Critical Role of the International Monetary Fund IMF in the Global Financial System as an International Lender of Last Resort: Effect from Mexico, Russia, And Zimbabwe

The purpose of this paper is to have an in-depth look on how the International Monetary Fund has operated in the global financial crisis and how it has strategically manoeuvred itself as an international lender of last resort as it tackles economic collapses in various affected economic countries. The paper addressed key points on how the International Monetary Fund reacts to  global crisis and how it sets up financial assistance within an economy who seeks financial assistance. The paper however, evaluated the IMF's effects on Mexico, Russia and Zimbabwe who had in the past faced with the same financial situation under different circumstances. Also, the future trend of the International Monetary Fund was discussed thoroughly to determine whether it will continue to act as an international lender of last resort or will it adopt a new measurement of unilateral and regional approaches to create sustainable solutions to future lending among key countries in time of financial distress. Key Words: IMF, MEXICO, RUSSIA, ZIMBABWE, TEQUILA CRISIS/PESO CRISIS

Women and Youth Entrepreneurship in Botswana

The study on women and youth entrepreneurship in Botswana investigated the environmental factors that affect the performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) with specific focus on microenterprises (defined as those that employ less than 6 people including owner and annual turnover of less than P60,000) and the extent to which the microenterprises have utilized the government institutional credit and capacity building programmes to expand their enterprises.

Effects of diet supplementation with copper sulphate on growth performance and heamatological parameters of broiler chickens

Diets of ninety-six day-old Abor-acre chicks were supplemented with different levels of copper sulphate (CuSO4) to assess the growth performance and haematological parameters. The birds were conventionally brooded for two weeks after which they got allotted to; T1 (control), T2 (100 mg CuSO4 kg-1), T3 (200 mg CuSO4 kg-1), and T4 (300 mg CuSO4 kg-1 of diet), in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had three replicates (n = 8). The supplements were given for 49 days during which feed intake and weekly weight gain were recorded. At the 49th day (63 day old), blood was aseptically collected via the wing vein using sterile syringe and needle for haematological studies. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test. The results showed that T3 had superior (p<0.05) weight gain and best FCR with enhanced feed intake similar (p>0.05) to T1 and T2 but differed (p<0.05) from T4 that had the worst growth performance. PCV, Hb and RBC of treated groups differed (p<0.05) from T1 that recorded the least haematological values. The WBC and its differentials did not statistically differ (p>0.05) except eosinophils where T3 spiked above others though statistically similar to T1 and T4 whereas T2 was the least. It could be concluded that CuSO4 supplementations at 100 and 200 mg kg-1 diets had beneficial effects on growth performance whereas there was no detrimental effect of CuSO4 supplementations on all the haematological parameters of the broilers

Effect of time of application of spent oil on the growth and performance of maize (Zea mays)

The effect of spent oil pollution on the growth and performance of Zea mays at different stages of growth was investigated in this study. It involved addition of different quantities of spent oil to soils where Zea mays plants at different stages of growth were growing on. The plants showed differential response to quantities of spent oil added to the soils and the times of application. Plants exposed to spent oil pollution one week after germination had the highest level of growth inhibition and the highest chlorophyll content. The leaf area development of the plant was inhibited by the exposure of the plant to spent oil pollution as observed seven weeks after germination. The application of spent oil to the soils three and five weeks, respectively after the germination of the seeds of Z. mays had similar effects on dry matter accumulation of the plant. Statistical differences occur on the growth and performance of the plants exposure to spent oil pollution at different stages of growth (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001). The results from this study showed that generally Z. mays may suffer greater inhibition of growth and performed poorly when it is exposed to spent oil pollution at tender stage of growth.Key words: Spent oil, time application, growth, performance, Zea mays

Differentials in Adoption of Improved Fish Farming Technologies among Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria: A Gender Analyses

Women are key players in fish farming and their participation is critical to achieving food security and economic well-being. The study was designed with the purpose to address the gender gap in the adoption of fish farming technologies and output in Imo State, Nigeria. The study described the socio economic characteristics of fish farmers, investigated level and determinants of adoption of fish farming among the respondents in the study area. Multistage and purposive sampling techniques were used for the selection of Sixty (60) respondents interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics and Tobit regression procedure were used to analyze the data obtained. Results indicate that 43.3% and 30.0% of male and female fish farmers respectively, were within the age group of 41-50 years. Majority (72.2%) of the male fish farmers inherited their land, while 80% of female fish farmers had theirs through lease. About 70% of the males had 1-2 number of extension contacts, and 50.0% of the female farmers also. Results showed that male fish farmers dominated in the adoption of 5 improved fish farming technologies compared to their female (3) counterparts. Stocking density had the highest mean level of adoption (3.97) for the male fish farmers, while, feed formulation had the highest (3.67) for the female fish farmers. Important factors influencing the probability and intensity of adoption of improved fish farming technologies among the farmers include; education, extension, farm size, access to credit, membership of cooperatives, and environmental attribute. The results therefore, call for the need for policies aimed at free and affordable education, especially targeted at women to enable them access and process information on improved fish farming technologies. There is also need to increase the number of extension visits to enhance gender balance in adoption of fish farming technologies in the study area. Fish farmers should be encouraged to belong to or form cooperatives/groups to enable them ease of access to inputs and resources, especially credit and information that will enhance adoption

Pattern and risk factors of non-fistulous urinary incontinence among gynaecological clinic attendees in a Nigeria tertiary health institution

