Category: EnviroHealth

Zimbabwe’s Women Miners Face Deadly Risks from Mercury and Hazardous Chemicals

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Zimbabwe Association of Women in Mining (ZAWIMA) has raised alarm over significant health and safety risks in the mining sector, where women are handling hazardous chemicals, such as mercury, without proper training or protective measures. Mercury is a shiny liquid metal that attacks the nervous system. Exposure can result in life-long disability, and is particularly harmful to children. In higher doses, mercury can kill. Its largest use globally is in small-scale gold mining. In Zimbabwe, women’s contact with mercury is highly prevalent in artisanal  mining where…

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One Health and Climate: Dr. Onyango Speaks On Transforming Africa’s Health Resilience

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In 2024, African health ministers adopted a 10-year framework to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems across the continent. This framework aims to guide World Health Organization (WHO) African region member states in translating global climate and health initiatives into concrete, actionable steps at the country level. For over a decade, the WHO has collaborated with member states and partners on policies and research initiatives to strengthen multisectoral efforts on health and environmental issues in Africa. These initiatives focus on creating strategies and frameworks that address the…

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Inaugural Climate and Health Conference Rallies Africa To Take Action Against Climate-Induced Health Threats

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Although Africa contributes less than 4% of global carbon dioxide emissions, it faces some of the harshest impacts of climate change on health and the environment, leaders at the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC2024) have stated. Public health data shows that Africa is experiencing numerous climate-linked health hazards more than other regions in the world. This largely has to do with an already weakened health system and the absence of reliable early warning systems amongst a host of other factors. According to the World Health…

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#BREAKING: UN Appeals For US$429 Million To Rescue Starving Zimbabweans

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa An estimated 7.6 million Zimbabweans are facing acute hunger and in need of food aid, the United Nations Zimbabwe office has warned. More than half of the harvest has been destroyed because of a historic drought induced by the 2023-2024 warming El Niño episode and the United Nations officials have since called for international support to help Zimbabwe address the humanitarian impacts of El Niño. The UN in Zimbabwe has since called for financial assistance amounting to US$429 Million to assist at least 3.1 million people this…

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Agricultural Pesticides Used In Vegetables Linked To Six Deadly Cancers

Michael Gwarisa

By Medical News In areas near agricultural production, pesticides increase the risk of developing cancer as much as smoking, according to a new nationwide study. Its authors found strong links between environmental pesticides and leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder, colon, lung, and pancreatic cancers, as well as cancer combinations. The researchers compared the risks of pesticides to the known cancer risk associated with smoking cigarettes to provide an easily understood measure of risk. While the authors assert that “pesticides are an essential feature of modern-day agriculture” — resulting in robust crop…

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How to Promote Menstrual Cups as an Economic and Sustainable Option

Michael Gwarisa

Researchers investigate consumers’ preferences on menstrual products and devise guidelines to bolster the adoption of menstrual cups in different countries. Although menstrual cups (MCs) are a sustainable alternative to sanitary napkins and tampons, their adoption remains quite limited for reasons that are not entirely clear. Now, in a recent study, an international research team sought to understand consumers’ preferences regarding menstrual products through online surveys. Their efforts reveal that the cost-effectiveness of MCs may be their strongest selling point, and that promotional strategies tailored to each country could make MCs…

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Making Communities Safe For Women: How Zimbabwe’s GBV Program Has Improved Access To Services In El Nino Affected Districts

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In every emergency, the vulnerability of women and girls increases. In Zimbabwe, the prevailing El Nino-induced drought has amplified the susceptibility of women and girls to numerous forms of abuse. In both Matabeleland North and South provinces, cases of elderly women getting abused sexually have been on the increase. In Gwanda and Umguza Districts where mining is rampant, artisanal miners have been sexually abusing young children, girls,women and even elderly women under the false belief that it gives them fortune in their mining endeavors. In Umguza District,…

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USAID and OCP Forge Partnership to Revolutionize African Agriculture

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter In a landmark move for African agricultural advancement, USAID and OCP Group, the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers, have partnered to tackle critical barriers hindering Africa’s agricultural potential. During a visit to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ms. Samantha Power – USAID Administrator – signed a collaborative agreement to pursue two sustainable and innovative initiatives designed to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity across the continent: The Space to Place Project will gather accurate local soil and climate data which will provide the basis for…

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OCP and Fortescue to partner to develop green energy, hydrogen and ammonia in Morocco

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The OCP Group, a global leader in plant nutrition and phosphate-based fertilizers, and Fortescue Energy, part of global green energy, metals and technology company Fortescue Ltd (Fortescue), announced a landmark Joint Venture (JV) in Morocco. This equal partnership aims to supply green hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilizers to Morocco, Europe, and international markets. It includes the potential development of manufacturing facilities and an R&D hub to advance the rapidly growing renewable energy industry in Morocco. Fortescue and OCP Group, leaders in iron ore and phosphate respectively, are united…

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Amref Puts A Spotlight On Widening Climate Change Induced Health Inequalities in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

“As dire as the situation is, financing for climate adaptation is only a drop in the ocean of what is needed. This scenario has been, and continues to be the reason why Africa is one of the most vulnerable continent.” By Michael Gwarisa As the world commemorates World Health Day, governments around the world are seized with addressing climate change challenges, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) data estimating that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will likely cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea…

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