OUR HEALTH CARE CRISIS Volume 7 Number 1, 1994 FEATURES _ Health Care in Africa How African Countries Rank in Health Care Preventing Unnecessary Death Jane Wahome Up to one million Africans, mostly children below the age of five, die from malaria every year. About 40,000 people become permanently blind from onchocerciasis [river blindness]. Tens of thousands die from trypanosomiasis [sleeping sickness], and many more from leishmaniases, leprosy, schistosomiases and filariases, among other diseases. Can we prevent all these unwanted deaths? Mortality in Africa Khaitsa Wasiyo Although there is still a long way to go, Africa's health status in terms of adult and infant life expectancy is constantly improving. Before we can begin developing effective programs to increase life expectancy, we must first understand the causes and extent of mortality. Improving the Nutritional Status of the African Child. J. Ngo Som Nearly 4 million children in Africa die each year before they reach the age of five, mainly due to malnutrition and related diseases. Today, despite some progress made, malnutrition still remains the major public health issue in children aged 0 to 5 years. Improving Health Care Using Satellite Communications. John Metzger Physicians in Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda are using a telecommunications system called Health Net to consult with one another on treatments, organize workshops, and communicate with international organizations. Advances in Traditional Medicine in Ghana Peter Kobina Owu George Daniel Koranteng heads Apaak Traditional Medicines, a company involved in herbal medical research and treatment. He has gained a reputation as a man committed to the positive development of traditional African medicine. AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: Epidemiology and Prospects for Prevention David J. Hunter Why has HIV spread so rapidly in Africa? The answer to this question is vital to determine the most appropriate interventions to slow the spread of the epidemic. Malaria-Resurgent Hopes for a Timeless Plague John A. Selormey Malaria remains the most significant killer disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease kills as many as 3 million annually. Recent research efforts suggest that effective treatment may be on the way. Cooking Can Kill: An Update on Extreme Smoke Exposure from Tradition Cooking Fuels Daniel M. Kammen Biomass fuels are frequently burned in confined indoor environments on traditional stoves; a combination that can result in high concentrations of pollutants. Technology dissemination schemes and other efforts designed to combat this health crisis are critically needed. New Treatments for Sickle Cell Anemia William P. Winter and Junius G. Adams, III Eighty years after sickle cell anemia came to the attention of Western medicine, there is still no comprehensive treatment for it, although patient care techniques have improved vastly. New research points the way to some exciting possible treatments. Human Resources Privatization in Africa William J. Hartnett The economic landscape is shifting as countries around the world abandon nationalization in favor of privatization. Although privatization is seen as a way to streamline government and improve economic growth, the path has proven difficult. Methods of Privatization Frederick W. Kwoba Privatization has become the dominant economic theme in the structural adjustment reforms prescribed for Africa by the World Bank and the IMF. If privatization has been touted as the panacea to Africa's economic development problems, why is it at a standstill? Information Systems Why Governments Need Access to Computer Networks [Part 2] George Sadowsky Individuals and organizations working toward international connectivity for their countries need to demonstrate how having such connectivity will directly address the needs of government ministries and will contribute to achieving the development objectives of the country. Environment Watch The Environment Price of Oil : Petroleum Resource Development and the Nigerian Environment Adebayo Aina & Tunde Akingbade Oil exploration over the years has made Nigeria the seventh largest producer of oil in the world. The environmental impact of onshore and offshore petroleum exploitation and development operations is a matter of concern to the public, government, and the industry in Nigeria. Opinion Editor's Notes Tech Notes New Roles for UNDP Running Just to Stay in Place: Water, Health and the Environment ATF News Update Book Review A Valuable Resource for US Businesses in Africa Conference Calendar BUSINESS Volume 7 Number 3, 1994 FEATURES _ Financing for Small Industries Five Basic Steps to Finance Your Project Michael Sudarkasa It takes a lot more than a good idea to develop a