Awareness and Perception of Climate Change among Farmers in Nigeria: Implications for Food Security

Nigeria is characterized by high level of hunger, malnutrition and poverty, making food security a serious concern in the country. This is being worsened by threats of climate change which adversely affect agriculture; the predominantly livelihood activity in the country. The study examined the implications for food security of farmers’ awareness and perception of climate change in Nigeria using evidence from farmers in Ebonyi State. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 360 respondents for the study, while data were collected using structured questionnaire. Analysis of data involved the use of frequencies, percentages, means and rating scale, while the results were presented using charts, tables and graphs. The mean extent of knowledge of the farmers of climate change phenomenon is 2.74. About 16.1% of the respondents indicated knowledge to a great extent, 36.4% to a reasonable extent, 26.4% to a little extent, and 21.1% to no extent. Climate change is largely understood by 93.6% of the farmers as fluctuations in average weather conditions. The farmers are being impacted by climate change through increased weather uncertainties (3.71), reduced cropping season (3.60), decreased soil fertility and farm yield (3.48), early cessation of rains (3.33), delayed onset of rains (3.20) and increased temperature (2.89). Their sources of information on climate change are radio (66%), friends and relatives (56.2%), family (33.4%), personal observations (40%), social media (23%), extension agents (21.6%), internet (19%), cooperatives (12.1%) and religious bodies (10%). The study recommends the strengthening of agricultural extension system to engage in increased and continuous sensitization and education of farmers on climate change through radio, social media, internet, cooperative societies and religious organizations

Patients' views on improving sickle cell disease management in primary care: focus group discussion.

OBJECTIVES: To assess sickle cell disease (SCD) patient and carer perspectives on the primary care services related to SCD that they receive from their general practitioner (GP). DESIGN: A focus group discussion was used to elicit the views of patients about the quality of care they receive from their primary health-care providers and what they thought was the role of primary care in SCD management. The focus group discussion was video recorded. The recording was then examined by the project team and recurring themes were identified. A comparison was made with notes made by two scribes also present at the discussion. SETTING: Sickle Cell Society in Brent, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Ten participants with SCD or caring for someone with SCD from Northwest London, UK. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients perceptions about the primary care services they received, and a list of key themes and suggestions. RESULTS: Patients and carers often bypassed GPs for acute problems but felt that GPs had an important role to play around repeat prescriptions and general health care. These service users believed SCD is often ignored and deemed unimportant by GPs. CONCLUSION: Participants wanted the health service to support primary health-care providers to improve their knowledge and understanding of SCD. Key themes and suggestions from this focus group have been used to help develop an educational intervention for general practice services that will be used to improve SCD management in primary care

Views of patients about sickle cell disease management in primary care: a questionnaire-based pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine how patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) perceive the quality of care that they receive from their primary healthcare providers. DESIGN: A questionnaire-based pilot study was used to elicit the views of patients about the quality of care they have been receiving from their primary healthcare providers and what they thought was the role of primary care in SCD management. SETTING: Sickle Cell Society and Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre, in the London Borough of Brent. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred questionnaires were distributed to potential participants with SCD between November 2010 and July 2011 of which 40 participants responded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of 40 patient questionnaires collected over a nine-month period. RESULTS: Most patients are generally not satisfied with the quality of care that they are receiving from their primary healthcare providers for SCD. Most do not make use of general practitioner (GP) services for management of their SCD. Collecting prescriptions was the reason most cited for visiting the GP. CONCLUSION: GPs could help improve the day-to-day management of patients with SCD. This could be facilitated by local quality improvement schemes in areas with high disease prevalence. The results of the survey have been used to help develop a GP education intervention and a local enhanced service to support primary healthcare clinicians with SCDs ongoing management

Differentials in Adoption of Cassava Post-Harvest Processing Technology among Farmers in South Eastern, Nigeria

