District Level Decentralization and Public Service Delivery in Ethiopia: Cases from Amhara region.

This study assessed how decentralization facilitates public service delivery in Enbse Sarmidir and Dejen Districts of Amhara Region. The assessment was conducted in selected public services: education, health, water supply and rural roads in light of the services delivered before and after the district level decentralization process began.  Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected from 18 key sector office and district administration heads through interviews whereas secondary data were collected from planning and performance reports, financial and human power reports and other related sources. The findings indicated that the overall performances of the delivery of services have shown significant improvements after decentralization. However, the improvements were constrained by lack of financial and human resources and problems of coordination and participation. The study also revealed that sustainable and effective decentralized public service delivery does not only depend on institutional and human resources capacity building at local level, but also a functional financial mechanism, clear and appropriate allocation of roles and responsibilities. Keywords: District, Decentralisation, Public Service, Service Deliver

Evaluation of malaria treatment practice of health extension workers (community health workers): a qualitative study conducted in Damot Gale district, Southern Ethiopia

Background: The Ethiopian government introduced the Health Extension Program which is a community-based health care delivery system aimed at accessing essential health services such as malaria diagnosis and treatment through health extension workers (HEWs). Involvement of HEWs in prescribing and dispensing antimalarial drugs improved community access to antimalarial drugs. However, the HEWs compliance to malaria treatment guidelines was not evaluated. Aims and Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the HEWs malaria treatment practice based on malaria treatment guidelines. Material and Methods: In-depth interview to 20 HEWs, seven focus discussion with malaria treated patients, and 400 malaria patients medical records review were conducted. Results: The majority of HEWs correctly responded how to diagnose malaria patients using signs and symptoms, and rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Most of malaria-treated patients indicated that they prefer HEWs to other health workers for malaria treatment. Patient record data from patient registration books indicated that about 92%(368) of patients received appropriate drugs in appropriate dose and duration. But some patients (8%, 32) were prescribed with drugs not in line with the guideline. The two main reasons indicated by the HEWs for inappropriate prescription are: the shortage of chloroquine, and patient pressure to take coartem. About 8% (32) and 11% (44) of patients do not know the consequences of not completing antimalarial drugs and what to do after vomiting respectively. Conclusion:The most of HEWs adequately treat malaria patients and the communication with patients is adequate. Improving resource availability, patient education and in-service training are needed to improve malaria treatment practice of the HEWs

Evaluation of Composting Process and Quality of Compost from Coffee By-Products (Coffee Husk & Pulp)

Coffee pulp and husk are the main by-products generated by the coffee processing station and are disposed into arable land and surface water. Due to the contribution of these by-products to environmental pollution, environmentally friendly disposal methods are necessary. Therefore, composting as environmental friendly option for utilization of coffee by-products is important. The objectives of the study were to assess the properties of coffee by-products compost and analyzing changes in physico-chemical properties during process of composting. To this end, (coffee husk + pulp) (control), (coffee husk + pulp + cow dung), (coffee husk + pulp + Millettia ferruginea), (coffee husk + pulp + cow dung + Millettia ferruginea), (coffee husk + pulp + effective microorganism) were used to prepare compost. The experiment was laid in RCBD (5x3). The physico-chemical parameters were determined for all the treatments at 25, 45 and 70 days of composting. The level of pH in coffee by-products compost amended with Millettia ferruginea were highly significant (P<0.0001) as compared to coffee by-products compost amended with cow dung and effective microorganism alone. The level of N and Exch. K in coffee by-products compost amended with cow dung and Millettia ferruginea were highly significant (P<0.0001) as compared to the control and coffee by-products compost amended with cow dung and effective microorganism alone. The level of total N, OM, and C/N ratio in 25 day of composting were highly significant (p<0.0001) as compared to 70 day of composting. The physico-chemical parameter in different time of composting indicates that, composting coffee by-products compost up to 70 day were important to acquire quality compost. Comparison of experimental results proved that coffee byproducts compost amended with Millettia ferruginea and cow dung was better than other treatments for quality compost preparation. It is better to amend the coffee by-products with organic material before composting to improve the quality of the compost.Key words: Coffee by products, Composting, Quality compos

