Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Investment guide.

OFSP investment guide aims to unpack the investment opportunities in the OFSP value chain and offer a decision tool for determining where the key opportunities are and the activities for transforming them, including details on the human, financial and physical resources required. This guide is targeted at national level technical experts in public, private and development institutions, to support them through multisectoral and multi-stakeholder actions to identify and attract investments and implement pro-poor, nutrition-sensitive agricultural growth programmes to reduce vitamin A deficiency

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Investment summary.

This OFSP Investment Summary is part of a set of three OFSP investment products: The OFSP Investment Guide that unpacks the investment opportunities along the OFSP value chain, offering a decision tool for identifying where they exist and the activities needed to transform them, including details on the human, financial and physical resources. And the OFSP Investment Implementation Guide that is targeted at those involved in the implementation of OFSP investment programmes such as local government or NGO field staff. It provides a brief overview of the reasons for investing in pro‐poor, nutrition‐sensitive agricultural growth and vitamin A deficiency reduction programmes such as the promotion of OFSP

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Investment implementation guide.

This OFSP Investment Implementation Guide is targeted at those involved in the implementation of OFSP investment programmes such as local government or NGO field staff. It provides a brief overview of the reasons for investing in pro-poor, nutrition-sensitive agricultural growth and vitamin A deficiency reduction programmes such as the promotion of OFSP. It presents a decision tool for determining where the key opportunities exist in the OFSP value chain. It then unpacks each of the investment areas in detail and presents the activities for achieving its transformation, including details on the required human, financial and physical resources. It assumes such an investment will be undertaken using a multisectoral approach

Experiences in increasing food access and nutrition in Zimbabwe

A research paper on experiences of increasing food access and nutrition in Zimbabwe, presented at the Fourth Annual Conference on Food Security In Southern Africa, 31 October- 3 November, 1988.Factors which determine individual household access to food and adequate nutrition include the agro-ecological, economic, political, socio-cultural, and health factors; as well as natural and man-made disasters. At independence in 1980, the majority of Zimbabweans in both rural and urban areas had limited access to food. The war of liberation had disrupted food production and marketing activities. The land tenure system had allocated land to the rural peasant on the least productive soils. In addition, the peasant farmer had limited access to credit to improve crop yield and ensure adequate food security throughout the year. Access to agricultural extension services was also limited. Rural incomes were insufficient to purchase food, particularly where remittances from wage earners in the family were unavailable. In addition, the retail prices of food in the rural areas are much higher. Hence, large segments of the rural population had limited purchasing power to meet basic needs

An exploration of adolescents' knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its influence on sexual behaviour: the case of a high school in Johannesburg, South Africa

Aims: The study was aimed at exploring adolescents‟ level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the influence this knowledge has on their sexual behaviour. Methods: In total, 20 in- depth interviews were conducted from a group of 20 (both males and females) secondary school learners. The interviews were audio taped with consent from participants. Results: The results of the study showed that participants possess basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including methods of prevention and transmission. No serious misconceptions about modes of transmission of HIV were found in this study. Although, participants reported condom use, no sexual intercourse with multiple concurrent partners and no intergenerational sexual relationships, the findings revealed some risk factors such as early sexual debuts, early dating, multiple sexual partnerships. Conclusions: The aforesaid sexual behaviours and the sexual activeness among learners is a cause for angst. Thus, these findings highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to sexual reproductive health education by all interested parties in order to enhance and sustain behaviour change among young people.M.A. (Public Health)Health Studie

Assessing the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices for musculoskeletal diseases in construction workers in North West Province, South Africa

Abstract: Background: The construction industry is the most predominant industry with the highest injuries and fatality rates of workers at the workplace. Therefore, people working in this sector are at high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDS). Objective: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices for musculoskeletal diseases among construction workers in North West Province, South Africa, 2019 -2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among construction workers at the Moretele South pipeline Project. Data was collected using questionnaires. Face-to-face interviews were used on illiterate participants after obtaining their consent while those who were literate self-administered. Data collection was conducted over two months. Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were performed to determine factors associated with musculoskeletal diseases (MSDS). Data analysis was performed using EPINFO 7.2 and the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS)...MPH. (Public Health

Positive impact of preventative chemotherapy during a national helminth control program:Perception and KAP

