CONTRIBUTION DE LA TECHNOLOGIE DU BIODIGESTEUR A LA DURABILITE DES EXPLOITATIONS AGRICOLES FAMILIALES AU BURKINA FASO

Despite problems related to energy, biomass reduction, grazing degradation, decreased soil fertility, environmental fragility, the biodigester is positioned as a strategy of adaptation and transformation of production systems with the association of agriculture and livestock. The biodigester is an underground construction that uses cow dung or pork excrement mixed with water to produce biogas for cooking and lighting and effluent compost for soil fertilization. The study aimed to evaluate the contribution of the Biodigester technology to agro-ecological sustainability, socio-territorial sustainability and socio-economic sustainability. The study was undertaken in November 2015 in the municipalities of Bobo Dioulasso, Kaya-Barsalgo and Dori. The individual survey was conducted in twenty-four (24) villages on a sample of 166 heads of farms. The results showed the contribution of biodigester technology to agro-ecological, socio-territorial and socio-economic sustainability. Furthermore, land security, the cost of installing the infrastructure, insufficiency or scarcity of cow dung at certain times of the year, lack of water remain the main limits of adoption of the Biodigester technology. The biodigester is an appropriate technology capable of solving the economic, agricultural and energy questions faced by households

Evaluation of the Nutritional and Hematological Status of Sickle Cell Children Monitored in the Pediatric Department of the University Hospital Center of Yalgado Ouedraogo

Objective: To assess the nutritional and hematological status of sickle cell children followed in the department of pediatrics of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital Centre (CHU-YO).Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from September 1, 2017, to February 28, 2018. All children with major sickle cell syndrome followed in the department of pediatrics at the CHU-YO and following their follow-up appointments were included in the study.Results: We included 230 children aged 11 months to 16 years with an average age of 8.5 years. The sex M/F ratio was 1.09. The SC heterozygotes were the most represented with 56.52%. The average hemoglobin level was 9.39 g/dl. The prevalences of wasting, stunting and underweight were respectively 23.04%, 15.65%, and 13.89%. In univariate analysis, the factors associated with emaciation was hyperleukocytosis (p=0.002).The factors associated with stunting were leukocytosis (p=0.01), severe anemia (p=0.01), SS phenotype (p=0.002), age range of 5-10 years (p=0.007), Secondary (P=0.007) and higher level (p=0.001) of father’s education, secondary (p=0.027) and higher level (p=0.034)of mothers’education , farmer(p=0.003) trader (p=0.042), and informal occupation of father (p = 0.002),and breastfeeding duration after 24 months (p=0.006). For underweight associated factors in univariate analysis were SS phenotype (p=0.003) and severe anemia (p=0.01).Conclusion: The prevalence of different types of malnutrition deficiency of sickle cell children followed at CHU-YO was high. It is important to strengthen the nutritional monitoring of children with sickle cell disease for better management of the disease

Outcome of a workshop

International audience; In tackling agricultural challenges, policy-makers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have increasingly considered genetically modified (GM) crops as a potential tool to increase productivity and to improve product quality. Yet, as elsewhere in the world, the adoption of GM crops in SSA has been marked by controversy, encompassing not only the potential risks to animal and human health, and to the environment, but also other concerns such as ethical issues, public participation in decision-making, socio-economic factors and intellectual property rights. With these non-scientific factors complicating an already controversial situation, disseminating credible information to the public as well as facilitating stakeholder input into decision-making is essential. In SSA, there are various and innovative risk communication approaches and strategies being developed, yet a comprehensive analysis of such data is missing. This gap is addressed by giving an overview of current strategies, identifying similarities and differences between various country and institutional approaches and promoting a way forward, building on a recent workshop with risk communicators working in SSA