The decontamination of instruments and medical devices plays a very important role in the prevention of health care-associated infections (HAIs). Indeed, improper decontamination of surgical instruments, endoscopic devices, respiratory care devices and reusable haemodialysis devices still occurs in ...many settings, leading to HAIs. This course is based on the WHO manual on decontamination and reprocessing of medical devices for health care facilities, as well as in collaboration with the US CDC.
more
The primary aim of this assessment is to evaluate current approaches to malaria surveillance in Myanmar and to provide a set of practical and feasible recommendations to further strengthen the surveillance system in the short to medium term. The assessment focuses on the surveillance of malaria case...s (as distinct from more general surveillance to support monitoring and evaluation) and, more specifically, on instruments and systems to collect, collate, report and analyse malaria data as a basis for informing malaria control policy and practice.
more
The Leprosy Programme and Transmission Assessment (LPTA) is an activity that is carried out by internal teams towards the end of Phase 1 (see Leprosy Elimination Framework in the Annex) when a subnational jurisdiction (typically second-tier) reaches the milestone for interruption of transmission, i....e., zero autochthonous child cases for a consecutive period of five years. It also needs to be done at the end of Phase 2, when the second milestone of elimination of leprosy disease has been reached. An LPTA will be carried out to document that all relevant programme criteria have been met and examine trends of epidemiological indicators in such jurisdiction to confirm that the milestone has been achieved. The LPTA includes assessment of health facilities that provide leprosy services. LPTA comprises of review of epidemiological data, health facility assessment and data validation and verification of the programme criteria through observation during a field visit. The evidence collected in this way in subnational health administrative units is compiled in a Leprosy Elimination Dossier to be submitted to WHO when the country reaches the milestone for elimination of disease in the country as whole. Countries that have not detected any new leprosy cases in the past three years or more can use the LPTA at national level prior to or as part of the verification process. Countries likely to be among the first to apply for verification may have had no new cases detected for more than 10 years.
more
Hand Hygiene is one of the most effective actions to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus. This document promotes the WHO global hand hygiene campaign SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands in the context of other hand hygiene initiatives launched by WHO for COVI...D-19, and provides rapid technical guidance.
more
These guidelines form part of efforts to institutionalize the prevention and containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthcare facilities in South Africa, as outlined in the Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan. The focus of these guidelines is on two interr...elated aspects of prevention of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and their spread; and the application of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices at hospital level. They aim to serve as a practical, step-by-step or ‘how-to’ guide, addressing the infection prevention and AMS components of a robust response in a hospital. They draw on
evidence from various international guidance documents and standards for interventions that have been shown to be successful in infection
prevention and AMS programmes. These interventions have been customised to the South African hospital setting based on local
experiences in the public and private health sectors. This was done through a series of workshops and requests for comment involving
country-level experts.
more
Snakebite envenoming is a serious public health problem in Central America, where approximately 5,500 cases occur every year. Panama has the highest incidence and El Salvador the lowest. The majority, and most severe, cases are inflicted by the pit viper Bothrops asper (family Viperidae), locally kn...own as ‘terciopelo’, ‘barba amarilla’ or ‘equis’. About 1% of the bites are caused by coral snakes of the genus Micrurus (family Elapidae). Despite significant and successful efforts in Central America regarding snakebite envenomings in the areas of research, antivenom manufacture and quality control, training of health professionals in the diagnosis and clinical management of bites, and prevention of snakebites, much remains to be done in order to further reduce the impact of this medical condition. This essay presents seven challenges for improving the confrontation of snakebite envenoming in Central America. Overcoming these challenges demands a coordinated partnership of highly diverse stakeholders though inter-sectorial and inter-programmatic interventions.
more
Available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. You can download a summary of the main report and background documents!
The report demonstrates that the current system—at both national and international levels— was not adequate to protect people from COVID-19. The time it t...ook from the reporting of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin in mid-late December 2019 to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern being declared was too long. February 2020 was also a lost month when many more countries could have taken steps to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and forestall the global health, social, and economic catastrophe that continues its grip. The Panel finds that the system as it stands now is clearly unfit to prevent another novel and highly infectious pathogen, which could emerge at any time, from developing into a pandemic.
more
Act 851 | AN ACT to revise and consolidate the law relating to public health to
prevent disease, promote, safeguard, maintain and protect the health
of humans and animals and to provide for related matters.
Health workers participating in pandemic response are exposed to many different occupational risks to health and safety. These include: COVID-19 infection, illness, and transmission to others; fatigue from working longer hours and heavy workload, insufficient sleep or rest, dehydration, and inadequa...te nutrition; musculoskeletal injury from handling of patients and heavy objects, prolonged work while using personal protective equipment which can cause heat stress, skin and mucosal damage; workplace violence and stigma, and a variety of mental health problems, emotional distress and occupational burn-out.
All health workers require knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others from the occupational risks they encounter, so that they can work safely and effectively. This course consists of five sections in response to these needs: Module 1: Infectious risks to health and safety
Module 2: Physical risks to health and safety
Module 3: Psychosocial risks to health and safety
Module 4: Basic occupational health and safety in health services.
