Yesterday industry leaders came together for the launch of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) at the West African Power Industry Convention. The launch was attended by guests from over 100 organizations working in, and supporting, the renewable energy sector in Nigeria. REAN is an umbrella association for organizations working across the renewable energy…
18.2 million people on antiretroviral therapy, UNAIDS
By Henry Opondo A new report by UNAIDS shows that countries are getting on the Fast-Track, with an additional one million people accessing treatment in just six months (January to June 2016). By June 2016, around 18.2 million [16.1 million–19.0 million] people had access to the life-saving medicines, including 910 000 children, double the number…
Cancer: Africa taking the bull by the horn
By Henry Opondo Reports from the many African representatives at the ongoing World Cancer Congress in Paris show a continent just waking up to the cancer challenge. From Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania in Eastern Africa to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa in Southern Africa to Sierra Leone in West Africa, the picture painted at the…
Researchers flag threats to Nigeria’s cassava industry
By Michael Oleja Nigeria’s rising population, particularly in the cities, coupled with low productivity (yield per hectare) of cassava roots is threatening the country’s cassava industry and could impede the gains made in the sector, putting the country at risk of becoming a net importer of staple crops. Grown by over 4.5 million people in…
Nigeria, South Africa immensely contribute to global TB disease burden
By Henry Opondo Nigeria and South Africa in combination with Asian countries of Indonesia, China and Pakistan contributed to 60% of all tuberculosis disease burden in 2015, a new WHO report on TB reveals. According to the report, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide and that the burden is higher than…
Mass poisoning in Limpopo National park
By Don Pinnock The ongoing Asian demand for lion bones has led to an horrific wildlife poisoning in the Limpopo National Park, just over the Mozambican border from Kruger Park. A mere two kilometres from the Machampane tourist camp, a research team came across the carcases of two nyala, a warthog and an impala laced…
Poachers still given lifeline as CITES Parties fail to agree full ban on international trade in lion parts
Parties today at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP 17) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Johannesburg voted in favor of a much diluted decision by establishing a zero annual export quota for bones, claws and teeth removed from the dead carcasses of wild lions to be traded for…
Integrated weed control holds promise for cassava revolution in smallholder farms, says Cornell professor
Integrating diverse but proven weed management options could help small-scale farmers overcome the limitations posed by weeds and help them maximize the benefits of genetic improvement, according to Prof Ronnie Coffman, Director of International Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IPCALS), Cornell University. Prof Coffman said efforts in weed management should be…