Assessment of water quality of Obueyinomo River, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, Southern Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the water quality of Obueyinomo River using water quality index. Ambient and water temperatures were determined in-situ while total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), total solids (TS), turbidity, pH, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), chloride, nitrate, phosphate, calcium and magnesium levels were analyzed in the laboratory using standard techniques. With the exception of DO, the other physicochemical parameters showed no significant difference (p>0.05) across the stations. Distribution patterns of physicochemical parameters in stations 1, 2 and 3 were analyzed using PCA. There was a strong association for stations 1, 2 and 3 which was also highly associated with nitrates. Hardness, magnesium calcium and phosphate formed a cluster showing the contributions of these ions to water hardness. Alkalinity, suspended solids and chloride formed a cluster suggesting that the suspended solids are largely composed of chlorides. Turbidity, pH, BOD and DO at all the stations exceeded the Federal Ministry of Environment standards for surface water. The water quality index (WQI) values at stations 1, 2 and 3 were 138.45, 122.70 and 170.01 respectively. The parameters responsible for the high values of WQI as indicated by the water quality rating include turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand. The high WQI values in all the stations studied which exceeded the benchmark of 100 showed that the water from this river is unfit for drinking purposes and should be treated before consumption by inhabitants of the area.Keywords:  Physicochemical parameters, River, Water quality index, Contaminatio

Histopathological alterations in Senegal sole, Solea Senegalensis, from a polluted Huelva estuary (SW, Spain)

As a component of a large research project to evaluate the effects of contaminants on fish health in the field, histopathological studies have been conducted to help establish causal relationship between pollutants (heavy metals and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons—PAHs) and histopathological responses in Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, from an estuary of SW Spain. Heavy metals (As, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Fe) and 16 PAHs (proprietary USEPA) concentrations in water, sediment and tissues (liver and gills) and histopathological alterations in S. senegalensis from three sampling sites of Ria de Huelva estuary during 2004–2006 years have been analysed. The histopathological studies revealed seasonal and spatial differences in the lesion grade of alterations observing the highest lesion grades in fish from Odiel River and autumn season. No significant differences were observed in the alterations prevalence between sampling sites, but significant differences were observed between seasons observing the highest prevalence in autumn season. However, calculated IPAT demonstrated a low–moderate impact of pollutants on health fish. Correlations between histopathological alterations and pollutants analysed were observed being heavy metals the group that presented a major number of correlations with alterations in several organs of S. senegalensis. In evaluating the general health of fish, the use of histopathological studies in recommended for making more reliable assessment of biochemical responses in fish exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. Statistical analysis using semiquantitative data on pathological lesions can help to establish correlation between cause (stressor) and effect (biomarker)

The pattern of oculoplastic disorders in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background: The oculoplastic subspecialty is still a growing field in Nigeria, with few centres providing its services. These conditions may arise from congenital malformation, involutional changes, trauma, metabolic diseases and tumours. Oculoplastic disorders can result in visual dysfunction, anatomical deformities and unappealing appearance which may lead to psychosocial isolation, withdrawal from formal education and ultimately a decreased quality of life.Objective: This study presents the frequency and pattern of presentation of oculoplastic disorders in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital with a view to updating available databases on oculoplastic conditions in the South-South geopolitical part of Nigeria which will help to develop an oculoplastic disease registry.Methods: This was a retrospective review of oculoplastic disorders that presented to the Ophthalmology clinic and accident and emergency rooms of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020 from the electronic departmental register. Informationregarding demographics, presenting complaints and diagnoses were obtained and analyzed using the SPSS software version 21.Results: A total of 247 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 29.6±20.0years. Approximately one-third of the patients were males 158 (64.0%) with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Eyelid laceration injuries 54 (21.9%) represented the highest number ofoculoplastic/eyelid cases followed by ptosis (16.2%). Participants in the 21-30 years age group had more eyelid conditions (44; 78.6%) than the other age groups while children aged ≤ 10 years presented with more orbital and lacrimal conditions (19; 37.3% and 6; 11.8% respectively.Conclusion: Young adults made up majority of the study participants and males were more than females in this study. Also, eyelid conditions were the most frequent of the oculoplastic conditions seen in the emergency room and Ophthalmology clinic with adults constituting majority of the number. Children presented with more orbital and lacrimal conditions

Generating evidence for health policy in challenging settings: lessons learned from four prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV implementation research studies in Nigeria

