This brief describes a story of the change at Longacres. Solid waste generated in this food market is sorted at the source, separated by type and placed into designated bins, as receptacles that receive the waste. Stakeholder meetings were organised by BORDA Zambia in collaboration with the Lusaka City Council to train marketeers on how to separate waste at the source and discard it in specific bins for further processing. In 2021 BORDA Zambia met representatives from the Lusaka City Council, school authorities, marketeers and a ‘Market Advisory Committee’ of those involved and developed a shared framework for the smooth running of the pilot. A decentralised organic solid waste management treatment system and biodigester were locally designed and made, The initiative has installed a functional end-to-end chain for waste disposal and management at the market and Lusaka City Council is now planning to replicate the concept in other markets throughout Lusaka. The story of change is being shared as it could also be applied in food markets in other urban settings in the region.
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Epworth, a peri-urban settlement about 15 kilometres southeast of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare faces water stress and poor santiation. The Civic Forum on Human Development (CFHD) worked with Epworth households and identified with the community a priority to to build better toilets and hygiene facilities. In community-Based planning, information was gathered through a rapid assessment and focus group discussions with community members and organisations, Realising the challenges of water in Epworth, a two litre flush system was introduced as a more appropriate toilet system and pump minders trained. This process combined local technology and social processes to improve water and sanitation in a community with limited infrastructure, and water scarcity.
Evidence suggests that Zimbabwe’s urban households are becoming more food insecure post-2018, including from the impact of COVID-19 and a shift to ultra-processed foods increasing food–related non communicable diseases (NCDs). Case studies from seven urban local authorities (Bulawayo, Chegutu, Harare, Kariba, Kwekwe, Masvingo and Victoria Falls) in Zimbabwe point to range of initiatives underway to support healthy food systems. This synthesis report provides a structured thematic content analysis of and common findings from the seven case study reports, for wider exchange with other urban settings. Urban agriculture (UA) is being actively promoted with innovations to address local water and land constraints, including hydroponics, aquaculture; using available land in hospitals, schools and public spaces; replacing areas of waste dumping with nutrition gardens and recycling bio-waste to fertilise UA. Local technology has been developed and support provided for maize meal fortification, peanut butter processing, fish and livestock farming and vending, supported by solar energy and boreholes for more reliable inputs.These and other activities documented indicate the scope of interventions for urban food systems that could be extended to other local authorities.
Bwaise is an urban locality in the Kawempe Division, Kampala. The inadequate management of solid waste in Bwaise presents numerous difficulties, including sporadic flooding and outbreaks of diseases. Recognizing the need to address these challenges and the economic struggles faced by the community, the local chairpersons took the initiative to motivate the residents. They initiated training programs, facilitated through saving groups, to promote use of the waste as a resource for energy in the form of briquettes. Under the guidance of the local chairpersons, the community chose members, primarily women and youth, from different community groups. The groups promote waste collection and use the waste for briquettes used for household energy. The groups have also set up plastic waste collection centres to aid the removal of plastic waste in the communities. Fostering collaboration among all stakeholders within the communities has enabled solutions to be designed and implemented to address the challenges encountered.
This paper explores sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes and their role in a public health response to the challenges of rising consumption of SSBs. The paper outlines the global and regional standards, guidance and areas of legal or policy debate on the control of SSB health risks, particularly through taxation; it provides evidence on the design, taxation levels and products covered in SSB taxation in different regions globally and in east and southern Africa (ESA) countries. It also discusses experiences of and issues around using SSB-related taxation for health in ESA countries. Drawing on the evidence identified, it proposes actions and issues for policy dialogue in ESA countries and in the region.
Climate-related challenges affect every experience and dimension of health equity in the region. EQUINET invites you to explore this with us in a series of cross-cutting webinars in the coming months. Following webinars held on health rights and climate Justice in July and on urban health and climate justice in August the next webinar will explore the intersect between climate justice and comprehensive PHC oriented health systems in east and southern Africa on October 25th 2023 2-4pm Southern Africa time (3-5pm East Africa time). We will hear from speakers with experience on these issues at community/local level, at national level and at global level, and provide time for participant discussions and proposals for engaging on the issues raised for the region. Visit the link to register in advance for the meeting, providing your name, institution and contact email.
Urbanisation in east and southern Africa (ESA) has brought opportunity and wealth together with multiple dimensions of deprivation. Less well documented in published literature on the ESA region are features of urban practice that promote health equity. This work thus aimed to explore features of urban initiatives aimed at improving health and wellbeing in ESA countries and their contribution to different dimensions of health equity. The paper discusses learning on local process and design features to strengthen to promote the different dimensions of equity found, and issues to address beyond the local level to support such equity-oriented urban initiatives.
Food systems have a key role in promoting health and nutrition. National constitutions in many East and southern Africa (ESA) countries provide for a right to food or adequate nutrition, and food law is increasingly important, given expanding food products, trade and risks to health. This report presents findings from a desk review of current food-related laws of 17 countries in the ESA region and international and regional standards. In terms of key areas of food safety and risks covered, most countries include provisions for food labelling, standards for premises used for food production, storage and processing, as well as provisions prohibiting the sale of unwholesome, poisonous or adulterated food; food preparation under unsanitary conditions, inspection of food establishments, testing and recall.The laws generally include provisions for setting of standards, monitoring, inspection, food-testing and disposal of unsafe foods, and for food labelling and consumer information. Few countries have provisions for risk assessment, scientific research, testing, and labelling of novel and GMO foods. The report identifies specific legal clauses in ESA laws that may serve as useful text for law reform.
Climate-related challenges affect every experience and dimension of health equity in the region. EQUINET invites you to explore this with us in a series of cross-cutting webinars in the coming months. In the first we ask, how do issues of climate justice intersect with constitutional and legal protection of health rights? What issues, advocacy and actions does this raise for the region? The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), lead for the work on legal protection of the right to health in EQUINET is convening this first webinar with speakers from community, national and international level. The webinar will invite participant input and discussion during the webinar. Register now in advance to receive a confirmation email with further information on the meeting and your link to join. And watch the EQUINET website for the forthcoming webinars in the series!
UCAZ and TARSC in EQUINET with review input from Ministry of Health and Child Care (implemented work in 2022-23 to gather and share evidence on initiatives underway in Zimbabwean cities/ towns to promote healthy food systems, to share and promote uptake of promising practice. Bulawayo is one of the urban case studies, using a collectively developed shared framework. Dietary diversity in Bulawayo was higher than the national average in 2018. The major foods consumed, as for the rest of the country, are maize and vegetables, with access to food dependent on household socio-economic features. Bulawayo residents engage in peri-urban and urban agriculture in residential stands, in peri-urban plots and on available vacant land. Modernisation has, however, changed diets in the city, with a shift towards processed foods. The lack of legislation controlling production and marketing of these foods hampers efforts to promote healthy diets. Various interventions are underway to promote health in the city’s food system, including providing an enabling environment for urban agriculture; promoting consumption of unprocessed foods and healthy diets; fortifying staple foods to provide micro nutrients to under-five year old children and their mothers, and inspecting foods to prevent falsification and adulteration. These and other areas of practice are described in the case study.