scholarly journals PO 8254 LESSONS LEARNT FROM SCALING UP AN ONLINE SYSTEM FOR REVIEW AND MANAGEMENT OF PROTOCOLS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A24.1-A24
Author(s):  
Prince B Ngongo ◽  
Francis Kombe ◽  
Anatoli Kamali ◽  
Carel IJsselmuiden
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Annual Subscription ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
It Support ◽  
Sub Saharan

BackgroundThe transition from paper-based to online submission of health research protocols using the RHinnO Ethics (RE) platform has been shown to improve efficiency and quality of ethics reviews. However, despite these documented benefits, there are only a total of 40 installations in 12 out of the 54 countries in Africa. We analysed facilitators and barriers to adoption of RE by Researc Ethics Committees.MethodsWe used a retrospective analysis to identify determinants of adoption or rejection of RE by grouping feedback from users into key emerging themes identified through three stages of RE adoption: 1) contractual 2) trial 3) full implementation.ResultsA total of 3947 protocols have been managed through RE by March 2018. Of those reached, 25 per cent adopted and continue to use RE. Of those that rejected, 14 per cent rejected after the trial. At the contractual stage, the key determinants of adoption were the guarantee of sustainable funding, pre-existing good IT infrastructure, and the assurance of technical assistance from the providers. The key determinants of rejection were concerns of cyber security, limited control and ownership by Researc Ethics Committees and cost of the annual subscription. At the trial stage, the determinants of continued adoption and use were continued IT support from providers and a proven comparative advantage over the paper-based system. The key determinant of rejection was limited support from organisation leadership. Those who have continued through the implementation stage emphasised financial sustainability and continuous improvement of the RE as key determinants.ConclusionAccelerated adoption of RE will require increased adaptability of the platform, decrease in cost of annual subscription, improved confidence in security and ownership of data. Developers, Research Ethics Committees and sponsors of RE need to develop a cost-effective funding strategy to increase efficiency, economies of scale and benefits related to harmonised and standardised digital platforms.

scholarly journals Health technology assessment in sub-Saharan Africa: a descriptive analysis and narrative synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Hollingworth ◽  
Ama Pokuaa Fenny ◽  
Su-Yeon Yu ◽  
Francis Ruiz ◽  
Kalipso Chalkidou
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are moving towards universal health coverage. The process of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) can support decisions relating to benefit package design and service coverage. HTA involves institutional cooperation with agreed methods and procedural standards. We systematically reviewed the literature on policies and capacity building to support HTA institutionalisation in SSA. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature by searching major databases (PubMed, Embase, etc.) until June 2019 using terms considering three aspects: HTA; health policy, decision making; and SSA. We quantitatively extracted and descriptively analysed content and conducted a narrative synthesis eliciting themes from the selected literature, which varied in study type and apporach. Results Half of the 49 papers identified were primary research studies and mostly qualitative. Five countries were represented in six of ten studies; South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Half of first authors were from SSA. Most informants were policy makers. Five themes emerged: (1) use of HTA; (2) decision-making in HTA; (3) values and criteria for setting priority areas in HTA; (4) involving stakeholders in HTA; and (5) specific examples of progress in HTA in SSA. The first one was the main theme where there was little use of evidence and research in making policy. The awareness of HTA and economic evaluation was low, with inadequate expertise and a lack of local data and tools. Conclusions Despite growing interest in HTA in SSA countries, awareness remains low and HTA-related activities are uncoordinated and often disconnected from policy. Further training and skills development are needed, firmly linked to a strategy focusing on strengthening within-country partnerships, particularly among researchers and policy makers. The international community has an important role here by supporting policy- relevant technical assistance, highlighting that sustainable financing demands evidence-based processes for effective resource allocation, and catalysing knowledge-sharing opportunities among countries facing similar challenges.

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

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.

Self Supply

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.

Rwanda as a Knowledge Society

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-84
Author(s):  
Rehema Baguma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Natural Resource Base ◽  
Telecom Sector

Generating and developing knowledge societies is a key element for sustainable development as defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Based on a limited natural resource base, Rwanda chose to take an approach to development that differs from that of its neighbours by making ICTs the cornerstone of its development. With this focus, government of Rwanda (GoR) took a Pro-ICT led public policy that has led to several public reforms such as but not limited to liberalization of the telecom sector, enactment of laws to govern electronic messages, signatures, transactions, data protection, cyber-security and ICT usage, development of relevant infrastructure and establishment of key institutions such as the Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Agency (RURA) and Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA). These reforms have in turn led to a fast-growing ICT sector in Rwanda compared to that of the neighbours. To-date, Rwanda is one of the fastest growing African countries in ICT. In 2015, Rwanda emerged as the third best ICT country in Sub-Saharan Africa behind South Africa and Seychelles. In 2016, it moved one position up and emerged 2nd behind Seychelles. The fast-growing ICT sector has stimulated entrepreneurial creativity and growth across the economy. This chapter examines the best practices that Rwanda has applied in her journey to a knowledge society that could possibly help other countries in the region pursuing the same objective. The chapter also briefly reviews challenges and gaps in Rwanda's journey to a knowledge society and suggests recommendations for further improvement.

