Assessment of the efficacy of Deltamethrin 1% pourson (Smash) and Deltamethrin 1% SC (Pali) and comparison of their mode of applications against ticks in Ethiopia

The efficacy of Deltamethrin 1% pour-on (Smash) and Deltamethrin 1% SC (Pali) against ticks was evaluated on cattle at private cattle farm (04053’03” N; 38008’31” E, altitude of 1620 masl), in Yabello district of Borena zone, Ethiopia. Experimental cattle were divided into three groups. Cattle in Group 1 were each treated with Deltamethrin 1% pour-on (Smash) and cattle in Group 2 were treated with Deltamethrin 1% SC (Pali) while the third group received no treatment and served as a control. During the experimental period (10 to 29 January 2011), the three groups of cattle were attended separately to avoid contacts. A high degree of efficacy of Deltamethrin 1% pour-on (Smash) and Deltamethrin 1% SC (Pali) against singleand multi-host ticks was achieved by a single application of each product. Deltamethrin 1% pour-on (Smash) controlled ticks for 15 days while Deltamethrin 1% SC (Pali) did for 13 days. Deltamethrin 1% pour-on (Smash) shown to be 97.3- 100% effective in the control of ticks from Day 2 to Day 14 post treatment. The percentage tick control achieved by Delthamethrin1% SC (Pali) ranged from 96.5-100% from Day 2 to Day 10 post treatment. The result demonstrated that Deltamethrin 1% when applied as pour-on effectively controlled ticks on cattle than when applied as spray form. Comparative advantage of pour-on application over spraying is that the pour-on application is relatively easier than the spraying when spraying facilities are not available. Pour-on application does not require specialized manpower to perform the operation and pastoralists can easily carry Deltamethrin 1% pour-on (Smash) and can apply while moving with their livestock.Key words: Deltamethrin, efficacy trial, Ixodid ticks, pour-on, synthetic pyrethroid

Road traffic accident: The neglected health problem in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Background: Road traffic accident is a major but neglected public health challenge. There is a paucity of published data on road traffic crashes in Amhara National Regional State.Objective: This study attempts to describe the main causes and consequences of road traffic accidents in the Amhara Region.Methods: This descriptive study employed secondary data collected by Amhara National Regional State Police Commission from 2007-2011. Mortality rate, percentage, line and bar graphs were used to show the causes and consequences of road traffic accidents.Results: Almost half (51%) of all crashes involved freight vehicles followed by passenger vehicles which constitute one-third (34.5%) of all the accidents. Over half (54.8%) of the accidents occurred on interstate highways. Passengers accounted for the largest share of road traffic deaths across the region and pedestrians were the main victims in the urban areas. Errors committed by drivers are the chief causes of the accidents, such as failure to give priority to pedestrians, speeding, failure to stay on the right side of the road, failure to maintain distance between vehicles and failure to yield the right of way for other vehicles. Overall, these factors accounted for 83.8% of all traffic accidents.Conclusion: Road traffic crash is a major public health problem which contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality rate in the Amhara Region. Thus, taking the seriousness of the problem into consideration, ANRS Police Commission and Trade and Transport Bureau have to work aggressively on issues related to licensing and bringing behavioral change on derivers in order to alleviate road traffic accidents

Effect of grazing land exclosure and feeding strategy on livestock water productivity in Lencha Dima Watershed, Guba Lafto Woreda, Amhara Region

The study aims to estimate the livestock water productivity (LWP) and to examine the effect of grazing area closure and feeding strategies on LWP at farm household level under wealth and intervention categories at Lencha Dima watershed. Results are based on survey of 120 sample households and focus group discussion. Beneficial outputs of livestock and depleted water for producing them were estimated then livestock water productivity as the ratio of the beneficial out puts and depleted water was estimated. LWP shows difference between participant with in the interventions and non participant with the intervention farm households. The value of LWP in ETB was 1.7±0.3 in non participant farm household and 0.79±0.03 in participant farm household and it ranges from 1.7 at better off non participant farm household to 0.7 in very poor participant farm households. The highest livestock feed financial water productivity was estimated at very poor non participant farm households (5.5± 2.3 ETB m-3 per year). Crop residue accounted much in depleted water for livestock feed production and it is also the major contributor for livestock feed resource base, which were found at negative feed balance to the existing livestock holding at household and watershed level. To mitigate this shortage framers use different feeding strategies according to livestock importance and age. Much of the beneficial output valued at the present LWP accounted by traction and transport services and ranked as the primary purpose of cattle. Exclosure can improve the condition of degraded land and can also be used as source of income generation and source of wood for different purposes. But it has negative effect on livestock number, which are at low production level and it is difficult to conclude the effect of area closure on LWP and livestock productivity in short period of time. Strategy of improving livestock productivity through improved feed availability and quality together with livestock management and health care as well as water saving and conservation is crucial for lifting up benefits from livestock and LWP for the farm households. adde