Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of biosorption of zinc ions from industrial wastewater using derived composite biosorbents from walnut shell

The biosorption process of Zn (II) ions in industrial wastewater was investigated using derived composite biosorbents from walnut and snail shells. Composite adsorbents were produced by activating walnut shell carbon (WSC) with phosphoric acid to obtain acid-treated walnut shell carbon (AWSC) and WSC and AWSC were independently impregnated on chitosan to produce walnut shell carbon impregnated on chitosan (WSCC) and acid-treated walnut shell carbon impregnated on chitosan (AWSCC) respectively. The removal efficiencies of Zn (II) ions from synthetic wastewater using the prepared adsorbents were determined. The effects of operational parameters on Zn (II) ions adsorption were investigated. The adsorption data of Zn (II) ions were analysed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm fitted the adsorption data excellently for the derived composite biosorbents, giving an indication of monolayer coverage on the derived composite biosorbents and the determination coefficients were close to unity. Also, the maximum adsorption capacities of 3.1104, 3.8052, 16.4474 and 17.6991 mg/g were obtained for WSC, AWSC, WSCC and AWSCC at pH=5, 1 g of adsorbent dosage, Zn (II) ions initial concentration of 30 mg/L, contact time of 2 h, agitation speed of 150 rpm, particle size of 60 BSS and temperature of 30°C. The kinetic modelling of Zn (II) ions adsorption showed that pseudo second-order kinetic model gave the best fit amongst the investigated kinetic models. The adsorption of Zn (II) ions on the prepared adsorbents was filmdiffusion controlled. The experimental results of this study showed that acid-treated walnut shell carbon impregnated on chitosan has the potential to be applied as alternative efficient low-cost biosorbent in the remediation of heavy metal contamination in wastewater. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of Zn (II) ions on the derived composite biosorbents was exothermic, endogonic, favourable, non-spontaneous with changes in enthalpy ( H , negative), entropy [ S , nearly zero (though negative)], and Gibbs free energy (G, positive), for all the prepared adsorbents

Effectiveness of Treatment Outcomes of Public Private Mix Tuberculosis Control Program in Eastern Nigeria

Effective tuberculosis treatment has been shown to have significant effect on the control of tuberculosis. Completion of treatment of active cases is therefore the most important priority of tuberculosis control programmes. Descriptive statistics with a retrospective cohort study design used to analyze secondary data set (2007-2010) of patients accessing TB-DOTS treatment in two facilities (Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH and Department of Health Services Tuberculosis and Leprosy  Control Unit Nnewi North Local Government Area (L.G.A.) Secretariat, DHSTLCU ) as public health facilities and other two facilities ( Immaculate Heart of Catholic Church Hospital, IHCCH  and Diocesan Anglican Communion Hospital, DACH) as private health facilities in Nnewi North L.G.A., Anambra State. Gender of patients were male: female 54%(1016 patients) : 46% (883 patients) and 53%(63 patients) : 47%(56 patients) in public and private health facilities respectively . Using WHO (1996) standards the health facilities adjudged as efficient were: in 2007, private facilities using the indicator  of treatment failure rate; private facilities using the indicator of death rate;  public facilities and private facilities using  the indicator of transfer-out rate ; public facilities using the indicator of  treatment completion rate. In 2008, effective health facilities were: private health facilities using the indicator of failure rate; public and private health facilities using the indicator of transfer-out rate; private facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In 2009, effective health facilities were public and private health facilities using indicator of treatment failure rate; public and private health facilities using the indicator of death rate; public and private facilities using the indicator of transfer out; public and private facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In 2010, effective health facilities were: private health facilities using the indicator of  cure rate; private facilities using the indicator of death rate ; public and private facilities using the indicator of transfer-out; public facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In conclusion, private health facilities were more effective than public health facilities  by the several indicators over the four year period.  Future research is needful to use primary and secondary data sets in assessment of TB control program effectiveness; technical efficiency assessment using non-parametric statistics will assess the validity of assessing effectiveness using only the WHO standards; identify centre-specific factors associated with poor treatment outcome; institutionalizing a reward system for effective TB-DOTS facilities will engender healthy competition in the Public Private Mix for sustained effectiveness; the Monitoring and Evaluation tools especially the treatment card for data capture should be improved upon for comprehensiveness of patients socio-economic history. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Effectiveness, Treatments Outcomes, Public Private Mi

