The Socio-Cultural Significance of the Kakube Festival of the Dagara of Nandom Traditional Area in Ghana

The advent of western civilization has had a downturn on many important cultural practices of the people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Understandably so, a form of reawakening in recent times has led to people going back to their roots to rediscover what their forebears ‘executed’ with passion. This paper generally explores the importance of local events such as the  festivals which bring people together to celebrate a common heritage. It finally narrowed in on the people of Nandom who trace their roots to a common ancestor and as such make feverish attempts aimed at ensuring that an annual affair (Kakube) comes into fruition. Data was sourced from key personalities in the community making use of both simple random and purposive sampling techniques and further employing data collection methods such as administration of questionnaire, in-depth interviews (IDI) including personal observation and participation. In all, 250 people responded to the questionnaire. The analysis revealed that the people of the area benefited socially, culturally, economically, politically, religiously and developmentally hence their adherence to this heritage. The paper recommends that the Nandom Traditional Council,the Lawra District Assembly, the local business community, the Ghana Tourism Authority andcivil society organisations should help in its promotion both nationally and internationally.KEYWORDS: Kakube festival, tourism, cultural heritage, tradition, dimension

Group Care in the first 1000 days: implementation and process evaluation of contextually adapted antenatal and postnatal group care targeting diverse vulnerable populations in high-, middle- and low-resource settings

Background: Group care (GC) improves the quality of maternity care, stimulates women’s participation in their own care and facilitates growth of women’s social support networks. There is an urgent need to identify and disseminate the best mechanisms for implementing GC in ways that are feasible, context appropriate and sustainable. This protocol presents the aims and methods of an innovative implementation research project entitled Group Care in the first 1000 days (GC_1000), which addresses this need. Aims: The aim of GC_1000 is to co-create and disseminate evidence-based implementation strategies and tools to support successful implementation and scale-up of GC in health systems throughout the world, with particular attention to the needs of ‘vulnerable’ populations. Methods: By working through five inter-related work packages, each with specific tasks, objectives and deliverables, the global research team will systematically examine and document the implementation and scale-up processes of antenatal and postnatal GC in seven different countries. The GC_1000 project is grounded theoretically in the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR), while the process evaluation is guided by ‘Realistic Evaluation’ principles. Data are gathered across all research phases and analysis at each stage is synthesized to develop Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome configurations. Discussion: GC_1000 will generate evidence-based knowledge about the integration of complex interventions into diverse health care systems. The 4-year project also will pave the way for sustained implementation of GC, significantly benefitting populations with adverse pregnancy and birthing experiences as well as poor outcomes

Χημικές ουσίες και υγιεινή και ασφάλεια στο χώρο της εργασίας

Η παρουσίαση των κινδύνων που διατρέχει το προσωπικό, το οποίο διαχειρίζεται χημικές ουσίες όπως είναι τα απολυμαντικά και τα αντισηπτικά στο χώρο του Νοσοκομείου, καθώς και η επισήμανση των μέτρων προστασίας, των κανόνων ασφαλείας που πρέπει να τηρούνται αλλά και των προτύπων που πρέπει κάθε νοσοκομειακός χώρος να επιβάλλει ώστε να δημιουργούνται όλες οι κατάλληλες προϋποθέσεις για εργασία σε ένα ασφαλές περιβάλλον, το οποίο ακολουθεί τους κανόνες υγιεινής και ασφαλείας στην εργασί

A multi-dimensional criteria algorithm for cloud detection in the circumsolar area

Research into fetal development and medicin

Gone too soon: priorities for action to prevent premature mortality associated with mental illness and mental distress

Globally, too many people die prematurely from suicide and the physical comorbidities associated with mental illness and mental distress. The purpose of this Review is to mobilise the translation of evidence into prioritised actions that reduce this inequity. The mental health research charity, MQ Mental Health Research, convened an international panel that used roadmapping methods and review evidence to identify key factors, mechanisms, and solutions for premature mortality across the social–ecological system. We identified 12 key overarching risk factors and mechanisms, with more commonalities than differences across the suicide and physical comorbidities domains. We also identified 18 actionable solutions across three organising principles: the integration of mental and physical health care; the prioritisation of prevention while strengthening treatment; and the optimisation of intervention synergies across social–ecological levels and the intervention cycle. These solutions included accessible, integrated high-quality primary care; early life, workplace, and community-based interventions co-designed by the people they should serve; decriminalisation of suicide and restriction of access to lethal means; stigma reduction; reduction of income, gender, and racial inequality; and increased investment. The time to act is now, to rebuild health-care systems, leverage changes in funding landscapes, and address the effects of stigma, discrimination, marginalisation, gender violence, and victimisation

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population