Research Articles

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12280/90

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 833

50 Years of Cuamm's Passion: What More Needs to be Done to Tackle Inequity?
(2004-03) Okuonzi, Sam Agatre
Established over fifty years ago, CUAMM, an abbreviation for Collegio Universitario Aspiranti Medici Missionari, or University College for Aspiring Missionary Doctors is a humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO), which deals with health and health related issues in a unique way. The picture conveyed by the name as a college for doctors aspiring for mission work is lamentably inaccurate. It is much more than a college; it is an NGO, whose members are trained and prepared. Planning for their work is carried out in the field offices and cordnated by the organisation's headquarters in Padua, Italy. Its activities, carried out by visionary and innovative, daring, passion-driven, and selfless individuals span a number of countries in Africa. They work in hospitals and some 30 health projects in the poorest and/or war-torn countries in Africa - Angola, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. After half a century of missionary work, CUAMM is taking stock of what it has achieved and what needs to be done. That the organization has helped save millions of lives is beyond dispute. Yet, the suffering of most people of sub- Saharan Africa has not reduced. No doubt, the economies of these countries have grown, but disparities and inequities have increased. In other words, unfairness and injustice have increased. CUAMM was created by a group of doctors and priests inspired by the principles of the Christian church, based on equity and justice for all. The organisation is open to all those who share these principles and care for them, irrespective of their religious or political affiliation. But how can CUAMM address such an intractable societal problem of inequity and injustice? To consider this and other related questions, CUAMM organized a conference in Padua, on November 20, 2004 to sensitize the public stakeholders on health equity, and to assess whether indeed CUAMM was meeting equity targets. The theme of this issue of our journal was inspired by this conference and the articles published to discuss it were, also, presented there. CUAMM is determined to tackle health inequity with renewed strength and commitment. This is in keeping with the Holy See's counsel to refrain from a looming culture of indifference to the increasing worldwide inequity. There were no easy solutions to health inequity, the basis of human suffering. But some broad strategies came out of the conference. To tackle inequity CUAMM would have to do more than provide emergency services. It would work to empower communities, through knowledge, skills and resource generation. It would balance between health care and determinants of welfare. This means it would have to work with other partners to influence local and global governments and activities. For example it could lobby Northern Governments to increase aid to the poor and suffering, lobby for a fair trade between South and the North, and lobby for the removal of harsh economic austerity measures imposed by the World Bank through its structural adjustment programmes (or its latest version, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers). CUAMM can also work locally with governments to influence policies on more equitable and sustainable financing and provision of health and other social services. Many approaches such as removal, reduction or flattening of user fees discussed at the conference, were found to have had dramatic positive effect on the use and quality of health care. As equity involves redistribution of resources, which in turn are driven by power and politics, CUAMM's involvement in influencing national and international policies will be inevitable. In this issue, we also publish articles debating the export of Ugandan health workers, appropriate staffing levels for district-size hospitals and patient satisfaction with health care. We also publish other articles discussing the subject of corporate responsibility using the Bhopal accident as an example as well as field experience of improving service quality and immunisation coverage in Uganda. Copyright 2004 - Department of Health Sciences of Uganda Martyrs University
Abundance, Distribution and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Plant Species in Maputo Special Reserve, Mozambique
(Academic Journals, 2020-08) Byabasaija, Syliver; Ribeiro, Natasha; Cavane, Eunice; Salimo, Matola
With a few exceptions, comprehensive assessment of invasive plants species (IPSs) list that invade Maputo Special Reserve’s natural ecosystems is lacking. Some available data are either preliminary or localised, or focus on agricultural weeds that leave an ecological gap about IPSs. In order to establish this gap, a study was conducted to asses the impact of IPSs in Maputo Special Reserve. A stratified random sample was used to allocate five land use and land cover strata. Plots of 20 m diameter formed by two replicates were established in transects within plot of 160 m × 80 m and each invasive plants species number were counted and recorded. At every 10 km distance of the road side in different reserve directions, field plots of 10 m × 10 m were also established location and coordinates where invasive plants species occur recorded. With the ARCGIS 10.3 software, IPSs location coordinates were positioned on the map to create location. Data analysis was through calculation of diversity and evenness indices (Shannon-wiener (H') and Simpson (D'). Student’s t -test was used to compare diversity differences between the invaded and un-invaded sites. The result indicated the occurrence of 26 IPSs across all strata with Lantana camara and Eucalyptus sp being dominant. Settlement stratum recorded the highest level of invasive plants compared to other strata. Student t test on differences in Shannon-wiener diversity (H‘) between invaded and un-invaded areas showed that there was significant difference in species diversity (t 0.05(2) 170 =1.84 0.05< P< 0.10). The threat of IPSs is increasing at an alarming rate, thus control methods have to be designed to stop further spreading into Maputo Special Reserve.
