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Nuclear technology helps Mexico eradicate invasive insect pest

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Nuclear technology helps Mexico eradicate invasive insect pest

One of the most devastating insect pests infesting fruits and vegetables in Mexico has been eradicated in the state of Colima, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In cooperation with IAEA and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), scientists there were able to use an UN-developed nuclear-based sterile insect technique (SIT) to eradicate the medfly, more commonly known as the fruit fly.

Threatening farmers’ livelihoods

The Colima outbreak, detected in April 2021 in the country’s largest port, Manzanillo, posed an immediate risk to crops, including guavas, mangoes, papaya, and oranges.

If not managed promptly, Mexico – the world’s seventh-largest producer and exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables – could have faced quarantine restrictions imposed by States free from this pest.

It would have been a significant blow to trade across the sector overall, which generates over €8.8 billion, or more than $9.2 billion, annually in exports as well as millions of local jobs.

Ready assistance

After receiving an emergency assistance request that April, the IAEA and FAO immediately dispatched experts to help set up and evaluate how SIT could be deployed.

“This is one more example where SIT has been successfully used to prevent, suppress and eradicate invasive insect pests, contributing worldwide to food security and safety,” said FAO/IAEA entomologist, Walther Enkerlin Hoeflich, on the UN atomic agency’s technique developed for Member States through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

Unsplash/Sahil Muhammed

Close-up of a medfly, more commonly known as a fruitfly.

SIT success

When medfly females lay eggs in ripe fruit the quality of products can be impacted, making them inedible and unfit to be sold.

To control the outbreak, Mexico designed and implemented an emergency action plan with the assistance of FAO/IAEA experts, delivered through the IAEA technical cooperation programme.

Scientists released more than 1,450 million sterile male flies in Colima with the environmentally-friendly SIT insect pest control method, that uses irradiation to sterilize insects.

When the males mated with wild females after their release, no offspring were produced – eventually leading to the eradication of the insects.

“Mexico has managed to maintain its status as a country free of the Mediterranean fly,” said Francisco Ramírez y Ramírez, General Director of Plant Health of the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) of Mexico at the event declaring the eradication of the pest in the State of Colima.

Sterilization lab

In cooperation with FAO, the world’s second-largest Mediterranean fruit fly facility opened earlier this year with IAEA support in Mexico’s Chiapas state on its southeastern border with Guatemala.

It is the second largest in the world with a production capacity of one billion flies a week to help keep the country’s growing agriculture pest free.

It focuses on the mass production of sterile insects and, together with the El Pino facility in Guatemala, helps maintain the containment barrier that prevents the introduction and spread of the pest to northern Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States.

The IAEA will continue assisting and working together with Mexico through national and regional technical cooperation projects, and through its National Fruit Fly Programme, an IAEA Collaborating Centre.

Somalia: ‘We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now’

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United Nations News
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Somalia: ‘We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now’

Rising acute food insecurity in Somalia has caused more than 900,000 people to flee their homes in search of humanitarian assistance since January last year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned.

Due to drought and lack of livelihood support, people living in eight areas of the country could be experiencing famine by September. “We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now to safeguard livelihoods and lives,” Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience said, following a recent visit to the country.

More than three million animals essential to Somalia’s pastoral communities have died so far and crop production has substantially dropped due to unprecedented poor rainfalls and intense dry conditions.

The continuing death of livestock, key commodity prices rising further and humanitarian assistance failing to reach the most vulnerable, have forced many people living mostly in rural areas, to move to displaced persons camps.

Urgent funding problems

In order to assist 882,000 people across 55 districts with immediate lifesaving and livelihood support, FAO Somalia urgently requires $131.4 million. But famine prevention efforts in Somalia are only 46 per cent funded, and the 2022 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan is just 43 per cent funded, as of 4 August.

The latter is part of the FAO’s wider Horn of Africa Drought Response Plan, which also covers Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. “We have urgent problems with funding,” Mr Paulsen said.

FAO has been “ringing the alarm bells” since April last year and the failure of successive rains, but a response “hasn’t happened at the levels needed”. This has led to vulnerable farmers being “forced to move as livestock are dying and crops failing. Now everyone has to mobilize quickly and at scale” he added.

