African Journal of Infectious Diseases, May 6, 2022
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 100 mi... more Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 100 million individuals worldwide with diverse impacts on nations. The rising cases of new strains and resultant infection waves create an urgent need to assess the readiness of countries especially in Africa to mitigate the impact on community transmission. This paper delivers a brief synopsis of the novel SARS-CoV-2, emerging cases of new variants reported worldwide, and implications for genetic surveillance of disease transmission in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) especially Africa. Materials and Methods: Literature search used keywords like SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 epidemiology; pandemic waves; corona outbreak, clinical syndromes, treatments, prevention and control. Cross-sectional and observational studies published on COVID-19 from 2019 till date of study provided main information sources. Databases such as Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and Google Scholar were utilised. Main findings: Over 220 countries have documented COVID-19 cases with varied severity till date. Before the spikes in resurgence, a highly virulent mutated (>90% fatality rate) novel strain of COVID-19 had been documented. There is very little data to ascertain the impact of the COVID-19 infection waves in LMICs. Discussion: LMICs especially African countries still grapple with significant challenges like inefficient surveillance mechanisms, inadequate vaccination coverage, inadequate enforcement of environmental health strategies, poor health systems etc. Hence, Africa's fate remains dicey in the face of the dynamic evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 and other identified challenges. Conclusion: The adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to mitigate the impact of emergence of mutant SARS-CoV-2 variants and resurgence of infection spike is recommended.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan. Assessment... more Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan. Assessment of TB treatment outcomes, monitoring and evaluation of its risk factors in Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) are among the major indicators of the performance of a national TB control program. Even though Pakistan ranks 5th among the 22 high-TB burden countries, there are no available data in this regard. Institution-based retrospective study was conducted to determine the treatment outcome of TB patients and investigate associated risk factors at District Head Quarter Hospital Shangla, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Two-year record (January 2011 to December 2012) of TB clinic of the hospital was reviewed. A total of 493 patients' complete information was reviewed in the study period. Of these, 42.19% were smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB), 35.09% were smear-negative PTB, and 22.72% were extra-PTB (EPTB). The overall prevalence of smear-positive PTB was 42.19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37.9-46.2). Records of the treatment outcome showed that 192 (38.94%) were cured, 276 (55.98%) completed treatment, 13 (2.6%) defaulted, 9 (1.8%) died, 1 (0.2%) treatment failure, and 1 (0.2%) had transferred to other facilities. The overall mean treatment success rate of the TB patients was 94.93%. TB age and TB form or baseline smear were significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. The risk of unsuccessful outcome was significantly lower among TB patients age Conclusion: The treatment success rate was high and match the World Health Organization criteria. To sustain the effective implementation of DOTS in the area, effective management, and diagnosis should be given for EPTB.
The slides are a presentation that formed part of the sessions of a webinar on &a... more The slides are a presentation that formed part of the sessions of a webinar on "Navigating the Research Landscape".
In tandem with the current drive to achieve the SDG 2030 goals, the Universal Health Coverage (UH... more In tandem with the current drive to achieve the SDG 2030 goals, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is been projected as a strong propelling strategy with key indicators, all aimed at achieving universal access to health services without having to endure financial difficulties in individual countries. Currently, Africa is lagging in meeting the targets of the UHC with between 5%-25% coverage across countries. Adoption of new innovations are critical for the actualization of Universal Health Coverage in Africa. Digital health technology offers one of such novel approaches to providing quality healthcare services and can help countries achieve the Universal Health Coverage targets. It has been suggested that digital health provides an opportunity to overcome the longstanding problems of inefficiency of health information gathering, sharing, and access. In addition, literature is already replete with various factors that can aid countries to achieve UHC and one of such factors is the urgency of generating valid and quality evidence to inform decision-making. Although the Primary Health Care remains at the core of the achievement of Universal Health Coverage, the utilization of digital health technologies remains very poor at the grassroots in Africa and this poses a huge barrier to effectiveness and quality of healthcare delivery. Given the foregoing, it is obvious that there is an urgent need to understand the landscapes, issues and barriers to utilization of digital health at the Primary Health Care levels. However, there remains a paucity of data to support evidence-based decision making about full implementation of digital health services across the continent while also taking into cognisance the peculiarities of individual countries. Hence, there is a critical need to determine the current levels of knowledge, skills, attitude, practice and readiness to adopt digital health in service delivery by healthcare workers at the Primary Health Care levels across the continent. The generation of such data from major stakeholders such as health workers and health managers, providers among others will provide important evidence needed for attaining optimal utilization of digital health in the context of health for all. Summarily, a clear understanding of the contextual and implementation bottlenecks highlighted from such assessment(s), especially as it relates to individual African countries, will go a long way to guide decisions to address the low utilization of digital health technologies in health services delivery in Africa.
