Addressing the Emerging Issues of Xenophobic Attack and Human Rights Violations in South Africa: Adopting a Human Rights-Based Approach

Human Rights abuses in South Africa occasioned by xenophobic attacks in South Africa had occurred intermittently for over a decade despite the hue and cry against xenophobia. Driven primarily by efforts to protect human life and overcome the challenges of xenophobia, some international human rights organisations expressed their views on the curtailment of human rights abuses perpetrated in South Africa. Contextually, South- Africa has notable human rights organisations, yet human rights abuses happen through xenophobic attacks in some parts of the country. The primary objective of this paper is to identify human rights challenges brought about by xenophobic attacks, including the right to human dignity and the right to life. This methodology adopted in this paper included reference to statutes, internet sources, and newspaper publications. This paper finds, amongst others, that despite the United Nations conventions and other international laws guaranteeing the human rights of all persons, the South African government appeared overwhelmed by the xenophobic attacks in dealing with the situation. This paper made useful recommendations towards preventing future xenophobic attacks and avoiding human rights violations

Addressing the Emerging Issues of Xenophobic Attack and Human Rights Violations in South Africa: Adopting a Human Rights-Based Approach

Human Rights abuses in South Africa occasioned by xenophobic attacks in South Africa had occurred intermittently for over a decade despite the hue and cry against xenophobia. Driven primarily by efforts to protect human life and overcome the challenges of xenophobia, some international human rights organisations expressed their views on the curtailment of human rights abuses perpetrated in South Africa. Contextually, South- Africa has notable human rights organisations, yet human rights abuses happen through xenophobic attacks in some parts of the country. The primary objective of this paper is to identify human rights challenges brought about by xenophobic attacks, including the right to human dignity and the right to life. This methodology adopted in this paper included reference to statutes, internet sources, and newspaper publications. This paper finds, amongst others, that despite the United Nations conventions and other international laws guaranteeing the human rights of all persons, the South African government appeared overwhelmed by the xenophobic attacks in dealing with the situation. This paper made useful recommendations towards preventing future xenophobic attacks and avoiding human rights violations

Grand Challenges in global eye health: a global prioritisation process using Delphi method

Background We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations. Methods Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists. Findings Between Sept 1 and Dec 12, 2019, 470 individuals complete round 1 of the process, of whom 336 completed all three rounds (round 2 between Feb 26 and March 18, 2020, and round 3 between April 2 and April 25, 2020) 156 (46%) of 336 were women, 180 (54%) were men. The proportion of participants who worked in each region ranged from 104 (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa to 21 (6%) in central Europe, eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Of 85 unique challenges identified after round 1, 16 challenges were prioritised at the global level; six focused on detection and treatment of conditions (cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, services for children and screening for early detection), two focused on addressing shortages in human resource capacity, five on other health service and policy factors (including strengthening policies, integration, health information systems, and budget allocation), and three on improving access to care and promoting equity. Interpretation This list of Grand Challenges serves as a starting point for immediate action by funders to guide investment in research and innovation in eye health. It challenges researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to build collaborations to address specific challenge

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Accounting for rituals and ritualization: The case of shareholders' associations

This paper uses ritual theory to examine the participation of shareholders’ associations in rituals and ritualization within social spaces. We focus on how the interconnectedness between private rituals (private investor meetings) and public rituals (AGMs and courts) produce psychological and functional benefits for shareholders’ associations. We explore the strategic acts used by shareholders’ associations in ritualization. Our study reveals that the participation of shareholders’ associations in each ritual plays a significant role in reducing conflict and maintaining harmony. Regarding ritualization, our study shows that some shareholders’ associations use a form of gamesmanship to gain strategic advantage in audit committee nominations at AGMs

Primary prevention of thrombosis in subjects with positive antiphospholipid antibodies

Research has identified institutional shareholders and shareholders' associations as separate groups that are able to interact and promote accountability through shareholder activism. This study employs a qualitative methodology to critically evaluate how institutional shareholders perceive the participation of Nigerian shareholders' associations in shareholder activism. We examine three features of accountability that are vital in shareholder activism; dialectical activity, independence and agenda. We contribute to the accountability literature by showing how these three features shape institutional shareholders' perception of shareholders' associations as shareholder activists. Our findings show distinct differences between the views of representatives from active and passive institutional shareholders

Evaluation of the biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters of female Wistar rats fed with aqueous and ethanol extracts of Aspilia africana leaves.

Introduction: Aspilia africana is a plant commonly used to stop bleeding, heal wound, and manage various stomach complaints. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of A. africana on biochemical (liver function tests, renal function tests, and lipid profile), histopathological (kidney and liver) and haematological parameters of the female Wistar rats. Methods: To study acute toxicity, the median lethal dose (LD50) was determined by oral administration of different doses of the extract to 8 groups of 3 rats each and the animals were observed for 24 hours for signs of toxicity. To evaluate the toxicological effect of the extract, 3 groups of 5 animals each received 0.5 mL normal saline (control), 250 or 500 mg/kg of the extracts for 2 consecutive weeks. Results: Data revealed the LD50 of the extract to be >5000 mg/kg.bw. There was no significant variation in organosomatic indices of the animals fed with aqueous and ethanol extracts of A. africana leaves. In comparison with the control, there were significant increases (p<0.05) in serum liver and kidney biomarkers, high density lipoprotein, and white blood cells while some red cells indices, platelets, some lipid profile levels reduced significantly (p<0.05). A marked alteration in hepatic and renal architectures was also observed. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that the A. africana leaf may not be safe as medicine despite the outcome of LD50 acute toxicity studies. For it to be integrated in folk medicine, we recommend its use at minimal doses

Grand Challenges in global eye health: a global prioritisation process using Delphi method

Background: We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations. Methods: Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists. Findings: Between Sept 1 and Dec 12, 2019, 470 individuals complete round 1 of the process, of whom 336 completed all three rounds (round 2 between Feb 26 and March 18, 2020, and round 3 between April 2 and April 25, 2020) 156 (46%) of 336 were women, 180 (54%) were men. The proportion of participants who worked in each region ranged from 104 (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa to 21 (6%) in central Europe, eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Of 85 unique challenges identified after round 1, 16 challenges were prioritised at the global level; six focused on detection and treatment of conditions (cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, services for children and screening for early detection), two focused on addressing shortages in human resource capacity, five on other health service and policy factors (including strengthening policies, integration, health information systems, and budget allocation), and three on improving access to care and promoting equity. Interpretation: This list of Grand Challenges serves as a starting point for immediate action by funders to guide investment in research and innovation in eye health. It challenges researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to build collaborations to address specific challenges. Funding: The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Moorfields Eye Charity, National Institute for Health Research Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Trust, Sightsavers, The Fred Hollows Foundation, The Seva Foundation, British Council for the Prevention of Blindness, and Christian Blind Mission. Translations: For the French, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic and Persian translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.</p