Collaborative research to respond to the HIV epidemic: a case of Uganda (Makerere University)-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration 1988-2021

Background: Collaborative research between institutions may not yield results to transform communities. Many research collaborations come to the end of their life time without achieving their originally set goals and with a dearth of community transformation to show for it. Objective: To delineate and highlight the achievements of the Uganda (Makerere University)-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration Methods: We retrospectively compiled and reviewed the data on research, training and policy impact achievements of the Uganda (Makerere University)-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration over a period of 30 years of its existence. Results: Over the last 35 years, the Uganda (Makerere University)-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration trained a total of 104 Ugandans with Masters, PhDs and other varied graduate training programs. More than 70 large tuberculosis/TB+HIV studies were conducted with more than 360 manuscripts published including landmark local and global TB/HIV policy impact publications. Conclusion: The Uganda (Makerere University)-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration has in the past 35 years built the capacity of Ugandan and international students through conducting landmark research, training and mentoring and contributed to TB HIV management policy changes in Uganda.

Health system strengthening for human capital development in Eswatini project. P168564

Description of the Strengthening the Health System and Nutrition for Human Capital Development in Eswatini Project The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini is preparing a project, Health System Strengthening for Human Capital Development in Eswatini Project financed by an IBRD loan of US$20 million, using an Investment Project Financing (IPF) instrument, over a five-year period. The Project Development Objective (PDO) isto improve the coverage and quality of key reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), nutrition and NCD services (hypertension and diabetes) in Eswatini. To address key sector challenges and support the achievement of the PDO, the proposed project will focus on strengthening the health system and ramping up investments in RMNCAH services as well as nutrition and non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes) to address critical human capital challenges, including stunting and child and adult mortality, applying a life course approach. The Ministry of Health will house the (PIU) the project implementing unit (PIU). The MOH will be supported by the Environmental Health Department (EHD) in the MOH.

Analyse de la prescription et de la réalisation des hémocultures au centre national hospitalier universitaire Hubert Koutoukou Maga de Cotonou

Introduction. Les états septiques sont associés à une morbidité et une mortalité importantes, surtout dans les pays à faible revenu. L'hémoculture est l'examen de choix pour le diagnostic de ces états mais en l'absence de recommandations claires à la disposition des praticiens dans les pays comme le Bénin, la pratique réelle de cet examen est mal connue. Objectif. Evaluer la prescription et la réalisation de l'hémoculture au Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM) de Cotonou. Matériel et méthodes. Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale qui s'est déroulée de février à juillet 2014.Elle a concerné les patients hospitalisés dans sept services à forte demande d'hémocultures du CNHU-HKM et a comporté deux volets : - un volet rétrospectif sur l'évaluation de la prescription de l'hémoculture, à partir des dossiers médicauxdes patients, - un volet prospectif sur l'évaluation des conditions de réalisation des hémocultures, sur la base de l'observation directe de la réalisation du prélèvement sanguin pour hémocultures.Résultats. Les taux de prescription et de réalisation des hémocultures chez les patients étaient respectivement de 62,8% et de 82,2%. Avant le prélèvement, la désinfection de la peau au niveau de la zone de ponction était réalisée chez tous les patients mais la désinfection des mains de l'infirmier et le nettoyage des bouchons des flacons d'hémoculture n'étaient réalisés que dans 61,4% et 49,7% des cas respectivement. Par ailleurs, 47,2% des patients avaient pris au moins une dose d'antibiotiques avant le prélèvement. Conclusion. Les conditions de prescription et de réalisation des hémocultures ne sont pas optimales au CNHU-HKM de Cotonou. Des mesures urgentes sont nécessaires dans cet hôpital pour améliorer la qualité de la prescription et de la réalisation de cet examen

