The fascinating secrets of plant reproduction that scientists are still uncovering

The anthers are where pollen is produced. The Camera Dad By John Doonan, Aberystwyth University and Maurice Bosch, Aberystwyth University You might think flowers don’t have much choice about who they mate with, given they are rooted to the ground and can’t move. But when scientists from Nagoya, Japan used powerful microscopes to study the fertilisation process, they were surprised to find the female part of a flowering […]

September 10, 2024 13

Africa

Mpox in the DRC: children are at high risk – health expert explains why

By Nadia Adjoa Sam-Agudu, University of Minnesota The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that children, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk from the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reports confirm that children under five account for 39% of all cases in the country, and babies as young as two weeks are being diagnosed with this viral illness. Nadia […]

September 2, 2024 33

Namibia

362 gender-based violence cases recorded from January to April!

https://youtu.be/no_LjpMYE4o By Finna Kahili, via News on One Media reports and police cases indicate that the Namibian landscape has been plagued by a surge in incidents of gender-based violence and rape, sparking significant concern. Speaking to News on One, City Police Superintendent Marcelline Murapo revealed some alarming statistics, namely that from January to April this year alone, a total of 362 cases of gender-based violence were recorded. Disturbingly, among these […]

May 27, 2024 28

Africa

“Silent disease” outed at African Hepatitis Convention

From the left: Mark Sonderup, Danjuma Adda, Mark Heywood, Elaine Saayman and Yolaan Andrews during a session at the African Viral Hepatitis Convention on Saturday. Photo: Liezl Human By Liezl Human, via GroundUp The African Viral Hepatitis Convention this past week has put a spotlight on the need for eliminating hepatitis B and C, a disease which has infected millions of South Africans and can cause liver cancer if […]

May 21, 2024 27

Opinion Pieces

Men’s mental health matters: breaking down barriers and seeking support

In Namibia, as in many parts of the world, there's a silent struggle happening among men – a struggle with mental health. But why is it silent? Why aren't we talking about it more openly? The truth is, there are several reasons why men tend to keep their mental health struggles to themselves. For one, there's this idea that men should be tough, strong, and always in […]

May 17, 2024 8

Africa

Children born of rape: the devastating legacy of sexual violence in post-genocide Rwanda

By Myriam Denov, McGill University Trigger warning: this article contains accounts of sexual violence. The 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi led to the murder of more than 800,000 people, an estimated 70% of the country’s Tutsi population. The unprecedented violence and mass killings of Tutsi and non-extremist Hutu were carried out over 100 days between April and July 1994. An estimated 250,000–500,000 women and girls were […]

April 9, 2024 6

Lifestyle

Zulu culture and sexual orientation: South African study reveals the health costs of stigma

By Ikekhwa Albert Ikhile, University of South Africa Same-sex relationships are legal in South Africa and protected by the constitution. Unfair discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is against the law. But in practice many cultures don’t necessarily see this as a right. Traditional Zulu culture, for example, perceives same-sex relationships and sexual intercourse as taboo and unAfrican. Statements like “real men are not gay” […]

March 27, 2024 34

Business / Economics

Economic inclusion of people with disabilities cornerstone for Economic growth

By Josef Kefas Sheehama It is indeed regrettable that people with disabilities continue to face exclusion from the economy. We are excluded from employment, skills training, education, and other critical areas of development. The latest reports indicated that 95% of people who have disabilities in the Kunene region are unemployed, while in the Khomas region, it is nearly 70% according to the Namibia Association for Wheelchair Users. […]

March 13, 2024 14

Health / Medical

Stigma kills people with alcohol addiction

sirtravelalot/Shutterstock Ashwin Dhanda, University of Plymouth One of my patients, Emma (not her real name), recently told me that she didn’t seek help for her alcohol problem because she was ashamed. She said that she didn’t want to waste anyone’s time on a self-inflicted problem. She lived with it for years, hiding bottles of alcohol so her partner wouldn’t find out. Only when she turned yellow and vomited blood did […]

February 6, 2024 13

Stigma