National Research Database of Zimbabwe
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The sustainability of street vending as a livelihood strategy of women operating from Harare central business district
No full textThe purpose of this research was to examine the participation of women in street vending and then evaluate its sustainability as a livelihood strategy by women in Harare Central Business District. Livelihood indicators were used in evaluating sustainability and these include, food security, income levels, level and quality of education, ability to acquire assets and the health standards. A sample of 30 women from 5 selected vending sites were selected as respondents. The researcher used structured questioners and interviews in conducting the research. The findings were based on the information captured in the questioners and the interviews which were conducted face to face with the women. Women dominated the number of those in street vending in Harare CBD although man and youths were also in the streets. The participation of women in street vending managed to help women improve the poverty levels in their families. The income in families improved as compare to the period before street vending, but however the incomes were very small and differed with the goods at sell. In education women could now send their children to school but to acquire basic education and also using local schools that had lower fees. Food security in household improved and women and their families could now afford to eat at least 2meals per day. Healthy facilities became accessible, although it was basic and only local clinics. The participation of women in street vending has helped in improving the poverty levels of women but however cannot be sustainable as a livelihood strategy because of the challenges that cripple the vending system and that include, harassment from town officials, cheap and poor quality of good on sell, lack of proper infrastructure, lack of operating licenses discs and low demand and high competition
An investigation of strategy implementation challenges: the case of Zimbabwe stock exchange listed manufacturing companies
No full textThe accessibility and quality of safe motherhood to female inmates at Juba Main Prison, South Sudan
No full textMost surprising fact is that South Sudan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the whole world, with only 2045/100,000 live births. Using a case study approach of Juba main prison
PHC, this dissertation (apparently the first of its kind) examines the accessibility and the quality of safe motherhood among female inmate in Juba main prison Juba South Sudan (prison has a clinic) for those women who are either incarcerated and pregnant or those who already have before reaching reproductive age at Juba main (and, in this case study, they are serviced by Prison PHC and Juba main Hospital) and other private and NGO /Religious Hospital facilities in Juba Using the overarching Women’s Law Approach, the writer, himself a safe motherhood specialist of the Reproductive Health Association of South Sudan (RHASS), implements an effective combination of methodologies, including the Grounded and Human Rights Approaches, to highlight the gap between Safe motherhood and Government’s promises to realize this maternal health rights standard and its actual failure to do so which has resulted in increasing mortality rates for mothers among those in prison as well those who not in prison. This study data implements collection methods which encompass a gender- sensitive methodological approaches’ ( this methods including, research into the relevant literature and law on the subject and also based upon interviews and discussions with carefully selected women respondents, official and government members and key informants and clinic staff). All of this information is collected, sifted, analyzed and presented as evidence of the ‘lived realities’ of these unfortunate iii poor, illiterate and ignorant women. It was established that, while giving birth, many mothers die or suffer life-threatening injuries in the most appalling and avoidable of circumstances in prison or on the way to, from prison or at the few and often far-flung and under resourced clinics and hospitals to which they are forced to journey on motor cycle .One finds that this dire situation is mostly due to the Government’s apparent deliberate breach of its duty to realize the women’s right to maternal health care by, inter alia, failing to: build, maintain, properly equip or administer sufficient and affordable clinics, referral hospitals and waiting women’s’ shelters; build and maintain critical supporting road and communication infrastructure and failing to train compassionate but frustrated and helpless PHC staff members in basic midwifery skills. The investigator directly back to the alarmingly insensitive attitude of Government policy makers who boast about their services but blatantly refuse to deliver on numerous commendable health policies which are squarely grounded in numerous regional and international Human Right Instruments which have been ratified by the Government. They apparently feel safe in the knowledge that their .Employer cannot be held accountable for breaching its duty to realize the right to maternal health care because of its deliberate failure to make the right specifically justiciable either locally and internationally. Finally, the writer makes some worthwhile recommendations for both GOs and NGOs, including: undertaking immediate legal reform to make the right to safe motherhood health care justiciable; officially recognizing, supporting and enhancing the skills of traditional midwives whose valuable and critical services have already saved the lives of countless desperate mothers and the immediate purchase and deployment of ambulance motorcycles. These measures can be partly financed by NGO funds which are currently available to the prison PHC.,NORA
Microbiology of puerperal sepsis and its clinical implications among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women in a hospital sample in Zimbabwe
No full textTitle: Microbiology of puerperal sepsis and its clinical implications in a Hospital sample in Zimbabwe
Introduction: Puerperal sepsis is infection of the female genital tract occurring at any time
between the rupture of membranes or labour, and the 42nd day postpartum. Puerperal sepsis has become the leading cause of maternal death in Harare public health institutions accounting for 19% and 30% of maternal deaths for the years 2010 and 2014 respectively, from being the fourth nationwide cause at 12.3% in the year 2007. The objectives of this study were to determine the identity and antibacterial susceptibility profiles of bacteria colonizing the genital tract and blood stream, and to assess clinical
outcomes and association with HIV infection in women with puerperal sepsis.
Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Parirenyatwa and Harare
Hospitals between 02 September 2014 and 01 July 2015. Endocervical swabs and blood were collected for culture and susceptibility testing from 151 consecutive women who met the World Health Organisation criteria for puerperal sepsis. HIV sero-status, immunological status and antiretroviral therapy (ART) use were determined. Medical records were reviewed for assessment of clinical outcomes. Proportions, categorical values and means were compared using Z-test, .² test and t- test along with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value of <0.05.
Results: The mean age was 25.1 ±5.8years and most women were multiparous(53.6%). The majority of women had delivered at a hospital (78.1%) and by caesarean section
(57.6%). The commonest bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (30.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.3%). Multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) accounted for 10.9% of the isolates. MDRO were associated with prolonged mean hospital stay 23.0days (d) compared to 10.5d in women without MDRO (p=0.009). The frequency of genital colonization with Enterobacter species was significantly higher in HIV infected (9.1%) than uninfected women (1.7%) (p=0.04). Among HIV infected women (21.9%), severe immunosuppression (CD4 500/mm³). There was a non-significant trend towards,earlier onset of sepsis; and higher rates of pelvic abscess, septic shock, wound dehiscence, peritonitis, death and need for admission into the intensive care unit (ICU)
in women with severe immunosuppression. Antiretroviral therapy use did not independently influence outcomes. Puerperal sepsis case fatality rate was 7.3%.
Conclusion: Gram negative bacilli, particularly E. coli, are the commonest bacterial isolates in puerperal sepsis. There is emergence of MDRO gram negative bacilli resistant to carbapenems, especially K. pneumoniae. MDRO and HIV associated severe immunosuppression are risk factors for prolonged hospital stay and need for surgery. Robust infection control strategies, emphasis on rational drug use and clinical culture surveillance to identify MDRO and monitor epidemiologic trends is recommended.,NECTAR Mentored Research Scholarship Progra
Design of an automatic tyre pressure inflation system for small vehicles
No full textConference Paper,The advent of the tyre/automotive industry brought to a halt the savage days of long journeying by foot and suddenly introduced quick inter-city visits whilst the traveler is seated. In a bid to improve and perfect this modern way of journeying this paper focuses on the optimization of the automobile, subject matter being the effective and proper maintenance of the tyre so as to curb the disappointment of failing to travel due to underinflated tyres. The design presented in the report herein functions to restore the tyre pressure on vehicles so that they are kept at optimum pressure levels, thus extending their life time at the same time saving the owner from fuel costs and maintenance cost incurred with underinflated tyres. It constitutes of a wind driven turbine-compressor unit which uses drag wind as source of drive to a turbine and quickly converts it to rotational energy which powers a small compressor that feeds the tyre with pressurized air whenever the need arises. The system is monitored and controlled by a Java/Android program which detects low pressure and initiates compressor ON / OFF states. The system is environmentally friendly releasing zero gases and is self-sustaining using independent power source from that of the vehicle itself
Design of a mechanical cleaning device PIG (pipeline intervention gadget) connecting two transfer lines in Zimbabwe
No full textConference paper,In the Oil and Gas Industry, maintenance is done using a device or tool called a pig, chiefly to remove solids, dirt, and liquids from the pipelines. The aim of this work is to design and retrofit a pig which will clean 3 identical underground transfer pipelines linking 2 depots The movement of this tool is basically through the action of the fluid in the pipeline pushing it along as it is pumped from one point to another, hence no external power is needed in the device to help in its movement. Calculation based model analysis of the tool together with Solidworks simulations and results are included in detail, with all assumptions and limitations clearly stated and listed. The results show that the pig will move inside the pipe at a lower speed than the mean flow velocity which is good for the performance of the electronic systems installed on its body for pipeline inspection. Bypass hole is added on the central part of the pig body to control the speed as well as keep the cleaned dirt stirred and moving, being pushed by the pig as it performs its cleaning process
