5 The Gambia's NYSS Partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The paper examines the dynamics of The Gambian National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) founded in 1996 through the efforts of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme. Though modeled after the NYSC, it has ventured into things NYSC has not. One of these was its most recent partnership with the IOM to curb recurrent illicit migration of The Gambian youths. The questions are, has this aspect of Nigeria-The Gambia history been documented? Has Nigerian Scheme gone into partnership with the IOM in the enterprise like The Gambian counterpart? Since its establishment, how many times has NYSC adjusted to changing realities? In what theoretical contexts could one frame the argument of the NYSS/ IOM partnership and what lessons does that holds for NYSC and similar youths’ services in Africa in the century? In addressing the problem, the paper adopts the qualitative method of historical research and gleans on evidence from diverse sources. It foregrounds its argument on the ideas of the National Youth Service as “Moral Equivalent of War”, “Service- Learning” and “A Way of Strengthening Ties among the People of the World” espoused by William James, John Dewey, and Rosenstock-Huessy. It concludes by charging NYSC and similar services to adjust to meet the current challenges of African youth and society

Diagnostic Efficiacy of Immunochromatography Technique for Detection of Viral Hepatitisinfection in Suspected Serum Specimens

A prospective study was conducted in order to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of immunochromatography assays for qualitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibodies, using commercially available rapid test devices. Rural population of district Chakwal visiting primary care hospitals for screening of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections was selected as study population. Coagulated blood specimens were collected from a total of 500 individuals; serum was separated and stored at -20 C till analysis. Necessary demographic information with previous exposure and screening history of each individual was also recorded in pre designed performa. The stored serum specimens were analyzed for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibodies through immunochromatography technique (ICT) and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) using commercially available ICT rapid test devices and ELISA kits. Out of total 500 specimens analyzed through ICT for HBs Ag detection, 15 exhibited positive outcome for the infection whereas analysis of the same specimens through standard ELIS test revealed 16 true positives. One of the ICT tested specimens was therefore recorded as false negative. The sensitivity of rapid test device for HBs Ag detection was therefore 93.75% with 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 99.8% diagnostic accuracy. Similarly 34 of the 500 ICT tested specimens exhibited positive outcome for hepatitis C virus infection whereas 37 true positives were recorded when same specimens were analyzed through standard ELISA test. The sensitivity of ICT rapid test device for HCV Ab detection was therefore 91.89% with 99.57% specificity, 94.44% positive predictive value, 99.35% negative predictive value and 99% diagnostic accuracy. The findings indicate that the rapid diagnostic immunoassays, in spite of requiring minimum time and equipment, are not comparable with standard ELISA for screening of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections.