Impacts of rangeland degradation on soil physical, chemical and seed bank properties along a rradient in three rangeland vegetation types in Somali region, eastern Ethiopia

The Somali region of Ethiopia is a typical pastoral area, that occupy >50% of the 0.7 million km2 rangeland in the country. However, all forms of rangeland degradations have become major threats to enhance a sustainable pastoral-livestock production in Ethiopia. But except for very few studies on rangeland condition assessments, no or too little research has been conducted to understand the different impacts of soil degradation on the range bio-physical ecology. As a result, there exists a gap in knowledge to plan present and future rangeland improvement interventions in the country. The purpose of this study is therefore, to understand the impacts of different rangeland degradation conditions on the soil physical, chemical and seed bank properties along a gradient. Three rangeland vegetation types were selected in Erere wereda, Shinille zone in north eastern Somali region of Ethiopia, classified as arid (60%) and arid and semi-arid (40%). The experimental sites included: the Asbuli grassland (9–11.80N and 40–41.80E), the Aydora open savanna (8–10.80N and 40–4180E) and the Hurso closed savanna (4–6.80N and 40–42.80E), with an altitude ranging between 300 and 1200 m.a.s.l,. Each site was laid out in to four sites of degradation condition classes, namely: excellent (benchmark), good, moderate, and poor along the gradients. Accordingly, some important soil physical, chemical and soil seed bank parameters were analyzed using scientific procedures. Based on the results, soil texture showed a shift from clay type to silt clay, while soil erosion and compactions intensities were increased as rangeland conditions declined from excellent in to poor classes along the gradient. Further, increases in conditions of degradation simultaneously increased bulk density while vegetation covers showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction. This was explained in terms of increased bare ground with inverse proportion of basal cover. On the other hand, soil moisture, organic matter and organic carbon made a significant (p < 0.05) reduction as degradation condition increased from excellent into poor classes. Patterns in soil Nitrogen, available Phosphorus and Potassium also reduced significantly (p < 0.05) as rangeland degradation increased, may be due to higher leaching induced by higher runoff. Nevertheless, Cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, pH and percent base saturation (i.e. Ca, mg and Na) highly decreased as degradation was increased. To this end, deteriorations in rangeland condition has an overall negative impact on the soil physical and chemical characteristics, demanding for more efforts to improve the health of range vegetations. Likewise, number and density of regenerated plants declined in the soil seed banks from excellent to poor condition classes. Nevertheless, the soil seed banks still give an opportunity for rangeland improvement using appropriate rehabilitation, conservation and utilization techniques.Keywords: Rangeland ecology, condition classes, soil texture, xchangeable ions, pH, soil nutrients

A model public toilet service in an urban context that improves management and income for the urban poor: Field action report

Background: In Ethiopia, public toilets are commonly provided and managed by municipalities or designated government structures. This traditional model of public toilet management is limited in its ability to generate income for upkeep. To address this, USAID’s Strengthening Ethiopia’s Urban Health Program developed a public toilet management model with an integrated business approach and multiple construction design options. Objectives: To demonstrate a sustainable model for public toilet management that ensures the provision of high-quality and equitable services. Method: A public toilet management model and engineering design with three typologies were developed after a multi-sectoral team of experts conducted studies to identify the key challenges to current management. The management model and engineering design were tested in Kombolcha and Kemisse. Results: From February to August 2018, 5,099 and 18,795 people used the public toilet and shower services in Kombolcha and Kemisse towns, respectively. Of these users, 338 (3.6%) and 318 (3.4%) have a disability. In Kombolcha, four women organized as a medium and small enterprise (MSE) are managing the toilet and shower services; each member receives a 700 birr monthly salary. In Kemisse, five women organized as an MSE are managing the facility; each member receives a 2,500 birr monthly salary. They have a savings of 29,000 birr in the MSE’s account. Conclusion: The developed model helps to strengthen the management of public toilet service quality and sustainability by creating business opportunities. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2020; 34(Special issue 2):42-48] Keywords: Public toilet, model, urban, income, urban poo

Health system capacity for Tuberculosis Care in Ethiopia: evidence from national representative survey

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the TB health system capacity and its variations by location and types of health facilities in Ethiopia. Settings The study included 873 public and private health facilities all over Ethiopia. Design We used the Service Provision Assessment plus (SPA+) survey data that were collected in 2014 in all hospitals and randomly selected health centers and private facilities in all regions of Ethiopia. We assessed structural, process and overall health system capacity based on the Donabedian quality of care model. Multiple linear regression and spatial analysis were done to assess TB capacity score variation across regions. Results A total of 873 health facilities were included in the analysis. The overall TB care capacity score was 76.7%, 55.9% and 37.8% in public hospitals, health centers and private facilities respectively. The health system capacity score for TB was higher in the urban (60.4%) facilities compared to that of the rural (50.0%) facilities (β=8.0, 95%CI: 4.4, 11.6). Health centers (β= 16.2, 95%CI: -20.0, -12.3) and private health facilities (β= -38.3, 95%CI: -42.4, -35.1) had lower TB care capacity score than hospitals. Overall TB care capacity score were lower in Western and Southern western Ethiopia and in Benishangul Gumz and Gambella regions. Conclusions The health system capacity score for TB care in Ethiopia varied across regions. Health system capacity improvement interventions should focus on the private sectors and health facilities in the rural and remote areas to ensure equity and improve quality of care

Capacity of health facilities for diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia

Background: There are dearth of literature on the capacity of the health system to diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. In this study we evaluated the capacity of health facilities for HIV/AIDS care, its spatial distribution and variations by regions and zones in Ethiopia. Methods: We analyzed the Service Provision Assessment plus (SPA+) survey data that were collected in 2014 in all regions of Ethiopia. We assessed structural, process and overall capacity of the health system based on the Donabedian quality of care model. We included 5 structural and 8 process indicators and overall capacity score was constructed by taking the average of all indicators. Multiple linear regression was done using STATA 14 to assess the association of the location and types of health facilities with overall capacity score. Maps displaying the average capacity score at Zonal level were produced using ArcGIS Desktop v10.3 (Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc., Redlands CA, USA). Results: A total of 873 health facilities were included in the analysis. Less than 5% of the private facilities provided antiretroviral therapy (ART); had national ART guideline, baseline CD4 count or viral load and tuberculosis screening mechanisms. Nearly one-third of the health centers (34.9%) provided ART. Public hospitals have better capacity score (77.1%) than health centers (45.9%) and private health facilities (24.8%). The overall capacity score for urban facilities (57.1%) was higher than that of the rural (38.2%) health facilities (β = 15.4, 95% CI: 11.7, 19.2). Health centers (β = − 21.4, 95% CI: -25.4, − 17.4) and private health facilities (β = − 50.9, 95% CI: -54.8, − 47.1) had lower overall capacity score than hospitals. Facilities in Somali (β = − 13.8, 95% CI: -20.6, − 7.0) and SNNPR (β = − 5.0, 95% CI: -9.8, − 0.1) regions had lower overall capacity score than facilities in the Oromia region. Zones located in emerging regions such as Gambella and Benishangul Gumz and in remote areas of Oromia and SNNPR had lower capacity score in terms of process indicators. Conclusions: There is a significant geographical heterogeneity on the capacity of health facilities for HIV/AIDS care and treatment in Ethiopia. Targeted capacity improvement initiatives are recommended with focus on health centers and private health facilities, and emerging Regions and the rural and remote areas