The tobacco industry claims that tobacco- growing is essential to the livelihoods of millions of small-scale rural farmers in Malawi, Zambia and Kenya. Research shows that’s untrue.
Antiretroviral treatment prevents the virus from multiplying and prolongs the lives of HIV positive people.
Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
HIV self-testing is a potential strategy to overcome access to testing. However, there are emerging concerns on the lack of counselling, possible user error and accuracy of the kits.
High voltage electrical pylons on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital Nairobi.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
Kenya’s government, while promising cheaper power to consumers may actually be undercutting this promise in its pursuit of nuclear power plants and other costly projects.
People move around the outskirts of Dagahaley settlement at Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp.
Reuters/Jonathan Ernst
UN Refugee Agency special envoy Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, explains what caused the reversal of the decision to close Dadaab, and what the future holds for Kenya’s Somali refugees.
A strong judiciary isn’t enough to keep democracy in place. Kenya’s Supreme Court decision nullifying the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta is a case in point.
Reuters/Baz Ratner
The past 12 months provided further evidence of the danger of democratic backsliding in Africa. But it also saw powerful presidents suffer embarrassing setbacks in a number of countries.
An image by MeerKAT shows hydrogen gas in M83, a famous spiral galaxy.
SKA SA
A precursor to the Square Kilometre Array- the MeerKAT telescope - is being built right now and remarkable progress has been made in the last 12 months.
Most malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Susana Vera/Reuters
After an exceptional period of success in global malaria control, the progress has stalled. New strategies are needed to suit a variety of transmission patterns.
An aerial view, using drones, could make a big difference to mapping land across Africa.
Reuters/Adriane Ohanesian
After the fall of autocratic ruler Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe faces a difficult choice between the stability of a transnational government or a potentially divisive election contest.
The Black Mamba is a is a venomous snake endemic to parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
Shutterstock/NickEvansKZN
Reptiles add socioeconomic value but when it comes to accessing detailed reference information about them, students and naturalists can face serious challenges.
A Zimbabwean man harvests maize from a field outside Harare.
Reuters/Philimon Bulawayo
The Food and Agriculture organisation estimates that 30 to 40% of total food production is lost before it reaches the market. The losses in Africa are greater and sustainable strategies are needed.
An armed policeman searches for Al-Shabaab gunmen during the deadly Westgate shopping mall terrorist attack in Nairobi in 2013.
Reuters/Goran Tomasevic
Kenya faces a serious threat of terrorist attacks given its strategic geopolitical position, its tourism and corruption. The country needs to squarely face this and take appropriate measures.
Kenya needs to develop effective cancer testing and treatment options.
Olivier Asselin/Reuters
There is an urgent need for affordable cancer treatment services, lower drug costs, better equipped facilities, favourable national cancer policies and specialist doctors in Kenya.
Kenya needs to expand its energy transmission network which is plagued by flaws dating back decades.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
African countries need to start producing and developing their own medical devices. Suitably skilled biomedical engineers are needed for this sort of innovation to take root.
A strike by Kenyan nurses points to the country’s failure to manage the devolution of responsibility for health care from national to county governments.
South Africa boasts world class universities. It must not allow their quality to drop.
Shutterstock
Malaria is a major public health problem that affects 106 countries globally. A rigorous and systematic approach to predict and control malaria transmission is needed.