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Africa Science Focus

191 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago -

Africa Science Focus is SciDev.Net's award-winning weekly podcast. We dive deep into the impacts that science has on everything from health, to technology, agriculture and life. Subscribe to get the best science and development news from the continent delivered straight to you!

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Episodes

Tackling maternal mortality in Africa

March 22, 2024 13:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

Childbirth brings forth new life but is a dangerous journey for many women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, over two-thirds of global maternal mortality occurs in the region.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus – the second in our series on women’s health – our reporter, Busola Ajibola, speaks to Eli Sukarime, associate professor and honorary consultant in obstetrics and gynecology at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. He discusses the need to understand the causes o...

SPOON Chair improves lives of kids with cerebral palsy

March 15, 2024 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

The SPOON Chair has the potential to significantly improve the lives of children with cerebral palsy and their families across Africa. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we feature an innovative device called the SPOON Chair, designed to improve feeding for children with the movement and posture disease cerebral palsy.  David Kibirige, who helped develop the device, tells us how the chair was produced and what features are coming next. We also hear from Jacinta Nakazzi, a mother who ...

Tales of success, setbacks and advice

March 07, 2024 10:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

To commemorate International Women’s Day on 8 March, Africa Science Focus speaks with women leaders in academic science across Africa.  Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former and first female President of Mauritius and biodiversity scientist, tells our reporter, Michael Kaloki, how to make science more attractive for young women. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, epidemiologist and Pro-Vice Chancellor for African Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, explained how mentorship advanced her career. ...

Repurposing glass waste

February 28, 2024 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, our reporter Bunmi Yekini speaks to Hammed Rauf, owner of Hamruf Global Limited, who transforms glass waste into valuable resources.  We also hear from Mufutau  Adelotan, a user of the recycled glass, who shares insights on the product’s usefulness. Glass poses environmental and health risks when not managed properly. Is recycling alone sufficient to mitigate these risks and safeguard the environment and climate? Professor Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, pro...

Can telemedicine bridge Africa's healthcare divide?

February 16, 2024 16:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we examine what role telemedicine could play in plugging Africa’s healthcare gaps.  Our reporter, Royal Uche speaks with Abubakar Ibrahim, founder of telemedicine solution provider Medicliq, who tells us how remote methods of healthcare could be instrumental in solving the continent’s health challenges.  We also hear from Omolola Salako, public health expert and clinical oncologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, about how such techn...

Boosting Africa science through collaborations

February 09, 2024 14:00 - 29 minutes - 20.7 MB

In this episode of African Science Focus, we look at the effort African scientists are making to elevate science and its impact globally. Our reporter, Michael Kaloki speaks with Vanessa McBride, science director at the International Science Council, who advocated for policymakers to invest more in research and development in Africa. Dorothy Ngila, director of strategic partnerships at South Africa’s National Research Foundation, says gender integration in science is critical to the advanc...

Burning e-waste contaminating breast milk in Ghana

February 02, 2024 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MB

[ACCRA] Located within Accra’s bustling Agbogbloshie market, Ghana's infamous e-waste dumpsite poses serious health risks to residents and traders. The burning of discarded electronics for valuable materials leads to smoky air that has severe health implications for the community.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Justice Baidoo speaks with Anita Asamoah, a researcher at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, who analysed the breast milk of mothers in this location and found ...

Navigating climate challenges for year-round crops

January 26, 2024 15:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MB

Africa produces only about four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but the region — particularly its agriculture sector — bears the brunt of climate change. In this episode, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu and Titilope Fadare find out how smallholder farmers from Kenya and Nigeria ensure they produce crops all year round amid extreme weather conditions.  Boaz Waswa, a soil fertility specialist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) b...

Containing Ebola with fast detection kits

January 24, 2024 11:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Ebola is a highly contagious and often deadly virus and has been a persistent threat to several countries in Africa. In this episode, Africa Science Focus spoke to researchers at the University of Zambia and Hokkaido University, Japan, who designed a kit which can detect the Ebola virus within minutes.  Katendi Changula, infectious disease researcher at the University of Zambia, explained how this test can be a game-changer, while Ayato Takada, professor at the International Institute for ...