Background: Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. It is rarely disclosed by the patients and usually under-reported. Objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern and risk factors of non-fistulous urinary incontinence among women attending gynaecological clinics in Calabar, Nigeria.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 658 women attending gynecological clinic from June 2018 to June 2019. English version of International consultation on incontinence questionnaire-urinary incontinence-short form (ICIQ-UI-SF) was used to obtain data. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.Results: The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 16.1%. Stress incontinence was the commonest of urinary incontinence (73.3%), other types were urge incontinence (17.2%) and mixed incontinence (9.5%). Independent risk factors for urinary incontinence were 40 years and above (AOR = 5.610; p<0.001), parity ≥3 (AOR = 4.454; p<0.001), lower educational level (primary) (AOR = 2.588; p<0.001), vaginal/instrumental deliveries (AOR = 4.358; p<0.001), carrying heavy load (AOR = 3.688; p<0.001) and farming (AOR = 3.510; p<0.001).Conclusions: Non-fistulous urinary incontinence is common among women in our environment. Stress urinary incontinence was the most common type. Advanced age, higher parity, vaginal and instrumental deliveries and farming were independent risk factors for urinary incontinence

Intern’s Experiences with Episiotomy and its Repair

Background: Episiotomy ‑an incision of the perineum at the time of vaginal delivery is a common obstetric procedure. If the repair is inadequately done, it may leave the woman suffering from perineal pain and other long term conditions with serious impact on the woman’s health and social wellbeing. The importance of skill in the obstetric procedure of episiotomy and its repair cannot be over emphasized.Objectives: The study aims to determine the interns’ training and experience with episiotomy and its repair.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire study of medical interns’ who had their houseman ship at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, over a period of two years between 2003 and 2005. Results were analyzed with the SPSS version 10.Results: 70 (77.7%) of the 90 interns to whom the questionnaire was administered responded correctly. They had an average age of 28.81 ±3.36 years. 44 (62.9%) had a formal demonstration on episiotomy repair done at their medical training institution. 56 (80%) of the interns were comfortable with episiotomy repair while 14 (20%) were not. 10 (45.45%) of the females and 4 (8.33%) of the males were not comfortable with episiotomy repair. 30% of those who got their skill on episiotomy repair at the period of houseman ship were not comfortable with the procedure as opposed to 4.3% of those who had a formal training at their medical training institution.Discussion: A formal demonstration at the medical school of training does not appear to be a constant event in the medical schools as only 62.9% of the interns in this study accepted receiving such. However, despite the above, 80% of these interns’ were comfortable with the repairs of episiotomy.Conclusions: It would be preferred if a formal demonstration is given on this procedure while a student is still in training.Keywords: Episiotomy, experiences, intern

The Contribution of Nigeria Health Sector Recurrent Spending on Its Output (1961-2012)

Health sector in any country has been recognized as the primary engine of growth and development. This study makes a modest contribution to the debates by empirically analyzing the contribution of Nigeria Health sector recurrent spending on its output using time series data from 1961 to 2012, obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria. It employs the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression technique and Pair wise Granger Causality tests. The estimation reviews that Political Stability (PSB) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Nigeria have positive effect on Total health output (HGDP) while Total Government Recurrent Expenditure on Health (TGREH) has a negative effect on Total health output (HGDP). On the contrary, rising Government recurrent expenditure on health does not results to an increase in Total health output. Based on the result of granger causality, the paper concludes that a very weak causality exist between the two main variables used in this study. The authors therefore advised that there should be a reduction in government recurrent expenditure in the health sector. Also there should be a high degree of transparency and accountability in government spending

Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato on the home grownschool feeding menu in Nigeria

Sweetpotato for health and wealth in Nigeria and Jumpstarting OFSP in West Africa for diversified markets are two projects that focus on development of the value chain for health and wealth of the rural households in Nigeria, working in Osun and Kwara states. Out of search for OFSP demand at the formal sector, inclusion in the school feeding menu was conceived. The flyer presents the stages of inception, advocacy and sensitization that resulted in the inclusion of OFSP in the School Feeding Program in Osun State, as well as the achievements made between June 2014 and July 2015, and plans for scaling up

Vermiremediation of soils contaminated with mixture of petroleum products using Eisenia fetida

In this paper, vermiremediation, a biological technique was utilized in order to clean-up soil contaminated with gasoline, diesel and spent engine oil using an earthworm - Eisenia fetida. The contaminated soils were analyzed for the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) level every 24 hours over a period of 120 hours using gas chromatography. It was observed that at each sampling time, the soils samples without the earthworm had more quantity of TPH than the corresponding samples with the earthworms. Pentadecane, 2,6,10, trimethyl had 100% reduction after 120 hours followed by octadecane with 67.30 % reduction and tetracosane with 50.28% reduction. In all sampling time, the initial octadecane level was significantly higher than the final octadecane level in soil with E. fetida (P&lt;0.05). Also, the initial hexadecanoic acid methyl ester level was significantly higher than the level of the hydrocarbon in the soils with E. fetida after 96 hour incubation and soil without the earthworm after 72 hours incubation (P&lt;0.05). After the 24 hours incubation the octadecane level in soil with E. fetida was significantly lower than the initial level and the level in soil without the earthworm (P&lt;0.01).The results showed that E. fetida enhances the degradation and reduction of TPH levels in soils and therefore can be used for cleaning up of soils contaminated with mixture of petroleum products. This is useful in reclaiming mechanic workshop soils for agricultural purposes hence increase in food production.Keywords: Vermiremediation, petroleum, contamination, earthworm, Eisenia fetid