Impact of drought

“We are deeply concerned about the drought situation and how vulnerable households are being affected,” Mr Paulsen said, describing how one family of seven travelled over 100 kilometres to reach the displaced persons camp seven months ago.

“They came here because their livestock had died. They came here because they had no means to survive in the rural areas,” he explained.

Agricultural intervention

Agriculture accounts for up to 60 per cent of Somalia’s gross domestic product, 80 per cent of its employment, and 90 per cent of its exports.

Mr Paulsen underlined how it was vitally important to understand that agriculture is a frontline humanitarian response. “Not only does it meet needs, but it also reduces the drivers of those needs effectively. Agriculture needs more attention and more funding to enable timely action in response to agricultural seasons,” he said.

Scale up response

According to Mr. Paulsen, the response in rural areas must be scaled up to help vulnerable people “where they are” as this is “more effective [and] more humane”.

He called for “multi-sectoral responses” to support livelihoods but warned that “more funding from donors,” needed to come in. The focus is on supporting livelihoods, Mr Paulsen explained.

This involves providing cash to allow people to buy food and keep their animals alive with emergency feeding, vet treatments, and water supplies. Farmers must be able to plant, particularly in riverine areas where cropping with irrigation is feasible.

Major fall in global food prices for July, but future supply worries remain

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United Nations News
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Major fall in global food prices for July, but future supply worries remain

Food prices dropped significantly in July, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline since hitting record highs earlier in the year in the wake of the war in Ukraine, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.

The UN agency has published its latest eagerly awaited Food Price Index, the barometer that tracks monthly changes in the international prices of five food commodities: cereals, vegetable oils, dairy products, meat, and sugar. 

The index averaged 140.9 points in July, nearly nine points down from June. The decline was led by double-digit percentage drops in the cost of vegetable oils but also cereals, with the recent UN-brokered deal on Ukrainian grain exports a contributing factor. 

Welcome but wary 

“The decline in food commodity prices from very high levels is welcome, especially when seen from a food access viewpoint,” said Maximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist. 

“However, many uncertainties remain, including high fertilizer prices that can impact future production prospects and farmers’ livelihoods, a bleak global economic outlook, and currency movements, all of which pose serious strains for global food security.”  

In July, FAO’s Vegetable Price Index decreased by 19.2 per cent compared to June, marking a 10-month low. International quotations for all oil types fell, the agency said, with palm oil prices declining due to prospects of ample export availability out of Indonesia, for example.   

Additionally, sunflower oil prices also dropped markedly amid subdued global import demand, despite continued logistical uncertainties in the Black Sea region. Vegetable oil values were also pushed down by lower crude oil prices. 

Black Sea export deal 

The Cereal Price Index also reflected an 11.5 per cent decline last month, though remaining 16.6 per cent above July 2021.  Prices of all cereals in the index declined, led by wheat.   

World wheat prices dropped by as much as 14.5 per cent, FAO said, partly in reaction to the Russia-Ukraine deal on grain exports from key Black Sea ports, and also because of seasonal availability from ongoing harvests in the northern hemisphere. 

July also saw an 11.2 per cent decline in coarse grain prices.  Maize was down 10.7 per cent, again due in part to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and increased seasonal availabilities in Argentina and Brazil. Additionally, international rice prices also declined for the first time this year. 

Sweet news 

The Sugar Price Index fell by nearly four per cent, amid concerns over demand prospects due to expectations of a further global economic slowdown, a weakening in Brazil’s currency, the real, and lower ethanol prices resulting in greater sugar production there than previously expected.  

The downward trend was also influenced by indications of greater exports and favourable production prospects in India. Meanwhile, the hot and dry weather in European Union countries also sparked concerns over sugar beet yields and prevented sharper declines. 

FAO further reported that the Dairy Price Index decreased 2.5 per cent “amid lacklustre trading activity”, yet still averaged 25.4 per cent above last July. 

While the prices of milk powders and butter declined, cheese prices remained stable, boosted by demand in European tourism destinations. 

Mixed picture for meat 

Meat prices also continued the downward trend, dropping by half a per cent from June due to weakening import demands. However, poultry prices reached an all-time high, boosted by firm import demand and tight supplies due to Avian influenza outbreaks in the northern hemisphere. 

