Avoid Obese!

Nearly half of UK men ‘will be obese by 2030’ and women won't be far behind

 

Almost half of British men could be obese within 20 years, according to an international study. It predicts that women will be close behind, with four in ten similarly overweight by 2030. Overall, an extra 11million Britons would be clinically obese – so fat it risks their health – taking the total to 26million.

Big problem: Almost half of British men and four in ten women could be obese within 20 years

The cost to health services of coping with obesity-linked problems would rise by £2billion a year.

 

Almost half a million more people could suffer heart disease, with nearly 700,000 extra cases of diabetes and 130,000 more cancer sufferers.

The British and American experts behind the analysis blame abundant energy-dense food, too little exercise and lack of action by policymakers.

 

They say obesity levels among men could rise from around 19 per cent to between 41 and 48 per cent.

The proportion of obese women is predicted to increase from 26 per cent to between 35 and 43 per cent.

 

A third of black women are obese compared with one in five white women and one in six Asian women. Rates among men are broadly similar. The figures, published in The Lancet medical journal, were produced by a team including Klim McPherson of Oxford University and U.S. researchers at Columbia University.

Their modelling showed that the obesity health burden would accelerate as the population aged. However, a slight reduction in average weight of around 2lbs an adult could lead to a drop of 350,000 cases of disease.

 

The experts rejected the idea that because obese people die earlier, they save the state money.

‘Without a doubt, healthcare expenditure is high for elderly people, but these costs should not be used to justify the savings of dying younger, or to suggest that obesity prevention has no benefit,’ they concluded.

 

They called for taxes on unhealthy food and the banning of food adverts aimed at children. There was no evidence that relying on the food industry to exercise responsibility – the tack adopted by the Coalition Government – would work, they argued.

 

Professor McPherson was a co-author of the Government-commissioned obesity report in 2007 that warned 60 per cent of men and half of women could be obese by 2050. The epidemiologist said ministers were hamstrung by fear of accusations that they were in favour of the ‘nanny state ‘They don’t want to be labelled with that particular insult,’ he said. ‘I think they do “get it” [the problem] but they don’t know what to do about it, and they don’t think it’s their essential responsibility.’

Mike Knapton of the British Heart Foundation said: ‘These predicted figures for obesity and heart disease in the UK are deeply worrying and show how urgently action is needed.

 

‘What we have to remember is that obesity is a normal response to our environment.

'Culturally, we’re reliant on cars, our jobs and leisure activities are increasingly sedentary and we are faced with an abundance of easily available high-energy foods. ‘Yet while we all have a role to play in tackling this problem, this research recognises that national governments are the most significant players – ahead of individuals, industry and civil society.

‘In the UK, we need our Government to take the lead and make it easier to be healthier, such as by ensuring children are fully protected from junk food marketing.’ 

Prevention: Children should be protected from junk food marketing to stop an obesity endemic in adulthood Tam Fry, of the Child Growth Foundation and spokesman for the National Obesity Forum, said: ‘Children are born thin, it’s what we do to children that makes them obese. ‘Adults have choice but children can’t take informed decisions about what they’re eating. They go by taste.’

Terry Jones of the Food and Drink Federation said: ‘The Lancet fails to recognise the lengths to which the UK food and drink industry has gone to help improve the health of the nation, particularly in relation to rising obesity levels.’ Health minister Anne Milton said plans to tackle obesity would be outlined in a document later this year.

 

‘Tackling obesity is a priority for  the Government and through Change4Life, we are encouraging people to make simple changes, such as eating more fruit and vegetables, cutting down on fatty foods and being more active,’ she added. ‘If we are to find new ways of  supporting people to change their behaviour and achieve real sustained improvements in public health  we need to work with public health, voluntary and commercial organisations.’

Vacancies - Open University!

Hi,

Here Again, Try your Best!

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA

ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES FOR ACADEMIC STAFF

The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) is a public university, established by the Act of Parliament No 17 of 1992.  Since 1^st January, 2007, the University has been operating under the OUT Charter Inc. of 2007, which is in line with the Universities Act No. 7 of 2005. Its stated mission is to continuously provide open and distance education, research, and public services for sustainable and equitable socio-economic development of Tanzania in particular, and the rest of Africa.

