Local government and human rights: Building institutional links for the effective protection and realisation of human rights in Africa

There is increasing recognition of the role of local government in the protection and realisation of human rights obligations. Recent studies on links between local government, decentralisation and human rights are evidence of this growing recognition. In Africa, there are newly-formed pan-African institutions on local government. Local authorities and national local government associations have also formed a regional association. National ministries in charge of local government have formed a regional inter-ministerial forum on local government and decentralisation. This trend is replicated at sub-regional levels in Africa. While the place and role of local government in international human rights law are not yet fully understood, the formation of these institutions provides an appropriate avenue for the same. The article makes a case for institutional collaboration between these regional institutions, sub-regional institutions and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in order to achieve more effective rights protection. While this article presumes that such institutional collaboration will lead to better protection of human rights, it makes a further argument that this will only happen where the specific gaps identified are addressed to strengthen the role of local government in human rights.International Bibliography of the Social Science

How Teachers’ Planning Influences Pupils’ Academic Performance in Government Aided Primary Schools in Namutumba Town Council, Namutumba District in Uganda

This research examined the influence of teacher planning on pupils’ academic performance in government aided primary schools in Namutumba Town council, Namutumba District in Uganda. The center of the educational system is viewed as being academic achievement. Mahmood (2015) defined academic performance as a student's measurable and observable behavior during a certain time period. Relevant stakeholders, including parents, pupils, school administrators, and researchers, have shown interest in studies of how Teachers’ Planning Influences Pupils’ Academic Performance. A lesson plan is a schedule for teaching a lesson or lessons that an instructor creates based on the curriculum to achieve particular curricular goals. It results from a study ofthe scheme of work. Consequently, the lesson topics that result from breaking down the schemes of work into smaller subtopics can be utilized to create lessons (Sabetra& Aziz, 2021). Sabetra& Aziz, (2021) explains that Lesson plans are helpful because they ensure that the teacher follows proper teaching techniques, that the topic of the day's lesson is covered in one lesson and that instructional materials are properly chosen and utilized. A scheme of work divides an often-multiyear curriculum into deliverable work units that are each much shorter in length (for example, two or three weeks) hence making it manageable in delivery. The way each topic will be taught in class and how pupils' understanding of the information connected to each topic, unit, and the scheme of work as a whole will be assessed are all clearly mapped out in the schemes of work beforehand. A scheme of work outlines the subject matter and educational opportunities that must be covered each term of the academic year (Okai, 2010). The instructor needs this scheme of work since it directs him in structuring the instructional unit and, in turn, the daily lessons, taking into account the amount of time allotted for each topic over the term

Retrospective descriptive evaluation of empiric carbapenem-sparing regimens versus carbapenem use in non-intensive care patients at a district hospital in South Africa

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharmAntimicrobial resistance is a global concern associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It has been estimated that, by 2050, the continuous escalation of antimicrobial resistance, globally, will result in more deaths per year, compared to cancer and diabetes. The direct and indirect impact of ineffective antibiotics, and therefore, antimicrobial resistance, will be hardest felt by low and middle-income countries, as the financial burden will be too great to manage. Carbapenems are considered the last line of antimicrobials to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. They are the preferred choice to treat infections, presenting with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriacea. Various strains of bacteria that have become resistant, due to the selective pressure, as a result of carbapenem over use, are referred to as Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

A dry udder in the milk season? Natural resource exploitation in Africa: realising the right to economic benefit for host communities

Magister Legum - LL

Use of cellular phone contacts to increase return rates for immunization services in Kenya

Introduction: in Kenya, failure to complete immunization schedules by children who previously accessed immunization services is an obstacle to ensuring that children are fully immunized. Home visit approaches used to track defaulting children have not been successful in reducing the dropout rate.Methods: This study tested the use of phone contacts as an approach for tracking immunization defaulters in twelve purposivelyselected facilities in three districts of western Kenya. For nine months, children accessing immunization services in the facilities were tracked and caregivers were asked their reasons for defaulting.Results: in all of the facilities, caregiver phone ownership was above 80%. In 11 of the 12 facilities, defaulter rates between pentavalent1 and pentavalent3 vaccination doses reduced significantly to within the acceptable level of < 10%. Caregivers provided reliable contact information and health workers positively perceived phone-based defaulter communications. Tracking a defaulter required on average 2 minutes by voice and Ksh 6 ($ 0.07). Competing tasks and concerns about  vaccinating sick children and sideeffects were the most cited reasons for caregivers defaulting. Notably, a significant number of children categorised as defaulters had been vaccinated in a different facility (and were therefore "false defaulters").Conclusion: Use of phone contacts for follow-up is a feasible and costeffective method for tracking defaulters. This approach should complement traditional home visits, especially for caregivers without phones. Given communication-related reasons for defaulting, it is important that immunization programs scale-up  community education activities. A system for health facilities to share details of defaulting children should be established to reduce "false defaulters". Key words: Vaccination, immunization schedule, cell phones, defaulter tracking, Keny

