HESP News & Notes 26/2014 - Healthy DEvelopments

Transcription

Health, Education, Social Protection
News & Notes 26/2014
A bi-weekly newsletter supported by GIZ
(Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)
21 December 2014
You can download back issues (2010 - 2014) of this newsletter at:
http://www.health.bmz.de/en/services/newsletters/HESP_News_Notes/index.jsp
Table of Contents:
HIGHLIGHTS from Healthy DEvelopments ...................... 4
Germany’s commitment to health and social protection ......................................................... 4
Second ICT for UHC conference in Manila ............................................................................. 4
All hands on deck against Ebola - GIZ Ghana provides rapid and flexible support to the
country’s Ebola preparedness efforts...................................................................................... 4
Gavi replenishment conference in Berlin, 26/27 January 2015 .............................................. 4
BOOKS ................................................................................ 4
Supporting a Movement for Health and Health Equity: Lessons from Social Movements...... 4
Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014................................................................ 4
Masculinity, Intimate Partner Violence and Son Preference in India ...................................... 5
The World Survey on the role of women in development 2014 .............................................. 5
Pneumonia: Diagnosis and Management of Community- and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
in Adults................................................................................................................................... 5
Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program6
Going Mobile: How Wireless Technology is Reshaping Our Lives ......................................... 6
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS .................................................... 6
Global Health.............................................................................................................. 6
Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240
causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study
2013......................................................................................................................................... 6
WHO African Region Expenditure Atlas November 2014....................................................... 7
HIV - AIDS - STI ......................................................................................................... 7
HIV in our Lives ....................................................................................................................... 7
PEPFAR 3.0 - Controlling the Epidemic: Delivering on the Promise of an AIDS-free
Generation............................................................................................................................... 7
Home-Based Versus Mobile Clinic HIV Testing and Counseling in Rural Lesotho: A ClusterRandomized Trial .................................................................................................................... 8
Pilot study of home-based delivery of HIV testing and counseling and contraceptive services
to couples in Malawi ................................................................................................................ 8
Sexual & Reproductive Health .................................................................................... 8
Adolescents and Family Planning: What the Evidence Shows............................................... 8
A review of interventions addressing structural drivers of adolescents’ sexual and
reproductive health vulnerability in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for sexual health
programming ........................................................................................................................... 9
Maternal & Child Health.............................................................................................. 9
State of India’s Newborns 2014 .............................................................................................. 9
Dead Women Talking: A civil society report on maternal deaths in India ............................. 10
The South African Child Gauge 2014 ................................................................................... 10
HESP-News & Notes - 26/2014 - page 1
Emerging role of traditional birth attendants in mountainous terrain: a qualitative exploratory
study from Chitral District, Pakistan ...................................................................................... 10
WHO Position Paper on Mammography Screening.............................................................. 11
The prevention and elimination of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth ..... 11
Malaria ..................................................................................................................... 11
World Malaria Report 2014 ................................................................................................... 11
Global Financing for Malaria: Trends & Future Status .......................................................... 11
Transformative Tools for Malaria Elimination........................................................................ 12
Quality and stability of artemether-lumefantrine stored under ambient conditions in rural Mali
............................................................................................................................................... 12
Sixty years trying to define the malaria burden in Africa: have we made any progress? ..... 13
Tuberculosis ............................................................................................................. 13
SORT IT Supplement: TB in Eastern Europe, 2012–2014 ................................................... 13
The Ethiopian OR Initiative.................................................................................................... 13
Rollout of Xpert® MTB/RIF in Northwest Cambodia for the diagnosis of tuberculosis among
PLHA ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Ebola / Other Infectious Diseases............................................................................. 14
To hasten Ebola containment, mobilize survivors................................................................. 14
Treatment of Ebola Virus Infection with Antibodies from Reconvalescent Donors............... 14
Ebola Virus Disease - Documentation on Ghana Alertness & Preparation .......................... 15
Update: Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic - West Africa, December 2014 ............................... 15
Non-communicable Diseases ................................................................................... 15
Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress ...................... 15
Food & Nutrition........................................................................................................ 16
Households with a Stunted Child and Obese Mother: Trends and Child Feeding Practices in
a Middle-Income Country, 1992–2008 .................................................................................. 16
Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM): Current Knowledge and Practice ..... 16
Essential Medicines .................................................................................................. 16
Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations.................. 16
Social Protection....................................................................................................... 17
Yemen National Social Protection Monitoring Survey: 2012-2013 ....................................... 17
Addressing the Global Health Crisis: Universal Health Protection Policies .......................... 17
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene..................................................................................... 18
From Joint Thinking to Joint Action: A Call to Action on Improving Water, Sanitation, and
Hygiene for Maternal and Newborn Health ........................................................................... 18
Needs assessment to strengthen capacity in water and sanitation research in Africa:
experiences of the African SNOWS consortium ................................................................... 18
Human Resources.................................................................................................... 18
Payday, ponchos, and promotions: a qualitative analysis of perspectives from nongovernmental organization programme managers on community health worker motivation
and incentives ....................................................................................................................... 18
Community health workers programme in Luanda, Angola: an evaluation of the
implementation process ........................................................................................................ 19
Rwanda’s evolving community health worker system: a qualitative assessment of client and
provider perspectives ............................................................................................................ 19
Health Systems & Research ..................................................................................... 19
Pathways to progress: a multi-level approach to strengthening health systems .................. 19
‘Only Systems Thinking Can Improve Family Planning Program in Pakistan’: A Descriptive
Qualitative Study ................................................................................................................... 20
How to target a journal that’s right for your research ............................................................ 20
Information & Communication Technology ............................................................... 20
Scaling up a mobile telemedicine solution in Botswana: keys to sustainability .................... 20
Use of Google Translate in medical communication: evaluation of accuracy....................... 21
Education ................................................................................................................. 21
Causes of Primary School Drop out Among Rural Girls in Pakistan..................................... 21
Raising the Global Ambition for Girls’ Education .................................................................. 21
Harm Reduction & Drug Use .................................................................................... 22
Why public health people are more worried than excited over e-cigarettes ......................... 22
Impact of Australia’s introduction of tobacco plain packs on adult smokers’ pack-related
perceptions and responses: results from a continuous tracking survey ............................... 22
Millennium Development Goals ................................................................................ 22
Financing the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals: A rough roadmap ..................... 22
Development Assistance .......................................................................................... 23
Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2003-2012 .............................................. 23
Others ...................................................................................................................... 23
The Darwin Awards: sex differences in idiotic behaviour...................................................... 23
Doing Harm: Health Professionals’ Central Role in the CIA Torture Program...................... 23
Non-Contact Thermometers for Detecting Fever: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness ......... 24
A new screening instrument for disability in low-income and middle-income settings:
application at the Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance System (IM-DSS), Uganda.. 24
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES ............................................ 24
Social Medicine, Vol. 8, No. 3 (2014) .................................................................................... 24
Global Health Science & Practice Vol. 2, Issue 4, December 2014...................................... 25
Palliative care in Africa .......................................................................................................... 25
INTERESTING WEB SITES .............................................. 25
Africa for UHC – African platform for UHC............................................................................ 25
CONFERENCES................................................................ 25
ISNTD Bites 2015: Vector control, zoonoses and NTDs ...................................................... 25
CARTOON ......................................................................... 26
TIPS & TRICKS ................................................................. 26
Online Etymology Dictionary ................................................................................................. 26
How Safe Is Free WiFi? ........................................................................................................ 27
Fair Use:
This Newsletter is produced under the principles of 'fair use'. We source relevant news articles, resources and research
documents and strive to attribute sources by providing reference and/or direct links to authors and websites.
