Introduction The novel Coronavirus (nCoV) epidemic in 2019 -2020 has recently emerged. The route of transmission is not totally known, although it is known that it can spread from person to person, and local health care systems may be ill-equipped to handle a large-scale outbreak. Furthermore, misco...nceptions and misinformation about the disease often spreads rapidly in such epidemics.
In previous epidemics mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) has been identified as a key priority. MHPSS ensures the well-being of the affected populations, and counter-acts the threats to public health and safety that fear, stigmatization and misconception pose. Access to information, knowledge about the disease and how it spreads, make it easier for the affected to feel supported and calm, and to comply with instructions. Furthermore, psychosocial support to staff and volunteers help the operation as work conditions are extremely stressful.
This briefing note provides background knowledge on the MHPSS aspects related to nCoV and suggests MHPSS activities that can be implemented. The messages can be helpful for those in contact with patients or relatives and feel the strain of working and living during the epidemic. The briefing is aimed both at those working in any capacity with those affected by nCoV and for the MHPSS responders who implement MHPSS activities and interventions for everyone affected.
more
Hum Resour Health 20, 37 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-022-00735-y.
For countries to achieve universal health coverage, they need to have well-functioning and resilient health systems. Achieving this requires a sufficient number of qualified health workers and this necessitates the importa...nce of investments in producing and regulating health workers. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives. However, based on the current trajectory, only 3.1 million would be trained and ready for service delivery. To reduce current shortages of the health workforce, Africa needs to educate and train 3.0 million additional health workers by 2030. This study was conducted to describe the distribution and ownership of the health training institutions, production of health workers, and the availability of accreditation mechanisms for training programmes in the WHO African Region.
more
L’enquête SARA a pour objectif d’évaluer la disponibilité, la capacité opérationnelle des services de santé au Bénin et la qualité des données du Système National d’Informations et de Gestion Sanitaires (SNIGS). Elle a été menée dans 788 formations sanitaires réparties sur toutes... les trente-quatre (34) zones sanitaires et les résultats suivants ont été obtenus
more
Stock-outs of antimalarials cause unnecessary deaths among an estimated 219 million people afflicted worldwide. Good pharmaceutical information systems can avoid stock-outs with timely, accurate data and high reporting rates that ensure the continuous availability of critically-needed antimalarials....
The US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Systems for Increased Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program, with support from the US Government’s Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI), is working with the Government of Guinea to improve the national malaria reporting system. By the end of September 2013, after only a few months of training in all 19 PMI-supported zones, reporting rates had improved significantly, reaching an average completion rate of 85 percent for health facilities during the previous quarter.
more
HRH SA 2030 | Draft HR Strategy for the Health Sector: 2012/13 – 2016/17 Consultation Document
The Investment guidelines for youth in agrifood systems in Africa, developed jointly by FAO and the African Union Commission (AUC) through a multi-stakeholder and participatory process, highlight the importance of youth as change agents and key stakeholders contributing to sustainable agrifood syste...ms. The guidelines aim to accelerate investments in and by youth in agrifood systems by providing practical guidance - including tools and examples - to design, develop, implement, monitor and evaluate youth-focused and youth-sensitive investment programmes and to engage youth fully as partners in the entire process.
more
The Demographic Dividend study on Rwanda assessed the socio economic and human development potential of our country in the short, medium and long-term period using a comprehensive approach. It generated relevant policy and programme information to guide a well informed polciy required to propel Rwan...da towards achieving its aspirations of being high middle income country by 2035 and high income country by 2050.
The primary objectives of this study were to assess Rwanda’s prospects for harnessing the demographic dividend and demonstrate priority policy and programme options that the country should adopt in order to optimise its chances of earning a maximum demographic dividend in the context of its youthful population and medium, long-term socio economic development aspirations.
more
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a major challenge for health care systems around the world. There is an important opportunity to reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality through improvements to IPC.
The IPC channel hosts general materials designed for all health workers, as well as more... advanced materials specific to IPC focal points. The goal is to strengthen health workers' IPC knowledge and advance the IPC focal points’ capacity to implement facility-led IPC efforts.
more
The WHO document, "High-level technical meeting on noncommunicable diseases and mental health in small island developing states: summary brief," outlines the outcomes of a January 2023 meeting in Barbados, focusing on NCDs and mental health challenges in small island developing states (SIDS). Key to...pics included the need for sustainable financing, addressing the impact of climate change, improving emergency preparedness, strengthening multisectoral collaboration, and managing commercial determinants of health. The document emphasizes building political support and international cooperation to reduce the NCD and mental health burden in SIDS, with recommendations for policy coherence and increased support for these vulnerable regions.
more
Drawing on lessons from recent events, WHO launched ‘PRET - Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats’ to support countries in updating their pandemic plans. Building on the current global momentum, PRET applies a “mode of transmission lens.”
The first PRET module focuses on preparin...g for respiratory pathogens. Future modules will focus on other pathogen groups such as arthropod-borne viruses.
more
Dolutegravir HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) data from Africa remain sparse. We reviewed HIVDR results of Malawians on
dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (November 2020– September 2021). Of 6462 eligible clients, 33 samples were submitted to South Africa, 27 were sequenced successfully, and 8 ...(30%) had dolutegravir HIVDR. Malawi urgently requires adequate HIVDR testing capacity.
more
This manual is a good example of the successful outcomes of the productive mutual cooperation between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Basic Education Support and Training (BEST – Yemen) Project; funded by the USAID, and the Government of Yemen (GY) throug...h its Ministry of Education (MoE). The BEST Project and the MoE have worked collaboratively to ensure sustainable development where local resources are used wisely and sufficiently by the different Yemeni generations while at the same time building healthy school and community environment.
more