The FAO Meat Price Index was also down in July, by 0.5 percent from June, due to weakening import demand for bovine, ovine and pig meats. By contrast, international poultry meat prices reached an all-time high, underpinned by firm global import demand and tight supplies due to Avian influenza outbreaks in the northern hemisphere.

10 things that make cats really happy

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News desk
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white and gray cat on brown wooden table
Photo by Roberto Huczek

When we share a home with our adorable meowing animals, their happiness is paramount. After all, owners are responsible for keeping purring animals safe. A number of feline health problems can occur due to stress. So we need to make sure we provide the right environment for the cuddly pet.

What can we do to improve the quality of life of our domestic cat? We give you 10 ideas.

1. Places to scratch

brown tabby cat lying on brown wooden floor
Photo by Daniel Zopf

It probably didn’t take long after you brought home your first kitten to realize how important cat scratching posts are. If you value your belongings, you know that you have two choices – you can either say goodbye to your favorite sofa or buy a scratching post.

Cats need different scratching surfaces to sharpen their claws, play, spread scent or stretch their backs. Different materials include sisal rope, cardboard or scratch mats. Each of these materials provides a different feel for the pet to caress for, so your cat can exercise its natural instinct to scratch.

2. Cozy nooks for a nap

We all know that cats love a good place to nap. Some purring animals prefer to have secluded places to nap, while others don’t mind being outdoors and even a noisy place in the home. These cats can fall asleep just about anywhere after a long grooming session, whether it’s a cozy plush cat bed in the corner or a hammock on the windowsill.

3. Adventure and exploration

All cats love a good adventure now and then. When a cat is too bored, it will do mischief just to make up for it. Even if you can’t let your cat explore nature, you can still provide plenty of entertainment at home.

Thanks to the ever-growing pet toy market, there are so many great ideas for entertainment such as:

• Mice and balls

• Cat caves

• Wall mounts

• Suspension bridges

• Shelves

• Cat tree

• Catnip toys

4. Delicious, appetizing treats

What cat would turn down a tasty treat? Not many, that’s for sure. Every time your cat behaves well or responds to your command – you should reward it with a treat. These small, tasty treats show your kitty that you love them and are there to pamper them. However – be careful with the quantities, as treats are very high in calories and before you know it, your pet is already a few kilos more than it should be.

5. Quality food and fresh water

Having a source of fresh water and a regular feeding schedule is extremely important when you have a cat. They rely on consistent feeding and deserve to have clean water that prevents the growth of bacteria and potential disease.

If the purring friend eats from unsanitary bowls, it can cause some diseases, which will not make you or your cat happy.

6. Games

Cats really can entertain themselves for the most part. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to play with you every now and then. It is very important to give your purring pet time to play, preferably every day. This is how you become closer to your purring friend.

7. Variety of toys

If cats have the same old boring toys day after day, they will lose interest and start looking for fun with other objects that are not meant for that. Change the cuddly companion’s toys, and if you want, you can even make him balls or toys using corks for your cat to have fun with. Shoe boxes are also much loved by purring animals.

8. Love and attention

Some cats are incredibly sweet and never seem to want to give you a moment of peace. Others, however, are more remote and self-contained and don’t require as much attention. Regardless of the nature of the purring pet – you need to make sure that you show it attention and affection.

9. Clean environment

Failure to keep your cat’s litter box, food and water bowls, and resting areas clean can lead to a series of behavioral problems that can be difficult to correct. Cats are happy when their objects and especially their litter box are kept clean.

10. Keep them good company

Compatibility between pets and people is essential. Your cat wants a calm environment. It doesn’t matter if it’s the family dog ​​stressing out your cat or a screaming baby. If your cat spends most of its time in stress – it is unlikely to be happy. Some purring animals are very happy when they have a companion, so if your cat is like that – consider a second or perhaps a dog to have fun with.

Keeping your cat happy is really not a big challenge – we need to watch what he likes, provide enough entertainment, games with us and take the necessary care.

11 Signs You’re a Great Dog Owner

By
Gaston de Persigny
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brown and white dog wearing pink and black polka dot dress
Photo by Karsten Winegeart

Having a pet is one of the most rewarding things that can happen to a person, there’s no doubt about that. If you conduct a survey among four-legged owners, the results will certainly confirm that for a large number of them it is difficult to imagine life before their furry companions. And it can’t be otherwise – our dear dogs give us their sincere, unconditional love, loyalty and are always by our side, no matter what. Do you reciprocate your pet?

