Governance of urban green infrastructure in informal settlements of Windhoek, Namibia

In light of increased rural-urban migration, population growth, climate change impacts, and cascading natural, security, and health hazards, many municipalities in Sub-Saharan Africa are beginning to consider the benefits of urban green infrastructure for improving the resilience and wellbeing of residents living in informal settlements. However, present governance systems are often ill-equipped to deliver the scale of planning needed. Integration of UGI into local government mandates, spatial planning, and targeted action plans remains limited, further inhibited by scarce empirical research on the topic in Africa. Taking Windhoek, Namibia, and specifically Moses ‖Garoëb, Samora Machel, and Tobias Hainyeko Constituencies as a case study, we fitted key informant interview (n = 23), focus group (n = 20), and participant observation data into existing governance theory to investigate (a) benefits and trade-offs of present UGI in Windhoek’s informal settlements; (b) UGI governance in terms of institutional frameworks, actors and coalitions, resources, and processes; and (c) the key desirable pathways for future UGI governance in informal settlements. To this end, we used five green infrastructure initiatives to dissect governance intricacies, and found diverse opportunities for robust UGI initiatives that use innovative governance mechanisms. Additionally, the urgent need for climate resilience in Namibia offers a policy and practice window to adopt context-specific approaches for multifunctional UGI. However, for these initiatives to succeed, collaborative governance platforms and clearly delineated mandates for UGI are necessary, with explicit integration of UGI into strategies for in-situ informal settlements upgrading and green job growth

Bacterial pathogens in conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers with special reference to Streptococcus pneumoniae, in early 2008, in the National Eye Hospital, Sri Lanka

Introduction: The most important and frequently occurring eye infections are conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers. Though the significance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in eye infections is well-known, identification of causative serotypes is important for comparison with serotypes causing invasive diseases. Objectives: To describe the spectrum and characteristics of bacterial pathogens associated with conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers with special reference to S. pneumoniae.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from January to April 2008 in which samples were collected from patients above one month old with suspected conjunctivitis or corneal ulcers seen in the out-patients department and wards of the National Eye Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Both eye swabs (n=322) and corneal buttons (n=31) were cultured. Isolated bacteriawere identified as far as possible and antibiotic sensitivity testing done. S. pneumoniae isolates were stored in sheep blood agar slants at -70 ºC and serotyped. Results: There were 296 conjunctival swabs and 26 corneal swabs. From 296 conjunctival swabs 118 (39.8%) samples yielded no bacterial growth. There were 185 bacterial isolates from 159 significant positive samples. The most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase negative Staphylococcus sp. (n=58: 31.4%), and second commonest was S. pneumoniae (n=33: 17.84%). From 57 samples from patients with corneal ulcers, 47 (82%) did not yield any bacterial growth. Sensitivity to chloramphenicol was high among Staphylococcus sp., S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella sp and coliforms. Among pneumococcal isolates serotyped, 19F was predominant. Conclusion: Coagulase negative staphylococci were predominantly isolated from eye swabs and corneal buttons, but the most significant frequent isolate was S. pneumoniae. Except Pseudomonas, &gt;90% isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol. The predominant pneumococcal serotype was 19F.</p

Mainstreaming nature-based solutions for climate resilient infrastructure in peri-urban sub-Saharan Africa

Despite a growing recognition of the importance of designing, rehabilitating, and maintaining green infrastructure to provide essential ecosystem services and adapt to climate change, many decision makers in sub-Saharan Africa continue to favour engineered solutions and short term economic growth at the expense of natural landscapes and longer term sustainability agendas. Existing green infrastructure is typically maintained in more affluent suburbs, inadvertently perpetuating historic inequalities. This is in part because there remains a lack of fine-grained, comparative evidence on the barriers and enablers to mainstreaming green infrastructure in peri-urban areas. Here, we developed an analytical framework based on a review of 155 studies, screened to include 29 studies in 24 countries. Results suggest eight overarching categories of interconnected barriers to green infrastructure in peri-urban areas. Using a combinatorial mixed method approach, we then surveyed households in nine settlements in drought-prone Windhoek (n=330) and seven settlements in flood-prone Dar es Salaam (n=502) and conducted key informant interviews (n=118). Peri-urban residents in Windhoek and Dar es Salaam indicated 18 forms of green infrastructure and 47 derived ecosystem services. The most frequently reported barriers were financial (40.8%), legal and institutional barriers (35.8%) followed by land use change and spatial trade-offs (33%) and finally ecosystem disservices (30.6%). The most significant barriers in Dar es Salaam were legal and institutional (22.7%) and in Windhoek were land use change and spatial trade-offs (24.4%). At the household level, the principal barrier was financial; at community and municipal levels the main barriers were related to design, performance, and maintenance; while at the national level, the main barriers were legal and institutional. Embracing institutional cultures of adaptive policymaking, equitable partnerships, co-designing futures, integrated landscape management and experimental innovation have potential to scale long term maintenance for urban green infrastructure and foster agency, creativity and more transformative relationships and outcomes

Leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin (LPEP): an international feasibility programme

Background Innovative approaches are required for leprosy control to reduce cases and curb transmission of Mycobacterium leprae. Early case detection, contact screening, and chemoprophylaxis are the most promising tools. We aimed to generate evidence on the feasibility of integrating contact tracing and administration of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) into routine leprosy control activities. Methods The leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis (LPEP) programme was an international, multicentre feasibility study implemented within the leprosy control programmes of Brazil, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. LPEP explored the feasibility of combining three key interventions: systematically tracing contacts of individuals newly diagnosed with leprosy; screening the traced contacts for leprosy; and administering SDR to eligible contacts. Outcomes were assessed in terms of number of contacts traced, screened, and SDR administration rates. Findings Between Jan 1, 2015, and Aug 1, 2019, LPEP enrolled 9170 index patients and listed 179 769 contacts, of whom 174782 (97·2%) were successfully traced and screened. Of those screened, 22 854 (13·1%) were excluded from SDR mainly because of health reasons and age. Among those excluded, 810 were confirmed as new patients (46 per 10 000 contacts screened). Among the eligible screened contacts, 1182 (0·7%) refused prophylactic treatment with SDR. Overall, SDR was administered to 151 928 (86·9%) screened contacts. No serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation Post-exposure prophylaxis with SDR is safe; can be integrated into different leprosy control programmes with minimal additional efforts once contact tracing has been established; and is generally well accepted by index patients, their contacts, and health-care workers. The programme has also invigorated local leprosy control through the availability of a prophylactic intervention; therefore,