Library automation in school libraries and media centres in Zambia: case study of selected schools in Lusaka city.

The availability of both commercial and free and open source library management systems has presented a window of opportunity for libraries to automate their operations with a view to improving the management, and delivery of information resources to their clients. This study sought to find out the level of library automation in some selected school libraries and media centers in Lusaka city of Zambia. The study was both quantitative and qualitative in design and a survey method was used. A sample of 62 respondents from school libraries and media centres took part in the study and that snowball sampling method was used. This sampling method was used because of lack of a sampling frame of both government and private schools with libraries or media centres in Lusaka city. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guides. The research findings show that 72% of the respondents understand the concept of library automation while 28% do not. In terms of library automation, 2 (3%) of the surveyed library schools were automated while 60 (97%) were not. Further, it was discovered the two school libraries that had automated their operations were from private international schools and that they use the library management system called Destiny. Among factors that hinder automation in school libraries include among other things; lack of ICTs skills among school librarians and lack of political will from school administrators to fund school libraries and media centres. In view of the above findings, it was recommended that school managers adequately fund school libraries to enable them automate their operations and that qualified librarians be employed in schools

Use of social media among university of Zambia lecturers in teaching and learning.

The role of social media in teaching and learning in higher learning institutions cannot be overemphasized. Higher Education (HE) teaching practices have evolved over the last two decades, with more emphasis on student centred pedagogy. There is an increased expectation placed onto the role that technologies can play to harness effective learning. This is because student centred learning requires technology which facilitates active learning and deep interaction between students and their lecturers. One way in which lecturers can embracing the use of technology is through social media. However, there remains disconnect between the ambition for interactive learning through technology and the realities of the practice. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not University of Zambia Lecturers use social media in teaching and learning. Specifically, the study investigated the extent to which social media platforms are being used by UNZA lecturers as teaching and learning tools, the preferred social media platforms for teaching and learning, the ICT knowledge levels and skills of UNZA lecturers in using social media platforms for teaching and learning, perceived benefits of using social media in teaching and learning, and challenges faced by UNZA Lecturers in using social media for teaching and learning. The study employed qualitative method. Thirty lecturers from the school of Education at the University of Zambia were purposively selected to take part in the study. Data was collected through a semi structured interview guide and focus group discussions. Results revealed that Lecturers especially the younger ones were in the forefront of using social media platforms for teaching and learning purposes. Further the results indicated that the most preferred social media for regular instruction were YouTube, Slideshare, Wikis, Blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Podcasts and if appropriately implemented, these technologies can be a catalysts for learner-centred approach to teaching, social presence, collaborative learning, reduced cost, interactive, global reach, replicability and searchability were the main benefits the study revealed.The study also revealed that most of lecturers were competent enough to use social media for teaching and learning purposes while a few indicated that they required some of training. Challenges faced include, cost, inaccessible Wi-Fi, insufficient computers, privacy, time constraint, technophobia and miscommunication were the main challenges the study revealed. In view of the above the revelations, the study recommended that for lecturers to fully utilize social media for teaching and learning the University should invest in the much needed ICT infrastructure which includes computer labs in schools, improved internet connectivity and acquaint all lecturers on the benefits of using social media for teaching and learning. Further lecturers are encouraged to assist learners to make effective use of these social media to build their knowledge base

The role of the private media in the provision of development information to people in Lusaka, Zambia.

The private media can contribute immensely to meeting the development information needs of any nation by providing the much needed information for development. While a number of studies have examined the relationship between media and development, few have investigated the link between the private media and development information. Information is essential as it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation. Information serves a “checking function” by ensuring that activities taking place carry the wishes of the majority in the nation. The media whether public or private have the potential to provide that access. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether private media provided development information to people in Lusaka, Zambia. Seventeen private media institutions participated in the study. These included print, online and broadcast private media. The results are reported and include the participants’ types of development information they provide; format and language in which they provide development information; target group for development information; the times development information is presented; and policy for the provision of development information

Human African Trypanosomiasis and challenges to its control in Urambo, Kasulu and Kibondo Districts, western Tanzania

A study was carried out to determine the prevalence and management of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in Urambo, Kasulu and Kibondo districts of western Tanzania. Parasitological surveys for trypanosome and other blood parasites were conducted in selected villages. Interviews with health workers were conducted to explore facility capacity to diagnose and manage HAT. Community knowledge on tsetse and availability of trypanocidal drugs was explored. Results showed that, although health facility records showed HAT is an important public health problem in the three districts, typanosomes were found in 0.6% of the examined individuals in Urambo district only. Malaria parasites with a prevalence of 12.1%, 19.7% and 9.7%, in Urambo, Kibondo and Kasulu, respectively were detected in blood samples from the same individuals examined for trypanosomes. There was poor capacity for most of the health facilities in the diagnosis, treatment and control of HAT. In both districts, communities were knowledgeable of the tsetse identity (82.4%) and had experienced tsetse bites (94%). The majority (91.4%) of the community members knew that they were at risk of acquiring HAT. However, only 29% of the respondents knew that anti-trypanocidal drugs were readily available free of charge from health care facilities. Late treatment seeking behaviour was common in Kasulu and Urambo districts. In conclusion, health facilities in western Tanzania are faced with problems of poor capacity to diagnose and manage HAT and that treatment seeking behaviour among the communities at risk is poor. Efforts should be made to strengthen the capacity of the health facility to handle HAT cases and health education to the population at risk. Keywords: Human African Trypanosomiasis, diagnosis, control, TanzaniaTanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 8 (2) 2006: pp. 80-8