An inferential comparison between the capabilities and achievements of 1st-year medical and nursing students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Background. Research indicates that academic stressors; living circumstances; working conditions and where students undertake leisure activities affect academic performance; capabilities and achievements (functionings). Objective. To investigate how 1st-year medical and nursing students perceived their own capabilities compared with their actual achievements (functionings). The article focuses on the achievements (functionings); as these students were admitted through a selection process; indicating their potential capability to succeed. Methods. In this descriptive; comparative study; all 1st-year medical and nursing students at the University of the Free State; Bloemfontein; South Africa were invited to complete a validated questionnaire to reflect their capabilities (scope) and achievements (outcomes). The questionnaire incorporated seven domains: happiness; achievements; health; intellect; social relations; environment and integrity. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies; medians; means; standard deviations and standard errors). Results. All respondents valued the domains positively with regard to the outcomes (functionings). On average; nursing students valued the domains 17.4% lower than the medical students. Integrity was valued the highest by all. Health scored the lowest in the medical group; and environment (where students study and undertake leisure activities) the lowest in the nursing group. Conclusions. Medical schools should include wellness in their curricula; limit the degree of physical and emotional exhaustion associated with training; and have realistic expectations of students. Programmes should allocate enough time for students to manage their time well to take part in physical activity and eat healthy foods. Nursing students' work environment should improve. More time should be made available for leisure activities and improvement to students' study environment

Leprosy elimination: progress and challenges in Nigeria, Kaduna State tb and leprosy control programme as case study

The study aims at describing the achievements and challenges of Leprosy control in Kaduna State using appropriate indicators. The study was a five year (2004-2008) retrospective review of the Leprosy records and annual reports of all the twenty three LGAs in Kaduna State. Various Leprosy indicators were calculated and presented in different graphic presentations. Focus group discussions were organised with the aim of identifying current challenges of Leprosy control in the State. There was a decline in the new Leprosy cases detected annually from 226 cases in 2004 to 140 cases in 2008. The prevalence rate ranged between 0.3-0.4 per 10;000 population within the five year period. The proportion of children among new cases dropped from 12 in 2004 to 5 in 2007 and increased to 9 in 2008. Grade 2 disability among new cases was very high (between 21-27) within the same period. Leprosy elimination target has been achieved in Kaduna State; but new cases with high proportion of children and WHO grade 2 disability were still been reported

Micturitional Dryness and Attitude of Parents Towards Enuresis in Children Attending Outpatient unit of a Tertiary Hospital in Abeokuta; Southwest Nigeria

Background: There is significant variability of the age at which children achieve dryness. Objectives: We determine the age at achievement of micturational dryness and attitude of parents about enuresis among urban Nigerian children. Method: A total of 346 questionnaires were administered to parents of children between the ages of 12 - 180 months who came for routine paediatric care at the outpatient unit of Federal Medical Centre; Abeokuta. Results: At age 36 months; 86 (51.8) and 34 (20.5) out of 166 children had achieved dryness at daytime and night time respectively. Achievement of dryness was significantly related to low maternal education (p = 0.022) and low social class (p= 0.009). Twenty-four (26.7) children had nocturnal enuresis. Four (4.4) of these children also had diurnal enuresis. All the parents/guardians were aware about enuresis but only 9.8correctly identified it as a health problem. Even though none of the children with enuresis ever visited health facility for their problem; a statistically significant proportion of the parents desire to discuss with health practitioners (p = 0.015). Conclusions: The proportion of children achieving dryness by age 36 months is very small when compared with children from developed parts of the world. There is also a high prevalence of enuresis which are not reported. Therefore; health workers in the tropics should as a routine enquire about enuresis in their daily paediatric care particularly for those children from polygamous homes and high social class

Progress on the Health-related MDGs in the African Region

Progress towards the achievement of the health-related MDGs in the African Region is slow. Currently six African countries are on track to achieve the MDG target of reducing child mortality. There is no progress on the MDG target on reducing maternal mortality. Eleven countries have started to observe declines or stabilization in HIV prevalence trends among the 13 countries that have complete trend data. A third of the population with advanced HIV infection had access to antiretroviral drugs in 2007. There were increases in the proportions of children under fi ve sleeping under insecticide treated bednets between 1999 and 2006 in all 18 countries with trend data; although coverage rates were lower than 50. Few countries have shown suffi cient progress on targets related to reducing hunger; use of improved water and sanitation facilities. Countries and their partners should increase resources significantly to strengthen health systems; maternal and child health services; combat HIV/AIDS; malaria; and TB; tackle the broader determinants of health. Measures to monitor country progress towards the MDGs should also be improved by a major effort at strengthening data sources and capacity for data management