Articles for
February 2005
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Scientists Clash Over DDT Use -
Evelyn Lirri & Jane Nafula
The arguing over whether or not to use DDT in Uganda continues ... while thousands die from malaria. Anti-DDT campaigners should realise that their unscientific and biased opposition to DDT costs lives and blights the futures of thousands of young Ugandans. |
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Fact and Comment -
Steve Forbes
Steve Forbes weighs in on DDT and pulls no punches. Great stuff. |
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Experts Defend DDT Use -
Evelyn Lirri & Asha Ntabadde
At last some sense on DDT use in Uganda. If the government had been allowed to start using DDT a year ago, when they wanted to, thousands of lives would have been saved. Instead the country has had to deal with absurd and unscientific opposition to DDT - from among others the European Union. |
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In Africa, a Plant's Twofold Promise -
Andrew England
Build a market and people will produce. The irony is that many of the aid agencies now so interested in artemisia, such as USAID, blocked the development of a market for so long. |
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WHO Warns of Malaria Drug Shortage -
Jason Beaubien
This National Public Radio audio story explores the World Health Organization's assertion that there will be a massive shortfall in a key malaria drug, artemisinin. |
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EU Warns on DDT -
New Vision
Guy Rijcken, the EU Charge d'Affaires has warned Uganda not to use DDT. His claims that DDT will find its way into the food chain, thereby threatening exports, is false and malicious and will no doubt lead to further death and disease in that country. Why doesn't he just admit that he is using the DDT issue as a trade barrier to protect the cosseted EU farmers? This disgraceful behaviour must stop. |
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Zimbabwe hunger claims 'US plot' -
BBC
As usual the Zimbabwean government blames someone else for the misery, hunger and ill health it is inflicting on its own people. As more and more people are going hungry, it will become increasingly difficult to prevent deaths from preventable diseases, such as malaria. |
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Select Month
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DDT may cost $23m in exports
By Joel Ogwang
UGANDA could lose $23m (sh40b) in fruits and vegetable export earnings to the EU when it starts using DDT for malaria prevention.
Robert Karyeija, the principal health inspector in the agriculture ministry, said the EU is considering suspending Uganda’s produce for fear of DDT intoxication.
“The European Retailers Produce working group for Good Agricultural Practice (EUREP-GAP), an EU exporters’ body, is considering suspending importation of our agricultural products as soon as the health ministry imports DDT,” Karyeija said. EUREP-GAP gives Uganda $23m in fruits and vegetable exports annually.
He was recently addressing Mukono district agricultural officers at the community centre.
Karyeija said importers would reject Uganda’s exports because consumers in Europe and America want natural products.
He said DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl Trichloroethane) would make the products synthetic.
Karyeija said if the health ministry starts using DDT, it can affect agricultural fields especially in rural areas due to poor application, which can make harvests inorganic.
He urged Uganda National Bureau Standards to continue checking produce to ensure that it is purely organic to suit EU market standards.
“EU markets want only organic products. When we asked leading local supermarkets like SHOPRITE and UCHUMI why they import products, they said many local farmers ignorantly use chemicals, which could harm consumers and lead to court suits,” he said.
Karyeija said the EU, through EUREP-GAP, had passed a by-law, which stipulates that countries whose exports are inorganic would be banned by January next year. He warned farmers against over-reliance on fertilisers.
Ends
Published on: Saturday, 27th November, 2004
New Vision
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