Making a difference with Vision 2020: The Right to Sight? Lessons from two states of North Western Nigeria

Settings and Aim: The World Health Organization launched in 1999 an initiative to eliminate the global avoidable blindness and prevent the projected doubling of avoidable visual impairment between 1990 and 2020 (Vision 2020: The Right to Sight). The World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolutions WHA 59.25, WHA 56.26 urging member states to adopt the Vision 2020 principles. More than 90 nongovernmental development organizations, agencies, and institutions, together with a number of major corporations, are now working together in this global partnership. Two neighboring states in North Western Nigeria provide eye care services using different approaches; one state uses the principles of Vision 2020, the other uses a different strategy. The aim of the study was to assess awareness and utilization of eye care services in two Nigerian states.Design: A population‑based cross‑sectional interview of households was conducted in two neighboring states using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 and a P < 0.05 was considered as significant.Findings: Participation rate was 97% in the two states. The population in the Vision 2020‑compliant state were significantly more aware about general eye care services (80% vs. 44%, P < 0.0005); had less proportion of households unaware of any eye care service (55% vs. 69%, P < 0.0005); and have a significantly higher felt the need to utilize eye care services (47% vs. 5.9%, P < 0.0005). The service utilization rate was however low in the two states.Conclusion: The principles of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight is adaptable to different cultures/societies and has demonstrated a potential to increase awareness and a felt need for eye care in poor resource settings.Key words: Eye care services, Nigeria, service utilization, Vision 202

Educational Status and Mothers2019; Child Rearing Practice as a Predictor of Child Delinquency among Primary School Pupils in Borno State, Nigeria

This study investigated the Educational status of mothers as a predictor of child delinquency among primary school pupils in Borno State Nigeria The Educational differences of mothers grouped illiterates pre-post primary and post-secondary groups and the nature of delinquencies associated with them were determined The populations of the study were all mothers of delinquent pupils in primary schools in Borno State and their delinquent children Data were collected from eight hundred mothers of various Educational groups and the teachers of their delinquent children for the study Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the sample Two types of self-made instrument 55 items questionnaire and 26 items child delinquent rating scale with Alfa reliability index of 0 89 and 0 93 were used to collect data for the study Data generated were analyzed by the use of descriptive simple percentage mean standard deviation and standard and step-wise multiple regression statistic The result indicated that there were differences in the Educational status of mothers of delinquent pupils and the nature of delinquency associated with their children and that Educational status of mothers could be a predictor of a child s delinquent status The researcher recommends grass root campaign for girl child education and reality counseling for all mothers on how to help their children Women with higher educational status raise children with fewer delinquents Mothers should be counseled to improve on their Educational statu

A Critical Analysis Of Collaborative And Disruptive Digital-Driven Built Environment Education

The Covid-19 pandemic has driven the teaching and learning provisions more towards virtual platforms, exposing lack of resilience and technology preparedness. This study aims to provide a critical appraisal of existing pedagogical studies on built environment (e.g., Building Information Modelling or BIM) challenging the opportunism and agency theories in response towards remote education provision provoked by the pandemic. The study consists of critical review of two literature samples, namely how the education sector as a whole has been responding to the pandemic, and the digitalisation-based pedagogy in built environment especially how the pedagogy addresses the pandemic. The review of the second literature sample evaluates longitudinally how BIM-based built environment education had evolved. A conceptual framework incorporating multiple factors from the review of the two literature samples is finally proposed. These factors include educational theories (e.g., Bloom’s Taxonomy), curriculum development addressing assessment, student experience, collaborative learning, delivery approaches, and teaching methods. This review-based study not only provides an overview of the digital built environment pedagogical work in higher education, but also contests the opportunism response to remote or blended learning and how the post-pandemic era could embrace the remote delivery-platforms to engender a variety of pedagogical principles, for example, cross-disciplinary team-based information sharing, experiential learning, and project-based learning. The findings of this study represent a barometer and roadmap for measuring the resilience of higher education and built environment programmes towards pandemic and technological disruptions

