Plantes alimentaires d’intérêt médicinal utilisées par les Pygmées de la commune de Pissa (République Centrafricaine)

L’usage des plantes dans les thérapies traditionnelles et en alimentation est primordial pour les populations des zones tropicales en général et celles des zones forestières et principalement des Pygmées en particulier. Le présent article contribue à la connaissance des plantes alimentaires d’intérêt médicinal utilisées en milieu pygmée dans la commune de Pissa en Centrafrique. Suite aux enquêtes ethnobotaniques menées auprès des Pygmées, 31 espèces végétales ont été recensées. Elles sont réparties en 31 genres et 23 familles dont les plus riches du point de vue spécifique sont : les Annonaceae (3 espèces), les Euphorbiaceae (3 espèces), les Moraceae (2 espèces), les Sapotaceae (2 espèces) et les Ulmaceae (2 espèces). Les parties des plantes les plus utilisées en alimentation sont les fruits et les feuilles avec des proportions respectives de 40,62% et 37,50%. Cependant en thérapie traditionnelle, les feuilles et les écorces sont les plus utilisées (51, 35% pour les feuilles et 24,32% pour les écorces). Les pathologies associées à l’utilisation de ces plantes alimentaires fréquemment citées sont : les parasitoses, l’inflammation, les maux de ventre, les dermatoses et la toux.Mots clés : Plantes alimentaires, plantes médicinales, Pygmées, République Centrafricaine

Marketing study

The findings are presented of a marketing survey conducted in the lake Victoria region. The research concentrated on consumers, trader /processors serving local markets, industrial processors serving mainly international markets, and fishers. The market for fish from Lake Victoria is traced from the consumer to the producer, including as many components of the chain as possible. The components are dealt with in individual sections which comprise a profile of a typical consumer/trader-processor/industrial processor /fisher, a list of survey sites, a map showing locations, a note on potential biases within the individual survey, a list of hypotheses or study topics for all surveys except for that of industrial processors, detailed analyses and also the pertinent questionnaire

The survey of Lake Victoria's fishers

The findings are presented of a survey conducted regarding the fishers of Lake Victoria, which examined the relationships affecting supply flows of raw material on to the market, and also the characteristics of fishing activities and their effects on fish quality and distribution. Fish marketing plays a vital role in the lives of much of the lake basin's population, both in terms of employment and nutrition. The results of the survey comprise, in part, a base-line data set which will facilitate further research, analysis and management decision-making in relation to stakeholders of the lake's resources. Data collection, methods and research difficulties encountered are described and details given of a profile of a boat owner/renter and aslo of a profile of a crew member. The survey shows that Lake Victoria's fishery is one of very limited diversity. The fishers recount that they consistently target one or more of the 3 most common species within the lake (Nile perch, tilapia and dagaa) and very rarely consider any other species type. The largest proportion of fishers on the lake are Nile perch fishers; there is considerable demand for this species, and hence fishers have little incentive to either target alternative fish species, not to try and establish firm marketing outlets through the creation of arrangements with their principal buyers. In Kenyan waters, however, the number of Nile perch fishers is equaled by the number of dagaa fishers; this fish now commands a considerable portion of the market for fish from Lake Victoria through its availability as well as its relatively low prices. The tilapia fishery is in decline, and all 3 riparian states would not appear to be attracting investment almost certainly as a result of declining catches. For many of those working in Lake Victoria's fishery, the problems faced appear most often to be associated with the vagaries of an unstable market which may rise or fall depending on the state of the international market or the state of access roads to fish landings. (PDF contains 42 pages

List of institutions of managerial relevance to the fisheries of Lake Victoria

The list provides addresses of institutions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda which are of managerial relevance to the fisheries of Lake Victoria, indicating the relevant area covere

Association between thrombocytes count and Plasmodium falcipurum infection among children under five years attending Kombewa Sub-County Hospital

Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially among children, expectant women and continues to be a global health burden. Haematological changes mark some of the most common complications in malaria as they play a major role in malaria pathology. Thrombocytes in particular, have been shown to bind infected erythrocytes and kill intracellular malaria parasites thereby indicating a protective function of platelets in the early stages. However, the mechanism that leads to low thrombocytes count in malaria infected individuals is not clear. Understanding the mechanism of platelet reduction during pathogenesis of malaria infection will be fundamental in malaria severity classification, monitoring of platelet count during infection and prompt initiation of anti-malarial therapy. In trying to understand these facts, this study sort to establish the association between platelet count and P. falciparum infection amongst children less than five years. This was a retrospective case-control study, n=549. Children below the age of five years that attending Kombewa Sub -County Hospital were recruited. Study participants were identified using the inclusion criteria and followed horizontally to retrieve platelet count from complete blood count results. The respective malaria blood film reads were then recorded, stratified to give case and control from which random sampling was done. Chi-square test and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests from Graph pad prism 5 were used in the analysis. The odds of exposure to low platelet count were then established with a confidence level of 95%. We found significant difference between the cases and controls in regard to parasite density (Chi square=157.5, p value <0.05), mean parasite density in controls =2042.1/?l compared to cases= 142880/?l. The odds of cases being exposed to malaria was 12 times more than controls (OR=12.382, 95%). We also found no variation in thrombocytes counts in relation to gender, children with thrombocytopenia were having higher parasite density, parasite density as a result of P.falciparum infection is not dependent on gender and children that suffered malarial infection were twelve times likely to develop thrombocytopenia. Further studies are then recommended to establish the effects of incorporation of platelet aggregation inhibitors such as aspirin in malaria treatment.Key Words: Plasmodium falciparum, thrombocytopenia, infectio

Assessing disease risk perceptions of wild meat in savanna borderland settlements in Kenya and Tanzania

Wild meat hunting and trade across African savannas is widespread. We interviewed 299 people in rural settlements along the Kenya-Tanzania border to examine impacts of COVID-19 on wild meat consumption and perceptions about wild meat activities associated with zoonotic disease risks. Education level played a key part in understanding COVID-19 transmission. Information about the pandemic was mostly acquired from the media. Nearly all respondents recognized that COVID-19 originated in China. As many as 70% reported no impact of COVID-19 on wild meat consumption; some believed that there was an increase. Over half of the respondents believed that consumption of wild meat leads to food-borne illnesses. Respondents recognized disease risks such as anthrax and brucellosis and accepted that people slaughtering and handling wild meat with open cuts were at greater risk. Ungulates were the most consumed animals, followed by birds, rodents, and shrews. Respondents perceived that hyenas, monkeys, donkeys, and snakes were riskier to eat. More than 90% of the respondents understood that handwashing with soap reduces risks of disease transmission. Country level (11 answers), education and gender (three answers each) and household economy (158 answers) were significant. Country differences were linked to differences in nature legislation; 50% of Kenyan respondents believed that wild meat should not be sold because of conservation concerns. Men were more worried about getting COVID-19 from live animals and perceived that wildlife should not be sold because of conservation reasons. Overall, there was a very strong inclination to stop buying wild meat if other meats were less expensive. Our results allow us to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wild meat-related activities. Differences between countries can frame the attitudes to wild meat since wild meat trade and consumption were found to be country specific

Gender Integration in the Management of the Lake Victoria Fisheries

The riparian governments of Lake Victoria have adopted co-management approach in fisheries management. This paper discusses gender mainstreaming in fisheries management of Lake Victoria, user rights, successes and challenges of the process. This paper has used gender-disaggregated data from several studies carried out around Lake Victoria using quantitative and qualitative methods. Results revealed an increase in female-headed households in the fisher communities. Men earned an average of $17.8 per landing while females earned about$7.72 per day, signifying unequal distributions of benefits by gender related activities. There has been an increase in registration of both men and women in the BMU, but women were lowly positioned in committees. In conclusion, the representation of women in decision making has improved, but not significantly translated into increased benefits, access to and control of assets and resources. There is a need to achieve an equitable gender responsive fisheries management regime. Key words: Lake Victoria, gender, user rights, resource access, fish marketing, incomes co-managemen

Gender Integration in the Management of the Lake Victoria Fisheries

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "(Photo inside a damaged building looking down into a room/area with the stuff spread out and compacted.)

Strategies to improve trade in Dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea) from Lake Victoria

The production of dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea), one of three major commercial fish species in Lake Victoria, has increased and it now contributes 55% of the catch, but only16% of its value. Less than 30% of production is utilised for human consumption, with the rest being used for stock feed. This study assessed the dagaa trade to develop strategies to improve its contribution to nutrition, food security and incomes. It involved298 respondents from landing sites, markets, feed production industries, supermarkets and border posts while institutions involved with policy and data collection and management were also consulted. Dagaa offered livelihoods to women and youths as vulnerable groups. Uganda and Tanzania were exporters of dagaa while Kenya was an importer, while it was also exported to neighbouring countries. Prices and net revenues fluctuated seasonally and most of the catch was sun-dried on nets and on bare ground which resulted in high post-harvest losses. Most traders operated within their own countries and thus had little incentive to improve quality and meet food safety standards. Most dagaa were sold at the beaches but small quantities of were sold in supermarkets. It is recommended that institutions should strengthen policy, information, fisheries management, quality assurance, market regulation and data capture.Keywords: Dagaa; Post-harvest losses; Quality control, Trade; Utilisation; Value additio