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The difficult choices poor people have to make
2007-08-31 08:43:18
By Lusekelo Philemon
Poor people have often found themselves in a trap that they cannot easily get themselves out.
People like to have good home appliances like fridges, cookers and TV sets, among others but they cannot afford new ones because the prices are usually prohibitive to people in the low-income category.
As a result they opt for used or reconditioned facilities which, however, are a threat to their health. So what choices do the poor have?
Buying a brand new computer is very expensive for ordinary people in developing countries including Tanzania as a result they turn to used or reconditioned ones.
Some people advise that say if you want something good go for the expensive stuff because cheap is expensive.
In recent years, there have been tendencies whereby people opted for used computers due to the brand new ones being expensive.
On the other side of the coin, most of the used computers are said to be unfriendly to human being due to being old, outdated and expired.
Worse enough the said computers are embedded with unfriendly chemicals to human health.
Research findings in that area show that most of the users are not aware of the health risks of using those electronic devices.
Experts say people in Tanzania`s urban and rural settings were not prepared enough on the best ways of using the expired electronic devices which are on the widespread in the country.
The trend gives room for developed world to use Tanzania and other parts of the world as a dumping place for the outdated technology and expired electronic devices without prior attention on the health risks of the chemicals embedded.
Tanzanians are susceptible from this. Warnings to urge people to refrain from buying and using the widespread used computers have not been enough by the authorities on the hazardous impacts of those chemicals.
Presenting a paper on Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), in Dar es Salaam, Agenda Executive Chairman Prof. Jamidu Katima said: `For a long time Tanzania has been receiving hundreds of used computers which most of them they are out of use and have negative effects on our people.`
Prof. Katima noted that, most people are not aware of the hazardous impacts of chemicals from computers.
`There is a need for the public to avoid buying used computers because of health risks,` he said, adding: `It`s better for somebody to give five new computers than giving 200 used computers.`
Prof Katima explained that developed countries in most cases use developing countries as their dump site for used computers and other related electronic devices.
`In most African countries there is no technology of disposing those computers as a result people recklessly dump it anywhere without prior consideration of the health risks.
Chemicals from dumping sites go directly into the soil and water sources which in turn are consumed by human being,` he explained.
`In this modern society, chemicals touch a multitude of sectors and demand for growth and development. Its impacts also range from production, to use to disposal,` he noted.
Prof. Katima also highlighted that, unsound management and use of chemicals posed threats to human well-being at many levels.
He said expectant mothers, children and poor people are the most vulnerable groups to harmful and obsolete chemicals often widespread in the least developed countries including Tanzania.
`There is a close link between chemical exposure and vulnerable populations like pregnant women, poorest and youngest people.
It is important to note that, chemicals threaten the sustainability of the environment which provides essential goods and services for livelihoods.
They undermine human health and reduce the ability of communities to care for them,` he noted.
Chemicals like heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead and mercury present both known and unknown risks.
These chemicals have serious and irreversible impacts on mental development of children.
According to Prof Katima, the trend showed that there was an increase in chemical production in developing countries and that by 2020; Africa would have 31 per cent of world`s production although only one per cent was used.
Large volumes of chemicals are in Africa because the continent has turned out to be the main dumping sites of obsolete pesticides.
The don said countries in sub-Saharan Africa were the most susceptible to expired chemicals that enter those countries as donations.
He added: `Developing countries are the main recipients of all expired chemical products from industrialized countries.
We can`t get out from these problems unless we observe international conventions like the Basel Convention.
What happened in Ivory Coast is an indication that African countries are vulnerable to these obsolete chemicals.`
Countries in the south would be able to raise awareness campaign on the relevance of chemical safety for poverty reduction and sustainable development through SAICM.
`This calls for promotion among donors, multilateral organizations among other key actors. SAICM promotes the development of a multi and cross-sectoral and participatory strategic approach,` he noted.
Prof. Katima observed that non-governmental public health and environmental organizations, trade unions and other civil society organizations have made an imperative role in promoting chemical safety.
On the area of chemical safety, Prof Katima explained that NGOs, CSOs, CBOs had a role to play by promoting and supporting a meaningful and active participation of all sectors and social segments-women, workers and indigenous people.
`We will engage actively in partnership with government, private sector and CSOs to make sure that a meaningful message is relayed to the public and other stakeholders on chemical safety,` he added.
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