Controlling sleeping sickness – a review

SUMMARYFollowing a period characterized by severe epidemics of sleeping sickness, restoration of effective control and surveillance systems has raised the question of eliminating the disease from sub-Saharan Africa. Given sufficient political and financial support, elimination is now considered a reasonable aim in countries reporting zero or less than 100 cases per year. This success may lead health authorities across the affected region to downgrade the disease from ‘neglected’ to simply being ignored. In view of the significant levels of under-reporting of sleeping sickness mortality in rural communities, this could be a short-sighted policy. Loss of capacity to deal with new epidemics, which can arise as a consequence of loss of commitment or civil upheaval, would have serious consequences. The present period should be seen as a clear opportunity for public-private partnerships to develop simpler and more cost-effective tools and strategies for sustainable sleeping sickness control and surveillance, including diagnostics, treatment and vector control.

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Crowdsourcing Covid-19 signals in sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging digital contributor networks for participatory surveillance of Covid-19 symptoms and deaths (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.26347 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ngozi A Erondu ◽

Sagal A Ali ◽

Mohamed Ali ◽

Schadrac C Agbla

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Specific Information ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Health Seeking ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Local Networks ◽

The World ◽

Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, underreporting of cases and deaths has been attributed to various factors including, weak disease surveillance, low health-seeking behaviour of flu like symptoms, and stigma of Covid-19. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spread mimics transmission patterns of other countries across the world. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way research can be conducted and in light of restrictions on travel and risks to in-person data collection, innovative approaches to collecting data must be considered. Nearly 50% of Africa’s population is a unique mobile subscriber and it is one of the fastest growing smart-phone marketplaces in the world; hence, mobile phone platforms should be considered to monitor Covid-19 trends in the community. OBJECTIVE We demonstrate the use of digital contributor platforms to survey individuals about cases of flu-like symptoms and instances of unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. METHODS Rapid cross-sectional survey of individuals with severe flu and pneumonia symptoms and unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe RESULTS Using a non-health specific information platform, we found COVID-19 signals in five African countries, specifically: •Across countries, nearly half of the respondents (n=739) knew someone who had severe flu or pneumonia symptoms in recent months. •One in three respondents from Somalia and one in five from Zimbabwe respondents said they knew more than five people recently displaying flu and/or pneumonia symptoms. •In Somalia there were signals that a large number of people might be dying outside of health facilities, specifically in their homes or in IDP or refugee camps. CONCLUSIONS Existing digital contributor platforms with local networks are a non-traditional data source that can provide information from the community to supplement traditional government surveillance systems and academic surveys. We demonstrate that using these distributor networks to for community surveys can provide periodic information on rumours but could also be used to capture local sentiment to inform public health decision-making; for example, these insights could be useful to inform strategies to increase confidence in Covid19 vaccine. As Covid-19 continues to spread somewhat silently across sub-Saharan Africa, regional and national public health entities should consider expanding event-based surveillance sources to include these systems.

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A metric-based assessment of flood risk and vulnerability of rural communities in the Lower Shire Valley, Malawi

Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences ◽

10.5194/piahs-370-139-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 370 ◽

pp. 139-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. J. Adeloye ◽

F. D. Mwale ◽

Z. Dulanya

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Spatial Variability ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Flood Hazard ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Flood Depth ◽