A cost-effectiveness analysis of provider and community interventions to improve the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence of poor adherence by health service personnel to clinical guidelines for malaria following a symptomatic diagnosis. In response to this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in all settings clinical suspicion of malaria should be confirmed by parasitological diagnosis using microscopy or Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). The Government of Nigeria plans to introduce RDTs in public health facilities over the coming year. In this context, we will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two interventions designed to support the roll-out of RDTs and improve the rational use of ACTs. It is feared that without supporting interventions, non-adherence will remain a serious impediment to implementing malaria treatment guidelines. METHODS/DESIGN: A three-arm stratified cluster randomized trial is used to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of: (1) provider malaria training intervention versus expected standard practice in malaria diagnosis and treatment; (2) provider malaria training intervention plus school-based intervention versus expected standard practice; and (3) the combined provider plus school-based intervention versus provider intervention alone. RDTs will be introduced in all arms of the trial. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients attending facilities that report a fever or suspected malaria and receive treatment according to malaria guidelines. This will be measured by surveying patients (or caregivers) as they exit primary health centers, pharmacies, and patent medicine dealers. Cost-effectiveness will be presented in terms of the primary outcome and a range of secondary outcomes, including changes in provider and community knowledge. Costs will be estimated from both a societal and provider perspective using standard economic evaluation methodologies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01350752

Local Government Revenue Mobilisation in Anglophone Africa

This paper examines opportunities and constraints facing local revenue mobilisation in anglophone Africa, with an emphasis on urban settings. It discusses specific revenue instruments and their effects on economic efficiency, income distribution and accountability. In particular, it addresses political and administrative constraints facing various revenue instruments and factors affecting citizens’ compliance. The analysis is illustrated with examples from across anglophone Africa. A general conclusion emerging from the study is that local revenues mobilised in most local government authorities in Africa are necessary but not sufficient to develop and supply adequate services for the fast-growing population. On this basis, areas for further research on local government revenue mobilisation in Africa are identifiedDfI

Awareness, attitude, and practice of nurses to cosmetic surgery in Ebonyi state, Southeast Nigeria

Background: Cosmetic surgery (CS) is a rapidly growing subspecialty in Nigeria. Nurses are indispensable part of successful cosmetic surgery practice and thus plays important role in promoting the practice. Objective: To evaluate the level of awareness, attitude and practice of CS among nurses in selected secondary and tertiary hospitals in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional survey was done among randomly selected nurses in the tertiary and secondary health facilities in Abakaliki between 1st September, and 30th November 2019. Data obtained was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20 Results: The mean age of the respondents and year of practice were 36.80 ± 9.46 years and 11.35 (95%CI 10.59 – 12.12) respectively. The majority (96.3%) of the respondents were aware of CS and the main source of information was from lectures received while in the nursing school. Breast augmentation and breast reduction were the commonest types of CS known. Only 17% of the respondents correctly identified that CS should be done by the aesthetic/cosmetic surgeon. Nurses in the teaching hospital had a higher propensity of recommending cosmetic surgery to a client than nurses in the secondary healthcare institutions (OR = 2.07 95% CI 1.255-3.45). Only about a quarter of the respondents will accept CS even when offered free to them Conclusion: Our study shows a good awareness of cosmetic surgery among the respondents. Their attitude towards the CS was poor. There is need to improve attitude to CS among nurses as this can assist in improving societal acceptance of CS