Development of Improved Drainage System for Storm Water flow at Isale koko Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Among areas prone to flood disaster yearly in Ilorin is Isale koko.  The study involved the reconnaissance survey to ascertain the current capacity of the existing drainage in the flood disaster prone area of Isale Koko, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The dimension of the drainage network of the area was taken at eight (8) various points and the average area of the drainage was obtained to be 0.44m². The already existing drainage in the area was divided into 3 sections for easy computations of flow value, length, depth and width. The rainfall intensity for the study area was found to be 98.49mm/hr. The rational method and Manning’s equation were used for the surface runoff and the proposed drainage respectively. The peak flow of the area and maximum flow velocity in the drains were determined to be 48.46mᶟ/s and 2.21mᶟ/s respectively. The best hydraulic section method was employed to obtain new drainage dimensions for both rectangular and trapezoidal channels. The new designed rectangular channel had dimensions of 1.16m × 0.812m while the trapezoidal channel had dimensions of 1.43m×0.72m×0.87m. The area of both channels was obtained to be 0.67m². A comparative analysis was carried against the average area of the pre-existing drainage that showed a 53.3% increase in drainage area; proving that the current drainage infrastructure of the area is grossly inadequate. Sequel to the analysis, the trapezoidal shaped drainage was recommended for the study area. Keywords—Drainage, Flood, Infrastructure, Runoff, Storm wate

ASSESSMENT OF LOCATION SUITABILITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES IN PETROL FILLING STATIONS, ILORIN, NIGERIA

The recent proliferation of petrol filling stations in Ilorin town was assessed with the use of both site analysis report and questionnaire. In order to achieve the aim of this research, 43 petrol filling stations were systematically chosen and physically analyzed. More also, 150 carefully structured questionnaires were used to extract information from respondents who are attendants in these petrol filling stations. The results gotten from both the site analysis and questionnaire were subjected to Department of Petroleum Resources’ standard criteria (Nigeria) and criteria of the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison (or simply the RED GUIDE) from the UK. It was established from this research that only 5% of the petrol filling stations considered is within these standard criteria, with 74% of the considered petrol filling stations having very low location suitability, suggesting that the city is sitting on an inflammable fuel waiting to be rekindled. Furthermore, it can also be established from this research, that most of the fuel attendants are not well acquainted with the proper health and safety measures required to be in such station. It was observed from this research, that the permitting requirements and standard criteria are probably just on paper or the corresponding ministries or agencies concerned are not proactive. Thereby, endangering the lives and properties of innocent citizens as well as exposing the environment to contaminations from petroleum products and subsequent climatic degradations

Optimization of Calcined Beans Pod Ash – Cement Blended Concrete Mix Using Taguchi Method

This study investigated the optimization of calcined beans pod ash (BPA) - cement concrete mix using the Taguchi method. Concrete is a widely used building material with various performance requirements. These requirements are mostly influenced by concrete constituent materials and mixtures proportion obtained from concrete mix design. But improper mix design can result in inherent defects or local imperfections, which can significantly deteriorate the performance properties of concrete and jeopardize the structural integrity and durability of concrete structure. Taguchi method of optimization was employed to address these challenges. It involves identifying key factors (water – cement ratio, percentage of BPA – cement replacement, fine to total aggregate ratio and super-plasticizer dosage), selecting suitable levels for these factors, and conducting experiments to determine the optimum combination of factors. The effects of these variables on concrete slump flow (SF), compressive strength (Fcu), and split tensile strength (Fy) were evaluated. The results of SF, Fcu and Fy of BPA – cement concrete show significant improvement of 23.74%, 21.72% and 21.43% respectively, when cement was partially replaced with BPA from 5% to 20%. Likewise, an improvement of 5.97%, 5.69% and 5.37% for SF, Fcu and Fy of BPA – cement concrete, when the dosage of super-plasticizer in concrete mix was varied from 6% to 12%. A respective optimal parameter combination for BPA – cement concrete slump and strengths were obtained at 0.40, 5%, 0.4, 6 ml/kg of cement and 0.35, 5%, 0.4, 6 ml/kg of cement for W-C, BPA, F-T Agg, SP respectively

Strengthening retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment services in Nigeria: a case study of activities, challenges and outcomes 2017-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria. DESIGN: Descriptive case study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care units in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Staff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was used to collect service data from WhatsApp group members for 2017-2018 and to assess challenges in service provision. RESULTS: In 2017 only six of the 84 public neonatal units in Nigeria provided ROP services; this number had increased to 20 by 2018. Of the 723 babies screened in 10 units over a year, 127 (17.6%) developed any ROP; and 29 (22.8%) developed type 1 ROP. Only 13 (44.8%) babies were treated, most by intravitreal bevacizumab. The screening criteria were revised in 2020. Challenges included lack of equipment to regulate oxygen and to document and treat ROP, and lack of data systems. CONCLUSION: ROP screening coverage and quality improved after national and international collaborative efforts. To scale up and improve services, equipment for neonatal care and ROP treatment is urgently needed, as well as systems to monitor data. Ongoing advocacy is also essential

The Impact of Environmental Factors on Malaria Prevalence in a Peri-urban Community in Kwara State, Nigeria.

