Propuesta de Aplicación del Balanced Scorecard a la Universidad Pública de Cabo Verde

Los factores característicos del mercado moderno, están incrementando de día en día la competencia entre las empresas/entidades, de modo que para poder sobrevivir se ven obligadas a procurar alternativas que las permiten diferenciarse de sus concurrentes, a fin de obtener ventaja competitiva, conquistando su nicho del mercado, garantizando así su supervivencia y sostenibilidad. En este estudio se pretende analizar la utilidad del sistema de gestión estratégico basada en el Modelo Balanced Scorecard, idealizado para empresas del sector privado por los autores Kaplan y Norton, y que poco a poco está siendo utilizado en entidades públicas, por las ventajas que ofrece a los gestores en la toma de decisiones. Como se detallará en este estudio, el BSC es un conjunto equilibrado de indicadores que permite a los administradores la visualización de la organización desde varias perspectivas al mismo tiempo, permitiendo traducir y poner en práctica la estrategia, alinear los esfuerzos y buscar los objetivos precisos para lograr la mejora continua, la creación de valor y el crecimiento. El Sector público de Enseñanza Superior, será el campo donde centraremos nuestro estudio, evidenciando las particularidades del sector, así como los ajustes que tendremos que hacer para una buena implementación del referido modelo. La investigación realizada nos permitió hacer una propuesta de un modelo Balanced Scorecard para la Universidad pública de Cabo Verde, presentando un conjunto de objetivos e indicadores estratégicos para cada perspectiva que lo sostiene.Departamento de Economía Financiera y ContabilidadMáster en Investigación en Contabilidad y Gestión Financier

Propuesta de Aplicación del Balanced Scorecard a la Universidad Pública de Cabo Verde

Los factores característicos del mercado moderno, están incrementando de día en día la competencia entre las empresas/entidades, de modo que para poder sobrevivir se ven obligadas a procurar alternativas que las permiten diferenciarse de sus concurrentes, a fin de obtener ventaja competitiva, conquistando su nicho del mercado, garantizando así su supervivencia y sostenibilidad. En este estudio se pretende analizar la utilidad del sistema de gestión estratégico basada en el Modelo Balanced Scorecard, idealizado para empresas del sector privado por los autores Kaplan y Norton, y que poco a poco está siendo utilizado en entidades públicas, por las ventajas que ofrece a los gestores en la toma de decisiones. Como se detallará en este estudio, el BSC es un conjunto equilibrado de indicadores que permite a los administradores la visualización de la organización desde varias perspectivas al mismo tiempo, permitiendo traducir y poner en práctica la estrategia, alinear los esfuerzos y buscar los objetivos precisos para lograr la mejora continua, la creación de valor y el crecimiento. El Sector público de Enseñanza Superior, será el campo donde centraremos nuestro estudio, evidenciando las particularidades del sector, así como los ajustes que tendremos que hacer para una buena implementación del referido modelo. La investigación realizada nos permitió hacer una propuesta de un modelo Balanced Scorecard para la Universidad pública de Cabo Verde, presentando un conjunto de objetivos e indicadores estratégicos para cada perspectiva que lo sostiene.Departamento de Economía Financiera y ContabilidadMáster en Investigación en Contabilidad y Gestión Financier

Sharing experiences in designing vaccination strategies

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um colega que se tornou um amigo

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Wasting, stunting, and anemia in angolan children after deworming with albendazole or a test-and-treat approach for intestinal parasites: binary longitudinal models with temporal structure in a four-arm randomized trial

Undernutrition, anemia, and intestinal parasitic infections are public health problems in Angola, especially in pre-school children. We analyzed binary data from a longitudinal four-arm randomized parallel trial conducted in Bengo Province, northern Angola, over the course of two years, with seven follow-up assessments to explore the effects of four interventions (deworming and a test-and-treat approach for intestinal parasites, at both the individual and household levels) on wasting and stunting, and to understand their indirect benefits for anemia, malaria, diarrhea, and vomiting. A total of 121 children with intestinal parasitic infections received baseline treatment, and were allocated to the four arms (1:1:1:1). Using continuous outcome variables of height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) statistical approaches did not reveal a clear benefit of any particular arm (Pathogens 2021, 10, 309). Next, HAZ and WHZ were transformed into binary variables of stunting and wasting, respectively, considering their mild-to-severe (Z-score bild, fitted models revealed the potential benefit of a test-and-treat approach at the individual level for wasting compared with annual albendazole at the individual level, especially considering mild-to-severe forms (ORadj = 0.27; p = 0.007). All arms showed similar effects on stunting, compared with annual albendazole, at a 5% significance level. Time and age at baseline presented favorable effects in the percentage of stunting using both severity degrees. Results showed a decreased chance of having anemia and diarrhea over time, although with no significant differences between arms. Data from longitudinal studies are essential to study the direct and indirect effects of interventions, such as deworming, and to explore additional approaches aiming at better understanding the temporal structure of nutrition and health outcomes in children.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of prevalence's of pfdhfr and pfdhps mutations in Angola

