Background/Aims: A pilot study to determine benefits of early identification of severe forms of malaria in peripheral centres was carried out in 3 rural communities of South Eastern Nigeria. Methodology: The study area is located in the rain forest belt of South Eastern Nigeria with high temperature and humidity. It is a typical rural setting with hardly accessible roads, very little physical infrastructure and difficulty in access to health care facilities. Results: After 4 months of the study , a total of 788 patients were seen in the 3 sites. Patients presenting with malaria symptoms totalled 543 representing (68.9%). The male/female distribution is 297 and 246 respectively. Out of 421 blood smears for malaria parasite done, 192 were positive. Most (335) of the patients with malaria symptoms were children aged less than 4 years. Forty-seven patients presented with severe forms of malaria of which 35 (74.5%) were children under 10 years. All the 47 patients with severe malaria were referred to the usual centre and followed up subsequently. While 2 (4.26%) of them died, the rest 45 (95 .74%) survived and were discharged after a mean duration of stay of 6 days. Conclusion: The importance of immediate referral of identified cases was validated by this study .

Background/Aims: Equipment are veritable tools for proper diagnosis and effective management of clients. Every health care facility must possess a minimum acceptable level of equipment if quality of care is to be assessed and assured. Methodology: This study was conducted in Tafa LGA of Niger state in the North Central Nigeria with a view to assessing the status of equipment in the primary health centres, using minimum equipment standard developed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and to determine the perception of clients on the level of equipment in the centres. Checklist and Focus Group Discussions guide were used in this regard. Results: Results show that out the 26 minimum equipment requirements, none of the three primary health centres scored a minimum requirement. Conclusion: Equipment supply and maintenance in the primary health centres must be central in realising the objectives of the health sector reform programme of this administration.

Background/Aims: factors could be responsible for poor environmental health situations. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted In Layln Zomo, a semi­-urban community located in Saban Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State to assess availability of environmental health facilities In a se -urban community In Northern Nigeria. Findings: from the study shows that the environmental health status of the community is in conformity with national figure which Is far below the acceptable standards. Conclusion: More detail environmental health study needs to be undertaken to assist In designing comprehensive and sustainable policy, programmes and activities.

Background: A ten year (January 1990 - December 1999) retrospective study of 160 adipose tissue tumours was carried out by the authors made up of 153 benign an J-7malignant tumours occurring at various anatomical sites of the body. These tumours occurred in both sexes of ages between 36-69 years. Methodology: All the histological slides previously stained with haematoxylin and eosin stains and diagnosed as lipoma or liposarcoma were retrieved to confirm previous diagnosis. Special stains like Oil-Red-O was also used for the confirmation of some cases. Variables considered include tumour location, age and sex which were extracted from the request forms and daily specimen record books. Results: Adipose tissue tumours accounted for 2.4% of total tumours diagnosed during the study period. Majority (82=51.3%) occurred in females and 78 (48.7% ) occurred In males giving a gender ratio of 1.1 :1. Benign and malignant tumours accounted for 95.6% and 4.4%, respectively giving a ratio of 22:1. The ages vary from 36 to 69 years and the highest frequency of occurrence was the upper arm. Conclusion: Adipose tissue tumours are some of the commonest soft tissue tumours In this environment. Though not given much attention in medical practice and In literature, they pose cosmetic problem.. The location and size of the tumour determined the symptoms which range from dyspnea to a feeling of fullness and discomfort in motion.

Background/Aim: Hospital Information System(HIS) and Networking development is now the most important technology that must be embraced by all hospitals and clinics these days. Patients sometimes used to face problems in order to have quick and good services in the hospitals, often due to delay in searching for the past records or patients' registration information. Methodology: Data were collected on the current status of computer usage under clinical and admin departments of Usman Dangodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Results: I t was found that 63 .1% were clinical or paramedical with only 31.7% of computers wl1ile ad min has 31.6% with 43 .9% of computer systems. This means there are more clinical departments but with less number of computer systems. The usage in both sections wasl 00% in typing and printing-related jobs rather than over other most important areas such as patient online system, drug inventory, etc, under hospital environment. The only school wit h computer (5.3%) had 24 .4% computers for training only. Conclusion: Every hospital, whether small or big needs Information. Computerisation and networking of Administrative and clinical departments bring about better services, good information system and better decision making due to availabillty of online Information at all times. Comprehensive information system and Its network assist the hospital administrators to have better monitoring system of all the departments, easy access to lnformation online, effective coordination and efficient hospital administration. Many other vital areas need special attention in t he hospital information system. Furthermore, their· networking play special role in making things better under hospital environment.

Objective: to study the pattern of childhood dilated cardiomyopathy in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Methodology : Paediatric echocardiography records (January 2000 to June 2002-2 and% years) were reviewed and cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) identified. Clinical, radiologic, electro- and echocardiographic data of identified cases were reviewed. Results: childhood DCM (6 cases) was the commonest acquired heart condition diagnosed in children under the age of 5 years. Four patients presented with recurrent episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) while 2 presented during their first episode. DCM was Initially considered in only 1 child. Another child suffered a cerebro-vascular accident (CVA) before the diagnosis was made. Conclusions: DCM should be considered early in young children with long-standing or recurrent CHF. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and appropriate management should reduce morbidity, prevent complications and prolong survival.

Background and objective: Childhood cancer, a Tising problem in Nigeria, has received little or no attention in the past. We describe the pattern and distribution of cancer in children in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria, to increase awareness on the diseases and highlight their prevalence. Design: A retrospective, descriptive study of the pattern of solid cancers diagnosed in children under 15 years at UDUTH Hospital from 1999 -2004. Methodology: All cases of paediatric cancers diagnosed in the period reviewed using the signed-out histology and cytology reports, microscopic slides and paraffin blocks of patients' biopsies that had been stored serially on a yearly basis. Demographic Information was collected on each patient included in the study. The results were tabulated and analyzed ancl are presented in form of simple frequency table and bar chart. Results: 158 cases of pathologically diagnosed childhood cancers were analyzed. The peak age was in the 5-9 years age group with a slight male preponderance. The highest frequencies were observed for Burkitt's lymphoma and retinoblastoma. Tumours of brain and bone were rare. Conclusion: The pattern of paediatric cancer is comparable with that previously reported in other regions of Nigeria and confirms the general impression that these malignancies are under diagnosed in our own environment. This study further highlights the need for the · provision of modem facilities for early childhood cancer detection, diagnosis, registration and therapy in all regions of the country.