Abstract Background Implementation research (IR) facilitates health systems strengthening and optimal patient outcomes by generating evidence for scale-up of efficacious strategies in context. Thus, difficulties in generating IR evidence, particularly in limited-resource settings with wide disease prevention and treatment gaps, need to be anticipated and addressed. Nigeria is a priority country for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). This paper analyses the experiences of four PMTCT IR studies in Nigeria, and proffers solutions to major challenges encountered during implementation. Studies included and findings Multicentre PMTCT IR studies conducted in Nigeria during the Global Plan’s assessment period (2011 to 2015) were included. Four studies were identified, namely The Baby Shower Trial, Optimizing PMTCT, MoMent and Lafiyan Jikin Mata. Major common challenges encountered were categorised as ‘External’ (beyond the control of study teams) and ‘Internal’ (amenable to rectification by study teams). External challenges included healthcare worker strikes and turnover, acts and threats of ethnic and political violence and terrorism, and multiplicity of required local ethical reviews. Internal challenges included limited research capacity among study staff, research staff turnover and travel restrictions hindering study site visits. Deliberate research capacity-building was provided to study staff through multiple opportunities before and during study implementation. Post-study employment opportunities and pathways for further research career-building are suggested as incentives for study staff retention. Engagement of study community-resident personnel minimised research staff turnover in violence-prone areas. Conclusions The IR environment in Nigeria is extremely diverse and challenging, yet, with local experience and anticipatory planning, innovative solutions can be implemented to modulate internal challenges. Issues still remain with healthcare worker strikes and often unpredictable insecurity. There is a dire need for cooperation between institutional review boards across Nigeria in order to minimise the multiplicity of reviews for multicentre studies. External challenges need to be addressed by high-level stakeholders, given Nigeria’s crucial regional and global position in the fight against the HIV epidemic

Comparison of essential medicines lists in 137 countries.

Objective:To compare the medicines included in national essential medicines lists with the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Model list of essential medicines, and assess the extent to which countries' characteristics, such as WHO region, size and health care expenditure, account for the differences. Methods:We searched the WHO's Essential Medicines and Health Products Information Portal for national essential medicines lists. We compared each national list of essential medicines with both the 2017 WHO model list and other national lists. We used linear regression to determine whether differences were dependent on WHO Region, population size, life expectancy, infant mortality, gross domestic product and health-care expenditure. Findings:We identified 137 national lists of essential medicines that collectively included 2068 unique medicines. Each national list contained between 44 and 983 medicines (median 310: interquartile range, IQR: 269 to 422). The number of differences between each country's essential medicines list and WHO's model list ranged from 93 to 815 (median: 296; IQR: 265 to 381). Linear regression showed that only WHO region and health-care expenditure were significantly associated with the number of differences (adjusted R2 : 0.33; P &lt; 0.05). Most medicines (1248; 60%) were listed by no more than 10% (14) of countries. Conclusion:The substantial differences between national lists of essential medicines are only partly explained by differences in country characteristics and thus may not be related to different priority needs. This information helps to identify opportunities to improve essential medicines lists.</p

Comparison of essential medicines lists in 137 countries.

Objective:To compare the medicines included in national essential medicines lists with the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Model list of essential medicines, and assess the extent to which countries' characteristics, such as WHO region, size and health care expenditure, account for the differences. Methods:We searched the WHO's Essential Medicines and Health Products Information Portal for national essential medicines lists. We compared each national list of essential medicines with both the 2017 WHO model list and other national lists. We used linear regression to determine whether differences were dependent on WHO Region, population size, life expectancy, infant mortality, gross domestic product and health-care expenditure. Findings:We identified 137 national lists of essential medicines that collectively included 2068 unique medicines. Each national list contained between 44 and 983 medicines (median 310: interquartile range, IQR: 269 to 422). The number of differences between each country's essential medicines list and WHO's model list ranged from 93 to 815 (median: 296; IQR: 265 to 381). Linear regression showed that only WHO region and health-care expenditure were significantly associated with the number of differences (adjusted R2 : 0.33; Pand#8201;andlt;and#8201;0.05). Most medicines (1248; 60%) were listed by no more than 10% (14) of countries. Conclusion:The substantial differences between national lists of essential medicines are only partly explained by differences in country characteristics and thus may not be related to different priority needs. This information helps to identify opportunities to improve essential medicines lists.</p

Comparison of essential medicines lists in 137 countries.

Objective:To compare the medicines included in national essential medicines lists with the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Model list of essential medicines, and assess the extent to which countries' characteristics, such as WHO region, size and health care expenditure, account for the differences. Methods:We searched the WHO's Essential Medicines and Health Products Information Portal for national essential medicines lists. We compared each national list of essential medicines with both the 2017 WHO model list and other national lists. We used linear regression to determine whether differences were dependent on WHO Region, population size, life expectancy, infant mortality, gross domestic product and health-care expenditure. Findings:We identified 137 national lists of essential medicines that collectively included 2068 unique medicines. Each national list contained between 44 and 983 medicines (median 310: interquartile range, IQR: 269 to 422). The number of differences between each country's essential medicines list and WHO's model list ranged from 93 to 815 (median: 296; IQR: 265 to 381). Linear regression showed that only WHO region and health-care expenditure were significantly associated with the number of differences (adjusted R2 : 0.33; P &lt; 0.05). Most medicines (1248; 60%) were listed by no more than 10% (14) of countries. Conclusion:The substantial differences between national lists of essential medicines are only partly explained by differences in country characteristics and thus may not be related to different priority needs. This information helps to identify opportunities to improve essential medicines lists.</p