Unaffordable or cost-effective?: introducing an emergency referral system in rural Niger

OBJECTIVES: An important investment was made in two health districts in Niger to organize an emergency referral system. This study estimates its impact and cost-effectiveness in relation with external determinants. METHODS: After installing a solar radio network in the health centres, emergency calls and related data were monitored over 7 years and investment and recurrent costs for the system were estimated. RESULTS: The number of emergency calls increased significantly in both districts. In 2003, the total yearly cost for the district amounted to US dollars 14,147, the cost per useful and successful call was US dollars 49 and the cost per inhabitant and per year was about US dollars 0.06. CONCLUSION: The impressive and immediate impact on the health system, the relatively low recurrent cost and the minimal management requirements for the health service make the investment very worthwhile. Organizing emergency evacuation systems should be a priority for any health district in the world.     

Alcohol carousel and children's school drawings as part of a community educational strategy

Within a community action research program, messages for the community population can be conveyed through already existing channels (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio) or special tools can be created. As part of the Rifredi Health District (16,900 inhabitants), Florence, Italy, Community Alcohol Action Research Project, 5,500 alcohol carousels (translated and adapted from the Stockholm carousel) were distributed during 1996 in the project's area where they were freely available. Two samples, one of a consumers' association (response rate 26%) and the other of school parents, employed a questionnaire. A few local key people underwent a qualitative interview. In all circumstances the carousel proved to be understandable, useful, and able to elicit discussions about alcohol issues. In 1996-97, after a 2-year training program in communication skills and alcohol prevention, 13 teachers in local preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools planned and implemented a health education program on the issues of alcohol and food. One outcome was nine drawings produced by the school children. The drawings were exhibited in some schools and supermarkets, and were hung in city buses.     

Antifertility activity of the flowers of Striga senegalensis (Scrophulariaceae)

The ethanol extract of the flowers of the plant Striga senegalensis (family : Scrophulariaceae) has been found to possess antiimplantation activity in female albino rats when administered orally. At a dose of 120 mg/kg body weight implantation of fertilized ova was prevented in 100% of the treated animals. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Géophagie associée à une anémie sévère chez la femme non gravide : à propos de 12 cas

Introduction

Geophagy or soil eating is mostly described in pregnant women from Sub-Saharan Africa, South America. Here, we report 12 cases of geophagy associated with severe anemia in non-pregnant Nigerian women.