7 research outputs found
Human dignity as basic foundation for morality in perspective of "Bantu" African ethical theory (with specific moral challenges in Tanzania)
No full textDiese Dissertation ist eine Untersuchung des Konzepts der Menschenwürde als normatives moralisches Prinzip in der Perspektive der afrikanischen Ethik der Bantu. Sie erforscht charakteristische Strukturen und moralische Werte der Bantu-Völker, um die moralische Grundlage des Handelns aufzuzeigen und für eine wissenschaftliche Rezeption aufzuarbeiten. Dies geschieht in der Absicht, eine Grundlage für eine christliche Bantu-Ethik zu schaffen. Die Erläuterung der Kohärenz der Begriffe, die sich auf ethische Wertansprüche und moralischen Anforderungen der traditionellen „Bantu-Ethik“ beziehen, ist dafür grundlegend. Dazu zählen die Begriffe „Utu“ (Menschenwürde) und „Ubuntu“ (Menschlichkeit, Menschheit oder Humanität). In dieser Dissertation wird aufgewiesen, dass Menschenwürde in der Form, wie sie in den Begriffen „Utu“ und „Ubuntu“ gefasst wird, zugleich ein grundlegendes moralisches Prinzip benennt, von dem sich sozialethischen und individuellen Handlungsnormen herleiten. Die traditionellen ethischen Verhaltensformen und moralischen Anweisungen der Bantu werden jedoch gemeinsam mit einer christlichen theologischen Ethik untersucht, auch wenn der Schwerpunkt der Dissertation auf der afrikanischen Moraltradition und ihren ethische Charakteristika liegt. Daher entspricht das Motto der Arbeit dem Anliegen, global zu denken, aber lokal zu handeln. Das Anliegen dieser Studienarbeit ist daher ein zweifaches: erstens bezieht sie sich auf die Herausforderungen der allgemeinen Lebenssituation für das moralische Verhalten der Menschen in Afrika südlich der Sahara insgesamt und insbesondere in Tansania; zweitens ist sie ein Versuch, mit Hilfe der ethischen Anweisungen der Bantu-Ethik und der Verstärkung der in ihr vermittelten moralischen Werte eine christliche Ethik in Afrika zu unterstützen. Dies bedeutet, dass die Anweisungen der Bantu-Ethik im Licht der theologischen Ethik aufgegriffen werden. Daher verstärkt diese Dissertation die Bedeutung der Menschenwürde in der Wahrnehmung der Bantu und die aus ihr folgenden ethischen Konsequenzen ebenso wie aus Sicht der theologischen Ethik, indem die Vorstellung von der Menschenwürde analysiert und als Grundlage für ein redliches moralisches Leben entfaltet wird.This dissertation in perspective of Bantu African ethical theory studies and explores Bantu peoples’ ethical pattern and moral values, so as to present a comprehensible and scholarly discernment about the concept of human dignity as basic foundation for virtuous moral living. The intention is, however, to establish a foundation of a Christian-Bantu Ethics. The explication of coherent terms, referring to a constellation of ethical value claims and normative moral requirements, from traditional ‘Bantu’ ethics, is significantly employed; such are ethical terms, namely: “Utu” (human dignity) and “Ubuntu” (humanness, humankind or humanity). It is manifested in this dissertation that, Bantu Africans conceptualise that, human dignity in terms of “Utu” and “Ubuntu” characterise a foundational moral principle, which provides guidance on socio-ethical conducts and moral behaviour. The traditional ethical patterns and moral instructions of the Bantu African people are, however, examined alongside Christian theological ethics. The central focus of dissertation, though, remains on the African moral tradition and ethical pattern. In this way, it complies with the dictum: ‘think globally, act locally!’ The concern in study work, thus, falls keen on two aspects: first, on a challenge arising from general life situation and moral conduct of the people in sub-Saharan Africa, as a whole, and Tanzania in particular; and secondly, it’s an attempt to promote Christian moral teaching in Africa, via revitalizing Bantu African ethical instructions and moral values. Meaning, such ethical instructions as they are established in the Bantu African moral theory, yet being considered with respect to Christian theological ethics. In a nutshell, the dissertation, therefore, asserts of moral lessons from the Bantu African traditional perception of human dignity and from Christian moral theology, as it unpacks analytically and so explicates this concept of human dignity as basic foundation for virtuous moral living
Comparing pharmacy practice in health facilities with and without pharmaceutically trained dispensers: a post intervention study in Tanzania
No full textBackground: The critical shortage of comprehensively trained healthcare staff in Tanzania affects the capacity to deliver essential health services, attain universal health coverage and compromises health outcomes. There is a specific lack of suitably trained pharmaceutical professionals, thus, an increase in the use of unqualified or poorly trained staff. Following the introduction of a one-year pharmacy dispenser course intervention, this study explored the impact that the new cadre of graduates had on pharmacy practice compared to healthcare facilities with non-pharmacy trained dispensers (NPTDs).Methods: A post intervention assessment was conducted in 2021 using questionnaires formulated to measure indicators of Good Pharmacy Practice, comparing 29 public health facilities employing pharmacy-trained dispensers (PTD) with 32 public health facilities with NPTDs in Dodoma, Shinyanga and Morogoro regions of Tanzania. Data were collected by experienced pharmacists or pharmaceutical technicians and subsequently aggregated and statistically analysed.Results: The dispensing times for medicines were found to be the same for PTDs and the NPTDs (2 min). There were no statistically significant differences in the adequacy of labelling elements between PTDs and NPTDs. Patients’ level of knowledge of the medicines dispensed to them, from both PTDs and NPTDs, showed no difference. Moreover, no differences were observed in storage practice and documentation performance, records of dispensed medicines, handling of medicines and the dispensing area cleanliness between both groups. Overall, facilities with PTDs averaged a higher availability of tracer medicines (77%) than those with NPTDs (70%), however, availability of health commodities in all health facilities in the three regions was low and there was no statistically significant difference between both groups.Conclusion: The study showed no significant difference in performance of pharmacy practice between PTDs and NPTDs despite the former undertaking a one-year training course intended to improve knowledge and skills. Practice application not only depends on effective training but on the working environment. Clear job descriptions, appropriate tools and references to guide, Standard Operating Procedures, acceptance by management of the training undertaken to actively encourage recruits to apply these new skills could improve PTDs performance. Training and knowledge alone do not seem to lead to better practice and performance
Efficacy and safety of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine during 18 months after vaccination : a phase 3 randomized, controlled trial in children and young infants at 11 African sites
Get PDFA malaria vaccine could be an important addition to current control strategies. We report the safety and vaccine efficacy (VE) of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine during 18 mo following vaccination at 11 African sites with varying malaria transmission.; 6,537 infants aged 6-12 wk and 8,923 children aged 5-17 mo were randomized to receive three doses of RTS,S/AS01 or comparator vaccine. VE against clinical malaria in children during the 18 mo after vaccine dose 3 (per protocol) was 46% (95% CI 42% to 50%) (range 40% to 77%; VE, p>0.01 across all sites). VE during the 20 mo after vaccine dose 1 (intention to treat [ITT]) was 45% (95% CI 41% to 49%). VE against severe malaria, malaria hospitalization, and all-cause hospitalization was 34% (95% CI 15% to 48%), 41% (95% CI 30% to 50%), and 19% (95% CI 11% to 27%), respectively (ITT). VE against clinical malaria in infants was 27% (95% CI 20% to 32%, per protocol; 27% [95% CI 21% to 33%], ITT), with no significant protection against severe malaria, malaria hospitalization, or all-cause hospitalization. Post-vaccination anti-circumsporozoite antibody geometric mean titer varied from 348 to 787 EU/ml across sites in children and from 117 to 335 EU/ml in infants (per protocol). VE waned over time in both age categories (Schoenfeld residuals p>0.001). The number of clinical and severe malaria cases averted per 1,000 children vaccinated ranged across sites from 37 to 2,365 and from -1 to 49, respectively; corresponding ranges among infants were -10 to 1,402 and -13 to 37, respectively (ITT). Meningitis was reported as a serious adverse event in 16/5,949 and 1/2,974 children and in 9/4,358 and 3/2,179 infants in the RTS,S/AS01 and control groups, respectively.; RTS,S/AS01 prevented many cases of clinical and severe malaria over the 18 mo after vaccine dose 3, with the highest impact in areas with the greatest malaria incidence. VE was higher in children than in infants, but even at modest levels of VE, the number of malaria cases averted was substantial. RTS,S/AS01 could be an important addition to current malaria control in Africa
Development of novel flax bio-matrix composites for non-structural and structural vehicle applications
Get PDFThe use of natural fibres (e.g. flax, hemp etc.) instead of synthetic fibres (carbon
and glass etc.) as composite reinforcements not only benefits the environment,
but also provides economical lightweight products for transports. Although there
are a few studies reported in literature on use of flax fibres, there is no
comprehensive guide on use of flax fibres with bio-resins to re-engineer bio-
composite systems that can be used in vehicle structures. The state-of-art of
the current research towards using natural fibre reinforced composites is
reviewed by the thesis. The review covers the performances of flax composites,
concentrating on the effect of matrix types and existing development methods.
The review also identifies the rational of selecting tannin resins and bio-epoxy
resins to combine with flax fibre reinforcements.
In the experimental work, mimosa tannin resin (natural phenolic resin) and pine-
oil derived supersap epoxy resin are selected to manufacture the fully
renewable flax composites. By tailoring the fibre configurations and chemical
surface treatments, the resultant composites were investigated to provide
information for engineers to understand the composite behaviours and
properties. Mechanical properties (tension, flexural, shear, impact etc.) and
physical properties (moisture, ageing etc.) were assessed through adequate
tests and analysing methods. In addition, bio-sandwich structures based on the
novel studied composites and commercial bio-foams were evaluated to study
the energy absorption which could be very important in vehicle design. Based
on the results, flax/supersap epoxy and flax/tannin composites are suitable for
possible exterior structural and interior non-structural applications, respectively.
The developed flax fibre composites with innovative bio-matrices have a
potential to prevail in modern vehicle applications, due to the competitive
performances, economic viability and environmental acceptability
Abstracts of Tanzania Health Summit 2020
Get PDFThis book contains the abstracts of the papers/posters presented at the Tanzania Health Summit 2020 (THS-2020) Organized by the Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC); President Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG); Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, Elderly, Gender, and Children Zanzibar; Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA); National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA); Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC); & Tindwa Medical and Health Services (TMHS) held on 25–26 November 2020. The Tanzania Health Summit is the annual largest healthcare platform in Tanzania that attracts more than 1000 participants, national and international experts, from policymakers, health researchers, public health professionals, health insurers, medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, private health investors, supply chain experts, and the civil society. During the three-day summit, stakeholders and decision-makers from every field in healthcare work together to find solutions to the country’s and regional health challenges and set the agenda for a healthier future.
Summit Title: Tanzania Health SummitSummit Acronym: THS-2020Summit Date: 25–26 November 2020Summit Location: St. Gasper Hotel and Conference Centre in Dodoma, TanzaniaSummit Organizers: Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC); President Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG); Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, Elderly, Gender and Children Zanzibar; Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA); National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA); Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC); & Tindwa Medical and Health Services (TMHS)