Igniting a passion for science in Africa kids

January 16, 2024 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Unlocking the wonders of science in young minds is pivotal for cultivating a generation of critical thinkers and innovators, particularly in Africa. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we look into the challenges and innovative solutions for igniting children's passion for science.  Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, speaks to Harun Mbuvi, chair of the Chemistry Department at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, who highlights the barriers within Africa’s education system hindering science...

Women with disability battle sexual health challenges

January 04, 2024 15:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Misconceptions about disability and sex often lead to stigma and can prevent women with disabilities from accessing the sexual and reproductive healthcare they need.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Ijeoma Ukazu speaks to Nigerian disability rights advocates and experts Lois Auta-Udonkanta, Salome Net and Rahmatu Ahmed.  They share their experiences of navigating disabilities, debunk some of the myths attached to disability and sex, and highlight the factors preventing wo...

Managing Africa’s water for sustainable agriculture

December 28, 2023 21:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Africa's water crisis, compounded by climate change, threatens agricultural sustainability and food security.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we delve into actionable strategies for managing water effectively across the continent. Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, speaks to Professor Sylvester Mpandeli, executive manager for water utilization in Agriculture at the Water Research Commission, South Africa, to uncover critical gaps hindering efficient water use in agriculture. Dr. Math...

Gold mining’s toll on Nigeria’s Osun River

December 21, 2023 14:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

This episode of Africa Science Focus continues to investigate the pollution of the Osun River in southwest Nigeria, delving into the environmental impact of gold mining along its banks.  Olugbenga Okunlola, professor of geology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, joins our reporter, Babatunde Okunlola, to talk about the gold deposits in Osun state and the region's environmental dynamics. We hear from miners and ecological experts about the soil erosion, vanishing forests, and polluted ai...

Can science heal Nigeria’s sacred Osun River?

December 14, 2023 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

The Osun River in south-west Nigeria is a paradox. On one hand, it is revered by those who believe in its spiritual connection to the river goddess Oshun and its healing powers. On the other, mining activities have led to its pollution, affecting the river's water quality. In the first of a two-part series on the Osun River, Africa Science Focus dives into this complex landscape. Our reporter Babatunde Okunola talks with devoted worshippers who remain drawn to the river amid health concern...

‘Solar basin’ designed to fight plastic pollution

December 08, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

Plastic pollution is a spiralling global problem and in cities like Kampala plastic waste is found everywhere in its streets, parks, and waterways. Uganda’s Ghetto Research Lab, set up to find innovative ways to improve people’s lives and solve environmental problems, is taking on this challenge with its “solar basins”, made from recycled plastic.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Aneta Felix speaks with the lab’s founder, Patrick Mujuzi, about how the solar laundry basins...

HPV vaccine push to fight cervical cancer in Nigeria

December 01, 2023 11:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Cervical cancer is a deadly disease which claims the lives of thousands of Nigerian women every year.  Nigeria is fighting this health menace with the introduction of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunisation programme and began a vaccination drive for young girls in October.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Royal Uche speaks to top Nigerian scientists and health experts, Muhammad Habeebu, Ifeoma Okoye and Oyewale Tomori to learn more about the vi...

Young 'techies' tackle development challenges

November 23, 2023 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

Tech solutions, even those created by young people, could tackle development challenges on the continent.  In this episode of the Africa Science Focus podcast, reporter Aneta Felix speaks with two young innovators, Olivia Chizaram Obi from Nigeria and Sharon Kemunto from Kenya, who recently participated in a global tech competition. They give us insights into their innovations, and discuss the potential impact on their communities. The podcast also explores the behind-the-scenes journey o...

Empowering Africa’s researchers

November 16, 2023 16:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

Strengthening research and innovation in Africa can catalyse progress on development issues such as food insecurity, the climate crisis, and poor health systems.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus Podcast, our reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with chair holders of the OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) about how technology transfer and collaboration can lead to tangible changes on the ground. We also hear about the food systems research being carried out in Africa an...

Nourishing Ugandan families with kitchen gardening

November 10, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

According to the 2022 Uganda Demographics Health Survey, around 40 per cent of Ugandan children are underdeveloped as a result of malnutrition. In this Episode of Africa Science Focus we speak to community worker Reuben Kikora who hopes to fight against child malnutrition by promoting kitchen gardening in the Kaborole district of western Uganda’s Tooro region. Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, looks at how communities are being trained to grow vegetables and other small-scale crops, to help fe...

