The Specialty of General Medical Practice/family Medicine: The need for Development in Nigeria

No Abstrac

Background Ionising Radiation and Estimated Health Risk in Cereal Farmland in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Radionuclides are found in soils, plants, vegetables, fruits and in farmlands. These radionuclides contaminate the farmland, environment, the cereal, food products and could cause deleterious effect on both animals and human beings when ingested or inhaled. The farmland is owned by a government research institute with a mandate to develop improved varieties of some cereal plants. In situ measurement of the background ionising radiation was conducted with a radiation survey meter which measured the exposures in micro Seviert per hour and the expected health indicators risk on the workers evaluated.The mean BIR measured was obtained as 0.097µSv/hr. The annual equivalent dose rate of radiation obtained in the farm was range between 0.1033 to 0.3328 mSv/yr with a mean value of 0.1699 mSv/yr. The mean annual effective dose rate of 0.1190 mSv/yr was obtained while the mean calculated ECLR is 0.416 X 10-3. The AEDR obtained in this study is lower than the international commission on radiation protection recommended safety limit for the public but higher than values from many works in dumpsites. The ECLR value for this work is higher than the recommended safe value, an indication of potential health risk for the workers and inhabitant of the farmland. Therefore regulatory controls are necessary which include workers spending fewer periods in the farmland and decontamination of the farm. Keywords: Gamma radiation, occupational risk, Annual effective dose rate, National Cereal Institute, Uyo

Determining the Efficiency of the Government of Ghana’s Network of Grain Storage Facilities

Governments in developing countries design networks of grain storage facilities to help farmers store excess agricultural produce to prepare for climate induced crop failures. The efficiency of such networks has serious economic and food security implications on respective countries. Periodic review of the efficiency of such networks is necessary to identify lapses and opportunities for optimization. Past studies on efficiency of networksof facilities, which usually assume scenarios peculiar to the developed world used data that are usually unavailable or unreliable in developing countries. This work therefore developed an integrated approach that relies solely on readily available and reliable governmental and open source data to compute the short and long-term efficiencies of networks of grain storage facilities. This approach was used to analyze the efficiency of the government of Ghana’s network of forty-eight grain storage facilities. A transportation model was used to compute the total transportation cost within the existing network. A P-median model was then used to develop and compute the transportation cost of a theoretically optimal network. Outputs from a forecasting model were used with the transportation andP-median models to study the short and long-term efficiencies of the existing and optimal networks. The average short and long term efficiencies of the existing network were 66% and 26% respectively. The study also investigated the efficiencies of a rank network which is created by siting GSF’s in only high grain production districts. The short and long-term efficiencies of this network were 87% and 72% respectively. The study showed that Ghana’s GSFs were sub-optimally sited hence farmers would have to travel excessively longer distances than necessary to use it. This offers some explanation for its low patronage. Furthermore, the study shows that a rank network was not as efficient as the optimal network. This study therefore demonstrates the use of this integrated approach coupledwith readily available data to analyze networks of grain storage facilities in developing countries

The Prospects and Challenges of Market Segmentation Practice in the Equipment Leasing Industry of Nigeria 2000-2013

Efficiency in the blending of the marketing mix elements all things being equal is higher among firms whose operations are based on market segmentation principles. Given this, the study appraised the level of adoption of the principle of market segmentation in the equipment leasing industry of Nigeria as it assessed this industry in relation to the nation’s macro economic development. Data base of the research are questionnaire and oral interviews. Findings are that the volume and value of transactions in the equipment lease industry is small thus lessors are involved in scramble merchandizing rather than in specialized operational fields of equipment leasing, lessors have poor knowledge of the needs and operational environments of the lessees hence adoption rate to changes in the market is poor, among others. This work recommends the recapitalization of the market as a means of strengthening the financial base of lessors for specialized operation as well as introduction of policies that have the capacity of encouraging cross boarder lease transactions in Nigeria

Antiplasmodial and analgesic activities of Clausena anisata

AbstractObjectiveAntiplasmodial and analgesic activities of the leaf extract and fractions of Clausena anisata (C. anisata) were evaluated for antimalarial and analgesic activities.MethodsThe crude leaf extract (39–117 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform and acqeous; 78 mg/kg) of C. anisata were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) infections in mice using suppressive, prophylactic and curative models and analgesic activity against acetic acid, formalin and heat-induced pains. Artesunate, 5 mg/kg and pyrimethamine, 1.2 mg/kg were used as positive controls. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice.ResultsThe extract and its fractions dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine-sensitive P. berghei in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (P<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 17 to 21 days relative to control (P<0.01 − 0.001). On chemically and thermally-induced pains, the extract inhibited acetic acid and formalin-induced inflammation as well as hot plate-induced pain in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (P<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion.ConclusionsThe antiplasmodial and analgesic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through its chemical constituents and it can be concluded that the C. anisata possess significant antimalarial and analgesic properties

