South-South humanitarianism: The case of Covid-organics in Tanzania

Richey, Lisa Ann; Gissel, Line Engbo; Kweka, Opportuna; Bærendtsen, Pernille; Kragelund, Peter; Hambati, Herbert; Mwamfupe, Asubisye

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105375

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…To echo Ngam (2020, p. 6), the cure's “growing popularity outside Madagascar [probably had] nothing to do with the product's medicinal value”; it was embraced largely because it became “a source of pride”—“Africa's contribution to the treatments being developed around the world.” This can explain the flurry of congratulations from numerous African leaders (and the orders placed by their respective countries) after Rajoelina announced the cure's creation, even as academic quarters raised their doubts. Writing specifically about the Tanzanian experience, Richey et al (2021) framed this ‘unscientific’, multi-country acceptance of Covid-Organics as a continuation of ‘South-South humanitarianism’: The cure, in this case, was but part of the ongoing narrative of ‘marginalized’ and ‘neglected’ Global South countries ostensibly turning to each other for help amid continuing colonialism from the Global North, which had historically exploited and oppressed the African people. All these pan-African sentiments that emerged in this “climate of deep distrust of Western medical science” ( Nordling, 2020 ) were then magnified and reinforced by local media, which also helped fuel resentment against the cure's critics (e.g.…”

Section: Illustrative Examplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmaceutical messianism and the COVID-19 pandemic

Lasco

2022

Social Science & Medicine

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As part of their populist performances during disease outbreaks, public officials and politicians tend to offer ‘miracle cures’ or ‘wonder drugs’ that can supposedly treat or prevent the disease in question. This article analyzes contemporary instances of what we call ‘pharmaceutical messianism’ and proposes four characteristics for this phenomenon, namely, that it: (1) emerges during times of extraordinary health crisis; (2) builds on pre-existing knowledge, practices, and sentiments; (3) borrows from medical, often heterodox, authority; and (4) involves accessible, affordable, and/or familiar substances. Demonstrating the analytic value of our framework, we present three case studies, constructed using academic and journalistic sources, during the COVID-19 pandemic: hydroxychloroquine in France, ivermectin in the Philippines, and Covid-Organics in Madagascar. We conclude by identifying some implications of our findings on public health and avenues for future research.

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Section: Illustrative Examplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmaceutical messianism and the COVID-19 pandemic

Lasco

2022

Social Science & Medicine

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“…Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 has led to confusion, lack of consensus, and a failure to take the severity of the coronavirus pandemic as seriously as it should have been by the general public [ 5 ]. For instance, misinformation circulated heavily in social media [ 6 ] and, with not enough resources available to label all misinformation as false, or unverified, herbal remedies started providing a false sense of security to the public [ 7 ]. Instead of focusing on actual preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing face masks, and regularly washing hands with soap or sanitising with 70% isopropyl alcohol [ 8 ], focusing on alternative solutions not only hinders progress in medical science but also poses significant health risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes towards COVID-19-Related Medical Misinformation among Healthcare Workers and Non-Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia during the Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Alotiby

Al-Harbi

2021

IJERPH

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Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused a global pandemic, the amount of misinformation in various media outlets has been on the rise. This has caused confusion among both healthcare workers and the general population about what the proper precautions against COVID-19 are. This study investigated attitudes towards misinformation related to protective measures that can be taken against COVID-19. The study was conducted in Saudi Arabia using an online survey questionnaire during the first three months of lockdown responding to the pandemic. The sample size of the study was N = 1294, of which 275 were healthcare workers and 974 were non-healthcare workers. The findings indicate that the Saudi Arabian population has a “Neutral” attitude towards COVID-19-related misinformation, meaning that, overall, they neither agree nor disagree with the most common COVID-19-related misinformation. Both healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers displayed a “Neutral” attitude towards herbal remedies for COVID-19. The level of agreement regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus remaining in the throat for two days and the BCG vaccine protecting against COVID-19 was low. The findings of this research imply that knowledge dissemination is severely lacking in Saudi Arabia and that the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia should sincerely consider educating healthcare workers better about verified and true information regarding COVID-19. Conclusion: Future research should include larger sample sizes for each of the healthcare specialties surveyed in this study and analyse their attitudes towards COVID-19 misinformation.

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“…In asserting control and direction over their lives, in order to safeguard their social structures, Africans have utilized knowledge, practices, skills and tools that their societies have developed in the course of years and centuries (Richey et al, 2021;Rugumamu, 2003). As observed by Vandebroek et al (2011), indigenous knowledge is the sum of experience and knowledge within a given group in a specific geographical location, which forms the basis for decisionmaking related to familiar and unfamiliar problems and challenges.…”

Section: Reconceptualising Indigenous Knowledge Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are beginning to realize that IKS is the largest single resource not yet mobilized for development. It is a powerful asset that many developing countries possess (Richey et al, 2021;Newsham & Thomas, 2011). Therefore, in this study, IKS refers to the knowledge possessed by indigenous people and practised over centuries in land resources utilization and management for the efficient use of the Earth's natural resources, to sustain individual and community livelihoods.…”

Section: Reconceptualising Indigenous Knowledge Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in Improving Farm Productivity in Kainam Village, Mbulu District –Tanzania

Hambati

2022

udslj

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This article aims to contribute to the current debate on the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in arable land productivity. The study uses the Kainam Village ecosystem as a case study to describe the Iraqw community-based knowledge that supports their livelihoods. The study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods to analyse the indigenous knowledge practices applied in arable land resources utilization. The conceptual framework around which most of the IKS analyses have hinged over time are narrated. It is conceived that IKS have demonstrated a synergetic relationship between land and the use to which it’s put as they support hundreds of people in the village. The findings have revealed that Kainam people living in Mbulu District, have applied IKS in land classification and use, over centuries. IKS practices have sustained household yields and crops quality in the study area. Despite the small farm sizes, traditional tools and tilling methods, the households produce enough for their families and have surplus to assist relatives in far-away villages. This is due to the system of cultivating their farms throughout the year and the culturally in-built knowledge on land resources management, which has been historically accumulated, and used for survival and sustainability of household productivity in the village ecosystems. It is recommended that in order to sustain these best practices of IKS, it is important to integrate it into the curricula of the formal education system at all levels but particularly in primary education which is accessible to most rural Tanzanians.

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South-South humanitarianism: The case of Covid-organics in Tanzania

Cited by 21 publications

References 35 publications

Pharmaceutical messianism and the COVID-19 pandemic

Pharmaceutical messianism and the COVID-19 pandemic

Attitudes towards COVID-19-Related Medical Misinformation among Healthcare Workers and Non-Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia during the Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

The Role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in Improving Farm Productivity in Kainam Village, Mbulu District –Tanzania

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