The use of autonomous maintenance in the fertilizer industry in Zimbabwe
No full textConference paper,The paper aims to give a guideline on the use and implementation of Autonomous Maintenance in a typical manufacturing facility. It details the chronic and perennial problems besetting typical developing countries maintenance regime scenarios. It then proffers a simple but concise paradigm shift toward the adoption and use of Autonomous Maintenance. A thorough literature exposé is articulated which it is hoped should cement the benefits of Autonomous Maintenance. Autonomous Maintenance is a dynamic, team-based methodology that involves all employees in identifying and eliminating equipment related losses such as equipment failure, inconsistent adjustment procedures, lengthy set-up time, idling and minor stoppages, processing defects and reduced production yields among others. The importance of teams in goal attainment is highlighted and finally the paper concludes by articulating the World famous 5’s due to Nakajima and incorporates these in the implementation of Autonomous Maintenance
The role of the environmental management agency (EMA) in promoting sustainable environment management in Harare South
No full textThe study focused on the role of EMA in promoting sustainable environment management in Harare South. In most developing countries, the increase in urbanization has exceeded the development of urban infrastructure and this has led to the multiplying of informal settlements, illegal dumping sites and uncontrolled vending in cities like Harare. The environment has currently become a topical issue globally with climate change, environment degradation and biodiversity loss among the major difficulties. Several Conventions have been ratified and Zimbabwe has also took part in those Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA) such as the Ramsar Convention and Kyoto Protocol. However despite these efforts the country’s environment is increasingly becoming degraded. The research aimed at the environmental challenges in Harare and how EMA has monitored and regulated environment issues as well as the programs carried out and their impact and effectiveness in improving the environment. A qualitative research method was used to gather information on several environmental issues in the study area. Interviews and observations were carried out to gather informatio
The impact of nutrition gardens on people living with HIV and Aids in Mutare north
No full textHIV and AIDS have devastated many lives in various ways including nutrition deficiency but nutrition gardens can provide a rock solid solution to nutrition problems of PLWHA. Identified problems include frequent illness which are nutrition related, failure to send children to school, inability to sustain the general needs of families and failure to contribute to community development meaningfully. Data was collected from nutrition garden participants, city council officials, NGO representatives and health personnel on nutrition garden programmes. Questionnaires, interviews and observations were used to collect the relevant data. The collected data was analysed and interpreted. There is a huge deficit between what the garden participants expect from their participation in garden activities and what they are actually benefitting. The government can complement NGO efforts in sourcing financial support for investments in water harvesting structure, NGOs need to mobilise adequate resources before they embark on nutrition garden programmes, city councils should consider the condition of garden participants before citing the gardens as it regards accessibility and the Ministry of Health can incorporate nutrition garden education as they deal with PLWHA. The city councils can benefit when participants get proper nutrition in that they cut on costs incurred in health services offered to PLWHA. The Ministry of Health can benefit in the reduction of sickness which can save money used to treat opportunistic illness that take advantage of vulnerable and malnourished bodies of PLWHA