There is a consensus on the relationship between Malaria Prevalence (MP) and Environmental Factors (EF); however, there is a dearth of published data providing this evidence in a quantifiable way. This community based study was undertaken to identify the magnitude of the relationship between MP and key environmental factors in Okelele, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. A multi-staged sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of 501 children from 200 households. Children under the age of 14 years in the selected households were sampled to obtain baseline MP using malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT) kit. Key household informant interviews and structured questionnaire were used. Relevant socio-demographic characteristics of the households, EF and non EF were determined. Acquired data was analyzed using statistical tools to determine the relationship between various independent variables and mRDT. Variables were also entered into a multiple regression equation for the generation of a mathematical model. Ethical consent was obtained from the parents before samples were taken.The study showed that EF contributed to MP in the study area. Integrated waste management system, and regular environmental sanitation were recommended

Factors contributing to anaemia after uncomplicated falciparum malaria in under five year-old Nigerian children ten years following adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies as first-line antimalarials

Abstract Background Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have remained efficacious treatments of acute falciparum malaria in many endemic areas but there is little evaluation of factors contributing to the anaemia of acute falciparum malaria following long term adoption of ACTs as first-line antimalarials in African children. Methods Malarious 4% were evaluated by stepwise multiple logistic regression models. Survival analysis and kinetics of DAFH were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier estimator and non-compartment model, respectively. Results Pre-treatment, 355 of 959 children were anaemic. Duration of illness >2 days and parasitaemia ≤10,000 μL−1 were independent predictors of anaemia pre-treatment. EAA occurred in 301 of 604 children. Predictors of EAA were age ≤ 15 months, history of fever pre-treatment and enrolment haematocrit ≤35%. The probabilities of progression from normal haematocrit to EAA were similar for all treatments. MAFH >4% occurred in 446 of 694 children; its predictors were anaemia pre-treatment, enrolment parasitaemia ≤50,000 μL−1, parasitaemia one day post-treatment initiation and gametocytaemia. DAFH >4% occurred in 334 of 719 children; its predictors were history of fever pre-and fever 1 day post-treatment initiation, haematocrit ≥37%, and parasitaemia >100,000 μL−1. In 432 children, declines in DAFH deficits were monoexponential with overall estimated half-time of 2.2d (95% CI 1.9–2.6). Area under curve of deficits in DAFH versus time and estimated half-time were significantly higher in non-anaemic children indicating greater loss of haematocrit in these children. Conclusion After ten years of adoption of ACTs, anaemia is common pre-and early post-treatment, falls in haematocrit attributable to a single infection is high, and DAFH >4% is common and significantly lower in anaemic compared to non-anaemic Nigerian children. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR) [ PACTR201709002064150, 1 March 2017 ]

Parasite reduction ratio one day after initiation of artemisinin-based combination therapies and its relationship with parasite clearance time in acutely malarious children

Abstract Background In acute falciparum malaria, asexual parasite reduction ratio two days post-treatment initiation (PRRD2) ≥ 10 000 per cycle has been used as a measure of the rapid clearance of parasitaemia and efficacy of artemisinin derivatives. However, there is little evaluation of alternative measures; for example, parasite reduction ratio one day after treatment initiation (PRRD1) and its relationship with parasite clearance time (PCT) or PRRD2. This study evaluated the use of PRRD1 as a measure of responsiveness to antimalarial drugs. Methods In acutely malarious children treated with artesunate-amodiaquine (AA), artemether-lumefantrine (AL) or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP), the relationships between PRRD1 or PRRD2 and PCT, and between PRRD1 and PRRD2 were evaluated using linear regression. Agreement between estimates of PCT using PRRD1 and PRRD2 linear regression equations was evaluated using the Bland-Altman analysis. Predictors of PRRD1 > 5000 per half cycle and PRRD2 ≥ 10 000 per cycle were evaluated using stepwise multiple logistic regression models. Using the linear regression equation of the relationship between PRRD1 and PCT previously generated in half of the DHP-treated children during the early study phase, PCT estimates were compared in a prospective blinded manner with PCTs determined by microscopy during the later study phase in the remaining half. Results In 919 malarious children, PRRD1 was significantly higher in DHP- and AA-treated compared with AL-treated children (P  15 months, parasitaemia > 10 000/μl and DHP treatment independently predicted PRRD1 > 5000 per half cycle, while age > 30 months, haematocrit ≥31%, body temperature > 37.4 °C, parasitaemia > 100 000/μl, PRRD1 value > 1000 and no gametocytaemia independently predicted PRRD2 ≥ 10 000 per cycle. Using the linear regression equation generated during the early phase in 166 DHP-treated children, PCT estimates and PCTs determined by microscopy in the 155 children in the later phase were similar in the same patients. Conclusions PRRD1 and estimates of PCT using PRRD1 linear regression equation of PRRD1 and PCT can be used in therapeutic efficacy studies. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trial Registration PACTR201709002064150, 1 March 2017, http://www.pactr.or