Physicochemical and bacteriological analysis of the quality of sachet water and their source point (spring box) consumed in Bo city, Sierra Leone

The study involved the determination of some physiochemical and bacteriological properties in sachet-water samples taken within selected geopolitical wards in Jere and Maiduguri Metropolis. The purpose was to ascertain the quality of sachet water sold for consumption within the area. Ten samples were drawn, five from each study area. The samples were analysed for temperature, colour, turbidity, pH, conductivity, iron, total alkalinity and total dissolved solid. Bacteriological analysis was also carried out using multiple tube (most probable number) technique for enumeration of both total coli form count and differential Escherichia coli count. Other physical examination like volume, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration number, batch number, production date and expiry date were also examined. The results obtained were compared with World Health Organization (WHO), NAFDAC and Nigeria Standard of Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). Variations were observed among the entire samples in comparison with the standard. Some of the parameters conform to the standard like the Tempreture, pH, colour, odour, iron content and NAFDAC registration number while others like TDS, total alkalinity and volumetric quantity fell below the standard. The bacteriological analysis also showed that 80% of the samples studied revealed the presence of coliforms. Hence, there is need for regulatory agencies like NAFDAC and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to intensify effort in the routine monitoring of quality of sachet water marketed for consumption.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v4i1.12177 International Journal of Environment Volume-4, Issue-1, Dec-Feb 2014/15, page: 48-57

Download Full-text

Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Packaged Sachet Water and Household Stored Drinking Water in Freetown, Sierra Leone

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0131772 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. e0131772 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Michael B. Fisher ◽

Ashley R. Williams ◽

Mohamed F. Jalloh ◽

George Saquee ◽

Robert E. S. Bain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Sierra Leone ◽

Chemical Quality ◽

Sachet Water

Download Full-text

Quality of life of patients with 3D-printed arm prostheses in a rural area of Sierra Leone

Heliyon ◽

10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07447 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e07447

Author(s):

A.J. Sterkenburg ◽

M. Van der Stelt ◽

A.R. Koroma ◽

M.D. Van Gaalen ◽

M.J. Van der Pols ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sierra Leone ◽

Rural Area ◽

3D Printed

Download Full-text

Improving nursing documentation for surgical patients in a referral hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone: protocol for assessing feasibility of a pilot multifaceted quality improvement hybrid type project

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-021-00768-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nataliya Brima ◽

Nick Sevdalis ◽

K. Daoh ◽

B. Deen ◽

T. B. Kamara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Sierra Leone ◽

Referral Hospital ◽

Audit And Feedback ◽

Health System Strengthening ◽

Theory Of Change ◽

Improve Quality ◽

Nursing Documentation

Abstract Background There is an urgent need to improve quality of care to reduce avoidable mortality and morbidity from surgical diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge about how evidence-based health system strengthening interventions can be implemented effectively to improve quality of care in these settings. To address this gap, we have developed a multifaceted quality improvement intervention to improve nursing documentation in a low-income country hospital setting. The aim of this pilot project is to test the intervention within the surgical department of a national referral hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Methods This project was co-developed and co-designed by in-country stakeholders and UK-based researchers, after a multiple-methodology assessment of needs (qualitative, quantitative), guided by a participatory ‘Theory of Change’ process. It has a mixed-method, quasi-experimental evaluation design underpinned by implementation and improvement science theoretical approaches. It consists of three distinct phases—(1) pre-implementation(project set up and review of hospital relevant policies and forms), (2) intervention implementation (awareness drive, training package, audit and feedback), and (3) evaluation of (a) the feasibility of delivering the intervention and capturing implementation and process outcomes, (b) the impact of implementation strategies on the adoption, integration, and uptake of the intervention using implementation outcomes, (c) the intervention’s effectiveness For improving nursing in this pilot setting. Discussion We seek to test whether it is possible to deliver and assess a set of theory-driven interventions to improve the quality of nursing documentation using quality improvement and implementation science methods and frameworks in a single facility in Sierra Leone. The results of this study will inform the design of a large-scale effectiveness-implementation study for improving nursing documentation practices for patients throughout hospitals in Sierra Leone. Trial registration Protocol version number 6, date: 24.12.2020, recruitment is planned to begin: January 2021, recruitment will be completed: December 2021.

