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Characterisation And Assessment Of Waste Management At Mulago Referral Hospital Using investigative And Individualised Rapid Assessment Tool
(Kampala International University, 2023-05) AYAN MUSE OSMAN
Hospital waste management is an essential environmental and public safety issue. Hospital waste is a special category of waste that is quite detrimental as it may contain infectious and contaminated substances. This study aimed at waste quantification, characterization, and assessment of waste management at Mulago referral hospital. To achieve the objectives, the study used interviews, an Individualized Rapid Assessment Tool (I-RAT), and laboratory analysis for liquid wastes. It was found that the hospital has contracted a private company (NLS Waste Management Ltd) to collect, sort, and transport waste for further treatment and management outside the hospital. In terms of waste quantity and characteristics, the study indicated that general waste contributed 72% (2411.6 kg) while clinical waste only contributes 28% (930.8 kg) of the total waste generated in the facility. Wards generated 53.4kg per day followed by operating theatres with 20.3kg per day, then Kitchen with 15.1kg per day, Public areas with 12.8kg per day, Laundry with 7.5kg per day and lastly Administration with 2.3kg per dayAnalysis of wastewater samples established that Zinc Content, Nickel, Chromium, Mercury, and PH are within the maximum permissible limits. However, Lead Content, Nitrate Content, COD, and BOD were found to be beyond the permissible limits. Using the individualized rapid assessment tool to assess the overall management of the waste at the Mulago hospital established a score of 62%. This indicates that waste is fairly managed but a lot has to be done yet, to achieve an efficient management system. Since it can be seen that most of the solid waste generated mainly comprises food items and plastics, the hospital must prioritize waste sorting at points of generation which is currently at 37.4% by providing containers in adequate numbers and sizes. Basing on the established quantities of waste generated within the hospital a total container volume equaling to 0.372m3 should be provided each day for the general waste while 0.144m3 should be provided each day for clinical waste in approriate places. In order to eliminate waste mixing and spillages at generation points. Also, wastewater not necessarily from washrooms and toilets should be adequately treated or properly conveyed to the septic tanks as well to avoid possible contaminations since the study has established that some properties are beyond the permissible disposable limits.
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Prevalence, Patterns and Factors associated with Dyslipidemia among patients with Diabetes Mellitus attending Hoima Regional Referral Hospital
(Kampala International University; Faculty of Cinical Medicine and Dentistry, 2023-05) Abishir Mohamud Hirsi
Background: Dyslipidemia in Sub-Saharan Africa has been on the disproportionate rise among diabetes patients across various contextual settings by its prevalence, patterns and associated factors. This study determined the prevalence, patterns and factors associated with dyslipidemia among diabetes patients attending Hoima Regional Referral Hospital (HRRH).
Method: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study among adult 375 diabetes patients attending the diabetic outpatient clinic at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital consecutively enrolled based between October 2022 and January 2023. Data on socio-demographic, behavioural, medical history, physical examination and laboratory diagnoses were collected. Descriptive statistics were presented for all the socio-demographic, behavioural, medical history, physical examination characteristics. Prevalence of dyslipidemia was presented as a proportion of diabetes patients expressed as a percentage. Patterns of dyslipidemia were presented as a proportion of each lipid profile either singly or in combination expressed as a percentage. Bivariate analyses were conducted and variables with p<0.2 or crude odds ratios either ≥ 2 or ≤0.5 or biologically plausible were entered into multiple logistic regression model. Only factors with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. All analyses were done using Stata version 17.
Findings: Of the 375 diabetes patients enrolled, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 86.4% (n = 324) [95%CI: 82.5-89.5%). Of the 375 patients, the majority had abnormal TC, 69.3% (n = 260) and presented with two diagnoses of lipid profiles, 49.3% (n = 185). All diabetes patients who were overweight [100% (n = 134] or obese [100% (n = 39] at p<0.001, female patients (AOR= 2.2, 95%CI: 1.02-4.86, p <.05) diagnosed with CHD (AOR= 4.1, 95%CI: 1.51-11.07, p <.01) were more likely to have dyslipidemia although insulin treatment for diabetes compared to oral administration was protective (AOR= 0.4, 95%CI: 0.14-0.87, p <.05).
Conclusions: The prevalence of dyslipidemia at HRRH was generally high compared to other settings and was perfectly determined by overweight/obesity, female gender, CHD and oral mode of diabetes treatment.
