Nigeria was successful in controlling the Ebola outbreak that ravaged several west African countries between 2014 and 2016. But the country has failed abysmally when it comes to dealing with the more frequent outbreaks of a range of other diseases. One of them is Lassa fever. Oyewale Tomori explains what’s missing and what can be done to plug the gaps.
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has declared that rape and sexual violence must be treated as a national emergency. Luisa Schneider explains why this level of political attention is vital in ensuring that speedy policy changes are made. But, she warns, the government needs to collaborate with – and support - groups that have been working with victims.
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Nigeria was quick to respond and control the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
EPA
Oyewale Tomori, Nigerian Academy of Science
Nigeria's health systems are overwhelmed and incapable of sustaining high quality disease surveillance, prevention, control and response.
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Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has made fighting rape a priority.
EPA-EFE/Ernest Henry
Luisa T. Schneider, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Sierra Leone has declared a national emergency to combat rape and sexual violence.
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Arts + Culture
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Samson Kaunga Ndanyi, Rhodes College
A Kenyan film director sued her country's film board and won. Local artists should follow suit and fight censorship.
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Ilana van Wyk, Stellenbosch University
Prosperity gospel in South Africa is in the news for all the wrong reasons. But for its followers, it's not a con, just a different approach to God.
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Business + Economy
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Vikash Sewram, Stellenbosch University
The global cancer burden especially in developing countries is exacerbated by the high cost of treatment.
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Catrina Godinho, University of Cape Town; Lauren Hermanus, University of Cape Town
Eskom, South Africa's power utility will be unbundled and receive financial support from national treasury. These are the next steps.
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From our international editions
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Rick Stafford, Bournemouth University; Peter JS Jones, UCL
Plastic is not as much of a threat to oceans as climate change or over-fishing.
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Ronald Hall, Michigan State University
In the US, black children wait longer to be adopted and cost less to adopt than white children.
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En français
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Nicolas Authier, Université Clermont Auvergne
Alors que leur utilisation explose, l’ANSM propose des mesures pour favoriser le bon usage des antidouleurs opioïdes. Objectif : éviter une crise sanitaire comparable à celle qui sévit aux États-Unis.
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Thomas Vitiello, Sciences Po – USPC; Bruno Cautrès, Sciences Po – USPC
Le Baromètre des Territoires révèle quatre grands portraits de Français qui, par leurs trajectoires sociales et territoriales, coexistent dans notre espace national.
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