successful manufacturing venture. You need to know where to find the resources, both financial and technological, and you need to find the right people with the right skills to do the job. Knowing the right steps to take can save you precious time and money, and earn you some valuable partners in the process. So You are Thinking About Starting a Business? Tunde Fafunwa Would you like to make lots of money? Are you tired of working for other people? A "yes" to either one of these questions is what motivates most people to start a business. Find out if you have what it takes to be successful leading your own enterprise. Ex-Im Bank Transforms Image to Attract Smaller Business Barbara Krasin Kravitz. Long recognized as a financing resource for cross-border and infrastructure projects, including the Burma Road and the Pan American Highway, as well as post World War II Marshall Plan assistance, the Export-Import Bank of the United States [Ex-Im Bank ] is out to change its image. Guide to Financing Resources A resource guide for financing small and medium scale businesses in Africa. Practical information for companies and individuals who are seeking funding for their projects and businesses. Introduction to Financial Statements Khaitsa Wasiyo Since most businesses require external funding, an entrepreneur must successfully convince others of the profitability of his or her idea. The financial viability of a company is laid out in its financial statements the accounting reports that are required by banks and other lending agencies. The Small Business Environment in Cameroun Jean-Jacques Mebiame In today's dynamic economic environment, small businesses must be able to adapt and improve they intend to survive in competitive markets. Cameroun's recent economic difficulties have energized the small business sector and resulted in some exciting new opportunities for education and training. Informal Savings Collectors in Ghana: Can They Intermediate? William F. Steel & Ernest Aryeetey In the marketplaces of West Africa, individual "mobile bankers" help traders and others accumulate savings through small daily deposits. As institutions emerge that link these savings collectors to the formal financial system or adopt their methods, intermediation between small informal savers and borrowers is expected to increase. Opinion Editor's Notes Small Scale Irrigation : The Answer to Africa's Food Production Problems Thakurdas Vaishnav Food production in Sub-Saharan Africa has failed to meet the region's growing population demand, making it one of the most famine-prone regions in the world. Development of a small scale irrigation sector, which has proven successful in India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, may be the answer to Africa's food crisis. Energy Solar Oven Construction Manual Daniel M. Kammen, Shea Van Boskirk and Monique Nditu With the abundance sunshine in Africa, solar cooking has always been an appealing idea to technologists and environmentalists on the continent. In this special Pull -out section, we present a solar cooker construction manual, an illustrated guide with step-by -step directions to help you build your own solar cooker. Human Resources The Cycle Trailer In Ghana :A Reasonable But Inappropriate Technology Mohammed Salifu Women in rural areas in Ghana spend a large percentage of their time and effort on transportation because they have few alternatives to the strenuous practice of headloading. The cycle trailer, conceived as an appropriate technology solution to this problem, failed to meet the needs of its intended users. Environment A Profitable Way to Clean the Environment Claire Broido Corporations and governments in Africa are losing out on the chance to finance ozone-reducing projects for their industries through a little-known multilateral fund. hundreds of millions of dollars have been approved for projects in other developing countries, and many opportunities exist for African Nations to participate in the program. Agriculture New Technique Could Boost Sheep Production in Africa R. Squire, J. Greenwood, and L. M. Sanford Problems of starvation and malnutrition in Africa need not be seen as a curse on the continent. Many of these obstacles can be overcome if nations develop their agricultural capacity with good planning and research. ATF News Update Book Review Tech Notes US Develops Oil Recycling Plant for C"te d'Ivoire World Bank Calls For Reforms in Infrastructure Nigeria's Oldest Library Enters information Age MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION Volume 6 Number 3, 1993 FEATURES _ Manufacturing & Construction Young Entrepreneurs in Cameroun Transform the Local Economy Jean-Jacques Mebiame This article presents the efforts of a few young Camerounian graduates from L'Ecole