CASE STUDY INCREASING ACESS TO HEALTHCARE AMONG PERSONS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN ZANZIBAR

The abstract is a case study highlighting initiatives designed by the ZanzibarPsychiatric Association (ZPA) to serve persons with mental disorders (MHDs) confinedindoors. The purpose of the program was to increase access to healthcare among confinedMHDs. This was achieved through conducting outreach programs aimed at communityawareness creation on MHDs, providing first aids to the patients and referring to the MHDsdesigned hospitals. Moreover, the program focused on advocating for increased local healthbudget prioritizing on mental health. A total of 63 patients reached and provided with firstaids and referred to the hospital, meanwhile 200 people form the community were educatedon MHDs. Limited funding to operationalize interventions fueled by increased demands aresome of the key challenges. We urge like-minded partners to join hands in our initiatives inproviding experts, technical advises and other resources so that we can scale-up interventionsin Zanzibar

Comparison on Vegetation Composition and Structure in Fire Prone Forest of Ilunde and Fire Suppressed Forest of Kitwe in Tanzania

Fire is among the factors influencing survival and development of plants in ecosystems. This study was conducted in frequently burnt and fire suppressed miombo woodlands of Ilunde and Kitwe, respectively. Tree stem density, basal area and composition of plants were determined. The methods used involved recording the numbers of tree stems, diameter at breast height and classifying vegetation to species level. In Kitwe forest, mean stem density of 582.7 ± 52.90 stems ha– was higher than 356.8 ± 38.98 stems ha– which was recorded in Ilunde forest (t = 15.98, df = 29, p < 0.05). Similarly, a higher mean tree basal area of 16.14 ± 1.32 m2 ha– was recorded in Kitwe forest, while 8.54 ± 0.94 m2 ha– being recorded in Ilunde forest (t = 3.34, df = 14, p < 0.05). Czekanowski’s similarity coefficients for trees, shrubs and saplings, and herbs and grasses were 0.46, 0.34 and 0.22, respectively. Fire adapted species were recorded in Ilunde forest. Fire prone miombo woodland had lower tree stem density, basal area and dominated by fire adapted species. Similarity coefficient between the two forests was also low. Prescribed burning is recommended in miombo woodlands for sustainable species composition and tree structure. Keywords: vegetation; composition, structure, fire prone, miombo

Classification of Plants According to Their Heavy Metal Content around North Mara Gold Mine, Tanzania: Implication for Phytoremediation

Plants like other living organisms respond differently under different environmental conditions. An elevated level of heavy metals is one of the stresses which results into three classes of plants depending on their heavy metal content. The classes of plant species according to their accumulated heavy metals around North Mara Gold Mine were not known. To study such classes, a line transect of 700m long was established opposite the gold mine wastes. A total of eight sampling points were systematically established each after every 100m in that transect. Fifteen plant species were sampled; at least one species per sampling point. Approximately 5g of the root and shoot portions of the plants were separately collected from each plant. Three soil samples were also collected at each sampling point where vegetations were previously sampled. The soils and vegetations were analyzed for heavy metals (copper, lead, chromium, zinc, cadmium and nickel) by AAS. Of 15 plant species; 10, 6, 6 were hyperaccumulators, excluders and indicators for heavy metals respectively. Detailed studies on the agronomical requirements, optimizations, growth rates and the incidence of pests and diseases are required on the identified heavy metal hyperaccumulator plants for possible future remediation of the study area.Tanz. J. Sci. Vol. 37 2011, 109-11

The Effect of Monitoring Function on Implementing Fraud Risk Management Framework in Public Sector organizations: case of Bukombe District Council in Tanzania

This study assess the effect of monitoring function on implementing fraud risk management framework in Tanzania Public Sector Organizations (PSOs). The objective of this study is to determine the extent to which council management staff have been prepared to implement fraud risk management framework. Specific objectives were 1) To describe the effectiveness of monitoring function in implementing fraud risk management framework in the study area 2) To describe the strategies used by the organizations in implementing fraud risk management framework in the study area and 3) To explain the challenges faced by the organization in implementing fraud risk management framework in the study area. Bukombe District Council was studied using survey data collected in July 2018 from 80 employees at the head quarter. The primary data were collected through an interview and focus group discussion. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Frequency Tables were used to analyse Likert scaled variable by means of Statistical Package for Social Science Version 20. The results obtained indicate the Council had no Quartely progress reports and even risk management framework and risk registers are not updated in the organization. Negligence by the Council Management Team of not providing active support and involvement in the fraud risk management process creates a high likelihood of fraudulent transactions or activities to materialize without management being aware. All these issues could result in unsuccessful operation of fraud risk management framework. The study, recommends Bukombe District Council to apply concerted effort in strengthening internal controls and ensure risk assessment is regularly carried out. vii