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HIGHLIGHTS from Healthy DEvelopments
Germany’s commitment to health and social protection
Second ICT for UHC conference in Manila
All hands on deck against Ebola - GIZ Ghana provides rapid and flexible support
to the country’s Ebola preparedness efforts
Gavi replenishment conference in Berlin, 26/27 January 2015
More at: http://health.bmz.de/
BOOKS
Supporting a Movement for Health and Health Equity: Lessons from Social
Movements
Workshop Summary
by Alison Mack, Alina Baciu and Nirupa Goel
National Academies Press, 2014
110 pp. 1.7 MB:
http://download.nap.edu/cart/download.cgi?&record_id=18751
The book is the summary of a workshop convened in December 2013 by the Institute of
Medicine Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health
Disparities and the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement to explore the lessons that may be gleaned from social movements, both those that are health-related
and those that are not primarily focused on health. Participants and presenters focused
on elements identified from the history and sociology of social change movements and
how such elements can be applied to present-day efforts nationally and across communities to improve the chances for long, healthy lives for all.
***
Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014
by Alexander Butchart, Christopher Mikton, Etienne Krug et al.
Jointly published by WHO, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014
292 pp. 7.9 MB:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/145086/1/9789241564793_eng.pdf
The report, which reflects data from 133 countries, is the first report of its kind to assess
national efforts to address interpersonal violence, namely child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence, and elder abuse. It reviews the current st atus of violence prevention efforts in countries, and calls for a scaling up of violence prevention programmes; stronger legislation and enforcement of laws relevant for violence
prevention; and enhanced services for victims of violence.
***
Masculinity, Intimate Partner Violence and Son Preference in India
by Nanda Priya, Gautam Abhishek, Verma Ravi et al.
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), November 2014
130 pp. 2.1 MB:
http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/Masculinity%20
Book_Inside_final_6th%20Nov.pdf
The study findings emphasize that in India, masculinity, i.e., men’s controlling behavior
and gender inequitable attitudes, strongly determines men’s preference for sons over
daughters as well as their proclivity for violence towards an intimate partner – both of
which are manifestations of gender inequality. To ultimately eliminate son preference
and intimate partner violence in India, it is critical to develop and implement national policies and programs that involve men in promoting gender equity and diminishing sociocultural and religious practices that reinforce gender discrimination.
***
The World Survey on the role of women in development 2014
by Melissa Leach, Lyla Mehta, Elissa Braunstein et al.
The Research and Data section of UN Women, 2014
132 pp. 1.1 MB:
http://www.unwomen.org/~/media/headquarters/attachments/section
s/library/publications/2014/unwomen_surveyreport_advance_16oct.pdf
The survey focuses on gender equality and sustainable development, with chapters on
the green economy and care work, food security, population dynamics, and investments
for gender-responsive sustainable development. The World Survey uses three criteria to
assess whether policy actions and investments for sustainable development adequately
address gender equality. Do they support women's capabilities and their enjoyment of
rights? Do they reduce, rather than increase, women's unpaid care work? And do they
embrace women's equal and meaningful participation as actors, leaders and decisionmakers? It offers a comprehensive set of recommendations for gender-responsive policy actions and investments towards sustainable development overall, as well as for the
selected areas which the World Survey emphasizes.
***
Pneumonia: Diagnosis and Management of Community- and HospitalAcquired Pneumonia in Adults
National Clinical Guideline Centre (UK); London: National Institute for
Health and Care Excellence (UK); December 2014
448 pp. 4.8 MB:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263426/pdf/TOC.pdf
The microbial causes of pneumonia vary according to its origin and the immune constitution of the patient. Pneumonia is classified into community-acquired pneumonia
(CAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and pneumonia in the immunocompromised. The guideline development process is guided by its scope - published after
stakeholder consultation. This guideline does not cover all aspects of pneumonia, but
focuses on areas of uncertainty or variable practice and those considered of greatest
clinical importance.
***
Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, December 2014
Foreword by Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Chairman
Bianne Feinstein
525 pp. 65.6 MB(!):
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
The release of the report on torture marks an important milestone. The
details that the Senate Intelligence Committee has assembled will finally allow the USA
to come to terms with what happened. The American people need to know what was
done in their name. The litany of horrific interrogation techniques detailed in the report including waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and forcing prisoners to stand shackled for
hours on end - should help persuade those who still wish to deny that torture was conducted so that we can make sure this never happens again.
***
Going Mobile: How Wireless Technology is Reshaping Our Lives
by Darrell M. West
Brookings Institution Press, December 2014; 120 pp. US$ 22.00; Order
online:
http://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/ecom/MasterServlet/AddToCartFromExterna
lHandler?item=9780815726258&domain=brookings.edu&price=27
Read chapter 1: (15 pp. 379 kB):
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/press/books/2014/going-mobile/chapter-one.pdf
The world is going mobile at an astounding pace. Estimates show 80 percent of global
Internet access will take place through mobile devices by 2016. Smartphones, tablets,
and handheld devices have reshaped communications, the global economy, and the
very way in which we live. In Going Mobile, the authors breaks down the mobile revol ution and shows how to maximize its overall benefits in both developed and emerging
markets.