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among urban dwellers in southwest Ethiopia

No Abstract. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 21 (1) 2007: pp. 12-1

Community Service on the Improvement of Clean Environement Based on Waste Bank in the Sub-District of Bahari Belawan (PKM Peningkatan Kebersihan Lingkungan Berbasis Bank Sampah di Kelurahan Bahari Belawan)

The activity of community service on the improvement of area’s hygiene in the district of Bahari Belawan is one of the appropriate activities in improving the hygiene and awareness of the people on the importance of keeping their area clean. Within this community service, the team together with Yayasan Fajar Sejahtera (YAFSI) and the government officer Belawan Bahari district have conducted socialization about the importance of hygienity and ways to manage and dump the waste properly. The method utilized is lecturing method, question and answer, demonstration and simulation. The lecturing method and question and aswer used to provide knowledge and theories about a clean environment. The simulation and demonstration method were used in order to train the people to practice what they have received about the management and development of waste bank. After the socialization had been conducted, the community service team has facilitated the waste bank in Bahari Belawan district and assisting the society in managing it. The result of this community service is an increase in awareness from the public regarding the importance of disposing and managing waste and creating economic opportunities from waste through managing plastic waste into economic value items such as paving blocks.Keywords: waste bank, socialization, clean environment, Bahari Belawan distict

Secondary charging effects due to icy dust particle impacts on rocket payloads

We report measurements of dust currents obtained with a small probe and a larger probe during the flight of the ECOMA-4 rocket through the summer polar mesosphere. The payload included two small dust probes behind a larger dust probe located centrally at the front. For certain phases of the payload rotation, the current registered by one of the small dust probes was up to 2 times the current measured with the larger probe, even though the effective collection area of the larger probe was 4 times that of the small one. We analyze the phase dependence of the currents and their difference with a model based on the assumption that the small probe was hit by charged dust fragments produced in collisions of mesospheric dust with the payload body. Our results confirm earlier findings that secondary charge production in the collision of a noctilucent cloud/Polar Summer Mesospheric Echo (NLC/PMSE) dust particle with the payload body must be several orders of magnitude larger than might be expected from laboratory studies of collisions of pure ice particles with a variety of clean surfaces. An important consequence is that for some payload configurations, one should not assume that the current measured with a detector used to study mesospheric dust is simply proportional to the number density of ambient dust particles. The higher secondary charge production may be due to the NLC/PMSE particles containing multiple meteoric smoke particles

Occurrence of bovine hydatidosis and evaluation of its risk to humans in traditional communities of Southern Region of Ethiopia

Background: Cystic Echinococcosis/ Hydatid Disease, is an infection caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, one of the most widespread parasitic zoonoses.Objective: To determine the occurrence, localization and fertility/sterility rates of hydatid cyst in cattle, to determine the prevalence of adult E. granulosus in dogs and asses the risk for human infection in traditional communities.Methods: Postmortem examination, hydatid cyst characterization,  questionnaire survey and dog stool sample examination were carried out.Results: Of the total 320 ruminants examined at backyard slaughtering, 151 (47.2%) were found harboring hydatid cysts. The liver and lungs were the two main infected organs, 34.4% and 52.3%, respectively. The majority of the cysts found were small, 54.3%, and medium, 37.7%. From the total number of cysts found, 70.2% were sterile, while 29.8% were fertile. A questionnaire survey revealed that local people were unaware of the life cycle of E. granulosus and the perpetuation of its life cycle by their cultural and traditional practices. Dogs have intimate contact with humansand other domestic animals, share the same house and also dogs do not have access for veterinary care. Stool samples of 62 dogs were collected and analyzed with a 30% prevalence of taenia infection confirmed to be E. granulosus.Conclusion: Because of the high prevalence of E. granulosus infection in dogs and hydatidosis in cattle as well as common practice of backyard slaughtering, the risk of human infection in traditional communities is suspected to be high and requires immediate attention to study the status of cystic ehinococcosis in the human population of the study area.[Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2012;26(1):43-48