Editorial: Patient education for the management of disease

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Editorial: Medical waste management

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Editorial: Rwanda Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences: new name, increased visibility

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Educational governance in Rwanda. Coordinating action for equity through cooperation between education providers

Equity in education is one of key drivers of sustainable development goals. Despite the quantitative improvements of access to education in developing countries, disparities in terms of access, participation and learning opportunities are issues to be reflected in education development. The article at hand reflects the structure of educational governance and its implications to equity via cooperation between education providers in Rwanda. Through the analysis of law governing education, the educational governance is enacted as a mixed framework of centralisation and compliance-driven participation. Apparently, the existence of governance bodies is likely to represent different needs and hence promote equitable education. However, this seems to be limited by conformity to central orientations. The paper suggests further scientific and political reflections on educational governance and equity in Rwanda. (DIPF/Orig.)Dieser Artikel befasst sich mit der Struktur der Bildungspolitik und ihren Auswirkungen auf die Chancengleichheit durch die Zusammenarbeit zwischen verschiedenen Bildungsträgern in Ruanda. Anhand einer Analyse des Bildungsgesetzes wird die Governance im Bildungswesen als ein gemischter Rahmen aus Zentralisierung und regelungsorientierter Partizipation konzeptualisiert. Offensichtlich vertritt die Existenz von Governance-Gremien unterschiedliche Bedürfnisse und fördert somit die Bildungsgerechtigkeit. Der Artikel regt weitere wissenschaftliche Analysen und politische Überlegungen zu Bildungsgovernance und Gerechtigkeit in Ruanda an. (DIPF/Orig.

Editorial Hand washing – an essential protective measure in healthcare settings and in the community

In the framework of the quality improvement and accreditation process, Rwandan hospitals have promoted hand washing for healthcare providers, patients and visitors. This editorial elaborates on the readiness of Rwandan hospitals and the community at large to practice correct and systematic hand washing, which is of value to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Key words: Rwanda, hand washing, COVID-1

Initial teacher training curriculum for Global Education in Rwanda: Between national and global perspectives and necessities

Despite the international political willingness, as framed in SGD 4.7, to integrate Global Education in national policies and curricula, little is known about how this is reflected in initial teacher education (ITE) in the Global South. Through document research with content analysis, the study at hand explores the profile of the ITE curriculum in Rwanda towards Global Education. The results indicated that the ITE curriculum has a threefold faced profile in relation to Global Education – nationalist, instrumentalist, and globalist-dynamist. Beyond its "Rwandocentrist" perspective, the ITE curriculum shows an openness to Global Education (i.e. valuing and respecting the cultural plurality and heterogeneity) in both content and methodological approaches. The study stimulates further scientific, political and practical reflections for the integration of Global Education in ITE in Rwanda and possibly similar educational contexts. (DIPF/Orig.)Trotz der in SGD 4.7 formulierten internationalen politischen Bereitschaft, Globales Lernen in nationale Politiken und Lehrpläne zu integrieren, ist wenig darüber bekannt, wie sich dies in der Erstausbildung von Lehrkräften im Globalen Süden niederschlägt. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht anhand einer Dokumentenrecherche mit Inhaltsanalyse das Profil des Lehrplans für die Lehrkräfteerstausbildung in Ruanda in Bezug auf Globales Lernen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Lehrplan in dieser Hinsicht ein dreifaches Profil aufweist - ein nationalistisches, ein instrumentalistisches und ein globalistisch-dynamisches. Neben einer ruandazentrischen Perspektive ist der Lehrplan inhaltlich und methodisch durch Offenheit für Globales Lernen (d.h. Wertschätzung und Respekt vor kultureller Pluralität und Heterogenität) gekennzeichnet. Die Studie regt weitere wissenschaftliche, politische und praktische Überlegungen zur Integration des Globalen Lernens in den Lehrplan für die Lehrkräfteerstausbildung in Ruanda und in vergleichbaren Bildungskontexten an. (DIPF/Orig.

Efficacy of iron-biofortified crops

Biofortification aims to increase the content of micronutrients in staple crops without sacrificing agronomic yield, making the new varieties attractive to farmers. Food staples that provide a major energy supply in low- and middle-income populations are the primary focus. The low genetic variability of iron in the germplasm of most cereal grains is a major obstacle on the path towards nutritional impact with these crops, which is solvable only by turning to transgenic approaches. However, biofortified varieties of common beans and pearl millet have been developed successfully and made available with iron contents as high as 100 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively, two to five times greater than the levels in the regular varieties. This brief review summarizes the research to date on the bioavailability and efficacy of iron-biofortified crops, highlights their potential and limitations, and discusses the way forward with multiple biofortified crop approaches suitable for diverse cultures and socio-economic milieu. Like post-harvest iron fortification, these biofortified combinations might provide enough iron to meet the additional iron needs of many iron deficient women and children that are not covered at present by their traditional diets.Keywords: Biofortification, Iron, Beans, Pearl millet, Rice, Polyphenols, Phytic acid, Anemia, Efficacy, Nutrition-Agriculture linkage

High Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis Assemblage B Infection and Association with Underweight in Rwandan Children

Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan parasite causing gastroenteritis. Although the parasite occurs worldwide, its regional prevalence varies considerably. Using PCR as a highly sensitive molecular diagnostic tool, we detected G. duodenalis in 60% of 583 children younger than five years in southern Rwanda. It was by far the most frequent intestinal parasite detected in this population. Importantly, two out of three infections would have been undetected if only the commonly used light microscopy had been applied. Genotyping revealed the presence of two distinct types of parasites, and only the infrequent subtype showed a weak association with gastrointestinal symptoms. However, G. duodenalis infection was associated with underweight and clinically assessed severe malnutrition. The data call for the establishment of more sensitive than light microscopy, yet simple diagnostic tools to identify infected children as well as for the consideration of abundant submicroscopic infections in evaluating the significance of G. duodenalis in high endemicity areas

malaria infection among schoolchildren in highland Rwanda

Background Plasmodium infection and malaria in school children are increasingly recognized as a relevant public health problem, but data on actual prevalence and health consequences are insufficient. The present study from highland southern Rwanda aimed at estimating infection prevalence among children attending school, at identifying associated factors and at assessing the clinical consequences of these infections. Methods In a survey including 12 schools in the Huye district of Rwanda, 1089 children aged 6–10 years were clinically and anthropometrically examined, malaria parasites were diagnosed by microscopy and PCR, haemoglobin concentrations were measured, and socio- economic and behavioural parameters as well as medical histories were obtained. Results Upon examination, the vast majority of children was asymptomatic (fever 2.7%). Plasmodium infection was detected in 22.4% (Plasmodium falciparum, 18.8%); 41% of these were submicroscopic. Independent predictors of infection included low altitude, higher age, preceding antimalarial treatment, and absence of electricity or a bicycle in the household. Plasmodium infection was associated with anaemia (mean haemoglobin difference of −1.2 g/dL; 95% CI, −0.8 to −1.5 g/dL), fever, underweight, clinically assessed malnutrition and histories of fever, tiredness, weakness, poor appetite, abdominal pain, and vomiting. With the exception of underweight, these conditions were also increased at submicroscopic infection. Conclusion Malaria infection is frequent among children attending school in southern highland Rwanda. Although seemingly asymptomatic in the vast majority of cases, infection is associated with a number of non-specific symptoms in the children´s histories, in addition to the impact on anaemia. This argues for improved malaria surveillance and control activities among school children