Meeting Report 27-29 October 2020
The overall goal of the meeting was to discuss recent changes in treatment regimens and diagnostics for drug-resistant TB and to determine how these impact on the definition of XDR-TB, with a view to revising this definition. The pre-existing definition of XDR-TB w...as formulated in 2006 at a meeting of the Global Taskforce on XDR-TB, convened by WHO, and has been in use for clinical and surveillance purposes, since this time.
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South Africa has recorded its first case of monkeypox today, 23 June 2022. The Minister of
Health Dr. Joe Phaahla explained that he received a report from the National Health
Laboratory Services’ CEO that they have confirmed through laboratory tests the first case of
monkeypox in South Africa. ...South Africa's monkeypox patient zero is a 30-year-old man from
Johannesburg.
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has prepared an
information sheet to better understand monkeypox, the symptoms to treatment.
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The socioeconomic factors and public health inadequacies that facilitated the rapid spread of this infection continue to exist. As it is a new and emerging disease it has not received sufficient coverage yet in the medical curricula of Member States. Specific treatment is not available, and there is... no vaccine for the prevention of chikungunya fever. It has therefore become imperative to develop guidelines, based on the limited clinical experience gathered from managing patients so far, for appropriate management of patients in communities and in health facilities. Experts engaged in managing patients with chikungunya fever in the Region were brought together by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia to outline guidelines for managing various situations and stages of the disease.
The socioeconomic factors and public health inadequacies that facilitated the rapid spread of this infection continue to exist. As it is a new and emerging disease it has not received sufficient coverage yet in the medical curricula of Member States. Specific treatment is not available, and there is no vaccine for the prevention of chikungunya fever. It has therefore become imperative to develop guidelines, based on the limited clinical experience gathered from managing patients so far, for appropriate management of patients in communities and in health facilities. Experts engaged in managing patients with chikungunya fever in the Region were brought together by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia to outline guidelines for managing various situations and stages of the disease. This publication is the end result of that exercise and is intended to assist health-care providers in planning and implementing appropriate care to patients with chikungunya fever according to their actual clinical conditions
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Contains many illustrations of all country materials – of risk factors, treatment procedures, side effects, coping, healthy lifestyle, and more; Promotes cancer screening, especially for breast and cervical cancer, and gives local resources; Educates about local cancer risk factors, e.g., HIV infe...ction, ‘burning buvera or breathing in diesel fumes'; Emphasizes the need to avoid tobacco and heavy alcohol use
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One important application of digital health in TB patient care is the support that it can lend to medication adherence. TB programmes have already been using short message service (SMS), video-supported treatment (VOT) and event monitoring device for medication support ...(EMM)1 to help patients complete treatment and health-care workers to monitor both daily dosing and treatment continuity
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A large meta-analysis of observational studies that provided the basis for the recent makeover of global recommendations for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment shows that newer and repurposed drugs produced better outcomes and fewer deaths than older treatments.
The meta-analysis... of 50 studies involving 12,000 patients from 25 countries, published yesterday in The Lancet, found that bedaquiline, linezolid, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin were associated with greater treatment success and reduced mortality compared with the previously recommended first-line treatments, while clofazimine and carbapenem antibiotics were associated with significantly improved treatment outcomes (but not reduced mortality)
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NSP Review
Engaging with South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for HIV, STIs and TB Edition 7 July – August 2013
A publication of the Treatment Action Campaign and SECTION27
GeneXpert: An imperfect rollout
TB in South African prisons: Where to now?
Decentralising DR-TB care: How far alon...g are we?
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Buruli Ulcer, buruli ulcer signs and symptoms, buruli ulcer treatment, Buruli ulcer risks, Buruli ulcer disease, health care workers and buruli ulcer
There are 3 main forms of leishmaniases: visceral (the most serious form because it is almost always fatal without treatment), cutaneous (the most common, usually causing skin ulcers), and mucocutaneous (affecting mouth, nose and throat).
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites which are tra...nsmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.
The disease affects some of the world’s poorest people and is associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, a weak immune system and lack of financial resources.
An estimated 700 000 to 1 million new cases occur annually.
Only a small fraction of those infected by parasites causing leishmaniasis will eventually develop the disease.
