scholarly journals Achieving the 4IR University Library in Sub-Saharan Africa: Trends, Opportunities and Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 121-140
Author(s):  
Christopher Nkiko ◽  
Omorodion Okuonghae
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Library Management ◽  
University Library ◽  
Comprehensive Collection ◽  
Social Mediation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Returns On Investment

Aim: The paper examined the university library in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the preconditions for achieving and sustaining the same in Nigeria. 4IR is characterized by a level of automation, deployment of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, internet connectivity and accessibility to the global information network, subscription to reputable online databases, quality and comprehensive collection in diverse formats, preponderance of digital natives among patrons, increased demand for seamless access to online resources and virtual operations, new library spaces (learning commons, research commons and makerspace), open scholarly communication, research data management, social mediation applications, digital curation and preservation. The challenges militating against effective crystallization of 4IR university libraries include: financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, resistance to change, inadequate skills and competencies, security and intrusion issues, lack of exposure to international standards. Conclusions: The paper recommended the following as requisite panacea: leadership, demonstrating and justifying returns on investment, benchmarking practices, anti-intrusion and back-up systems, adequate power supply and bandwidth, endowment and corporate social responsibility, indigenous library management software, and capacity building initiatives.

scholarly journals Development and launch of the first obstetrics and gynaecology master of medicine residency training programme in Botswana

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Luckett ◽  
M. Nassali ◽  
T. Melese ◽  
B. Moreri-Ntshabele ◽  
T. Moloi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Programme ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Subspecialty Training ◽  
Continuous Assessment ◽  
Curricular Development ◽  
Apprenticeship Training ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The University

Abstract Background Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a severe shortage of Obstetrician Gynaecologists (OBGYNs). While the Lancet Commission for Global Surgery recommends 20 OBGYNs per 100,000 population, Botswana has only 40 OBGYNs for a population of 2.3 million. We describe the development of the first OBGYN Master of Medicine (MMed) training programme in Botswana to address this human resource shortage. Methods We developed a 4-year OBGYN MMed programme at the University of Botswana (UB) using the Kern’s approach. In-line with UB MMed standards, the programme includes clinical apprenticeship training complemented by didactic and research requirements. We benchmarked curriculum content, learning outcomes, competencies, assessment strategies and research requirements with regional and international programmes. We engaged relevant local stakeholders and developed international collaborations to support in-country subspecialty training. Results The OBGYN MMed curriculum was completed and approved by all relevant UB bodies within ten months during which time additional staff were recruited and programme financing was assured. The programme was advertised immediately; 26 candidates applied for four positions, and all selected candidates accepted. The programme was launched in January 2020 with government salary support of all residents. The clinical rotations and curricular development have been rolled out successfully. The first round of continuous assessment of residents was performed and internal programme evaluation was conducted. The national accreditation process was initiated. Conclusion Training OBGYNs in-country has many benefits to health systems in SSA. Curricula can be adjusted to local resource context yet achieve international standards through thoughtful design and purposeful collaborations.

Extension education strategy for minimizing aflatoxin impact on sub-Saharan African agriculture and food systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ayeni
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Extension Education ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the most vulnerable region of the world to all aflatoxin-related problems including food insecurity, ill health and reduced foreign exchange earnings. Aflatoxin-contaminated maize, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum and other crops reduce human access to adequate calories from these staples; consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods results in severe health conditions, including liver cancer, that deny the region a significant amount of otherwise productive man-hours; while the reduction of grain quality below the international standards due to aflatoxin contamination drastically reduces income in foreign exchange earnings. Scientific knowledge of the causes of aflatoxins in agricultural systems and their mitigation abounds in research institutions in SSA and internationally, but most of this knowledge is unavailable to farmers, food consumers and policy makers in useful form due to poor extension education and ineffective extension services. A paradigm shift in the approach to extension in SSA is proposed, one driven by a sustainable mechanism that is sensitive to the needs of the people and proactive (rather than reactive) in providing solutions to aflatoxin-related problems the local community and policy makers have to deal with. This paper argues that such sustainable mechanism may only be found in a University-based and University-run ‘land grant’ type extension services adapted appropriately to SSA conditions.