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
Global Health
Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific
mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the
Global Burden of Disease Study 2013
GBD 2013 Mortality and Causes of Death Collaborators
The Lancet - Published online December 18, 2014
55 pp. 6.7 MB:
http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(14)61682-2.pdf
Up-to-date evidence on levels and trends for age-sex-specific all-cause and causespecific mortality is essential for the formation of global, regional, and national health
policies. In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) the authors estimated
yearly deaths for 188 countries between 1990, and 2013. They used the results to a ssess whether there is epidemiological convergence across countries.
***
WHO African Region Expenditure Atlas November 2014
Department of Health Systems Financing, Health Systems Services,
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, November 2014
61 pp. 4.0 MB:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/145197/1/WHO%20Africa
n%20Region%20Expenditure%20Atlas_%20november%202014.pdf
This Health Financing Atlas has used summarized data from countries’ National Health
Account reports to show the health financing profile for each country. The Atlas presents
key indicators, such as general government health expenditure as a share of gross domestic product, total health expenditure per capita, out-of-pocket payments as a share
of total health expenditure, the extent to which countries are meeting or falling short of
the Abuja target, and how some of these are linked to life expectancy and the maternal
mortality ratio. These indicators help to inform policy-making and guide priority setting
when developing national health strategies and operational plans.
HIV - AIDS - STI
HIV in our Lives
by Polly Clayden, Matt Sharp and TAC activists, December 2014
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)
97 pp. 16.6 MB(!):
http://www.tac.org.za/sites/default/files/publications/2014-1031/TAC_IOL_web3_LR-1.pdf
This new edition of HIV in our lives contains the most up-to-date information about medical issues for people with HIV/AIDS in language that is easy to understand. The authors
have updated and combined four existing handbooks: HIV in our lives, ARVs in our
lives, Pregnancy in our lives and TB in our lives. Many of the topics in each of these
handbooks are included in this new one. Much of the information can be used as fact
sheets for support groups or clinics.
***
PEPFAR 3.0 - Controlling the Epidemic: Delivering on the Promise of an
AIDS-free Generation
The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, 2014
32 pp. 1.2 MB:
http://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/234744.pdf
The report documents PEPFAR’s progress and unveils the program’s strategy for workHESP-News & Notes - 26/2014 - page 7
ing with partners to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Now in its third phase (2013 –
present), PEPFAR is focusing on achieving transparency and accountability in the HIV
response, and on accelerating core interventions to control the epidemic. PEPFAR is investing resources strategically to reach key high-risk populations with evidence-based
programs. The report also provides insight into PEPFAR’s five Action Agendas - Impact,
Efficiency, Sustainability, Partnership, and Human Rights - as the foundation for achieving an AIDS-free generation.
***
Home-Based Versus Mobile Clinic HIV Testing and Counseling in Rural Lesotho: A Cluster-Randomized Trial
by Niklaus Daniel Labhardt, Masetsibi Motlomelo, Bernard Ceruttiet al.
PLoS Med 11(12): e1001768, December 16, 2014
11 pp. 422 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.13
71%2Fjournal.pmed.1001768&representation=PDF
This study demonstrates that both home-base (HB) HIV testing and counselling (HTC)
and mobile clinic (MC) HTC can achieve high uptake of HTC. The choice between these
two community-based strategies will depend on the objective of the activity: HB-HTC
was better in reaching children, individuals who had never tested before, and men, while
MC-HTC detected more new HIV infections. The low rate of linkage to care after a positive HIV test warrants future consideration of combining community-based HTC approaches with strategies to improve linkage to care for persons who test HIV-positive.
***
Pilot study of home-based delivery of HIV testing and counseling and contraceptive services to couples in Malawi
by Stan Becker, Frank O Taulo, Michelle J Hindin et al.
BMC Public Health 2014, 14:1309 (20 December 2014)
18 pp. 247 kB:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-14-1309.pdf
The purpose of this pilot study is to estimate the uptake of couple HIV counseling and
testing (CHCT) and couple family planning (CFP) services in a single home visit in periurban Malawi and to assess related factors. The authors conclude that home-based
CHCT and CFP were very successful in this pilot study with high proportions of previously untested husbands and wives accepting CHCT and there were virtually no neg ative outcomes within one week. This study supports the need for further research and
testing of home- and couple-based approaches to expand access to HCT and contraceptive services to prevent the undesired consequences of sexually transmitted infe ction and unintended pregnancy via unprotected sex.
Sexual & Reproductive Health
Adolescents and Family Planning: What the Evidence Shows
by Allie M. Glinski, Magnolia Sexton, and Suzanne Petroni
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), 2014
12 pp. 1.8 MB:
http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/140701%20IC
RW%20Family%20Planning%20Rpt%20Web.pdf
This report synthesizes a review of the literature to identify barriers to
adolescents’ access to and use of family planning services, programmatic approaches for increasing access and uptake of those services,
gaps in the evidence that require further research, and areas that are
ripe for future investment.
***
A review of interventions addressing structural drivers of adolescents’
sexual and reproductive health vulnerability in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for sexual health programming
by Joyce Wamoyi, Gerry Mshana, Aika Mongi et al.
Reproductive Health 2014, 11:88 (13 December 2014)
22 pp. 179 kB:
http://www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content/pdf/1742-4755-11-88.pdf
Young people particularly women are at increased risk of undesirable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. There are encouraging efforts towards addressing
structural drivers among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). There is, however, a
need for interventions to have a clear focus, indicate the pathways of influence, and
have a rigorous evaluation strategy assessing how they work to reduce vulnerability to
HIV. There is also a need for coordinated effort among stakeholders working on adolescent vulnerability in sSA.
Maternal & Child Health
State of India’s Newborns 2014
by Sanjay Zodpey, Vinod K. Paul, Sutapa B. Neogi et al.
Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives Programme
Public Health Foundation of India and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 2014
240 pp. 7.0 MB:
http://www.newbornwhocc.org/SOIN_PRINTED%2014-9-2014.pdf
India continues to be a global pioneer in demonstrating, even in low resource settings,
how effective and high impact programmes can be developed and implemented to i mprove the outcomes for mothers and their newborns. This second edition of the State of
India’s Newborns (SOIN) report reviews the evidence generated progress and learning
in newborn health in India over the past ten years, and actions needed to accelerate
progress in newborn health and survival in the decade ahead.
***
Dead Women Talking: A civil society report on maternal deaths in India
by B. Subha Sri & R. Khanna
CommonHealth and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, 2014.
121 pp. 3.9 MB:
http://www.commonhealth.in/Dead%20Women%20Talking%20full
%20report%20final.pdf
This report describes maternal deaths across diverse settings in India over two years
that were documented in the Dead Women Talking (DWT) initiative. It is an effort to
bring attention to the circumstances in which women die during pregnancy, delivery and
post-partum, and focus attention on health systems factors and social determinants. It is
hoped that this report will result in bringing the issue of maternal deaths to public consciousness and demanding increased accountability, both from the state and the community, and initiating corrective action to prevent avoidable maternal deaths in future.
***
The South African Child Gauge 2014
by Shanaaz Mathews, Lucy Jamieson, Lori Lake et al.
Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, December 2014
124 pp. 3.7 MB:
http://www.ci.org.za/depts/ci/pubs/pdf/general/gauge2014/ChildGauge2014.pdf
The South African Child Gauge is the only publication in the country that provides an
annual snap-shot of the status of South Africa’s children. The 2014 issue focuses on the
theme 'Preventing violence against children - breaking the intergenerational cycle'. Part
one outlines recent legislative developments affecting children. Part two presents eight
essays, dealing with violence against children. Part three updates a set of key indicators
on children’s socio-economic rights and provides commentary on the extent to which
these rights have been realised.
***
Emerging role of traditional birth attendants in mountainous terrain: a
qualitative exploratory study from Chitral District, Pakistan
by Babar Tasneem Shaikh, Sharifullah Khan, Ayesha Maab et al.
BMJ Open 2014;4:e006238 (26 November 2014)
8 pp. 696 kB:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/11/e006238.full.pdf+html
This research endeavours to identify the role of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in
supporting the maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) care, partnership mech anism with a formal health system and also explored livelihood options for TBAs in the
health system of Pakistan. The authors conclude that TBAs have assured their continued support in provision of continuum of care for pregnant women, lactating mothers
and children under the age of 5 years. The district health authorities must figure out
ways to foster a healthy interface vis-à-vis roles and responsibilities of TBAs and community midwives.
***
WHO Position Paper on Mammography Screening
by David Bramley, Oleg Chestnov, Shanthi Mendis et al.
World Health Organization, 2014
82 pp. 598 kB:
Every year, breast cancer kills more than 500,000 women around the world. In resource-poor settings, a majority of women with breast cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease; their five-year survival rates are low, ranging from 10-40%. In
settings where early detection and basic treatment are available and accessible, the
five-year survival rate for early localized breast cancer exceeds 80%. Breast cancer can
be detected early through two strategies: early diagnosis and screening.
***
The prevention and elimination of disrespect and abuse during facilitybased childbirth
World Health Organization Statement, 2014
4 pp. 608 kB:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/134588/1/WHO_RHR_14.23_eng.pdf
Many women experience disrespectful and abusive treatment during
childbirth in facilities worldwide. Such treatment not only violates the rights of women to
respectful care, but can also threaten their rights to life, health, bodily integrity, and
freedom from discrimination. This statement calls for greater action, dialogue, research
and advocacy on this important public health and human rights issue.
Malaria
World Malaria Report 2014
by Maru Aregawi, Richard Cibulskis, Cristin Fergus et al.
World Health Organization, December 2014
242 pp. 6.2 MB:
The World Malaria Report 2014 summarizes information received from
malaria-endemic countries and other sources, and updates the analyses presented in
the 2013 report. The report is WHO’s flagship malaria publication, released each year in
December. It assesses global and regional malaria trends, highlights progress towards
global targets, and describes opportunities and challenges in controlling and eliminating
the disease. Most of the data presented in this report is for 2013.
***
Global Financing for Malaria: Trends & Future Status
by Jen Kates and Adam Wexler
Kaiser Family Foundation, December 2014
15 pp. 643 kB:
http://files.kff.org/attachment/global-financing-for-malaria-trendsfuture-status-report
This report provides an analysis of malaria funding trends for control
and elimination and research and development (R&D) activities over
time compared to the estimated need presented in the Global Malaria
Action Plan (GMAP). It also looks ahead to assess projected funding
availability. The analysis is timely as the global community is in the process of evaluating progress on the MDGs, and looks beyond 2015 to set new and updated malaria targets. As it finds, while funding for malaria has risen significantly over time, it is far below
estimated need and the gap is significant.
***
Transformative Tools for Malaria Elimination
Author: PATH Malaria Center of Excellence
A Report of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Global Health Policy Center, December 2014
18 pp. 2.7 MB:
http://csis.org/files/publication/141203_PATH_TransformativeTools_Web.pdf
Advancing from malaria control (reducing malaria burden to a level where it is no longer
a public health problem) to malaria elimination (reducing the incidence of malaria parasite infection to zero local transmission through targeted efforts within a defined ge ographical area) will require a sustained, long-term, well planned effort to increase coverage of existing interventions. However, even optimal application of currently available
tools may not be adequate to achieve elimination goals in some endemic areas. This
paper provides an overview of the next generation of transformative tools currently being developed that hold the potential to accelerate efforts toward the elimination, and
eventual global eradication, of malaria.
***
Quality and stability of artemether-lumefantrine stored under ambient conditions in rural Mali
by John Gitua, Aaron Beck and John Rovers
Malaria Journal 2014, 13:474 (4 December 2014)
9 pp. 125 kB:
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-13-474.pdf
The quality and stability of anti-malarial drugs in the Global South has long been of significant concern. Drug quality can be affected by poor or fraudulent manufacturing pr ocesses, while drug stability is affected by temperature and humidity. Spectroscopy results demonstrate the sample stored in Mali was stable for one year. Pharmacists volunteering on medical mission trips may dispense this product with confidence. At the end
of a mission trip, pharmacists may store left over artemether-lumefantrine under ambient
conditions for up to one year without concern for significant degradation of the active ingredients.