Academic Collaborations: Do’s and Don’ts
(Springernature , Campus, 4 Crinan St, London, England, N1 9xw, 2017) Kyamanywa, Patrick; Mukara, Kaitesi B; Sewankambo, Nelson K
Collaborations happen when individuals or organizations work together towards a common outcome. Academic collaborations date back to the colonial times but the advent of global health especially in the twenty-first century has led to an upsurge in north-south collaborations. In health, collaborations date back before 1978 when medical diplomacy was described as a way to transcend conflicts and improve international relations. Today, academic collaboration is not only an institutional initiative but also trainees continue to show interest in involvement and active participation. One of the major drivers is the desire by the north to bridge the unmet needs in the south through mutually beneficial capacity building efforts. The success of collaboration is a result of careful consideration of the many facets of the puzzle. In this paper, we review the literature and outline the dos and don’ts to be considered for fruitful and mutually beneficial academic collaborations in global health.
An Access Control Framework for Protecting Mobile Health Records: The Case Study of Developing Countries
(2012) Ssembatya, Richard
Mobile health records are a good way of providing users with on-demand access to health care data. Standard approaches of securing health records include role-based access control (RBAC) because this is a flexible approach to assign permissions to a wide variety of users. However, traditional RBAC models are not designed to enforce fine-grained access control. For instance, in mobile health record systems, it is difficult to configure a policy that permits a patient to selectively share his/her personal records with healthcare workers. Therefore, defining policies that express application-level security requirements with respect to mobile records is challenging. In this paper, we present an RBAC inspired framework that provides fine-grained encryption for mobile health records where patient records have different access control policies. Our proposed framework ensures that the data can be made available securely offline. This approach can leverage systems where information needs to be shared securely under constraints of energy and/or Internet coverage.
Access to Affordable Medicines and Diagnostic Tests for Asthma and COPD in Sub Saharan Africa
(Springer, 2017-12-08) Kibirige, Davis; Kampiire, Leaticia; Atuhe, David; Mwebaze, Raymond; Katagira, Winceslaus; Muttamba, Winters; Nantanda, Rebecca; Worodria, William; Kirenga, Bruce
Background: Equitable access to affordable medicines and diagnostic tests is an integral component of optimal clinical care of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In Uganda, we lack contemporary data about the availability, cost and affordability of medicines and diagnostic tests essential in asthma and COPD management. Methods: Data on the availability, cost and affordability of 17 medicines and 2 diagnostic tests essential in asthma and COPD management were collected from 22 public hospitals, 23 private and 85 private pharmacies. The percentage of the available medicines and diagnostic tests, the median retail price of the lowest priced generic brand and affordability in terms of the number of days’ wages it would cost the least paid public servant were analysed. Results: The availability of inhaled short acting beta agonists (SABA), oral leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), inhaled LABA-ICS combinations and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in all the study sites was 75%, 60.8%, 46.9% and 45.4% respectively. None of the study sites had inhaled long acting anti muscarinic agents (LAMA) and inhaled long acting beta agonist (LABA)-LAMA combinations. Spirometry and peak flow-metry as diagnostic tests were available in 24.4% and 6.7% of the study sites respectively. Affordability ranged from 2.2 days’ wages for inhaled salbutamol to 17.1 days’ wages for formoterol/budesonide inhalers and 27.8 days’ wages for spirometry. Conclusion: Medicines and diagnostic tests essential in asthma and COPD care are not widely available in Uganda and remain largely unaffordable. Strategies to improve access to affordable asthma and COPD medicines and diagnostic tests should be implemented in Uganda.
