Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are widely present in many industries. Monitoring and analyzing PFAS in Africa is challenging due to the limited availability of mass spectrometry (MS), which is an essential technique for detecting PFAS. This review assesses the scope and impact of the shortage of mass spectrometry instruments in Africa, emphasizing the resulting limitations in monitoring environmental and public health threats. The review analyzes the existing PFAS monitoring, the accessibility of MS instruments, and the technical capabilities within the continent. This study suggests that fewer African countries have sufficient MS instruments, resulting in significant underreport of environmental data and related public health issues. The review proposes financial support and programs to address these difficulties to provide necessary MS instruments. The review suggests that it is highly important to develop regional centers of excellence for PFAS monitoring using MS instruments and investing in training programs to address the gap in monitoring efforts. So, enhancing these are crucial for the successful management of the environment and safeguarding public health from the effects of PFAS contamination.

Objectives: In everyday language, climate change is an increase in the Earth’s average temperature. Climate change negatively affects life support systems, including air, food, water, shelter, and security, on which humans depend. This paper aims to holistically integrate maternal and child health into climate change.Methods: A narrative/literature review approach were adopted using papers sources from google scholar, research gate and web of science. About 10 papers was initially gathered and it was later scrutinized to 6.Results: It was discovered that, climate change negatively impacts food and water security, heat stress, extreme weather, and air pollution, with women and children most affected. The World Health Organization estimates 250,000 climate-related deaths annually by 2050, disproportionately affecting maternal and child health. Integrating climate and maternal health strategies could offer benefits, yet research on adapting to climate change’s effects on pregnancy outcomes is limited.Conclusion: Addressing maternal and child health requires integrating health-focused strategies into environmental policies to reduce vulnerabilities to climate-related risks. A comprehensive approach can enhance resilience by improving healthcare access, education, and sustainable resource management, benefiting public health and environmental outcomes.

Adansonia digitata and Annona muricata are traditionally used medicinal plants with reported pharmacological properties. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties of partition fractions of Adansonia digitata and Annona muricata extracts obtained using chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous solvent systems. The plant extracts were successively partitioned using chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous solvent systems. Phytochemical analysis was performed using standard methods. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using FRAP and DPPH assays. Antibacterial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and MIC determination. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids (10.2-15.6%), flavonoids (8.5-12.1%), and phenolic acids (5.6-9.2%) in all fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction of Annona muricata exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 20.5 μg/mL) in the DPPH assay, while the chloroform fraction of Adansonia digitata showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 35.2 μg/mL) in the FRAP assay. The antibacterial evaluation demonstrated that the chloroform fraction of Adansonia digitata exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.5-1.5 mg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whereas the ethyl acetate fraction of Annona muricata showed potent antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.25-1.0 mg/mL) against Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, the ethanol fraction of Adansonia digitata displayed moderate antibacterial activity (MIC = 1.0-2.5 mg/mL) against Gram-positive bacteria, and the aqueous fraction of Annona muricata exhibited weak antibacterial activity (MIC = 2.5-5.0 mg/mL) against all tested bacterial strains. Comparison of antioxidant and antibacterial activities among fractions revealed significant variations, indicating the importance of solvent selection in extracting bioactive compounds. The study validates the traditional use of Adansonia digitata and Annona muricata, highlighting their potential as natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents.