Unlike in developed countries, the clinical effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) is not well-studied in the African context. Thus, this study sought to determine effects of DSME on clinical outcomes among type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients in Ethiopia.
The document is a handbook on implementing the mBreatheFreely program, an mHealth initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) aimed at improving the management of asthma and COPD through mobile technology. It provides a framework for governme...nts and policymakers to develop, launch, and evaluate national mHealth programs. The guide covers areas such as operations management, content development, promotion strategies, technology infrastructure, and monitoring and evaluation. It emphasizes the importance of mHealth in enhancing self-management, prevention, and treatment of chronic respiratory diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The handbook also includes examples of successful programs and practical tools for adaptation and implementation.
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This paper summarises the past, present and future of asbestos exposure. The future scenarios as to the mesothelioma incidence in countries, where asbestos has been banned, are discussed.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a substantial threat to many health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) where they are already overstretched. In the past few decades, deaths from NCDs in LMICs have spiked, whereas numbers in high-income countries have stabilis...ed. Worryingly, a large proportion of deaths from NCDs (29%) in LMICs occur among people younger than 60 years compared with the proportion in high-income countries (13%). This finding has been attributed to poor access to effective and equitable health-care services in most LMICs. The threat of NCDs in LMICs was recognised by the UN 2011 High-Level Meeting, and is now featured in Sustainable Development Goal 3 in the form of reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third before 2030. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of deaths from NCDs (ie, 48% of all NCDs deaths). Therefore, substantial reductions in CVDs will have a major impact on reducing the overall burden of NCDs globally. The good news is that most CVDs can be prevented by addressing the key underlying behavioural risk factors, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol, through population-wide approaches. Among individuals with or at high risk of CVD, early detection and effective management with appropriate counselling and medicines can reduce cardiovascular deaths substantially.
The importance of effective treatment for CVD has been recognised in the Global NCD Action Plan 2013–20, for which one of the nine global targets is that at least 50% of eligible individuals should receive drug therapy and counselling to prevent heart attacks and strokes by 2025.5 Although admirable, this is a hard target to achieve given that secondary prevention strategies in LMICs are often unaffordable or unavailable.
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Myth: It’s better to ‘tough it out’ without taking asthma medication. The lungs do not get stronger or become better able to deal with asthma if a person tries to work through an attack without medication. In fact, the lung inflammation that goes along with an attack (see what is asthma) ...can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Always use medication according to the Asthma Action Plan. If you have questions, talk with your health care provider.
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This video is meant to train the public on how to use some of the devices for delivery of asthma medications.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic. Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region have made... attempts to implement the demand and supply reduction strategies for tobacco control as recommended by the treaty. While recognizing the need to accelerate implementation of the WHO FCTC in the Region, this document has been developed to support the Member States in implementing the treaty using a ‘PRACTICAL’ Approach which pertains to identified demand and supply reduction strategies under the treaty.
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This study compared clinical and autopsy findings for three asbestos-related diseases (asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer) in former asbestos mineworkers, and explored factors that influenced agreement between clinical and autopsy findings using data from two compensation systems. In South Afr...ica, statutory compensation for occupational lung diseases in mineworkers makes provisions for autopsy examinations of the cardio-respiratory organs at the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) in Johannesburg. In addition, the Johannesburg-based Asbestos Relief Trust and Kgalagadi Relief Trust (the “Trusts”) compensate individuals with defined asbestos-related diseases who worked in or lived near qualifying asbestos mining or processing operations. The Trusts also compensate dependents of deceased qualifying mineworkers and therefore encourage statutory autopsies for the detection of previously undiagnosed asbestos-related disease or disease that may have progressed to higher compensation grades.
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The document, "Progress on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases," reports on global efforts to reduce the impact of NCDs, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, following the commitments made at high-level United Nations meetings. It highlights ...the inadequate progress in meeting the targets set under the Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 to reduce premature NCD mortality by one-third by 2030. Key challenges include insufficient funding, limited implementation of effective interventions, and political and economic barriers, especially in low-income countries. The report calls for strengthened international cooperation, policy reform, and innovative approaches to meet global health targets.
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The NIH webpage discusses how dietary habits influence the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It highlights that both excessive and insufficient intake of certain foods and nutrients can increase mortality risk from these conditions, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet for... better health.
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National Guidelines on Nutrition, Care, Support, and Treatment (NCST) for Adolescents and Adults
These guidelines are intended to:
• Establish a consistent set of nutrition interventions and recommendations aimed at managing and preventing undernutrition and overnutrition in adolescents and ad...ults, with a focus on people with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) patients.
• Provide simple and clear guidance to service providers and managers on how to implement the nutrition interventions and recommendations at the various health care delivery contact points.