Download Full-text

CUSTOMERS’ PREFERENCE FOR E – BANKING SERVICES: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED BANKS IN SIERRA LEONE

Australian Journal of Business and Management Research ◽

10.52283/nswrca.ajbmr.20110104a12 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 01 (04) ◽

pp. 108-116

Author(s):

R. A. GBADEYAN ◽

O. O. AKINYOSOYE GBONDA

Keyword(s):

Sierra Leone ◽

Software Verification ◽

Banking Industry ◽

Online Banking ◽

Chi Square ◽

Frequent Change ◽

Banking Services ◽

Chi Square Analysis ◽

Almost All

The development and the increasing progress that is being experienced in the Information and Communication Technology have brought about a lot of changes in almost all facets of life. In the Banking Industry, it has been in the form of online banking, which is now replacing the traditional banking practice. Online banking has a lot of benefits which add value to customers’ satisfaction in terms of better quality of service offerings and at the same time enable the banks gain more competitive advantage over other competitors. There are some associated risks identified in the study that seem to hinder the success of e-banking services and thus constitute major concern to both financial institutions and customers. This paper therefore, examines, if customers’ choice of banks is influenced by the quality of e–banking services provided. Stratified sampling was used; while the survey Instrument was a developed Questionnaire comprising open ended and Likert type of questions. The Likert type questions have a 4 point scale (indicating 1 = very comfortable and 4 = uncomfortable) divided into two (2) sections: personal details and customers’ e-banking preference in Sierra Leone. The instrument contained 36 items and was administered to about 400 respondents, while 360 completed and returned their Questionnaire. The statistical techniques used for the analysis were the Chi–Square and correlation. The Chi–Square analysis revealed that the quality of e–banking services offered by banks have significant influence on their customers at 95%, 3 degree of freedom. The paper recommends that various measures should be put in place to ensure more security such as installation of encrypted software, verification system of customer’s identification cards, frequent change of password, examining test questions and using mixed password such as the use of alphanumeric amongst others. The paper concludes that e –banking has become important phenomenon in the banking industry and it will continue as more progress and innovations are made in information technology.

Download Full-text

How swachh (clean) is urban India today?

10.53014/lxfy9636 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bhitush Lutra ◽

◽

Deepa Karthykeyan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Natural Environment ◽

Public Utilities ◽

Wide Spread ◽

Negative Externalities ◽

Public Supply ◽

Urban India ◽

Sachet Water

Where public supply has failed and made unsatisfactory progress in supplying drinking water, the private sector has readily stepped in to supply citizens with drinking water – most often to make big money. Much of the water bottling industry (i) provides a highly inelastic good, (ii) is immensely profitable and (iii) has significant negative externalities on public utilities, the natural environment and the quality of life in urban settings. The wide-spread introduction of a tax on the commercial water extraction and/or bottled or sachet water is ripe. The new mantra must not be “3Rs”, but “4Rs” – reduce, reuse, remunerate, recycle.

Download Full-text

Bacteriological Quality of Borehole and Sachet Water from a Community in Southeastern Nigeria

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

10.5772/intechopen.91812 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ogueri Nwaiwu ◽

Chiugo Claret Aduba ◽

Oluyemisi Eniola Oni

Keyword(s):

Membrane Filtration ◽

World Health ◽

Southeastern Nigeria ◽

Two Samples ◽

Borehole Water ◽

Development Goals ◽

Health Organization ◽

Sachet Water ◽

Virulence Properties

Water from boreholes and packaged commercial sachet water from different areas in a community in southern Nigeria was analyzed with membrane filtration for a snapshot of heterotrophic count and coliforms. Two boreholes out of the 20 analyzed had counts of over 500 Cfu/mL and 7 boreholes indicated the presence of coliforms. Sixteen samples out of 20 sachet water brands analyzed showed a regulatory product registration code, whereas 4 samples had no number or code indicating that they were not registered. The heterotrophic count of all sachet water was well within the limit for all samples analyzed, and coliform was detected in only two samples. The overall quality of borehole water in the community studied was rated D (65%), whereas the sachet water was rated C (90%) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance guidelines. Improvements in water quality structure in the community studied are required to help achieve WHO sustainable development goals on water sanitation. The etiology, virulence properties, epidemiology, and pathogenicity of bacteria associated with borehole and sachet water are also discussed.

