Library and Information Science education in Anglophone Africa: Past, present and future

The purpose of this article is to describe the historical development of Library and Information Science (LIS) schools on the African continent from the colonial period to the present. It highlights the factors that contributed to the growth of library schools and challenges experienced in their development. This study was based entirely on literature review and the author’s extensive knowledge, teaching experience and research in LIS education in Africa. Information was obtained from both published and non-published sources. Colleagues in LIS education also contributed immensely to the outcome of the work. It was found that the earliest schools were initially known as library schools. The term changed to LIS schools much later, after independence. Library schools started in the colonial era, initially in South Africa, moving all the way through West Africa to East Africa. The curricula used in the schools were based on programmes prevailing in the mother country. Unesco played an important role in the development of library schools on the continent. It came up with the concept of regional library schools. Public and academic libraries were instrumental in agitating for the establishment of library schools. With the onset of independence on the continent, the concept of regional schools died, giving rise to self-sufficiency. Currently, LIS schools are mushrooming all over the continent. It is concluded that if this trend is not checked, it could have a serious effect on the quality of the graduates. Although the future of LIS schools is bright, it will greatly depend on how the library profession is marketed. LIS schools will need to match the rapid changes taking place in the information industry.Keywords: Africa, East Africa School of Librarianship, Library and information science education, library schools, library education, schools of information science

Free Primary Education in Kenya and its challenges in fighting Illiteracy

For a country to realize full economic potential education is paramount. A population with ability to read and write compounded with technology savvy is key ingredients for growth. One of the pillars identified in the MDG is among others universal primary education for all. It is within this pretext that the government of Kenya introduced free primary education in Kenya. The main aim of introducing free primary education was to fight illiteracy; five years down the line a lot of facts still have to be addressed so that the appropriate scheme could be addressed in real time to fight the real problem at hand. Though a noble gesture, it has had its share of challenges and pitfalls. The current study highlights the challenges of free primary education in fighting illiteracy. Some of the challenges identified included Under Staffing, Poor working conditions, inadequate funding, Kenya's primary Education system and acquisition of literacy and Lack of school libraries. The study concludes that a clear policy on FPE implementation that defines the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders must be stipulated. For the program to succeed there must be continuous dialogue with stakeholders such as parents, school committees, and local communities to inform them from the onset of their specific roles in supporting the policy

Profile of autoimmune connective tissue disorders in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Autoimmune Connective Tissue Disorders have rarely been reported among African blacks and even in Nigeria, in contrast with African-Americans. Our encounter with these cases shows that the disease may not be rare after all. The objective of this study was to report the prevalence, clinical presentations, laboratory and serological characteristics of patients presenting with autoimmune connective tissue disorders in the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching hospital.Method: This was a retrospective study of patients presenting with autoimmune disorder attending the Rheumatology and Dermatology clinic in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, located in Rivers state, South-South, Nigeria, over a period of one year (2012-2013). A review of the case records of all patients diagnosed and treated for autoimmune connective tissue disorders was utilized using the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.Results: Our study indicates that out of 931 Rheumatology/Dermatology cases seen, 30 were autoimmune connective disorders indicating a frequency of 3.2%. Out of this 3.2%, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constituted about 91%, rheumatoid arthritis 6% and systemic sclerosis  constituted about 3%. The age range of the subjects was between 14-59years with a mean age of 34years, indicating the universal young age at presentation. Females constituted females 93.3% of the patients with a female to male ratio of 14:1. The duration of disease ranged from (0.1-15 years) with a mean of 5years. The most clinical presentation of systemic lupus was discoid rash constituting about 93%, while that from rheumatoid arthritis was deformities of the proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints. The major causes of mortality for the SLE patients were lupus nephritis, congestive cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension, while death from systemic sclerosis was mostly linked to the renal crises. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 28 (93.3%), while Anti Neutrophilic Antibody was positive in 8 (26.6%) of the tested subjects.Conclusion: Autoimmune disorders may not be uncommon in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, contrary to previous reports, as both the prevalence and incidence are rising probably due to increasing awareness and better diagnostics. Age, gender and ethnicity may also account for the risk factors. This is the first study to report prevalence of autoimmune connective disorders in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.Keywords: Profile; Autoimmune connective tissue disorders; Nigeri

Medication Related Cutaneous Disorders in End Stage Renal Disease Patients in Lagos

No Abstract

Tuberous sclerosis: A rare cause of seizure in Nigeria.

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic multisystem disorder that is typically apparent shortly after birth. Dermatologic manifestations may be the only clues to the diagnosis of the disorder, which is also marked by childhood seizures and mental retardation. The aim of this report is to present a twelve year old boy with tuberous sclerosis. A review of the case records of a child with angiofibromas of the face and neck and the relevant literature. An eleven year old primary two pupil of Ijaw tribe, southern Nigeria, presented with recurrent afebrile, generalized tonic- clonic seizures from nine months of age, hyperpigmented papulonodular eruptions on the face and neck with some hypo pigmented patches at the back for six years. He also had a growth on the right index finger of six years duration. There was associated learning disabilities and poor school performance, with sudden outburst of mood swings ranging from laughter to anger. Speech was delayed. He has been on Carbamazepine for the past two years and is seizure free. There was no history of similar illness in the family. Physical examination showed that he had labile mood with presence of hyperpigmented papulonodular (angiofibromas) eruptions on the malar area of the face and neck. There were also associated hypomelanotic macules on the back, bony cyst on the right index finger. He also had bilateral undescended testis. All other systems were essentially normal. Cranial computed tomography showed multiple hyperdense non enhancing nodules in the walls of the lateral ventricles with a hyperdense nodule in the subcortical area of the parietal lobe of the left cerebrum. Multiple areas of non enhancing hypodensities were also seen in the cortical white matter of the frontal and parietal lobes bilaterally with associated thickening of the adjacent gyri. He is being managed by a team of a paediatric neurologist, surgeon, speech therapist and a dermatologist. He is regular at follow up clinic. Tuberous Sclerosis though a rare condition, once diagnosed needs multidisciplinary management to improve the quality of life of the patient.Key words: Tuberous sclerosis, seizure, skin rashes