This course is also available in the following languages: македонски - Português_ Spanish
more
Ce document fournit des orientations provisoires sur la qualité, les caractéristiques de performance et les normes connexes des équipements de protection individuelle (EPI) à utiliser dans le contexte de COVID-19. Il s'agit notamment des dispositifs médicaux prioritaires de l'OMS, à savoir : l...es masques chirurgicaux, les masques non chirurgicaux, les gants, les lunettes de protection, les écrans faciaux, les blouses et les masques N95. Il est destiné aux organismes d'approvisionnement, aux services de santé au travail, aux services ou points focaux de prévention et de contrôle des infections, aux administrateurs d'établissements de santé, aux ingénieurs biomédicaux et des matériaux, aux fabricants d'EPI et aux autorités de santé publique, tant au niveau national qu'au niveau des établissements.
more
El documento "Lista de productos sanitarios prioritarios para la respuesta a COVID-19 y especificaciones técnicas asociadas" complementa esta directriz.
Este documento proporciona una orientación provisional sobre la calidad, las características de rendimiento y las normas conexas de los equi...pos de protección personal (EPP) que se utilizarán en el contexto de COVID-19. Esto incluye los productos sanitarios prioritarios de la OMS, concretamente: mascarillas quirúrgicas, mascarillas no quirúrgicas, guantes, gafas, protectores faciales, batas y mascarillas N95. Está dirigido a los organismos de adquisición, los departamentos de salud laboral, los departamentos o puntos focales de prevención y control de infecciones, los administradores de los centros de salud, la ingeniería biomédica y de materiales, los fabricantes de EPI y las autoridades de salud pública, tanto a nivel nacional como de los centros.
more
Orientations provisoires
29 février 2020
Le présent document vise à donner aux États Membres des orientations sur les mesures de placement en quarantaine des personnes dans le contexte de la COVID-19. Il s’adresse à toutes celles et tous ceux qui sont chargés de définir la politique lo...cale ou nationale relative au placement en quarantaine des personnes et de faire respecter les mesures de lutte anti-infectieuse.
more
Following the encouraging initial results of the pilot project, the Ministry of Health is committed to increasing access to MDR-TB diagnosis, treatment and care. An expansion plan for the programmatic management of drug-resistant TB has been developed and forms part of the Five Year National Strateg...ic Plan for TB Control, 2011-2015. The long-term goals of the MDR-TB expansion plan are threefold:
1. Diagnosis of MDR-TB in all groups of patients at risk for MDR-TB
2. Diagnosis of MDR-TB in all HIV-infected TB patients
3. MDR-TB treatment for all patients diagnosed with MDR-TB under WHO-endorsed treatment protocols
more
This guide provides an overview of the major elements that must be considered before, during and after the implementation of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for SARS-CoV-2. This guide is complementary to policy guidance issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The guide may ...appeal to a range of audiences including Ministries of Health, donors, public and private organizations/agencies acting as implementing partners and community based and civil society organizations with experience working on health, especially organizations familiar with similar testing campaigns for other disease programmes like HIV and malaria
more
This resource pack was developed for the country offices of the World Health Organization and national Public Health institutions, as an overview of the key information needed for advising their Member States in response to questions raised on human health due to influenza outbreaks or detections in... animals. It assembles the available information from WHO, FAO and WOAH, on recommendations and guidelines on influenza that might be relevant to a country experiencing detections or outbreaks of influenza in animals or facing suspicion of human infections with animal-origin influenza viruses. This resource pack updates the information provided in the Summary of Key Information Practical to Countries Experiencing Outbreaks of A(H5N1) and Other Subtypes of Avian Influenza, published in 2016. Additionally, the scope of this current document was broadened to address the risks to public health from all animal influenza viruses, not only avian influenza. Links to existing resources were updated and new resources were added where available.
more
The document provides comprehensive guidelines on cholera outbreak management, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It emphasizes rapid response measures, the importance of rehydration therapy (oral and intravenous), and public health interventions such as water sanitation, hygiene promot...ion, and disease surveillance to control the spread of cholera in affected communities. It is designed as a resource for healthcare providers and public health officials.
more
The document provides guidelines for the prevention and control of cholera outbreaks. It focuses on key strategies such as improving access to safe drinking water, ensuring proper sanitation, and promoting hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the disease. The guidelines also emphasize the impo...rtance of early detection, prompt treatment with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or intravenous fluids, and the strategic use of antibiotics in severe cases. Additionally, it discusses the role of community education and collaboration with health authorities to effectively manage cholera outbreaks.
more
The document provides guidelines for the prevention and control of cholera outbreaks. It focuses on key strategies such as improving access to safe drinking water, ensuring proper sanitation, and promoting hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the disease. The guidelines also emphasize the impo...rtance of early detection, prompt treatment with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or intravenous fluids, and the strategic use of antibiotics in severe cases. Additionally, it discusses the role of community education and collaboration with health authorities to effectively manage cholera outbreaks.
more
The cholera poster provides essential information about the disease, including its symptoms, sources of infection, prevention measures, and treatment options. It describes cholera as a potentially fatal disease that spreads through contaminated food and water, particularly in emergency conditions. K...ey symptoms include severe diarrhea resembling "rice water," vomiting, leg cramps, weakness, and dehydration.
The poster emphasizes prevention strategies such as drinking only boiled or clean water, washing hands with soap, cooking food thoroughly, and maintaining hygiene when handling clothes and diapers. It also explains the importance of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), which can treat 80% of patients by preventing dehydration. ORS can be made at home using salt, sugar, and clean water. The poster highlights that cholera can quickly weaken a healthy person and even cause death within 24 hours if untreated.
more
The document provides guidelines for the prevention and control of cholera outbreaks. It focuses on key strategies such as improving access to safe drinking water, ensuring proper sanitation, and promoting hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the disease. The guidelines also emphasize the impo...rtance of early detection, prompt treatment with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or intravenous fluids, and the strategic use of antibiotics in severe cases. Additionally, it discusses the role of community education and collaboration with health authorities to effectively manage cholera outbreaks.
more