The study examined factors influencing the adoption of cassava post-harvest processing technology among farmers in Abia North, Abia state, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) farmers were randomly selected from five Local Government Areas of the state. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and adoption model using logit regression. The results showed that majority of the famers were male who are still productive, married with large household sizes. Most of the farmers adopted cassava processing technologies and utilized the garri product. The results also indicated that income level of the farmer, number of processing equipment, household size and years of experience in farming business positively influenced the adoption of post-harvest processing technology among households in the study area and were each significant at 5 percent.  The study call for policies aimed at increased awareness programmes and subsidies on processing machines to increase their adoption. Keywords: Cassava, Adoption, Utilization, Post-Harvest Technology, Abia Stat

Stimulator-Guided Supraclavicular Block as an Anesthetic Option for Above-Elbow Amputation in an Infant

The supraclavicular block is effective in providing surgical anesthesia for upper limb surgery. The safety profile is improved with the use of a nerve stimulator to locate the brachial plexus. Above‑elbow amputation in infants is commonly done under general anesthesia, however, the presence of certain comorbid conditions may increase the risk of mortality. We report the use of a nerve stimulator‑guided supraclavicular block with sedation, to carry out transhumeral amputation for an 11‑week‑old female infant who had gangrene of her left forearm. The subclavian perivascular approach was used to perform the block. A mixture of 0.5% bupivacaine and 2% lidocaine in adrenaline was administered to achieve surgical anesthesia. The onset of the block was 5 min. A total of 2 mg of midazolam was used for sedation. The infant had a successful block. There was no block‑related complication. We suggest that nerve stimulator‑guided supraclavicular block in infants is feasible and safe. Keywords: Amputation, nerve stimulator, supraclavicular block, surgical anesthesi

Credit Risk Management: Implications on Bank Performance and Lending Growth

This study is an empirical investigation into the quantitative effect of credit risk management on the performance of Nigeria’s Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Bank lending growth over the period of 17 years (1998- 2014). Secondary data for empirical analysis was obtained from CBN Statistical bulletin 2014 and World Bank (WDI) 2015. The study employed multiple linear regression model to analyze the time series data. The result showed that sound credit management strategies can boost investors and savers confidence in banks and lead to a growth in funds for loans and advances which leads to increased bank profitability.. The findings revealed that credit risk management has an insignificant impact on the growth of total loans and advances by Nigerian Deposit money banks. The study therefore recommends that DMBs in Nigeria should strictly adhere to their credit appraisal policies which ensures that only credit worthy borrowers have access to loanable funds. Banks are to ensure that funds are allocated to borrowers with decent to high credit rating

HEMAGLUTINAÇÃO DOS ERITRÓCITOS DE MAMÍFEROS POR CEPAS DE VÍRUS DA DOENÇA DE NEWCASTLE ISOLADOS NA NIGÉRIA CENTRAL

The haemagglutinability of mammalian erythrocytes by field and vaccine strains of theNewcastle disease virus was assessed. Variability in the pattern of agglutination of thevarious specie erythrocytes was observed. Whereas noticeable differences in the patternof agglutination between field virus and vaccine strains were not apparent, differencesbetween the velogenic and non-velogenic strains was observed. The possibility ofdeveloping haemagglutinability tests using mammalian erythrocytes for rapid straindifferentiation in less developed laboratories is discussed.A hemaglutinação dos eritrócitos de mamíferos por cepas de campo e vacinais do vírusda doença de Newcastle foi avaliada. Foi verificado variabilidade no modelo deaglutinação entre as várias espécies. Embora diferenças perceptíveis no padrão deaglutinação entre vírus de campo e cepas vacinais não tenham sido evidentes, diferençasentre as cepas velogénicas e não velogénicas foram observadas. A possibilidade dedesenvolvimento de testes hemaglutinação utilizando eritrócitos de mamíferos para arápida diferenciação de cepas em laboratórios menos desenvolvidos é aqui discutida