[afro-nets] 'Human genes rice' not the solution fordiarrhoea inchildren (2)

["Margaret Tagwira" <tagwiram@africau.ac.zw>]

'Human genes rice' not the solution for diarrhoea in children (2)
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Points to consider over "Human gene rice" Possible effects on Africa and the children we all say we want to save.

1. Genetically engineered rice will cross with indigenous rice species leaving resource poor farmers dependent on foreign seed that they may not even afford. One of the regions most affected by diarrhea diseases is the African region. The African way of living requires that families produce preserve and use their own seed year after year. We should never forget that some of the interventions imposed on communities (even if they were well meant) may result in more suffering through poverty hunger and immature deaths than was there before the intervention

2. The solution for diarrhea in children has been well articulated by the Alma Ata resolutions and all efforts must be to achieve what the world resolved and not derail it. When dealing with issues of this magnitude were poor people who also happen to be less educated are involved, research desire should not be put before ethical considerations.

Margaret Tagwira
Africa University
Zimbabwe
mailto:tagwiram@africau.ac.zw