Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a marine herbal sunscreen stick using Kappaphycus alvarezii, zinc oxide, and natural ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, carrot seed oil, and vitamin E. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physical appearance, pH, spreadability, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and Sun Protection Factor (SPF). The optimized formulation showed good physical properties, satisfactory spreadability, a skin-friendly pH (6–7), 56% antioxidant activity, 61% anti-inflammatory activity, and an SPF value of 15. The results indicate that the marine herbal sunscreen stick provides effective UV protection and has promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it may serve as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to conventional sunscreens.

Objective: To formulate and evaluate a marine herbal sunscreen stick containing Kappaphycus alvarezii and natural ingredients for photoprotective efficacy.

Livestock and livestock-derived food products form a vital economic and nutritional resource across Sierra Leone, yet their public handling – from farm to market – remains largely unregulated and poses significant public health risks. This study assessed the health risks associated with the public handling of livestock and livestock food products in Makeni City, Sierra Leone, guided by three objectives: evaluating the adequacy of handling facilities, examining the impact of legislation in minimizing associated health risks, and assessing the level of health education and awareness among handlers. A descriptive survey design was employed, combining self-administered questionnaires and structured interviews with 60 purposively sampled respondents, including livestock deliverers, processors, lairage operators, and vendors of meat, milk, and poultry. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Findings revealed that livestock handling facilities – lairages, abattoirs, market stalls, and transport systems – are predominantly inadequate, characterized by open sheds, unsealed clay/laterite flooring, poor pest-proofing, and an absence of cold storage or veterinary laboratory access. Pre-slaughter stress was reported as largely uncontrolled, and postmortem examination relied mainly on physical rather than laboratory verification, leaving disease screening gaps. While a majority of respondents were aware that regulatory laws exist and reported the City Council as the dominant enforcement authority, compliance with specific regulations – particularly transport and licensing requirements – was weak, and punitive enforcement (fines, business closure) predominated over supportive interventions. Respondents identified direct interaction with diseased animals and zoonotic disease transmission as the principal health risks arising from weak enforcement. Encouragingly, most handlers had received some health education, primarily through training workshops emphasizing food contamination and One Health principles, with strong demand for more frequent (quarterly or monthly) sensitization. The study concludes that infrastructural deficiencies, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, and gaps in laboratory-based disease surveillance collectively heighten zoonotic and contamination risks in Makeni's livestock trade. It recommends prioritized infrastructural investment, strengthened veterinary-inclusive enforcement, and sustained, recurrent health education to safeguard public health under a One Health framework.