Download Full-text

Bacteriological Analysis of Ready-to-eat Foods from Morogoro Municipal Market

Tanzania Veterinary Journal ◽

10.4314/tvj.v37i1.4s ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 ◽

pp. 17-24

Author(s):

J.N. Ndunguru ◽

D.G. Ndossi

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Food Poisoning ◽

Food Preparation ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Street Vendors ◽

Bacteriological Analysis ◽

Additional Information ◽

Microbiological Methods ◽

Handling Practices

Street vendors supply large quantities of food at affordable prices in many places especially in developing countries. Street foods are common sources of bacteriological contamination causing food poisoning, diarrhea, cholera and typhoid fever. This study analyzed the bacteriological quality of ready-to-eat foods vended in Morogoro Municipal Market. A total of 70 samples from different street foods were randomly collected from different vendors and transported in cool boxes to the laboratory for bacteriological analysis. Standard microbiological methods were used for isolation, enumeration and identification of bacteria. Additional information regarding food preparation, storage and handling practices observed by vendors was noted to correlate with the extent of bacterial contamination. Majority (67.1%) of the ready to eat foods were contaminated with bacteria. Vegetable salads and Potato fries showed highest bacterial contamination rates (78.6%). Escherichia coli (49.2%) was the major isolate in all food types. Other bacteria isolated were Bacillus cereus (19.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.8%) and Salmonella spp. (1.6%). E. coli was resistant to some antimicrobials (carbenicilin, clindamycin and tetracycline). High levels of bacterial contamination were associated with poor hygiene of vendors, unsafe food handling practices and use of contaminated water in food preparation. Although the presence of the microorganisms is not necessarily a threat to human health, the fact that some microorganisms were resistant to some antibiotics is of concern. Provision of sanitation and hygiene education to vendors and regulations for implementation of good hygienic practices can improve quality of street foods

Download Full-text

Bishop Stephen Neill, the IMC and the State of African Theological Education in 1950

Studies in World Christianity ◽

10.3366/swc.2012.0005 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 41-62

Author(s):

Dyron Daughrity

Keyword(s):

Sierra Leone ◽

Theological Education ◽

The State ◽

Gold Coast ◽

World Council Of Churches ◽

Tropical Africa ◽

Travel Diary ◽

World Council ◽

International Missionary Council

From April to July of 1950, Bishop Stephen Neill (1900–84) took a sweeping tour of East and West Africa to assess the state of African theological education. He visited Egypt, Sudan and the six British territories in tropical Africa: Tanganyika, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Gold Coast (Ghana) and Sierra Leone. Employed by the World Council of Churches at the time, Neill was appointed by the International Missionary Council to spearhead the project. The overall objective was to shed insight on what could be done to improve the quality of theological education and the training of ministry in Africa. Neill produced a considerable amount of material during and after the trip, including a 120-page ‘travel diary’ and a 51-page confidential report. This paper has three goals: to explain how and why this tour of African theological education came together, to provide an overview of Neill's research trip through his diary entries and to reflect on Neill's conclusions and suggestions for what ought to be done.

Download Full-text

Quality of age data in the Sierra Leone Ebola database

Pan African Medical Journal ◽

10.11604/pamj.2020.35.104.20348 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

Author(s):

Lindsay Shively Womack ◽

Charles Alpren ◽

Frederick Martineau ◽

Amara Jambai ◽

Tushar Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sierra Leone

Download Full-text