Editor's note

In many African countries data collection has become much better and more thorough. This is particularly true in the health sector where assessments on the incidence, distribution and control of diseases are being done much more than before. But the good news ends there. Damazo Kadengye explains why the use of routinely collected data in most African countries has been far from optimal. Fixing this is critical to improving the effectiveness and sustainability of health systems.

An estimated 83 million people across the world escaped extreme poverty in recent years. But in Africa – home to most of the world’s poorest countries – millions of people continue to live in desperate poverty. Niaz Asadullah and Antonio Savoia explain what African governments need to do to change this.

A survey conducted by a conservation group and Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks suggests that there’s a serious poaching problem in the northern part of the country. Ross Harvey writes that the government needs to address the problem urgently or it could end up like Tanzania which lost more than half of its elephants in half a decade.

In this week’s episode of Pasha we speak to Oyewale Tomori who gave us some fresh insights into Lassa fever in Nigeria and why the country is really struggling to manage the disease.

Ina Skosana

Health + Medicine Editor

Top Stories

An aid worker collects health and nutrition data in northeastern Kenya. Shutterstock

Why fixing Africa’s data gaps will lead to better health policies

Damazo T. Kadengye, African Population and Health Research Center

Data is essential for proper planning, budgeting and implementation of health care policies.

Mali one of the world’s poorest countries would take about 31 years to eradicate poverty. EPA/Nic Bothma

How Africa can catch up with the world in the fight against poverty

M Niaz Asadullah, University of Malaya; Antonio Savoia, University of Manchester

Countries with effective governments have reduced income poverty by almost twice the speed.

Botswana has about 122,000 elephants left. Mike Dexter/Shutterstock

New survey raises concerns about elephant poaching in Botswana

Ross Harvey, South African Institute of International Affairs

There is a significant elephant-poaching problem in northern Botswana that has likely been going on for over a year.

Business + Economy

Why a guaranteed jobs scheme in South Africa would pay for itself

Andrew Lawrence, University of the Witwatersrand

Guaranteeing unemployed South Africans a job at the minimum wage would have a range of positive outcomes for the economy.

Despite barriers, South Africa is a good place for impact investments

Suzette Viviers, Stellenbosch University; Stephen McCallum, Stellenbosch University

There's a lot of evidence to suggest South Africa should grow its impact investment market.

Podcast

Pasha 8: Nigeria’s struggle with Lassa fever

Ozayr Patel, The Conversation

Nigeria has a massive battle tackling Lassa fever.

Pasha 7: Why it’s important to stop food wastage

Ozayr Patel, The Conversation

Once crops have been harvested, farmers experience wastage and loss of food all over Africa.

From our international editions

We knew George Pell was guilty of child sex abuse. Why couldn’t we say it until now?

Michael Douglas, University of Western Australia; Jason Bosland, University of Melbourne

The public ought to be provided with a set of written reasons explaining why the court decided the suppression order was justified in the Pell trials.

If anyone won the Oscars this year it was Netflix – the prize for its industry disruption

Louis Brennan, Trinity College Dublin; Paul Lyons, Trinity College Dublin

With 15 nominations and three Oscars, Netflix is besting the big film industry players at their own party.

Maduro has pushed Venezuela to the brink of revolution – sanctions and aid may tip it over the edge

Ben Zissimos, University of Exeter

Food and medical aid at Venezuela's borders could spark a revolution.

Venezuela crisis: Trump threats to Maduro evoke bloody history of US intervention in Latin America

Joseph J. Gonzalez, Appalachian State University

The Trump administration says President Maduro's 'days are numbered' after Venezuelan security forces killed four protesters. But any US-led operation to oust him is likely to be extremely unpopular.

En français

La rougeole, une maladie mortelle contre laquelle la vaccination est indispensable

Paul Duprex, University of Pittsburgh

La rougeole fait son retour dans les pays où elle avait disparu. Fin janvier, un comté de Washington où seuls 22 % des enfants sont vaccinés déclarait l’état d’urgence. Comment en est-on arrivé là ?

La Chine, CRISPR et les post-humains

Guillaume Levrier, Sciences Po – USPC

Les jumelles chinoises génétiquement modifiées auront-elles une intelligence supérieure ? C’est ce que disent les rumeurs sur les réseaux sociaux. Le point sur ce que l’on sait.

 
 
 
 

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