The University hereby invites applications from competent and suitably qualified persons, to enhance its human resource capacity needed to fulfill its mission, in the academic positions as follows:

VACANCY NUMBER	POSITION	FACULTY	SPECIALIZATION	WORK STATION
OUT2011/01	Professor	Any	Any	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/02	Associate Professor	Any	Any	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/03	Associate Professor	Any	Any	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/04	Senior Lecturer	Any	Any	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/05	Senior Lecturer	Any	Any	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/06	Senior Lecturer	Any	Any	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/07	Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	Political Science & Public Administration	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/08	Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	Economics	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/09	Lecturer	Business  Management	Finance	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/10	Lecturer	Business  Management	Human Resources	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/11	Lecturer	Education	Psychology & Special Education	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/12	Lecturer	Education	Curriculum & Instruction	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/13	Lecturer	Law	Land Law	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/14	Lecturer	Law	Civil Procedure	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/15	Lecturer	Science, Technology	Information & communication Technology	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/16	Lecturer	Continuing Education	Social Sciences	HQ, Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/17	Assistant Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	Literature	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/18	Assistant Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	History, Philosophy & Religious Studies	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/19	Assistant Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	Kiswahili (Fasihi)	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/20	Assistant Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	Journalism	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/21	Assistant Lecturer	Arts and Social Sciences	French	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/22	Assistant Lecturer	Business  Management	Logistics & Transport Management	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/23	Assistant Lecturer	Business  Management	Human Resources	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/24	Assistant Lecturer	Business  Management	Accounting	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/25	Assistant Lecturer	Business  Management	Business Law	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/26	Assistant Lecturer	Business  Management	Economics	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/27	Assistant Lecturer	Education	Policy, Planning & Administration	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/28	Assistant Lecturer	Education	Education Foundation	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/29	Assistant Lecturer	Education	Curriculum & Instruction	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/30	Assistant Lecturer	Education	Adult & Distance Education	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/31	Assistant Lecturer	Education	Psychology and Special Education	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/32	Assistant Lecturer	Law	Legal Methods	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/33	Assistant Lecturer	Law	Company Law	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/34	Assistant Lecturer	Law	Law of Tort	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/35	Assistant Lecturer	Law	Law of Evidence	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/36	Assistant Lecturer	Science, Technology	Physics	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/37	Assistant Lecturer	Science, Technology	Environmental Management	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/38	Assistant Lecturer	Science, Technology	Mathematics	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/39	Assistant Lecturer	Science, Technology	Information &Communication Technology	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/40	Assistant Lecturer	Continuing Education	Linguistics (Kiswahili)	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/41	Assistant Lecturer	Continuing Education	English	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/42	Assistant Lecturer	Continuing Education	Development Studies	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/43	Assistant Lecturer	Education Technology	Instructional Designer	Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/44	Assistant Lecturer	Education Technology	Instructional Designer	Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/45	Assistant Lecturer	Library	Library & Information Science	Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/46	Assistant Lecturer	Library	Library & Information Science	Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/47	Tutorial Assistant	Arts and Social Sciences	Geography	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/48	Tutorial Assistant	Business  Management	Accounting	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/49	Tutorial Assistant	Education	Adult &Distance Education	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/50	Tutorial Assistant	Education	Policy, Planning & Administration	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/51	Tutorial Assistant	Law	Family Law	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/52	Tutorial Assistant	Science, Technology	Mathematics	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/53	Tutorial Assistant	Science, Technology	Physics	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/54	Tutorial Assistant	Continuing Education	Natural Sciences	All Regions except Coast and Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/55	Tutorial Assistant	Education Technology	Instructional Designer	Dar es Salaam
OUT2011/56	Tutorial Assistant	Library	Library & Information Science	Dar es Salaam

The qualifications and duties for each of the positions above are described below:

A. TUTORIAL ASSISTANT (PUTS 12-13)

Qualifications:  Candidate should have attained first degree with minimum of 3.8 GPA with excellent results in the subject area or equivalent.

Duties:

-          Writing scripts for radio broadcasts, video and audio cassettes, various reports and papers,

-          Supplementing existing study materials,

-          Editing, reviewing and translating course materials,

-          Providing support materials, guidance and counseling and other services to students,

-          Helping to keep students’ records correspondence and other communications,

-          Helping in general academic administration as will be asked of him by seniors,

-          Doing any other task as may be prescribed by one’s reporting officer, Dean of the Faculty or Director of an Institute and/or the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) from time to time.

B. ASSISTANT LECTURER (PUTS 14)

Qualifications:

Possession of a good Master’s Degree (B+ or above GPA 3.8 - 3.6) in a relevant discipline or equivalent after having attained a GPA of 3.8 and above at undergraduate level.