• 1) You can only fall asleep peacefully when your dog is also around – comfortably settled in his bed.

• 2) All your family photos include your pet.

• 3) You only go on vacation to dog-friendly places and hotels.

• 4) You call the quadruped by diminutive names.

• 5) When you travel without your dog, you stop at pet stores to get him a “souvenir”.

• 6) Your dog has its own account on one of the social networks.

• 7) Pamper your pet with high-quality accessories and fun additions such as bow ties or bandanas.

• 8) You keep seeing your puppy on Skype or Facetime when you’re apart.

• 9) ou talk to your dog as if he/she were a person.

• 10) Say words like “walk” or “dinner” only when it’s time for the specific activities so the dog doesn’t get overly excited.

• 11) You don’t mind curling up on one side of your bed while the pet is contentedly stretched out on ¾ of it.

And in order to become an even more awesome owner in the eyes of your pet, we offer you several ways to make dog walks more fun.

All dog owners know that they should take their pets out at least twice a day, for a minimum of 30 minutes. Of course,

we all have times when going outside in the company of our four-legged friend is far from our most preferred activity. Doing the same thing every day inevitably gets boring, and the mandatory walk of your furry companion is no exception.

At the same time, however, we know that it is important to stick to the animal’s daily routine. We have good news for you – there is a way to combine the useful with the pleasant!

• Let your dog navigate you

An easy way to diversify your furry friend’s walk is to let him decide where to go. Instead of taking your standard route – let your pet navigate the direction and guide you. Of course, in most cases the animal will probably stick to the well-known path, but this game is a great way to give your four-legged friend a chance to show you what is interesting to him.

• Let your pet sniff around

Walks are primarily physical exercise, but they are also a great way to keep your dog mentally stimulated.

Since most four-legged friends are at home all day while we’re at work, a walk is the only time of day they have a chance to explore the world outside. If you’re not a fan of stopping every two steps, schedule a few “sniff breaks” during your outing.

• Go to a nearby park

If a walk in your own neighborhood seems boring and tedious, why not go to a nearby park? Exploring new paths, smells and noises can be unexpectedly fun for your pet, and for you too! You can meet new friends with four legs, and this will have a good effect on the socialization of both of you.

• Invite a friend

When was the last time you invited a friend to go for a walk together? You will be surprised how much more fun and enjoyable a walk in the park can be if you communicate with a loved one in the meantime and share what happened to you “face to face” and not through social networks. As a bonus – the extra attention will make your pet happy too!

• Change the tempo

What pace do you keep while walking your dog? Are you a brisk walker, jogger, or fan of the slower, more pleasant moments outside? Try switching up your pace every now and then – it’s a really good and fun way to add some variety where speed is a key component.

• Add training

While walking your dog is a good time to make things a little more fun by adding a few quick exercises. You can repeat and reinforce basic commands – your pet has been proven to focus and keep his attention outside more easily if he has previously tired himself out.

• Get goodies as an incentive

You can try some fun games outside by bringing along some of your furry friend’s favorite treats. Throw them in the grass and have fun together until the animal finds them. Activities that involve nose work sharpen your furry companion’s natural abilities and instincts. In this way, on the one hand, you make the time outside more pleasant, and on the other hand, you offer the animal additional mental stimulation.

• Set goals and make a game out of it

Decided you need a little more physical activity this week? Or do you think there are places in your neighborhood that for one reason or another you haven’t yet had the chance to visit with your pet? The goals related to your dog’s daily walk can be the most varied, the only rule is to stick to them and always note your progress!

Unprecedented global challenges are ‘not insurmountable’ – UN chief

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United Nations News
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Unprecedented global challenges are ‘not insurmountable’ – UN chief
Nearly a year ago, the UN chief released his report, Our Common Agenda (OCA), a blueprint for global cooperation moving forward, and reinvigorated multilateralism. On Thursday, he updated the General Assembly on progress made so far, saying the need for the report’s proposals “has only increased.”
“In addition to the triple planetary crisis of climate breakdown, air pollution and biodiversity loss, and the immense suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts are raging across the world”, said Secretary-General António Guterres.

