Nairobi-Kenya:  The world's condom's day was celebrated with utmost glee on Friday 13th February 2015 beside  Kenya National Archives building. Many citizens  were able to secure themselves with loads of condoms which were distributed freely by 'youth at heart' dancers.

Hearing experts conquer hearing loss in deaf children

Hearing experts conquer hearing loss in deaf children

By Justine Wangui (Science Africa correspondent)

Email: justinewangui@gmail.com

LOS ANGELES -A three year research study carried out by a team of hearing and communication experts has realized the effectiveness of auditory brain-stem implant (ABI) device in overcoming sound barrier in children born without a hearing nerve. 

The research commenced in March 2014 with Keck school of Medicine of the University of California (USC) being in the lead.   A clinical trial backed by the National Institutes of Health recorded the success of ABI devices after they were implanted in four children who previously could not hear. Scientists claim that the ABI would be more effective in children since their brains are more adaptable. This clinical trial is set to prove that the implant is safe in young children.  This paves way for researchers to study brain development over time and how it learns to hear sound as well as develop speech.

“All of our study participants whose ABIs have been activated are progressing at expected or better rates.  We are optimistic that, with intensive training and family support, these children will eventually be able to talk on the phone,” said audiologist Laurie Eisenberg. Ph. D., a Keck School of Medicine of USC   otolaryngology professor and study co-leader.  “Initial activation of the ABI is like a newborn entering the world and hearing for the first time, which means these children will need time to learn to interpret what they are sensing through the device as ‘sound’.”

For over ten years, surgeons in USA have been carrying out ABI surgeries in children but there was neither a formal safety nor monitoring of the surgeries’ lapses.  Additionally, these devices have shown minimal effectiveness in adults.  

Hearing loss can be restored temporarily through hearing aids and cochlear implants but this case is only applicable to those who have a cochlear or hearing nerve, who are incapable of perceiving sound no matter how loud it is.  The use of ABIs highly involves the study of how the brain and the hearing system work together.  Thus, it has come to the conclusion that ABI stimulates neurons directly at the human brainstem, bypassing the entire inner ear.

  Prof. Robert V. Shannon, Ph.D., of Keck school of Medicine USC, an investigator of the trial and a leading scientist since 1989 has seen commendable responses after ABI implants in patients.  “Hearing loss can be devastating to a child’s social development and for some children, the ABI is their last viable chance to hear.  Several of the young children who had ABIs implanted outside the United States have sought help at the USC-CHLA Center for Childhood Communication and we know that they now have the potential to understand speech. Through this device, our team will set the gold standards for use of this technology.”

Laurie Eisenberg optimistically recommends ample training and family support which will eventually enable the children to talk on phone.

(Source: USC Health News <prmarketing@med.usc.edu>)

Post-ebola plans as arms to battle future emergency diseases-Sierraleone

Post-ebola plans as arms to battle future emergency diseases-Sierraleone

By Justine Wangui (Science Africa correspondent)

Email: justinewagui@gmail.com

Since May 2014, Sierra Leone has been hit hard by the deadly Ebola epidemic which has claimed over 2000 lives up to date. In an online press conference held by Sierra Leone on 10^th of February, the National Publicity and Outreach Coordinator in the Office of the Government Spokesman of Sierra Leone said that the government of Sierra Leone has put up strategies based on promoting regional collaboration as a way of creating joint- alertness with its neighboring countries, Guinea and Liberia which were as well hit by the disease. This is one of the post- Ebola plans that are acting as weapons to fight off future emergency diseases.

“We are doing this as a nation. We must collaborate with our neighbors that are particularly hit by the Ebola virus that is Guinea and Liberia.  This will induce responsibility in each of these three countries to respond to any outbreak in future, of which we don’t hope for,” says Abdulai.   “I must say that the fight against Ebola continues even though for the months of December 2014 up to February   2015 we are having fluctuating cases in the number of confirmed cases of infections.  There will be minimal or no future complains if the three Ebola-stricken countries prepare themselves in readiness to fight any future disease that may emerge.”