Preparing Africa for future pandemics

November 02, 2023 22:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

The health crises faced by Africa in the last decade have highlighted the clear need for improved healthcare systems and pandemic preparedness. Deadly disease outbreaks, such as the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the urgency for stronger epidemic intelligence and response mechanisms. In this episode of our Africa Science Focus Podcast, reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with Jean Ngamba and Professor Lorena Núñez Carrasco, recipients of the COVID-1...

Advancing Africa’s sexual and reproductive health services

October 26, 2023 18:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

Access to sexual and reproductive health services is a human right, but for millions of women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa it is lacking. Consequently, the region has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world with 545 deaths for every 100,000 live births, according to the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF. In this episode of our Science Explained series, reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health. She talks about wh...

Nigeria's breast milk bank a lifeline for babies

October 20, 2023 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

Breast milk is the ideal food for infants as it provides them with the nutrients and antibodies they need to thrive. But Nigeria’s breastfeeding rate stands at a meagre 29 per cent for a myriad of reasons including poor support for breastfeeding mothers and medical conditions.  In this episode of our African Changemakers series, Africa Science Focus speaks with Chinny Obinwanne, founder of the Milk Booster breastfeeding company and Nigeria’s first milk bank, about the potential of breast mi...

Africa's readies for new malaria vaccines

October 12, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

With the rollout of two new malaria vaccines on the horizon in Africa, the outlook for fighting the disease looks optimistic. But is it enough? In this episode of our Africa Science Focus Science Explained series, Michael Charles, head of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, tells us why he believes Africa must lead the drive to end the disease. Charles hails the “groundbreaking” latest WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix M, but stresses the need to keep up other malaria control meas...

Bridging South Africa’s maths language gap

October 05, 2023 14:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, maths professor Jill Adler, recipient of the 2023 National Research Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, sheds light on the education system of South Africa’s former apartheid government, which was designed to disadvantage black students.  She talks to us about her work to improve the teaching of mathematics in indigenous South African languages and discusses the importance of considering students’ different language needs.  We also speak to Jam...

How AI can shape a brighter future for Africa

September 28, 2023 14:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

Artificial intelligence is ubiquitous and will impact the world in ways we can only imagine. In Africa, it has the potential to transform many aspects of daily life, from healthcare and agriculture to education and finance. In this episode of the podcast Africa Science Focus, we speak to Barbara Glover, programme officer at the African Union Panel on Emerging Technologies, about the potential of AI to benefit Africa, as well as the possible pitfalls. We also hear from Abake Adenle, chief ex...

Network bridges healthcare gaps in Nigeria

September 22, 2023 13:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we hear about the Atayese Health Network, which is confronting the prevailing issues of healthcare inaccessibility and escalating costs. Our reporter, Royal Uche, speaks to Atayese founder Adeolu Olusodo, who tells us that the organisation is working to making healthcare available and affordable for all, particularly in rural communities in Nigeria’s South West region. Uche also speaks to healthcare workers who shed light on the challenges plaguing ...

Antiretrovirals in chicken feed

September 13, 2023 11:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

In this first episode of the ‘Science Explained’ series by Africa Science Focus, we dive into a study by Makerere University that uncovered traces of the antiretroviral (ARV) drug Efavirenz, used for HIV/AIDS treatment, in chicken feed in Uganda.  Our reporter, Halima Athumani, also spoke with lead researcher, Hussein Oria, who let us know the gravity of using unapproved drugs in animal feed. We also investigate the motivations of poultry farmers, how they source ARVs, and shed light on the...

Transforming lives of people living with HIV

September 06, 2023 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Maureen Akolo, a nurse and public health specialist in Kenya who supports communities at risk of HIV/AIDS, including sex workers and drug addicts. She works to create awareness about HIV/AIDS and encourage and educate people about life-saving treatments such as anti-retroviral drugs. Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, also hears from a patient living with the disease about how she accepted her diagnosis and is living a healthy life thanks to A...

Funding Women in Academia

August 30, 2023 13:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we explore how funding agencies are supporting women in research. We take a look at the barriers that persist for women pursuing academic careers and how these can be broken down. How can funding for women’s research in Africa help them contribute to knowledge creation on an equal footing to men and compete on the global stage? And how can data on gender help funding agencies address gaps in grant allocation? Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, has been s...