The ripple effects of the war in Ukraine, are contributing to surging food and energy prices, which are hitting vulnerable developing countries the most”, he added, “but while the problems before us are unprecedented, they are not insurmountable”.

Gloomy forecast

Mr. Guterres painted a grim picture of “unabated and growing” global shocks, and a world economy in which “developing countries are being squeezed dry” as new COVID variants again disrupt lives, throwing “the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) …further off course”.

Meanwhile, the climate catastrophe is “mounting by the day” as global greenhouse gas emissions are “at their highest levels in human history – and rising”.

And the risk of nuclear confrontation is “more acute than it has been for decades”.

“Business as usual will almost certainly guarantee a future of constant crises and devastating risks,” stated the UN chief.

‘Have we woken up?’

The report provides a framework and opportunity to “unite the international community around solutions to this situation,” he said.

“Our Common Agenda was intended as a wake-up call. One year on, we must ask ourselves: have we woken up?”.

It proposes a new global deal to divide up differently power and resources and re-establish social contracts to better manage future shocks and global crises.

The UN chief updated Member States on parts of the Agenda already in motion, including “well advanced” preparations for the Transforming Education Summit in September.

“The largest-ever gathering of learners and teachers will provide an opportunity to mobilize ambition, action, solidarity and solutions; to reimagine education systems fit for the future; and to generate fresh momentum for SDG4 and the 2030 Agenda overall,” said the Secretary-General, noting that the Pre-Summit in June had been “a remarkable success”.

And in September, he will speak about reforming international financial architecture “to tackle historic weaknesses and inequalities,” which will include short-term actions for immediate relief for developing countries, and long-term measures to guarantee resilience.

Agendas for change

The UN’s “five agendas for change” are fostering a “new culture and new capabilities” in the fields of data, digital, innovation, behavioural science, and strategic foresight.

New initiatives are being launched to “unleash the potential of data for people, planet and the SDGs,” he said, pointing to UN Behavioural Science Week that engaged thousands on how to translate scientific method into impacting people and a Futures Lab to strengthen long-term outcomes of programmes.

“Last week the General Assembly adopted a historic resolution declaring the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, demonstrating your commitment to this important goal,” the Secretary-General continued.

Summit of the Future

He spoke in detail about the planned Summit of the Future, describing it as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate global action, recommit to fundamental principles, and further develop the frameworks of multilateralism so they are fit for the future”.

Human rights and gender equality will be cross-cutting themes, with a consistent focus on a renewed social contract that includes marginalized groups.

“Inclusion of a wide range of voices is not only the right thing to do, but also the only way we will arrive at meaningful solutions,” he said.

UNHCR/Diego Moreno

Women in Rio Negro preparing the soil for planting.

Leaders’ Pact

The UN chief hoped that the Summit would yield an inter-governmentally negotiated Leaders’ Pact for the Future to “reinvigorate the multilateral system and make it fit for the challenges of today and tomorrow”.

It should re-focus efforts on existing climate commitments; address international peace and security threats; realize ambitions on human rights, international justice, and gender equality, including safeguarding rights in digital spaces.

“The Pact for the Future must demonstrate to the world that while we face daunting challenges, we can overcome them with co-operation, compromise and global solidarity,” he said.

The Secretary-General set out proposed tracks for and possible outcomes of the Pact, beginning with a New Agenda for Peace to better address “all forms and domains of threats” and prevent the outbreak and escalation of hostilities on land, at sea, in space and in cyberspace.

His second proposal, a Global Digital Compact, seeks an open, free and secure digital future and his third, a Declaration on Future Generations, includes establishing mechanisms to consider their needs as well as a dedicated envoy.

Stopping arms race in space

He hoped that the Summit would yield a high-level political agreement on the peaceful use of outer space, his fourth proposal, including a commitment to negotiate an international instrument to prevent an arms race there.

An emergency platform to manage future global crises in a “fast, coordinated way,” was his fifth proposal, saying the UN was uniquely placed to manage it.

“The world has paid a high price for our ad hoc responses to recent global shocks…No single organization exists to gather stakeholders in the event of such a global crisis”.

Despite the success of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, he stressed: “We do not yet have the mechanisms we need”.

Twin summits

In closing, he drew links between the proposed Summit of the Future, and next year’s SDG Summit in New York, to “rescue the SDGs”.

