Fake Electrical Products Flood Africa

Fake Electrical Products Flood Africa
justinewangui@gmail.com

-2 April 2015- Up to 80% of electrical products in Africa counterfeits imported from Asia led by China according to a recent survey conducted in 11 countries. The five most counterfeit electrical products in order are cables, breakers, sockets, switches and extension cords.

Some of the countries included in the survey were Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Cote D’ Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Counterfeits represent 40-80% of the electrical products in the markets. However, local counterfeits are mostly from Tanzania, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

The survey was conducted by Schneider Electric Group. Tracy Garner, Anti-Counterfeiting Global Manager said that the African electrical market will now progress on the basis of the reality revealed.

She added that there is a real urgent need for action.  However, she promised that Schneider Electric is committed to do its best in answering professionals’ demands and expectations expressed in the survey.
 (Source - Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com)

Merck fights Bilharzia in Mozambique

Merck fights Bilharzia in Mozambique

54m treated

By Justine Wangui (ScienceAfrica correspondent)
justinewangui@gmail.com

 Merck pharmaceutical company is fighting bilharzia (schistosomiasis) worm in Mozambique, Malawi and Senegal and other African nations hoping to eliminate it by taking a holistic approach including education programs to ensure that less children contract the disease while giving them new opportunities for a brighter future.

Merck collaborates with World Health Organization (WHO) to fight and has donated more than 200 million praziquantel tablets to treat almost 54 million patients.  WHO estimates show that over 18 million people in Mozambique require treatment. This amounts up to four out of five people infected thus portraying the vast spread of the epidemic.  In agreement with WHO, the country has been receiving tablets from the British Department for International Development (DFID) since 2O11.

Currently, Merck and British Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI) which are both members of the Global Schistosomiasis Alliance developing a joint concept to fight future outbreak of schistosomiasis in Mozambique. (Source:http://www.merckgroup.com)

The Genetic Resources Team in Syria scoops Mendel Prize

The Genetic Resources Team in Syria scoops Mendel Prize

By Justine Wangui

justinewangui@gmail.com

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) has been awarded the prestigious Gregor Mendel Innovation Prize.  This was conducted yesterday, 19^th March 2015 in Berlin.  This follows its exemplary success in keeping its globally important collection of crop genetic resources in Syria secure, despite the challenges linked to civil war.  ICARDA is a global agricultural research center working with countries in the world’s dry areas.

The personalities who showed up for the event are Christian Schmidt, Germany’s Federal Minister for Nutrition and Agriculture, Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, State Secretary of Germany’s Ministry of Economic cooperation and Development, Peter Harry Carstensen, former state premier and President of the Board of Trustees of the Gregor Mendel Foundation, and Paula Bramel, deputy CEO of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, amongst others.

Mahmoud Solh, the Director General of ICARDA clarified that his team takes it as a fundamental duty to work with governments for food security and improve rural livelihoods in conflict and post-conflict zones.  “Over the years, ICARDA had managed to safely-duplicate most of its genebank collections outside Syria. When the conflict there escalated, we sped up the duplication and now have secured 100% of the germplasm collection outside Syria. We also duplicated 80% of our collection in Svalbard Seed Vault in Norway already. I’m also glad to add that ICARDA had earlier rescued and safety-duplicated germplasm collections from Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Dr. h. c. Peter Harry Carstensen, President of the Gregor Mendel Foundation validated that ICARDA’s work is valuable for both plant breeders who are highly dependent on diversity to improve agricultural varieties and following generations who benefit from drought tolerant and disease and pest resistant crops.

ICARDA’s unique genebank of barley, lentil, chickpea, faba bean, several forage and rangeland species, along with durum and bread wheat play a vital role in the sustainability of life on earth due to their nitrogen fixing properties. 
 

Source: http://icarda.org

Sexual and reproductive health and rights, a must in gender equality

Sexual and reproductive health and rights, a must in gender equality

Justinewangui@gmail.com

 United Nations, New York: A report from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), both a service provider and an advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights has said that Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls cannot be accomplished in the absence of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  This was given by speakers from the Permanent Missions of Uruguay, Denmark and Costa Rica to the United Nations, UN Women and UNFPA at a high-level panel event in New York organized by IPPF on 16^th March this year.  They termed SRHR as the cornerstone of gender equality.

