Also in Global Health: Child sexual abuse in Zimbabwe; dengue outbreak in Cape Verde; program reduces waste in Kenya slums

Nov 11 2009

Mail & Guardian Examines Sexual Abuse Of Children In Zimbabwe

The Mail & Guardian examines how the "economic collapse" in Zimbabwe has contributed to rising numbers of children falling victims to sexual abuse. "A single clinic in the capital, Harare, says it has treated nearly 30,000 girls and boys who were abused in the past four years - an average of 20 per day." The article examines other contributing factors to the sexual abuse of children in Zimbabwe and a recent program that aims to make schools safe places for Zimbabwe's children (11/10).

Medical Team Arrives In Cape Verde To Help With Dengue Outbreak

Cape Verdean authorities on Monday announced an international medical team had arrived on Western island state "to fight a dengue fever epidemic that has killed six and is suspected to have hit 12,000 in a country of just over 400,000 inhabitants," Reuters reports (11/9). Cape Verdean authorities also reported the number of new cases of dengue had slowed to fewer "than 600 new cases daily reported in the last two days," following a "massive three day campaign to eradicate the breeding grounds for the type of mosquitoes that transmit the disease, for which there is no vaccine," Agence France-Presse reports. "Last week the number of new cases was on average over 900 daily, the national epidemic surveillance service said Monday" (11/9).

VOA News Examines Program In Kenya That Is Converting Human Waste Into Bio-Gas

VOA News examines a program in the Kenyan slum of Kibera that is converting human waste from a community toilet into bio-gas that can be used for cooking. The article includes comments by a member of the coalition of five community groups, called TOSHA (Total Sanitation and Hygiene Access), who built the bio-gas center two years ago, who says it has helped to reduce waste dumping and diseases. "Project supporters say the TOSHA Bio-Gas Centre is a model for communities everywhere, especially those dealing with power shortages," the news service writes (Majtenyi, 11/7).