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Toxicovigilance Systems and Practices in Africa
Pouokam Guy Bertrand1,2, Hatem Abdel Moniem Ahmed3, Randolph Ngwafor4
1Food Safety Laboratory, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon. guy.pouokam@noodlesonlus.org.
Toxics
|October 21, 2017
Summary
African toxicovigilance systems are underdeveloped, with few countries having established programs. While pesticides are a focus, these systems are mostly reactive, highlighting a need for preventive strategies to protect public health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Growing awareness of toxic poisoning from consumer products in Africa.
- Chemical poisoning is an overlooked public health issue across the continent.
- Recurrent poisoning episodes involve food, herbal medicine, drugs, and cosmetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development, organization, and articulation of toxicovigilance systems in African countries.
- To identify challenges and basic structures for effective toxicovigilance.
- To explore the potential of pesticides as a prototypic toxicant for broader hazard inclusion.
Main Methods:
- Review of available information on toxicovigilance systems and practices in African nations.
- Assessment of the legal recognition and developmental stage of these systems.
- Identification of common hazards and essential components of toxicovigilance.
Main Results:
- Less than nine out of 54 African countries have legally recognized toxicovigilance systems.
- Most existing systems are recently established and face significant developmental challenges.
- Pesticides are the most recognized hazard, and systems primarily operate reactively rather than preventively.
Conclusions:
- African toxicovigilance systems are nascent and face numerous obstacles.
- Essential structures like 24/7 phone lines and hospital facilities are crucial.
- While reactive, existing efforts show promise for future preventive public health strategies against toxic hazards.
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