Witness

Witness, co-written by award-winning Tanzanian-Australian filmmaker Martin Mhando and WA actor and writer David Moody, explores the law of probability as it plays out in bitter human conflicts, retelling stories of torture and atrocities from Chile to Cambodia in a constantly morphing, fractured form. As the play progresses, the men perform a collage of vignettes in which the roles of white, black, male, female, jailer, prisoner, aggressor and victim are endlessly exchanged. At one point Moody dons a curly black wig to play a comical Colonel Gaddafi; elsewhere both men perform a disturbing Auschwitz cabaret scene as “Hymie and Abe,” complete with Marx Brothers nose-and-glasse

The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations on HIV/AIDS Mitigation in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

HIV/AIDS pandemic has caused widespread negative socio-economic impacts in Tanzania. The epidemic is restraining development efforts of many households and the nation at large. Despite the mushrooming number of NGOs established to combat the epidemic, the prevalence of HIV infection is still high. This study was conducted so as to assess the effectiveness of NGOs on HIV/AIDS mitigation in Morogoro Municipality. A cross-sectional research design which employs a survey method was used. A sample 120 respondents was picked randomly and 17 NGOs were picked with the aid of table of random numbers. Purposive sampling was used to select members for a FGD and key informants. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview guide, FGD and key informants. Quantitative data were analysed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences program. To determine the effectiveness of NGOs, descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. Structural and content analysis was used to analyse data from FGD and key informants. The study revealed challenges constraining the performance of NGOs which include; operating under meagre funds and donor dependency, incompetent staff, inappropriate approaches on HIV/AIDS message delivery, and poor networking. The study concludes that, NGOs are very important for mitigating HIV/AIDS despite the shortcomings revealed.Key words: HIV/AIDS, NGOs, mitigatio

Congenital anomalies in low- and middle-income countries: the unborn child of global surgery.

Surgically correctable congenital anomalies cause a substantial burden of global morbidity and mortality. These anomalies disproportionately affect children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to sociocultural, economic, and structural factors that limit the accessibility and quality of pediatric surgery. While data from LMICs are sparse, available evidence suggests that the true human and financial cost of congenital anomalies is grossly underestimated and that pediatric surgery is a cost-effective intervention with the potential to avert significant premature mortality and lifelong disability

Using detergent to enhance detection sensitivity of African trypanosomes in human CSF and blood by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)

<p><b>Background:</b> The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, with its advantages of simplicity, rapidity and cost effectiveness, has evolved as one of the most sensitive and specific methods for the detection of a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms including African trypanosomes. While many LAMP-based assays are sufficiently sensitive to detect DNA well below the amount present in a single parasite, the detection limit of the assay is restricted by the number of parasites present in the volume of sample assayed; i.e. 1 per µL or 103 per mL. We hypothesized that clinical sensitivities that mimic analytical limits based on parasite DNA could be approached or even obtained by simply adding detergent to the samples prior to LAMP assay.</p> <p><b>Methodology/Principal Findings:</b> For proof of principle we used two different LAMP assays capable of detecting 0.1 fg genomic DNA (0.001 parasite). The assay was tested on dilution series of intact bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood with or without the addition of the detergent Triton X-100 and 60 min incubation at ambient temperature. With human CSF and in the absence of detergent, the LAMP detection limit for live intact parasites using 1 µL of CSF as the source of template was at best 103 parasites/mL. Remarkably, detergent enhanced LAMP assay reaches sensitivity about 100 to 1000-fold lower; i.e. 10 to 1 parasite/mL. Similar detergent-mediated increases in LAMP assay analytical sensitivity were also found using DNA extracted from filter paper cards containing blood pretreated with detergent before card spotting or blood samples spotted on detergent pretreated cards.</p> <p><b>Conclusions/Significance:</b> This simple procedure for the enhanced detection of live African trypanosomes in biological fluids by LAMP paves the way for the adaptation of LAMP for the economical and sensitive diagnosis of other protozoan parasites and microorganisms that cause diseases that plague the developing world.</p&gt

Feasibility and acceptability findings from a pilot study of the adapted Ziba Ufa intervention for late life depression and chronic conditions in Tanzania.