The twin summits aim to create conditions for a sustainable, inclusive future, which together with the Paris Agreement on climate change, are “our last, best chance to deliver on people’s demand for a multilateral system that manages and solves global challenges in a timely, effective and fair way”.

4 summer dangers for cats and how to protect them

By
Gaston de Persigny
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brown tabby kitten
Photo by Tran Mau Tri Tam ✪

dangers for cats – All through the long and hard winter, summer is the only thing we think about. When it happens – we are all more than happy and can now quite calmly even start to complain about the heat. While we take care of ourselves, drink more water and wear a hat in the sun, we should not forget our pet.

Whether your purring pet lives inside or goes outside periodically, there are some risks for them during the hot months.

1. Shedding of fur

With the warmer weather, your cat may begin to shed the fluffy winter fur to replace it with lighter summer fur. This can lead to hairballs or more serious problems. This is a period when purring animals may ingest more fur than usual as they wash frequently. This can lead to hairballs or vomiting and even some dangerous blockages that require veterinary attention. To deal with the situation, it is important to regularly brush your pet more often than usual to remove dead fur. That way it will stay on the brush instead of going into the cat’s stomach.

2. Risk of skin burns

The good thing about this danger is that it is quite rare in domestic cats. An exception exists in the hairless representatives, such as the Sphynx, as they have no fur to protect them, which makes them a good “target” for the scorching rays of the sun.

Although you will rarely notice your cat lounging by the window in the heat of the day, still – provide enough shade or even move the purring pet to a cooler place.

3. Heat stroke

Hot temperatures are not only dangerous for us, but also for pets. Heatstroke is a scary thing, and it can look a little different in cats than you might expect. Cats don’t normally breathe with their mouths open, so any dog-like panting is a problem. Also, any lethargy or difficulty walking requires prompt veterinary attention.

If you suspect that the cat is warmer than it should be – you can use lukewarm water and spread it on the cat’s belly, paws or ears. However, if you are concerned that your purring pet is not looking well – see your vet. Older cats, kittens and those with illnesses are prone to heat stroke.

Signs of heat stroke include high body temperature, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, stumbling, lethargy, vomiting and sweaty paws.

4. Insect bites or stings

Whether a purring pet lives outdoors or indoors, the danger of insects exists. Of course, indoor cats are less likely to be bitten or stung, but the risk is there. For purring friends walking outside – the danger becomes very real. Therefore, do not miss the deworming of the pampered pet. While this alone will not save the cat from being bitten, it will protect it from possible parasites and diseases that the insect may infect it with.

Although this is the favorite season for many of us, we should not underestimate the risks of warm weather and taking care of the pet. Even if your cat stays at home – provide it with enough shade and fresh water to drink from at any time.

Healthy life expectancy in Africa grows by nearly 10 years

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officialinstitutions
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Healthy life expectancy in Africa grows by nearly 10 years

Healthy life expectancy among Africans living in mainly high and upper-middle-income countries on the continent has increased by almost 10 years, the UN health agency, WHO, said on Thursday.

The World Health Organization announced the good news after examining life expectancy data among the 47 countries that make up the WHO African Region from 2000 to 2019, as part of a continent-wide report into progress on healthcare access for all – a key SDG target.

“This rise is greater than in any other region of the world during the same period,” the WHO said, before warning that the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could threaten “these huge gains”.

Healthier for longer

According to the UN agency’s report, Tracking Universal Health Coverage in the WHO African Region 2022, life expectancy on the continent has increased to 56 years, compared with 46 at the turn of the century.

“While still well below the global average of 64, over the same period, global healthy life expectancy increased by only five years,” it explained.

The continent’s health ministries should be credited for their “drive” to improve health and well-being among populations, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

In particular, the continent has benefited from better access to essential health services – up from 24 per cent in 2000 to 46 per cent in 2019 – along with gains in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health.

Benefits of tackling disease

Considerable progress against infectious diseases has also contributed to longer life expectancy, WHO said, pointing to the rapid scale-up of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria control measures from 2005.

Despite these welcome initiatives in preventing and treating infectious diseases, the UN agency cautioned that these gains had been offset by a “dramatic” rise in hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, in addition to the lack of health services targeting these diseases.

“People are living healthier, longer lives, with fewer threats of infectious diseases and with better access to care and disease prevention services,” said Dr Moeti.

