THE USE OF ICT FOR SECURITY AND THEFT PREVENTION IN TWO UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

The study investigated the use of ICT for security and theft prevention in two university libraries in Nigeria. Population of the study is made up of 80 library staff of the two universities, 40 library staff from Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina and 40 library staff from Al-Qalam University Katsina. Five research questions guided the study. The data was analyzed with the use of simple statistical tools like frequencies and percentages. Findings of the study revealed that maximum security in the libraries will prevent theft mutilation. It also revealed that a video surveillance system working in conjunction with a barcode and magnetic book control system could help prevent book theft and monitor the move of books and other resources as it moves from one user to another. Lack of literate or skilled personnel: libraries and information Centre’s lack skilled personnel that can operate, teach and instruct the use of these telecommunication security systems even when they are made available in the library. Poor power supply: These telecommunication security systems or devices need electricity to power them and due to the poor power supply, these systems often time are not working and as such are incapable of performing their expected task of securing the library and its collection. Hardware and software failure: This is major threat to the use of telecommunication security system in the library. When there is software failure or hardware breakdown that may require the need for an engineer who may not be available to put them in place as at when due, then the library system and its collections is at risk. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the librarian and information experts should take out time to educate their parent organization on the benefits associated with libraries and information Centre’s in the use of telecommunication security systems and devices so that the library parent body can release adequate fund which will be used for the purchase of telecommunication security devices in the librar

Development of a Mobile Feedback System for Health Institutions in Nigeria

Feedback is very essential in any organizational set up and this does not exclude health institutions. With feedback an institution is able to stay in touch with the needs and expectations of their customers and to also improve on service provision. However, the process of collecting feedback is of importance. After thorough investigation and observation it was discovered that most health institutions in Nigeria did not have the necessary means of getting consistent feedback from their patients and customers. This paper therefore introduces a mobile application that serves as a feedback mechanism between patients and their health institutions

Impact of Infrastructure on Productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria

The study investigates the link between infrastructure and productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria Following the Engle and Granger two-step approach to cointegration and employing quarterly time series for the Nigerian economy over the period 1980 to 2017. We found long-run equilibrium relationship between infrastructure and small and medium enterprises output in Nigeria over the period investigated. Particularly, electricity infrastructure impacted most negatively and significantly on SMEs output with a unit change in electricity output causing SMEs output to drop by about 0.2units in the short run. The contribution of water resources and transport infrastructure have not been significant on SMEs productivity. The error correcting term indicates that about 7.33E-09 of the disequilibrium between selected infrastructure and SMEs output in the economy is being restored annually. The conclusion is that the output of SMEs in the country has been constrained by infrastructure gap and this has limited the growth capacity of the Nigerian economy. Policies that will ensure that the SMEs play their roles in the economy must be hatched. In addition, the government, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders may consider creating SMEs zones in every State of the country and provide needed infrastructure within the zone such that SMEs can enjoy economies of agglomeration. Keywords: Infrastructure, SMEs, Economic growth, Employment, Wealth creation JEL H54 DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-2-0

Needs Assessment in Intervention Programs for Rural Development

This paper offers an essential and précis introduction to the subject matter: needs assessment and practice. It expounded the term needs assessment, and showed the indispensable nature of the process and why it must beundertaken for success of government or donor funded intervention and projects that have relevance to rural development in all sphere. The article also delved into germane subtopics as: when and why to conduct a needs assessment; methods to conducting a needs assessment; stages involved in carrying out needs assessment; and models of needs assessment. Italluded to the fact that needs assessments have impacted positively to the success of most agricultural development cum rural development projects, but advocated for it to be complemented with other relevant project management processes in light of present realities. The authors suggest that governments, project sponsors, development partners, and other relevant bodies make it obligatory for implementing agencies to conduct credible, verifiable, and inclusive needs assessment before releasing funds for Projects and intervention purposes.Keywords: Needs assessment, Intervention, Rural development,  Technology needs, Training Need

Dapsone-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): the role of the primary care physician

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare but severe adverse drug reaction with debilitating morbidity and high mortality. The interest of this presentation is to report a case of dress and the role of the healthcare coordinator (family physician) in early diagnosis, prompt treatment and coordination of care. We report a case of a 32-year-old male who was wrongly commenced on Dapsone for seizure disorder from a primary health centre. He presented two months later with a month history of severe dry cough, pleurisy, intermittent breathlessness and high-grade fever. He had a generalized pruritic rash with erythema and desquamation. There was marked oedema of the face and feet with generalized lymphadenopathy. He was jaundiced with tender hepatomegaly. He had dark coloured urine and a trace of proteinuria but normal renal function. There was marked leukocytosis (35*109/l) with eosinophilia (36%). His chest X-ray and viral screen for HBV, HCV and HIV were all negative. The multiple systemic presentations warranted a multidisciplinary review, and a final diagnosis of DRESS was made. His symptoms began to resolve within two days of withdrawal of the offending drug and commencement of oral corticosteroid with supportive care for his symptoms. At six weeks, there was a complete resolution of clinical features, and his laboratory parameters had returned to the baseline. Diagnosis of DRESS can be challenging, and a high index of suspicion is required. The multidisciplinary coordination of care by the first line physicians can also not be overemphasized for good outcomes

