The current study has been undertaken to examine the beneficial effect in the power output of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) by adding cellulolytic bacteria Ruminococcus albus (R. albus) into the anodic chamber. Mediator-less H-type MFCs were set up where the anode chamber contained anaerobic digester microorganisms as inocula on finely ground pine tree (Avicel) at 2% (w/v) and the cathode chamber of 10mM phosphate buffered saline conductive solution, both separated by a cation exchange membrane. The functioning of the MFCs for generation of electrical power and the amounts of gaseous byproducts was monitored over a 9-day period. The addition of cellulolytic bacteria caused an increase of average power density from 7.9 m W/m 2 to19.5 m W/m 2 , about 245% increase over a 9-day period. For both groups of MFCs; with R. albus and the control, the head space gases collected were methane and CO 2 . While the methane: CO 2 ratios were found unchanged at 1.7:1 throughout the 9 days of operation, the total gas production increased from 248 mL to 319 mL due to the presence of R. albus addition. This study confirms that whereas the biocatalytic activity of anode microbial population determines the energy production, the addition of external cellulolytic bacteria into anode microbial population can improve and extend the biomass utilization.

Health care services during pregnancy and childbirth and after delivery are important for the survival and wellbeing of both the mother and the infant. The pregnancy outcomes at Kasungu District Hospital Maternity Ward have not been documented. Additionally, MDHS does not capture data regarding, prematurity, APGAR scores, and causes of maternal deaths and causes of neonatal deaths. Using Kasungu District Hospital Maternity Ward register, we aimed to describe the pregnancy outcomes at Kasungu Maternity Ward. From March 2016 to February 2017, data were available for 10,842 deliveries. The calculated Perinatal Mortality Rate (PMR) was about 77/1000 births and the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was 318 deaths per 100,000 live births. The Spontaneous Vertex Delivery (SVD) rate was 86% and the caesarean section rate was 10%. 1734 (16%) of all deliveries were premature borne between 28 and 36 gestation weeks. 1182 (11%) deliveries had missing APGAR scores and 81 neonates were born with 5 min Apgar scores less than 7. Adverse pregnancy outcomes occur at Kasungu Hospital Maternity Ward. More effort and resources are needed to decrease their occurrence.