Factors influencing Vitamin A supplementation among mothers of children under five years old at Mbagathi District Hospital, Kenya

Background: Vitamin A supplementation is one of the best-proven and most costeffective interventions to improve vitamin A status and save children’s lives.Objective: To assess factors affecting practices and utilisation of Vitamin Asupplementation services among mothers with children below five years attending Mbagathi District Hospital.Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.Setting: Mbagathi District Hospital (MDH) Maternal and Child Health Clinic (MCH) and Paediatric Out Patient Department (POPD).Subjects: Mothers attending MDH MCH and POPD.Main Outcome Measures: Utilisation, Practices and Awareness of vitamin Asupplementation (VAS)Results: A total of one hundred and fifty eight respondents were interviewed. About a half (52%) of the respondents had their children up to date with VAS while less than a half (43%) of the mothers had received vitamin A after delivery. Three quarters of the respondents’ children had missed the vitamin A capsule because they were either not aware of schedule (41%) or had stopped coming to clinic (35%). This notwithstanding, 91% of the respondents neither encountered any problems when seeking VAS services nor had negative beliefs or superstitions about vitamin A.Conclusion: The main factors affecting utilisation of VAS services was lack of information and awareness among both health workers and mothers. These services are averagely well utilised at MDH though still below the National 80% coverage target

Cholera and household water treatment why communities do not treat water after a cholera outbreak: a case study in Limpopo Province

Background: Cholera is one of the common diseases in developing countries caused by consumption of contaminated and untreated drinking water. A study was conducted 7 months after a cholera outbreak in Vhembe district, Limpopo, South Africa. The aim of the study was to assess if the communities were still conforming to safe water practices after an outbreak of cholera. Methodology: One hundred and fifty-two (152) participants from 11 villages were recruited to form 21 focus groups, with a mean of 7. The interview transcripts were coded and arranged based on the study themes. Results: Of the 21 groups in 11 villages, three villages were using water from boreholes, six were using river water and three were using mixed sources which included river, canal and spring water, three depended on municipal tanks and only six were using tap water. Only 19% of the respondents treated their water, even though the majority of communities reported treatment of water as a priority. Four villages claimed they never received environmental health education at all, while most of the villages confirmed they received education during a cholera outbreak. Conclusion: Regardless of the outbreak and health education efforts done, communities continued using unprotected water sources without any form of treatment, as they perceived it to be unimportant. Sustainable water supplies and environmental health education should be continued after an outbreak as it is important for public health gains

Examination of the Role of Religious and Psychosocial Factors in HIV Medication Adherence Rates

Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with favorable HIV outcomes, including higher CD4 cell counts, HIV virus suppression and a lower risk of HIV transmission. However, only 25% of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in the USA are virally suppressed. Sub-optimal adherence (p\u3c 0.05). Social support satisfaction was also significantly associated with ART adherence (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.11–2.08], p \u3c 0.05) and energy/fatigue/vitality (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.00–1.05], p \u3c 0.05)

Patient Safety and Pro Re Nata Prescription and Administration: A Systematic Review

PRN is the acronym for ‘pro re nata,’ written against prescriptions whose administration shouldbe based on patients’ needs, rather than at set times. The aim of this systematic review was to exploresafety issues and adverse events arising from PRN prescription and administration. Electronic databasesincluding Scopus, PubMed [including Medline], Embase, Cinahl, Web of Science and ProQuest weresystematically searched to retrieve articles published from 2005 to 2017. Selection criteria: we included allrandomized controlled trials (RCTs) and studies with comparison groups, comparing PRN prescriptionand administration with scheduled administration, where safety issues and adverse events were reported.The authors independently assessed titles, abstracts and full-texts of retrieved studies based on inclusioncriteria and risk of bias. Results were summarised narratively. The search identified 7699 articles.Title, abstract and full-text appraisals yielded 5 articles. The included studies were RCTs with oneexception, a pre-test post-test experimental design. Patient populations, interventions and outcomesvaried. Studies compared patient-controlled or routine administration with PRN and one trial assessed theeffect of a practice guideline on implementation of PRN administration. More analgesia was administeredin the patient-controlled than the PRN arms but pain reduction was similar. However, there was littledifference in administration of psychotropic medicines. No differences between patient-controlled andPRN groups were reported for adverse events. The PRN practice guideline improved PRN patienteducation but non-documentation of PRN administration increased. This systematic review suggests thatPRN safety issues and adverse events are an under-researched area of healthcare practice. Variations inthe interventions, outcomes and clinical areas make it difficult to judge the overall quality of theevidence. Well-designed RCTs are needed to identify any safety issues and adverse events associatedwith PRN administration. Available from: ttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/327286136_Patient_Safety_and_Pro_Re_Nata_Prescription_and_Administration_A_Systematic_Review/stats [accessed Aug 30 2018]