Helminth control at the national level is currently based on mass drug administration (MDA) programs. Perception of the MDA programs for helminth control by the affected populations influences compliance and future designs of the programs. We determined the perception of Zimbabwe's National Helminth Control Program (2012-2017) with a specific focus on schistosomiasis in the school children treated with praziquantel, schoolteachers and village health workers (VHW). The study enrolled 409 children from Grades 6 and 7 who had the full benefit of the 6 years of MDA from 2012 to 2017. Thirty-six schoolteachers and 22 VHW serving the schools were also recruited. A structured questionnaire developed in English, translated into the local language Shona, and validated prior to the study was administered to the children and the adults. The questions focused on the perceived impact on health, school attendance and performance and Knowledge Attitudes and Practice (KAP) among the school children. Data were captured electronically on android platforms using the Open Data Kit. Overall, 84% of the children responded that their awareness of schistosomiasis (transmission, disease, treatment and infection avoidance) had improved because of participating in the MDAs. Of the 151 children self-diagnosed with schistosomiasis, 74% reported that their health had improved following treatment with praziquantel. This included resolution of haematuria, painful urination, sore stomach, tiredness and falling asleep during class lessons. The children and teachers reported improvements in both pupil school attendance and performance at school while the VHW and teachers reported an increase in health-seeking behaviour amongst the school children for schistosomiasis treatment in-between MDAs. The majority of VHW (96%) reported improvement in handwashing behaviour, schistosomiasis awareness (96%) and treatment uptake (91%) within the communities where the school children belonged. However, only 59% of the VHW reported improvement in toilet use while only 50% of the VHW reported improvement in clean water use within their communities. This study indicated that the surveyed children perceived the MDA program had improved their health, school attendance, school performance and awareness of schistosomiasis. The VHW also perceived that the MDA program had improved the community KAP

Identifying hotspots of S. haematobium infection following praziquantel treatment during multiple annual mass drug administration campaigns in Zimbabwe

Urogenital schistosomiasis is contracted from the Schistosoma haematobium parasite and is treated with the drug praziquantel (PZQ). Despite MDA interventions, persistent hotspots (PHS) of S. haematobium infection have been identified in multiple schistosome endemic African countries but have yet to be characterised in Zimbabwe. This study assessed long-term infection persistence and variability in praziquantel (PZQ) efficacy among school-aged children (6-15 years) in 29 districts of Zimbabwe, using data from MDAs conducted between 2012 and 2017. Metrics included infection prevalence, mean egg count, and treatment efficacy indicators. Two hotspot definitions were applied: (i) prevalence-based persistent hotspots (PPHS), identified by limited reduction or rebound in prevalence; and (ii) efficacy-based persistent hotspots (EPHS), defined by cure rates below 70%. Statistical comparisons between hotspot and non-hotspot ("responder") districts used regression models, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Analyses revealed four PPHS and six EPHS. PPHS districts exhibited significantly higher baseline prevalence and infection intensity compared with responders (P = 0.043), a pattern not observed for EPHS. Greater distance from freshwater sources was associated with EPHS occurrence (P = 0.016), although this appeared to be an indirect effect of initially high infection intensities. Lower treatment frequency correlated with increased hotspot occurrence, but the relationship was not statistically significant for either hotspot category. Other investigated factors including treatment coverage, timing of drug administration and ecological suitability for intermediate host snails showed no significant association with hotspot status. The elevated initial prevalence and infection intensity in PPHS suggest these indicators could be used for early hotspot identification, enabling targeted adjustments in intervention strategies. The findings underscore the limitations of relying solely on preventive chemotherapy in high-transmission settings. Integrating complementary measures such as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions and snail control may improve outcomes, particularly in hotspot areas. In conclusion, the persistence of S. haematobium hotspots in Zimbabwe highlights the need for adaptive, integrated control approaches aligned with the WHO's 2030 roadmap. Monitoring baseline epidemiological indicators could facilitate earlier detection of persistent transmission foci, guiding more effective and sustainable schistosomiasis control.</p

An Analysis of Effective Responsibility Accounting System Strategies in the Zimbabwean Health Sector (2003-2011)

The study set out to come up with strategies to ensure effective responsibility accounting system in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW) in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. The study was largely prompted by the fact that despite having been professionalized in its functions, the Ministry was still facing a lot of challenges. The target population for the study was the management and a sample of 70 employees from the fourteen stations in the province was used. Systematic sampling (probability sampling) and purposive or judgmental sampling (non-probability sampling) were used. It was observed that departments were operating with mandated budgets and that planning and control were not integrated. In addition it was also observed that performance reports were being used to fix blame on management and that performance reports were not being distributed to sectional managers on a regular basis. It is recommended that when coming up with budgets for the province the leadership should allow station managers to participate in the budget formulation and their suggestions should be taken on board and incorporated in the master budget. Key words: Strategies, Responsibility Accounting, Public Secto