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17 Africa telegraph 25 October - 09 November 2020

Uganda on course to meet East Africa News

2030 Development Goals

by reducing carbon footprint By Tim Loko

Kampala, Uganda - In Amuru district in Dominic Kimara, the company’s farm
northwestern Uganda, the Omer Farm- manager has said that no ploughing
ing Company has proven that it is possi- takes place and no fertilisers are used.
ble to farm on thousands of acres of land Instead, a leguminous crop known as
using methods that conserve the envi- sunn hemp is grown, and when it is 50%
ronment and its biodiversity. On 5,000 flowering, it is rolled on the soil to de-
acres, the company is growing upland compose and form green manure.
rice with a yield of up to 3.5 metric tons
per acre, using the conservation-agricul- According to the Food and Agriculture
ture method. Organisation of the UN, this type of farm-
ing technique has sev-
eral advantages for the
environment because it
reduces the use of farm
machinery which often
emits carbon.
Uganda is on course to
meet its 2030 agenda
relating to the reduction
of carbon footprint. The
2030 agenda refers to
sustainable develop-
ment goals adopted by
all UN member states in
2015, these goals are a
universal call to action
to end poverty, protect
the planet and improve
the lives and prospects
of all citizens. A proud farmer shows off rice plant grown without fertiliser

Why ethnicity matters in organ donation

There are over 6,000 people waiting for an Donating organs and tissue in line with personal “It is very important for families to have a conversation
organ transplant, whilst they wait their lives faith and values is important to many people. with their loved ones surrounding organ donation.
are on pause. Black, Asian and minority ethnic When registering a decision to donate, you will have Speak with your parents, your children, your wife
patients make up a third of the waiting list due the opportunity to give details on your faith and or husband. It makes it clear in the event of a loss,
to a higher incidence of conditions that make beliefs, to ensure they are respected and discussed that you know your loved one‘s wishes and it does
you more likely to need a transplant, like type with your family during any conversation about not leave you to make that decision by yourself or
2 diabetes and high blood pressure. organ donation. Faith leaders and representatives as a family. Just imagine what one donor can do for
For many patients in need of a transplant the best of the various beliefs systems across England have someone’s life. I can be a testament to that because
match will come from a donor with the same ethnic been collaborating with the NHS on this important it certainly has saved mine.”
background, but a shortage of BAME donors mean topic. To find out more about your faith or belief and
that patients from these communities often wait organ donation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/
significantly longer for a life-saving organ than white helping-you-to-decide/your-faith-and-beliefs/
people. On average, black patients wait nearly a year It’s important that you tell your family what you’ve
longer for a kidney than white patients. decided. That way, if your family are ever involved
To address this gap, England has now moved to in discussions about organ donation, they will have
an opt-out system for organ donation. This means the certainty they need to support your decision
that unless you have recorded a decision to opt out, at a difficult time.
or are in an excluded group, it will be considered There is no deadline for registering your decision,
that you have agreed to donate your organs when and you can amend your current decision at any
you die. time on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
The purpose of the law change is to allow more
people to save more lives. If more people donate
their organs, waiting times will decrease and those
in desperate need of a transplant will have the best Darren,
chance of receiving one. Importantly, you still have
a choice about whether or not you become an organ Heart transplant recipient
donor. Whatever your decision, you can register
it on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Visit organdonation.nhs.uk

to find out more.

30528 303mv - 02 African - 170mm x 263mm - Darren English - Updated.indd 1 14/10/2020 11:39