The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 v... more The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has become a worldwide public health crisis with associated high mortality rates globally. Human to human transmission of the infection emphasizes the importance of adhering to public and social measure to halt its spread. However, the recent #ENDSARS protests led by angry youths in Nigeria resulted to complete flouting of all WHO guidelines meted to curb the spread of the virus. Given that the nation is the most populous African country with over 50 percent of her population been youths, this situation has huge implications for the country and Africa as a whole. The risk of community transmission occasioned by the protest, coupled with travels and active mobility across countries within the continent increases the risk of community transmission with possible increases in new cases over the next few weeks to months. From the foregoing, it is expedient to increase awareness and enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment especially use of nose masks, face shields and frequent hand washing or sanitizing in public places. These individual-targeted measures will go a long way to curtail the imminent community transmission of COVID-19 across Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that Government and non-governmental agencies across the region actively engage to increase collaborative efforts; screening facilities and access to these services across the country, as well as accentuate regular adherence to preventive measures to the general public.
People, especially in rural environments and recently, those dissatisfied with conventional medic... more People, especially in rural environments and recently, those dissatisfied with conventional medicine use medicinal plants for their therapeutic effects. Two or more plants are usually combined for such use and these combinations cause interactions that may be safe but could also be detrimental to health. Used singly, Andrographis paniculata and Aspilia africana are considered safe plants with low toxicities but little is known about their safety in combined therapy. This study assessed the cytotoxic activities of the aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts of the two plants in a 1:1 combination at various concentrations on murine hepatocytes, thymocytes and splenocytes. The murine cells were seeded in microtitre plates and tested with the combined extracts at different concentrations and percentage viability values of the cells determined by the tetrazolium salt reduction assay (MTT). The extracts used were: combined aqueous extract of the two plants (CAE), and combined chloroform extract (CCE). At 72hr incubation with 500 μg/ml extract concentration, percentage viability was low. Splenocytes thymocytes and hepatocytes incubated with CAE had viability values of 35%, 28% and 64% respectively and with CCE, 26%, 26% and 36% respectively, relative to controls. From the results, the extracts were cytotoxic to the murine cells at this concentration and incubation period. These low values indicate cytotoxic interactions in the combined extracts. However more research is needed to understand the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of the plants.
Preparation of Phytopharmaceuticals for the Management of Disorders
Abstract African traditional medicine is as old as mankind. There has been a recent resurgence in... more Abstract African traditional medicine is as old as mankind. There has been a recent resurgence in the use of traditional medicine all over the world, and in Africa specifically. The term traditional medicine is usually interchangeably used with complementary medicine and alternative medicine in some countries. Although different African governments have contributed toward improving traditional medicine in their respective countries, these efforts need to be consolidated through political goodwill. This can be translated into building robust and well-researched systems of traditional medicine, to strengthening capacity by training and accrediting traditional health practitioners, researching and adding value to traditional medicines, and stemming the tide of destruction of natural resources such as forests. This will take a concerted effort from all governments and different stakeholders, if African traditional medicine is to develop to international standards. Therefore, for there to be an increase in the credibility and acceptance of traditional medicines, more scientific validation for quality, safety, and efficacy is required.
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2015
Mosquito-borne diseases are among the leading causes of human and animal illnesses and deaths glo... more Mosquito-borne diseases are among the leading causes of human and animal illnesses and deaths globally. Mosquitoes are found throughout the world; are nuisances, hosts and vectors of many disease-causing parasites of public health importance. These diseases include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, etc. Mosquitoes pose significant threat to human and animal health, are a global challenge with huge medical and economic impact. Control of mosquitoes is a major component of vector-disease management; chemical insecticides remain the mainstay of control as documented in scholarly reports. The effectiveness of available methods have been limited by factors including insecticide resistance, high operational costs, toxicity on non- target organisms and environmental pollution. The emphasis on public health and environmental protection has led to global concerns about these risks and prompted the search for environmentally-friendly products. Bio-insecticides are based on natural products...