“But the progress must not stall. Unless countries enhance measures against the threat of cancer and other non-communicable diseases, the health gains could be jeopardized.”

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

When 29-year-old Nonhlanhla discovered that she was both pregnant and HIV positive, she was frightened, but through antiretroviral treatment and uninterrupted breastfeeding, her six-month-old son, Answer, is healthy and HIV-free.

Resisting the next global threat

Ringfencing these precious health gains against the negative impact of COVID-19 – “and the next pathogen to come” – will be crucial, the WHO official insisted, as the UN agency noted that on average, African countries saw greater disruption across essential services, compared with other regions.

In total, more than 90 per cent of the 36 countries that responded to the 2021 WHO survey reported one or more disruptions to essential health services, with immunization, neglected tropical diseases and nutrition services most badly affected.

“It is crucial for governments to step up public health financing,” WHO insisted, adding that most governments in Africa fund less than 50 per cent of their national health budgets, resulting in large funding gaps. “Only Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Eswatini, Gabon, Seychelles and South Africa” fund more than half of their health expenditure, it noted.

One of WHO’s top recommendations to all governments looking to boost healthcare access is for them to reduce “catastrophic” household expenditure on medicines and consultations.

Households that spend more than 10 per cent of their income on health fall into the “catastrophic” category. Over the past 20 years, out-of-pocket expenditure has stagnated or increased in 15 African countries.

Bishops of Africa: It is painful to see young people leave the continent

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Vatican News
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Bishops of Africa: It is painful to see young people leave the continent. - Vatican News

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City

At the end of the 19th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) held from 25 July to 1 August 2022 in Accra, Ghana, on the theme, Ownership f SECAM: Security and Migration in Africa and the Islands, the Bishops issued a communique signed by the new President of the continental body, the Ghanian Bishop of Wa Diocese, Cardinal-designate Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr.

It pains to see young people leave

“One can emigrate for various reasons: natural, economic, political, intellectual. Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes migration a right. This is why migration cannot be considered illegal but could be irregular …. To all intending migrants, especially young people who seek to exercise their right to migrate, we urge them to do so in a manner that is administratively acceptable and with full knowledge of the challenges that await them,” said Bishop Baawobr.

Pope Francis with some young African migrants & refugees

The SECAM Bishops’ communique adds, “We wish to express our pain in seeing our youth leaving our countries, knowing that they are going to suffer and possibly lose their lives, and we lament our inability to stop them from leaving. We commit ourselves to take measures that will encourage their free choice and the ones that will involve them in the construction of their countries,” reads the statement.

Bishop Baawobr presented the communique at the SECAM Plenary Assembly’s closing Mass held Sunday at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Accra, Ghana. 

The new leadership of SECAM

Pastoral care and programmes for migrants

“We encourage our youths not to lose hope and to hold on to God through a life of holiness,” the Ghanaian prelate said, adding, “Migration is a normal social phenomenon that is linked to the history of humankind. It has a Biblical basis. Thus, according to the book of Deuteronomy, the offering of the first fruits of the harvest to the Lord was accompanied by a solemn profession of faith: ‘My Father was a wandering Aramaean. He went down to Egypt, where he lived as a sojourner with the small number of people who accompanied him’ (Dt 26, 5),” said Bishop Baawobr.

The suffering and deaths of migrants are not linked directly to the fact of migration as such, he said. Still, migration can involve suffering such as the abuse of the social status of migrants, exploitation, and ignorance, among other violations, affirmed the SECAM President.

Migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

The SECAM Bishops want Africa’s socio-political decision-makers to erect structures and conditions that discourage irregular migration. These structures should include good governance, employment opportunities, multifaceted security, political and social inclusion as well as the promotion of social justice. The Bishops further implore transit and host countries to respect the rights and human dignity of migrants.

Migrant young woman with child in Libya.

The Bishops’ communique encourages Christian communities on the African continent to develop active pastoral care for migration, summarised in four actions: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. 

Renewing SECAM

The Bishops of Africa dedicate time in the communique to promoting renewal and recommitment  to the continental body, SECAM. They appeal, in particular, to a new generation of African clerics and the Catholic faithful who perhaps are no longer familiar with the initial ideals of SECAM. They underline the importance of SECAM as a continental body of pastoral solidarity hence the urgency for re-engagement with the broader African Church. 