The ministries of Health and sanitation in the three countries will be fully involved in the collaboration.  His Excellency, the president of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has instructed the Ministry of Water Resources to decontaminate the school rooms that were used as treatment centers.  He has also triggered social mobilization with neighboring countries.  On 10^th of February 2015 he travelled to Guinea on with an aim of strengthening the social ties between the two states. He has as well encouraged the paramount chiefs to implement by-laws in which the citizens’ failure to abide by them will be followed by prosecution. Some of these laws will focus on unauthorized citizens and illegal trade.

The fading away of the Ebola attack has created confidence in the government as well as in the citizens. In fact, the country is planning to re-open all schools from 30th March 2015, right from the University level to Kindergarten. Abdulai made it clear that local and International experts have assured Sierra Leone that they have adequate capacity of Ebola care and communication centers.  “The World Health Organization and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund advised the government that the strategies and capacity to handle any eventualities are adequate.”

Sierra Leone can now pride itself of conquering some Ebola cases on their own despite the fact that a number doctors and nurses have lost their lives while treating patients.  “We have treatment centers which are all run by Sierra Leone doctors and clinicians, which have been able to treat approximately 2000 survivors,” said Abdulai. “We have over 10 Ebola treatment centers and laboratories which will continue being used as permanent centers for disease control.”

The Ministry of Social Welfare for Gender and Children Affairs and UNICEF are on the lead in social mobilization. They will train teachers on psyco- social education so that they can include it in the school curriculum. Decongestion of classrooms will also be upheld. 

There is a major transmission of behavior change communication at the community level. Citizens are being sensitized on the dangers of touching dead bodies and eating bush meat which are the major modes of Ebola virus transmission. “We will be able to make our people know that bush meat is unhealthy in order to avoid a relapse,” says Abdulai.

 Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF56kKnXePA

Kenyan Commuters Plunge into the Digital World

By Justine Wangui (Science Africa correspondent)
Email: wanguijustine@gmail.com

12 Feb 2015- Commuters in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city have plunged into the digital world with card as the mode of payment for their fare. The recent introduction of public service vehicle card known as Cash Lite, means that it is already the mode of fare payment.

Commuters told ScienceAfrica that use of cash lite cards use caught them unaware although they were aware there were debates about it in the mass media.  “I didn’t expect it so soon,” said Paul Wamburu, one of the commuters.
Agents from various financial institutions including Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Family Bank and Cooperative Bank were were busy guiding commuters on how to acquire, activate and load money into the cards.
The cash lite card initiative from National Transport and Safety Authority aroused mixed reactions from both passengers and PSV operators. “A number of commuters especially the elderly and the illiterate were still resistant  and many found it unnecessary for them to have the card as they branded it a time waster,” said Daisy Biwott, a KCB agent.
On the other hand, some are impressed by the initiative as carrying cash is risky at times.  “I think operating with a cash lite card is safer compared to carrying cash,” said Wanjiru Mwenda, a commuter.  It is a major indicator that Kenya is moving fast into the digital world.

 A Citi Hoppa Transport Company driver said that the Cash Lite cards were advantageous to both commuters and conductors as the problem of giving change will be eased.  “These cards will solve the problem of change.  Many of our conductors face this problem and end up delaying commuters as they take time to give out change.”

However, loading money in the cards still has challenges including delays associated with initiation of the cashless fare payments. 

Use Research Evidence in Health Policy Formulation

Use Research Evidence in Health Policy Formulation

By Justine Wangui ( ScienceAfrica Correspondent)
Email: justinewangui@gmail.com

Prof. Eliya Msiyaphazi Zulu, the executive director of African Institute for Development (AFIDEP) has urged Kenya to strengthen the use of research evidence in health policy formulation by the Parliament and ministry of health. In the presentation of his research during the 5th  KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) conference in Nairobi,  Prof Zulu said there is  need to improve priorities in setting and allocating resources to the ministry of health. “Investing in health is of critical importance to Kenyans. The government should pay much attention to the translation of research knowledge to decision makers so as to hit the goal of development,” said Prof. Eliya.

He explained that parliament has a role in budget formulation and planning. " Kenya should pay much attention to research funding and erase the notion of donor research funding from abroad.  The parliament is the main decision maker.  Members of parliament provide valuable oversight role to the executive (government).   They also play a key role in resource allocation."

Mombasa and Nairobi counties have recorded a stronger use of research knowledge capacity in comparison to the rest of the counties in Kenya.  They have already developed a research agenda aimed at bridging the gap between research and policy.

