Culture

Stuck with gaming? WHO says it’s sign of mental disorder

Gaming has come under the watchful eyes of the World Health Organisation which has now described the incidence as a mental health condition

Published

6 years ago

June 19, 2018

Africa News Watch

Gaming has come under the watchful eyes of the World Health Organisation which has now described the incidence as a mental health condition.

The condition described as ‘gaming disorder’ will be added to the 11th edition of WHO’s International Classification of Diseases.

The U.N. health agency said classifying “gaming disorder” as a separate addiction will help governments, families and healthcare workers be more vigilant and prepared to identify the risks. But the agency and other experts were quick to note that cases of the condition are still very rare, with no more than up to 3 percent of all gamers believed to be affected.

Dr. Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO’s department for mental health and substance abuse, said the agency accepted the proposal that gaming disorder should be listed as a new problem based on scientific evidence, in addition to “the need and the demand for treatment in many parts of the world.”

Dr. Joan Harvey, a spokeswoman for the British Psychological Society, warned that the new designation might cause unnecessary concern among parents.

“People need to understand this doesn’t mean every child who spends hours in their room playing games is an addict, otherwise medics are going to be flooded with requests for help,” she said.

Others welcomed WHO’s new classification, saying it was critical to identify people hooked on video games quickly because they are usually teenagers or young adults who don’t seek help themselves.

“We come across parents who are distraught, not only because they’re seeing their child drop out of school, but because they’re seeing an entire family structure fall apart,” said Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, a spokeswoman for behavioral addictions at Britain’s Royal College of Psychiatrists. She was not connected to WHO’s decision.

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Culture

Crocodiles eat South African man during hunt in Zimbabwe

Published

19 hours ago

September 9, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A 44-year-old South African man, Scott van Zyl, has been eaten by crocodiles after he went missing during a safari hunt in Zimbabwe.

Authorities say van Zyl who owns a professional hunting company in South Africa, reportedly disappeared on Friday on the banks of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe.

Local media reports that the dogs he was hunting with returned without him and his rifle and personal items were intact in his pickup truck while a search team traced his tracks to the banks of the river and found his backpack.

“Police and park authorities decided to shoot two suspected Nile crocodiles and found what could possibly be human remains in them”, a member of the search party told reporters.

“The remains are reportedly being tested by forensic experts to verify if they belong to Scott van Zyl,” a Zimbabwean tabloid reported.

“Crocodile attacks are common near river banks with at least four people killed in Zimbabwe in the past month. In March, a 19-year-old Mozambican football player Estevao Alberto Gino was killed by a crocodile along the Zambezi river in western Mozambique.

“The crocodile came out of the water abruptly and took him by the waist. After that, the animal ran back into the water.”

Culture

Algeria to host Afreximbank’s CANEX 2024

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that the 2024 edition of its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX 2024) will hold in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with the theme, “One People, United in Culture.”

According to a statement from the bank, the CANEX 2024, which is a premier event that showcases Africa’s vibrant creative and cultural industries, will be the major focus of the four-day event taking place from October 16-19.

“CANEX 2024 offers a unique platform for creatives from across the continent and beyond, to showcase their work, network with industry leaders, and explore business opportunities, including exhibitions, roundtable discussions, masterclasses, live performances, gastronomy showcases, music, dance, poetry, and other artistic expressions,” the statement said.

“Since the event was launched in 2020, it had committed a $1bn facility for Africa’s creative and cultural industries, and has deployed specialised products for financing some CCI sectors, including the Film Financing Development Facility and the Music Development facility.

“The bank has also identified key gaps in creative production value chains, and created interventions to bridge those gaps, with a focus on access to markets.

“The event will be a gathering of creatives, investors, and industry professionals from across the continent and the world over.

“CANEX WKND 2024 will feature an exhibition and market, roundtable discussions, masterclasses, live performances, and networking opportunities. The event is open to industry professionals, individuals, corporate investors, and governance bodies. It provides a unique platform for creatives to showcase their work, connect with industry leaders, and explore business and investment opportunities,” the statement added.