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Ade et al. BMC Health Services Research (2016) 16:5
Background: In the “Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie” of Cotonou, Benin, little is known about
the characteristics of patients who have not attended their scheduled appointment, the results of tracing and the
possible b...enefits on improving treatment outcomes. This study aimed to determine the contribution of tracing
activities for those who missed scheduled appointments towards a successful treatment outcome.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out among all smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients
treated between January and September 2013. Data on demographic and diagnostic characteristics and treatment
outcomes were accessed from tuberculosis registers and treatment cards. Information on those who missed their
scheduled appointments was collected from the tracing tuberculosis register. A univariate analysis was performed
to explore factors associated with missing a scheduled appointment
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Key Findings (in booklet form) from the 2013 Rwanda Malaria Indicator Survey. The 2013 Rwanda Malaria Indicator Survey (RMIS) assessed malaria knowledge, prevention, and treatment practices. Over 4,700 households were interviewed.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global deaths, with the majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The primary and secondary prevention of CVD is suboptimal throughout the world, but the evidence-practice gaps are much more pronounced in LMIC. Barriers at the... patient, health-care provider, and health system level prevent the implementation of optimal primary and secondary prevention. Identification of the particular barriers that exist in resource-constrained settings is necessary to inform effective strategies to reduce the identified evidence-practice gaps. Furthermore, targeting modifiable factors that contribute most significantly to the global burden of CVD, including tobacco use, hypertension, and secondary prevention for CVD will lead to the biggest gains in mortality reduction. We review a select number of novel, resource-efficient strategies to reduce premature mortality from CVD, including: (1) effective measures for tobacco control; (2) implementation of simplified screening and management algorithms for those with or at risk of CVD, (3) increasing the availability and affordability of simplified and cost-effective treatment regimens including combination CVD preventive drug therapy, and (4) simplified delivery of health care through task-sharing (non-physician health workers) and optimizing self-management (treatment supporters). Developing and deploying systems of care that address barriers related to the above, will lead to substantial reductions in CVD and related mortality.
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PLoS ONE 15(1): e0228135.
The introduction of “Treat All” (TA) has been promoted to increase the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS treatment by having patients initiate antiretroviral therapy at an earlier stage of their illness. The impact of introducing TA on the unit cost of treatment has been less ...clear. The following study evaluated how costs changed after Namibia’s introduction of TA in April 2017.
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Step Up for TB 2020 Tuberculosis Policies in 37 Countries A survey of prevention, testing, and treatment policies and practices.
The country scorecard reflects how many of 14 internationally recommended key policies are in place at the national level, based on the Step Up for TB 2020 report survey....
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Namibia is estimated to be at 94-97-93 as defined by the UNAIDS 95-95-95 treatment cascade, one of the first high burden countries to approach epidemic control. COP22 is about sustaining the impact of years of investment and partnership with the Namibian government and other stakeholders by employin...g targeted and innovative approaches to prevent new infections, reduce mortality rates, and strengthen the health system to endure the impact of unexpected external shocks, while still providing person-centered health services.
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This guide provides practical tools and strategies for interpersonal communication (IPC) to support the prevention and treatment of malaria in northern Nigeria. Targeting health workers, community leaders and vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children, it aims to improve knowledge, ...attitudes and behaviours through culturally appropriate, tailored messaging. The guide emphasises community engagement, effective counselling techniques, and collaboration with local stakeholders to improve malaria control.
Accessed on 20/06/2025.
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WHO recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies for treating uncomplicated malaria, alongside studies to monitor treatment effectiveness. Given the threat of antimalarial resistance, including partial resistance in several African countries, molecular tools are vital for tracking resistance. ...In 2015, WHO launched the External Quality Assessment scheme for nucleic acid amplification testing to ensure reliable lab results. Coordinated by WHO and operated by the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service for Parasitology, the scheme provides quality-controlled specimens and reports to help improve testing accuracy. Experts recently discussed expanding the scheme to include antimalarial resistance markers.
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AIDS 2024, 38:1579–1588. Treatment interruptions are a barrier to successful antiretroviral therapy (ART). 'Fresh start messages', which leverage significant days on the calendar (e.g., new year, public holiday) in order to prompt action, have the potential to encourage people with HIV (PWH) to re...turn to care. We evaluated a 'fresh start' intervention (text messages) to increase return to care in PWH who had missed their last appointment.
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This channel offers learning resources for strategic health operations, including Ebola and Marburg diseases screening and treatment center design, ultra-low temperature vaccine management and WHO Mobile Very Small Aperture Terminal installation.
This journal provides information about the definition of Asthma, about its measurement in populations, the global burden of disease and the outcomes of childhood Asthma. It continues with the causes and treatment options of Asthma, followed by an outlook into the future.