Access to Medicines and Miagnostic Tests Tntegral in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Diseases in Uganda
(BMC, 2017-08-24) Kibirige, Davis; Atuhe, David; Kampiire, Leaticia; Kiggundu, Ssekikubo Daniel
Background: Despite the burgeoning burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in low and middle income countries (LMIC), access to affordable essential medicines and diagnostic tests for DM and CVD still remain a challenge in clinical practice. The Access to Cardiovascular diseases, Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease, Diabetes mellitus and Asthma Drugs and diagnostics (ACCODAD) study aimed at providing contemporary information about the availability, cost and affordability of medicines and diagnostic tests integral in themanagement of DM and CVD in Uganda. Methods: The study assessed the availability, cost and affordability of 37 medicines and 19 diagnostic tests in 22 public hospitals, 23 private hospitals and 100 private pharmacies in Uganda. Availability expressed as a percentage, median cost of the available lowest priced generic medicine and the diagnostic tests and affordability in terms of the number of days’ wages it would cost the least paid public servant to pay for one month of treatment and the diagnostic tests were calculated. Results: The availability of the medicines and diagnostic tests in all the study sites ranged from 20.1% for unfractionated heparin (UFH) to 100% for oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) and from 6.8% for microalbuminuria to 100% for urinalysis respectively. The only affordable tests were blood glucose, urinalysis and serum ketone, urea, creatinine and uric acid. Parenteral benzathine penicillin, oral furosemide, glibenclamide, bendrofluazide, atenolol, cardiac aspirin, digoxin, metformin, captopril and nifedipine were the only affordable drugs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the majority of medicines and diagnostic tests essential in the management of DM and CVD are generally unavailable and unaffordable in Uganda. National strategies promoting improved access to affordable medicines and diagnostic tests and primary prevention measures of DM and CVD should be prioritised in Uganda.
Accounts Receivable Management and Organizational Profitability as a Function of Employee Perception in Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative Enterprise Limited ( GCCE ) , Mbale District Uganda
(OSR Journal of Economics and Finance (IOSR - JEF), 2016-11) Kakeeto, Francis; Timbirimu, Micheal; Kiizah, Pastor; Olutayo, K. Osunsan
This study sought to explore the effect of Accounts Receivable Management on Organizational Profitability, by testing the hypothesis: Accounts Receivable Management has a significant positive effect on organizational profitability. Using a descriptive research design and a case study strategy, sample size of 181 was taken from the population of 345 staff. Likert type scale questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents in terms of the two variables. The findings revealed that revealed that accounts receivable management positively affected organizational profitability (adjusted R 2=0.90; p<.01), thus the hypothesis was accepted. The study concluded that, accounts receivable management as practiced by GCCE was adequate. Recommendations were made to better enhance accounts receivable management in GCCE.
Accuracy of Using Leaf Blade Length and Leaf Blade Width Measurements to Calculate the Leaf Area of Solanum Aethiopicum Shum Group
(2018) Nakanwagi, Mildred Julian; Sseremba, Godfrey; Nahamya, Pamela Kaboda; Masanza, Michael; Balyejusa, Elizabeth Kizito
Leaf area is an important parameter when determining growth response under normal as well as stressed environments. No attempt had been made to come up with an affordable but accurate alternative of measuring leaf size in research neglected leafy vegetable crops. Other techniques such as use of leaf area meters are either destructive, expensive or both. A study was conducted to determine leaf area in like-shaped leaves of research neglected crop plants, taking case ofS. Aethiopicum Shum group (SAS) germplasm. Data was collected on 552individual plants (including pure lines and hybrids) at eight weeks after planting where a third fully open leaf from top of each plant was considered. Leaf blade length (LBL) and leaf blade width (LBW) were linearly measured while leaf area(LA) was measured using a leaf area meter. This was followed by correlation and regression analysis of LA with LBL, LBW, and LBLþLBW. Correlation coefficients atp<0.001 ranged between 0.84 and 0.92, 0.79 and 0.88, 0.86 and0.95 for total germplasm, pure lines and hybrids, respectively. The coefficient determination (R2) ranged between 0.72 and 0.92. The best prediction for LA wasobtained with hybrid plants (LA¼-165.82þ5.38LBLþ16.17LBW) at R2of92%. The implication is that we can accurately and affordably predict LA fromduo measurements of LBL and LBW in SAS as well as in other crops having similar leaf shapes.