***
Sixty years trying to define the malaria burden in Africa: have we made any
progress?
by Robert W Snow
BMC Medicine 2014, 12:227 (12 December 2014)
6 pp. 233 kB:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/s12916-014-0227-x.pdf
Controversy surrounds the precise numbers of malaria deaths and clinical episodes in
Africa. Malaria is a complex disease manifesting as a multitude of symptoms, degrees of
severity and indirect morbid consequences. Clinical immunity develops quickly and the
presence of infection cannot always be used to distinguish between malaria and other
illnesses. During the 1950s and 1960s parasite prevalence was used in preference to
statistics on malaria mortality and morbidity. An argument is made for a resurrection of
this measure of the quantity of malaria across Africa as a more reliable means to understand the impact of control.
Tuberculosis
SORT IT Supplement: TB in Eastern Europe, 2012–2014
Public Health Action, Vol. 4, Supplement 2, 21 October
2014
Download all articles for free at:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/pha/2014/00000004/a00202s2
A special supplement of 13 new research articles on multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis
(MDR-TB) in Eastern Europe highlights some of the challenges and continuing research
that is needed to address this problem. While mortality, incidence and prevalence rates
of TB have been going down, cases of drug resistance are increasing. The articles ide ntify the need to improve the early detection of drug resistant cases and care needed for
this disease. In some countries, up to 50% of patients did not complete their treatment,
and attempts to require hospitalisation or even incarceration often had negative effects
– people tried to avoid this by not getting diagnosed and treated.
***
The Ethiopian OR Initiative
Public Health Action, Volume 4, Supplement 3; 21 December 2014
Access all articles for free at:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/pha/2014/00000004/a00303s3
The recognition of high-quality operational research (OR) as an integral component of
successful public health programmes is no longer a foreign concept. The International
Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) supported TREAT TB
(Technology, Research, Education and Technical Assistance for Tuberculosis) Initiative
and developed a guide for programmatic OR support in 2012 and the TB CARE OR
Training Initiative was able to achieve its immediate targets of capacity building, leading
to concrete and relevant output to support national TB control efforts.
***
Rollout of Xpert® MTB/RIF in Northwest Cambodia for the diagnosis of tuberculosis among PLHA
by S. C. Auld, B. K. Moore, W. P. Killam et al.
Public Health Action, Vol. 4, No 4, published 21 December 2014
6 pp. 155 kB:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/pha/2014/00000004/00000004/art00003
While early data show increasing utilization of Xpert for people living with the human
immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS, PLHA) with a
positive symptom screen, most patients underwent smear microscopy as an initial diagnostic test. Training delays and challenges associated with specimen referral may have
contributed to variability in Xpert uptake and turnaround time (TAT), particularly for sites
without onsite Xpert testing. Enhanced programmatic support, particularly for specimen
referral and results reporting, may facilitate appropriate utilization.
Ebola / Other Infectious Diseases
To hasten Ebola containment, mobilize survivors
by Zena A Stein, Jack Ume Tocco, Joanne E Mantell et al.
Int. J. Epidemiol. Advance Access published December 9, 2014
2 pp. 226 kB:
http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/12/05/ije.dyu233.fu
ll.pdf+html
Survivors of Ebola infection are valuable resources still largely overlooked in the struggle to contain the epidemic. With a case recovery rate of around 30% at the present
time for the current West African epidemic, survivors already number thousands. There
are several reasons why Ebola survivors may be critical to controlling the epidemic.
First, and most importantly, the recovered have developed immunity to the current strain
of Ebola and therefore are able to care for the sick with little to no risk of re-infection.
Second, survivors can donate their blood, as their antibodies might be protective and
help those infected to survive the deadly virus. Third, unlike most foreign response staff,
survivors speak local languages, understand cultural dynamics and may be viewed
more favourably than outsiders.
***
Treatment of Ebola Virus Infection with Antibodies from Reconvalescent
Donors
by Thomas R. Kreil
Emerg Infect Dis. Vol. 21, Nr. 3; March 2015
Read online at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/3/14-1838_article
Clinical evidence suggests that antibodies from reconvalescent donors (persons who
have recovered from infection) may be effective in the treatment of Ebola virus infection.
Administration of this treatment to Ebola virus-infected patients while preventing the
transmission of other pathogenic viruses may be best accomplished by use of virusinactivated reconvalescent plasma.
***
Ebola Virus Disease - Documentation on Ghana Alertness & Preparation
Information for the Public - Special Information for Health Care Workers
by Gunnar Urban, Holger Till, Lisa Mildes et al.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Ghana, October 2014
33 pp. 2.8 MB:
http://www.bmz.de/en/healthportal/events/In_focus/All_hands_on
_deck_against_Ebola/EBOLA_VIRUS_DISEASE__DOCUMENTATION_ON_GHANA_ALERTNESS___PREPARATION.pdf
In order to bring together in one place basic information about Ebola that is scientifically
accurate, comprehensive, and easy to understand, GIZ Ghana supported the develo pment of an Ebola Virus Disease toolbox. Divided into two sections – one for the public,
and one for health care workers – the toolbox contains detailed information about the
disease, the chronology of Ghana’s response to the outbreak, the signs and symptoms
of infection, and what to do in the instance of a suspected case. It also contains links to
dozens of flyers, fact sheets and posters which can be used to spread awareness of
Ebola in workplaces and other institutions.
***
Update: Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic - West Africa, December 2014
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), December 16, 2014/63
(Early Release) 1-3
3 pp. 145 kB:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm63e1216a1.pdf
CDC is assisting ministries of health and working with other organizations to end the
ongoing epidemic of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) in West Africa. The updated data in
this report were compiled from situation reports from three countries (Guinea, Liberia,
and Sierra Leone) where transmission is widespread and intense, and include all su spected, probable, and confirmed cases, which are defined similarly by each country. As
of December 7, a total of 17,908 Ebola cases have been reported from West Africa, and
a total of 6,373 deaths have occurred.
Non-communicable Diseases
Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to
Stress
by Mark van Ommeren, Shekhar Saxena, Tarun Dua et al.
