Democratization and Islam : the Senegalese exception.

This thesis analyzes the factors conducive to secularism in Senegal. It shows that Islam is in fact compatible with democracy and freedom. Indeed, despite the persistence of authoritarianism in many Islamic societies, Senegal, with a 94% Muslim population, experienced a successful political transition from 1960 to 2000. The articulation between religion and politics differs from the scenario observed in other Muslim countries like Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Syria. Senegal is a secular state with a democratic political culture that stemmed from the colonial era

Evaluation of Water Resources Quality in Sabodala Gold Mining Region and Its Surrounding Area (Senegal)

peer reviewedGeochemical and Geostatistical tools were used to assess: 1) the chemical quality and, geochemical processes in crystalline rock aquifers in Sabodala (Eastern Senegal) and its surroundings and 2) the impact of mining activities on their quality. A total of 26 water samples collected at boreholes, dug wells and stream, were analyzed to determine major and trace elements concentration focused on elements that represent more threats on human health. Boxplots define chemical characteristics of water for each aquifer formation compared to surface waters. Geostatistical analysis show two sources of water mineralization with regard to major elements: a first natural source characterized by Ca-Mg-HCO3 water type from boreholes and unpolluted surface water and a second group characterized by polluted water by nitrates with Na-NO3-Cl type mainly observed in upper weathered aquifers. However, considering trace element, geostatistical analysis showed three water groups: water with very low trace element concentrations encountered in boreholes and unpolluted surface waters, and waters with relatively high trace element concentrations such as Al observed in areas affected by gold mining activities and finally, polluted waters by Ni, Co, Mn and Cr observed at Sabodala. Results show that in eastern Senegal well waters are vulnerable and often affected by pollution

Fièvre bilieuse hémoglobinurique (FBH) de révélation tardive: à propos d’un cas au CHU de Dakar

La fièvre bilieuse hémoglobinurique (FBH) est une forme grave du paludisme; caractérisée par la survenue d'une hémolyse intravasculaire aiguë se traduisant par une anémie hémolytique, une insuffisance rénale aiguë et une hypovolémie. Son diagnostic repose essentiellement sur la clinique notamment la couleur  des urines d'aspect rouge porto. Nous rapportons un cas de fièvre bilieuse hémoglobinurique chez un jeune garçon de 10 ans originaire et vivant dans une zone d'endémie palustre, colligé dans un CHU de Dakar  (Sénégal). V.G est un garçon de 10 ans qui était hospitalisé pendant 2 jours au service des urgences dans un centre de santé de proximité pour une fièvre associée à des vomissements qui évoluaient depuis 3 jours. Le test de diagnostic rapide (TDR) au paludisme était positif à la présence d'antigènes de   Plasmodium falciparum dans le sang. Un traitement à base de quinine injectable (25 mg/kg/j), a été   entrepris pendant 03 jours. Au quatrième jour, sont apparues une hémolyse intravasculaire aiguë et une  hémoglobinurie avec une insuffisance rénale aiguë anurique. La goutte épaisse était revenue négative et le traitement par la quinine injectable arrêté. Le relais a été fait avec les dérivés de l'artémisinine. Trois  (03) séances d'hémodialyse ont été réalisées. L'évolution était favorable, par la reprise de la diurèse et la normalisation de la fonction rénale. La FBH existe encore dans notre pratique quotidienne. Il faut y penser devant l'apparition brutale d'une hémolyse avec insuffisance rénale aiguë et urines rouges porto au cours du traitement d'un paludisme.Key words: Paludisme grave, hémoglobinurie, quinin

The Tools for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (TIMCI) study protocol: a multi-country mixed-method evaluation of pulse oximetry and clinical decision support algorithms.

