Switzerland could become the first European country to ban artificial pesticides.

On June 13th a referendum will take place, and backers hope it will trigger similar moves elsewhere.

They want the country to ban the use of products made by agro-chemical giants such as Swiss firm Syngenta and Germany’s Bayer and BASF.

Campaigners say artificial products cause serious health problems and reduce biodiversity.

But manufacturers insist their pesticides are rigorously regulated and that crop yields would slump without them.

Another vote on the same day aims to improve the quality of Switzerland’s drinking water and food.

It would stop direct subsidies to farmers who use artificial pesticides and antibiotics in livestock.

If adopted, the proposals give farmers up to 10 years to make the transition.

And would allow Switzerland to become a leader in organic food and drink production.

The University of Ilorin has flagged-off of its ultra-modern molecular diagnostic and research laboratory, for diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases including Lassa fever.

The laboratory was sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was commissioned by its Executive Secretary, Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro.

A statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Kunle Akogun, disclosed that the laboratory, has already obtained the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) certification as a Public Health Laboratory for the diagnosis surveillance of infectious diseases like poliomyelitis, Lassa fever and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.

While flagging off the facility, Prof. Bogoro said that the University of Ilorin has produced the most successful TETFund-sponsored researches in the country for several years, describing the institution’s College of Health Sciences as one of the best rated health training institutions in the country.

He also added that the College of Health Sciences has some of the best medical personnel that consistently produce problem-solving researches.

The TETFund boss pointed out that quality of personnel, research infrastructure and relevance of research outcome to the society are the parameters that determine the strength of a university, saying that the University of Ilorin is number one where those parameters are considered.

Prof. Bogoro further disclosed that TETFund is working to curb brain drain by providing infrastructure and research facilities to encourage home grown researches instead of going outside the country to where this type of facilities are readily available.

He emphasized that TETFund is putting research into perspective to ensure that research contributes to national development while advising tertiary institutions to seek complementary funding as TETFund is only an intervention agency.

The TETFund boss then pledged the Agency’s continued support to the University to make the Molecular Centre a place of excellence where service and research could thrive.

The Edo State University, Uzairue kicked off free medical outreach in 12 communities across the state, declaring that the exercise was part of the institution’s College of Medical Sciences Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The exercise, which is in partnership with the Central Hospital in Auchi, is made up of 20 specialist doctors from different medical fields. 
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Emmanuel Aluyor, who flagged-off the medical outreach, listed the benefits to include free, quality and accessible health care for residents in the targeted communities.
Professor Emmanuel stated that the institution’s College of Medical Sciences has achieved great feats in many areas within its four years of existence.

The VC further explained that the institution has a Teaching Hospital project that is near completion, but had to collaborate with the Central Hospital and the Stella Obasanjo Hospital to meet the immediate need to train medical students of the university.

The global health crisis is adding a new unwelcome element to sea pollution off the town of Bauan, a popular dive site in the Philippines’ Batangas province.

The azure waves in Philippines’ Batangas province should be crystal clear.

Instead, they’re now choked by plastic – another unwelcome side effect of the global health crisis.

Samantha Arnold has been diving in the area for about four years and is now picking up trash on her expeditions.

“The marine life has been able to take a break from us personally. However, they are getting inundated with a new source of trash, which is face masks, face shields and the bunny suits (PPE) that people are wearing.”

Resort owner and diving instructor Carmela Sevilla said the masks were adding to plastic bags, diapers and packaging materials that plague local waters during the monsoon season.

While there is currently some separation of rubbish, she added that she thought there should be dedicated bins for pandemic-related trash.

‘We will still keep seeing that because they just get blown away, they fall out of the hands of people and then often times, just really not disposed of properly, just like the plastic bags.”

The Batangas tourism office said officials were aware of the issue and are spearheading clean-up drives.

A 2021 report by scientific online publication Our World in Data said the majority of ocean plastics around the world originates from rivers and coastlines.

Of that, 81 percent is from Asia, with a third of all Asian plastic coming from the Philippines alone.