• Provide a framework for policymakers and development partners to use when planning nutrition interventions for adolescent and adults.
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The document "Proposed Policy Priorities for Preventing Obesity and Diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region" by WHO EMRO outlines strategies to address high obesity and diabetes rates in the Eastern Mediterranean. It emphasizes population-wide actions, such as reducing fat and sugar intake, pro...moting physical activity, and implementing fiscal policies like taxes on unhealthy foods. Key focus areas include reformulating processed foods, encouraging healthy food procurement, and enforcing marketing restrictions on high-fat, sugar, and salt foods. The document highlights the need for multi-sectoral collaboration and phased implementation to improve regional health outcomes and reduce the economic burden of these diseases.
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The document "Pocketbook for Management of Diabetes in Childhood and Adolescence in Under-Resourced Countries" (2nd Edition) provides practical guidelines for managing diabetes in children and adolescents, particularly in resource-limited settings. It covers key topics like diagnosing and treating d...iabetes, managing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), insulin therapy, blood glucose monitoring, nutritional management, and dealing with complications. The pocketbook aims to support healthcare professionals in delivering effective diabetes care and improving outcomes for young patients in under-resourced areas.
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Global Development: Where Are We Now?
Today, we are facing a vital opportunity to change the profile of cardiovascular disease around the world.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are due to expire at the end of 2015, placing the cardiovascular health community in a unique position to shape t...he priorities for the next development agenda, and save millions of lives.
Despite its devastating impact on people of all ages, genders and ethnicities, cardiovascular disease was excluded from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were announced by the United Nations in 2000. That oversight was far-reaching;
for well over a decade, non-communicable diseases were omitted from the global funding agenda and deprioritized by other mechanisms. During that period of muted government action, the prevalence and burden of non-communicable diseases increased in every region of the world.
Fifteen years later, as the successors to the MDGs are being negotiated, we are in a position to call for the prioritization of cardiovascular disease on the forthcoming global development agenda. Once we have ensured that CVD is recognised at the global policy level, our efforts will turn to encouraging governments to honour their commitments on
the prevention and control of CVD.
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Several countries or regions within countries have an effective national asthma strategy resulting in a reduction of the large burden of asthma to individuals and society. There has been no systematic appraisal of the extent of national asthma strategies in the world.
The Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) 2014 by the World Health Organization outlines the global impact of NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, which are responsible for a significant portion of global mortality, particular...ly in low- and middle-income countries.
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This book is one of fifteen modules of the “Noncommunicable disease education manual for primary health care professionals and patients”. This manual is intended to provide health information on the prevention and control of hypertension and diabetes. This will be used in the form of a flip char...t for health professionals to educate their patients with either hypertension or diabetes.
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Report of an intensive legal training and capacity-building workshop on law and noncommunicable diseases (Moscow, 30 May–3 June 2016)
The report summarizes important issues, themes and topics discussed during the meeting in Moscow, ranging from the design and implementation of legislation, reconc...iling public health objectives with international trade and investment law commitments, to examples of regional integration, such as the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.
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Care for persons with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a major health priority for most countries worldwide, particularly for low-middle income countries where the problem seems to be worsening. Globally,... research demonstrates that the vast majority of people with NCDs receive suboptimal care. Many people living with chronic conditions remain undiagnosed and unaware of their condition, while many others remain untreated or with inadequate control. Meanwhile the premature mortality caused by NCDs remains high in many countries. In response to the global epidemic of NCDs, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in 2012, which establishes 9 voluntary global targets and indicators to be considered by Member States when formu- lating national plans to combat NCDs.
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INTRODUCTION: Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing in prevalence in low- and middle-income countries creating a large health care burden. Clinical management may require substantial resources but little consideration has been given to which treatments are appropriate for les...s advantaged countries.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The aim of this review was to systematically appraise published data on the costs and effectiveness of PAD treatments used commonly in high-income countries, and for an international consensus panel to review that information and propose a hierarchy of treatments relevant to low- and middle-income countries.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Pharmacotherapy for intermittent claudication was found to be expensive and improve walking distance by a modest amount. Exercise and endovascular therapies were more effective and exercise the most cost-effective. For critical limb ischemia, bypass surgery and endovascular therapy, which are both resource intensive, resulted in similar rates of amputation-free survival. Substantial reductions in cardiovascular events occurred with use of low cost drugs (statins, ACE inhibitors, anti-platelets) and smoking cessation.
CONCLUSIONS: The panel concluded that, in low- and middle-income countries, cardiovascular prevention is a top priority, whereas a lower priority should be given to pharmacotherapy for leg symptoms and revascularisation, except in countries with established vascular units.
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