Water infected with ARVs
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CONTAMINATION: A report from a research shared by a University of Botswana (UB) scientist at the Southern and Eastern African Network of Analytical Chemists (SEANAC) conference in July this year indicates that Gaborone waste water contains ARV drugs. Should it be augmented into portable water in the near future as per the suggestions of the authorities, scientists say there is urgent need to develop mechanisms to separate the pharmaceuticals.
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Researchers press panic buttons over ARVs traces in Gaborone water
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Study discovers ARVs in Glen Valley Wastewater treatment Plant
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Wastewater expected to augment potable water supplies to Greater Gaborone
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More than 269 100 people currently on medication in Botswana
- Professors call for methods to separate ARVs from waste water
With more than 269 100 people currently on Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs) medication in Botswana, a new challenge has emerged – the pharmaceuticals are finding their way into the waste water which is expected to be augmented with potable water in future.
A report from a research shared by a University of Botswana (UB) scientist at the Southern and Eastern African Network of Analytical Chemists (SEANAC) conference in July this year indicates that Gaborone waste water contains ARV drugs.
The life expectancy of people infected with HIV in Botswana has significantly increased over the years as Batswana embraced the use of ARV’s. Thousands of HIV positive people live long fulfilling lives due to ARV treatment. Currently more than two hundred and sixty thousand people are on ARV medication in Botswana. This has led to the unintended consequence of these ARV drugs to accumulate in waste water after being passed out as excreta by individuals who are taking ARV medication.
Scotch Ndlovu, a PhD student at the University of Botswana was alerted to the fact that there was an intention to use treated effluent from the Glen Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant to augment potable water supplies to Greater Gaborone. This led him carrying out research on the separation and quantification of ARV drugs in waste water. His work was done under the supervision of Prof. K. Sichilongo and Dr H. Okatch.
“The reclamation of treated effluent from the Glen Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant is expected to augment potable water supplies to Greater Gaborone which, like the rest of the country, suffers periodic shortages….” Ndlovu states in his presentation. The presence of these ARV’s in wastewater means that there is need to develop libraries/database of the quantities of these emerging pollutants in the waste water, he says.
Ndlovu’s research was primarily focused on developing a method to better analyse the presence of different classes of ARV’s. Determining the presence of ARV’s was merely an outcome of the main focus, though it was anticipated that they would be.
Ndlovu stresses that it is important to develop precise analytical methods of ARV detection in water to ensure no traces leach into water meant for human consumption. In as much as ARV’s being present in waste water was unforeseen it is unclear what implications this might have on the environment or health of people should they be exposed to contaminated water.
Both Kenya and South Africa have reported incidents of ARV’s and other pharmaceuticals being present in tap water as a result of failure to adequately process waste water. According to the UB researcher it is imperative to develop and validate an LC-MS method that can simultaneously separate and quantify tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz, lopinavir and ritonavir – all ARV components – in wastewater.
Although Ndlovu and his supervisors managed to develop an LC-MS method that can simultaneously separate and quantify tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz, lopinavir and ritonavir, the UB scientists are of the view that there is need to apply the method in the quantification of these drugs in waste water (at various stages in the treatment cycle).
The most obvious risk of these pharmaceuticals in drinking water is that Batswana will be exposed to greater risks of developing resistance to certain drugs.
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Pep Stores donates sanitary towels to Popagano JSS
The Guidance and Counseling unit at Popagano Junior Secondary School received a donation of 790 sanitary towels from Pep stores on Thursday.
When presenting the donation, Mareledi Thebeng, the Dinokaneng Area Manager, highlighted their belief in giving back to the community, as their existence depends on the communities they serve. Thebeng pointed out that research indicates one in four girls miss school every day due to the lack of basic necessities like sanitary towels. Therefore, as a company, they strive to assist in alleviating this situation. She expressed hope that this donation would help ensure uninterrupted learning for girls.
Upon receiving the donation on behalf of the students, Charity Sambire, the President of the Student Representative Council, expressed her gratitude. Sambire specifically thanked Pep Store for their generous gift, speaking on behalf of the students, especially the girl child.
She conveyed their sincere appreciation for Pep Store’s compassion and quoted the adage, “Blessed is the hand that gives.” Sambire expressed the students’ hope for Pep Stores’ prosperity, enabling them to continue supporting the students. As a gesture of gratitude, the students pledged to excel academically.
During her speech, Motlalepula Madome, the Senior Teacher in Guidance and Counseling, highlighted that many students at the school come from disadvantaged backgrounds where parents struggle to provide basic necessities. Consequently, some students miss school when they experience menstruation due to this lack.
Madome emphasized the significance of the donation in preventing the girl child from missing lessons and its potential to improve the school’s overall results. She expressed the school’s gratitude and expressed a desire for continued support from Pep Stores.
Popagano Junior Secondary School, situated in the Okavango District, holds the second position academically in the North West region. Despite its location, the school has been dedicated to achieving excellence since 2017
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Botswana misses out critical PAP committee meeting
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) committee on gender, family, youth and people with disability in its sitting considered, adopted and recommended to the plenary session the preliminary report on the framework for the model law on gender equality.
