Effects of Changes of Lake Victoria Water Levels on Land Use Patterns, Covid-19 Pandemic and Food Security in Winam Gulf, Homa-Bay County, Kenya

The study was carried out on the Southern shore of Winam Gulf, Homa Bay County, Kenya. It was aimed at establishing the relationship among changes of Lake Victoria water levels, land use patterns and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. Empirical studies involving ground point survey was used to determine the extent of spread of the back flow and vertical rise of the lake’s waters from five pier and nine beach survey points between July 2019 to October 2020. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were also used to collect data which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Likert’s scale. The average variations of the extent of the back flow was approximately 294m while the vertical change in the water levels along the pier points was 1.03m. This led to submergence of the adjacent land use patterns and interfered with food security in the region. Coupled with the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, majority (209) of the respondents substituted their meals and a quarter (79) of the them reduced their number of meals per day. A strong positive perception on the responses by the Government of Kenya and County Government Homa Bay towards addressing the pandemic with the Likert’s scale summative perception index of 381 very effective, 328 effective and 363 satisfactory were realized. The study recommends: observance and execution of environmental laws governing settlement on riparian lands, proactive compliance with the warnings and advice from the meteorological department, and adoption of alternative land use patterns

Effects of Piers on Water Recession on the Southern Shores of Winam Gulf, Homa- Bay County, Kenya

Piers are important man-made water vessel landing facilities in lakes and seas. A study on the effects of piers on water recession was conducted on the Southern shores of Winam Gulf of lake Victoria, Homa Bay County in Kenya. It was conducted in three pier points namely Kendu Bay, Kowour/Homa Lime and Homa Bay. The study aimed at explaining a phenomenon whereby the Western side of the piers on the Southern shores of the gulf, having more water recession than on their Eastern side. This unique phenomenon has not been sufficiently researched on hence, instigated the research. It collected data on the length of recession at the sides of the piers, directions of water currents flow based on devised simple current simulator and empirical studies. Google map and Landsat map techniques were used for aerial data collection. Ground truthing was carried out to corroborate the findings of the aerial data based on physical ground measurement and observation. The result had it that the sides of the piers facing currents directly were more recessed than the opposite sides. Homa Bay pier had its Western side 38m shorter than the Eastern side which had only receded 2m. Kowuor/Homa Lime pier had its Northern side 32m more recessed than the Southern side. The drenching works at Kendu Bay pier at the time of study, made it impossible to accurately measure its sides under recession. However, it showed the same trend based on Landsat and Google maps data. The data were presented using photographs, ‘current rose,’ maps and diagrams

Realizing farmers' rights through community seed banks in Uganda: experiences and policy issues

The paper interrogates the role of community seed banks (CSBs) and related initiatives in the realization of farmers' rights in Uganda and the policy and legislative space for the functioning of CSBs. The study finds that although community seed banks are a relatively new phenomenon in Uganda, there have been community based seed banking initiatives that have been instrumental in the realization of farmers' rights to save and exchange seed and information; and especially providing a wide range of diversity of seed to farmers and improving access to good quality seed. Through partnerships with local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), research and government institutions, CSBs have received technical and financial support for conservation and seed production activities, thus enabling them to participate in seed value-chains through production of quality declared seed (QDS) and participate in decision making. Although the policy and legal environment for the functioning of CSBs is not well defined, various pieces of draft legislation provide positively for ways through which CSBs can be recognized and supported for the benefit of farmers. The study recommends that CSBs activities should be rolled-out to other parts of the country through a government financing mechanism that is suggested in the draft national policy on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The development of a policy and legal environment that includes an act that has provisions for the recognition of CSBs and the protection of farmers' rights is important. Secondary information, interviews with key informants and Focus Group discussions (FGDs) are the primary sources of data used

Fluoride removal performance of phosphoric acid treated lime: Breakthrough analysis and point-of-use system performance

Fluoride in drinking water above permissible levels is responsible for dental and skeletal fluorosis. In this study, removal of fluoride ions from water using phosphoric acid treated lime was investigated in continuous and point-of-use system operations. In the continuous column operations, fluoride removal performance was investigated as a function of the fluoride concentration, flow rate and amount of adsorbent mass. Early saturation and lower fluoride removal were observed at higher flow rate and initial concentration, and at lower mass. Two domestic defluoridation point-of-use systems operated intermittently to process 20 ..day.1 of water were used. High fluoride uptake capacity (FUC) from groundwater was observed depicting the suitability of the new media in defluoridation. However, further research is required to optimise the point-ofuse systems performances