Polytechnique de Yaounde who are manufacturing laterite bricks and parabolic dish antennas. Construction in Africa: Challenges Facing the Industry Kofi Ayeke A cursory glance at the construction industry in most African countries presents a gloomy picture for the continent. Ayeke discusses the technologies of equipment, materials, and human and financial resources needed to cope with new construction technologies. Labor Intensive Construction R. T. McCutcheon A research program in development engineering carried out by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a broad overview of the whole program with a focus on the particular research where the greatest progress had been made to date. Adventures in a Mud Hut Ikem Stanley Okoye Okoye challenges the assumption that Africa's building 'tradition' is at best one that changes slowly, accepts innovation reluctantly, and restricts itself to the simple and formulaic Creating a Small Scale Edible Oils Industry Jonathan Otto During the course of a five-week mission, a two-man technical team from ATI developed a ram press that was easier to use for the women of Haraba, in one of the first consulting missions of ATI's Regional OILS Project. Technical Details of the Ram Press Mawuli Tse Manufacturing Research in South Africa Ronel Nel and Cecilia de Vos The "hunter-gatherer" ability is well-developed in South Africa. If a need for a specific product is identified and agreed on, South African industry excels at finding and implementing the technology to produce it. Opinion Editors notes Telecommunications: A Critical Analysis Silvio Tavares Tavares reviews the current state of telecommunication systems in Africa and proposes future general approaches for telecommunications development. Preserving Africa's Biodiversity T.M. Crowe The Fitzpatrick Institute's Conservation Biology program was presented at a recent conference held in Nairobi, Kenya. Transforming Foreign Technology Into Indigenous Capabilities F. E. Ogbimi The adoption of an appropriate national development strategy is very important for a nation because it determines whether society achieves rapid and timely economic development, or experiences untold hardship. This article suggests a strategy that would facilitate rapid technological development in Nigeria. Information Systems Why Governments Need Access to Computer Network (Part 1) George Sadowsky Individuals and organizations working toward international connectivity for their countries need to demonstrate how such connectivity will address directly the needs of government ministries and will contribute to achieving the development objectives of the country. Computer Networks and African Studies Centers Patricia S. Kuntz This paper argues that the twelve African Studies Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education should be on the "cutting edge" of contemporary electronic communication. Agriculture Pottery: A New Technology for the Preservation of Fruits & Vegetables Victor O. Aimiuwu and Sweet Ebeigbe Mention a new technology for storing food, and most people would immediately think of refrigeration, cold storage, or expensive mechanized canning methods. One way to reduce the problems of cost and availability is to employ traditional clay vessels for food storage. This is possible based on an understanding of the mechanism of evaporative cooling and the structure of clay. The Physical and Chemical nature of Clay Tech Notes Surviving Future Droughts- The Cassava Strategy UN Places US in Third World Science in Africa: Women Leading from strength Computer Training School Comes to Soweto ATF News Update AFRICAN TEXTILE TECHNOLOGIES Volume 7 Number 2, 1994 FEATURES _ Textile Industry Textiles in Nigeria Nena Uche Nigeria's fashion industry was forced to innovate when the Government placed a ban on imported clothing. The lessons learned from this policy action provide insight into ways in which Africa's industries can be promoted. A Failed Industrial Revolution: Merchant Capital and Textile Consumption in West Africa. A. B. Zack-Williams The high popularity of West African textiles all around the world has failed to bring about any improvements in production techniques or in the income level of hardworking producers. What went wrong with Africa's industrial revolution? Small Scale Weaving Technology Research by a number of organizations has produced simple and innovative methods of textile production. Here we provide a practical review of weaving fundamentals, with technical details for a number of handlooms suitable for various types of textile products. Human Resources Colonialism and African Indigenous Technology Gloria T. Emeagwali and Nurudeen Abubakar There is evidence to suggest that British colonial policies often work against the development of