scholarly journals Building Sustainable Capacity for Disease Diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Studies of Cooperation in Diagnostic Pathology

Author(s):  
Renato Mariani-Costantini ◽  
Khalid Dafaallah ◽  
Massimo Barberis ◽  
Claudio Clemente ◽  
Pasquale De ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Yann Forget ◽  
Michal Shimoni ◽  
Marius Gilbert ◽  
Catherine Linard

By 2050, half of the net increase in the world’s population is expected to reside in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), driving high urbanization rates and drastic land cover changes. However, the data-scarce environment of SSA limits our understanding of the urban dynamics in the region. In this context, Earth Observation (EO) is an opportunity to gather accurate and up-to-date spatial information on urban extents. During the last decade, the adoption of open-access policies by major EO programs (CBERS, Landsat, Sentinel) has allowed the production of several global high resolution (10–30 m) maps of human settlements. However, mapping accuracies in SSA are usually lower, limited by the lack of reference datasets to support the training and the validation of the classification models. Here we propose a mapping approach based on multi-sensor satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel-1, Envisat, ERS) and volunteered geographic information (OpenStreetMap) to solve the challenges of urban remote sensing in SSA. The proposed mapping approach is assessed in 17 case studies for an average F1-score of 0.93, and applied in 45 urban areas of SSA to produce a dataset of urban expansion from 1995 to 2015. Across the case studies, built-up areas averaged a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% between 1995 and 2015. The comparison with local population dynamics reveals the heterogeneity of urban dynamics in SSA. Overall, population densities in built-up areas are decreasing. However, the impact of population growth on urban expansion differs depending on the size of the urban area and its income class.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Namuhani ◽  
Suzanne N Kiwanuka ◽  
Martha Akulume ◽  
Simeon Kalyesubula ◽  
William Bazeyo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Clinical laboratory services are a critical component of the health system for effective disease diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention. However, many laboratories in Sub Saharan Africa remain dysfunctional. The high costs of tests in the private sector also remain a hindrance to accessing testing services. This study aimed at assessing the functionality of laboratories based on test menus and the associated constraints in Uganda. Methods This cross sectional quantitative study involved an assessment of 100 laboratories randomly selected in 20 districts from four regions of the country. Sixteen percent of the studied laboratories were regional hub laboratories. Laboratory in charges and managers in each of the selected laboratories were interviewed. A checklist for laboratory supplies adapted from the Essential Medicines and Health supplies list for Uganda, (2012) was used to assess availability of testing supplies. Data was analyzed using excel and STATA 14. Results At the point of assessment, generally, all laboratories were able to perform malaria tests and HIV tests. All the hub laboratories conducted malaria tests and TB screening. Less than half had electrolytes tests due to lack of equipment, nonfunctioning equipment and lack of reagents. Full blood count tests were missing in 25% of the hub laboratories mainly due to lack of equipment. The lack of reagents (66.7%) and the lack of equipment (58.3%) caused the majority 10/16 of the hubs to routinely referred specimens for tests that are supposed to be carried out in these laboratories due to lack of reagents (66.7%) and non-functional equipment (58.3%). Although officially recognized as an operational structure, Hub laboratories lacked a list of essential and vital supplies. Conclusions Most laboratories performed well for the common tests. However, many laboratories did not meet testing requirements especially for the advanced tests according to standard testing menus for Uganda due to non-functioning equipment, lack of equipment and reagents. Hubs lack list of essential supplies. Therefore, there is need to provide equipment to laboratories, repair the non-functional ones and develop an essential list of supplies for the hub laboratories.