scholarly journals Development and Launch of the First Obstetrics and Gynaecology Master of Medicine Residency Training Programme in Botswana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Luckett ◽  
Mercy Nassali ◽  
Tadele Melese ◽  
Badani Moreri-Ntshabele ◽  
Thabo Moloi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Programme ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Subspecialty Training ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The University ◽  
Assessment Strategies ◽  
Resource Shortage ◽  
Severe Shortage

Abstract Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a severe shortage of Obstetrician Gynaecologists (OBGYNs). While the Lancet Commission for Global Surgery recommends 20 OBGYNs per 100,000 population, Botswana has only 40 OBGYNs for a population of 2.3 million. We describe the development of the first OBGYN Master of Medicine (MMed) training programme in Botswana to address this human resource shortage.Methods: We developed a curriculum for a 4-year OBGYN MMed at the University of Botswana (UB). We benchmarked curriculum content, learning outcomes, competencies, assessment strategies and research requirements with regional and international programmes. We engaged relevant local stakeholders and developed international collaborations to support in-country subspecialty training. Results: The OBGYN MMed curriculum was completed and approved by all relevant UB bodies within ten months during which time additional staff were recruited and programme financing was assured. The programme was advertised immediately; 26 candidates applied for four positions, and all selected candidates accepted. The programme was launched in January 2020 with government salary support of all residents. The national accreditation process was initiated.Conclusion: Training OBGYNs in-country has many benefits to health systems in SSA. Curricula can be adjusted to local resource context yet achieve international standards through thoughtful design and purposeful collaborations.

scholarly journals Got forages? Understanding potential returns on investment in Brachiaria spp. for dairy producers in Eastern Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Schiek ◽  
Carlos González ◽  
Solomon Mwendia ◽  
Steven D. Prager
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Economic Surplus ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Returns On Investment ◽  
Positive Return

Production of livestock and dairy products in Sub-Saharan Africa struggles to keep pace with growing demand. The potential exists to close this gap in a climate-friendly way through the introduction of improved forage varieties of the Brachiaria genus. We assess the potential economic impact of the development and release of such varieties in 6 Eastern African countries using an economic surplus model. Results are presented across a range of potential scenarios involving different adoption rates and percentage increases in production. For all but the lowest levels of adoption and production increases, improved forages have the potential for positive return on investment. Using these results, we present formulae that help readers calculate the adoption rate or percentage increase in production necessary to achieve specific desired levels of net benefit. Overall, the model output suggests that investment in a forages research program related to the qualities of the forage itself as well as programs to enhance dissemination and adoption of new materials would be low risk and have high likelihood for positive outcomes, generating discounted net benefits in the order of multiple tens of millions of dollars over a 30-year time horizon.

scholarly journals Caregivers' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Diarrhoea in Children under Five Years Old in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Integrative Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Margaret Wekem Kukeba ◽  
Salifu Lukman ◽  
Rosina Darcha ◽  
Abdul-Razak Doat
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Children Under Five ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Attitude And Practice ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Knowledge Attitude And Practice

Background: Diarrhoeal diseases constitute a significant burden on the health and growth of children the world over. Globally, diarrhoeal conditions remain the second leading cause of death among children under 5. Knowledge, attitudes and practice of caregivers are at the heart of diarrhoeal disease prevention and proper management. Objective: This review aimed to assess caregivers' knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding diarrhoea in children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa, as discussed in the literature. Design: Integrative narrative review Data Sources: The review saw an extensive search on two electronic databases. Search results were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. At the end of the screening, 37 studies were included in the review. Review Methods: Inclusion criteria: Only studies whose focus was on caregivers’ knowledge, attitude and practice relating to diarrhoea in children under five were included. Also, only publications reported in the English Language were considered, and publications must have been between 2010-2020. Additionally, the methodological quality of studies was assessed using the Down & Black (1998) checklist for quality evaluation in a systematic review. Results: In this review, it emerged that studies in Sub-Saharan Africa indicate that caregivers display poor overall knowledge about diarrhoea. Also, the attitudes of caregivers towards diarrhoea prevention and treatment was low in many studies. On care practices, prevention practices, and management/treatment practices, including ORS and Zinc usage, were mainly reported to be quiet. Conclusions: The review concluded that there are poor levels of knowledge, attitude and practice of managing diarrhoea among caregivers of children under five (5) years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. The researchers recommended continuous health education to address knowledge gaps of mothers about diarrhoea, its prevention and treatment according to international standards.