A Study of Extracranial Aneurysms at UNTH in Enugu, Nigeria

Previous studies on aneurysms in Nigeria have either been case reports or studies of peripheral aneurysms. No study has comprehensively evaluated all aspects of this disease as an entity among Nigerians. The need therefore arises to re-evaluate this lesion so as to make deductions on incidence, sex ratio, aetiology and management. This is a retrospective descriptive study of arterial aneurysms at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. Those treated between January 1993 and December 2002 were included for the study. Datawere obtained frommedical records for all patients admittedwith aneurysms over the study period. Atotal of 26 patientswere admitted during the period, but 24 case noteswere analysed. The age rangewas 10-75 yearswithmale: female ratio of 1.4:1. Traumatic pseudo aneurysms accounted for 16 cases (67.0%)while true aneurysms comprised the remaining.Of all the aneurysms, femoral artery with most of the pseudo aneurysms had 8 out of 24 (33.0%).This is followed by the infra-renal abdominal aorta (5/24, 21.0%) and other sites (11/24, 46.0%). Diagnoses were made clinically in most cases and by abdominal ultrasonography in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Twenty-one patients had surgical interventionwith 9.5% operativemortality. The incidence of aneurysm is low in our locality (2.6/year) based on the rate of diagnosis.Abdominal aorta harbours most of the true aneurysms with diameter ranging from 8.0-15.0cm without rupture. Untreated, all will eventually rupture with catastrophic consequences. Treatment involved excision with graft interposition. This is not only expensive but the graft is often not readily available. As a solution, grafts should be stocked with drug revolving fund.Keywords: trauma, true and pseudo aneurys

Ruptured tubal molar pregnancy

Molar pregnancies in most instances develop within the uterine cavity, but may occur at any site. Ectopic molar pregnancy is a rare event. The objective of this study was to present a case of ruptured tubal molar gestation, discuss its clinical features and ways to improve diagnostic accuracy. A 35.year.old woman presented with features suggestive of ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy. There was neither any evidence at the time of presentation to suspect a molar gestation, nor ƒÀ human chorionic gonadotrophin (ƒÀhCG) hormone estimation was done, but only a clearview pregnancy test was carried out. She had total left salpingectomy and histological evaluation of the specimen revealed complete hydatidiform mole. The hCG level normalized within 3 weeks of follow.up. Clinical features of ectopic molar pregnancy may be indistinguishable from non.molar ectopic pregnancy. We recommend ƒÀhCG estimation as well as histological examination of the surgical specimen for all patients coming with features suggestive of ectopic pregnancy

Attitude and acceptability of assisted reproductive technology among women in a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, northern Nigeria

Background: Infertility couple affects the couple's life, work, health, personality, identity and quality of life. The aim of the study is to determine the attitude and acceptability of assisted reproductive technology among women at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that involved three 350 women attending infertility clinic. They were recruited via convenient sampling method using semi-structured questionnaire. The data obtained was managed using the statistical package for social sciences version 20. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant and the result obtained was presented in charts and tables.Results: Among the 350 women recruited, their ages ranged between 14-58 years with a modal age of 25-35 yeas (58.0%) and a mean of 28.59±6.7. They are mostly (78.6%), of the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group. Almost all (98.9%) of them were married and unto 40.5% of them were in polygamous marriage. Majority, 36.9% had tertiary education, and about same proportion, about half, 51.7%% were gainfully employed. About 60.3% of them were nulliparae with a mean duration of infertility of 5.07±4.8 years. Approximately half, 53.1% had secondary infertility and only about half, 51.4% will accept ART if offered. Unfortunately, among those who declined, majority (40.9%) had no reason for doing so. There was statistically significant association between educational status and acceptance of assisted reproductive technology (ART) at p value 0.02.Conclusions: The acceptance of ART in our environment is influenced by the educational status and number of living children

Self-Validation of N-Power Build Trainees' Skills Acquisition: A Mechanism for Revitalizing Apprenticeship Training System in Nigeria