Duties:

As for Tutorial Assistant plus:

-          Writing new study materials, scripts for radio broadcast, video and audio cassettes, various reports and papers,

-          Adopting and/or supplementing existing materials,

-          Liaising with course writers, editors, reviewers, producers, artists, coordinators and other members of the course team,

-          From time revising course materials and audio programmes,

-          Giving public lecture, tutoring and leading academic discussions,

-          Setting and marking course assignments and/or tests, examinations supervision of field work, practicals and all other related academic activities,

-          Encouraging and motivating students to improve themselves academically,

-          Helping to identify and set up local study groups,

-          Conducting research work and disseminating research findings.

C. LECTURER (PUTS 15 – 16)

Qualifications:  Candidates should have a Ph.D degree in relevant fields or equivalent professional qualifications for non Ph.D to be considered or relevant publications.

Duties:

As for Assistant Lecturer/Research Fellow with added responsibilities, he/she will be required:

-                to tech face to ace course and lead seminars;

-                to undertake individual research and participate in bigger multi-disciplinary research projects;

-                to prepare manuals and case studies for training;

-                to offer close supervision and guidance to students;

-                to manage undergraduate programmes

-                to undertake consultancy projects.

D.     SENIOR LECTURER (PUTS  17-18)

Qualifications:   A Ph.D. degree with teaching/research experience of at least three years and have published in academically renown journals whose weighting is equivalent to 8 points.

Duties:

As for Lecturers with added responsibilities, he/she should demonstrate the ability to head a Faculty, a Directorate, a Regional Centre, or a Department. In the case of Senior Research Fellows, they should be able to manage some moor research projects.

E. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (PUTS 19 – 20)

Qualifications: A Ph.D degree with teaching/research experience of at least six years. In additions he/she must have published in renowned journals whose weight is equivalent to 13 points.

Duties:

As Senior Lecturer with additional responsibilities; such a initiation of new programmes, supervise postgraduate students, offer consultancy write papers that would advance the frontiers of knowledge, formulate academic policies, offer technical assistance to University organs. Should demonstrate ability to lead an Institute, Faculty, or Department and be able to manage major research projects.

F. PROFESSOR      (PUTS 21)

Qualifications: Candidate should have at least three years of professional work as Associate Professor with extensive teaching and research experience. In addition one must have published study materials whose weighing totals eight points (for course units) on one good book with one course unit. For Associate Research Professor, Candidates should have eight course units or sixteen points or two books and two course units since last promotion.

Duties:

As for Associate Professor/Associate Research Professor plus the following:

-                Conduct formal training proved leadership in faculty in specific multidisciplinary project conducted by the University.

-                Provide personal guidance and advice to client in the field; undertake large consultancy projects

-                Provide guidance to members of staff;

-                Prepare and publish manuals or textbooks in related fields. A Professor is also expected to deliver a Professional Inaugural lecture within two years of promotion. A professor should demonstrate the ability to provide highest leadership in a discipline/research/supervision.

G.TUTORIAL LIBRARIAN  (PUTS 12-13)

Qualifications: Possession of a good Bachelors Degree in information sciences or library studies from a recognized institution, with GPA of 3.8 and above.

Duties:

-          planning and supervising library services

-          indexing, abstracting and dissemination of information

-          compiling and classifying publications

-          evaluating and selecting publications and other library materials

-          any other duties as may be assigned to him by superiors,

-          using electronic media in performing his duties.

H. ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN  (PUTS 14)

Qualifications: Possession of a good Bachelors Degree in information sciences or library studies from a recognized institution, with GPA of 3.8 and above plus a good Masters Degree in a relevant area.

Duties:

-          planning and supervising library services

-          indexing, abstracting and dissemination of information

-          compiling and classifying publications

-          evaluating and selecting publications and other library materials

-          any other duties as may be assigned to him by superiors,

-          using electronic media in performing his duties.

MODE OF APPLICATION

• Applicants should clearly specify the Vacancy Number and Position they are applying for, from the list above. Applications bearing no such information shall not be considered.
• Applications should be accompanied with detailed curriculum vitae, certified copies of relevant certificates, together with one coloured passport size photograph of the applicant, and letters should state how the applicant knew about the vacancy.
• Applicants must give in their CVs, names and full contact details of two referees.
• The applicants should be willing to work in any of the regions in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, as specified in the vacancy list above.
• Qualified candidates from the East African Community are encouraged to apply.
• Only applicants below the age of 58 years will be considered.
• Applications submitted prior to this announcement shall not be considered.
• The deadline for receiving applications is at 4 pm on 9^th September, 2011

Interested applicants are invited to submit their applications to:

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics)

Open University of Tanzania

Kawawa Road, Kinondoni

P.O. Box 23409, Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA

Tel. +255 22 2668820

Fax: +255 22 2668230

Email: dvc-ac@out.ac.tz