The inappropriate use of pesticides in the world and particularly in Africa, explains their presence in various environmental compartments. This presence in the environment has harmful consequences on living beings, especially humans. This review, based on scientific publications, aims to analyze the problem of pesticides in Africa. From a corpus of 81 articles published in Africa on this topic between 1996 and 2019, we have outlined the issues relating to phytosanitary practices, environmental pollution, food contamination, intoxication of farmers and consumers, qualitative and quantitative analysis methods used, as well as the regulations on the subject and their application in Africa. Based on an analysis of the factors that are at the root of the problems of environmental pollution, contamination and health that they cause in Africa, possible solutions were proposed to produce healthy products and preserve our common environmental heritage.

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Livestock breeding plays a key role in sub-Saharan Africa because it is an important source of highly valued protein in the human diet, and because it is an essential driver for socio-economic development. It represents a form of investment and is also important from a socio-cultural point of view (ceremonies, social position, etc.). Livestock is an important source of income, livelihood, nutrition, and food security. However, livestock breeding faces, among other things, major sanitary constraints. Furthermore, the circulation of non-compliant antibiotics on the market constitutes a major threat to animal health, public health, and the environment. This research aims to develop and validate a UV-vis method for quantifying pharmaceutical oxytetracycline. The method developed was validated following the total error strategy as a decision tool in the accuracy profile. After its completion, the method demonstrated good absolute and relative bias and was within a tolerable interval of [−2%, +2%]. The method was also repeatable with intermediate precision, with respectively lower values than 2% and 4%. We also assessed the recovery and accuracy of the method as fitting with the specification limits. After its validation, the method was quantified in 47 oxytetracycline injectable samples, where we obtained 28 samples complying with specifications and 19 that did not. That led us to conclude that the developed method was validated and appropriate for quantification in terms of the routine quality control of oxytetracycline injection. The method needs to be reviewed and revalidated accordingly for other pharmaceutical presentations.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) is an infectious disease manifested by fever, rate and difficulty in breathing that can lead to death. This pandemic has just paralyzed the world, causing more deaths amongst vulnerable people such as the elderly and people with immune problems. Several therapeutic agents are being tested for the treatment of Covid-19. The combination of Chloroquine, Azithromycin and Paracetamol is identified as a promising therapeutic candidate for Covid-19. To ensure the success of this therapy, medicines of high quality play a key role. Unfortunately, we are not totally spared from trafficking of poor quality pharmaceutical products. As a contribution to try solving this challenge, a convenient, rapid and simple Thin Layer Chromatography method (TLC), which permits the simultaneous determination of Chloroquine, Azithromycin and paracetamol has been developed. The Chromatographic separation was achieved on 60 F silica gel plate using a mixture of methanol-25% ammonia (100:1.5, v/v). Iodine vapor and ultraviolet light at 254 nm were used for the visualization of the spots. The developed method was successfully applied to determine Chloroquine in 23 samples supposed to contain Chloroquine marketed in DRC. The results showed that 50% of the samples analyzed were non-compliant and should probably contain paracetamol instead of Chloroquine. It suggested that the optimized method could be used for routine quality assessment of Chloroquine, Azithromycin or Paracetamol in pharmaceutical preparations. Since counterfeiting of medicines continues to be a real problem in developing countries as demonstrated by this result, the development of simple and convenient analytical method that allowed the rapid analysis of medicines used in Covid-19 therapy is more than urgent.

Background: The AWaRe tool was set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the rational use of antimicrobials. Indeed, this tool classifies antibiotics into four groups, Access, Watch, Reserve and not-recommended antibiotics. In Republic Democratic of Congo, data on antibiotic dispensing (prescribing) by health professionals according to the AWaRe classification are scarce. In this research work, we aimed to explore antibiotic dispensing pattern from health professionals according to the WHO AWaRe classification to strengthen the national antimicrobial resistance plan. Methods: For this purpose, a survey was conducted from July to December 2022 in the district of Tshangu in Kinshasa. From randomly selected drugstores, drug-sellers were interviewed and randomly selected customers attending those drugstores were included in the study for medical prescriptions collection. The prescribed antibiotics were classified into the Access, Watch, Reserve and not recommended antibiotics group and by antibiotics number by prescription among pharmacies surveyed. Results: Of 400 medical prescriptions collected, 301 (75.25%) contained antibiotics. Of 301 prescriptions containing antibiotics, 164 (164/301; 54.5%) contained one antibiotic, 117 (117/301; 38.9%) two antibiotics, 15 (15/301; 5%) three antibiotics and 5 (5/301; 1.6%) 4 antibiotics. Out of the total of 463 antibiotics prescribed, 169 (169/463; 36.5%) were from the Access group, 200 (200/463; 43.2%) from the Watch group and 94 (94/463; 20.3%) from not recommended antibiotics group, respectively. Based on the anatomical, therapeutic and chemical (ATC) classification, it can be seen that third generation cephalosporins contained 34.33% of the prescribed antibiotics, followed by penicillins 17.17%, macrolides 7.63%, aminoglycosides 7. 36% and Imidazoles 7.36%, thus accounting approximately for 74% of the classes of antibiotics prescribed. Of the 463 antibiotics prescribed, the most frequently prescribed antibiotics were Ceftriaxone (21.38%), Amoxicillin (11.01%), Gentamycin (5.61%), Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (5 .61%), Azithromycin (4.97%) and Metronidazole (4.75%), thus accounting for approximately 54% of all antibiotics prescribed. Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of strict implementation of the national plan to combat antimicrobial resistance and the need to train health workers in the correct application of the WHO AWaRe classification.