Mosquito control efforts are being undermined due to development of insecticide resistance in mos... more Mosquito control efforts are being undermined due to development of insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors of public health importance to synthetic insecticides, hence leading to the search for more sustainable control inputs. There is an increasing interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides. Moringa oleifera extract was evaluated on Anopheles gambiae s.s. larvae and to limit potential toxic pollution of aquatic ecosystems, acute and sub-chronic toxicity bioassay experiments were carried out on adult male Poecilia reticulata (guppies) to determine its eco-toxicological impact. Three independent larvicidal experiments were replicated three times; the pattern of effectiveness and the LC50 were determined for the mosquito larvicide; the toxicity experiments were carried out in three replicates by static method and behavioural changes in the guppies were determined for the different concentration levels used and in relation t...
The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 v... more The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has become a worldwide public health crisis with associated high mortality rates globally. Human to human transmission of the infection emphasizes the importance of adhering to public and social measure to halt its spread. However, the recent #ENDSARS protests led by angry youths in Nigeria resulted to complete flouting of all WHO guidelines meted to curb the spread of the virus. Given that the nation is the most populous African country with over 50 percent of her population been youths, this situation has huge implications for the country and Africa as a whole. The risk of community transmission occasioned by the protest, coupled with travels and active mobility across countries within the continent increases the risk of community transmission with possible increases in new cases over the next few weeks to months. From the foregoing, it is expedient to increase awareness and enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment especially use of nose masks, face shields and frequent hand washing or sanitizing in public places. These individual-targeted measures will go a long way to curtail the imminent community transmission of COVID-19 across Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that Government and non-governmental agencies across the region actively engage to increase collaborative efforts; screening facilities and access to these services across the country, as well as accentuate regular adherence to preventive measures to the general public.
Introduction: Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease caused by Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) remains a ... more Introduction: Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease caused by Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) remains a major health problem in the Asian sub-continent due to poor hygienic conditions. Aim: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of Typhoid fever among the general population of district Lower Dir, Pakistan in order to describe the disease occurrence and distribution. Material and methods: This was a descriptive-epidemiological study. 1076 subjects were enrolled; with presentation of common symptoms of typhoid at the Fazal-Rahim Clinical Laboratory as inclusion criteria. Typhidot test was performed for all participants. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. PHStat software was used for statistical analyses. Results and discussion: The study comprised of 414 males and 662 females. 37.26% of total cases were found positive; Females (62.64%) were more affected compared to males (37.4%). Furthermore, the IgM antibodies were detected in...
Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is ... more Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is an increased interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides for the control of mosquitoes. The potential of Moringa plant as a larvicide against the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiaes. S was evaluated and its effects on mosquito fish were also studied. Toxic components in Moringa oleifera seeds were extracted using; five aliquots of concentrations ranging from 1160-8700 µg/ml were prepared by serial dilutions from the extract. Three independent laboratory procedures were run in quadruplicate in which third instar larvae of Anopheles gambiaes. S was exposed to different concentrations and a control group was exposed to distilled water. The fishes were exposed to three graded treatment of the aqueous extract in two experiments run in triplicate. Behavioral changes were observed for 24 hours. From the larval bioassay, the extract presented a 72hour-LC50 and LC90 of 1885.4 µg/ml, 3902.4 µg/ml respectively, (p<0.05), causing 99.33±1.15%mortality at 8700µg/ml. The toxicity assay showed that the guppy fishes exhibited varying degrees of changes as a result of the exposure to treatment unlike in the control. The results obtained show that Moringa seed extract has larvicidal potentials for Anopheles gambiaes. S with observed little or no toxicity effects on the non target, guppy fish. The effectiveness of Moringa seed extract makes it a viable larvicide. Moringa-based larvicides may provide cheap and readily available alternative to synthetic insecticides.
Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is ... more Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is an increased interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides for the control of mosquitoes. The potential of Moringa plant as a larvicide against the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae s.s was evaluated and its effects on mosquito fish were also studied. Toxic components in Moringa oleifera seeds were extracted using; five aliquots of concentrations ranging from 1160-8700 μg/ml were prepared by serial dilutions from the extract. Three independent laboratory procedures were run in quadruplicate in which third instar larvae of Anopheles gambiaes. S was exposed to different concentrations and a control group was exposed to distilled water. The fishes were exposed to three graded treatment of the aqueous extract in two experiments run in triplicate. Behavioral changes were observed for 24 hours. From the larval bioassay, the extract present...
One hundred and thirteen strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected from 351 isolates fr... more One hundred and thirteen strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected from 351 isolates from 15 samples of traditionally fermented household bushera from Uganda and also from laboratory-prepared bushera. Isolates were phenotypically characterised by their ability to ferment 49 carbohydrates using API 50 CHL kits and additional biochemical tests. Coliforms, yeasts and LAB were enumerated in bushera. The pH, volatile organic compounds and organic acids were also determined. The LAB counts in household bushera varied between 7.1 and 9.4 log cfu ml À 1. The coliform counts varied between < 1 and 5.2 log cfu ml À 1. The pH of bushera ranged from 3.7 to 4.5. Ethanol (max, 0.27%) was the major volatile organic compound while lactic acid (max, 0.52%) was identified as the dominant organic acid in household bushera. The initial numbers of LAB and coliforms in laboratory-fermented bushera were similar; however, the LAB numbers increased faster during the first 24 h. LAB counts increased from 5.5 to 9.0 log cfu ml À 1 during the laboratory fermentation. Coliform counts increased from 5.9 to 7.8 log cfu ml À 1 at 24 h, but after 48 h, counts were less 4 log cfu ml À 1. Yeasts increased from 4.3 to 7.7 log cfu ml À 1 at 48 h, but thereafter decreased slightly. The pH declined from 7.0 to around 4.0. Lactic acid and ethanol increased from zero to 0.75% and 0.20%, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria isolated from household bushera belonged to Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus genera. Tentatively, Lactobacillus isolates were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. fermentum, L. brevis and L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii. Streptococcus thermophilus strains were also identified in household bushera. LAB isolated from bushera produced in the laboratory belonged to five genera (Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, Weissella and Enterococcus. Eight isolates were able to produce acid from starch and were identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (four strains), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides (one strain), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum (one strain), Weissella confusa (one strain) and L. plantarum (one strain).
In an ever changing 21st century world, pandemics such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (... more In an ever changing 21st century world, pandemics such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) virus also known as COVID-19 have come to stay, especially as the world is gradually becoming a global village. The disease has caused a lot of economic and social disruptions globally. The relationship between animals, the environment and humans as hosts of the virus needs to be understood as a way to break the chain of the spread of the virus. This calls for more concerted efforts in preventive measures at the human, environmental and animal interfaces. The synergy between the various health sector (environmental, animal and human) practitioners will help curb the pandemic and also make our world a better and more environmentally-friendly place. This paper aims to elucidate the linkages between man and his environment; the implication of these infections and pandemics on public health and furthermore lends a voice to the call for a One Health approach to curbing the current...
The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 v... more The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has become a worldwide public health crisis with associated high mortality rates globally. Human to human transmission of the infection emphasizes the importance of adhering to public and social measure to halt its spread. However, the recent #ENDSARS protests led by angry youths in Nigeria resulted to complete flouting of all WHO guidelines meted to curb the spread of the virus. Given that the nation is the most populous African country with over 50 percent of her population been youths, this situation has huge implications for the country and Africa as a whole. The risk of community transmission occasioned by the protest, coupled with travels and active mobility across countries within the continent increases the risk of community transmission with possible increases in new cases over the next few weeks to months. From the foregoing, it is expedient to increase awareness and enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment especially use of nose masks, face shields and frequent hand washing or sanitizing in public places. These individual-targeted measures will go a long way to curtail the imminent community transmission of COVID-19 across Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that Government and non-governmental agencies across the region actively engage to increase collaborative efforts; screening facilities and access to these services across the country, as well as accentuate regular adherence to preventive measures to the general public.