World Health Organization, 2013
273 pp. 2.8 MB:
There are currently no suitable, evidence-based guidelines for managing problems and
disorders related to stress in primary health care and other non-specialized health-care
settings. This document was developed to provide recommended management strateHESP-News & Notes - 26/2014 - page 15
gies for problems and disorders that are specifically related to the occurrence of a major
stressful event. The primary audience is non-specialized specialized health-care providers working at first- and second-level health-care facilities. A secondary audience is
those tasked with the organization of health care at the district or sub-district level, including programme managers responsible for primary or non-mental health secondary
care services.
Food & Nutrition
Households with a Stunted Child and Obese Mother: Trends and Child
Feeding Practices in a Middle-Income Country, 1992–2008
by Amina Aitsi-Selmi
Maternal and Child Health Journal, December 2014
8 pp. 257 kB:
http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10995-014-1634-5.pdf
Middle-income countries in the intermediate stages of the nutrition transition are facing a
complex picture of nutrition-related diseases with child stunting and maternal obesity
coexisting within single households (SCOB). A debate exists as to whether SCOB is a
true phenomenon or a statistical artefact. In this study, the author examines time trends
and determinants of SCOB in Egypt and tests the hypothesis that increased child sugary snack consumption, and reduced fruit/vegetable consumption (markers of poor dietary diversity) are associated with SCOB.
***
Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM): Current Knowledge
and Practice
by Reginald A. Annan, Patrick Webb, Rebecca Brown
CMAM Forum Technical Brief, September 2014
39 pp. 646 kB:
http://www.cmamforum.org/Pool/Resources/MAM-managementCMAM-Forum-Technical-Brief-Sept-2014.pdf
This Technical Brief focuses on current principles and approaches to Moderate Acute
Malnutrition (MAM) management, highlighting key constraints, gaps in knowledge and
areas still lacking consensus. It is intended to inform ongoing debates among practitioners, national partners, donors and analysts on what information and evidence on best
practices are currently available, where the gaps are, and priorities for going forward.
Essential Medicines
Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations
The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, The Wellcome Trust and the UK Government
Chaired by Jim O’Neill, December 2014
20 pp. 2.1 MB:
http://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf
The authors demonstrate that there could be profound health and macroeconomic consequences for the world, especially in emerging economies, if antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is not tackled. They believe
that this crisis can be avoided. The cost of taking action can be small if
we take the right steps soon. And the benefits will be large and longlasting especially for emerging economies, including the so-called BRIC nations, who
will need to make improved investments in their health infrastructure and build industries
that leapfrog to the next generation of innovation.
Social Protection
Yemen National Social Protection Monitoring Survey: 2012-2013
Final Report
by Fábio Veras Soares, Diana Sawyer, Carolyn Heinrich et al.
International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth; United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund, December
2014
352 pp. 8.7 MB:
http://www.ipcundp.org/pub/eng/Yemen_National_Social_Protection_Monitoring_Survey_2012_2013.pdf
The National Social Protection Monitoring Survey (NSPMS) has two key objectives - to
monitor social protection and living conditions of poor and vulnerable households in
Yemen; and to document the impact of the public unconditional cash transfer programme administered by the Social Welfare Fund (SWF). The report brings new indicators and analysis on a variety of developmental areas such as the targeting and impact
assessment of the SWF, living conditions, water and sanitation, education, child nutr ition, child and maternal health, child protection, work and income, livelihoods and food
security.
***
Addressing the Global Health Crisis: Universal Health Protection Policies
by Isabel Ortiz, Xenia Scheil-Adlung, Krzysztof Hagemejer et al.
International Labour Organization, Social Protection Policy Paper # 13;
December 2014
58 pp. 1.9 MB:
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/--soc_sec/documents/publication/wcms_325647.pdf
This paper assesses the dimensions and extent of the global health protection crisis and
related missed opportunities for sustainable development based on equally shared benefits. Further it suggests policy responses to address the crisis. It uses the framework of
the Social Protection Floor approach as outlined in ILO Recommendation 202 concer ning National Floors of Social Protection (2012). The report was issued to coincide with
the Universal Health Coverage Day.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
From Joint Thinking to Joint Action: A Call to Action on Improving Water,
Sanitation, and Hygiene for Maternal and Newborn Health
by Yael Velleman, Elizabeth Mason, Wendy Graham et al.
PLoS Med 11(12): e1001771 (December 12, 2014)
9 pp. 368 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.13
71%2Fjournal.pmed.1001771&representation=PDF
The lives of new mothers and babies are being put at risk by an unreliable supply of
safe water, lack of good hygiene and an inadequate number of toilets. An estimated
289,000 women die from childbirth complications each year. This figure could be quickly
reduced through better provision and monitoring of safe water, and basic sanitation and
hygiene to prevent infection and improve care. The report calls for greater emphasis on
water and sanitation in the next set of development goals.
***
Needs assessment to strengthen capacity in water and sanitation research
in Africa: experiences of the African SNOWS consortium
by Paul R Hunter, Samira H Abdelrahman, Prince Antwi-Agyei et al.
Health Research Policy and Systems 2014, 12:68 (15 December 2014)
17 pp. 166 kB:
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/pdf/1478-4505-12-68.pdf
Despite its contribution to global disease burden, diarrhoeal disease is still a relatively
neglected area for research funding, especially in low-income country settings. The
SNOWS consortium (Scientists Networked for Outcomes from Water and Sanitation) is
funded by the Wellcome Trust under an initiative to build the necessary research skills in
Africa. This paper focuses on the research training needs of the consortium as identified
during the first three years of the project.
Human Resources
Payday, ponchos, and promotions: a qualitative analysis of perspectives
from non-governmental organization programme managers on community
health worker motivation and incentives
by Marie-Renée B-Lajoie, Jennifer Hulme and Kirsten Johnson
Human Resources for Health 2014, 12:66 (5 December 2014)
17 pp. 163 kB:
http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/pdf/1478-4491-12-66.pdf
Community health workers (CHWs) have been central to broadening the access and
coverage of preventative and curative health services worldwide. Much has been d ebated about how to best remunerate and incentivize this workforce, varying from volu nteers to full time workers. Policy bodies, including the WHO and USAID, now advocate
for regular stipends.
***
Community health workers programme in Luanda, Angola: an evaluation of
the implementation process
by Camila Giugliani, Bruce Bartholow Duncan, Erno Harzheim et al.
