Performance of Professional Courses In Botswana: A Tutor Perspective

Globally, the performance of learners in professional courses is not pleasing at all. This paper aims at evaluating the performance of learners in ACCA and BICA qualifications in Botswana from a tutor’s perspective. A structured questionnaire was administered to 45 respondents purposively (judgmentally) sampled from universities in Gaborone Botswana. This paper established that learner’s attitude was viewed as the major factor contributing to poor performance in professional courses in Botswana. This paper recommends that training providers were urged to amend their academic entry requirements to professional

Is the Digitalisation Solution to COVID-19: A Corporate Governance Perspective

COVID-19 has affected almost all spheres of life. Many researchers focus on the impact of this pandemic on economic, social and political spheres neglecting its effects on the pillars of corporate governance. This paper explores the impacts of COVID-19 on corporate governance in Africa. This paper consulted a number of secondary sources in order to fill the inadequacy in academic gap on COVID-19 and corporate governance. This paper established that COVID-19 has adversely affected the corporate governance practices; cancellation and postponement of important meetings. Companies are advised to adopt alternative digital communication platforms to convey important information to stakeholders

Promoting ethics and integrity in research and innovation for development in Africa : the role of Africa’s science granting councils : a discussion paper prepared for the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) master class of 2021

The paper advocates for Science Granting Councils (SGC) to enhance ethics and integrity activities as part of their responsibilities for supporting ethical conduct of research and innovation. SGCs should play a leading role in facilitating development of, or revision of research policies to ensure that ethics and integrity issues are addressed satisfactorily. The African science enterprise through SGCs, needs to adapt to growing concerns if it is to remain relevant. The paper provides an in- depth report of current and existing challenges within the purview of the Science Granting Councils, which was provided to SGCs from 15 participating African countries at the SGCI Masterclass event

Strengthening the role of African Science Granting Councils in promoting ethics and integrity in research and innovation

“Ethics and Integrity in Research and Innovation in Development” was the theme of the 2020 Science Granting Council’s (SGC) Masterclass. African SGCs need to enhance their activities and roles as part of their responsibilities in supporting ethical conduct of research and innovation. The African science enterprise through SGCs, needs to adapt to growing concerns if it is to remain relevant. SGCs should play a leading role in facilitating development of, or revision of research policies to ensure that ethics and integrity issues are addressed satisfactorily. This policy brief is a response to the growth in research being conducted in African countries.United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)South African’s National Research Foundation (NRF)German Research Foundation (DFG

Guideline for sustainable wetland management and utilization: key cornerstones

This research report is based on the project on Wetlands, Livelihoods and Environmental Security and the Sustainable management of Inland Wetlands in Southern Africa: a livelihoods and ecosystem approach projects. The projects were supported by the CGIAR´s Challenge Programme on Water and Food (CPWF) and the Global Environment facility with matching funds from International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), FSP and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) The authors acknowledge input by the entire project team. The support of IWMI, UEM, and the UZ, and Institute de Recherche pour le Development (IRD) during project implementation is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank the input of CPWF Theme 3 leadership and the Limpopo Basin Coordinator during project implementation

“They test my blood to know how much blood is in my body”: The untapped potential of promoting viral load literacy to support viral suppression among adolescents living with HIV