It appears that the goal of the N-Power Build training program which sought to revitalizethe apprenticeship trainingsystem in Nigeria cannot be fully achieved without a feedback mechanism onthe level of skills acquired by thetrainees.This study, therefore, was set to self-validate the skills acquired by N-Power Build trainees.Five research questions guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The area of the study was Taraba stateand the population of the study is 501 N-Power build trainees.There was no sampling. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researchers. The instrument was validated by three experts in the fields of Technology & Vocational Education. The instrument was trial-tested on 10 N-PowerBuild beneficiaries in Adamawa state. Cronbach’salpha was used to analyze the datato establish the reliability of the instrument, and a reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained. Three hundred and forty-two copies of the instrument were administered to the respondents;however, only 318 were properly filled and returned representinga 93% rate of return. Mean was used to analyze the data to answer the research questions.Findings from the study indicated that the N-Power Build trainees acquired moderate skills in Automobile crafts, Electrical Installation and Maintenance Crafts, and Masonry and Tiling Crafts; however, they acquired a little bit skills in the Carpentry and Joinery Crafts, and Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Crafts. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made

New-onset diabetes after renal transplantation: A case series as seen in a Nigerian kidney transplant population

New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is an important metabolic complication of transplantation because of its associated morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for NODAT include those known to cause diabetes mellitus in non-transplant patients as well as transplant-specific factors. This study was aimed at illustrating the presentationand management of NODAT in three kidney transplant recipients in our center and reviewing the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first report from Nigeria. Two of the patients were males of ages 60 and 36 years, respectively, while the third was a female aged 25 years. They were all receiving prednisolone, two were on tacrolimus, and one was on cyclosporine as part of their immunosuppressive regimens. They developed NODAT at varying times post transplant, ranging from 3 months to 6 years. Two patients were managed with oral hypoglycemic agents and one with insulin. One patient died of hemorrhagic stroke. We conclude that NODAT occurred in our kidney transplant recipients and recommend that physicians should have a high index of suspicion in order to make an early diagnosis and institute appropriate management to reduce morbidity and mortality.Key words: New-onset diabetes, Nigerians, renal transplan

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Soot Emissions in a Diesel Engine and from a Tube Reactor

An investigation into the exhaust emissions of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a diesel engine was reported. The study is reinforced by the experimental results obtained from a tube reactor aimed at examining the PAH formation processes from these fuels. The paper cantered on the 16 priority PAHs suggested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). These PAHs were produced by burning conventional diesel fuel and a few binary fuels prepared by blending various proportions of toluene into heptane. Special consideration was given to the B2 subgroup of PAHs which are known human-carcinogens. Both the gas born (smaller) PAHs, as well as the larger PAHs, adsorbed onto the particulate were investigated. The engine used was a single-cylinder, light duty, high speed, diesel automotive research engine run at an Indicated Mean effective pressure (IMEP) of 7bar. Particulate matter was also produced in a tube reactor at temperatures ranging from 1050 to 1350 °C under pyrolysis (oxygen-free) conditions to study PAH and soot formation in conditions which resemble, to an extent, those found in the core of diesel engine fuel sprays. In the diesel engine, it was found that exhaust PAHs were influenced by combustion characteristics like heat release rates and ignition delay. However, in the quiescent oxygen-free conditions of the reactor, chemical composition of the fuels and temperature dominated PAH formatio

Farmers’ Perception towards Organic-based Vegetable Produc-tion in Ilaro Agricultural Zone, Ogun State, Nigeria

It is well established that organic farming is a production system that sustain the health of the soils, ecosystems and people. This study assessed the small-scale farmers’ perception towards organic based vegetable production in Ilaro agricultural zone of Ogun state, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 85 respondents for the study. Data were obtained using a structured interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicated that the mean age of the respondents was 30 years and 48.2% of the respondents were married. The major determinants of organic based vegetable production were information from extension agents (18.8%) and consumer’s requests (17.7%). Also, the respondent’s major perceived effect of organic vegetable production were; organic vegetable is environmentally friendly ( ̅χ=4.32) and free from any synthetic chemical ( ̅χ=4.10). There were significant association between educational status (χ2=1.923, df=5, p&lt;0.05) and perceived effect of respondents. Also, there was positive and significant relationship between sources of information of organic vegetable production (r = 0.235*, p&lt; 0.05), age (r = 0.195**, p&lt; 0.05), and perceived effect of respondents. It was concluded that organic based vegetable production is a panacea for sustainable agriculture