Enhancing Maternal and Perinatal Health in Under-Served Remote Areas in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Tanzanian Model

Flowing water has hydraulic energy that can be transformed into electrical energy, sub-Saharan Africa has an abundance of hydro resources that are untapped. In this study, various barriers limiting the use of small hydropower to tap the abundant hydro potentials for power generation are discussed. These barriers include insufficient fund; lack of adequate manufacturing infrastructure; lack of adequate power generation and distribution policies; inaccurate hydrological data; insufficient human and power infrastructure capacities; and inadequate domestic and regional participation in design and manufacture of small hydropower component devices and systems. This study sees hydro as a cleaner energy source and small hydropower as the best power system for rural and remote areas and for stand-alone electrification. For power sustainability in the region, public–private partnership, domestication of small hydropower technologies and less reliance on foreign technologies and international support are key factors.

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Rural electrification in Kenya: a useful case for remote areas in sub-Saharan Africa

Energy Efficiency ◽

10.1007/s12053-018-9756-z ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 257-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Michael Hansen ◽

George A. Xydis

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rural Electrification ◽

Remote Areas ◽

Sub Saharan

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The Scope and Potential for Mini-Grid Power Systems Based on Biomass Waste for Remote Areas in Sub-Saharan Africa

10.4018/978-1-7998-8809-3.ch013 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 277-296

Author(s):

Gratitude Charis ◽

Tafadzwa Nkhoma ◽

Gwiranai Danha

Keyword(s):

Power Systems ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Landfill Gas ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Biomass Waste ◽

Remote Areas ◽

Regulatory Frameworks ◽

Biogas Plants ◽

Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been experiencing an energy crisis. Socio-economic balances depend on access to clean, convenient, and dependable energy. This is critical for remote areas which are off the national grid, necessitating the installation of renewable energy sources such as bioenergy plants. These plants could valorize waste using combustion and gasification or biogas plants. The challenge is to produce a competitive levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Nations like Germany and Sweden have successfully launched these. SSA can benchmark from these and valorize its biomass wastes. Key issues to consider would be cost-effective supply chains, sustainable harvest rates, after sales support, and good regulatory frameworks. This study was mostly a desktop review with a few field study observations. It was concluded that the stoker fired boiler and landfill gas ‘biomass only' technologies would have the least capital costs, although gasification and anaerobic digestion are also competitive in terms of LCOE.

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Implementing a mobile diagnostic unit to increase access to imaging and laboratory services in western Kenya

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000947 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. e000947 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Roshni Dhoot ◽

John M Humphrey ◽

Patrick O'Meara ◽

Adrian Gardner ◽

Clement J McDonald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Remote Areas ◽

Diagnostic Unit ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Laboratory Services ◽

Sub Saharan

Access to basic imaging and laboratory services remains a major challenge in rural, resource-limited settings in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare programme in western Kenya implemented a mobile diagnostic unit (MDU) outfitted with a generator-powered X-ray machine and basic laboratory tests to address the lack of these services at rural, low-resource, public health facilities. The objective of this paper is to describe the design, implementation, preliminary impact and operational challenges of the MDU in western Kenya. Since implementing the MDU at seven rural health facilities serving a catchment of over half a million people, over 4500 chest radiographs have been performed, with one or more abnormalities detected in approximately 30% of radiographs. We observed favorable feedback and uptake of MDU services by healthcare workers and patients. However, various operational challenges in the design and construction of the MDU and the transmission and reporting of radiographs in remote areas were encountered. Our experience supports the feasibility of deploying an MDU to increase access to basic radiology and laboratory services in rural, resource-limited settings.

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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Mortality and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa

Population Studies ◽

10.1080/0032472031000147416 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 555-556

Author(s):

Lado Ruzicka

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Sub-Saharan Africa

The Military Balance ◽

10.1080/04597228708459635 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 118-142

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Adolescent Suicidality as Seen in Rural Northeastern Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000059 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eugene Kinyanda ◽

Ruth Kizza ◽

Jonathan Levin ◽

Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽

Catherine Abbo

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.

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