ABSTRACT
In Burkina Faso, western Africa country, malnutrition is an underlying cause of 35% of deaths among children under 5 years of age. In the health district of Dano, south-west region where the prevalence of chronic malnutrition among children under five exceeds the WHO threshold (30%), ProgettoMondo Mlal, an Italian non-governmental organization, has put in place a mechanism to strengthen the Community system in order to carry out actions for promoting good practices in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and community management of acute malnutrition at village level. Nutrition Educational Cells (NEC) supported by village nutrition committees (VNCs) were set up in 99 villages of the district. The one-year results show improved knowledge of good IYCF practices at mothers level, an increase in the number of acute malnutrition cases detected and referred to health centers and better participation of local communities in the implementation and financing nutrition actions. In view of the results achieved, the NEC strategy could be an opportunity to strengthen the resilience of communities to the under-nutrition of children under 5 years of age.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In Burkina Faso, gold ore is one of the main sources of income for an important part of the active population. Artisan gold miners use mercury in the extraction, a toxic metal whose human health risks are well known. The aim of the present study was to assess mercury exposure as well as to understand the exposure determinants of gold miners in Burkinabe small-scale mines. METHODS: The examined gold miners' population on the different selected gold mining sites was composed by persons who were directly and indirectly related to gold mining activities. But measurement of urinary mercury was performed on workers most susceptible to be exposed to mercury. Thus, occupational exposure to mercury was evaluated among ninety-three workers belonging to eight different gold mining sites spread in six regions of Burkina Faso. Among others, work-related exposure determinants were taken into account for each person during urine sampling as for example amalgamating or heating mercury. All participants were medically examined by a local medical team in order to identify possible symptoms related to the toxic effect of mercury. RESULTS: Mercury levels were high, showing that 69% of the measurements exceeded the ACGIH (American Conference of Industrial Hygienists) biological exposure indice (BEI) of 35 µg per g of creatinine (µg/g-Cr) (prior to shift) while 16% even exceeded 350 µg/g-Cr. Basically, unspecific but also specific symptoms related to mercury toxicity could be underlined among the persons who were directly related to gold mining activities. Only one-third among the studied subpopulation reported about less than three symptoms possibly associated to mercury exposure and nearly half of them suffered from at least five of these symptoms. Ore washers were more involved in the direct handling of mercury while gold dealers in the final gold recovery activities. These differences may explain the overexposure observed in gold dealers and indicate that the refining process is the major source of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: This study attests that mercury exposure still is an issue of concern. North-South collaborations should encourage knowledge exchange between developing and developed countries, for a cleaner artisanal gold mining process and thus for reducing human health and environmental hazards due to mercury use.