ObjectiveTo conduct a pilot study of the adapted Ziba Ufa intervention for the treatment of late life depression, to assess feasibility and acceptability.DesignA pilot clinical trial, using a single group design over eight months, using qualitative and quantitative methods.SettingFour rural and urban outpatient health clinics in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.ParticipantsIndividuals aged 60 years and above, with chronic health conditions and mild-moderate depression symptoms, with no cognitive impairment or severe frailty.Intervention‘Ziba Ufa’ (‘Repair the Crack’) was adapted for Tanzania from the Depression in Late Life (DIL) intervention. It is a hybrid model of problem-solving therapy and healthy lifestyle advice.MeasurementsA locally validated depression screener (MOSHI-D) was used to screen for mild-moderate depression symptoms. Feasibility was assessed using recruitment and retention data, and acceptability was assessed using thematic analysis and the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability to analyse exit interviews with participants and counsellors at follow-up.ResultsA total of 157 older adults were screened, and thirty-two participants were enroled, with eight allocated to one counsellor per site. The enrolment rate of those clinically eligible at screening was 52%, with the majority unable to attend due to living too far away from the clinic. The retention rate was high at 97% (N=31). Qualitative feedback indicated the programme was acceptable because it helped older adults ‘open up’ and did not interfere with everyday life.ConclusionsZiba Ufa was feasible and acceptable in Tanzania when delivered in routine clinical settings, with travel reimbursed

Witness: A case study of the research-based-devised play for writing in production

No abstract availabl

Perceived effects of tree planting in Iringa and Njombe regions Tanzania

The study investigated the perceived effects of tree planting initiatives at a community level within Southern Highlands of Tanzania, addressing a critical gap in the literature regarding local responses to economic benefits and the pursuit of sustainability goals. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study integrated quantitative data with qualitative interviews from local stakeholders. Results indicated enhanced economic benefits from sustainable tree products, which contributed to improved livelihoods and community resilience against climate impacts. The implications suggest that small-scale afforestation can be a viable solution to environmental degradation while providing economic and social benefits to local communities. The findings advocate for policy recommendations that support the integration of tree growing into agricultural practices, promoting sustainability and resilience in small-holder territories

Perceived effects of tree planting in Iringa and Njombe regions Tanzania

The study investigated the perceived effects of tree planting initiatives at a community level within Southern Highlands of Tanzania, addressing a critical gap in the literature regarding local responses to economic benefits and the pursuit of sustainability goals. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study integrated quantitative data with qualitative interviews from local stakeholders. Results indicated enhanced economic benefits from sustainable tree products, which contributed to improved livelihoods and community resilience against climate impacts. The implications suggest that small-scale afforestation can be a viable solution to environmental degradation while providing economic and social benefits to local communities. The findings advocate for policy recommendations that support the integration of tree growing into agricultural practices, promoting sustainability and resilience in small-holder territories

The potential of classical biological control against leucaena psylid, heteropsylla cubana crawford in eastern Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2000, Vol 3(2): 113 -122The Leucaena psyllid HeteropsyHa cubana Crawford (Homoptera: Psyl/idae) has ~aused damaging ef fects to Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit in Tanzania since its outbreak in 1992. Cultural, genetic and chemical controls havebel!n tried in some localised areas. In 1995, a hymenopterous parasitoids, Tamarixia leucaenae Boucek (Eupelmidae) was imported from Trinidad and Tobago for biological control of this pest in Tanga and Morogoro areas. Mummies of the parasitoid were recordedfrom the sixth week after release. The population declined to the lowest level between November 1995 and January 1996 before building-up again to about 10 and 11 mummies per shoot in July for Tanga and Morogogro respectively. Spread of the parasitoidwas fairly fast, and at about 16 months afterrelease it had covered over 300 Ian from the release sites. The spread and population build up indicates that this species has been established in Eastern Tanzania. In spite of declining shoot damage at about ten months after parasitoid release, it is probably too early to associate it with the parasitoid. Shoot damage was found to be more closely correlated to laboratory nymph count (r = 0.52) than to field nymph shoot numbers (r =\0.35). Several potential indigenous natural enemies were recorded in association with the psy/lid; however, their role as biological control agents needs further quantification