Download Biotechnology and Biosafety Awareness Namibia

Percy Chimwamurombe
Introduction
• Biotechnology research and development in Namibia and Africa
is still picking up;
• However, the countries will hardly avoid trading in GMOs due to:
– the globalisation of trade;
– the vulnerability of the countries to natural disasters and
– the fact that the Namibia is used as transit country to other
countries.
• In this context, there is a need for the development and
implementation of the national biosafety framework to address
biosafety issues. In doing this PUBLIC AWARENESS IS
UNAVOIDABLE
Article 23 of Cartagena Protocol:
Public Awareness and Participation
Obliges parties to:
Promote
and facilitate public
awareness
Ensure
public awareness and
education including access to relevant
information;
Bottom line
 Effective public participation on matters that
affect their lives.
 Everyone has a role to play, through participation
 Similar to the function of the body: No part is
lesser than the other or better that the other, the
leg can not say it is better than the eye etc.
How do you ensure effective
public awareness?
1) Determine the status of Awareness
2) Determine Information needs
3) Determine how to effectively communicate
biotechnology/biosafety
4) Apply means of effective communication
Key components of a National
Biosafety Framework
1) Sectoral policies related to biosafety and biotech;
2) A regulatory biosafety regime;
3) An administrative system;
4) Systems for monitoring and enforcement;
5) Mechanisms for public participation and awareness:
This means Awareness is a critical aspect to ensure a
functional
national
regulatory
biotechnology and biosafety
framework
for
Development of National
Biosafety Framework
 Need for Public participation: The Draft
Framework on Biosafety should be subjected
to a wider consultation with public in order to
build consensus on its nature and content.
 Every input matters as it relates to livelihood
and societal wellbeing.
Public Constitutional
responsibility
 Public consultation process for documents of this
nature is a legal requirement emanating from
Constitutions of most Nations
 Therefore it is important that all citizens are made
aware and even beyond aware for them to fulfill their
constitutional obligations on matters of the state,
including national Biosafety frameworks.
Gains versus losses
• There is more gain in dealing with a public that is
aware on Biotechnology issues than a public that
is not aware.
• A public that is aware will hold the authorities
accountable at all times, thus ensuring safety
precautions and thoughtful decision making.
• A public that is not aware is always late and
reactive rather that being proactive, preventative.
Questionnaire-based Assessment
of Awareness Level
 A 22 –question survey is currently underway to assess
awareness level
 SPSS analysis of data
 191 respondents per region (14 regions of Namibia
considered)
59% of the participants were female.
Gender
112
79
MALE
FEMALE
Age
122
30
25
14
<20years
20-30 years
30-40yrs
above 40 years
By far the majority (64%) of the participants were in the age group 20-30 years old.
Have you heard of GMOs?
109
82
Yes
No
57% of the participants have heard about GMOs. This must be used to show the difference
between
simply hearing about something vs. understanding it
Have you heard of Biotechnology?
149
42
Yes
No
78% of the participants have heard about Biotechnology
Have you heard of Biosafety?
116
75
Yes
61% of
biosafety.
difference
something
the participants have heard about
This must be used to show the
between simply hearing about
vs understanding it
No
What is a gene?
149
22
20
I KNOW
LET ME TRY
0
LET ME TRY
I DONT KNOW
78% of the participants know what a gene is. This need to be
interpreted in line with the next question on eating
genes. It also should the distinction between simply
hearing about a topic and understanding the topic
Do you eat genes?
89
67
30
5
YES
NO
A BIT
Surprisingly, only 36% of the participants have
eaten genes, this is an indication that the
awareness level is low and there is need for
some form of technical information around the
biology of a cell and DNA
I DON’T KNOW
Does Namibia have capacity to regulate
Biotech/Biosafety issues?
65
65
37
24
Yes
No
A bit
34 % of the participants think Namibia has
capacity to regulate Biotechnology and related
issues.
I don’t know
In your own opinion is there enough
awareness on GMOs in Namibia
109
37
40
5
Yes
No
A bit
I don’t know
57% think that there is no enough awareness on
GMOs in Namibia, a case to support the need to
raise awareness
What is the level of awareness in Namibia?
60 % of
the
participant
s
think
that
the
level
of
awareness
in
low,
another
case
to
support
need
to
raise
awareness
115
37
37
2
High
Medium
Low
I don’t know
Overwhelmingly,
88% of the participants
have consensus that
Namibia should engage
in Biotechnology and
related research, this
means there is need for
serious
awareness
raising so that those
that do not support the
research
initiatives
may be fully informed
about the facts around
biotechnology
and
biosafety.
Should Namibia conduct research in
modern biotechnology?
168
YES
3
4
NO
A BIT
16
I DON’T KNOW
Some concerns raised about GMOs
1. Modification causes the life cycles of some organisms to become
complicated
2. ↓ nutrient content; purity
3. Biota & envt – change in life cycles; alteration of soil profile; ozone
depletion
4. Health concerns – alter growth rate & mental development in children;
premature ageing; impotence; obesity; diseases (skin, var organs,
cancers).
5. The technology is new thus any side effects that may arise are
unknown.
6. What kind of mechanism is used to transfer genes across species?
7. Would consumption of plant products from GM plants in any way
affect functions of organs in human body?
8. Was it possible to use GE against HIV through gene manipulation?
9. What were the advantages and disadvantages of biotechnology
applications?
10. What was the status of biotechnology applications in Namibia?
Conclusions
1. Awareness leads to effective participation and
sustainability in the system
2. There is no form of contribution or participation
that is lesser than the other for all forms of
participation give balance to a health system.
3. Public awareness on Biotechnology is a never
ending process as the technology keeps
developing and new issues keep emerging.
Thank you