According to the last week’s media release from PAP which is sitting with its various committees until June 2nd, the committee is following up the PAP initiative to draw up a model law on gender equality to enable national governments to harmonize, modernize and standardize their legislations to address local needs is set to be discussed in Plenary.
However, what is concerning is the fact that Botswana which is a member state missed the deliberations. Kgosi Mosadi Seboko who sat in the committee representing Botswana has since been ejected by parliament and this is a huge blow for a nation that is still battling equity and gender balance.
“Although PAP has no legislative powers it makes model laws for member states to adopt. PAP also develops protocols to be ratified by countries. The input of countries at Committee state is extremely critical. It now means the voice of Botswana is missing the discussions leading up to development of protocols or model laws,” said one of Botswana’s representative at PAP Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang who is attending the current session.
While Botswana is missing, the committee meeting took place on the sidelines of the Sixth PAP second ordinary Session being held under the African Union Theme of the Year for 2023, “The Year of AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area” in Midrand, South Africa and will run up to 2 June 2023. Chairperson of the Committee, Hon Mariam Dao-Gabala expressed satisfaction with preliminary processes undertaken so far towards the formulation of the Model Law,” a release from the PAP website reads.
“The law should be suitable to all countries whatever the predominant culture or religion is. The aim is to give an opportunity to women to participate in the economic, political and social development of the continent. Women are not well positioned and face a lot of obstacles. We are introducing the idea of equity in the Law because we cannot talk about equality without equity,” said Hon Mariam Dao-Gabala in the press statement.
The release has stated that among issues to be covered by the Model Law is the migratory movements of women. The Committee proffered that this has to be addressed at the continental level to ensure that migrant women enjoy all their rights and live with dignity in their destination country. The members of the Gender Committee undertook consultations to consolidate the contributions of the various stakeholders that will be the logical framework format for the Model Law.
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BDP MPs demand review of Ministers performance
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) backbenchers were left frustrated when State Minister Kabo Morwaeng failed to furnish them with reports from various ministries at a party retreat held last month.
The two-day retreat of BDP MPs at Notwane Farms was held to discuss the implementation and progress of government projects in line with the party’s 2019 general elections manifesto, in order to assert themselves and press the President to take action against ineffective members of his cabinet. They believed that the laxity of these members could cost them the elections next year.
To accomplish this, the party had requested that each ministry submit their reports to the State Ministry, as it was the most senior ministry. These reports were expected to be assessed at the retreat to evaluate service delivery and the implementation of the party manifesto.
The ministries submitted their performance reports to the Ministry as agreed, but Masisi and the MPs did not have the opportunity to review them. This was the main agenda of the retreat, but when it commenced, and many were anticipating the reports, they were nowhere to be found.
“Minister Morwaeng told us (MPs) that he forgot to prepare them, and as a result, there was nothing to discuss. He said he would share those reports in our WhatsApp group. To us, that was an insult because it is a very serious matter, and we needed to discuss it and see which ministry is failing and how it can be assisted to ensure that service delivery is met,” revealed one MP to WeekendPost.
Reliable sources have informed this publication that one of the reasons why the reports were not shared is due to the poor performance of the State Ministry. It is said that the Minister decided not to share the reports because it would portray him as incompetent, especially since President Masisi was present and seeking suggestions from MPs.
It is understood that the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, performed well, while the Ministry of Health and the State Ministry performed poorly.
The MPs are primarily concerned about the lack of correlation between the ministries’ recurrent and development budgets.
“You would notice that in some cases, a ministry would spend their recurrent budget accordingly, but when you look at their development expenditure, it is at 15 percent. That’s the money that should ensure that people receive services and amenities, and we wanted to advise ministers to communicate with bureaucrats to address this,” added the MP.
Without the reports, and with the expected agenda now in tatters, it is said that President Masisi asked MPs to come up with suggestions on how to win public confidence to secure victory in the next elections. It was at this point that backbenchers asked President Mokgweetsi Masisi to crack the whip on ineffectual ministers who had failed to fulfill their mandates. MPs expressed their concerns to the President, particularly regarding the state of affairs at the hospitals.
“There is a serious shortage of medicines and personnel in our areas, especially in rural areas. We have been complaining about this situation for some time, but there seems to be no change,” one MP told WeekendPost.
“The state of our roads and infrastructure is in disrepair. What irks us the most is that we have been complaining about these things for some time, but there has been no change. We demand progress.”
The issue of poor delivery and the significant deficit in the ruling party’s election promises is so severe that President Masisi had his ministers sign performance agreements and annual performance plans. The President effectively read them the riot act, informing them that they would be fired if they continued to fall short in delivering on their mandates.
He told journalists at a press conference that he recently had a serious engagement with Minister of Health Minister Dr. Edwin Dikoloti and Assistant Minister of Health Sethomo Lelatisitswe regarding the deplorable state of affairs at public health facilities.
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