Effective and sustainable strategies are needed to address the burden of preventable deaths among children under-five in resource-constrained settings. The Tools for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (TIMCI) project aims to support healthcare providers to identify and manage severe illness, whilst promoting resource stewardship, by introducing pulse oximetry and clinical decision support algorithms (CDSAs) to primary care facilities in India, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania. Health impact is assessed through: a pragmatic parallel group, superiority cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT), with primary care facilities randomly allocated (1:1) in India to pulse oximetry or control, and (1:1:1) in Tanzania to pulse oximetry plus CDSA, pulse oximetry, or control; and through a quasi-experimental pre-post study in Kenya and Senegal. Devices are implemented with guidance and training, mentorship, and community engagement. Sociodemographic and clinical data are collected from caregivers and records of enrolled sick children aged 0-59 months at study facilities, with phone follow-up on Day 7 (and Day 28 in the RCT). The primary outcomes assessed for the RCT are severe complications (mortality and secondary hospitalisations) by Day 7 and primary hospitalisations (within 24 hours and with referral); and, for the pre-post study, referrals and antibiotic. Secondary outcomes on other aspects of health status, hypoxaemia, referral, follow-up and antimicrobial prescription are also evaluated. In all countries, embedded mixed-method studies further evaluate the effects of the intervention on care and care processes, implementation, cost and cost-effectiveness. Pilot and baseline studies started mid-2021, RCT and post-intervention mid-2022, with anticipated completion mid-2023 and first results late-2023. Study approval has been granted by all relevant institutional review boards, national and WHO ethical review committees. Findings will be shared with communities, healthcare providers, Ministries of Health and other local, national and international stakeholders to facilitate evidence-based decision-making on scale-up.Study registration: NCT04910750 and NCT05065320

Hydrogeological characterization and hydrodynamic behaviour of the overexploited Diass aquifer system (Senegal) inferred from long term groundwater level monitoring

peer reviewedDakar, the Capital city of Senegal concentrates about 23.2% (about 3 millions inhabitants) of the total population and a large proportion of the industrial activities. Water supply is ensured by surface water pumped and piped from the Guiers Lake (250 km distant from the capital) and from groundwater resources. Among these latter, the Diass aquifer system contributes to a substantial proportion (31% in 2019) of the total water supply distribution due to growing demand induced by the rapid demographic growth (about 2.5%). The Diass horst aquifer system located 50 km east of Dakar (Senegal) is exploited with two main aquifers covered by a sandy superficial aquifer: the confined/unconfined Palaeocene karstic limestone and the confined Maastrichtian sandstone aquifer underneath. This system has experienced intensive groundwater abstraction during the last 60 years to meet the increasing water demand. Abstraction for urban drinking water occurs in nine pumping fields with a rate reaching 174,000 m3/d in 2019. This high yield together with the drought conditions since the 1970s is likely to affect groundwater imbalance and change the flow regime. The objective of the study is to improve our understanding of the system dynamic with regards to the high pumping rate in order to build a conceptual scheme for further hydrogeological modeling of the system. In this study, we use monitored pumping rates, piezometric level from 1960s to 2019 and rainfall data from 1931 to December 2016 together with the hydrogeological configuration to infer the dynamics of the aquifer system. The high abstraction rate during the period 1958-2019 which vary from 16,000 to 174,000 m3/d has caused a continuous groundwater level decline (up to 30 m), a modification of the flow patterns and to some extent a quality deterioration through salinization processes as shown in a few boreholes in Sébikotane and Mbour. The piezometric levels which were above the sea level prior 1959 exhibit now negative values and can even reach -40 m in the vicinity of the pumping fields creating therefore piezometric depressions and convergent flow pattern. The hydrodynamic of the system derived from the results show that the reservoir acts as a multilayer aquifer system with interconnected compartments by faults that allow flux exchanges except the confining Ponty and Sébikotane faults. Overexploitation inducing important drawdown has induced an increase of the drainance fluxes between those different compartments. In order to foster more appropriate and sustainable groundwater abstraction in the complex hydrogeological system with regards to demand and water quality conservation, it is important to assess the main system behavior

Impact de la pandémie à COVID-19 sur les activités du Service de Pédiatrie du Centre Hospitalier National d´Enfants Albert Royer: étude préliminaire comparant les premiers trimestres des années 2019 et 2020

