Kwabena A-Manager, Author at TalkAfrique

October 26, 2010January 14, 2011

New scientific finding on mosquitoes is not good news on the malaria front

Mosquito1 — Mosquito sp. Anopheles gambiae is responsible for malaria

The research team of researchers from the University Of Notre Dame, the J.C. Venter Institute, Washington University and the Broad Institute are reporting that two strains of mosquitoes responsible for malaria in Africa are evolving at an unexpected rate into genetically distinct species. This is not good news as it will further complicate the tedious fight against malaria by creating a situation where strategies and medicines developed against malaria may not be effective against both strains

The studies were reported in the magazine Science. The two issues (Science 22 October 2010:Vol. 330. no. 6003, pp. 512 – 514; Science 4 October 2002:Vol. 298. no. 5591, pp. 115 – 117) suggest that the evolution process is occurring faster than previously thought, and point to already substantial differences in the two strains. The two species already able to exploit different habitats.

Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds worldwide, according to World Health Organization. The incidence could be higher in sub-Saharan African.

The work focused on the Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito that is the most transmitter of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The study describes the two strains as “M” and “S” strains of the “Anopheles gambiae mosquito

What they found was that the mosquitoes are diverging into two different incipient species, which are called M and S forms. Physically, the two forms are cannot be distinguished, they are and able to interbreed, but their DNAs are diverging into different directions. Their behaviors are different under different conditions.

The ‘M’ form is usually found in around permanent bodies of water and spends most of its life in water environment. This means that it can thrive in dry areas that are normally not good habitats for malaria transmitting mosquitoes.

The S form is used to small, short-lived water bodies and breeds well during the rainy season. It is clear how these ‘tricks’ by the mosquito could undermine current efforts to combat the disease.

Work is ongoing to sequence the genome of the two forms of mosquitoes which could help us to decipher why they are different and how to devise ways to combat them more effectively.

October 26, 2010January 22, 2011

Belief in Withcraft and Your Attitude to Life

A Gallup study in Sub-Saharan Africa shows that individuals who believe in witchcraft rate their lives worse than those who don’t. On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the best possible life, those who believe in witchcraft rate their lives at a 4.3 on average, while those who do not believe or don’t have an opinion rate their lives higher on the scale, at 4.8 on average.

Generally, the lower the education level and household income, the more likely it is for a person to believe in witchcraft. Even among the most educated those who say they believe in witchcraft rate their lives worse than those who don’t. The poll also showed that on the average 55% of all residents in Sub-Saharan Africa believe in witchcraft. Ivory Coast tops the list of believers while Ugandans are the most skeptical of witches.

Before drawing any conclusions, for your information, in the US, 21% believe in witchcraft, 23% believe in ghosts, 25% believe in astrology, 41% believe Saddam Hussein was the mastermind or involved in 911, 20% believe the sun revolves around the moon (1999) and 58% of Republicans believe Pres. Obama was not born in the US. Such belief is the foundation of the Tea Party Movement and the Birthers.

October 25, 2010January 14, 2011

Mugabe Hijacks Big Brother Craze for Political Gain

Zimbabwe’s representative in Africa’s Big Brother reality TV show landed in second place, but took home a prize bigger than the official jackpot, a cherished date from President Robert Mugabe’s family. Reports from Harare say the Zimbabwean loser was whisked away to State House to meet Mugabe immidiately he landed.

Uti Nwachukwu from Nigeria won the official 200,000-dollar prize from the show. The Big Brother reality show locks up contestants from around the continent in a house.

Munyaradzi Chidzonga just lost out to Uti received a 300,000-dollar cheque from President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday, $100, 000 more than the winner.

Mugabe, who probably did not watch the show, also declared the voting as ‘not free and fair’. Really?

Teachers and nurses are on strike every other week in Zimbabwe so one wonders whether this is not a misplaced priority.

October 25, 2010April 16, 2011

Does Civil Rights Equal the Right to Be Scared of Other People?

If like most minorities, you are wrestling with uncomfortable stereotypes, prejudice and bigotry, someone who was once a civil rights activist is making the fight appear fruitless. It is said that if you live in glass house, do not be the first to throw a stone. Juan Williams, a long time respected NPR analyst did not take this with any seriousness. Juan Williams works for both NPR and FOX News. NPR is a public radio station which is listener-supported and has a history of being fair, balanced and accurate. FOX News, in most cases, cannot be described with same adjectives. They want it raw, red-hot and spicy.

Jesus once said it is very difficult to serve two masters and please both equally (especially when the two masters are so opposite as in the case of NPR and FOX News). Mr. Williams gets a pay check from both NPR and FOX. It would perhaps have been manageable if Juan provides commentary for Fox anchor like Shepherd Smith, which I personally like for his fairness, comparatively. Unfortunately, Mr. Williams fell in love with Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, 8 and 9 pm anchors respectively, who are known for making highly outrageous comments.

O’Reilly himself made one of such comments about a week ago on the ABC program The VIEW. He indiscriminately said Muslims killed Americans on September 11, 2001.

O’Reilly, being smart and looking for someone to hold his hand, was able to trick Juan Williams to make a statement that is very uncharacteristic of Juan. This is what he said to O’Reilly

“Look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”

[youtube]V0BSDLuIXZc[/youtube]

Brother, did you just say that? This is not the most outrageous comment ever. It shoud not however be coming from someone who could have been the subject of such stereotypes.