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Angola. The most vulnerable groups to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>infection are pregnant women and children under five years of age. The use of an intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) with sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) in pregnant women was introduced in Angola in 2006 by the National Malaria Control Programme, and currently this strategy has been considered to be used for children malaria control. Considering the previous wide use of SP combination in Angola, together to the reported cases of SP treatment failure it is crucial the evaluation of the prevalence of five mutations in <it>pfdhfr </it>and <it>pfdhps </it>genes associated to <it>P</it>. <it>falciparum </it>resistance to SP before the introduction of S/P IPT in children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted in five provinces, with different transmission intensities: Huambo, Cabinda, Uíge, Kwanza Norte, and Malanje. The detection of the mutations in <it>pfdhfr </it>and <it>pfdhps </it>genes was carried out in 452 <it>P</it>. <it>falciparum </it>blood samples by PCR RFLP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For <it>pfdhfr </it>gene, 90,3% of the samples carried the mutation 51<b>I</b>, with 7.5% of mixed infections; 51% carried wild type allele 59<b>C</b>, with 29.2% mixed infections and; 99.1% of isolates harboured the mutant allele 108<b>N</b>. Concerning, <it>pfdhps </it>gene, 83,1% were mutant type 437<b>G </b>with 11% mixed infections , while 87% of the studied isolates were wild type for codon 540.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This is the first representative epidemiological study of the whole Angola country on the prevalence of the genotypes associated with SP chemoresistance. A high frequency of individual mutations in both genes (51<b>I </b>and 108<b>N </b>in <it>pfdhfr</it>, and 437<b>G </b>in <it>pfdhps</it>) was found, besides a low prevalence of the quintuple mutation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data showed that the implementation IPT using SP in children needs to be reviewed.</p

Impact of a training course on the quality of malaria diagnosis by microscopy in Angola

Background: In Angola, malaria is an endemic disease having a major impact on the economy. The WHO recommends testing for all suspected malaria cases, to avoid the presumptive treatment of this disease. In malaria endemic regions laboratory technicians must be very comfortable with microscopy, the golden standard for malaria diagnosis, to avoid the incorrect diagnosis. The improper use of medication promotes drug resistance and undesirable side effects. The present study aims to assess the impact of a three-day refresher course on the knowledge of technicians, quality of blood smears preparation and accuracy of microscopy malaria diagnosis, using qPCR as reference method. Methods: This study was implemented in laboratories from three hospitals in different provinces of Angola: Bengo, Benguela and Luanda. In each laboratory samples were collected before and after the training course (slide with thin and thick blood smears, a dried blood spot and a form). The impact of the intervention was evaluated through a written test, the quality of slide preparation and the performance of microscopy. Results: It was found a significant increase on the written test median score, from 52.5% to 65.0%. A total of 973 slides were analysed to evaluate the quality of thick and thin blood smears. Considering all laboratories there was a significant increase in quality of thick and thin blood smears. To determine the performance of microscopy using qPCR as the reference method we used 1,028 samples. Benguela presented the highest values for specificity, 92.9% and 98.8% pre and post-course, respectively and for sensitivity the best pre-course was Benguela (75.9%) and post-course Luanda (75.0%). However, no significant increase in sensitivity and specificity after the training course was registered in any laboratory analysed. Discussion: The findings of this study support the need of continuous refresher training for microscopists and other laboratory staff. The laboratories should have a quality control programme to supervise the diagnosis and also to assess the periodicity of new training. However, other variables needed to be considered to have a correct malaria diagnosis, such as adequate equipment and reagents for staining and visualization, good working conditions, motivated and qualified personnel

Laboratory services contribution to supporting public health and health services in Portuguese-speaking countries

