Researchers are proposing the need for nations to align policies to address varied impacts of plastic pollution in Africa.
The call has been made at the start of African Plastic Pollution & Planetary Health Research Network Symposium Programme in Blantyre, a high-level engagement which has brought together academics, researchers and stakeholders from across the globe.
The African Plastic Pollution & Planetary Health Research Network aims at providing a valuable resource for promoting and increasing capacity and connectivity of Planetary Health research science in Africa.
The network was formed against an understanding that there has been a lack of connectivity between African researchers, and the effect this has on building capacity to undertake meaningful, and context-specific research.
At the ongoing engagement, there has been a concern of polices not resonating with the efforts in place more especially in the African region.
According to Associate Professor Save Kumwenda, Head of the Environmental and Public Health Department, the stakeholders are running calls for authorities to rethink some policies which are relatively appearing to undermine ongoing efforts to tame plastic pollution which is also coupled with improper disposal of plastic wastes.
He said in the meantime for example, they expect favorable policies which will uniformly move along with their quests.
‘’ There is an evident need as you may notice that nations must have sound policies in place. Like in Malawi, there is a tussle on the ban on thin plastics. That is why as researchers we are providing knowledge on the multi-sectoral effects of the situation on human life,’’ he said.
On his part, Dr. Kondwani Chidziwisano, lead of the AP3 network, there are positives from stakeholders who are now sharing knowledge and best practices in addressing the situations.
He said for instance that in recent years, they are getting impressed with works that nations are undertaking given their contexts.
He stated that plastic pollution has various negative impacts on health in Africa which is having glaring affects both on human populations and ecosystems with of particular concern single-use plastics and microplastics that are contaminating freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
Earlier on, Professor Richard Quilliam of the University of Stirling in Scotland, drew the attention of the patrons by highlight of a project called Spaces.
The project according to Quilliam aims to understand the public health risks and environmental impacts of plastic pollution in developing countries; and to explore interventions, policies, and regulations to mitigate these risks, as supported by various organizations in Malawi, and Tanzania.
‘’ Over the studies we have done, it has been revealed that in most sub-Saharan African countries, municipal solid waste is collected and either burned or dumped in areas near human settlements, along roads. What we have found out is that such waste piles, contain large quantities of plastic waste and pose serious challenges for sustainable waste management and for the delivery of environmental and public health,’’ he said.
Later, Professor Suzan Oelofse, principal researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa presented various projects being undertaken in the Rainbow nation.
The two day symposium will see the stakeholders make resolutions which nations must emulate so as to deal with plastic pollution.
According to the World Health Organization, every year more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally and an estimated 19–23 million tons end up in lakes, rivers and seas.
However, less than 10% of the world’s annual plastic production is recycled. In Africa, which produces only 5% and consumes 4% of global plastic, growing population and urbanization are driving an increase in single-use plastic, heightening environmental pollution and health threats.