Kenya’s walking pioneer

July 24, 2023 22:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Gladys Nyachieo, a social science researcher, whose work revolves around transforming pedestrian experiences and urban transportation in Kenya. She advocates for the widespread adoption of walking and non-motorized modes of travel, particularly in Nakuru, Kenya.  Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, looks at the practicability of her campaigns and speaks to beneficiaries of work. This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa Englis...

Empowering African women in STEM

July 06, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we delve into the hurdles that women on the African continent experience while attempting to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  Long-standing gender stereotypes and the burden of unpaid labour are just some of the factors that feed into the underrepresentation of women in these sectors. Our reporter Michael Kaloki spoke with some African female scientists who described the problems women face in STEM fields a...

Turning waste into compost

June 11, 2023 18:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

In the first episode of our new season of Africa Science Focus, we follow the journey of Josephine Nackeny Augustino whose mission is to tackle the pressing waste management crisis in South Sudan.  With cities in low-income countries expanding, and waste generation escalating, Augustino's commitment to finding a solution is inspiring. She is helping to transform waste into nutrient-rich compost for agricultural purposes. Through her research on microorganisms, she is changing the farming p...

Preventing and managing spina bifida

January 20, 2023 17:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Spina bifida is a birth defect that affects the proper formation of the spine. It can lead to complications that can cause both physical and intellectual disabilities, and even death.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, our reporter, Ijeoma Ukazu, talks to Lawrencia Dyawei, mother of a child with spina bifida about the challenges she and her child face.  Ifeanyi Nsofor, a global health equity advocate, explains spina bifida.  Festus Fajemilo, co-founder and executive director of Nig...

Insights from science conferences

December 22, 2022 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

We have come to the end of season three of the Africa Science Focus podcast and we decided to compile some insights on science in Sub-Saharan Africa from some of the science conferences we attended in 2022.  At the 2022 World science forum, Cape Town, South Africa, Tumelo Nhlapo of the University of South Africa’s Science Engagement Centre tells us how the centre engages kids in problem solving and STEM.   At the 2022 conference on public health in Africa, Kigali, Rwanda, Noella Bigiriman,...

Climate education for future progress

December 16, 2022 02:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

In Africa, rising temperatures have resulted in extreme weather events like floods and droughts that threaten lives and livelihoods. In order to tackle climate change, people need  to know how to take action. And the younger they are when they lean, the better. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to the founders of social enterprise Earth Warriors, who tell us about their curriculum creation initiative. Keya Lamba, a co-founder of Earth Warriors, tells us about the approach th...

Inequality still hampers Africa’s HIV fightback

December 08, 2022 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Eastern and Southern Africa have the highest HIV/AIDS burden in the world. And it is mostly women and girls in low- and middle-income countries who bear the greatest burden. This year, World AIDS Day highlighted the inequalities holding back progress in ending HIV/AIDS.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, about the inequalities faced by people on the African continent in accessing HIV treatment...

Tackling inequities in oral health

November 30, 2022 12:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Oral diseases are largely preventable, yet a recent World Health Organization report reveals that half of the global population has some form of oral disease. And most of these people live in low- and middle-income countries. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Morenike Oluwatoyin Ukpong, professor of paediatric dentistry and the dean at the faculty of dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, about the inequities in oral health in Africa. Victor Nwabudike, a consulta...

Tackling inequities in oral health

November 30, 2022 12:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Oral diseases are largely preventable, yet a recent World Health Organization report reveals that half of the global population has some form of oral disease. And most of these people live in low- and middle-income countries. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Morenike Oluwatoyin Ukpong, professor of paediatric dentistry and the dean at the faculty of dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, about the inequities in oral health in Africa. Victor Nwabudike, a consulta...

Building Africa’s capacity for vaccine production

November 25, 2022 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Africa produces only one per cent of its routine vaccines. This leaves the region dependent on imports for its vaccine needs, and makes it vulnerable to a vaccine crisis during health emergencies.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, Ebere Okereke, senior technical advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and honorary senior public health advisor for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, says research in science, and funding for therapeutics and vaccine ma...

Regulating African traditional medicines

November 16, 2022 12:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Progress towards universal health care in Africa is slow, and according to the World Health Organization 80 per cent of Africans depend instead on traditional medicine. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, Oluwagbemiga Aina, head of the centre for traditional, complementary and alternative medicine at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, explains what herbal medicines are. Scholastica Lan, national chairman of the Association of Lady Pharmacists in Nigeria, tells us why regulatio...