On Wednesday night NPR release the statement. J. Williams “remarks on The O’Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR”. He is fired.

It is fair that people will have the same feeling Juan Williams expressed in the above quote, looking back at September 11, 2001 and other episodes. On the other hand, no one will expect such a seasoned journalist to just say it out so bluntly. Imagine someone say “when I’m walking alone and meet a black guy in jeans and sleeveless, I feel very uncomfortable, I feel nervous”. How would you feel, Juan? This is not an arbitrary example. I’ve heard the exact statement before. I guess some of you have similar stories.

First of all, Mr. Williams has written a number of books on civil rights. Juan of course, is an African American who has spoken out against discrimination and bigotry in any form. Why would he just forget all that and just focus on pleasing his anchor and audience for his bi-weekly check?

Dr. King’s ‘Dream’ is still a long way from fulfillment, but such comments by individuals who also describe themselves as comrades on the battlefield makes the war appear to be a lose-lose effort.

Fear of Muslims or islamophobia is on the rise in the US and parts of the world and it is a tool used by some religious groups and politicians to rally their base.

October 22, 2010January 14, 2011

Bothered by pain? Consider a trip to Zambia, say John Hopkins researchers

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, U.S, have reported on a new study that will surely gladden the heart of the Zambian Ministry of Tourism. The conclusion of the study? Simply gazing at the amazing images of Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border is enough to reduce the feeling of pain for many patients such as those on cancer treatment. Specifically, 120 people who are outpatients undergoing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB) were evaluated.
BMAB is an unwanted long and painful procedure involving a large needle which is inserted into the back of the pelvic bone and bone marrow is drawn out, all using only local anesthesia. 44 patients were assigned a beautiful nature scene with accompanying calming sounds, 39 were assigned a typical city scene with city sounds and 37 were assigned standard care.
On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the most painful and zero being minimum or no pain (known as the John Hopkins Instrument), patients were asked to rate their pain.
The Results
The control group, which had neither nature nor city scenes – on average marked BMAB as 5.7
While those patients exposed to the scenic nature images and calming sounds recorded an average of 3.9 on the pain scale, a very statistically significant reduction.
Patients exposed to the city scene and sound found the treatment just as painful as the control group.
The report concludes then that viewing a nature scene while listening to nature sounds is a safe, inexpensive method that may reduce pain during BMAB.

Looking at the Victoria Falls with calm music can help you deal with pain

But before the Zambian tourism industry starts popping out the champagne, it is worth nothing that the researchers say the patients do not need to leave their sick bed. Just exposing the patients to the pictures and sounds while on their sick bed is good enough as breaking your wallet to visit the Victoria.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (September 2010: 965-972)

October 21, 2010January 21, 2011

We have your number – Ugandan nespaper presents ‘gay list’

An Uganda Newspaper has published the list of top “homosexuals” or Ugandan gays on the front page with a bright yellow banner across it that read: “Hang Them”.

Names, photographs and addresses of the Ugandan gays were also made public . The paper’s editor, Giles Muhame, defended the list and said he published it to expose Ugandan gays and lesbians, so authorities could arrest them. Currently, a bill is being debated in the Ugandan parliament that is expected to pass within months.

If passed, the law will make homosexuality a capital offense that could result in a death penalty. The parliamentarian who sponsored the bill is known to have strong ties with some religious groups in the US. It is no secret that a significant number of African communities recoil from gay and lesbian life styles. This is rooted in both religious as well as a traditionally conservative society.

In fact, in Kenya someone caught in a homosexual relationship could face a good number of years in jail. But the radical approach being pursued in Uganda is surely extreme even to people who reject such lifestyle. What is disturbing is the involvement of some religious groups from the US in Ugandan politics, especially when these groups have managed (or been compelled by the constitution) to live peacefully with every lifestyle here in the US.

Homosexuality is not new on the African continent but the people have learnt do live with it for centuries. They deal with it by their own local institutions which work for them. It is surely not right for any external group to prey upon the ignorance and poverty of some Ugandan communities and the greediness of some politicians to move the country this way. What Ugandans deserve is affordable healthcare, education and war against malaria, which takes a child’s life every 30 seconds. More on this story here CNN Fox

EKR6449RGF9J

October 20, 2010January 21, 2011

Belief in Male Circumcision in Sub-Saharan Africa

Male circumcision is believed to reduce the risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS in several sub-Saharan African countries .

Gallup just released a survey conducted to assess the belief and the practice of male circumcision in this region.

The numbers:

Subsahara Africa poll on male circumcision

Bottom Line

Although improved levels of education about HIV/AIDS do not necessarily change behaviors, the likelihood of change without education is low. Therefore, investment in effective education programs about circumcision should be increased and designed in such a way that those with lower levels of education hear and understand the message: circumcision reduces the chance of being infected with HIV.

October 20, 2010October 28, 2010

Comedy Versus Malaria

A non-profit Malaria No More is using humor to keep malaria in the news. The actors include a broad range of stars including Ed Helms, John Mayer, Elizabeth Banks, BJ Novak and Nick Kroll. The organization want to use humor to raise awareness for malaria in Africa. A child in Africa dies from malaria every 30 seconds!

The actors have set up Malaria No More fan page on Facebook. I encourage you to join them. You can get a good laugh and help save a life.