Author(s):  
Innocent Chirisa ◽  
Abraham Rajab Matamanda

The aim of this chapter is to interrogate and diagnose the concept of smart cities as it has been applied to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in a bid to decrypt the opportunities and challenges characterizing its manifestation in space and actuality. The chapter is a product of the critical engagement of scholarly work that compares the best practices in the development and promotion of the smart city concept against those practices that are antithetical and retrogressive in light of this good cause. To crystallize the realities, the chapter makes use of case studies that speak to these contrasting experiences. Case studies in SSA reveal differential practices with South Africa emerging as a country doing very well relative to others in the region. Some cities, especially the small and intermediate ones, fail to break even in terms of the revenue collections. This is partly because they have failed to attract investment in the form of industries or retain them because of politically induced instabilities.



2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Osei ◽  
Desmond Kuupiel ◽  
Portia Nelisiwe Vezi ◽  
Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson

Abstract Background: The rapid growth of mobile technology has given rise to the development of mobile health programmes aimed at treating and preventing a wide range of health conditions. However, evidence on the use of mHealth in high disease burdened settings such as SSA is not clear. We systematically mapped evidence on mHealth for disease diagnosis and treatment support by health workers in SSA. Methods: We conducted a scoping review study guided by the Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, Levac et al recommendations, and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. We thoroughly searched the following databases: MEDLINE and CINAHL with full-text via EBSCOhost; PubMed; Science Direct and Google Scholar for relevant articles from inception to July 2019. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and full-text articles using the eligibility criteria as reference. This study employed the mixed methods appraisal tool version 2018 to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Out of the 572 articles identified , only 10 published articles presented evidence on mHealth for treatment support by health workers in SSA since 2010. No studies reported evidence on mHealth for disease diagnosis by health workers in SSA. Of the 10 studies, four studies were conducted in Kenya; one in South Africa; one in Malawi; one in Zimbabwe; one in Mozambique; one in Nigeria and one in Lesotho. Of the 10 studies: three reported the use of mHealth to manage HIV; two on the management of HIV/TB; two on treatment of malaria; one each on the management of hypertension; cervical cancer; and one was not specific on any disease condition. All the 10 included studies underwent methodological quality appraisal with a scored between 70 and 100%. Conclusions: The study shows that there is limited research on the availability and use of mHealth by health workers for treatment support in SSA. This study also shows there is no literature on the availability and use of mHealth by health workers for disease diagnosis in SSA. We, therefore, recommend primary studies focusing on the use of mHealth by health workers for disease diagnosis in SSA. Keywords: Mobile Health; Disease diagnosis; Treatment support; sub-Saharan Africa



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Petrie

Sub-Saharan Africa has become a popular destination for Hollywood celebritites to embark on humanitarian missions, in attempt to combat the problems of poverty, AIDS, and underdevelopment in Africa. However, celebrity humanitarians take for granted that development giving is an altruistic enterprise that can only bring about positive results for the communities and peoples involved. Using three celebrity case studies, I will show how humanitarian giving can result in unforeseen consequences, even when the gift of development is given with altruistic intentions. The celebrities analyzed in this thesis including Oprah Winfrey, Paul (Bono) Hewson, and Angelina Jolie, each adopt Western consumerist strategies that are incompatible with the diverse values and worldviews found in Africa. In addition, development giving provides an unsustainable solution for a collective global future, and is not exempt from forms of inequality, dependency, domination, and exploitation that privilege the Western subject through dehumanizing others.



2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-28
Author(s):  
Scott MacWilliam ◽  
Mike Rafferty

In development policy circles, corruption has become a pressing global issue. Yet the contemporary relationship between corruption and development is complex and contested. For many, corruption robs people of economic resources and social wealth, and denudes the state of important capacities. That is, corruption prevents or blocks development. For others, corruption often occurs in the process of development as the form in which a class of developers accumulates wealth. That is, corruption is a phase of development. This article explores the contested relationship through two case studies: in Sub-Saharan Africa; and in the former Soviet Union. The article also links contemporary debates about corruption and development with earlier thinking about capitalist progress and development.



2020 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 102792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle Van Loon ◽  
Lennart Woltering ◽  
Timothy J. Krupnik ◽  
Frédéric Baudron ◽  
Maria Boa ◽  
...  


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