African Journal of Infectious Diseases, May 6, 2022
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 100 mi... more Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 100 million individuals worldwide with diverse impacts on nations. The rising cases of new strains and resultant infection waves create an urgent need to assess the readiness of countries especially in Africa to mitigate the impact on community transmission. This paper delivers a brief synopsis of the novel SARS-CoV-2, emerging cases of new variants reported worldwide, and implications for genetic surveillance of disease transmission in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) especially Africa. Materials and Methods: Literature search used keywords like SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 epidemiology; pandemic waves; corona outbreak, clinical syndromes, treatments, prevention and control. Cross-sectional and observational studies published on COVID-19 from 2019 till date of study provided main information sources. Databases such as Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and Google Scholar were utilised. Main findings: Over 220 countries have documented COVID-19 cases with varied severity till date. Before the spikes in resurgence, a highly virulent mutated (>90% fatality rate) novel strain of COVID-19 had been documented. There is very little data to ascertain the impact of the COVID-19 infection waves in LMICs. Discussion: LMICs especially African countries still grapple with significant challenges like inefficient surveillance mechanisms, inadequate vaccination coverage, inadequate enforcement of environmental health strategies, poor health systems etc. Hence, Africa's fate remains dicey in the face of the dynamic evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 and other identified challenges. Conclusion: The adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to mitigate the impact of emergence of mutant SARS-CoV-2 variants and resurgence of infection spike is recommended.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan. Assessment... more Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan. Assessment of TB treatment outcomes, monitoring and evaluation of its risk factors in Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) are among the major indicators of the performance of a national TB control program. Even though Pakistan ranks 5th among the 22 high-TB burden countries, there are no available data in this regard. Institution-based retrospective study was conducted to determine the treatment outcome of TB patients and investigate associated risk factors at District Head Quarter Hospital Shangla, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Two-year record (January 2011 to December 2012) of TB clinic of the hospital was reviewed. A total of 493 patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; complete information was reviewed in the study period. Of these, 42.19% were smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB), 35.09% were smear-negative PTB, and 22.72% were extra-PTB (EPTB). The overall prevalence of smear-positive PTB was 42.19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37.9-46.2). Records of the treatment outcome showed that 192 (38.94%) were cured, 276 (55.98%) completed treatment, 13 (2.6%) defaulted, 9 (1.8%) died, 1 (0.2%) treatment failure, and 1 (0.2%) had transferred to other facilities. The overall mean treatment success rate of the TB patients was 94.93%. TB age and TB form or baseline smear were significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. The risk of unsuccessful outcome was significantly lower among TB patients age Conclusion: The treatment success rate was high and match the World Health Organization criteria. To sustain the effective implementation of DOTS in the area, effective management, and diagnosis should be given for EPTB.
The slides are a presentation that formed part of the sessions of a webinar on &amp;amp;amp;a... more The slides are a presentation that formed part of the sessions of a webinar on &amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Navigating the Research Landscape&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;.
In tandem with the current drive to achieve the SDG 2030 goals, the Universal Health Coverage (UH... more In tandem with the current drive to achieve the SDG 2030 goals, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is been projected as a strong propelling strategy with key indicators, all aimed at achieving universal access to health services without having to endure financial difficulties in individual countries. Currently, Africa is lagging in meeting the targets of the UHC with between 5%-25% coverage across countries. Adoption of new innovations are critical for the actualization of Universal Health Coverage in Africa. Digital health technology offers one of such novel approaches to providing quality healthcare services and can help countries achieve the Universal Health Coverage targets. It has been suggested that digital health provides an opportunity to overcome the longstanding problems of inefficiency of health information gathering, sharing, and access. In addition, literature is already replete with various factors that can aid countries to achieve UHC and one of such factors is the urgency of generating valid and quality evidence to inform decision-making. Although the Primary Health Care remains at the core of the achievement of Universal Health Coverage, the utilization of digital health technologies remains very poor at the grassroots in Africa and this poses a huge barrier to effectiveness and quality of healthcare delivery. Given the foregoing, it is obvious that there is an urgent need to understand the landscapes, issues and barriers to utilization of digital health at the Primary Health Care levels. However, there remains a paucity of data to support evidence-based decision making about full implementation of digital health services across the continent while also taking into cognisance the peculiarities of individual countries. Hence, there is a critical need to determine the current levels of knowledge, skills, attitude, practice and readiness to adopt digital health in service delivery by healthcare workers at the Primary Health Care levels across the continent. The generation of such data from major stakeholders such as health workers and health managers, providers among others will provide important evidence needed for attaining optimal utilization of digital health in the context of health for all. Summarily, a clear understanding of the contextual and implementation bottlenecks highlighted from such assessment(s), especially as it relates to individual African countries, will go a long way to guide decisions to address the low utilization of digital health technologies in health services delivery in Africa.