The launching of the new report “Sexual and reproductive health and rights- the key to gender equality and women’s empowerment” took place on the 20th anniversary of the Beijing+20 Platform for Action during the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). 

 IPPF Regional Director for the Western Hemisphere, Carmen Barroso opened the event with intense emphasis on the need for these women rights.   

“We can tackle inequalities and change things. This goes to the very heart of poverty eradication and development goals. Sexual and reproductive health and rights give women the ability to control their fertility which, in turn, affects many other aspects of their lives – employment, education, family life, and social and economic participation. It’s the freedom from which all other freedoms flow.”   This statement was seconded by Honorable Gonzalo Koncke, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Uruguay as he talked on Uruguay’s prioritization of gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The key facts relayed by the report show that one in three women experience either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime and that domestic workers are among the most vulnerable groups in the global workforce.  Women make up 83% of domestic workers worldwide.  The risk of maternal death is 2.7 times higher among illiterate women and girls than women with more than 12 years of education.  Globally, women make up only 22% of parliamentarians.   Estimations are that women account for two-thirds of the 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty.

The new report recommends   governments, multilateral organisations and the donor community to make sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality a reality.  This is by including these rights in the post 2015 sustainable development framework and in governments’ national plans within gender and health ministries. The success of sexual and reproductive health interventions must be supported fully by prioritizing the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls in the financing framework.  Engaging men and boys as partners in programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls must be considered as a crucial necessity. 
 

Sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls needs to be eradicated through protective domestic laws.   Additionally, governments must increase data collection by working with agencies such as UN so as to elevate examination of links between sexual and reproductive health and rights and the empowerment of women and girls. These recommendations, if accomplished fully, will see women and girls undergo superb transformation and enjoy a fuller life. 

Source:  http://tinyurl.com/n5u7seb, UN women

Political uncertainty and low oil price, a threat to Nigeria’s strong economic history- Control Risks

Political uncertainty and low oil price, a threat to Nigeria’s strong economic history- Control Risks

By Justine Wangui

Email: justinewangui@gmail.com

Lagos, Nigeria - The Risk Map 2015 report, an established authoritative guide and key reference point for policymakers and business leaders seeking to plot global trends over the coming year published by  Control Risks, the global business risk consultancy has named political uncertainty and low oil prices as key hazards to Nigeria’s success history. The report was introduced yesterday, March 12, 2015 by Tom Griffin, Managing Director West Africa, Control Risks.  

Nigeria’s long unsuccessful battle with the infamous Islamist militant group Boko Haram over the past period has severely depleted its economy leaving some parts of the country in abject poverty.  The general elections that were to be conducted this year faced postponement due to the unrest in the country. 

“The postponement of Nigeria’s elections has unnerved some investors and made others delay their final investment decisions. The economic impact of that has been shown by the drop in the naira. The genuinely competitive elections are a critical juncture on Nigeria’s path towards becoming a mature democracy, but closely contested polls are uncharted territory for the country’s political system. Nonetheless, Nigeria has an impressive capacity for weathering impending crises and we believe that the upcoming elections will be no different,” said Tom Griffin.

As per the most significant underlying trends in global risk and security, and the most crucial markets in 2015 highlighted in the Risk Map, diversification of the economy remains crucial to improve the sustainability of West Africa’s economic growth.  The escalating political uproar following the postponement of the presidential poll to March threatens to depress investor confidence. The deepening political divisions between Nigeria’s regions over the presidential poll and the absence of a clear leader increase the risk of a contested outcome and a turbulent outcome.  

The drop in oil revenue will test Nigeria’s economy over the next year to show the extent to which the fast-growing non-oil sectors have become truly independent from the oil economy. In addition, the incoming administration in May will have to address a cash-flow crisis, the threat from Boko Haram while maintaining stability in the oil-producing Niger delta and reducing social unrest.

Tom Griffin pointed out Africa’s  constrains demonstrated by the current year 2015, among them being excessive reliance on commodities such as oil, bottlenecks in the economy, security challenges from criminal and militant groups and the need to improve governance.