“SECAM is the organ of pastoral solidarity for the Church in Africa and Madagascar,” the African prelates emphasise and insist that it is, therefore, “urgent that SECAM should strive through concrete engagement of all her members to be financially and materially self-sufficient. We, your pastors, commit ourselves to henceforth support fully the mission of SECAM and urge you to identify with her in order to make her more dynamic and functional in the execution of her mission of evangelisation,” reads the Bishops’ message on the future of SECAM.

Insecurity on the continent

The Bishops encourage social and political stakeholders and decision-makers to continue to do their utmost to fight against insecurity on the continent. The Church, too, must take an important part in this search for peace and security. 

“This is why the Church must play her prophetic role, by firmly and clearly denouncing situations of insecurity and their causes. She must also continue to offer everyone reasons for hope and peace in collaboration with organisations working for reconciliation, justice and peace,” urged Bishop Baawobr.

SECAM and Social Communications

Social Communications as a priority of SECAM

In their communique, the Bishops of Africa once again place social communications as a pastoral priority on the continent. It was widely discussed in the aftermath of the first African Synod and led to the establishment of many Catholic diocesan radio stations in Africa. 

“As Church family of God in Africa and Madagascar, we remain committed to engaging the world of media through the traditional, modern and social means of communication and the new discoveries of the digital era. We shall intensify the ethical and technical formation of the professionals and practitioners of Church communications while engaging with the philosophies and ideologies that underpin contemporary media institutions, practice and expertise in order to help make them agents of communion, reconciliation and peace,” Bishop Baawobr told the Accra Cathedral congregation. 

The Synodal process in Africa

The Bishops of Africa also gave a collective nod to Pope Francis’s synodal process.

“This process of synodality has already begun at the level of basic Christian communities, parishes, dioceses, nations and regions. We are now entering the continental phase, whose assembly will be celebrated in the month of March 2023. We invite all the faithful to support this dynamism and to make it theirs through prayer and lifestyle,” said Bishop Baawobr.

New Research Demonstrates the Power of Sport For People With Disabilities

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New Research Demonstrates the Power of Sport For People With Disabilities

University of Illinois study findings demonstrate the mental health and wellness benefits of adaptive sport

Our findings demonstrate the mental health and wellness benefits of adaptive sport for people with disabilities, especially during times when our daily lives are disrupted”
— University of Illinois Research Lead Dr. Jules Woolf

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES, August 1, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — According to the Center for Disease Control, one in 4 U.S. adults – 61 million Americans, have a disability that impacts major life activities. Of those, 47 percent of people with a disability ages 18 to 64, reported they get no aerobic physical activity. For many of these Americans, the benefits that physical activity can have on their whole health are not widely understood.Existing, independent, peer-reviewed academic research has previously demonstrated that adaptive sports has positive, lasting physical and psychological effects – yet more work is needed. In December 2020, Move United, the national leader in community adaptive sports, partnered with a research team at the University of Illinois Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism to conduct a study with over 1,000 individuals with a disability across the country. The study was conducted in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic and looked at the benefit of Move United programming.

Research Lead Dr. Jules Woolf and his University of Illinois team recently published a paper in the Journal of Leisure Studies entitled “Disasters and catastrophes: the impact on people with disabilities’ leisure-time physical activity participation and associative mental health and well-being.”

Some of the keys findings published in the journal included:

• The social aspect of being active is important.

• More simply, participating with others is important for people’s mental health, especially when our lives are facing upheaval.

• Military veterans were more likely to be in the Heavily Impacted group that had poorer mental health and well-being indices, which is concerning given the challenges this population already experiences.

• For some people with disabilities, such as those with limb loss, continuing to be physically active during disasters may be more about motivating participation. In contrast, for others, such as those with TBI, tailored outreach and programming may be needed to overcome barriers to being active.

“Our findings demonstrate the mental health and wellness benefits of adaptive sport for people with disabilities, especially during times when our daily lives are disrupted. And importantly, it shows that people with different disabilities or different life experiences, such as veterans, experience these disruptions differently. That has major implications for adaptive sport programming and outreach,” Woolf said.

To learn more about adaptive sports opportunities across the country, visit moveunitedsport.org.

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