Inundation Area ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract. In response to the increasing frequency and economic damages of natural disasters globally, disaster risk management has evolved to incorporate risk assessments that are multi-dimensional, integrated and metric-based. This is to support knowledge-based decision making and hence sustainable risk reduction. In Malawi and most of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however, flood risk studies remain focussed on understanding causation, impacts, perceptions and coping and adaptation measures. Using the IPCC Framework, this study has quantified and profiled risk to flooding of rural, subsistent communities in the Lower Shire Valley, Malawi. Flood risk was obtained by integrating hazard and vulnerability. Flood hazard was characterised in terms of flood depth and inundation area obtained through hydraulic modelling in the valley with Lisflood-FP, while the vulnerability was indexed through analysis of exposure, susceptibility and capacity that were linked to social, economic, environmental and physical perspectives. Data on these were collected through structured interviews of the communities. The implementation of the entire analysis within GIS enabled the visualisation of spatial variability in flood risk in the valley. The results show predominantly medium levels in hazardousness, vulnerability and risk. The vulnerability is dominated by a high to very high susceptibility. Economic and physical capacities tend to be predominantly low but social capacity is significantly high, resulting in overall medium levels of capacity-induced vulnerability. Exposure manifests as medium. The vulnerability and risk showed marginal spatial variability. The paper concludes with recommendations on how these outcomes could inform policy interventions in the Valley.

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Inhibition of Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulphide Using Plant Waste Materials for Faecal Sludge Odour Control in Dry Sanitation Toilet Facilities

10.21203/rs.3.rs-659004/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bernice Mawumenyo Senanu ◽

Patrick Boakye ◽

Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng ◽

Divine Damertey Sewu ◽

Esi Awuah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rice Husk ◽

Hydrogen Sulphide ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Open Defecation ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Sanitation Systems ◽

S Peak ◽

Faecal Sludge ◽

Peak Value

Abstract On-site dry sanitation facilities, although cheaper than wet sanitation systems, suffer from high malodour and insect nuisance as well as poor aesthetics. The high odour deters users from utilizing dry sanitation toilet as an improved facility leading to over 20% open defecation in Sub-Saharan Africa. To address this malodour concern, this study first assessed odour levels, using hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3) as indicators, on two (2) dry sanitation facilities (T1 and T2). The potential of using biomass (sawdust, rice husk, moringa leaves, neem seeds), ash (coconut husk, cocoa husk) or biochar (sawdust, rice husk, bamboo) as biocovers to remove or suppress odour from fresh faecal sludge (FS) over a 12-day period was investigated. Results showed high odour levels, beyond and below the threshold limit for unpleasantness for humans on H2S (peak value: T1 = 3.17 ppm; T2 = 0.22 ppm > 0.05 ppm limit) and NH3 (peak value: T1 = 6.88 ppm; T2 = 3.16 ppm < 30 ppm limit), respectively. The biomasses exhibited low pH (acidic = 5-7) whereas the biochars and ashes had higher pHs (basic = 8-13). Acidic biocovers generally reduced NH3 emission significantly (12.5% to 64.8%) whereas basic biocovers were more effective at H2S emission reduction (80.9% to 96.2%). In terms of H2S and NH3 removal, sawdust biochar was the most effective biocover with odour abatement values of 96.2% and 74.7%, respectively. The results suggest that locally available waste plant-based materials, like sawdust, when converted to biochar can serve as a cost-effective and sustainable way to effectively combat odour-related issues associated with dry sanitation facilities to help stop open defecation.

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Self Supply

10.3362/9781780448190 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sally Sutton ◽

John Butterworth

Keyword(s):

Universal Access ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Full Potential ◽

Public Provision ◽

Middle Income ◽

Private And Public ◽

Access To Water ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Water Provision

While governments and development partners focus on improving community and utility-managed water supplies to ensure access for all, hundreds of millions of people are taking actions to supply their own water. In the WASH sector household investment in construction and improvement of facilities is widely employed in sanitation but in water similar efforts are ignored. Recognition of the contribution of self-supply towards universal access to water and its full potential, is hampered by a lack of data, analysis and guidance. This well-reasoned source book highlights the magnitude of the contribution of self-supply to urban and rural water provision world-wide, and the gains that are possible when governments recognise and support household-led supply development and up-grading. With limited public finances in low- (and many middle-) income countries, self-supply can fill gaps in public provision, especially amongst low-density rural populations. The book focuses on sub-Saharan Africa as the region with the greatest predicted shortfall in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal for water. Household supplies can be created, or accelerated to basic or safely managed levels, through approaches that build on the investment and actions of families, with the availability of technology options and cost-effective support from the private and public sectors. The role of self-supply needs greater recognition and a change in mindset of governments, development partners and practitioners if water services are to be extended to all and no-one is to be left behind.