24 pp. 407 kB:
The authors conclude that for continuity and scaling up, the community health workers
(CHWs) programme in Luanda needs medium- and long-term technical, political and financial support. The results of this study may be useful in strengthening and reformula ting the planning of the CHWs programme in Luanda and in Angola. Moreover, the lessons learned with this experience can also provide insight for the development of CHWs
programmes in other parts of the world. By means of cooperation, Brazil has supported
the implementation of this CHWs programme and can potentially contribute to its improvement.
***
Rwanda’s evolving community health worker system: a qualitative assessment of client and provider perspectives
by Jeanine Condo, Catherine Mugeni, Brienna Naughton et al.
15 pp. 141 kB:
This study highlights the challenges and areas in need of improvement as perceived by
community health workers (CHWs) and beneficiaries, in regards to a nationwide scaleup of CHW interventions in a resource-challenged country. Identifying and understanding these barriers, and addressing them accordingly, particularly within the context of
performance-based financing, will serve to strengthen the current CHW system and provide key guidance for the continuing evolution of the CHW system in Rwanda.
Health Systems & Research
Pathways to progress: a multi-level approach to strengthening health systems
Findings on maternal and child health in Nepal, Mozambique and
Rwanda, and neglected tropical diseases in Cambodia and Sierra Leone
by Fiona Samuels, Ana B. Amaya, Romina Rodríguez Pose et al.
Overseas Development Institute (ODI), December 2014
52 pp. 3.9 MB:
http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9370.pdf
This report comprises the findings of ODI’s health case studies released earlier this
year, drawing out lessons for health policy-makers and implementers who are grappling
with the challenges of strengthening health systems in low-resource settings. It is also of
relevance to the post-2014 agenda, advancing workable solutions based on country experience.
***
‘Only Systems Thinking Can Improve Family Planning Program in Pakistan’: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
by Saira Zafar and Babar Tasneem Shaikh
Int J Health Policy Manag 2014, 3(7), 393–398, December 2014
6 pp. 529 kB:
http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2922_0c50c9470275bdf35d19b8874bf3df19.html
To accelerate the pace of family planning (FP) programs and concerned targets in Pak istan, it is imperative to develop and adopt a holistic approach and strategy for plugging
the gaps in various components of the health system: service delivery, information systems, drugs-supplies, technology and logistics, Human Resources (HRs), financing, and
governance. Hence, World Health Organization (WHO) health systems building blocks
present a practical framework for overall health system strengthening.
***
How to target a journal that’s right for your research
by Ravi Murugesan
SciDev.Net, 15 December 2014
Read online at:
http://www.scidev.net/global/publishing/practical-guide/target-journal-right-researchcommunicate-publish.html
Hitting a target is not easy, and neither is selecting a journal for your research paper. An
appropriate target journal is one that publishes work on the subject your paper addresses and which, because of its various qualities, serves your needs and aspirations. Some
researchers are under pressure to publish anywhere, while others are lured by prestigious but often unattainable journals. Either case can lead researchers away from journals that might give them the audience and impact they need. Here the author outlines
how to target a truly appropriate journal for your research.
Information & Communication Technology
Scaling up a mobile telemedicine solution in Botswana: keys to sustainability
by Kagiso Ndlovu, Ryan Littman-Quinn, Elizabeth Park et al.
Front. Public Health, 11 December 2014
6 pp. 495 kB:
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00275/pdf
Botswana’s health care system is one of the many in the African continent with few specialized medical doctors, thereby posing a barrier to patients’ access to health care services. Despite Information Technology (IT) infrastructure challenges, there still lies hope
in health care delivery utilizing wireless telecommunication services. Botswana is the
first in Africa to invest in a nationwide mobile telemedicine scale-up project through its
Ministry of Health (MoH).
***
Use of Google Translate in medical communication: evaluation of accuracy
by Sumant Patil and Patrick Davies
BMJ 2014; 349:g7392 (Published 15 December 2014)
3 pp. 532 kB:
http://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/349/bmj.g7392.full.pdf
Google Translate has only 57.7% accuracy when used for medical phrase translations
and should not be trusted for important medical communications. However, it still r emains the most easily available and free initial mode of communication between a doctor and patient when language is a barrier. Although caution is needed when lifesaving
or legal communications are necessary, it can be a useful adjunct to human translation
services when these are not available.
Education
Causes of Primary School Drop out Among Rural Girls in Pakistan
by Gulbaz Ali Khan, Muhammad Azhar and Syed Asghar Shah
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), July 2011
14 pp. 509 kB:
http://www.sdpi.org/publications/files/W-119.pdf
The high rate of drop outs in Pakistan is a cause for concern and it means that social
and public policies have to be realigned to tackle this important issue. Although there
are many reasons for children dropping out of school as given in various studies on the
subject, this paper tries to explore the reasons from the perspective of girls’ parents,
teachers and students.
***
Raising the Global Ambition for Girls’ Education
by Rebecca Winthrop, Eileen McGivney
Center for Universal Education, The Brookings Institution, December
2014
17 pp. 1.1 MB:
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2014/12/global%2
0ambition%20girls%20education%20winthrop%20mcgivney/winthrop%20nextgengirls%20v3.pdf
Despite the progress in enrolling girls in school, the job is not done. Instead of all girls
facing these challenges, it is now the poorest girls living in rural areas who are, across
the board, still the most in need of education. Moreover, experts need to move beyond
talking only about primary school and expand their focus to secondary education and
girls’ ability to then transition to the workforce and take on leadership roles. And instead
of only talking about how many years girls spend in school, we need to talk about what
girls and boys are learning, including what they are learning about gender equality.
Harm Reduction & Drug Use
Why public health people are more worried than excited over e-cigarettes
by Charlotta Pisinger
BMC Medicine 2014, 12:226 (9 December 2014)
5 pp. 1.0 MB:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/s12916-014-0226-y.pdf
The research field on e-cigarettes is characterized by severe methodological problems,
severe conflicts of interest, relatively few and often small studies, inconsistencies and
contradictions in results, and a lack of long-term follow-up. Therefore, no firm conclusions can be drawn on the harm of e-cigarettes, but they can hardly be called safe.