Making Markets Work for Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor M. Fox ◽  
Mor Bakhoum
Keyword(s):  
Competition Law ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan

This book explores sub-Saharan Africa, markets, economic development and competition policy. Specifically, the book examines the special social-economic-political situation in sub-Saharan African countries at various stages of development, from small and quite undeveloped countries of West Africa to the middle-class economy of South Africa. It considers what these countries do and what they can be expected to do in competition law and policy and relates these realities and capabilities to what has become known as the “international standards” of competition law and policy. The book seeks to determine the fit of developing countries’ needs with developed countries’ standards, and proposes a new way forward that takes on board the UN post-millennium development goals of sustainable inclusive development.

scholarly journals Orchestrating Smart Cities, New Disruptive Business Models and Informal Enterprises

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Mkalama ◽  
Bitange Ndemo
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
New Business ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
New Business Models

As the fourth industrial revolutions technologies intensify, cities are becoming smarter, new business models are emerging and informal enterprises are formalizing by default. Research demonstrates that the future of our world is decided by the quality of its future cities. As cities invest in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to make life easier and solve many of the problems we face today, employment opportunities expand and citizens enjoy better lifestyle. This chapter will examine how the concept of smart cities is disrupting existing business models and creating new ones that have positively impacting Africa’s informal enterprise sector. The chapter leverages abundance theory to explain the emerging phenomenon in the nexus between smart cities, new business models and informal enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study finds that indeed the concept of smart cities is indeed facilitating new business models that are formalizing the informal sector.

scholarly journals Breast cancer pathology services in sub-Saharan Africa: a survey within population-based cancer registries

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes-Viktor Ziegenhorn ◽  
Kirstin Grosse Frie ◽  
Ima-Obong Ekanem ◽  
Godwin Ebughe ◽  
Bakarou Kamate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Registries ◽  
Population Based ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Cancer Pathology ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Breast Cancer Pathology

Abstract Background Pathologists face major challenges in breast cancer diagnostics in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The major problems identified as impairing the quality of pathology reports are shortcomings of equipment, organization and insufficiently qualified personnel. In addition, in the context of breast cancer, immunohistochemistry (IHC) needs to be available for the evaluation of biomarkers. In the study presented, we aim to describe the current state of breast cancer pathology in order to highlight the unmet needs. Methods We obtained information on breast cancer pathology services within population-based cancer registries in SSA. A survey of 20 participating pathology centres was carried out. These centres represent large, rather well-equipped pathologies. The data obtained were related to the known population and breast cancer incidence of the registry areas. Results The responding pathologists served populations of between 30,000 and 1.8 million and the centres surveyed dealt with 10–386 breast cancer cases per year. Time to fixation and formalin fixation time varied from overnight to more than 72 h. Only five centres processed core needle biopsies as a daily routine. Technical problems were common, with 14 centres reporting temporary power outages and 18 centres claiming to own faulty equipment with no access to technical support. Only half of the centres carried out IHC in their own laboratory. For three centres, IHC was only accessible outside of the country and one centre could not obtain any IHC results. A tumour board was established in 13 centres. Conclusions We conclude that breast cancer pathology services ensuring state-of-the-art therapy are only available in a small fraction of centres in SSA. To overcome these limitations, many of the centres require larger numbers of experienced pathologists and technical staff. Furthermore, equipment maintenance, standardization of processing guidelines and establishment of an IHC service are needed to comply with international standards of breast cancer pathology.

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