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Features of Rural Communities in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa That Influence Well-Being of Older Persons

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1622 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 420-421

Author(s):

Andrew Banda ◽

Norah Keating ◽

Jaco Hoffman ◽

Jose Parodi ◽

Nereide Curreri

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Latin America ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Older People ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Older Persons ◽

Subjective Wellbeing ◽

Well Being ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract In their recent volume, Critical Rural Gerontology, Skinner et al (2021) challenge us to set aside unidimensional notions of rural communities as bypassed vs very supportive; and to identify the elements of rurality that empower or exclude older people and how these differ across cultures and settings. Covid-19 has highlighted the need for safe and inclusive communities. Given that LMIC will be home to the majority of older adults (Gonzales et al. 2015), we undertook a scoping review of features of rural communities that influence wellbeing of older people in countries across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The review included literature in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, using search engines MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, PsycInfo, SocINDEX, SciELO, AJOL (Africa Journals Online), LILACS, Redalyc, LatinIndex and Clacso. Findings illustrate diversity in how community features including remoteness, infrastructure and belonging influence material, social and subjective wellbeing of older residents.

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Religious Tourism in Africa's Global South

Advances in Hospitality, Tourism, and the Services Industry - Global Development of Religious Tourism ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-5792-1.ch017 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 283-296

Author(s):

Unathi Sonwabile Henama ◽

Lwazi Apleni

Keyword(s):

Economic Benefit ◽

Effective Means ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Economic Activities ◽

International Tourist ◽

African Spirituality ◽

Religious Tourism ◽

Beaten Track ◽

Sub Saharan

International tourist arrivals are projected to surpass 1.8 billion by 2030 on the back of rapid growth in emerging tourism economies. Tourism has emerged as an economic messiah for a plethora of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has emerged as a cost-effective means by which countries can diversify their economies, especially countries with low economies that depend on agricultural products to diversify their economies. Religious tourism can contribute to deeper economic benefit for a destination. The synthesis of literature adds to the paucity of academic gaze on religious tourism in Southern Africa. The synthesis takes the reader on a religious tourism journey that includes African spirituality, Pentecostal Christianity, and the interface between Africans spirituality and Christianity. These areas are neglected in the academic gaze and are outside the tourism beaten track, and these forms of religious tourism bring in much needed economic activities for areas on the tourism fringe.

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Countering Violent Extremism in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Policy Makers Need to Know

World Affairs ◽

10.1177/0043820019862270 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 182 (3) ◽

pp. 256-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robin A. Hardy

Keyword(s):

Financial Support ◽

Muslim World ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Boko Haram ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Counter Terrorism ◽

Violent Extremism ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Over Time

This essay addresses recurring and growing inaccurate reports from political officials as well as counter-terrorism analysts and journalists that the Sahara-Sahel group Boko Haram is a defeated entity. Notwithstanding concerted efforts to rout the movement, Boko Haram and its network of jihadists have expanded. Crucial misunderstandings surrounding what fostered and sustains the phenomenon—as well as a general naivety regarding the organization’s flexibility to adapt to attract combatants, financial support, and weaponry beyond Nigeria’s borders—have made performing basic adequate risk assessments overwhelmingly challenging. Policy makers and CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) practitioners would be wise to recognize that not only has Boko Haram morphed but its growing affiliates also terrorize increased territory. The threat of militant Islam in the Sahara-Sahel, therefore, has not been contained as some would have us believe. Rather, Muslim extremism has become entangled and more complex not only in Africa but across the Muslim world. When jihadists in one territory have taken a beating, surviving fighters have simply relocated to other geographies accompanied by connections for capital and munitions. In this way, Boko Haram—the fulcrum of violent Islam in the Sahara-Sahel—has become, over time, an international jihadist actor.