Action learning, the tool for problem-solving in universities;
(2015-03-15) Bwegyeme, Jacinta
The article presents an account of how action learning principles were implemented to alleviate complex problems in universities. It focuses on the registrars and administrators under the academic Registrar's department. The Marquardt model of action learning was used in combination with the constructivist theories of learning, namely community of practice, experiential learning, discovery learning, problem-based learning and situated learning. The importance of culture and knowledge sharing is also highlighted. The results indicate that action learning contributes to problem-solving. The community of practice creates a conducive environment for successful implementation of action learning, and different organizational cultures impact on the implementation of action learning.
Acute Care Surgery in Rwanda: Operative Epidemiology and Geographic Variations in Access to Care
(Mosby-Elsevier, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, Usa, Ny, 10010-1710, 2015) Wong, Evan G; Ntakiyiruta, Georges; Rousseau, Mathieu C; Ruhungande, Landouald; Kushner, Adam L; Liberman, Alexander S; Khwaja, Kosar; Dakermandji, Marc; Wilson, Marnie; Razek, Tarek; Kyamanywa, Patrick; Deckelbaum, Dan L
Background Surgical management of emergent, life-threatening diseases is an important public health priority. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe acute care general surgery procedures performed at the largest referral hospital in Rwanda and (2) understand the geographic distribution of disease presentations and referral patterns. Methods We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected acute care surgery cases performed at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK) in Rwanda between June 1 and December 1, 2011. Using Pearson's χ2 test and the Fisher exact test, we compared cases originating from within Kigali and transfers from other provinces. Geospatial analyses also were used to further describe transfer patterns. Results During the study period, 2,758 surgical interventions were performed, of which 25.6% (707/2,758) were general surgery operations. Of these, 45.4% (321/707) met the definition of acute care surgery. Only about one-third—32.3% (92/285)—of patients resided within Kigali, whereas about two-thirds—67.7% (193/285)—were transferred from other provinces. Most patients transferred from other provinces were younger than 18 years of age (40.4%; 78/193), and 83.0% (39/47) of patients older than 50 years of age originated from outside of Kigali. Specific operative indications and surgical procedures varied substantially between patients from Kigali and patients transferred from other provinces. Conclusion Emergency surgical conditions remain important contributors to the global burden of disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Geographic variations exist in terms of operative diagnoses and procedures, which implies a need for improved access to surgical care at the district level with defined transfer mechanisms to greater-level care facilities when needed.
Addressing virtual learning challenges in higher institutions of learning: a systematic review and meta-analysis
(Şahin İDİN, 2022-07-01) Omona, Kizito
Many universities across the globe are set to keep lectures online, more especially in this era of COVID-19 and yet there is an increased spotlight on the challenges faced by learners. Some of these challenges include; issues related to communications, assessments and scheduling of lectures. Teaching and learning in an e-learning environment is said to happen differently as opposed to the traditional classroom and this can present new challenges to instructors and learners. The purpose of this study was to review the various ways of addressing virtual challenges in higher institutions of learning. Literature Search of databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS and ResearchGate using the keywords “Addressing virtual learning challenges” was done. Additional inputs were taken from blogs and relevant reports. The results varied; some learners reported that "It's difficult to share our points as online discussions can move swiftly from one topic to another. Engaging a big class in a live forum can be challenging too." Other learners asserted that by regulating who can speak up at one time, the moderator can ensure that no one is left behind. However, it is also reported that there is a growing concern of plagiarism surrounding online examination and thus stringent plagiarism checks must be enhanced to curtail such vice. Conclusively, a lot is still needed to address virtual learning challenges. No single measure is exhaustive enough and more vigilance is required to sustain the adopted measures and improve the quality of virtual learning.
