The Centre for Coordination of Agriculture Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA) participated in the 8th Eco-Health Conference at the Durban International Conference Centre in South Africa from 14th to 18th November 2022.
The aim of this conference which was themed “’ working together for the healthy, just, and sustainable planet,” was for researchers to share findings of their research done in the various fields of Agriculture and health as they relate to the environment. `
CCARDESA’s Executive Director, Dr Cliff Dlamini and Mrs Bridget Kakuwa-Kasongamulilo, the CAADP-XP4 Information, Communication & Knowledge Management (ICKM), attended the conference. Their attendance was under the hospice of the CAADP-XP4Programme. The CAADP-XP4 Programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and administered by the IFAD. The Programme supports the implementation of climate-relevant interventions in the region.
Prof. Moses Chimbari, the President of Eco-Health, officially opened the Eco-health conference. Prof. Chimbari was excited that the earth’s solution-filled conference had finally come to Africa. The meeting was supposed to take place in 2020 but had undergone numerous postponements propelled by Covid19, floods, and unrest, among many other challenges. He remained optimistic that solutions would emerge from the conference aimed at transforming Africa.
Professor Busisiwe Ncama, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the college of health science at the University of KwaZulu Natal, gave the opening remarks. She expressed happiness that most conference presenters were Africans as they will address the challenges contextually. She hoped that deliberations on addressing climate change would be handled. She urged the staff of Kwa Zulu Natal to network with the participants to see how they could engage and learn new ways of combating existing research challenges.
Keynote presenter at the Eco health Conference Prof Nhamo, a Chief Researcher, EXxaro Chair in Climate and sustainability Transition at UNISA, said Eco health Scientists and Practitioners must do targeted research that responds to global problems and needs so that they remain relevant. They must aim to be impactful in their research instead of just desiring promotion.
He mentioned some key policy pointers that Africa needs to know. He noted that people need to understand that the harsh reality of increasing disasters has both direct and indirect impacts on eco-health and disease patterns. He also said that disaster risk reduction, including climate change, has inseparable linkages for attaining the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the 17 intertwined SDGs.
Prof. Nhamo indicated that there are linkages between common vector-borne diseases (VBD) such as malaria, bilharzia, and cholera to climate change. He further said that new studies are also showing linkages to COVID-19. “It is high time people started asking difficult questions to address the changes that the world is facing, and we need to realise that challenges such as climate change are here to stay; therefore, we must learn how to live with them,” said Prof Nhamo.
Dr Cliff Dlamini, CCARDESA Executive Director, said that the effects of Climate Change had affected many people mentally in the SADC region. The floods, droughts and cyclones devastate African people, especially the old, children and women. He also probed a need for collaboration between traditional healers and western medicines. He said this after a presentation of a study on predicting the habitat suitability of the Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s Claw in Zimbabwe using the maximum entropy model by Dr Sibonokuhle Ncube, which addressed Non- Timber Forestry products (NTFP). Dr Dlamini expressed that we need the skill of passing on medicine from one generation to another. “Researchers should devise mechanisms for documenting forest-based solutions and health solutions so that when the custodians die, it remains for future generations”.
Speaking at the same event, Chief Lulekwa T Mathenjwa from the Mathenjwa Traditional Council thanked the committee members for inviting him. He urged the participants to find sustainable ways of controlling disease using environmentally friendly methods.
The two youngest researchers at the Conference, Ms Kiara Reddy, and Ms Meron Fanta from Pietermaritzburg Girls High School, responded to a research question, “Does recycling at school improve the environmental practices of learners at home?” This ground-breaking research found that recycling works and community members are replicating the initiative in the surrounding schools. The girls were also awarded R15000 rands to undertake research of their choice.
Dr. Salome Bukachi from the University of Kenya presented the study she conducted on gender and new castle vaccine uptake. The study revealed that community nutritional value improves when women and men work together. She also learned that identifying community indigenous knowledge is critical while, at the same time, using the co-creation approach helps to provide direction on disease management.
Ms Ramolefhe Mutumwa from Botswana also shared the findings of her study on the acceptance of nutrient-dense traditional dishes by children and possible solutions for children during the Eco-health Conference in Durban. The study found that children exposed to traditional foods in their homes found them more palatable and enjoyable than those not exposed to traditional foods. Some of the foods the children were exposed to include the Morula fruit. The morula fruit has four times more vitamin C than citrus fruits.
The conference also had a special workshop on gender, which was all-inclusive, with nearly all the presentations summing up the meaning of Eco health as they addressed gender through different lenses.
Prof. Samson Mukaratiwa, in his remarks, said the Eco Health Conference was a success because of the calibre of its scientific presenters. One hundred fifty (150) abstracts were submitted and reviewed by 50 committee members, and many were picked to present their papers. Of the many, only a few could afford to come physically. The diverse presentations presented at the conference were rich, very informative, and addressed African challenges.
Prof Moses Chimbari closed the meeting by thanking the people who supported the organisation of the conference and the Chief for attending the opening session. Prof Moses Chimbari acknowledged speakers, moderators, facilitators, and technicians for their outstanding contributions. He was pleased that the conference deliberately had African presenters because this is critical as Africans are better placed to help find solutions for the African challenges. He also applauded the early careers and previous presidents who spoke and eco-health, planetary and human health. He urged all to attend the 9th Eco-Health Conference scheduled to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2024.
Being an eco-health conference, it ended with all attendees participating in the social corporate responsibility of cleaning the Durban Harbour. The conference attracted members of the academia, researchers, NGOs, schools, and Universities from all over the globe.