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Management of Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Need for a Sub-Saharan Guideline

Journal of Oncology ◽

10.1155/2019/1785428 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ayun Cassell ◽

Bashir Yunusa ◽

Mohamed Jalloh ◽

Medina Ndoye ◽

Mouhamadou M. Mbodji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Androgen Deprivation Therapy ◽

Metastatic Prostate Cancer ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Androgen Deprivation ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

International Agency ◽

Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Castrate Resistant

The estimated incidence rate of prostate cancer in Africa was 22.0/100,000 in 2016. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has cited prostate cancer as a growing health threat in Africa with approximated 28,006 deaths in 2010 and estimated 57,048 deaths in 2030. The exact incidence of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer is not known in sub-Saharan Africa. Hospital-based reports from the region have shown a rising trend with most patients presenting with advanced or metastatic disease. The management of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer is challenging. The available international guidelines may not be cost-effective for an African population. The most efficient approach in the region has been surgical castration by bilateral orchidectomy or pulpectomy. Medical androgen deprivation therapy is expensive and may not be available. Patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer tend to be palliated due to the absence or cost of chemotherapy or second-line androgen deprivation therapy in most of Africa. A cost-effective guideline for developing nations to address the rising burden of advanced prostate cancer is warranted at this moment.

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Bacterial larvicides used for malaria vector control in sub-Saharan Africa: review of their effectiveness and operational feasibility

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-019-3683-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yahya A. Derua ◽

Eliningaya J. Kweka ◽

William N. Kisinza ◽

Andrew K. Githeko ◽

Franklin W. Mosha

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Malaria Vector ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Malaria Vector Control ◽

Sub Saharan

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Nextgen Vector Surveillance Tools: sensitive, specific, cost-effective and epidemiologically relevant

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-020-03494-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Robert Farlow ◽

Tanya L. Russell ◽

Thomas R. Burkot

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Vector Control ◽

Malaria Control ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Effective Control ◽

Next Generation ◽

Vector Data ◽

Vector Surveillance ◽

Current Vector ◽

Control Programmes

Abstract Background Vector surveillance provides critical data for decision-making to ensure that malaria control programmes remain effective and responsive to any threats to a successful control and elimination programme. The quality and quantity of data collected is dependent on the sampling tools and laboratory techniques used which may lack the sensitivity required to collect relevant data for decision-making. Here, 40 vector control experts were interviewed to assess the benefits and limitations of the current vector surveillance tools and techniques. In addition, experts shared ideas on “blue sky” indicators which encompassed ideas for novel methods to monitor presently used indicators, or to measure novel vector behaviours not presently measured. Algorithms for deploying surveillance tools and priorities for understanding vector behaviours are also needed for collecting and interpreting vector data. Results The available tools for sampling and analysing vectors are often hampered by high labour and resource requirements (human and supplies) coupled with high outlay and operating costs and variable tool performance across species and geographic regions. The next generation of surveillance tools needs to address the limitations of present tools by being more sensitive, specific and less costly to deploy to enable the collection and use of epidemiologically relevant vector data to facilitate more proactive vector control guidance. Ideas and attributes for Target Product Profiles (TPPs) generated from this analysis provide targets for research and funding to develop next generation tools. Conclusions More efficient surveillance tools and a more complete understanding of vector behaviours and populations will provide a basis for more cost effective and successful malaria control. Understanding the vectors’ behaviours will allow interventions to be deployed that target vulnerabilities in vector behaviours and thus enable more effective control. Through defining the strengths and weaknesses of the current vector surveillance methods, a foundation and initial framework was provided to define the TPPs for the next generation of vector surveillance methods. The draft TTPs presented here aim to ensure that the next generation tools and technologies are not encumbered by the limitations of present surveillance methods and can be readily deployed in low resource settings.

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