The burden of Hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with sickle cell anaemia in Jos – Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is an important public health problem in Nigeria associated with frequent blood transfusion. Patients with this disease are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis B and C virus through blood transfusions.Objective: The study aimed at determining the burden of hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with sickle cell anaemia and the role of blood transfusion in these infections acquisition in Jos.Materials and methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted on patients with SCA attending the Haematology Out-patient Clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital,between November 2014 and August 2015.Consenting patients with SCA had their blood screened for anti- HBV and HCV antibodies using fourth generation Elisa techniques after completing a questionnaire.Results: One hundred and eleven patients with SCA participated. Antibodies to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was detected in 21 (18.9%) while that to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 16 (14.7%). Seventy six (68.5%) of the participants had history of blood transfusion while 35 (31.5%) were never transfused. 22.4% and 15.8% of those transfused were positive for HBV and HCV antibodies respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of those positive for anti HBV or HCV with respect to their transfusion status (p=0.24 and 0.81 respectively).Conclusion: The proportion of our patients with SCA that were anti HBV and anti-HCV positive was high. Blood transfusion did not significantly influence their positive status. Strategies aimed at controlling these viral infections in these patients and the general population should be enforced after public awareness campaigns and advocacy are instituted.Keywords: Sickle Cell Anaemia, burden, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis CVirus, infection, Blood Transfusio

Classification, Potential Routes and Risk of Emerging Pollutants/Contaminant

Emerging contaminants (ECs), encompass both natural and synthetic chemicals that are present or transformed to new chemical compounds in water bodies across the globe. They are presently not checked in the environment but poses a serious health threat to human and ecosystem as well as environmental damage. ECs are released into environment during the anthropogenic activities such as water treatments, fumigation, farming etc. More than 1036 ECs and their biotransformation have been identified by the NORMAN project, established in 2005 by the European Commission. They were further classified into different categorizes/classes including disinfection by-products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, nanomaterials, benzotriazoles, benzothiazoles among others. The potential sources, path route and their health implication on human were also discussed. The presence of ECs in our environments is global issue that requires urgent attention

Non-falciparum malaria infections in pregnant women in West Africa

BACKGROUND: Non-Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections are found in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa but little is known about their importance in pregnancy. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at first antenatal clinic attendance from 2526 women enrolled in a trial of intermittent screening and treatment of malaria in pregnancy (ISTp) versus intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) conducted in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana and Mali. DNA was extracted from blood spots and tested for P. falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale using a nested PCR test. Risk factors for a non-falciparum malaria infection were investigated and the influence of these infections on the outcome of pregnancy was determined. RESULTS: P. falciparum infection was detected frequently (overall prevalence by PCR: 38.8 %, [95 % CI 37.0, 40.8]), with a prevalence ranging from 10.8 % in The Gambia to 56.1 % in Ghana. Non-falciparum malaria infections were found only rarely (overall prevalence 1.39 % [95 % CI 1.00, 1.92]), ranging from 0.17 % in the Gambia to 3.81 % in Mali. Ten non-falciparum mono-infections and 25 mixed falciparum and non-falciparum infections were found. P. malariae was the most frequent non-falciparum infection identified; P. vivax was detected only in Mali. Only four of the non-falciparum mono-infections were detected by microscopy or rapid diagnostic test. Recruitment during the late rainy season and low socio-economic status were associated with an increased risk of non-falciparum malaria as well as falciparum malaria. The outcome of pregnancy did not differ between women with a non-falciparum malaria infection and those who were not infected with malaria at first ANC attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Non-falciparum infections were infrequent in the populations studied, rarely detected when present as a mono-infection and unlikely to have had an important impact on the outcome of pregnancy in the communities studied due to the small number of women infected with non-falciparum parasites

A Non-Inferiority, Individually Randomized Trial of Intermittent Screening and Treatment versus Intermittent Preventive Treatment in the Control of Malaria in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in pregnancy is threatened in parts of Africa by the emergence and spread of resistance to SP. Intermittent screening with a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and treatment of positive women (ISTp) is an alternative approach. METHODS AND FINDINGS: An open, individually randomized, non-inferiority trial of IPTp-SP versus ISTp was conducted in 5,354 primi- or secundigravidae in four West African countries with a low prevalence of resistance to SP (The Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana). Women in the IPTp-SP group received SP on two or three occasions whilst women in the ISTp group were screened two or three times with a RDT and treated if positive for malaria with artemether-lumefantrine (AL). ISTp-AL was non-inferior to IPTp-SP in preventing low birth weight (LBW), anemia and placental malaria, the primary trial endpoints. The prevalence of LBW was 15.1% and 15.6% in the IPTp-SP and ISTp-AL groups respectively (OR = 1.03 [95% CI: 0.88, 1.22]). The mean hemoglobin concentration at the last clinic attendance before delivery was 10.97g/dL and 10.94g/dL in the IPTp-SP and ISTp-AL groups respectively (mean difference: -0.03 g/dL [95% CI: -0.13, +0.06]). Active malaria infection of the placenta was found in 24.5% and in 24.2% of women in the IPTp-SP and ISTp-AL groups respectively (OR = 0.95 [95% CI 0.81, 1.12]). More women in the ISTp-AL than in the IPTp-SP group presented with malaria parasitemia between routine antenatal clinics (310 vs 182 episodes, rate difference: 49.4 per 1,000 pregnancies [95% CI 30.5, 68.3], but the number of hospital admissions for malaria was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite low levels of resistance to SP in the study areas, ISTp-AL performed as well as IPTp-SP. In the absence of an effective alternative medication to SP for IPTp, ISTp-AL is a potential alternative to IPTp in areas where SP resistance is high. It may also have a role in areas where malaria transmission is low and for the prevention of malaria in HIV positive women receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in whom SP is contraindicated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01084213 Pan African Clinical trials Registry PACT201202000272122