However, challenges include fragmented research evidence, weak local capacity to generate and apply evidence-based policies, production of unwanted evidence, ineffective packaging of evidence and little interests among decision makers. The irrelevancy, weakness and poor packaging of research on the supply side (researchers), and weak institutional infrastructure leadership on the demand side (decision makers) are the reasons behind the low use of research evidence in Kenya.  Prof Zulu recommended effective communication that will effectively interpret research evidence to the end users.  “Kenya should have a knowledge translation platform because  a lot of research has not been brought to the table of decision makers,”  the expert added.

Kenyan policy makers including Members of County Assembly and Members of Parliament are required to have the capacity to understand evidence in research.  They should mobilize communities to use research evidence.  However, Prof Zulu noted that there is improvement in priority setting and resource allocation in Africa for the last fifteen years.  A growing demand for the use of research evidence in the formulation of health policies has also been recorded.

1m Farmers to Access Relevant SMS, Voice Messaging

1m Farmers to Access Relevant SMS, Voice Messaging

By Justine Wangui
Email: justinewanguigmail.com

 A million small holder farmers in six counties- Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda- will promptly access relevant information need to improve productivity and reach consumers or markets through SMS and voice messaging.

This will be done in partnership with GeoPoll – largest real-time mobile survey platform and Control Union - leader in agricultural certifications, food safety, and sustainability. The target is to reach the 1million smallholders in the six nations within five year.With demand for increased transparency from consumers, crops in the target value chains include coffee, cocoa, cotton, palm oil, rice, tea, tobacco and fresh fruits and vegetables.

 “We are pleased to partner with Control Union to improve engagement with smallholder farmers, bringing them increased access to global markets, business opportunities, better data and increased knowledge generated through this partnership will be beneficial for both farmers and ultimately consumers,” said James Eberhard, Founder & CEO of GeoPoll. “Control Union is excited to focus its expertise in supporting smallholder farmers because GeoPoll’s team and platform provides us practical tools to connect with rural farming communities to educate, certify and link them to a global marketplace,” said Johan Maris, Managing Director, Control Union..

Accessing information from the most remote farming communities will facilitate asking and answering consumer questions. Value Chain Monitoring will serve as a tool for sustainable value chain design and monitor social, economic and ecological impact. Initially, the partnership will focus on six the African countries and then expand to Key markets in Asia with Indonesia and Philippines.

New Treatment for cocaine addiction

New Treatment for cocaine addiction

By Justine Wangui (Science Africa correspondent)

justinewangui@gmail.com

A new drug that has the potential to treat cocaine addiction has been discovered. This has been revealed by a recent demonstration of  laboratory cocaine study by a team from the University of Adelaide in South Australia and the University of Colorado, in the United States. The study results concluded that cocaine addiction could be blocked by using the drug naloxone.

 The team leader, Alexis Northcutt, from the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder affirmed that cocaine interacts with an immune receptor- TLR4 (Toll- Like receptor) to produce a pro-inflammatory effect in the brain.

"We've demonstrated conclusively that cocaine interacts with TLR4 to produce a pro-inflammatory effect in the brain. The effect is necessary to convey the drug's rewarding effects. Without it, reward is greatly reduced," he said, “Combined with our previous work, this suggests that the immune signaling may be a key mechanism underlying the rewarding and reinforcing effects of drugs such as opioids, cocaine, and potentially other abused substances, like methamphetamine and alcohol."

Studies have shown that TLR4 amplifies the addiction to drugs such as heroin but this is the first discovery of TLR4’s key role in cocaine addiction.

"Our previous studies have shown that TLR4 is responsible for amplifying addiction to opioid drugs such as heroin, but this is the first time we've discovered it has a key role to play in cocaine addiction," says Professor Mark Hutchinson, ARC Research Fellow in the University of Adelaide's School of Medical Sciences.

Naloxone is now capable of stopping TLR4 from amplifying addiction by two major drugs."The cocaine study has had the same result, which is unique in itself. We now have two major drugs of addiction that are both being amplified by TLR4, which we can stop through the use of naloxone," says Professor Hutchinson, who is also Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Bio Photonics  at the University of Adelaide.

"These are very exciting and encouraging results. It means that we could potentially see a single intervention for a wide range of addictions in the future," he added.

Source: Jim Plouffe <editorial@theleadsouthaustralia.com.au>