African indigenous technology, and in some cases sought to destroy it. Glassmaking, tool manufacturing, and textiles are only a few of the industries that were virtually eliminated as a result of these policies. Agriculture Organic Fertilizers: A Solution to Africa's Agricultural Problems Roger I Lippman For decades, Africa's farmlands have decreased, providing less food while the population has continued to grow. An alternative is needed to increase production and restore farmland. One possible solution is the Kozgro Agricultural Program, which includes significant incentive for a project owner and gives farmers what they need to do a better job. Telecommunications AT&T Promises Clear Phone Lines for Africa Mawuli Tse The American communications giant is proposing a multi-billion dollar scheme to put Africa's communications at the forefront of any system in place today. Will it really happen, or is this another promise of technological "leapfrogging" for the third World? New Communication Technologies: Oppressors or Liberators? Jerry Komia Domatob New communication technologies can play leading roles, either in the development or underdevelopment of sub-Saharan Africa. Whether these technologies will uplift or oppress Africans will depend on the efforts of policy makers to educate and empower their constituents. Information Systems Internetworking with TCP/IP Peter Orondo Computer networking has become one of the major components of the information revolution. Today, information can be retrieved from almost anywhere in the world, provided the source and destination have access to a common network, such as the internet. This article explains the basic functions of the Internet and provides a starting guide for readers interested in setting up their own systems. Computers Empower Independent Newspapers in Cameroun Mitchell Land African publications have made great strides in expressing their freedom of speech since the wave of democratization swept across the continent a few years ago. This survey of Camerounian newspapers shows that press freedom has also brought with it new technologies and the opportunity to reach more at lower cost. Opinion Editor's Note What Does Appropriate Technology mean to you? Jeremy Ascough Appropriate technology, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Technology should be seen as a tool for solving a specific problem in a specific context. ATF News Update Conference Calendar Tech Notes Developing Kenya's Science Culture Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in Africa UNESCO Promotes Science in Africa Labor Saving Innovations at Kenya's IPI Disease Control Technology for Refugee Camps Solar Cooking Spreads to Fifty Countries A Global Vision for Africa NEW AGE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS Volume 6 Number 2, 1993 Opinion Editor's Notes African Education: Evaluating its Social Impact John Mburu Gachora Africa, Science & Technology L. H. Mweene FEATURES _ Telecommunications Telecommunications in Ghana Peter Kobina Owu Ghana's Private Cellular Network Peter Kobina Owu Telecommunications Overview Wireless Telecommunications with Microwave Digital Radio Kwabena Ofori-Tenkorang Mensah Educational Communications for African development Robert W. Nicholls Legal Aspects of Deregulation & Privatization of Telecommunication Services Della K. Bedi-Bella Getting Connected: Access to International Data Banks Harry M. Kibirige Information Systems Using your computer Ayodele Ajayi Education Promoting Family Planning through the mass media in Niger Benedict Tisa & Rebecca Popenoe African Tech Notes Polaroid Photo-ID Systems Industry Manufacturing Technology Conference The Correct "High-Tech" ATF News Update Conference Calendar AGRICULTURE AND PRODUCTION Volume 6 Number 1, 1993 Opinion Editor's Notes African Tech Notes Safer Handling of Pesticides A Technical School in the Age of Appropriate Technology Pasteurization _ A Microbiologist's Perspective Cassava Breakthrough in Nigeria FEATURES _ Agriculture & Production Energy, Food Preparation, and Health Care in Africa: Daniel Kammen & Bamidele Kammen Traditional food preservation: an Overview Esi Colecraft Food Processing: A Vital Link in African Development? Embola Ernest Ndi The Food Production Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa Francis Njie African women and Agricultural Technologies Zach Olorunnipa Germplasm Collection of Macabo Cocoyams in Cameroun Oghenekome Onokpise Nucleus Breeding in Livestock R. Ruvuna & J. Taylor Life Technologies Family planning in Nigeria Grace Esimai Information Systems Microsoft Windows 3.1: Much ado about what? Karanja Gakio Book Reviews A New Look at Industrial Productivity Harmonizing Technology and Cultural Reason Reader Questionnaire ATF News Update Conference Calendar