Indigenous Grasses for Rehabilitating Degraded African Drylands

Drylands provide an important livelihood stream to its inhabitants across the globe through a range of products and ecosystem services. However, these fragile ecosystems are threatened and believed to experience various degrees of land degradation. Estimates of the landmass affected by land degradation in the global drylands range from 10% to 20%, a percentage that is increasing at an annual global rate of 12 million ha of soil lost from desertification and drought. African drylands are especially highly susceptible to severe degradation because of their poor soil structure aggravated by scarce vegetation cover. Causes of degradation in these environments are both natural and anthropogenic in nature. Change in vegetation cover, decline in soil fertility, biodiversity loss and soil erosion demonstrate degradation in African drylands. Grass reseeding using indigenous species is one of the promising sustainable land management strategies to combat degradation in the drylands. Reseeding programmes are aimed at improving vegetation cover and biomass, and they conserve the soil to an extent not possible by grazing and land management alone. Indigenous drought-tolerant grasses notably African foxtail grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), bush rye grass (Enteropogon macrostachyus) and Maasai lovegrass (Eragrostis superba) have produced promising rehabilitation outcomes. Previous studies in African drylands have demonstrated the potential of such indigenous forage grasses in improving both vegetation cover (plant frequency and densities, basal cover) and soil hydrological properties (increased infiltration capacity, reduced runoff and sediment production) as indicators of rehabilitation success. Despite their comparative and widespread success, natural and anthropogenic challenges persist. This makes reseeding programmes a risky and often expensive venture, especially for the resource-poor pastoral communities in African drylands. Despite the risks, grass reseeding using indigenous pastures remains a viable sustainable land management option to combat degradation in African drylands. However, to ensure its continued success in the long term, multifaceted approaches and strategies that will integrate land and water management and seed systems suitable for African drylands need to be developed, strengthened and promoted.Peer reviewe

Dry matter yields and hydrological properties of three perennial grasses of a semi-arid environment in East Africa

Enteropogon macrostachyus (Bush rye), Cenchrus ciliaris L. (African foxtail grass) and Eragrostis superba Peyr (Maasai love grass) are important perennial rangeland grasses in Kenya. They provide an important source of forage for domestic livestock and wild ungulates. These grasses have been used extensively to rehabilitate denuded patches in semi-arid environment of Kenya. This study investigated the dry matter yields and hydrological properties of the three grasses under simulated rainfall at three phenological stages; early growth, elongation and reproduction. Laboratory seed viability tests were also done. Hydrological properties of the three grasses were estimated using a Kamphorst rainfall simulator. Results showed that there was a significant difference (p > 0.05) in dry matter yields and soil hydrological properties at the different grass phenological stages. Generally, all the three grasses improved the soil hydrological properties with an increase in grass stubble height. C. ciliaris gave the best soil hydrological properties followed by E. macrostachyus and E. superba, respectively. E. macrostachyus recorded the highest seed viability percentage. C. ciliaris and E. superba were ranked second and third, respectively. C. ciliaris yielded the highest biomass production at the reproductive stage followed by E. superba and E. macrostachyus, respectively. Key words: Cenchrus ciliaris, Enteropogon macrostachyus, Eragrostis superba, rangeland

The challenges of rehabilitating denuded patches of a semi-arid environment in Kenya

