Main content

How did Egypt win its battle against hepatitis C?

How did Egypt eradicate hepatitis C? Could a worm that can degrade styrofoam help combat Africa's plastic pollution? And why Nigerian pet owners are abandoning their animals.

Egypt once had the highest rate of hepatitis C in the world, but has now almost completely wiped out the liver attacking virus in less than 10 years. How did they do that?

Could the African mealworm be a solution to tackling plastic waste? Kenyan researchers say the larvae of the darkling beetle species native to Africa can digest plastic in their guts and degrade styrofoam, one the most harmful materials to the environment.

Also in the podcast, how Nigerian pet owners are having to make heartbreaking decisions about their animal companions as the high cost of living continues to squeeze finances.

Presenter: Audrey Brown
Producers: Nyasha Michelle, Stefania Okereke, Aimie Liebovitz and Bella Hassan in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos
Technical Producer: Philip Bull
Senior Journalist: Patricia Whitehorne
Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Available now

34 minutes

More episodes

See all episodes from Focus on Africa

Featured

  • .

Podcast

  • Focus on Africa

    Three essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa.