Sustainably Growing Guinea’s Bauxite-Aluminum Industry

Guinea’s bauxite-aluminum industry is undergoing significant expansion of investment, concession agreements, and in-country mining and refining operations. In 2018, UNDP-Guinea and Columbia University developed a framework that would evaluate this development against metrics for social and environmental sustainability, such as energy access and diversification, water quality, land use, biodiversity restoration, waste management, and community engagement. Current environmental impacts measured in GHGs, a metric both economic and environmental, were compared to potential impacts anticipated as a consequence of expansion. These anticipated impacts include enormous increases in countrywide GHG emissions and significant regional shortfalls in access to electrical energy. Case studies from the international bauxite-aluminum industry were then used to illustrate best practices for climate mitigation and adaptation and to describe opportunities for regional collaboration on shared-use energy and infrastructure development (e.g., hydropower used across West Africa, rail transportation) while achieving measurable benefits to communities, NGOs, regulators, and mining companies

Conclusions of ten years of maternal death surveillance and response in the health district of commune V of Bamako, Mali

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the findings of the local maternal deaths surveillance and response (MDSR) committee in the health district of Municipality V of the district of Bamako. Methods: It was a retrospective study over a period from January 2009 to December 2017. We have compiled all the findings of the local MDSR committee from the health district of Municipality V. The data was generated from the Local Health Information System (LHIS). We made a simple entry of text and tables using Word and Excel software. Results: During the study period, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 219/100,000 live births. The study was about 140 cases of maternal deaths that occurred in health facilities. The middle age of the patients was 28.01 years. Most of the deaths occurred in the postpartum period, with 106 cases. In 92.12%, the deaths were from direct obstetric causes (DOC), including hemorrhage 70%, eclampsia 7.85%, obstructed labor 7.14%. Seven deaths (5%) were from indirect obstetric causes (IOC), including anemia 3.57% and malaria 1.73%. In 2.58%, the deaths were from undetermined causes. Deaths were preventable in 80%. The response included, among other things, the notification of cases and the implementation of the recommendations made. In 70% of cases, the recommendations issued were implemented. Conclusions:  The MMR remains high in Municipality V of the district of Bamako. These deaths were mostly from DOCs, with hemorrhage as the main cause. These deaths were mostly preventable.