In August, the State launched the Facts Fight Fentanyl campaign, a California Department of Public Health initiative that educates people about the dangers of fentanyl and ways to prevent overdoses and deaths. People seeking resources for prevention and treatment can access state-funded tools and services provided online, to support and empower people on the road to recovery.

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By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Prop 35 would make the state pay doctors more money for treating patients who are covered by Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal program Medicaid, and fund other health care services, including community clinics, hospitals, ERs, family planning, and mental health providers.

Managed care organizations contract with the state to provide these health benefits. The state taxes these organizations to help pay for the Medi-Cal program. This measure would require the state to use a portion of that tax money to increase how much Medi-Cal pays doctors.

While Medi-Cal coverage has expanded significantly over the past 10 years, payments to doctors and other providers have not kept pace. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, California’s reimbursement rate is in the bottom third nationally. Because of this, many providers won’t treat Medi-Cal patients.

Supporters of the proposition argue that tax revenue from the Managed Care Organization Tax (which historically has offset fund spending on Medi-Cal) should be spent for new investments in Medi-Cal rather than the general fund to ensure providers are properly compensated for the expanded services they’re expected to cover. Over the next four years, this tax is projected to generate upwards of $35 billion.

California Black Media spoke with Francisco Silva, CEO of the California Primary Care Association, who has been an avid supporter of Prop 35.

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“It’s a generational opportunity to make timely access to care reality in California. We’ve done a wonderful job of expanding coverage, expanding benefits, and we’re still having challenges in the state to make sure people can see a physician, a nurse, timely to care in the emergency room and it’s because the lack of stable funding. So, it’s an opportunity to secure access for funding for health care the way it was meant to be.”

More than 15 million Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal, representing more than one third of the state’s population. However, the lack of funding for medical professionals creates a lack in service that can have devastating impacts on patients who need care immediately.

“In some areas of the state, wait times to get a mammogram for instance is six months a year. That’s the difference between life and death for many people,” Silva noted.

No official campaign to oppose Prop 35 has been organized and no argument against the measure has been submitted to the Secretary of State’s office. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom has said publicly that he opposes the proposition, arguing that funding from the Managed Care Organization Tax is pivotal for other needs within the California Budget.

“This initiative hamstrings our ability to have the kind of flexibility that’s required at the moment we’re living in,” said Newsom during a press conference in Sacramento. “I haven’t come out publicly against it. But I’m implying a point of view. Perhaps you can read between those many, many lines.”

A “yes” vote supports permanently authorizing a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, which is set to expire in 2026, and requiring revenues to be used for increased Medi-Cal programs.

A “no” vote opposes permanently authorizing a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, thereby allowing it to expire in 2026.

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By Ifeanyi Abraham

CNN

As a child growing up in northern Nigeria, Dr. Funmi Adewara experienced a severe hand injury that required multiple surgeries and frequent hospital visits.

These visits exposed her to the harsh realities of the country’s healthcare system. “I remember sitting in overcrowded waiting rooms, watching doctors stretched thin, unable to meet the needs of so many patients,” Adewara recalls.

This formative experience ignited her passion for transforming healthcare in Africa.

Growing up with a mother who worked as a nurse, Adewara’s understanding of healthcare challenges deepened through her mother’s stories.

“I knew early on that healthcare wasn’t a privilege — it was a necessity, and I wanted to be part of changing the system,” she explains.

After training as a physician, Adewara worked for 15 years in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service before founding the telemedicine platform Mobihealth in 2017.

Since its launch, Mobihealth has impacted thousands of lives, connecting patients with doctors and healthcare professionals across Nigeria and beyond.

The platform has 20 integrated telehealth clinics that offer remote consultations, diagnostics, and access to specialist care via digital health tools. Located primarily in Nigeria, these clinics are accessible to patients through various subscription plans and are often financed through partnerships with global donor organizations and private donors.

In addition to the clinics, Mobihealth has partnerships with over 200 hospitals, labs, and pharmacies, Adewara says.

The company has earned global recognition, including a $1 million grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency in 2022. Adewara was also one of the World Bank’s seven 2020 Sustainable Development Goals & Her award winners, selected from over 2,400 entries worldwide.

Connecting Rural Patients

Across sub-Saharan Africa, millions struggle to access basic healthcare. According to the World Health Organization, the region bears 25% of the global disease burden but has only 3% of the world’s healthcare workers.

“In rural Africa, a trip to the nearest hospital can mean the difference between life and death,” says Adewara.

Mobihealth’s latest initiative offers healthcare for $1 a month for rural and underserved populations. It allows Africans in the diaspora — and global supporters — to sponsor essential services like doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, and access to telemedicine clinics.

The scheme is not solely based on donations; individuals can also subscribe to the service for themselves.

“Healthcare systems across Africa are under immense pressure,” Adewara explains. “Our initiative is a direct response, using technology to connect rural patients with doctors thousands of miles away.”

For Adewara, Mobihealth’s telemedicine platform is not a temporary fix; it represents the future of healthcare in Africa.

“This is about creating a resilient, sustainable and inclusive system, where people, no matter where they are, can access the care they need,” she says.

“Telemedicine brings doctors to people, wherever they may be. By integrating AI and remote monitoring, we are improving the speed and accuracy of care, saving lives in the process,” she adds.

A number of African companies provide telemedicine services, but researchers have pointed out that there are obstacles that could hinder the growth of telemedicine in the continent.

Rural areas can have an unreliable electricity supply and poor internet connectivity, and there is often a lack of government policies and funding around virtual healthcare.

“A Healthcare System for the Future”

Adewara envisions scaling her company’s model to reach millions more across Africa, particularly in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.

“Our work is just beginning,” she says. “We are building a healthcare system for the future — one that is resilient, inclusive and capable of meeting Africa’s growing population’s needs.”

However, partnerships are crucial to achieving this vision. “We can’t do this alone. Our collaborations with the African diaspora, hospitals, governments, and international organizations allow us to reach more people and ensure that healthcare is affordable, efficient and accessible,” Adewara adds.

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