Land degradation is a major problem in the semi-arid environments of Sub-Saharan Africa. Fighting land degradation is essential to ensure the sustainable and long-term productivity of the habited semiarid lands. In Kenya, grass reseeding technology has been used to combat land degradation. However, despite the use of locally adapted perennial grass species namely Cenchrus ciliaris (African foxtail grass), Eragrostis superba (Maasai love grass) and Enteropogon macrostachyus (Bush rye) failure still abound. Therefore, more land is still being degraded. The aim of this study was to determine the main factors which contribute to failures in rehabilitating denuded patches in semi-arid lands of Kenya. A questionnaire was administered to capture farmer perceptions on failures on rangeland rehabilitation using grass reseeding technology. Rainfall data was collected during the study period. Moreover, rehabilitation trials using the three grasses were done under natural rainfall. Results from this study show that climatic factors mainly low amounts of rainfall to be the main contributor to rehabilitation failures. 92% of the respondents asserted that reseeding fails because of low rainfall amounts received in the area. The study area received a total of 324 mm of rainfall which was low compared to the average annual mean of 600mm. Reseeded trial plots also failed to establish due to the low amounts of rainfall received. This showed how low rainfall is unreliable for reseeding. Other factors namely destruction by the grazing animals, pests and rodents, flush floods, poor sowing time, poor seed quality, lack of enough seed and weeds also contribute to rehabilitation failures in semi-arid lands of Keny

Morphoecological characteristics of grasses used to restore degraded semi‐arid African rangelands

Peer reviewe

Microbial and enzymes response to nutrient additions in soils of Mt. Kilimanjaro region depending on land use

© 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. Microbial and enzyme activities can be used to identify and assess the impacts of changes in land use management on soil quality. However, only few studies have investigated the effects of land use and nutrient additions on enzyme activities and microbial processes in tropical African soils. Glucose and nutrients (N and P) were added to soils (0-20cm) from natural and agricultural ecosystems: (1) savannah, (2) maize fields, (3) lower montane forest, (4) coffee plantation, (5) grasslands (6) Chagga homegardens common at Mt. Kilimanjaro region and East Africa. Microbial biomass and activities of β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, chitinase and phosphatase were monitored over 60 days incubation period. Microbial biomass content and enzyme activities were generally higher in soils under natural vegetation compared to corresponding agricultural soils. Decline in microbial biomass C content over time was higher in natural ecosystems compared to agricultural soils. However, the microbial biomass C content in Chagga homegarden soils was relatively stable. Land use was negatively correlated to β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and chitinase activity, but positively correlated to phosphatase activity. β-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase, involved in the C-cycle, were the most sensitive to landuse change. Chitinase activity was 2-6 times higher in soils under natural vegetation compared to corresponding arable soils. Phosphatase displayed very high activities in all land use types. This is attributed to the high P retention capacity common for andic soils similar to those occurring at Mt. Kilimanjaro region. Increased P availability stimulated enzyme activities in lower montane forest and Chagga homegarden soils. Overall, microbial biomass and enzyme activities showed a strong decrease with increased land use intensity and should therefore be taken into consideration in monitoring and assessing the impact of land use change at Mt. Kilimanjaro region

Implementasi Metode Bayes Pada Penilaian Kinerja Dosen

Dalam organisasi pendidikan tinggi, evaluasi dosen merupakan cara untuk mengetahui pengaruh pengajaran dosen terhadap mahasiswa. Evaluasi dosen meliputi kegiatan mengumpulkan informasi mengenai bagaimana dosen melakukan pekerjaan, menginterpretasi informasi, dan membuat penilaian mengenai tindakan apa yang harus dilakukan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pengajaran. Kualitas pengajaran dan standar akademik perlu untuk selalu dievaluasi, ditingkatkan dan pengajaran yang baik merupakan hal yang rumit, sangat individual, berkaitan dengan materi. Namun, evaluasi terhadap pengajaran tetap dapat dilakukan dalam kaitannya dengan penilaian efektivitas pengajaran dan menggunakannya untuk meningkatkan kualitas proses belajar-mengajar.Penilaian kinerja dosen dalam penelitian ini menggunakan Metode Bayes yang berdasarkan pada kriteria – kriteria yang digunakan dengan standar kesesuaian yang telah ditentukan dan memanfaatkan nilai harapan (expected value) sebagai dasar penghitungan.Hasil penelitian implementasi Metode Bayes pada penilaian kinerja dosen, akan membantu unit penjaminan mutu dalam  melakukan evaluasi kinerja dosen dengan tujuan untuk meningkatkan kinerja dosen tersebut dan digunakan sebagai bahan pertimbangan untuk pengambilan keputusan. &nbsp