Identifying the water supply service levels of the poorest quintile in rural Laos: applying PCA for programme M and E

This paper presents the findings from SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation) Laos of the Functionality of Rural Water Supply (FRWS) programme baseline conducted in 2013 in Atsaphone and Phin districts of Savannakhet province. The baseline applied Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to identify the poorest households enabling analysis of household service levels disaggregated by wealth quintile as well as other demographic characteristics. The paper explains why PCA was adopted, practicalities of applying it in the field, and lessons learnt from the process. The resulting baseline findings allow identification of the aspects of rural water supply (RWS) functionality which affect the poorest households enabling SNV to design its programme to meet the needs of the most vulnerable

Hydatid disease of the breast

Cystic hydatid disease is caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. Humans are the accidental intermediate hosts of this organism. Hydatid disease is endemic in countries in which raising sheep and cattle constitutes an important means of livelihood. The most commonly affected organs are the liver and lungs. Involvement of the kidney, bone, brain and other organs is rare. Breast involvement in this disease is also very rare. A case of isolated hydatid cyst of the breast is presented, along with a review of the literature and a discussion on the pertinent clinical and radiological aspects of the disease

Assessing household RWS functionality service levels: lessons from the field

Many different academic and theoretical definitions of rural water supply (RWS) functionality have been developed over the years, but the issue of sustainable services has once again come to the fore as countries claim to have met their MDG targets, yet the corresponding health and economic benefits have not progressed commensurately. SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation) began its functionality of rural water supply (FRWS) programme in Asia in 2007. In 2011 we switched from measurement of water scheme functionality levels to measuring household (HH ) service levels, and the results of the 2011baseline surveys conducted in Laos and Cambodia in 2013 are the basis for this paper. The paper focuses on practical lessons learnt related to the selected data collection methodologies for monitoring and evaluation of quality, quantity, accessibility and reliability (QQAR) of RWS programmes to assess functionality levels of service of HHs

What long serving village maintenance workers have in common: findings from Nepal's Karnali zone

This paper presents the findings of a small qualitative investigation conducted in 2013 interviewing Village Maintenance Workers (VMWs) in three Karnali districts of Mid West Region of Nepal. The predominant water supply technology is Gravity Fed Water Systems (GFWS) often bringing water from spring sources many kilometres from the village and therefore requiring formal management for sustained operation and maintenance. The SNV Nepal Functionality of Rural Water Supply (FRWS) programme has identified that of the GFWS in these districts, only around 23% are functioning fully with between 10 and 70% having a designated VMW, depending on the district, despite the presumption that the presence of a trained and motivated VMW is a pre-requisite to ensuring functionality. The investigation aimed to identify common factors amongst long and short-serving VMWs in order to develop strategies to encourage their continued service on rural water supplies (RWS)

Effect of 'tongue tie' use on racing performance of Thoroughbreds in the United Kingdom

Reasons for performing study: There is contradictory published evidence on the potential efficacy of 'tongue ties' (TTs) for treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of TTs on racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK using a retrospective cohort study. Methods: Data on individual horses' lifetime racing performance and TT use were retrieved from the Racing Post Online Database. Exposed cases were horses that ran with a TT in randomly chosen race meetings on one of 60 randomly chosen dates from 2001-2003. Unexposed (control) horses were matched to each exposed horse. Various measures of racing performance were analysed both within and between exposed and unexposed groups. Subsets of exposed horses that ran for 3 or 5 consecutive starts wearing TTs and their matched controls were analysed separately to examine the effect of repeated TT use. Results: The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 108 horses. The odds ratio for 'improvement' in race earnings between exposed and unexposed horses was 1.85 for horses that ran at least once with a TT, and 3.60 and 4.24, respectively, for horses that ran in 3 or 5 consecutive races wearing a TT. After instigation of TT use, horses that ran in 3 or 5 consecutive races wearing a TT had a significant increase in earnings when they ran wearing a TT compared to their pre-TT races. Conclusions and potential relevance: The use of a TT appears to have a beneficial effect on racing performance in a selected population of Thoroughbred racehorse

Inclusive primary education in Tanzania: The role of accessible sanitation

Education and watsan have been recognised as central to many poverty reduction programmes though evidence shows that the sanitation component is often neglected and both water and sanitation receive less attention than education for development aid (WHO, UN Water 2010). The links between education, health and sanitation are accepted, but the exact nature of causality remains unclear (Narayan & Prennushi 1999). The benefit of collaboration between these sectors to improve sanitation conditions, school learning environments and education results has already been recognised resulting in numerous School WASH programmes. Yet, despite the plethora of international targets and goals, little progress has been made in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable (WHO, UNICEF 2010).The Millennium Development Goals, whilst providing the impetus for many worthwhile programmes and efforts, fails to mention disability or disabled people. Similarly the International Development Targets for Education defined in the Jomtien 1990 “Education for All” World Conference and the Dakar “World Education Forum” in 2000 failed to specifically identify children with disabilities as a target group....