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Aim: To study the distribution of two invasive alien plants and associated plants as well as their distribution in the Malebo Pool eco-region. Methodology: The study was carried out by direct observation by circulating on a motorized canoe. Plant samples were randomly harvested (n=6) in August 2020 depends on the sites. Plant species identification was performed on the field, and those species of which the identification was difficult, were brought to the laboratory for proper identification according to APG III. Results: 19 species, including two Pteridophytes and 17 Angiosperms, belonging to 19 families and 12 orders were identified. The site of Molondo was the most diversified with 15 plant species, followed respectively by the sites of Mipongo (13 species), Japon (12 species) and Kingabwa (07 species). The plant species Ludwigia abyssinica A. Rich., Ipomoea aquatica Forsk, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart), Pistia stratiotes L, Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam) and Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell were present in all four prospected sites. E. pyramidalis and E. crassipes constitute a serious threat for the environment and are source of erosion/loss of aquatic biodiversity. Physiologically, these species form a mono-specific carpet and eliminate native or autochthonous species of aquatic flora.Conclusions and Suggestions: The invasion of alien species is a consequence of human activities and a concern, as it affects all sectors of society. These plants can alter, disrupt, and degrade many ecosystem services like the disturbing of habitats and the alteration of the environmental and biological conditions around them. They can also reduce light and diversity of native aquatic plant species. Controlling invasive alien species is thus a challenge for the Congolese society. Political decision-makers are therefore invited to take appropriate measures for managing and protecting the local aquatic flora and valorize the invasive plants as potential medicinal remedy.
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Aims of the Study: To identify plant species traditionally used to treat anemia in Yakoma territory and to evaluate their chemical composition. Place and Duration: Yakoma Territory (survey) and University of Kinshasa (Phytochemical study), from August and October 2019. Methods: Ethnobotanical survey according to the "snowball" sampling technique among traditional healers (based on the free consent of the respondents), chemical analyses of plant materials (chemical screening, TLC, phytomarkers content, minerals composition) according to standard methods. ED-XRF was used for mineral analysis. Microsoft Excel version 2010, Origin version 8.5 Pro and IBM SPSS statistics version 20 software packages were used for data processing and analysis. Results and Discussion: The survey showed that 18 plant species are traditionally used by Ngbandi traditional healers to treat anemia in Yakoma territory. They belong to 16 families and 17 genera. The most used organs are the leaves (68.4%) and the roots (10.5%). Decoction and infusion are the most used mode of preparation (33.3% each), followed by cooking (22.2%) and maceration (11.1%). The oral route (77.8%) is the most used mode of administration followed by the enema (16.7%) and the anal route (5.6%). Morphological types consist of herbs and trees (33.3% each) and shrubs and lianas (16.7% each). The biotope types consist of forest plants (44.4%), cultivated plants/Crops (38.9%), marshy ground plants (11.1%) and ruderal plants (5.6%). These plants belonging to five biological types: erected therophytes (44.4%), mesophanerophytes (27.8%), microphanerophytes and climbing phanerophytes (11.1% each) and lianescent phanerophytes (5.56%). These anti-anemic plant species are mostly Pantropical and Afro-tropical (39% of species each) followed by Guineo-Congolese (17% of species) and American (5%). Chemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, anthraquinones and terpenoids and various minerals including iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium and manganese. Conclusion: In the current state of knowledge, the survey of anemic plants from this part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is reported for the first time.
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Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of malaria in the peacekeeping mission area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and to evaluate the efficacy of artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT), to provide clinical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of malaria.Methods:The clinical data of malaria-infected peacekeepers admitted to the Chinese Secondary Hospital of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) from January 2014 to September 2020 were collected, and the general information, incidence characteristics, treatment and clinical outcomes of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results:From January 2014 to September 2020, 362 peacekeepers were hospitalized with malaria, the average annual incidence case was 54 cases per year, and the annual incidence was 9.5/1 000, with a median of 2.5 days (1 - 9 days) from onset to diagnosis. Severe malaria accounted for 7.73% (28/362) and uncomplicated malaria accounted for 92.27% (334/362). The incidence rate was 37.57% (136/362) in the dry season (April to September) and 62.43% (226/362) in the rainy season (October to March of the following year). After ACT antimalarial treatment, all patients were cured clinically. Eight cases recurred and were cured clinically after drug conversion ACT retreatment.Conclusions:In the peacekeeping mission area of DRC, peacekeepers are generally susceptible to malaria. ACT has a high cure rate, safety and efficiency in clinical treatment.
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OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in Kenge, Kwango District, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) from 2014 to 2016. METHODS: The economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age who have recovered from malnutrition status was evaluated using a cost-benefit analysis. The costs were analyzed according to the executed budget incurred during the project period. The benefits were estimated as the monetary value of the saved lives of children under 5 years of age. The economic efficiency of the program was determined by the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The BCR was calculated by dividing the total discounted benefit by the total discounted costs. The project is economically efficient when the BCR is greater than 1. RESULTS: The costs of the nutrition management program were calculated as 1,677,609,648 Korean Won (KRW). A total of 2,466 children survived with improved malnutrition status through this program. The benefit for the reduction of mortality for children under 5 years of age was estimated to be 6,814,354,467 KRW, the estimated value of life for 2,466 children. The BCR was 4.06. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in DR Congo was found to be a cost-effective project. Successful and efficient Official Development Assistance (ODA) for a health project requires integrated and comprehensive strategies and specialized international development consulting to improve efficiency. Future nutrition management programs should take into account the national health program to maintain the sustainability of the project.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Budgets , Congo , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Malnutrition , Mortality , National Health Programs , Value of LifeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in Kenge, Kwango District, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) from 2014 to 2016. METHODS: The economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age who have recovered from malnutrition status was evaluated using a cost-benefit analysis. The costs were analyzed according to the executed budget incurred during the project period. The benefits were estimated as the monetary value of the saved lives of children under 5 years of age. The economic efficiency of the program was determined by the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The BCR was calculated by dividing the total discounted benefit by the total discounted costs. The project is economically efficient when the BCR is greater than 1. RESULTS: The costs of the nutrition management program were calculated as 1,677,609,648 Korean Won (KRW). A total of 2,466 children survived with improved malnutrition status through this program. The benefit for the reduction of mortality for children under 5 years of age was estimated to be 6,814,354,467 KRW, the estimated value of life for 2,466 children. The BCR was 4.06. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in DR Congo was found to be a cost-effective project. Successful and efficient Official Development Assistance (ODA) for a health project requires integrated and comprehensive strategies and specialized international development consulting to improve efficiency. Future nutrition management programs should take into account the national health program to maintain the sustainability of the project.