 Source: (https://www.controlrisks.com)

Leaders Support Accelerating Excellence in Science

Leaders Support Accelerating Excellence in Science

By Justine Wangui (ScienceAfrica correspondent)
Email: justinewangui@gmail.com
 

African leaders support the establishment of the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA), a science funding pan-African Platform created by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in collaboration with NEPAD Agency, a technical body of African Union (AU).

The recent 24th Summit of AU Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, endorsed the establishment of the platform. When announcing AESA at a recent meeting of twenty African Academies, the AAS President Prof. Aderemi Kuku referred to this development as, ‘‘a new dawn for science development on the continent.’’ AESA is set to strengthen long-term development of research leadership, scientific excellence and innovation that impact on Africa’s developmental challenges. It will also identify challenges hindering rapid scientific advancement in Africa, run open calls for proposals with transparent review processes, and actively manage grants among others.

 AESA will as well promote the collaborative and coordinated implementation of the Africa Union’s (AU) Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024) in the area of health. Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD Agency said that NEPAD is ready to offer relentless support to African institutions in addressing health matters.  “NEPAD Agency is committed to work with African institutions in applying science, technology and innovation in addressing Africa’s challenges in health and is therefore pleased to draw upon the capacity that resides at the African Academy of Sciences to establish AESA.”

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Welcome Trust and UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) have already recognized and offered financial support to AESA saying that we welcome the African Union’s recent call to establish the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA). AESA will be formally launched during the next AU summit in June 2015 in South Africa.

GMO'S ARE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION-OFAB

By Justine Wangui (Science Africa correspondent)

Email: justinewangui@gmail.com

Kenyans have been assured of high safety of agricultural biotechnology. They have also been urged to have confidence in consumption of biotech products.  This was advocated by speakers during the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Kenya chapter which was conducted at Safari Club Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday 26th February 2015.  The annual global status of commercialized biotech crops was launched and Kenya’s biotech and biosafety capacity was discussed. 

Hon (Dr) Robert Pukose MP, Endebess and vice Chair, Parliamentary committee on Health confidently remarked that Genetically Modified foods and health products are safe for consumption.  “We should let Kenyans know that GMO products are the safest for consumption since they are carefully analyzed by scientific experts before being released to the market.  Kenya must lift the ban on GMO importation,” he said.

Biotechnology is not as a replacement of the traditional farming methods but it complements other efforts.  One of the objectives of biotechnology is to incorporate the traditional methods of production for efficient products.

The chairman of Kenyatta University Biotech Consortium (KUBICCO), Dr. Oduor said that Kenya has adequate research facilities, regulatory platforms, government’s goodwill and human capacity needed to create confidence in Biotech products.  Research institutions such as Kenyatta University plant Transformation Lab (PTL) and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) have highly trained personnel in Genetic Modification technology. The Biosafety Act of 2009 is an enough indication that the government is in support of GMO products.   He said that, “As a country, we are good to go.  We have all the required facilities that are needed in trusting the Genetically Modified products.  We have the support from the government, qualified personnel and research institutes as well as functional regulatory systems. With the increasing global population which is currently at 7, 297653341, we need to incorporate GMO food in our systems in order to cope with starvation. “

He cited some genetically modified products in health which have been approved effective and safe for use. They included a drug for Ebola management called Zmapp, genetically modified insulin for lowering Diabetes and Elelviso, a drug that treats a bone disease known as Gauncher’s disease.

Records are showing that the developing countries are almost catching up with the developed countries in biotechnology farming.  In her presentation, Dr. Magret Karembu, Director International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Africenter displayed the results of a research carried out by a European group who analyzed 147 data sets.  They showed that GM crops have increased yield by 22% in a period of 19 years that is from the year 1996 to the year 2014.  The global crops leading in biotech are maize, cotton canola and soybeans. There is significant potential for growth in use of biotech crops in the future. The future trends in biotech crop’s use are expansion and improvement of current biotech crops, progress with drought tolerance, success of public-private partnerships and increase of food products for direct consumer benefits.

However, challenges such as ignorance from farmer are, ageing farmers, youths shunning away from agriculture and climatic changes are drawing back Biotechnology use.

Dr. Karembu said that biotechnology is aiming towards making agriculture attractive for youths so that they can stop evading it as it has many opportunities.  She suggested that biotechnology can be improved by strong political goodwill with consistent policies, sustained communication with society and efficient regulatory processes.