Adherence to Laboratory Findings in the Management of Malaria in The High and Low Transmission Areas of Nakasongola and Kabalore Districts of Uganda
(2008) Nanyingi, Miisa
Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa today. It is estimated that a single bout of malaria in Africa costs a sum equivalent to earning for over ten working days. In Uganda, more than 95% of the malaria cases are due to Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent parasite species that causes severe forms of disease. It has acquired resistance to the commonly used and cheap antimalarial medicines like Chloroquine and Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (CQ/SP) combination. The Uganda Government changed the malaria treatment policy in 2005 to include Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) as first line treatment for the uncomplicated malaria. Whereas prompt and accurate laboratory diagnosis of malaria is the key to the effective management malaria, clinical syndromic diagnosis has been the most widely used approach in Uganda. This was widely advocated for in sub-Saharan Africa as a means of increasing antimalarial coverage and reducing the risk of progression to severe disease and death. However, such practice was only tolerated in the era of inexpensive and safe antimalarial therapy of CQ/SP. An adult course of the new recommended first-line ACTs costs more than 10 times the cost of a course of CQ/SP. It is therefore difficult to afford this treatment at individual and national levels. Therefore, presumptive treatment becomes economically and clinically less acceptable and raises a need for a more accurate diagnosis. To make a definitive diagnosis of malaria, demonstration of the parasite in the blood is essential. However, it was not whether health workers have started adopting the reliance on laboratory results before making antimalarial prescriptions. The study was an attempt to understand the practices of health workers in the health facilities with laboratory services in one high and one low malaria transmission areas of Uganda. Nine health facilities in Nakasongola and Kabalore were selected on the basis of possession of functional laboratory services and 487 patients with fever/receiving antimalarial treatment were enrolled for the survey. It was found that access to laboratory services was limited to a small population. Although the majority of patients reporting to these health facilities (over 95% for the two districts) were sent to the laboratory, only 52% and 32% of those that received their results for Nakasongola and Kabarole respectively tested positive for the presence of malaria parasites. However, all patients reporting to the health facilities with fever still received antimalarials despite health worker training and guidelines under the new first-line treatment policy. This meant that health workers have not changed their prescription practices and laboratory findings were not being used in the management of malaria.
Adoption of appropriate technology in construction: A pilot study of compressed earth blocks uptake in Kamuli District – Uganda
(2016) Niwamara, Thomas; Ndibwami, Alex
The use of compressed soil blocks (CSB) in the construction of housing in Uganda can be traced back to the slum upgrading projects of the early 1990’s (DCDM, 2003a; 2003b). 25 years on, the propagation of a technology that has seen improved supply of housing in India, South America and Southern Africa has had little impact on the supply of housing in Uganda. Basing itself in the diffusion theory, this study provides insights into how failure of adoption can be managed or reduced. In an effort to better understand how current and future innovations may be better conceived and rolled out, the level to which the perception of critical adoption dimensions affect diffusion are queried in the propagation of compressed earth block as a building material. The study was undertaken based on the innovation decision model, querying identified opinion leaders in communities where CEB technology has been utilised about their opinion on the technology. The study found that perceived economic advantage of a technology is a decisive factor for its adoption in spite of awareness of promising alternatives. The study identified that while interpersonal communication channels are important in the formulation of opinions, these present a limited opportunity for awareness of a critical number for adoption to gain momentum. The study having tested methods of identifying opinion leaders, forwards the notion that awareness drives focused on these individuals, emphasising the lifecycle cost benefits of CEB has the potential to lead to an increase in demand and adoption. Furthermore increase in demand can lead to a reduction in price of CEB through a greater sharing of fixed overhead costs.
