COLLABORATION BETWEEN LIBRARIANS AND ACADEMICS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION STUDIES FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN KZN

The aim of this study is to assess the level of collaboration between librarians and Library and Information Science (LIS) academics for the development of the LIS curriculum, being aware that collaboration is an instructional strategy that positively affects student academic achievement. The term collaboration has become popular concept in areas of life where two or more individuals, organisations, institutions or nation embark upon a mutually agreed process. Collaboration provides the opportunity for experts and researchers to partner and fine-tune thoughts and develop strategies for multi-dimensional thinking towards achieving common and uniform practice. Collaboration between librarians and LIS academics has been seen as a strategic activity in the management of LIS education programs and library and information services. It is widely acknowledged that there have been program structure and the content changes in Library and Information Studies (LIS) over the past decade. The supplementary drivers for change included changing client demand, innovations in information technology and the desire of LIS academics to cater to a wider information management marketplace than the traditional one. These changes are attributed mostly to library automation and the digital environment and it can be said that these changes affect the LIS curriculum to be unstable. The LIS education has been affected by these changes and the changing environment has compelled LIS schools to improve their curriculum so that it is in line with the LIS job market. The researcher believes that the changes in Library and Information Science (LIS) job market, changes in LIS education and the changing environment can be addressed through collaboration between librarians and LIS academics. The consistent collaboration between librarians and LIS academics can tremendously improve the relevance of the LIS curriculum. In regard of the present study, the researcher will critically review the literature that will be retrieved from different resources such as books, journals and articles based on collaboration between librarians and LIS academics as well as curriculum development in LIS institutions internationally, nationally (African setting) including South African setting

Countrywide roll-out of Xpert(®) MTB/RIF in Swaziland: the first three years of implementation.

SETTING: All 19 public health laboratories in Swaziland that had Xpert(®) MTB/RIF machines installed as part of a countrywide roll-out between June 2011 and June 2014. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utilisation and functionality of Xpert from 2011 to mid-2014. DESIGN: Descriptive study of Xpert implementation using routinely collected data. RESULTS: Of 48 829 Xpert tests conducted, 93% were successful: 14% detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 12% showed rifampicin resistance. The most common cause of unsuccessful tests was an 'Error' result (62%). Similar findings were obtained in government-supported and partner-supported laboratories. Annual utilisation of Xpert improved from 51% of maximum capacity in 2011 and 2012 to 74% in 2013 and 2014. A monitoring and supervision exercise of all Xpert testing sites in 2014 showed a generally good performance, with over 50% of laboratories achieving a ⩾80% score on most components. However, poor scores were obtained with equipment use and maintenance (6% achieving a score of ⩾80%), internal audit (19% achieving a score of ⩾80%) and process control (25% achieving a score of ⩾80%). CONCLUSION: Countrywide roll-out of Xpert in Swaziland has been successful, although operational issues have been identified and need to be resolved

An evaluation of the District Health Information System in rural South Africa

Background. Since reliable health information is essential for the planning and management of health services, we investigated the functioning of the District Health Information System (DHIS) in 10 rural clinics. Design and subjects. Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with clinic managers, supervisors and district information staff. Data collected over a 12-month period for each clinic were assessed for missing data, data out of minimum and maximum ranges, and validation rule violations. Setting. Our investigation was part of a larger study on improving information systems for primary care in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Outcomes. We assessed data quality, the utilisation for facility management, perceptions of work burden, and usefulness of the system to clinic staff. Results. A high perceived work burden associated with data collection and collation was found. Some data collation tools were not used as intended. There was good understanding of the data collection and collation process but little analysis, interpretation or utilisation of data. Feedback to clinics occurred rarely. In the 10 clinics, 2.5% of data values were missing, and 25% of data were outside expected ranges without an explanation provided. Conclusions. The culture of information use essential to an information system having an impact at the local level is weak in these clinics or at the sub-district level. Further training and support is required for the DHIS to function as intended. South African Medical Journal Vol. 98 (7) 2008: pp. 549-55

ACCESS TO PORTABLE WATER IN RURAL SWAZILAND: A CASE OF MASHOBENI SOUTH

Accessibility to safe drinking water is one of the most effective ways for improving the health status of a community. However, water scarcity around the world still remains a problem despite the Millennium Development Goals efforts. A study was undertaken at Mashobeni South, in Swaziland to investigate accessibility to portable water. Major communal water points and homesteads were identified through a reconnaissance survey. Face-to-face interviews were then conducted using an interview schedule. Water sources at Mashobeni South were ‘unimproved’; rivers/streams, and unprotected wells. The return time and distance to water source were also outside the basic recommended values. The average consumption per capita per day was 13.1 litres, which is slightly above two thirds of the UN minimum requirement. About 72% of the water was used for personal hygiene, with about 22% used for cooking and another 6% used for drinking. The area has a lot of natural water sources but the water has to be brought next to the users. Treatment before use, especially for drinking has to be considered

Measuring the effectiveness of condition assessment

Assessing maintenance effectiveness is critical for asset managers in order to evaluate the contribution of maintenance towards business goals and to plan preventive maintenance activities. In this paper, Delly Dlamini, Shaomin Wu and Simon Pollard propose a method for evaluating asset maintenance effectiveness when data are especially spars