Production and Reproduction Performance of Backyard Poultry In Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in lowland and midland agro-ecological zones of central Tigray, in northern Ethiopia with the objective of characterization of village poultry marketing system under rural household management. A total of 160 households and 50% of them were female headed households. Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire and monitoring individual households. Chi- square test was employed for ordinal and nominal data. ANOVA was also employed for continuous data. Average age at first mating of cockerels was 26 and average age at first egg of local pullets was 27.2 weeks. Average egg production per year was 43.4 eggs for local hens, 81.4 eggs for cross breed hens and 144.3 eggs for exotic hens. Average number of eggs set for incubation per broody hen was 10.2±0.23 eggs with hatchability of 82.5% and 88.85% in lowland and midland agro-ecologies, respectively. The average survival rate of chicks was 61.95% in lowland and 69.4% in midland agro-ecology. Average weight of cocks, hens, cockerels and pullets was 1.69 kg, 1.37 kg, 1.024 kg and 1.02 kg, respectively in lowland and 1.81 kg, 1.356 kg, 1.119 kg and 1.064 kg, respectively in midland.  Generally egg production hatchability and survival of chickens varied with agro-ecology. Keywords: Mortality; Hatchability; Predators; Diseas

Constitutional Rights Without Effective and Enforceable Constitutional Remedies: The Case of Ethiopia

The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia guarantees a broad range of human rights in its Bill of Rights chapter. However, constitutional remedies for infringement of constitutional rights are rarely applied notwithstanding that the Constitution has been in enforcement for close to twenty-five years. The author of this article contends that lack of a clear and comprehensive Bill of Rights litigation procedure and lack of redress for violations of constitutional rights are contributing factors to the unacceptably low enforcement of the Bill of Rights via constitutional litigation. To augment his position and show the legal gaps and challenges as well as put forward recommendations for constitutional and legal reform, the author has analyzed the Constitution and relevant laws. The author has also consulted the laws of other countries and relevant literature with a view to identifying normative standards and practices from which Ethiopia can learn

Infantile Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: A retrospective study from a Tertiary Hospital in Ethiopia

Back ground: Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis(IHPS) is a common infantile disorder characterized by enlarged pyloric musculature and gastric outlet obstruction(1). IHPS typically presents with progressive projectile non-bilious vomiting this usually commences between second and eighth week of age. To date there is only one article written 23 years ago about IHPS in Ethiopia (9). The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of IHPS at the Tikur Anbessa teaching referral hospital (TAH) over a period of 2 years, analyze the clinical presentations, mode of treatment and outcomes of treatment.Methods: In this retrospective analysis, medical records of patients admitted to TAH, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a diagnosis of IHPS in the years 2011 and 2012 were revised; information on age, sex, birth order, clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes of treatment were collected and analyzed.Results: Sixty one infants with a diagnosis of IHPS were admitted to TAH, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia over a period of 2 years (2011-2012). The clinical records of 55 infants were retrieved and analyzed. The prevalence was 12.9/1000 admissions. The male to female ratio was 6.86:1. The mean age at admission was 44.47days. The mean duration of illness was 26.91 days. A palpable mass was found in 14(25.5%) of infants and constipation is reported in 14(25.5%). The treatment was Ramstedt’s pyloromyotomy in all cases. There were 6 (10.9%) intra-operative mucosal perforation. Eight patients developed postoperative complications - 6(10.9%) wound  infections, and 2(3.8%) pneumonia. Two patients died.Conclusions: This study has shown that IHPS is a common condition affecting infants with a prevalence of 12.9/1000 admissions. There was prolonged duration of illness, prolonged preoperative hospital stay and high proportion of dehydration and electrolyte disturbance. To avoiddelay in diagnosis physicians should have high index of suspicion in infants with non-bilious vomiting

Bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia: A review

Bovine cysticercosis is an infection of cattle caused by Cysticercus bovis, the larval stage of Taenia saginata. It is an infection of public health significance as eating of raw or undercooked beef results taeniasis in human population and an important cause of economic loss mainly due to condemnation, refrigeration and downgrading of infected carcasses. Bovine cysticercosis is prevalent in cattle population of various regions of Ethiopia in a range of 2.2% to 26.25%. The reported rates of prevalence may be an underestimate because employment of the latest diagnostic methods is uncommon and the routine meat inspection is the only method in use. Habit of eating raw beef dishes, low level of toilet use by human population, backyard slaughter, low availability of taenicides, free access of cattle to surface water, and proximity of wastewater are important causes for transmission of bovine cysticercosis to a herd of cattle and taeniasis in human population and such practices are not uncommon in Ethiopia. Competent meat inspection procedure supported by immunodiagnostics, chemotherapy and vaccination are the recommended approaches to prevent bovine cysticercosis and therefore such approaches along with the current status of bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia are highlighted in the present review