The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 v... more The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has become a worldwide public health crisis with associated high mortality rates globally. Human to human transmission of the infection emphasizes the importance of adhering to public and social measure to halt its spread. However, the recent #ENDSARS protests led by angry youths in Nigeria resulted to complete flouting of all WHO guidelines meted to curb the spread of the virus. Given that the nation is the most populous African country with over 50 percent of her population been youths, this situation has huge implications for the country and Africa as a whole. The risk of community transmission occasioned by the protest, coupled with travels and active mobility across countries within the continent increases the risk of community transmission with possible increases in new cases over the next few weeks to months. From the foregoing, it is expedient to increase awareness and enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment especially use of nose masks, face shields and frequent hand washing or sanitizing in public places. These individual-targeted measures will go a long way to curtail the imminent community transmission of COVID-19 across Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that Government and non-governmental agencies across the region actively engage to increase collaborative efforts; screening facilities and access to these services across the country, as well as accentuate regular adherence to preventive measures to the general public.
People, especially in rural environments and recently, those dissatisfied with conventional medic... more People, especially in rural environments and recently, those dissatisfied with conventional medicine use medicinal plants for their therapeutic effects. Two or more plants are usually combined for such use and these combinations cause interactions that may be safe but could also be detrimental to health. Used singly, Andrographis paniculata and Aspilia africana are considered safe plants with low toxicities but little is known about their safety in combined therapy. This study assessed the cytotoxic activities of the aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts of the two plants in a 1:1 combination at various concentrations on murine hepatocytes, thymocytes and splenocytes. The murine cells were seeded in microtitre plates and tested with the combined extracts at different concentrations and percentage viability values of the cells determined by the tetrazolium salt reduction assay (MTT). The extracts used were: combined aqueous extract of the two plants (CAE), and combined chloroform extract (CCE). At 72hr incubation with 500 μg/ml extract concentration, percentage viability was low. Splenocytes thymocytes and hepatocytes incubated with CAE had viability values of 35%, 28% and 64% respectively and with CCE, 26%, 26% and 36% respectively, relative to controls. From the results, the extracts were cytotoxic to the murine cells at this concentration and incubation period. These low values indicate cytotoxic interactions in the combined extracts. However more research is needed to understand the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of the plants.
Preparation of Phytopharmaceuticals for the Management of Disorders
Abstract African traditional medicine is as old as mankind. There has been a recent resurgence in... more Abstract African traditional medicine is as old as mankind. There has been a recent resurgence in the use of traditional medicine all over the world, and in Africa specifically. The term traditional medicine is usually interchangeably used with complementary medicine and alternative medicine in some countries. Although different African governments have contributed toward improving traditional medicine in their respective countries, these efforts need to be consolidated through political goodwill. This can be translated into building robust and well-researched systems of traditional medicine, to strengthening capacity by training and accrediting traditional health practitioners, researching and adding value to traditional medicines, and stemming the tide of destruction of natural resources such as forests. This will take a concerted effort from all governments and different stakeholders, if African traditional medicine is to develop to international standards. Therefore, for there to be an increase in the credibility and acceptance of traditional medicines, more scientific validation for quality, safety, and efficacy is required.
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2015
Mosquito-borne diseases are among the leading causes of human and animal illnesses and deaths glo... more Mosquito-borne diseases are among the leading causes of human and animal illnesses and deaths globally. Mosquitoes are found throughout the world; are nuisances, hosts and vectors of many disease-causing parasites of public health importance. These diseases include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, etc. Mosquitoes pose significant threat to human and animal health, are a global challenge with huge medical and economic impact. Control of mosquitoes is a major component of vector-disease management; chemical insecticides remain the mainstay of control as documented in scholarly reports. The effectiveness of available methods have been limited by factors including insecticide resistance, high operational costs, toxicity on non- target organisms and environmental pollution. The emphasis on public health and environmental protection has led to global concerns about these risks and prompted the search for environmentally-friendly products. Bio-insecticides are based on natural products...
