Abstract: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a health crisis that is ignored by the developed world and only starts getting attention when there is an outbreak that kills a large population. AIDS associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are viral infections which are just two of the many NTDs that require attention. This thesis presents novel within-host ordinary differential equation (ODE) mathematical models in conjunction with application of the optimal contro...
Abstract: The main focus of this research study is the study of the effect of an effective management control system (MCS), the case study of Lesotho pharmaceutical companies. The primary objectives of the research study were to establish ways of implementing successful MCS in Lesotho's pharmaceutical companies, exceptionally efficient control of human resources, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the execution of MCS, looking at the pharmaceutical industries in Lesotho. For this purpose, ...
Abstract: This study was carried out to determine factors that affect the clinical performance of dental therapy students at the institute of health sciences in Gaborone. A quantitative descriptive research design with a cross-sectional survey was used with the aim of examining the factors affecting the clinical assessment of learners. A sample of 9 students were used to study. Attitudes were measured using a prepared questionnaire which was answered online. Two clinical assessment tools wer...
Abstract: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the attention has now shifted towards universal vaccination to gracefully lift strict COVID-19 restrictions previously imposed to contain the spread of the disease. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing an exponential increase of infections and deaths coupled with vaccines shortages, personal protective equipment, weak health systems and COVID-19 emerging variants. Some developed countries integrated telemedicine to reduce the impacts of the shortage of...
Abstract: The successful development of COVID-19 vaccines accelerates global post-pandemic recovery by vaccinating populations, targeting priority groups to reduce secondary transmission. This facilitates relaxation of imposed restrictions on international and regional travel, tourism industry, education sectors and other aspects of social life. The vaccination process is done by targeting priority groups to reduce secondary transmission and uncertainties triggered by emerging COVID-19 varia...
Abstract: As new viruses and new pandemics emerge we face the question as to whether our global health systems are well prepared to deal with them. Non pharma ceutical measures are a key control measure in the battle against infectious diseases especially in the absence of vaccines or when available vaccine quantities are not sufficient. The 2014-2016 West African outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was the largest and most deadly to date. Contact tracing, following up those who may have b...
Abstract: Mosquitoes account for significant morbidity and mortality globally, with the African region being most affected. In many arid regions, including Botswana, mosquitoes are increasingly becoming problematic, harbouring pathogens and parasites that cause debilitating infectious diseases to differential host species. The risk of mosquito proliferation and burden is accelerated when affected societies have knowledge gaps coupled with climatic mediated global change scenarios. In Bo...
Abstract: Antibiotic resistance has been a growing worldwide public health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the search for new antibiotics is slow, while antibiotic resistance is growing. WHO has also declared that antibiotic resistance is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity in the 21st century. Therefore, this review discusses the potential of metal-based drugs as antibacterial agents from the period of the early 2000s to date. The review...
Abstract: The COVID-19 disease burden continues to be high worldwide and vaccines continue to be developed to help combat the pandemic. Acceptance and risk perception for COVID-19 vaccines is unknown in Botswana despite the government's decision to roll out the vaccine nationally. Objectives This study aims to assess the acceptance rate and risk perception of COVID-19 vaccines amongst the general population in Botswana. Methods We interviewed 5300 adults in Botswana from 1-28 February 2021 u...
Abstract: The Botswana Police Pathology unit records show that a total of 368 cases of suicide were reported between 2016 and 2019. A total of 367 of these cases were suicide by hanging while only 1 was of suicide by self-strangulation. Literature shows that suicidal ligature self-strangulation is uncommon and, in most cases, common household items such as scarves, belts, neckties and rope are used. We report an instance where a 25-year-old African male used two black plastic ligatures, each...
Abstract: The potential antimicrobial properties of a tridentate polypyridyl ligand 4-butoxy-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)aniline (BUT) 1 and its corresponding mixed ligand ruthenium complexes were investigated on drug-resistant and non-drug-resistant bacterial species. The ligand and its complexes were synthesized and successfully characterized by 1H NMR, UV/Vis, and FTIR spectra; ESI-MS; and magnetic susceptibility. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility of these Ru(II)/(III) complex...
Abstract: A mathematical model for a transmission of TB-HIV/AIDS co-infection that incorporates prevalence dependent behaviour change in the population and treatment for the infected (and infectious) class is formulated and analyzed. The two sub-models, when each of the two diseases are considered separately are mathematically analyzed. The theory of optimal control analysis is applied to the full model with the objective of minimizing the aggregate cost of the infections and the control eff...
Abstract: Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is the most common AIDS-defining cancer, even as HIV-positive people live longer. Like other herpesviruses, human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) establishes a lifelong infection of the host that in association with HIV infection may develop at any time during the illness. With the increasing global incidence of KS, there is an urgent need of designing optimal therapeutic strategies for HHV-8-related infections. Here we formulate two models with innate and adaptive immune...
Abstract: In this article, a mathematical model for the transmission of COVID-19 disease is formulated and analysed. It is shown that the model exhibits a backward bifurcation at R0=1 when recovered individuals do not develop a permanent immunity for the disease. In the absence of reinfection, it is proved that the model is without backward bifurcation and the disease free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable for R0
Abstract: The novel coronavirus disease has ravaged many health systems around the world and has brought many economies to their knees. In the absence of an approved curing medicine or approved vaccine to date, the major control of the surge of infections is through use of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and imposing specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) in instances when the disease spread curbs are relaxed. It is thus essential to quantify the extent to which specific NPIs ...