By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – It is obvious that most Nigerians and indeed Africans are not aware of this illness referred to as Lead Poisoning. Lead Poisoning is a medical condition also known as saturnism, plumbism or painters colic. It is caused by a toxic mineral known as lead. Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. People have spread it through the environment in many ways. Lead used to be in paint and gasoline. Lead can still be found in contaminated soil, household dust, drinking water, lead-glazed pottery and some metal jewelry. Breathing air, drinking water,... Continue Reading
NAIROBI, 13 May 2011 (PlusNews) – A landmark study showing major reductions in HIV transmission among discordant couples due to early treatment may fail to have a significant impact on HIV prevention unless governments and donors are willing to turn the science into action, HIV advocates say. “These are very exciting results that we hope will begin to change the debate and the discourse over the issues around HIV treatment and prevention,” Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), told IRIN/PlusNews. “Coming right before the UN High Level Meeting on HIV in New York next month,... Continue Reading
By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – It has become a common trend across Nigeria and elsewhere in the continent like South Africa for adults to abuse minors. In some cases fathers abusing daughters along side other adults. Child sexual abuse is grim fact of life. It is more common than most people realize. Girls and in a few cases boys, can be sexually abused by adults or older children who they know closely. The offender is usually known in eight out of ten reported cases. He or she could be an authority figure that the child trusts and respects. Most times,... Continue Reading
HARARE, 12 May 2011 (IRIN) – Tafadzwa Kazingizi, a 19-year-old mother from Chitungwiza, about 30km south of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, has been haemorrhaging since she gave birth four months ago. She did not visit a prenatal clinic during her pregnancy. “When I got to the hospital, the only midwife on duty told me that I was supposed to be monitored for blood pressure and possible heart problems, but it turned out that their machine was not working well and as I waited for it to be fixed, I started experiencing labour pains,” Kazingizi told IRIN. “The midwife was attending to... Continue Reading
By Own Correspondent with support from DailyGuideGhana – The activities of illegal chainsaw operators, bad agricultural practices and bush burning are eroding Ghana’s forest cover but the country is adopting various measures to save its forest. The Ministry of lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission with support from the nation’s development partners, is addressing unregulated mining, excessive harvesting of wood for fuel and over exploitation of timber which leads to deforestation. From the beginning of the century to date, the country’s 8 million hectors of forest cover has reduced to a mere 1.2 hectors, losing 65,... Continue Reading