Objetivo: promover o debate sobre a importância do laboratório no apoio à saúde pública e aos serviços de saúde nos países de língua portuguesa, numa perspetiva global e de uma só saúde. Métodos: revisão de literatura, análise dos documentos preparatórios das comunicações do 5º Congresso Nacional de Medicina Tropical, apresentações realizadas pelos oradores de Cabo Verde, Angola e Portugal e o debate que se seguiu. Resultados: identificaram-se os desafios que deverão ser ultrapassados de forma a criar uma rede de laboratórios de diagnóstico que possa estimular o acesso universal das populações aos cuidados de saúde, tendo-se proposto medidas e estratégias com base na experiência dos sistemas de saúde dos diferentes países de língua portuguesa. Reviu-se o contributo dos Laboratórios do IHMT/NOVA para esta estratégia. Conclusão: não há acesso universal a cuidados de saúde de qualidade sem serviços de diagnóstico laboratorial de qualidade. Assim, deve-se promover uma correta, eficaz e sustentável inter-relação entre laboratórios de referência nacionais, hospitalares e privados e ainda laboratórios de investigação, todos cooperando em sintonia com os serviços de saúde de modo a garantir os melhores cuidados de saúde. Objective: To promote the debate on the importance of the laboratory services in supporting public health and health services in Portuguese-speaking countries, from a global and One Health perspective. Methods: literature review, analysis of the preparatory papers for the 5th Tropical Medicine National Congress, presentations by speakers from Cape Verde, Angola and Portugal and the ensuing debate. Results: we identified the challenges that must be overcome in order to create a network of diagnostic laboratories that can stimulate universal access to health care for the populations. Measures and strategies based on the experience of health systems in different Portuguese-speaking countries are proposed. The contribution of the IHMT/NOVA Laboratories to this strategy was reviewed. Conclusion: There is no universal access to quality health care with-out quality laboratory diagnostic services and without promoting a correct, effective and sustainable interrelationship between national reference laboratories, hospital and private, and research laboratories, all cooperating in line with health services to ensure the best quality health care.publishersversionpublishe

The V410L knockdown resistance mutation occurs in island and continental populations of Aedes aegypti in West and Central Africa

The extensive use of insecticides for vector control has led to the development of insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti populations on a global scale, which has significantly compromised control actions. Insecticide resistance, and its underlying mechanisms, has been investigated in several countries, mostly in South American and Asian countries. In Africa, however, studies reporting insecticide resistance are rare and data on resistance mechanisms, notably knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations, is scarce. In this study, the recently described V410L kdr mutation is reported for the first time in old world Ae. aegypti populations, namely from Angola and Madeira island. Two additional kdr mutations, V1016I and F1534C, are also reported for the first time in populations from Angola and Cape Verde. Significant associations with the resistance phenotype were found for both V410L and V1016I individually as well as for tri-locus genotypes in the Angolan population. However, no association was found in Madeira island, probably due to the presence of a complex pattern of multiple insecticide resistance mechanisms in the local Ae. aegypti population. These results suggest that populations carrying the same kdr mutations may respond differently to the same insecticide, stressing the need for complementary studies when assessing the impact of kdr resistance mechanisms in the outcome of insecticide-based control strategies.publishersversionpublishe

Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Angola show the StctVMNT haplotype in the pfcrt gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Effective treatment remains a mainstay of malaria control, but it is unfortunately strongly compromised by drug resistance, particularly in <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>, the most important human malaria parasite. Although <it>P. falciparum </it>chemoresistance is well recognized all over the world, limited data are available on the distribution and prevalence of <it>pfcrt </it>and <it>pfmdr1 </it>haplotypes that mediate resistance to commonly used drugs and that show distinct geographic differences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>-infected blood samples collected in 2007 at four municipalities of Luanda, Angola, were genotyped using PCR and direct DNA sequencing. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the <it>P. falciparum pfcrt </it>and <it>pfmdr1 </it>genes were assessed and haplotype prevalences were determined.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>The most prevalent <it>pfcrt </it>haplotype was <b>S</b>_tctVMN<b>T </b>(representing amino acids at codons 72-76). This result was unexpected, since the <b>S</b>_tctVMN<b>T </b>haplotype has previously been seen mainly in parasites from South America and India. The CV<b>IET</b>, CVMN<b>T </b>and CV<b>I</b>N<b>T </b>drug-resistance haplotypes were also found, and one previously undescribed haplotype (CVM<b>DT</b>) was detected. Regarding <it>pfmdr1</it>, the most prevalent haplotype was <b>Y</b>EYSNVD (representing amino acids at codons 86, 130, 184, 1034, 1042, 1109 and 1246). Wild haplotypes for <it>pfcrt </it>and <it>pfmdr1 </it>were uncommon; 3% of field isolates harbored wild type <it>pfcrt </it>(CVMNK), whereas 21% had wild type <it>pfmdr1 </it>(NEYSNVD). The observed predominance of the <b>S</b>_tctVMN<b>T </b>haplotype in Angola could be a result of frequent travel between Brazil and Angola citizens in the context of selective pressure of heavy CQ use.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The high prevalence of the <it>pfcrt </it><b>S</b>VMN<b>T </b>haplotype and the <it>pfmdr1 </it>86<b>Y </b>mutation confirm high-level chloroquine resistance and might suggest reduced efficacy of amodiaquine in Angola. Further studies must be encouraged to examine the <it>in vitro </it>sensitivity of <it>pfcrt </it><b>S</b>VMN<b>T </b>parasites to artesunate and amodiaquine for better conclusive data.</p