The cholera epidemic of 2004 in Douala, Cameroon: A lesson learned

Objective: To describe the outbreak of 2004 with a view of retrospectively identifying factors that might explain the low case fatality rate. Methods: Outbreak data from 4 915 Cholera patients from registers of the Regional Health Delegation in Douala were analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test, univariate and multivariate analysis were applied. Results: The outbreak started January 2004, peaking at 187 cases per week in February. After a decrease in April, case numbers rose to 688 cases per week in June. The outbreak was over in September 2004( <10 cases per week). The case fatality rate was higher in treatment centers with fewer than one nurse per two patients, than in those with more nursing staff. A temporary staff reduction after the first wave of the epidemic was associated with the increase of the case fatality rate during the second wave. This increase was reversed after re-instating full staff capacity.Conclusions: Providing sufficient nursing staff helps to lower the case fatality rate of cholera. Besides a lack of staff, age above 40 years is a risk factor for death in this disease.

Survey of Rice Cropping Systems in Kampong Chhnang Province,Cambodia

Although Cambodia might have achieved self-sufficiency and an exported surplus in rice production,its rice-based farming systems are widely associated with low productivity,low farmer income and rural poverty.The study is based on a questionnaire village survey in 14 communes containing 97 villages of Kampong Chhnang Province from March to June,2011.It analyzes the prevailing rice-based cropping systems and evaluates options for their improvement.Differences in cropping systems depend on the distance from the Tonle Sap water bodies.At distances greater than 10 km,transplanted wet-season rice cropping system with low productivity of about 1.6 t/hm 2 prevails.This deficiency can be primarily attributed to soils with high coarse sand fractions and low pH （〈 4.0）,use of ＇late＇ cultivars,and exclusive use of self-propagated seeds.To improve this cropping system,commercial ＇medium＇ cultivars help prevent crop failure by shortening the cultivation period by one month and complementation of wet-season rice with non-rice crops should be expanded.Areas adjacent （≤ 1 km） to the water bodies become inundated for up to seven months between July until January of each year.In this area,soils contain more fine sand,silt and clay,and their pH is higher （〉 4.0）.Farmers predominantly cultivate dry-season recession rice between January and April.Seventy-nine percent of the area is sown directly and harvested by combines.Adoption ratio of commercial rice seeds is 59% and yields average 3.2 t/hm 2.Introduction of the second dry-season rice between April and July may double annual yields in this rice cropping system.Besides upgrading other cultivation technologies,using seeds from commercial sources will improve yield and rice quality.Along with rice,farmers grow non-rice crops at different intensities ranging from single annual crops to intensive sequences at low yields.

Water Productivity of Poplar and Paulownia on Two Sites in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia

As Central Asia is a region with wide spread water scarcity as a result of excessive irrigation of agriculture, land use changes deserve research about potential impacts on the already strained water resources. Poplars have a long tradition as agroforestry tree across Central Asia, while paulownia is new to the region, but has been gaining extreme attention as a potential plantation and/or agroforestry tree. Therefore, the water productivity of those two tree species is investigated here on 3-year-old trees, in order to provide insights in how far the newly introduced Paulownia could put additional strain on water resources compared to paulownia. Poplar (P. deltoides × nigra) increased the stem biomass by 5.4 kg at an average water consumption of 4.18 l/d (water productivity 6.79 g/l). Paulownia’s (Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei) stem biomass grew by 4.81 kg at 2.36 l/d in average (water productivity 11.9 g/l). Expanding paulownia would not exert more pressure on Central Asia’s water resources than an expansion of poplar.

Evaluation of the Advanced Minning Front Craft in and around National Parks of the Benue and Bouba-Ndjidda in North Cameroon

This study focuses on the assessment of “the advancement of the mining front (gold panning) in and around protected areas”. The aim of this article is to evaluate, using geomatics tools, the recent advance of the mining front (gold panning) in Benue National Park (PNB) and Bouba-Ndjidda (PNBN) for their planning purposes. We adopted a methodological approach articulated from the field surveys to the processing of satellite images and the integration of the data into a GIS. Thus, 30 gold panning sites were visited, including 16 in the PNB and 14 in the PNBN. From the mapping of the pressures exerted by this activity, it appears that 143.8 km and 73.8 km of cumulated linear were exploited respectively in the GNP and the PNBN;moreover, the results allowed us to detect that the surfaces degraded by gold panning are more important in Benue than in Bouba Ndjidda. The massive influx of migrants from the more populated areas of the Far North of Cameroon as well as neighboring countries (Chad, Nigeria and the Central African Republic) has not only brought about the growth of a pioneering agricultural front, but also the mining front, following the gold rush from 2009;which has led to huge environmental consequences in these protected areas.

Agricultural extension approach:evidence from an Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project in Ethiopia

Agricultural extension is an approach to rural development and agricultural transformation in which training,demonstration and technology transfer are key to reducing rural poverty,ensuring food security,and sustainably managing natural resources.During recent decades,different extension approaches have been tested and validated by the Ethiopian government and nongovernmental organizations to stimulate participation in the agricultural extension system(AES).The most recent was a German-funded project entitled“Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project”(ISFM+),which employed a novel approach to piloting and upscaling proven technology and best practice.The purpose of this study was to analyze and document the modalities of ISFM+and illustrate its effects on technology uptake and dissemination.The study used a mixed methods approach to collect data.ATLAS.ti and SPSS were used for data management and analysis.Farmer Research and Extension Groups and Farmer Field Schools were found to be central to the participation process.Also,the ISFM+was found to aid technology transfer and helped to increase grain and residue yields as well as farmer livelihoods.Based on these empirical findings,it is argued that the ISFM+approach and technology should be integrated and institutionalized in the mainstream AES in order to promote their extensive application.