Corporate social responsibility of multinational corporations and the development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

One of the key objectives of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to forge a harmonious relationship between corporations and society. But with the spate of youth restiveness and militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria it is not clear that the CSR activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the region have yielded the desired effect. This study, therefore, set out to explore the effect of the corporate social responsibility activities of MNCs on the development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Primary data were collected from a total of three hundred and seventy six (376) respondents judgmentally drawn from four states in the region. Data generated were analyzed using the multiple regression model. Interview method was also used. Findings showed that the multinational corporations operating in the Niger Delta region actually carried out some CSR activities and that those activities contributed to the development of the region. However, residents interviewed felt that the massive environmental pollution caused by the operations of the MNCs in the region had practically eclipsed the CSR activities of the multinational corporations. It is recommended that the MNCs should show greater sensitivity to environmental issues and, in particular, adopt international best practices in their oil exploration and production activities in the region

Do ethical work climates influence supplier selection decisions in public organizations? The moderating roles of party politics and personal values.

Purpose - This study examined the relationship between ethical work climates (EWCs) and supplier selection decisions (SSD), and the moderating roles of party politics and personal values on this relationship. Design/methodology/approach - A total of 600 senior level personnel from 40 Nigerian public organizations were surveyed using structured questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses developed for the study after assessing construct reliability and validity. Findings - Results show that both high and low levels of external political pressures significantly reduce the perception that organisational SSDs are ruled-based and pro-social in nature. Furthermore, regardless of the level of perception of instrumental personal values by employees, instrumental ethical climates significantly determine SSDs; principled/cosmopolitan climate and benevolent/cosmopolitan climate only become significant perceptible determinants when there is less room for the accommodation of personal goals during SSD processes. Research limitations/implications - This study only examined the relationship between ethical climate perceptions and supplier selection decisions without controlling for the effects of some important possible intervening variables on this relationship. Therefore, the study encouraged future researcher to enhance the generalizability of our findings by incorporate relevant control variables in the model, as well as examining other decision phases in the public buying process. Originality/value – This study is original to the extent that only a few studies in the literature are devoted to perceptions of EWCs in African organizations, and no previous studies have examined this phenomenon in relation to SSDs in Nigerian public firms. Key Words: Ethical Work Climates, Supplier Selection Decisions, Public Sector, Nigeria, Party Politics, and Personal Values

Measurement of Surface Dose Rate of Nuclear Radiation in Coastal Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract In this study, the surface doses rate measurements were done in-situ using dose rate meters

Assessment of the causes of infant mortality in uyo local government area, akwa ibom state

This study assessed infant mortality in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State with the aim of investigating the causes of infant mortality and examining the contribution of the health professionals in curbing infant mortality in the study area. To achieve these objectives, structured questionnaires were employed. Through the use of the structured questionnaires, data were obtained through systematic random sampling of 399 households along three major zones selected for the study in Uyo Local Government. The hypothesis for the study was tested with regression model using the multiple factors Regression Analysis. The results indicated that non-parental factors such as hereditary neonatal disorders and premature birth are the driving causes of infant mortality in the study area. The study also indicated that the contributions of health professionals are positively felt in the study area. The study concludes that infant mortality is due to preventable non-parental factors. The study recommended that the action to ensure access to quality care and ensuring that no mother or new born dies from a preventable cause must be an urgent priority for every Government. &nbsp

Determination of Radioactive Elements Concentrations in Soils of Selected Areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

A determination of radioactive elements concentrations in soils in selected parts of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria were carried out by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique. The soil analysis was conducted at the Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor (NIRR – 1) at center for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. Twenty elements that include short lives, intermediate lives and long lives radioactive elements were detected in soil samples used for the analysis. The obtained radionuclides includes  Na, Ti, V, As K, Mn, Sb, Fe, Dy, Pa, Mg, Sc, Yb, Ce, Co, Sm etc. The results show that INAA of soil samples of the area under investigation gave concentration of 20.05+ 0.60ppm for K, 9.36+ 0.79ppm for Na, 5.73+ 0.50ppm for Fe, 5.38+ 0.62ppm for Cr, 4.24+ 0.25ppm for As and 3.65+ 0.32ppm for Sb, etc. Comparison of the result from this with other studies show difference in the number of elements obtained which is attributed to the difference in the geology of these areas. Keywords: Soil, INAA, concentration, Radionuclides and NIRR-