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Associated With Moderate Elevations in Blood Pressure or Blood Glucose in Ugandan Women: A Prospective Cohort Study
(Elsevier, 2021-05) Milln, Jack; Nakabuye, Betty; Natamba, Barnabas; Sekitoleko, Isaac; Mubiru, Michael; Namara, Arthur; Tumwesigire, Samuel; Tino, Salome; Mirembe, Mandy; Kakanda, Ayoub; Agaba, Brian; Nansubuga, Faridah; Zaake, Daniel; Ayiko, Ben; Kalema, Herbert; Nakubulwa, Sarah; Sekikubo, Musa; Nakimuli, Annette; Webb, L. Emily; Nyirenda, J. Maffat
BACKGROUND: The association between overt hypertension and diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes is well documented. Recentevidence suggests that even moderate elevations in blood pressure or blood glucose may confer a significant risk in a dose-dependent manner. However, these studies have primarily been undertaken in white populations in high-income settings. Hypertension and diabetes are emerging as major public health issues in sub-Saharan Africa as the region undergoes rapid urbanization. It is therefore important to understand how such noncommunicable conditions contribute to pregnancy outcomes in these populations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the association between stage 1 hypertension or fasting blood glucose in the gestational diabetes mellitus-range and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Uganda, and to describe the effects of other contributing factors such as maternal obesity. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study of 2857 women at 5 major hospitals in urban and semiurban central Uganda. Women were enrolled at 24 to 28 weeks’ gestation. Data about the maternal demographics, anthropometrics, fasting venous blood glucose, blood pressure, and pregnancy outcomes were collected. Moderate elevations in blood pressure and blood glucose were defined using the latest American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association definition of stage 1 hypertension and the World Health Organization’s criteria for fasting blood glucose in the gestational diabetes mellitus-range. The primary outcomes of interest were perinatal death and large birthweight for gestational age, and the secondary outcomes were preterm birth, cesarean delivery, and neonatal admission. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Stage 1 hypertension increased the odds of perinatal death by more than 2-fold (adjusted odds ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.36−5.29), with a positive but insignificant association with preterm birth. Hyperglycemia in the gestational diabetes mellitus-range was associated with cesarean delivery only (adjusted odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.20−2.27). Maternal obesity increased the risk of having large birthweight babies (adjusted odds ratio, 2.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.74−3.02), a cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 2.75; 95% confidence interval, 2.17−3.48), and neonatal admission (adjusted odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.16−2.30). CONCLUSION: Moderate elevations in blood pressure and maternal obesity are stronger predictors of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes than moderate elevations in blood glucose levels and should be the focus of intervention in these resource-poor settings. Further research is needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of identifying and managing moderate elevations in blood pressure and maternal obesity
Africa Conflict Monitor -Tool of warfare and African social Crisis: The Epidemic of GenderBased Violence -ACM Interview with Catherine Akurut: Africa Wide -Informed Insights Interviews with Experts, 2016.
(2016) Akurut, Catherine
The use of rape as an instrument of terror against civilian populations and as a tool of warfare is as old as conflict itself. Gender-based violence in Africa is primarily a social ill addressed through educational programmes, public awareness campaigns and the criminal prosecution of perpetrators. None of these devices can be used in conflict zones during the heat of battle, although rape is a war crime for which there has been prosecution following conflicts. So widespread is gender-based violence in African societies and so deleterious the effects on the many victims that the crime canbe considered a public health issue. Catherine Akurut, an IOA consultant and conflict resolution practitioner based in Uganda, specialising in sexual violence, post-conflict reconstruction and terrorism in Africa, calls gender-based violence in Africa an "epidemic". ACM spoke with Ms Akurut about the many aspects of gender-based violence in conflict zones and normal society.
Africa Peace and Conflict Journal, v. 4, no. 1, June 2011
(2011) Ngabirano, Maximiano; Karbo, Tony; Abdalla, Amr
Two sets of standards are often applied to Africa: in one, the international community takes decisive action when there is sufficient geo-political interest in a state, and in the other, the international community remains on the sideline as belligerents; typically, sub-Saharans fight on without intervention until a clear winner emerges. In North Africa the ‘Arab Spring’ emerged from confrontations between citizens demanding new and better governance and positive changes in their lives and those benefiting from the status quo. The articles in this edition address governance or gender and sometimes both. They touch on pertinent aspects of governance and security that affect not only Africa, but the international community as well.
Africa: A Continent Exiting and Entering a Century in a ‘Sick-Bay’
(Uganda Martyrs University, 1999) Mataze, Owa Nduhukhire
The paper appears in three parts, which must be read as one. Part One situates the current development crisis in Africa in the relevant theoretical and historical context. It also highlights the global context of the crisis and the extent it has hindered genuine human-centred development in the continent to date. Part Two examines the ideological assumptions that underlie and sustain the development crisis. These are the myths and deceptions on and about Africa, its natural and human resources and the reproduction of these distorted images. The relationship between the ideologies and the anti-social and anti-environmental growth patterns is examined. Part Three examines current philosophies and practices that are increasingly pushing Africa into the fangs of global capitalism on the basis of an intensified `sponsored-peripheral capitalism'. Finally, suggestions as to how the continent can enjoy the twenty-first century outside the `sick-bay' of `mal-development' are made. A select bibliography is included at the end of each part.