Mosquito control efforts are being undermined due to development of insecticide resistance in mos... more Mosquito control efforts are being undermined due to development of insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors of public health importance to synthetic insecticides, hence leading to the search for more sustainable control inputs. There is an increasing interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides. Moringa oleifera extract was evaluated on Anopheles gambiae s.s. larvae and to limit potential toxic pollution of aquatic ecosystems, acute and sub-chronic toxicity bioassay experiments were carried out on adult male Poecilia reticulata (guppies) to determine its eco-toxicological impact. Three independent larvicidal experiments were replicated three times; the pattern of effectiveness and the LC50 were determined for the mosquito larvicide; the toxicity experiments were carried out in three replicates by static method and behavioural changes in the guppies were determined for the different concentration levels used and in relation t...
The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 v... more The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has become a worldwide public health crisis with associated high mortality rates globally. Human to human transmission of the infection emphasizes the importance of adhering to public and social measure to halt its spread. However, the recent #ENDSARS protests led by angry youths in Nigeria resulted to complete flouting of all WHO guidelines meted to curb the spread of the virus. Given that the nation is the most populous African country with over 50 percent of her population been youths, this situation has huge implications for the country and Africa as a whole. The risk of community transmission occasioned by the protest, coupled with travels and active mobility across countries within the continent increases the risk of community transmission with possible increases in new cases over the next few weeks to months. From the foregoing, it is expedient to increase awareness and enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment especially use of nose masks, face shields and frequent hand washing or sanitizing in public places. These individual-targeted measures will go a long way to curtail the imminent community transmission of COVID-19 across Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that Government and non-governmental agencies across the region actively engage to increase collaborative efforts; screening facilities and access to these services across the country, as well as accentuate regular adherence to preventive measures to the general public.
Introduction: Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease caused by Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) remains a ... more Introduction: Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease caused by Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) remains a major health problem in the Asian sub-continent due to poor hygienic conditions. Aim: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of Typhoid fever among the general population of district Lower Dir, Pakistan in order to describe the disease occurrence and distribution. Material and methods: This was a descriptive-epidemiological study. 1076 subjects were enrolled; with presentation of common symptoms of typhoid at the Fazal-Rahim Clinical Laboratory as inclusion criteria. Typhidot test was performed for all participants. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. PHStat software was used for statistical analyses. Results and discussion: The study comprised of 414 males and 662 females. 37.26% of total cases were found positive; Females (62.64%) were more affected compared to males (37.4%). Furthermore, the IgM antibodies were detected in...
Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is ... more Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is an increased interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides for the control of mosquitoes. The potential of Moringa plant as a larvicide against the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiaes. S was evaluated and its effects on mosquito fish were also studied. Toxic components in Moringa oleifera seeds were extracted using; five aliquots of concentrations ranging from 1160-8700 µg/ml were prepared by serial dilutions from the extract. Three independent laboratory procedures were run in quadruplicate in which third instar larvae of Anopheles gambiaes. S was exposed to different concentrations and a control group was exposed to distilled water. The fishes were exposed to three graded treatment of the aqueous extract in two experiments run in triplicate. Behavioral changes were observed for 24 hours. From the larval bioassay, the extract presented a 72hour-LC50 and LC90 of 1885.4 µg/ml, 3902.4 µg/ml respectively, (p<0.05), causing 99.33±1.15%mortality at 8700µg/ml. The toxicity assay showed that the guppy fishes exhibited varying degrees of changes as a result of the exposure to treatment unlike in the control. The results obtained show that Moringa seed extract has larvicidal potentials for Anopheles gambiaes. S with observed little or no toxicity effects on the non target, guppy fish. The effectiveness of Moringa seed extract makes it a viable larvicide. Moringa-based larvicides may provide cheap and readily available alternative to synthetic insecticides.
Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is ... more Malaria is a major public health problem and its prevalence is dependent on mosquitoes. There is an increased interest in developing plant-based insecticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides for the control of mosquitoes. The potential of Moringa plant as a larvicide against the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae s.s was evaluated and its effects on mosquito fish were also studied. Toxic components in Moringa oleifera seeds were extracted using; five aliquots of concentrations ranging from 1160-8700 μg/ml were prepared by serial dilutions from the extract. Three independent laboratory procedures were run in quadruplicate in which third instar larvae of Anopheles gambiaes. S was exposed to different concentrations and a control group was exposed to distilled water. The fishes were exposed to three graded treatment of the aqueous extract in two experiments run in triplicate. Behavioral changes were observed for 24 hours. From the larval bioassay, the extract present...
One hundred and thirteen strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected from 351 isolates fr... more One hundred and thirteen strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected from 351 isolates from 15 samples of traditionally fermented household bushera from Uganda and also from laboratory-prepared bushera. Isolates were phenotypically characterised by their ability to ferment 49 carbohydrates using API 50 CHL kits and additional biochemical tests. Coliforms, yeasts and LAB were enumerated in bushera. The pH, volatile organic compounds and organic acids were also determined. The LAB counts in household bushera varied between 7.1 and 9.4 log cfu ml À 1. The coliform counts varied between < 1 and 5.2 log cfu ml À 1. The pH of bushera ranged from 3.7 to 4.5. Ethanol (max, 0.27%) was the major volatile organic compound while lactic acid (max, 0.52%) was identified as the dominant organic acid in household bushera. The initial numbers of LAB and coliforms in laboratory-fermented bushera were similar; however, the LAB numbers increased faster during the first 24 h. LAB counts increased from 5.5 to 9.0 log cfu ml À 1 during the laboratory fermentation. Coliform counts increased from 5.9 to 7.8 log cfu ml À 1 at 24 h, but after 48 h, counts were less 4 log cfu ml À 1. Yeasts increased from 4.3 to 7.7 log cfu ml À 1 at 48 h, but thereafter decreased slightly. The pH declined from 7.0 to around 4.0. Lactic acid and ethanol increased from zero to 0.75% and 0.20%, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria isolated from household bushera belonged to Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus genera. Tentatively, Lactobacillus isolates were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, L. paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. fermentum, L. brevis and L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii. Streptococcus thermophilus strains were also identified in household bushera. LAB isolated from bushera produced in the laboratory belonged to five genera (Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, Weissella and Enterococcus. Eight isolates were able to produce acid from starch and were identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (four strains), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides (one strain), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum (one strain), Weissella confusa (one strain) and L. plantarum (one strain).
In an ever changing 21st century world, pandemics such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (... more In an ever changing 21st century world, pandemics such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) virus also known as COVID-19 have come to stay, especially as the world is gradually becoming a global village. The disease has caused a lot of economic and social disruptions globally. The relationship between animals, the environment and humans as hosts of the virus needs to be understood as a way to break the chain of the spread of the virus. This calls for more concerted efforts in preventive measures at the human, environmental and animal interfaces. The synergy between the various health sector (environmental, animal and human) practitioners will help curb the pandemic and also make our world a better and more environmentally-friendly place. This paper aims to elucidate the linkages between man and his environment; the implication of these infections and pandemics on public health and furthermore lends a voice to the call for a One Health approach to curbing the current...
The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 v... more The recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has become a worldwide public health crisis with associated high mortality rates globally. Human to human transmission of the infection emphasizes the importance of adhering to public and social measure to halt its spread. However, the recent #ENDSARS protests led by angry youths in Nigeria resulted to complete flouting of all WHO guidelines meted to curb the spread of the virus. Given that the nation is the most populous African country with over 50 percent of her population been youths, this situation has huge implications for the country and Africa as a whole. The risk of community transmission occasioned by the protest, coupled with travels and active mobility across countries within the continent increases the risk of community transmission with possible increases in new cases over the next few weeks to months. From the foregoing, it is expedient to increase awareness and enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment especially use of nose masks, face shields and frequent hand washing or sanitizing in public places. These individual-targeted measures will go a long way to curtail the imminent community transmission of COVID-19 across Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that Government and non-governmental agencies across the region actively engage to increase collaborative efforts; screening facilities and access to these services across the country, as well as accentuate regular adherence to preventive measures to the general public.
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