Unionism and public service reform in Lesotho: between legislative constraints and apathy

The study focuses on Lesotho‟s Public Service. The aims of this study were to examine the factors that led to the repeal of the Public Service Act No.13 of 1995. This study looks at the legislative constraints and attitudes of civil servants towards unionisation in the Public Service. It also outlines the relevant provisions of the Public Service Act No.1 of 2005; the changes that have occurred since its inception. Findings show that the Public Service Act No.13 of 1995 was repealed in order to reform the Public Service. The Ministry of the Public Service implemented five-year strategic plans to reform the public service. Changes have occurred in the public service since the inception of the 2005 Act; however, they differ from ministry to ministry. The respondents included public officers from the Ministry of the Public Service, Ministry of Justice, Law Office, Ministry of Employment and Labour, Ministry of Planning, the Ombudsman Office, Parliament, different ministries, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Congress of the Lesotho Trade Unions (COLETU) and the Lesotho Public Service Staff Association (LEPSSA)

Ontologies, VoiceXML and Reasoners

Despite the inherent limitation of accessing information serially, voice applications are increasingly growing in popularity as computing technologies advance. This is a positive development, because voice communication offers a number of benefits over other forms of communication. For example, voice may be better for delivering services to users whose eyes and hands may be engaged in other activities (e.g. driving) or to semi-literate or illiterate users. This thesis proposes a knowledge based architecture for building voice applications to help reduce the limitations of serial access to information. The proposed architecture, called OVR (Ontologies, VoiceXML and Reasoners), uses a rich backend that represents knowledge via ontologies and utilises reasoning engines to reason with it, in order to generate intelligent behaviour. Ontologies were chosen over other knowledge representation formalisms because of their expressivity and executable format, and because current trends suggest a general shift towards the use of ontologies in many systems used for information storing and sharing. For the frontend, this architecture uses VoiceXML, the emerging, and de facto standard for voice automated applications. A functional prototype was built for an initial validation of the architecture. The system is a simple voice application to help locate information about service providers that offer HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) testing. We called this implementation HTLS (HIV Testing Locator System). The functional prototype was implemented using a number of technologies. OWL API, a Java interface designed to facilitate manipulation of ontologies authored in OWL was used to build a customised query interface for HTLS. Pellet reasoner was used for supporting queries to the knowledge base and Drools (JBoss rule engine) was used for processing dialog rules. VXI was used as the VoiceXML browser and an experimental softswitch called iLanga as the bridge to the telephony system. (At the heart of iLanga is Asterisk, a well known PBX-in-a-box.) HTLS behaved properly under system testing, providing the sought initial validation of OVR.LaTeX with hyperref packag

Assessing the physical characteristics of medium density mixed housing in South Africa

The new housing plan in South Africa promotes the development of medium density and mixed housing developments. The nature and organisation of the physical characteristics of this type of housing has been identified as one of the key factors that could influence the success of these developments. However, while there is a growing need for empirical research in the built environment discipline, there are very few tools or methods for measuring the built environment, especially in terms of the physical design characteristics. In order to address this, a housing measurement tool was developed for assessing the physical characteristics of selected medium density mixed housing developments and determine medium density mixed housing’s relevance for the implementation of the housing plan. It was found that the tool provides a useful mechanism to built environment professionals to assess the physical characteristics of these housing types

Unionism and public service reform in Lesotho: between legislative constraints and apathy

The study focuses on Lesotho‟s Public Service. The aims of this study were to examine the factors that led to the repeal of the Public Service Act No.13 of 1995. This study looks at the legislative constraints and attitudes of civil servants towards unionisation in the Public Service. It also outlines the relevant provisions of the Public Service Act No.1 of 2005; the changes that have occurred since its inception. Findings show that the Public Service Act No.13 of 1995 was repealed in order to reform the Public Service. The Ministry of the Public Service implemented five-year strategic plans to reform the public service. Changes have occurred in the public service since the inception of the 2005 Act; however, they differ from ministry to ministry. The respondents included public officers from the Ministry of the Public Service, Ministry of Justice, Law Office, Ministry of Employment and Labour, Ministry of Planning, the Ombudsman Office, Parliament, different ministries, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Congress of the Lesotho Trade Unions (COLETU) and the Lesotho Public Service Staff Association (LEPSSA)

Treatment of sexually transmitted infections by Bapedi traditional health practitioners

533-541The knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is limited in scope especially among traditional health practitioners (THPs) who are members of Bapedi tribe in South Africa. This study investigated the traditional knowledge of STIs from Bapedi THPs. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 30 THPs were selected via a snowball sampling. Results revealed that THPs of the Waterberg District treat four STIs. STI treated were syphilis (thosala), genital warts (tšhofela), testicular swelling (mokabe) and makgoma (cultural taboo). A period for treatment of STIs was monthly (41%), followed by seasonal (34%), weekly (15.6%) and daily (9.4%). Syphilis (thosola) was the most frequently treated (45.5%), followed by makgoma (24.2%), genital warts (21.1%) and testicular swelling (9.0%). The diagnoses of STIs by THPs correspond to the western known syndromes such as male urethritis syndrome, genital ulcer syndrome and vaginal discharge syndrome. However, aetiological surveillance demonstrated that diagnoses used by THPs are not always accurate or consistent with diagnoses made using the methods and procedures of western scientific medicine. Of immediate concern is that THPs lack information on the etiological agents of genital ulcer and vaginal discharge. It is recommended that THPs be given elementary training on sexual and reproductive health, especially on etiological agents of STIs