Introduction: Achieving sustained HIV viral suppression is a key strategy to optimise the health and well-being of those living with HIV. Sub-optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adolescents and young people living with HIV (AYPLHIV) in Southern Africa, due to a range of social and contextual factors including poor mental health, has presented a substantial challenge to meeting targets aimed towards improving treatment outcomes and reducing transmission. With the increasing availability of viral load testing in Southern Africa, there is an opportunity to better understand the relationship between viral load (VL) literacy, well-being, and adherence among adolescents. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 45 AYPLHIV aged 10-24 years in 3 districts (urban, peri urban, and rural) in Zimbabwe. The sample was purposively selected to represent a range of experiences related to HIV status disclosure, gender, marital status, and treatment experience. Separate workshops were conducted with 18 health care workers (HCWs) and 20 caregivers to better understand existing support mechanisms to AYPLHIV accessing ART. We used thematic analysis to examine adolescent VL literacy, treatment support networks, experiences of clinic interactions, viral load testing procedures, and barriers to adherence. Results: VL literacy was consistently under-developed among participants. Comprehension of phrases commonly heard during clinic visits such as TND (target not detected) and ‘high’ and ‘low’ viral load were better understood by older participants. VL testing was predominantly understood as a clinical procedure that enables HCWs to monitor treatment adherence. Conspicuously absent throughout the interviews were descriptions of how viral suppression improves health and quality of life, likely fosters well-being and enhances self-esteem, enables participation in education and social activities, and eliminates the risk of onward transmission. Conclusions: It is imperative that we reconsider how routine VL monitoring is communicated to and understood by AYPLHIV. Reframing ART, including VL test results, in terms of the psychosocial benefits that viral suppression can generate is likely to be crucial to motivating AYPLHIV to maintain optimal treatment engagement and develop self-management approaches as they move into adulthood. Access to accurate information tailored to individual concerns and circumstances can support AYPLHIV to achieve well-being

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision and uptake of services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is targeting elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by December 2025, however the COVID-19 pandemic challenged health service delivery globally. Monthly aggregated data were extracted from DHIS-2 for all facilities delivering antenatal care (ANC). ZIMSTAT and Spectrum demographic estimates were used for population-level denominators. Programme indicators are among those in HIV care and population indicators reflect the total population. The mean estimated proportion of pregnant women booking for ANC per month did not change (91% pre-pandemic vs 91% during pandemic, p = 0.95), despite dropping to 47% in April 2020. At a programme-level, the estimated proportion of women who received at least one HIV test fell in April 2020 (3.6% relative reduction vs March (95% CI 2.2–5.1), p<0.001) with gradual recovery towards pre-pandemic levels. The estimated proportion of women who were retested among those initially negative in pregnancy fell markedly in April 2020 (39% reduction (32–45%), p<0.001) and the subsequent increase was much slower, only reaching 39% by September 2021 compared to average 53% pre-pandemic. The mean estimated proportion of pregnant women with HIV on ART was unchanged at programme-level (98% vs 98%, p = 0.26), but decreased at population-level (86% vs 80%, p = 0.049). Antiretroviral prophylaxis coverage decreased among HIV-exposed infants, at programme- (94% vs 87%, p = 0.001) and population-levels (76% vs 68%, p<0.001). There was no significant change in HIV-exposed infants receiving EID (programme: 107% vs 103%, p = 0.52; population: 87% vs 79%, p = 0.081). The estimated proportion of infants with HIV diagnosed fell from 27% to 18%, (p<0.001), while the estimated proportion on ART was stable at a programme (88% vs 90%, p = 0.82) but not population (22% vs 16%, p = 0.004) level. Despite a drop at the start of the pandemic most programme indicators rapidly recovered. At a population-level indicators were slower to return, suggesting less women with HIV identified in care

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of HIV-exposed neonates: a Zimbabwean tertiary hospital experience

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has globally impacted health service access, delivery and resources. There are limited data regarding the impact on the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) service delivery in low-resource settings. Neotree (www.neotree.org) combines data collection, clinical decision support and education to improve care for neonates. Here we evaluate impacts of COVID-19 on care for HIV-exposed neonates. Methods: Data on HIV-exposed neonates admitted to the neonatal unit (NNU) at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Zimbabwe, between 01/06/2019 and 31/12/2021 were analysed, with pandemic start defined as 21/03/2020 and periods of industrial action (doctors (September 2019-January 2020) and nurses (June 2020-September 2020)) included, resulting in modelling during six time periods: pre-doctors’ strike (baseline); doctors’ strike; post-doctors’ strike and pre-COVID; COVID and pre-nurses’ strike; nurses’ strike; post nurses’ strike. Interrupted time series models were used to explore changes in indicators over time. Results: Of 8,333 neonates admitted to the NNU, 904 (11%) were HIV-exposed. Mothers of 706/765 (92%) HIV-exposed neonates reported receipt of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy. Compared to the baseline period when average admissions were 78 per week (95% confidence interval (CI) 70–87), significantly fewer neonates were admitted during all subsequent periods until after the nurses’ strike, with the lowest average number during the nurses’ strike (28, 95% CI 23–34, p 0.22) in numbers of admissions or mortality by HIV exposure status. Fewer HIV-exposed neonates received a PCR test during the pandemic (23%) compared to the pre-pandemic periods (40%) (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41–0.84, p < 0.001). The proportion of HIV-exposed neonates who received antiretroviral prophylaxis during admission was high throughout, averaging between 84% and 95% in each time-period. Conclusion: While antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV-exposed neonates remained high throughout, concerning data on low admissions and increased mortality, similar in HIV-exposed and unexposed neonates, and reduced HIV testing, suggest some aspects of care may have been compromised due to indirect effects of the pandemic

