Sibanda grew up on a farm in rural Zimbabwe, and believes her strong personal connection to Africa’s agricultural traditions has helped her become one of the continent’s leading advocates for food and nutrition security. At FANRPAN, Sibanda coordinates agricultural policy research and advocacy programs in 17 African countries. In 2010, she was invited into the …
In Africa, epidemics are associated with outbreaks like cholera and measles or HIV and tuberculosis. Mental health would possibly be the last item on anyone’s list of big health challenges. But mental disorders, like depression, are a leading cause of mental and physical disability in sub-Saharan Africa. There are other reasons that depression shouldn’t be ignored. The main one …
Sekesai Hwiza, an 82-year-old Zimbabwean grandmother, spends most mornings sitting on a park bench talking to people who are emotionally broken by the stresses of life. She has met with more than 2,000 people in her community over the last three years, most of them young people who are depressed and suicidal. Each person who …