DHS Working Papers No. 114
Towards Malaria Elimination
Ethiopia has seen high economic growth over the last decade, but remains a poor country with a high burden of disease. It has made considerable health gains in recent years, mainly by having health policies that focus on extending primary healthcare, using health extension workers. It... has made good use of existing resources,but has a low health expenditure (of around US$21 per capita, and totalling 4per centof GDP). It has a federal system with devolved healthcare financing, whereby block grants are allocated to sectors at regional and woreda(district) level. The challenge now,with the epidemiological transition (and a sense that the ‘low-hanging fruits’have already been gathered in relation to public health), is how Ethiopia, still poor, continuesto invest in health improvements?Human resources for health (HRH) are a critical pillar within any health system –the health staff combine inputs to provide the services, thus affecting how all other resources are used, and they make frontline (and back-office) decisions thatare importantdeterminants of servicequality,effectiveness and equity. HRH is usually the most resource-intensive element within the health system –commonly absorbing 50–70per centof public expenditure onhealth, although the proportions are very varied by individual countries and across regions. As they are commonly part of the public administration, reforms to HRH are also part of a complex political economy in most countries.Assessing value for money (VfM) in relation to HRH is correspondingly complex;across the value chain, manyfactors influence the conversion of inputs into outputs and outcomes (see Figure 1).A more detailed description of the HRH value chain can be found in Annex1.
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The technical note from the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) examines the risks and benefits of vaccinating pregnant women with WHO-prequalified oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) during mass vaccination campaigns. It highlights that three WHO-approved vaccines (Dukoral®, Shanchol™, and Euv...ichol®) offer sustained protection and a strong safety profile.
While these vaccines are not explicitly contraindicated for pregnant women, there is limited clinical data on their use during pregnancy. However, studies indicate that pregnant women with cholera face higher risks of fetal loss, stillbirth, and complications, especially if they experience severe dehydration. Some evidence suggests that vaccination can reduce cholera incidence in pregnant women and indirectly protect infants.
Although no controlled trials have focused on pregnant women, retrospective studies in Guinea and Zanzibar showed no significant increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes after OCV administration. The GTFCC concludes that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks, particularly in high-risk areas, and recommends including pregnant women in cholera vaccination campaigns while continuing to monitor safety data.
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Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2022; 19(1): 37–45.
Published online 2022 Jan 29. doi: 10.1007/s11904-021-00589-4.
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the cascade-of-care among PLWH in LAC. There is a need for
longitudinal studies that assess clinic implication of these pandemic interactions in LAC.
Supplement to the 2016 consolidated Guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for Treating and Preventing HIV infection
HIV Treatment
Compendium of Case Studies