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision and uptake of services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is targeting elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by December 2025, however the COVID-19 pandemic challenged health service delivery globally. Monthly aggregated data were extracted from DHIS-2 for all facilities delivering antenatal care (ANC). ZIMSTAT and Spectrum demographic estimates were used for population-level denominators. Programme indicators are among those in HIV care and population indicators reflect the total population. The mean estimated proportion of pregnant women booking for ANC per month did not change (91% pre-pandemic vs 91% during pandemic, p = 0.95), despite dropping to 47% in April 2020. At a programme-level, the estimated proportion of women who received at least one HIV test fell in April 2020 (3.6% relative reduction vs March (95% CI 2.2–5.1), p<0.001) with gradual recovery towards pre-pandemic levels. The estimated proportion of women who were retested among those initially negative in pregnancy fell markedly in April 2020 (39% reduction (32–45%), p<0.001) and the subsequent increase was much slower, only reaching 39% by September 2021 compared to average 53% pre-pandemic. The mean estimated proportion of pregnant women with HIV on ART was unchanged at programme-level (98% vs 98%, p = 0.26), but decreased at population-level (86% vs 80%, p = 0.049). Antiretroviral prophylaxis coverage decreased among HIV-exposed infants, at programme- (94% vs 87%, p = 0.001) and population-levels (76% vs 68%, p<0.001). There was no significant change in HIV-exposed infants receiving EID (programme: 107% vs 103%, p = 0.52; population: 87% vs 79%, p = 0.081). The estimated proportion of infants with HIV diagnosed fell from 27% to 18%, (p<0.001), while the estimated proportion on ART was stable at a programme (88% vs 90%, p = 0.82) but not population (22% vs 16%, p = 0.004) level. Despite a drop at the start of the pandemic most programme indicators rapidly recovered. At a population-level indicators were slower to return, suggesting less women with HIV identified in care

Absence of MutSβ leads to the formation of slipped-DNA for CTG/CAG contractions at primate replication forks

Typically disease-causing CAG/CTG repeats expand, but rare affected families can display high levels of contraction of the expanded repeat amongst offspring. Understanding instability is important since arresting expansions or enhancing contractions could be clinically beneficial. The MutSβ mismatch repair complex is required for CAG/CTG expansions in mice and patients. Oddly, by unknown mechanisms MutSβ-deficient mice incur contractions instead of expansions. Replication using CTG or CAG as the lagging strand template is known to cause contractions or expansions respectively; however, the interplay between replication and repair leading to this instability remains unclear. Towards understanding how repeat contractions may arise, we performed in vitro SV40-mediated replication of repeat-containing plasmids in the presence or absence of mismatch repair. Specifically, we separated repair from replication: Replication mediated by MutSβ- and MutSα-deficient human cells or cell extracts produced slipped-DNA heteroduplexes in the contraction- but not expansion-biased replication direction. Replication in the presence of MutSβ disfavoured the retention of replication products harbouring slipped-DNA heteroduplexes. Post-replication repair of slipped-DNAs by MutSβ-proficient extracts eliminated slipped-DNAs. Thus, a MutSβ-deficiency likely enhances repeat contractions because MutSβ protects against contractions by repairing template strand slip-outs. Replication deficient in LigaseI or PCNA-interaction mutant LigaseI revealed slipped-DNA formation at lagging strands. Our results reveal that distinct mechanisms lead to expansions or contractions and support inhibition of MutSβ as a therapeutic strategy to enhance the contraction of expanded repeats