Depreciating currencies

November 09, 2022 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

African currencies are in free-fall, with hard-biting inflation hitting double digits in countries like Ghana and Nigeria, putting food nearly out of reach for many. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Churchill Ogutu, a Kenyan economist, who unpacks the links between currency depreciation and poverty. And Ndubusi Nwokoma, director of the Centre for Economic Policy Analysis and Research of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, tells us what’s needed to stabilize the situation. ...

Poor dam management escalating floods in Nigeria

November 02, 2022 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Nigeria is facing its worse flooding in a decade with building and infrastructure submerged and lives and livelihoods lost. While climate change does play a role, poor infrastructure and poor preparation have intensified the situation. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we get the backstory from Professor Nelson Odume, acting director of the Institute for Water Research at Rhodes University, South Africa. Philip Jakpor, the director of programmes at Corporate Accountability and Public...

Rising sea levels drive poverty in coastal communities

October 26, 2022 15:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Africa is largely a coastal continent, with more than 70 per cent of African countries having a coastline. Much of the region depends on the ocean for food and income, but the changing climate is causing Africa’s coastal communities to deal with rising sea levels and dwindling resources. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, Dickson Gereza, a fisherman, co-founder and manager of the Kuruwitu Conservation and Welfare Association in Kilifi County, tells us what his community is doing to ad...

Turning the suicide tide in Africa

October 19, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Africa is battling a suicide and mental health crisis. According to the World Health Organization, the region has the highest number of suicide cases in the world with around 11 people per 100, 000 dying by suicide each year. The region is also home to six of the ten countries with the highest incidence of suicide.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we hear from Kenyan resident Philis Mwatee about the pain of losing a dear friend to suicide. Florence Baingana, WHO regional advisor on...

Climate finance ‘not reaching communities’

October 12, 2022 23:00 - 14 minutes - 10.4 MB

The lands of indigenous peoples contain much of the world’s surviving tropical forests – which are key to limiting the devastating impacts of climate change. Yet it is estimated that just 17 per cent of global climate and conservation finance allocated for indigenous peoples and local communities’ forest management initiatives reaches them. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, Bryson Ogden of the Rights and Resources Initiative in Washington DC explains the barriers indigenous peoples f...

Ebola outbreak hits Uganda

October 05, 2022 11:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Uganda is experiencing its first outbreak in a decade of the deadly Ebola disease caused by Sudan virus, health authorities announced in September. More than 40 cases and at least 29 deaths have been reported, including four health workers. Nine of these deaths are from confirmed cases. While there are vaccines against the more common Zaire strain, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for Sudan ebolavirus. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we find out more about the current...

Superbugs ‘a growing health threat’

September 28, 2022 12:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat to public health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites can change their make-up and become resistant to the drugs that are used to treat them, such as antibiotics. One major challenge the continent faces is the lack of data to provide insight into the extent of the problem.  In this episode of Africa Science Focus, African Society for Laboratory Medicine virologist Pascale Ondoa explains the implications of drug resistance...

Climate adaptation ‘critical’ for Africa

September 21, 2022 15:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Despite contributing the least greenhouse gas emissions globally, Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing some of the greatest impacts of climate change. Increasingly harsh weather conditions including higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, as well as rising sea levels are leading to floods, droughts and other extreme weather events that are exacerbating poverty in the region. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we talk to farmer Munuaradzi Muronda, who tells us how climate c...

Curbing the cost of sickle cell disease in Africa

September 14, 2022 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s largest burden of sickle cell disease - the World Health Organisation says 66 per cent of the 120 million people affected globally live in Africa. And over half of the estimated 1,000 children born with the disease every year will die before they turn five.   In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we learn about the myths and misconceptions surrounding sickle cell disease that create stigma and hamper proper and early diagnosis. We also learn of the hurd...

Fertiliser stranglehold in Africa

September 07, 2022 11:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MB

Farmers rely on fertiliser to ensure they get a good yield from their crops, particularly when soils are depleted, as is the case in parts of the African continent. But the cost of fertiliser has been soaring, especially due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and it is taking its toll on the price of food. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, we speak to Agnes Kalibata - the president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) - to find out what this means for consumers, and w...