Neglected tropical skin diseases in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are a subset of chronic infectious diseases commonly found among the less privileged in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) seeks to reduce and eventually eradicate these chronic disabling diseases which propagate poverty and under-development. The cutaneous manifestation of NTD is the major cause of morbidity and stigmatization. Thus the dermatologist has a key role to play in the abovementioned WHO goal. This study aims to identify skin NTD in a dermatologicpractice in Nigeria and to mention some challenges to effective control of some.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study in which the records of all patients presenting with skin NTD were extracted from the general dermatology out-patient records and analyzed.Results: Two thousand seven hundred and fifty (2750) records of patients in the dermatology out-patient clinic were assessed, out of which 154 had skin NTD, accounting for 5.6% of the total population. The vast majority were males (63.6%), with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1; and a mean age of 28.4 ± 17.4. Six NTDwere identified, and the predominant type was scabies (66.9%), which was more common in males and students. Onchodermatitis (14.3%) on the other hand had a female preponderance.Conclusion: Neglected tropical skin diseases (NTSD) are common in the urban dermatology clinic. The most prevalent (scabies) is a highly contagious disease, whose diagnosis remains sub-optimal among healthcare practitioners. Dermatologists are best positioned to ensure early diagnosis of a good number of NTD and stem their progression before the morbidity, disfigurement, stigmatization, and attendant short, andlong-term complications develop.Keyword: Neglected Tropical Skin Diseases, Nigeria, Scabies, Leprosy, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Lymphatic filariasis, Cutaneous larva migran

Segmentation in Manufacturing and Service Industry: a Key to Profitability

The aim of this study was to assess the segmentation practices of furniture manufacturing businesses. A survey of sixty registered furniture manufacturers was carried out in Meru North District. The general objective of this study was to find out how furniture manufacturers determine customers for their products. During this study, primary data was collected from Maua Municipality and its environments using structured, semi structured questionnaires and direct observations was used. The study looked at the nature of segmentation practices variables commonly used in segmenting the market, effects of current practices on these manufacturer’s businesses and sort options on how segmentation could be improved. Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel computer packages. Information was presented through bar charts, percentages tables and pie charts This research reveal that more than half of the respondents (53%) segment their market and produce specific items for specific customers. this helps them make more profits and allocate their resources. Those (47%) who did not segment their market thought it was not important. The variables used were income social class and institutions. Majority (60%) of the respondents said it was important to give the customers what they wanted

Effects of Workplace Diversity Management on Organizational Effectiveness: a case study

The study sought to establish effects of workforce diversity management on the organizational effectiveness selected branches of Kenya commercial bank limited .Specifically, the study sought to establish the extent of demographic diversity , extent of social-cultural diversity, the management of diversity at the bank‟s branches and how the management of the workforce diversity affect organizational effectiveness.The Study adopted a descriptive research design .The study population consisted of all branches of KCB limited in five countries in the East African region. A sample size of 100 respondents was selected. The internet mail survey had a 60% response rate. Data collection was by use of questionnaire through internet mail. Analysis was by use of descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS version 15.0. The Pearson‟s correlation coefficient indicated the relationship between each independent variables and the dependent variable and tested at 5% significance level.The study established that overall, diversity affects the cohesion of the KCB and although the problems related to diversity are intermittent occurrences, in some branches, less than 20% of the branches, these happen very often. Although in 20% of the branches, diversity issues are minimal. Although, there are deliberate efforts to capitalize on diversity at KCB, very little is being achieved, and negative diversity is likely to affect organizational effectiveness, if not properly addressed. The study recommended that in order leverage of the existing diversity, a philosophy be established on diversity that would affect most of the human resources activities with regard to the differences as existing among its employees

Fixed Drug Eruptions (FDE) in an Urban Centre in South-South Nigeria

Background Fixed drug eruptions are adverse cutaneous reactions to ingested drugs, characterized by  the formation of solitary or multiple erythematous patches, plaques, bullae or erosions that reoccur at an identical skin site within hours of re ingestion of the offending drug. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of Fixed drug eruptions with the identification of common causative drugs among patients at the dermatology clinic of an urban tertiary hospital in the South-south region ofNigeria.Methods All consecutive patients with a diagnosis of fixed drug eruptions seen at the dermatology clinic  between January 2005 to January 2013 were included in the study. The diagnosis of fixed drug eruptions was made based on clinical findings of lesion (s) of the same form occurring twice or more at the same  sites as a result of a readministration of a causative drug, and confirmation by a challenge test.Results The diagnosis of fixed drug eruption was made in 99 out of5106 (1.93%) patients, with a slight female dominance. FDE affected all age groups, the youngest presented at 9months of age and the oldest at 86years. Majority of patients (66. 7%) did not know the offending drug. The most implicated drugs  were the sulphonamides (21.2%), followed by antibiotics made up of ampiclox, tetracycline and penicillin ( 4.04%) and Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (3.03%). The commonest site of presentation was the face (32%), especially the mucosa of the mouth, followed by generalized presentation (28%).The frequency of Lower limb presentation was (13%),followed by the upper limb (11%) and the trunk(7.1%). Conclusion Fixed drug eruptions are a cause for great concern to the patient. Consistent with some other studies sulphonamides, clotrimoxazole and fansidar were the most implicated drugs.Keywords Fixed drug eruptions; Epidemiology: Out Patient clinic; Nigeria