Communication in Surgery for Patient Safety

One of the cardinal pieces of the Hippocratic Oath is “do no harm”; yet, even in the very best of contexts, errors, at times fatal, do occur as was reported by the Institute of Medicine. Surgical procedures are known to cause the majority of serious adverse events. The Joint Commission report indicates that 60% of serious adverse events are caused by the lack of physician-patient communication. Some of the factors that make surgical processes prone to medical errors include the number of steps and people involved and the fact that the interventions intended for the healing are often in themselves invasive and can also complicate. The involvement of more than one discipline and individual requires communication that is clear, understandable, culturally sensitive, and contextually relevant. One of the center pieces of quality care is its patient-centeredness. This refers to providing service that is not only respectful but also responsive to individual patients involving them in the decisions, ensuring their values and preferences are taken into consideration. It also demands that the care giver provides the patients with relevant and understandable information to enable them in the decision-making and make informed choices

Effect of wheat bran supplementation with fresh and composted agricultural wastes on the growth of Kenyan native wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]

Nutrient supplements and agricultural wastes used for mushroom cultivation are important in improving establishment and production of mushrooms. Agricultural wastes such as sawdust, grass, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw and maize cobs have successfully been used for the production of Kenyan wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]. However, the effect of varying concentrations of wheat bran supplements on their productivity has not been fully researched. In this study, fresh and composted agricultural wastes were supplemented with wheat bran at concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 20%. The cultivation experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data was collected on days to spawn run, days to primordial initiation, primordial concentration quality and biological efficiency. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version 9.1. Mean separation was done using least significant difference (LSD) and effects were declared significant at 5% level. Key words: Wood ear mushrooms, fresh and composted agricultural wastes, wheat bran, Kenya

The Shifting Roles of Men in Collective Action on SGBV in Kenya: Report of a Movement and Influence Mapping Workshop, Nairobi, 3–5 July 2013

Over a decade and a half on from the landmark declarations of the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (UN 1994) and the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (UN 1995), there is now a growing consensus on the importance of engaging men and boys in efforts to stop violence against women and girls. Kenya’s 2008/09 Demographic and Health Survey indicated that 45 per cent of women aged 15–49 had experienced either physical or sexual violence — mostly committed by their husbands or partners. Some of the causes behind the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Kenya include traditional gender norms that support male superiority and entitlement, social norms that tolerate or justify violence against women, and weak community sanctions against perpetrators. While SGBV has been a feature of all societies throughout history, in Kenya women and girls suffered increased incidences of sexual violence in 2007-08 following accusations that the government manipulated the election process. This plunged the country into turmoil, with Kenya spiralling into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis that resulted in the death of 1,300 people and the displacement of around 300,000 people (Muhula 2009). In order to improve our understanding and knowledge of shifting roles of men in movements to address SGBV through collective action in Kenya, Men for Gender Equality Now (MEGEN), the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) joined together to engage with multiple actors in Kenya for collective learning through this workshop.UK Department for International Developmen

Slowing Disease Progression in Type 2 Diabetes: Latest Advances

Background: Largest head-to-head, double-blind study of metformin, glyburide and rosiglitazone (N = 4,360). Primary objective: To compare the durability of glycemic control using rosiglitazone versus metformin or glyburide as initial monotherapy in patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Design: Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Inclusion criteria: Type 2 diabetes ≤ 3 years, drug-naive, male and female, aged 30–75 years, FPG 126–180 mg/dl (7–10 mmol/l). Exclusion criteria: Previous use of glucose-lowering therapy, women of child-bearing potential, significant hepatic disease, renal impairment, unstable or severe angina, known CHF (NYHA Class I–IV), uncontrolled hypertension. Treatment duration: Treatment period: 4 to 6 years. Median duration of treatment: 4 years (rosiglitazone and metformin); 3.3 years (glyburide). Interventions: Rosiglitazone, metformin, glyburide