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Assessment of Surface Water Quality in River Rwizi
(Kampala International University; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2023-03) Abdikadir Osman Mohamed
Water is a crucial necessity for the sustenance of human, animal, and plant life. In Uganda, the River Rwizi is one of the major water sources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. However, the river is facing pollution challenges from domestic and industrial wastewater discharge, as well as surface water runoff from urban and agricultural areas. This has resulted in a high prevalence of water-borne diseases, making the water unsafe for use. A study was conducted to assess the seasonal changes in the physicochemical and biological parameters of the river between April and August 2022, representing the wet and dry seasons. The results indicated that the river's pH varied significantly during the wet season, with the highest average pH of 5.65 recorded at Ndiaja and the lowest average pH of 6.43 recorded at Kyani/Kakiika. Additionally, the river's electrical conductivity (EC) increased significantly during the dry season compared to the wet season, with the highest average EC of 135.00 (µS/cm) recorded at Kyani/Kakiika. The TDS levels in the river Rwizi were highest in the Kyani/Kakiika region during the dry season, with an average of 68.00 (mg/L), while the lowest levels were recorded in Ndiaja at 46.00 (mg/L). During the wet season, the average TDS levels were 59.00 (mg/L) in Kyani/Kakiika and 26.33 (mg/L) in Ndiaja, indicating that the river was more turbid during the wet season. The turbidity levels also showed a significant difference of -60.90 (NTU) between the dry and wet seasons, with the river being more turbid in the wet season. The concentration of BOD and COD were slightly higher during the dry season than in the wet season. Unfortunately, the levels of E-coli in all the sites exceeded the permissible limit of the National Standards for untreated river water set at 0 (CFU/100mL), with the highest concentration of 144.00 recorded in Ndiaja. The findings suggest that the river Rwizi is becoming increasingly polluted with E-coli, COD, and turbidity, which could pose a threat to the aquatic life. This problem is exacerbated during the rainy season when waste material such as feces and surface runoff from farmlands are discharged into the river. Therefore, it is essential to regularly monitor the quality of the river water and the effluents discharged by the nearby treatment plant to address this issue. To prevent contamination in Mbarara, which is expected to experience a population boom following its new city status, it is crucial that industries, markets, and urban areas adhere strictly to the NEMA wastewater management guidelines. Additionally, educating the community on the importance of proper waste disposal and its potential hazards can foster a sense of intrinsic motivation to keep the city clean.
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Design of a Sustainable Hybrid Renewable Energy System: Application of Solar and Wind in Sigulu Island, Uganda
(Kampala International University; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2024-05) Mwenyi Joseph Simera
Sustainable energy is an objective in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for electrifying every community. Sigulu Island as a case study has never been connected to any form of grid and hence, suffers from the implications of a lack of power supply. This study focuses on designing and analyzing a hybrid sustainable renewable energy system (HSRES) that integrates solar and wind resources to address the island's energy needs. The reliance on diesel generators for electricity on Sigulu Island is not only costly but also causes environmental pollution which leads to global warming. The system is designed by integrating solar photovoltaic and wind turbines with the battery as a backup to supply 1455.705 kW of energy daily. On-site verification confirms that the integrated power system, consisting of solar and wind sources along with a battery backup, effectively fulfills the energy needs of Sigulu Island, with solar panels and wind turbines consistently generating an ample amount of energy (with Solar contributing 56.1% and wind 43.9%) for approximately 9 hours and 24 hours each day respectively. The integrated system demonstrated an overall Net Present Cost (NPC) of Ugx 20,748,162,191.77. Specifically, the system exhibits a percentage difference of 60.4% compared to the existing system, resulting in an overall NPC of Ugx 52,348,036,963.20. Furthermore, the configuration featuring PV+Wind+BESS+Converter emerged as the most cost-effective option, with the lowest Cost of Energy (COE) and NPC, highlighting the potential of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) to provide sustainable and economically viable solutions for remote island communities. Successful implementation of the proposed HRES on Sigulu Island could serve as a model for other remote regions, promoting energy security and environmental sustainability. Further research and practical implementations based on these findings could significantly benefit similar communities worldwide. HOMER and MATLAB software were utilized for data simulation and optimization.
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Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Thunbergia alata (Boxer ex sims) on Reproductive Parameters in Male Wistar Rats
(Kampala International University; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, 2023-05) Nandala Christopher
Thunbergia alata (T. alata) leaves have been documented to enhance sexual activity but the parameters it affects remain unknown. This study was to determine the effect of aqueous leaf extract of T. alata on reproductive parameters in male Wistar rats. Twenty-five male wistar rats (150-200g, n=5) were grouped as follows; Group A:1 mL of distilled water (Negative control), Group B:Sildenafil citrate 25mg/kg b. w. (Positive control), Group C; Aqueous leaf extract of T. alataat a dose of 250mg/kg b. w , Group D ;Aqueous leaf extract of T. alata at a dose of 500mg/kg b. w, Group E; Aqueous leaf extract of T. alata at a dose of 1000mg/kg b. w. These rats were orally administered with different test agents daily for a period of 30days and thereafter sedated with Diethyl ether, sacrificed, and the testis and epididymis removed. Sperm variables examined microscopically, serum sex hormones. Indicated that there was a significant (p = 0.006) increase in the mean testosterone levels of the animals treated with 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of T. alata as compared to those treated with sildenafil. Significant increases in sperm count were seen in the animals which were treated with 1000 mg/kg of T. alata. Regarding the mean levels of follicle stimulating hormone, the study notes that there was a significant (p <0.001) increase in the mean follicle stimulating hormone levels in the animals which were treated with 500 mg/ kg and 1000 mg/kg. A significant (p = 0.006) and (p = 0.013) increase in sperm motility was noted between the animals treated with 1000 mg/kg of T. alata and the animals that were treated with distilled water and 250 mg/kg of T. alata respectively. The study also noted a significant (p = 0.025) and (p <0.001) increase in sperm viability between the animals treated with 500 mg/ kg and 1000 mg/ kg of T. alata with those that received distilled water. Furthermore, there was also a significant (p = 0.001) and (p = 0.013) increase in sperm viability in the animals treated with 1000 mg/kg of T. alata and those that received sildenafil and 250 mg/ kg of T. alata respectively.