Introduction: l´objectif de cette étude est d´évaluer l´impact du COVID-19 sur les activités de soins et les recettes au Centre Hospitalier National d´Enfant Albert Royer de Dakar au Sénégal. Méthodes: il s´agissait d´une étude rétrospective, descriptive et analytique comparant les activités de consultations externes, d´hospitalisation et les recettes du premier trimestre des années 2019 et 2020. Résultats: une baisse moyenne de 33% des consultations externes a été notée au premier trimestre de l´année 2020 correspondant à la période de la pandémie comparée au premier trimestre de 2019. Une augmentation des hospitalisations était observée surtout pour les mois de janvier et février. Cependant, au mois de mars, une baisse de 11% était notée. Il en est de même pour les recettes où une baisse n´est observée qu´au mois de mars; elle était de 10%. Conclusion: l´épidémie actuelle au COVID-19 impacte fortement sur les activités de consultations externes, de soins et les recettes du centre hospitalier national d´Enfants Albert Royer. Des mesures efficaces doivent être prises pour éviter les conséquences sur la mortalité et le fonctionnement de la structure

Essais cliniques à Dakar : enquête sur les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des principaux acteurs sur une période allant de 2003 à 2007

Objectif : L'objectif général de cette étude était de faire l'état des lieux sur les essais cliniques réalisés à Dakar afin de formuler des recommandations pour la réalisation d'essais cliniques de qualité au Sénégal. Méthode : Nous avons effectué une enquête de mars à mai 2007 auprès des investigateurs des deux plus grands hôpitaux universitaires du Sénégal et au niveau de la direction de la pharmacie et du comité d'éthique. Résultats : Nos principaux résultats ont montré: 1) un faible taux de participation des enseignants aux essais cliniques (11 sur 37 interrogés) ; 2) que l'industrie pharmaceutique est le principal promoteur des essais cliniques ; 3) que la plupart des investigateurs n'ont pas de diplôme en essais cliniques ; 4) que les principales pathologies concernées sont le paludisme et le SIDA ; 5) qu'il existe des textes régissant les essais cliniques au Sénégal. Conclusion : Cette étude montre la nécessité d'intégrer, au Sénégal, les essais cliniques dans les curricula de formation des étudiants

Evaluation of Water Resources Quality in Sabodala Gold Mining Region and Its Surrounding Area (Senegal)

Geochemical and Geostatistical tools were used to assess: 1) the chemical quality and, geochemical processes in crystalline rock aquifers in Sabodala (Eastern Senegal) and its surroundings and 2) the impact of mining activities on their quality. A total of 26 water samples collected at boreholes, dug wells and stream, were analyzed to determine major and trace elements concentration fo-cused on elements that represent more threats on human health. Boxplots define chemical cha-racteristics of water for each aquifer formation compared to surface waters. Geostatistical analy-sis show two sources of water mineralization with regard to major elements: a first natural source characterized by Ca-Mg-HCO3 water type from boreholes and unpolluted surface water and a second group characterized by polluted water by nitrates with Na-NO3-Cl type mainly observed in upper weathered aquifers. However, considering trace element, geostatistical analysis showed three water groups: water with very low trace element concentrations encountered in boreholes and unpolluted surface waters, and waters with relatively high trace element concentrations such as Al observed in areas affected by gold mining activities and finally, polluted waters by Ni, Co, M

Mechanisms Underlying the Endothelium-dependent Vasodilatory Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Elaeis Guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae) in Porcine Coronary Artery Rings

This study was undertaken to investigate the vasodilatory effect of an aqueous extract of Elaeis guineensis Jacq (EGE) in the porcine coronary artery and elicit its possible mechanism(s) of action. Vascular effects of crude extract of dried and powdered leaves of Elaeis guineensis were evaluated on isolated coronary arteries on organ chambers. Determination of eNOS expression and the phosphorylation level of eNOS were determined by Western blot analysis. In the presence of indomethacin, EGE caused pronounced relaxations in endothelium-intact but not in endothelium-denuded coronary artery rings. Relaxations to EGE were significantly reduced by Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase), slightly but not significantly by charybdotoxin plus apamin (two potent inhibitors of EDHF-mediated responses) and abolished by the combination of L-NA and charybdotoxin plus apamin. Relaxations to EGE were abolished by the membrane permeant, SOD mimetic, MnTMPyP, and significantly reduced by wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3-kinase. Exposure of endothelial cells to EGE increased the phosphorylation level of eNOS at Ser1177 in a time and concentration-dependent manner. MnTMPyP abolished the EGE-induced phosphorylation of eNOS