Cyber Security of Children

2008 ◽  
pp. 46-61
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Mutula
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Online Security ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Developed World

This author discusses issues and threats to children’s cyber security vis-à-vis access to useful children online literature and the implications for sub-saharan Africa. The author points out that whereas the benefits of online children literature are immense especially in Africa where there is paucity of print literature, increasing cyber security and crime targeting children is of growing concern to governments, school teachers, parents, and Internet service providers. The chapter observes that whereas the developed world has made attempts to put in place mechanisms and systems such as acceptable user policies and protection software to mitigate undesirable consequences of online insecurity to which children are the most vulnerable, Africa is lagging behind despite the pervading Internet on the continent. The author notes that censorship of online literature is not the panacea to cyber insecurity, but parents should work closely with teachers and service providers to find pragmatic ways of protecting children online. Africa could learn a lot from developed countries on how to balance between access to useful online information resources against the growing cyber crime targeting children. The author cautions that the future of online security with regard to children’s safety in cyberspace is bound to become more complex as technologies become more advanced and online predators evolve sophisticated ways to circumvent online security measures, calling for the development of a proactive security strategy to protect children online.

Religious Tourism in Africa's Global South

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.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Contrasting Response Mechanisms of Maize Lines to Striga hermonthica

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 485
Author(s):  
Nnanna N. Unachukwu ◽  
Abebe Menkir ◽  
Adekemi Stanley ◽  
Ebenezer O. Farombi ◽  
Melaku Gedil
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Maize Line ◽  
Parasitic Weed ◽  
Resistant Lines ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Better Than

Strigahermonthica (Del.) Benth is a parasitic weed that devastates cereals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Several control measures have been proposed for the parasite, of these, host plant resistance is considered the most cost-effective for poor farmers. Some tolerant/resistant lines have been developed and these lines display tolerance/resistance mechanisms to the parasite. A series of studies was done to investigate some of the mechanisms through which a resistant (TZISTR1108) and a susceptible (5057) maize line responds to S. hermonthica infestation, as well as the effects of parasitism on these lines. In this study, TZISTR1108 stimulated the germination and attachment of fewer S. hermonthica plants than 5057, both in the laboratory and on the field. In TZISTR1108, the growth of the S. hermonthica plants, that successfully attached, was slowed. When compared to the un-infested plants, the infested resistant plants showed fewer effects of parasitism than the infested susceptible plants. The infested TZISTR1108 plants were more vigorous, taller and resembled their un-infected counterparts. There were substantial reductions in the stomatal conductance and nitrogen content of the 5057 upon infestation. The resistant inbred line showed multiple mechanisms of resistance to S. hermonthica infestation. It thrives better than the susceptible line by reducing the attachment of S. hermonthica and it delays the parasite’s development.

scholarly journals Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Iron and Zinc Deficiency in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1812
Author(s):  
Mallana Gowdra Mallikarjuna ◽  
Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu ◽  
Rinku Sharma ◽  
Kaliyugam Shiriga ◽  
Firoz Hossain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Differential Expression ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Zn Deficiency ◽  
Metal Transporters ◽  
Maize Cultivars ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Iron And Zinc ◽  
Sub Saharan

Globally, one-third of the population is affected by iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiency, which is severe in developing and underdeveloped countries where cereal-based diets predominate. The genetic biofortification approach is the most sustainable and one of the cost-effective ways to address Fe and Zn malnutrition. Maize is a major source of nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Understanding systems’ biology and the identification of genes involved in Fe and Zn homeostasis facilitate the development of Fe- and Zn-enriched maize. We conducted a genome-wide transcriptome assay in maize inbred SKV616, under –Zn, –Fe and –Fe–Zn stresses. The results revealed the differential expression of several genes related to the mugineic acid pathway, metal transporters, photosynthesis, phytohormone and carbohydrate metabolism. We report here Fe and Zn deficiency-mediated changes in the transcriptome, root length, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and reduced rate of photosynthesis. Furthermore, the presence of multiple regulatory elements and/or the co-factor nature of Fe and Zn in enzymes indicate their association with the differential expression and opposite regulation of several key gene(s). The differentially expressed candidate genes in the present investigation would help in breeding for Fe and Zn efficient and kernel Fe- and Zn-rich maize cultivars through gene editing, transgenics and molecular breeding.

scholarly journals Digital platforms and non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. e158-e159
Author(s):  
Elaine Okanyene Nsoesie ◽  
Olubusola Oladeji ◽  
Moinina David Sengeh
Keyword(s):  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Sub Saharan
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document