Cervical cancer is a deadly disease which claims the lives of thousands of Nigerian women every year. Nigeria is fighting this health menace with the introduction of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunisation programme and began a vaccination drive for young girls in October. In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Royal Uche speaks to top Nigerian scientists and health experts, Muhammad Habeebu, Ifeoma Okoye and Oyewale Tomori to learn more about the virus, from transmission to prevention, and how it leads to cancer.We also hear from Ahmed Rufai Garba, national coordinator for HPV vaccination in Nigeria, about the rollout of the vaccine and future plans to mitigate the challenges.This podcast was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

Tech solutions, even those created by young people, could tackle development challenges on the continent. In this episode of the Africa Science Focus podcast, reporter Aneta Felix speaks with two young innovators, Olivia Chizaram Obi from Nigeria and Sharon Kemunto from Kenya, who recently participated in a global tech competition.They give us insights into their innovations, and discuss the potential impact on their communities.The podcast also explores the behind-the-scenes journey of competition preparation with parents and mentors. David Jinad, a Nigerian software engineer, tells us how these young innovations can grow Africa's technology sector. This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

Strengthening research and innovation in Africa can catalyse progress on development issues such as food insecurity, the climate crisis, and poor health systems. In this episode of Africa Science Focus Podcast, our reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with chair holders of the OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) about how technology transfer and collaboration can lead to tangible changes on the ground.We also hear about the food systems research being carried out in Africa and why local cultural norms are an essential consideration. ORTARChI aims to build the capacities of researchers, fund their work and bring them together to find solutions to the lingering challenges facing the continent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

According to the 2022 Uganda Demographics Health Survey, around 40 per cent of Ugandan children are underdeveloped as a result of malnutrition.In this Episode of Africa Science Focus we speak to community worker Reuben Kikora who hopes to fight against child malnutrition by promoting kitchen gardening in the Kaborole district of western Uganda’s Tooro region.Our reporter, Michael Kaloki, looks at how communities are being trained to grow vegetables and other small-scale crops, to help feed their families and generate extra income.Bernard Bwambale, who oversees food systems and nutrition programmes in the region, tells us how this initiative can be made sustainable.————————————————This project was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the Solutions Journalism Accelerator. The fund is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected] Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

The health crises faced by Africa in the last decade have highlighted the clear need for improved healthcare systems and pandemic preparedness. Deadly disease outbreaks, such as the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the urgency for stronger epidemic intelligence and response mechanisms.In this episode of our Africa Science Focus Podcast, reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with Jean Ngamba and Professor Lorena Núñez Carrasco, recipients of the COVID-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund. They share their research on potential responses that Africa could employ in the event of a future pandemic or health crisis.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected] piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

Access to sexual and reproductive health services is a human right, but for millions of women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa it is lacking. Consequently, the region has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world with 545 deaths for every 100,000 live births, according to the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF.In this episode of our Science Explained series, reporter Michael Kaloki speaks with Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health. She talks about what needs to be done to change the cultural norms in communities where abortions are stigmatised, to avoid putting the lives of mothers and babies at risk.We also hear from Magda Robalo, president and co-founder of the Institute for Global Health and Development, in Guinea-Bissau, about ways to promote access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for women and girls.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]  Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station.This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

Breast milk is the ideal food for infants as it provides them with the nutrients and antibodies they need to thrive. But Nigeria’s breastfeeding rate stands at a meagre 29 per cent for a myriad of reasons including poor support for breastfeeding mothers and medical conditions. In this episode of our African Changemakers series, Africa Science Focus speaks with Chinny Obinwanne, founder of the Milk Booster breastfeeding company and Nigeria’s first milk bank, about the potential of breast milk banks to help address these challenges and improve the health and well-being of infants. We also speak to Olaiya Adegbola about his experience with the breast milk bank as a father in Nigeria.----------------------------------------------------------This project was funded by the European Journalism Centre through the Solutions Journalism Accelerator. The fund is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]  Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio stationThis piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

With the rollout of two new malaria vaccines on the horizon in Africa, the outlook for fighting the disease looks optimistic. But is it enough?In this episode of our Africa Science Focus Science Explained series, Michael Charles, head of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, tells us why he believes Africa must lead the drive to end the disease. Charles hails the “groundbreaking” latest WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix M, but stresses the need to keep up other malaria control measures too.We also hear from Chika Offor, CEO of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, who says people in the region must see the value of the vaccine if the rollout campaign is to be successful.----------------------------------------This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

In this episode of Africa Science Focus, maths professor Jill Adler, recipient of the 2023 National Research Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, sheds light on the education system of South Africa’s former apartheid government, which was designed to disadvantage black students. She talks to us about her work to improve the teaching of mathematics in indigenous South African languages and discusses the importance of considering students’ different language needs. We also speak to James Meiring, director of reviews and evaluations at South Africa’s National Research Foundation, who tells us that Adler's work has helped to disrupt the apartheid government's education system and improve maths education. ----------------------This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected] piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]

Artificial intelligence is ubiquitous and will impact the world in ways we can only imagine. In Africa, it has the potential to transform many aspects of daily life, from healthcare and agriculture to education and finance.In this episode of the podcast Africa Science Focus, we speak to Barbara Glover, programme officer at the African Union Panel on Emerging Technologies, about the potential of AI to benefit Africa, as well as the possible pitfalls. We also hear from Abake Adenle, chief executive officer of Ajala, a start-up that develops speech technologies for African languages.-----------Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected] Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station.This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at [email protected]