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The study investigated the academic librarians ICT competency and skills towards effective library services in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Sample for the study comprised about 100 librarians who were randomly selected through simple random sampling. The type of ICT skills possessed by the librarian, level of their ICT competency, sources of ICT skills acquisition and the Challenges Librarians face when using ICT in delivering Library services in their respective libraries were the instruments used to collect relevant data for the study. Findings from the study indicated that librarians have both basic and intermediate ICT skill in the area of their specialization. Results showed that respondents acquire skills from rightful sources which can help them to perform their duties has librarian effectively. Study recommended more availability of ICT equipment in the library, stable electricity is needed, staff motivation, employ ICT expert to train others staff regularly and increment in library budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the student's patronage and utilization of library and information resources in Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Four research questions were considered to gather data. The sampled for the study comprised about 367 library patrons (Students). Purpose sampling the population of the study is techniques was adopted. The findings revealed that Afe Babalola University Library have enough materials which can help their patrons to achieve their aim such materials includes: abstract, dictionaries, directories, handbook, journals, projects, textbooks, report etc. Moreover, result showed that respondents visited library regularly but they visited library mostly to read for examination, research, getting assignment done and for personal development. The findings further reveal that library users visited library based on their interest for textbooks, past question and internet. Finally, the findings reveals that no challenges such as power shortage, personal assistant, up to date materials, in-conducive environment, internet, sitting arrangement and organization of library materials. The study recommended the university teachers should engaged the student with assignment that will make them use library more and familiar with other information resources, the librarian should introduce the students to the library through the orientation, library should organized library week once in a while and take a tour to another library, invite interested student to write in school library journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to healthcare is inequitable. Poverty, natural disasters and war disproportionally effect those most vulnerable, including children. Non-governmental organizations (NGO) hold a vital role in providing pediatric care in these contexts. Here we describe the delivery and challenges of Pediatric Anesthesia with two such non-governmental organizations; Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Mercy Ships. Descriptions of both are followed by case studies., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Mortality rates among surgical patients in Africa are double those of surgical patients in high-income countries. Internationally, there is a call to improve access to and safety of surgical and perioperative care. Perioperative research needs to be coordinated across Africa to positively impact perioperative mortality., Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the top 10 perioperative research priorities for perioperative nurses in Africa, using a research priority-setting process. A Delphi technique with 4 rounds was used to establish consensus on the top 10 perioperative research priorities. In the first round, respondents submitted research priorities. Similar research priorities were amalgamated into single priorities when possible. In round 2, respondents ranked the priorities using a scale from 1 to 10 (of which 1 is the first/highest priority, and 10 is the last/lowest priority). The top 20 (of 31) were determined after round 2. In round 3, respondents ranked their top 10 priorities. The final round was an online discussion to reach consensus on the top 10 perioperative research priorities., Results: A total of 17 perioperative nurses representing 12 African countries determined the top research priorities, which were: (1) strategies to translate and implement perioperative research into clinical practice in Africa, (2) creating a perioperative research culture and the tools, resources, and funding needed to conduct perioperative nursing research in Africa, (3) optimizing nurse-led postoperative pain management, (4) survey of operating theater and critical care resources, (5) perception of, and adherence to sterile field and aseptic techniques among surgeons in Africa (6) surgical staff burnout, (7) broad principles of infection control in surgical wards, (8) the role of interprofessional communication to promote clinical teamwork when caring for surgical patients, (9) effective implementation of the surgical safety checklist and measures of its impact, and (10) constituents of quality nursing care., Conclusions: These research priorities provide the structure for an intermediate-term research agenda for perioperative research in Africa., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: See Disclosures at the end of the article., (Copyright © 2022 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Purpose: Standard treatment guidelines improve patient outcomes, including disease-specific survival, in cancer care. The African Cancer Coalition was formed in 2016 to harmonize cancer treatment guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa., Methods: The African Cancer Coalition collaborated with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Cancer Society to harmonize 46 cancer treatment guidelines for use in sub-Saharan Africa. Harmonization for each guideline was completed by a group of approximately 6-10 African cancer experts from a range of specialties and with representation across resource levels. Each working group was chaired by an African oncologist and included a member of the appropriate NCCN guidelines panel. Treatment recommendations from the parent guidelines were distinguished as options that are generally available and should be considered standard care in most of the region or as highly advanced options for which cost or other resources may limit widespread availability. Additional recommendations specific to sub-Saharan Africa were added., Results: The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa, available for download on the NCCN website and mobile application, provide flexible recommendations appropriate for the range of resources seen in African cancer programs, from private comprehensive cancer centers to resource-constrained public hospitals. IBM (Armonk, NY) has developed a digital interface-the Cancer Guidelines Navigator-that allows oncologists to access the treatment recommendations for the first five guidelines through an interactive web-based application., Conclusion: Harmonized guidelines that reflect the diversity of resource levels that characterize the current state of clinical care for cancer in Africa have the potential to fill a crucial gap in efforts to standardize and improve cancer care in Africa.

Background: Pain management has traditionally been provided by opioid analgesics. However, the reluctance of some health personnel to prescribe or administer opioids because of the fear of side effects has hindered their use. Local anaesthetic wound infiltration has been shown to improve postoperative pain management., Aims and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of combined subfascial and subcutaneous infiltration of bupivacaine in providing an opioid- sparing effect following abdominal surgery., Design of the Study: It was a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study., Setting: The study was carried out at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria., Patients and Methods: The study group received subcutaneous and subfascial infiltration with 40ml of 0.25% bupivacaine while the control group received 40ml of 0.9% saline administered by the surgeon after the closure of the peritoneum. Postoperative analgesia was provided with intramuscular morphine 0.1mg/kg 4hourly on demand and the time to first analgesic request was noted. Intravenous paracetamol was used as rescue analgesia. Postoperative pain was assessed using the verbal rating scale (VRS) at 6, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively at rest and during coughing., Results: The mean time to first analgesic request was significantly prolonged (p <0.05) in the study group (174 ± 117.6 min) than in the control group (102 ± 84 min). The patients in the control group received more morphine which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Request for rescue analgesia and the patients' impression of the analgesia were not significant (Fishers exact test two tailed p-value = 0.7164 and 0.4506 respectively)., Conclusion: Bupicacaine wound infiltration improved pain scores at rest within the first 6 hours and pain scores on coughing within the first 24 hours postoperatively. Although the technique increases the options available for postoperative pain relief after lower abdominal surgery, it cannot be used alone in this type of surgery.