Treatment of sexually transmitted infections by Bapedi traditional health practitioners

The knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is limited in scope especially among traditional health practitioners (THPs) who are members of Bapedi tribe in South Africa. This study investigated the traditional knowledge of STIs from Bapedi THPs. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 30 THPs were selected via a snowball sampling. Results revealed that THPs of the Waterberg District treat four STIs. STI treated were syphilis (thosala), genital warts (tšhofela), testicular swelling (mokabe) and makgoma (cultural taboo). A period for treatment of STIs was monthly (41%), followed by seasonal (34%), weekly (15.6%) and daily (9.4%). Syphilis (thosola) was the most frequently treated (45.5%), followed by makgoma (24.2%), genital warts (21.1%) and testicular swelling (9.0%). The diagnoses of STIs by THPs correspond to the western known syndromes such as male urethritis syndrome, genital ulcer syndrome and vaginal discharge syndrome. However, aetiological surveillance demonstrated that diagnoses used by THPs are not always accurate or consistent with diagnoses made using the methods and procedures of western scientific medicine. Of immediate concern is that THPs lack information on the etiological agents of genital ulcer and vaginal discharge. It is recommended that THPs be given elementary training on sexual and reproductive health, especially on etiological agents of STIs

INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Background: Invasive alien plant species (IAPs) are plants that have migrated from one geographical region to non-native region either intentional or unintentional.The general view of IAPs in environment is regarded as destructive to the ecosystem and they pose threat to native vegetation and species. However, some of these IAPs are utilized by local inhabitants as a substitute for scarce indigenous plants. The aim of the study is to conduct ethnobotanical survey on medicinal usage of invasive plant species in Waterberg District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Materials and methods: An ethnobotanical survey on invasive plant species was conducted to distinguish species used for the treatment of various ailments in the Waterberg, District in the area dominated by Bapedi traditional healers. About thirty Bapedi traditional healers (30) were randomly selected via the snowball method. A guided field work by traditional healers and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information. The questionnaire was designed to gather information based on the local name of plants, plant parts used and methods of preparation which is administered by the traditional healers. Results: The study revealed that Schinus molle L., Catharanthus roseus (L.), Datura stramonium L., Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw., Opuntia ficus- indica, Sambucus canadensis L., Ricinus communis L., Melia azedarch L., Argemone ochroleuca and Eriobotrya japonica are used for treatment of various diseases such as chest complaint, blood purification, asthma, hypertension and infertility. The most plant parts that were used are 57.6% leaves, followed by 33.3% roots, and whole plant, seeds and bark at 3% each. Noticeably, most of these plants are cultivated (38%), followed by 28% that are common to the study area, 20% abundant, 12% wild, and 3% occasionally. Schinus molle is the most frequently used plant species for the treatment of various ailments in the study area. National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) (10/2004) and Conservation of Agricultural Resource Act (CARA) were consulted to confirm the invaders status. Only eight plants (60%) are regulated by CARA (10/2004). Of 10 IAPs, 80% (8 species) are listed in both NEMBA and CARA legislation. Only 20% (2 species) are listed in NEMBA alone. Conclusion: Invasive alien plants are utilized by communities to combat various ailments in humans and these plants can help to reduce pressure on heavily harvested indigenous plant

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people living with HIV in Lesotho: a qualitative study

Introduction: There is a growing body of research evidencing the detrimental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of young people. This impact may be worse in low-resource settings, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, where pandemic impacts may be exacerbated by poverty, limited healthcare access and other health epidemics including HIV. We explored the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on young people living with HIV in Lesotho to understand the experiences of HIV management, well-being, financial stability and education status. Methods: Thirty-one semistructured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with young people aged 15–19 years of age living with HIV from eight districts across Lesotho. Interviews were conducted in Sesotho, audio-recorded, later transcribed and translated to English prior to analysis. Analysis consisted of a thematic analysis using principles of constant comparison to explore key and emerging themes. Results: Analysis revealed five major themes: ‘financial instability and food insecurity’, ‘challenges to health and well-being’, ‘changing relationship dynamics’, ‘loss of educational opportunities’ and ‘understanding the threat of COVID-19’. Conclusions: While participants discussed being able to access antiretroviral therapy, this study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures on the mental health and well-being, financial stability and educational development of young people living with HIV in Lesotho

Dynamics of repeated infection of high and low responder inbred mice with Heligmosomoides polygyrus

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Dynamics of repeated infection of high and low responder inbred mice with Heligmosomoides polygyrus

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