Agricultural Biotechnology for Developing Countries
(Uganda Martyrs University, Department of Health Sciences, 2004-08) Raney, Terri
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in "The State of Food and Agriculture 2003-04", examines the potential of agricultural biotechnology to address the current and future needs of the world's poor and food insecure. Critics of biotechnology claim that technology is not the answer to the problems of poverty and hunger. They argue - correctly - that the world produces enough food to provide everyone with an adequate diet and that what is required is more equitable access by the poor. They extrapolate from these sensible observations to the mistaken conclusion that technological innovation is unimportant or even counter-productive in the fight against poverty and hunger (GRAIN, 2004). This paper summarizes the findings of The State of Food and Agriculture and argues that technological innovation in agriculture, based on the best of modern science, is a necessary condition for sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation. Biotechnology is not a panacea, but it is an essential part of the solution. This paper briefly reviews the range of biotechnology applications that can address problems of the poor. It also describes the role of technological innovation in promoting agricultural and economic growth and examines the key differences between the Green Revolution and the Gene Revolution. These differences - private sector dominance and safety and regulatory concerns - influence both the technologies being developed and their capacity to reach the poor. The economic evidence on the experience of developing countries so far with GM crops is reviewed, followed by policy recommendations to enhance the likelihood that the Gene Revolution will meet the needs of the poor.
Agro-Related Policy Awareness and Their Influence in Adoption of New Agricultural Technologies; A Case of Tissue Culture Banana in Uganda
(Academic Research Publishing Group, 2019) Wanyana, Barbra; Murongo, Marius Flarian; Mwine, Julius; Wamani, Sam
Adoption of banana tissue culture in Uganda still remains low despite the availability of policies geared to enhancing agriculture. A survey was carried out on 115 smallholder farmers in Central Uganda to establish the influence of agro-related policies in tissue culture banana adoption between January and July 2018. Results from the study indicated that 83.8% of the respondents were aware about the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture policy as compared to National Agricultural Policy (5.5%), National Development Plan (13.12%) and Agricultural Sector Development Strategy and Investment Plan (3.3%). Age, gender and education level all exhibited weak correlations in relation to policy awareness while generally, the study found out that awareness of the of the policies did not significantly influence farmer’s adoption of tissue culture banana in central Uganda (P>0.05). We conclude that most of the agro-related polices were on paper and minimal efforts were in place to enhance their awareness amongst small holder farmers. We therefore recommend that increased awareness of agro-related policies to the farmers as well as integration of farmer interests in policy formulation are paramount in order to achieve wide uptake of agro-technologies like banana tissue culture.
AIDS, Primary Health Care and Poverty
(Uganda Martyrs University, Department of Health Sciences, 2004-04) Murru, Maurizio
This paper analyzes the complex interrelation between poverty and AIDS. Poverty, in its many and diverse aspects and with its many and diverse consequences, creates a fertile breeding ground for the expansion of HIV/AIDS. In turn, HIV/AIDS, for its mode of transmission and its epidemiological features, badly affects the livelihood of its victims, their families, their entire communities and countries. Sub Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the epidemic. With about 10% of the world population, it has about 66.5 % of the world seropositive cases. In three Southern African countries the HIV prevalence in the adult population reaches or exceeds the level of 30 %. Recent WHO estimates put life expectancy in Sub Saharan Africa at about 47 years and that, without AIDS, it would be at about 62 years. The development achievements of the last decades risk being lost and the future of the continent is at risk. But numbers, alone, don’t tell the whole story. They don’t talk of millions of orphans, dilapidated health services, crumbling educational systems, illiteracy, gender discriminations, harmful cultural practices, uncontrolled urbanization, conflicts and civil wars, refugees and internally displaced people, entire economies on the verge of collapsing. In the rich countries, AIDS is no more a death penalty. It is a chronic disease that, although with problems, can be treated. For years the idea that the poor "had to be" excluded from the benefits of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), simply because they are poor, has been accepted somehow passively. Things are now changing. The paper briefly touches upon ART and its implications. It is also stated that all deaths due to poverty and deprivation are unacceptable, not just those due to AIDS. The main conclusion is that the fight against HIV/AIDS is the fight against poverty. The resources to win this war are not lacking. What seems to be lacking are vision, political will and genuine interest in all human beings.

Browse

Browsing Research Articles by Title