Editor's note

A summit is under way in Nairobi that aims to get commitments to speed up progress on women’s health across the continent. The main areas that need attention include reducing maternal deaths, making sure women have access to family planning, and protecting them from gender-based violence. There will be a strong drive to get governments to commit funds. But, as Alex Ezeh explains, raising money is just part of what’s needed. Commitment to take action is also a prerequisite to making serious advances.

Over 200 teenage girls dropped out of school within a period of six months recently in Tanzania’s Rukwa region. This, Kate Pincock argues, shows yet again that the country’s punitive approach of expelling and arresting pregnant schoolgirls isn’t helping anyone and fails to address the root cause of teenage pregnancy.

Ina Skosana

Health + Medicine Editor

Top Stories

Women and girls in Gayo village, Ehtiopia collect water from a rain water pool which is purified with tablets before use. Shutterstock

Fresh drive to close gaps on health issues facing women and girls

Alex Ezeh, Drexel University

The aim is to reduce maternal deaths, address the unmet need for family planning and end gender-based violence by 2030.

Arresting pregnant teenagers won’t curb pregnancy rates. Shutterstock

Tanzanian girls need support, not threats, to avoid pregnancy

Kate Pincock, University of Oxford

Tanzania's government must focus on the drivers of teenage pregnancy, which are entirely overlooked in current punitive policies, instead of expelling and arresting schoolgirls.

Environment + Energy

Ghana’s traditional and state powers must collaborate to halt illegal mining

James Boafo, The University of Queensland

The institution of chieftaincy in Ghana must be involved if illegal mining is to be curbed

Farming in South Africa is under threat from climate change. Here’s how

Peter Johnston, University of Cape Town

The impact of climate change on agriculture and food production is clear: the sector will suffer. Here's what needs to be done.

From our international editions

Antarctica’s first zero emission research station shows that sustainable living is possible anywhere

Kate Winter, Northumbria University, Newcastle

Living sustainably has its challenges, but none greater than in the climate and geography of Antarctica.

Can the Paris Agreement on climate change succeed without the US? 4 questions answered

Henrik Selin, Boston University

President Trump has confirmed that the US will leave the Paris Agreement on climate change on the earliest allowable date: Nov. 4, 2020. Will this hobble efforts to slow global warming?

 
 
 
 

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