Maternal Malaria Induces a Procoagulant and Antifibrinolytic State That Is Embryotoxic but Responsive to Anticoagulant Therapy

Low birth weight and fetal loss are commonly attributed to malaria in endemic areas, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie these poor birth outcomes are incompletely understood. Increasing evidence suggests that dysregulated hemostasis is important in malaria pathogenesis, but its role in placental malaria (PM), characterized by intervillous sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum, proinflammatory responses, and excessive fibrin deposition is not known. To address this question, markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were assessed in placentae from malaria-exposed primigravid women. PM was associated with significantly elevated placental monocyte and proinflammatory marker levels, enhanced perivillous fibrin deposition, and increased markers of activated coagulation and suppressed fibrinolysis in placental plasma. Submicroscopic PM was not proinflammatory but tended to be procoagulant and antifibrinolytic. Birth weight trended downward in association with placental parasitemia and high fibrin score. To directly assess the importance of coagulation in malaria-induced compromise of pregnancy, Plasmodium chabaudi AS-infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice were treated with the anticoagulant, low molecular weight heparin. Treatment rescued pregnancy at midgestation, with substantially decreased rates of active abortion and reduced placental and embryonic hemorrhage and necrosis relative to untreated animals. Together, the results suggest that dysregulated hemostasis may represent a novel therapeutic target in malaria-compromised pregnancies

The impact of different sprayable surfaces on the effectiveness of indoor residual spraying using a micro encapsulated formulation of lambda-cyhalothrin against Anopheles gambiae s.s

The type of sprayable surface impacts on residual efficacy of insecticide used in indoor residual spraying (IRS). However, there is limited data on common types of wall surfaces sprayed in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania where IRS began in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The study investigated residual efficacy of micro-encapsulated lambda-cyhalothrin sprayed on common surfaces of human dwellings and domestic animal shelters in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.; An experimental hut was constructed with different types of materials simulating common sprayable surfaces in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. Surfaces included cement plastered wall, mud-daub, white-wash, wood, palm-thatch, galvanized iron-sheets, burnt-bricks, limestone and oil-paint. The World Health Organization (WHO) procedure for IRS was used to spray lambda-cyhalothrin on surfaces at the dose of 20-25 mg/m(2). Residual efficacy of insecticide was monitored through cone bioassay using laboratory-reared mosquitoes; Kisumu strain (R-70) of Anopheles gambiae ss. Cone bioassay was done every fortnight for a period of 152 days. The WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) threshold (80% mortality) was used as cut-off point for acceptable residual efficacy.; A total of 5,800 mosquitoes were subjected to contact cone bioassay to test residual efficacy of lambda-cyhalothrin. There was a statistically significant variation in residual efficacy between the different types of wall surfaces (r = 0.24; p > 0.001). Residual efficacy decreased with increasing pH of the substrate (r = -0.5; p > 0.001). Based on WHOPES standards, shorter residual efficacy (42-56 days) was found in wall substrates made of cement, limestone, mud-daub, oil paint and white wash. Burnt bricks retained the residual efficacy up to 134 days while galvanized iron sheets, palm thatch and wood retained the recommended residual efficacy beyond 152 days.; The study revealed a wide variation in residual efficacy of micro encapsulated formulation of lambda-cyhalothrin across the different types of wall surfaces studied. In areas where malaria transmission is bimodal and wall surfaces with short residual efficacy comprise < 20% of sprayable structures, two rounds of IRS using lambda-cyhalothrin should be considered. Further studies are required to investigate the impact of sprayable surfaces on residual efficacy of other insecticides commonly used for IRS in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania

Blood cellular changes associated with bacteremia and malaria co-morbidity among children in western Kenya

Background: Malaria and bacteremia co-morbidity in children cause changes in blood cellular components. Complete blood count from children whose haemoglobin genotypes and bacteremia tests are not known, greatly influence clinical management and interpretation of the haematology results in resource limited healthcare facilities. Objectives: We investigated cellular components from children with bacteremia and malaria co-morbidity. We also analysed the haemoglobin genotypes and bacteria isolates from children with haemoglobin AA, SS and AS in western Kenya. Methods: A total number of 384 children were recruited and complete blood counts done with an automated cell counter. Microscopy was used to determine malaria infections, while bacteremia was determined by blood culture. The haemoglobin genotypes were analysed using the electrophoresis technique. Results: Children with haemoglobin AA and AS had elevated granulocyte counts. Most of the bacteria isolates were from children with malaria and haemoglobin AS. The bacteria isolated from blood culture included non-typhi salmonella, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes and Viridans. Salmonella species and staphylococcus aureus were the most prevalent bacteria isolates associated with bacteremia in children with haemoglobin AS and malaria positive. Conclusion: Children with Hb AS have higher chances of malaria and bacterial co-infection which leads to lymphocytopenia, erythrocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Bacteria responsible for most of malaria co-infections in this region are Salmonella species and Staphylococcus aureus. The malaria and bacterial co-infection in pre-school children initiate differential cellular changes which should be investigated further

Seasonal epidemiological variation of human African trypanosomiasis in Babati District, Tanzania

No Abstract.Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 9(2) 2007: pp.136-13