Author: Pavel Chamabe

In the second quarter of the year, Morocco made history by lawfully exporting a quintal of resin with less than 1% THC to Switzerland. This marked the first time the country has legally exported cannabis grown on its own soil. This export, which is valued at between 1,400 and 1,800 euros per kilogramme, has generated a lot of attention in the local media despite its symbolic size, indicating the aspirations of Moroccan private players.Nearly 200 businesses have entered the Moroccan cannabis market since the 2021 law allowing its use for industrial, medicinal, and medical reasons was passed. As a result,…

Dr. Alex Mutombo, head of the Congolese Cancer Foundation, emphasized the need for extensive measures to curb the alarming rise of breast and gynecological cancers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “The epidemiological information and statistical data on female malignancies are worrisome and scary. Large-scale initiatives must be put in place to stop and reverse this disastrous trend,” stated Dr. Mutombo. Hospital statistics and local epidemiological studies show a rapid increase in the rates of these cancers among the Congolese population. A study conducted in several hospitals in Kinshasa in 2019 reported a 24% frequency of breast cancer.…

A novel therapeutic approach is addressing the lack of mental health care in Zimbabwe by reviving an age-old tradition. Seniors trained in problem-solving therapy are seated on benches in serene areas of churches and community clinics, ready to offer one-on-one conversations and a listening ear. This strategy draws on a Zimbabwean custom where grandmothers served as trusted advisors during difficult times. However, with modern technology, the breakdown of extended families, and urbanization, this tradition had all but disappeared. The idea emerged from a tragedy. In 2005, Dixon Chibanda, one of only twelve psychiatrists in Zimbabwe at the time, faced a…

Fungal infections such as pneumocystosis, aspergillosis, and candidiasis pose significant health risks. Unlike cold-climate fungi, which thrive in cooler environments, humans and animals are generally protected due to their warm-blooded nature. However, climate change may disrupt this balance. Fungi are adept at adapting to new environments, raising concerns that they may have already overcome barriers posed by the human body’s temperature. Researchers explored this possibility in a study published in the journal Nature. The study looked at fungal infections that happened in around 100 Chinese hospitals between 2009 and 2019. One specimen in particular stood out among the hundreds of…

In western Côte d’Ivoire, approximately 185 residents fell ill after consuming fish and water contaminated by mining waste from the Ity gold mine, operated by Endeavour Mining. On Sunday, June 23, a pipeline valve that was used to release mining waste cracked, resulting in this disaster. The mining firm reported that around three cubic metres of sludge and decantation water leaked across a five-kilometer distance into a diversion canal, with a tiny amount perhaps ending up in the Cavally River. About 15 kg of dead fish were gathered by scientists from the Ciapol (Ivorian Anti-Pollution Centre) who were sent to…

A new strain of the mpox virus, called “Ib,” which is more transmissible and dangerous than previous ones, has been identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is responsible for the deaths of children. On June 26, researchers and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued warnings about the potential for this strain to spread to other countries Jean-Claude Udahemuka, a researcher at the University of Rwanda, stated that all countries should prepare before it is too late. The mpox virus, also known as monkeypox, was first detected in humans in the DRC in 1970. Since then, the…

Gambian President Adama Barrow has reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) as his government awaits a potential parliamentary vote that could lift the prohibition. In a recent state of the nation address broadcast on television and social media, Barrow emphasized that the FGM ban would remain in place during the parliamentary review process. In March, the Gambian Parliament approved a bill that seeks to repeal the 2015 legislation banning FGM in this predominantly Muslim West African country. The bill has now been forwarded to a committee for further review, with the committee expected to…

A virtual meeting organized by the African Media Network for Health and Environment Promotion (REMAPSEN) convenes monthly with journalists from West and Central Africa to discuss health and environmental issues. The focus of the June 2024 webinar was on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV in these regions. Key speakers included Fodé Simaga, Director of Science, Service Delivery, and Systems for All at UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, and Eric Verschueren, UNAIDS Country Director for Togo and Benin. Fodé Simaga highlighted that there is no fundamental difference between the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT), as…

Senegalese pilgrims returning from the 2024 Hajj in Mecca have tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) in Dakar. The Ministry of Health and Social Action of Senegal confirmed that since the beginning of the pilgrims’ return, seven flights have landed at AIBD, with 124 pilgrims tested, of whom 78 were detected positive for SARS-CoV-2. This year, 12,860 Senegalese participated in the Hajj. The extreme heat during the rites tragically caused the deaths of five Senegalese pilgrims, who were buried in Mecca. According to Saudi authorities, the pilgrimage was marked by over 1,300 deaths in…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has lauded Chad for eradicating African Human Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness. Infected tsetse flies transmit this disease, which is often fatal without treatment endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Chad became the first country to be recognized for eliminating a neglected tropical disease in 2024. With this success, Chad joins the 50 other countries that have reached this goal globally, surpassing the halfway mark towards the objective of 100 countries by 2030. “I congratulate the government and the people of Chad for this achievement. It is wonderful to see Chad join the growing group of…