***
Impact of Australia’s introduction of tobacco plain packs on adult smokers’ pack-related perceptions and responses: results from a continuous
tracking survey
by Sally M Dunlop, Timothy Dobbins, Jane M Young et al.
BMJ Open 2014;4:e005836
11 pp. 1.9 MB:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/12/e005836.full.pdf#page=1&view=FitH
The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of Australia’s plain tobacco
packaging policy on two stated purposes of the legislation - increasing the impact of
health warnings and decreasing the promotional appeal of packaging - among adult
smokers. The authors conclude that the introductory effects of the plain packaging legi slation among adult smokers are consistent with the specific objectives of the legislation
in regard to reducing promotional appeal and increasing effectiveness of health warnings.
Millennium Development Goals
Financing the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals: A rough roadmap
by Andrew Rogerson, Annalisa Prizzon, Homi Kharas
Overseas Development Institute (ODI), December 2014
58 pp. 170 kB:
http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publicationsopinion-files/9374.pdf
The paper builds upon a large body of recent literature on how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should best be framed, delivered and, in particular, funded, focusing on developing countries. It identifies a few key pressure points on which additional international action is both desirable and realistic. The premise is that gover nments have relatively little control over the private actors who will largely determine the
pace of progress toward the SDGs: they have influence of course, but must use that effectively and consistently.
Development Assistance
Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2003-2012
by Dev Kar and Joseph Spanjers
Global Financial Integrity (GFI), December 2014
68 pp. 3.2 MB:
http://www.gfintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IllicitFinancial-Flows-from-Developing-Countries-2003-2012.pdf
This report demonstrates that illicit financial flows are the most damaging economic
problem plaguing the world’s developing and emerging economies. These outflows - already greater than the combined sum of all Financial Direct Investments (FDI) and Off icial Development Assistance (ODA) flowing into these countries - are sapping roughly a
trillion dollars per year from the world’s poor and middle-income economies. It is essential for the United Nations to include a specific target next year to halve all trade-related
illicit flows by 2030 as part of post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Others
The Darwin Awards: sex differences in idiotic behaviour
by Ben Alexander, Daniel Lendrem, Dennis William Lendrem et al.
BMJ 2014; 349:g7094 (11 December 2014)
4 pp. 712 kB:
http://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/349/bmj.g7094.full.pdf
Sex differences in risk seeking behaviour, emergency hospital admissions, and mortality
are well documented. However, little is known about sex differences in idiotic risk taking
behaviour. This paper reviews the data on winners of the Darwin Award over a 20 year
period (1995-2014). Winners of the Darwin Award must eliminate themselves from the
gene pool in such an idiotic manner that their action ensures one less idiot will survive.
This paper reports a marked sex difference in Darwin Award winners: males are signif icantly more likely to receive the award than females (P<0.0001). The authors discuss
some of the reasons for this difference.
***
Doing Harm: Health Professionals’ Central Role in the CIA Torture Program
Medical and Psychological Analysis of the 2014 U.S. Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence Report’s Executive Summary
by Allen Keller, Sarah Dougherty, Scott A. Allen et al.
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), December 2014
18 pp. 325 kB:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/PHR_Reports/doing-harm-healthprofessionals-central-role-in-the-cia-torture-program.pdf
The torture report’s executive summary describes in detail the acts and omissions of
CIA health professionals who violated their professional ethics, undermined the critical
bond of trust between patients and doctors, and broke the law. Based on PHR’s detailed
review of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) summary, health
professionals who participated in the CIA torture program violated core ethical principles
common to all healing professions.
***
Non-Contact Thermometers for Detecting Fever: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness
Rapid Response Report: Summary with Critical Appraisal
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; November
2014
38 pp. 538 kB:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263237/pdf/TOC.pdf
Body temperature can be measured in a number of ways. Non-contact thermometers allow a person’s temperature to be taken with minimal (tympanic) or no (Non-contact infrared thermometer [NCIT], thermal scanner) contact with the person. This means temperature can be measured without the discomfort of having to sit still with a thermometer
in the mouth, armpit, or rectum long enough to obtain a correct temperature reading.
The objective of this report is to determine the effectiveness and accuracy of noncontact thermometers for the detection of febrile individuals.
***
A new screening instrument for disability in low-income and middleincome settings: application at the Iganga-Mayuge Demographic Surveillance System (IM-DSS), Uganda
by Abdulgafoor M Bachani, Edward Galiwango, Daniel
Kadobera et al.
BMJ Open 2014;4:e005795 (19 December 2014)
9 pp. 1.2 MB:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/12/e005795.full.pdf+html
The measurement of disability in low-income countries is recognised as a major deficiency in health information systems, especially in Africa. This study shows that a mod ified short set of questions can be readily applied in a Demographic Surveillance System
(DSS) setting to obtain estimates on the prevalence and types of disability at the population level. This instrument could be adapted for use to screen for disability in other lowand middle-income settings, providing estimates that are comparable across different
global regions and populations.
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Social Medicine, Vol. 8, No. 3 (2014)
http://www.socialmedicine.info/index.php/socialmedicine/issue/view/71/showToc
Social Medicine has just published its latest issue at the above URL.
You are invited to review the Table of Contents and then review/download articles and
items of interest.
Social Medicine is a bilingual, academic, open-access journal published since 2006 by
the Department of Family and Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Latin American Social Medicine Association
(ALAMES).
***
Global Health Science & Practice Vol. 2, Issue 4, December 2014
http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/current
Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP) Journal is a no-fee, openaccess, peer-reviewed, online journal. GHSP aims to improve health
practice, especially in low- and middle-income countries, by publishing
current research and program experiences. GHSP is a unique journal
because it focuses on the lessons learned and the "how" of global
health programs; lessons and detail that are often buried in grey literature.
***
Palliative care in Africa
http://ecancer.org/special-issues/6-palliative-care-in-africa.php
ecancer, the open access cancer journal from the European Institute
of Oncology and the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) has just published a new open access special issue which features research on the challenges
faced by Africa’s palliative care movement. Five original articles from on-the-ground experts, and an editorial by Professor Anne Merriman, highlight the multiple angles of this
complex topic.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Africa for UHC – African platform for UHC
http://www.africaforuhc.org/
Health care should not be a luxury; through joint advocacy we demand our governments
to fulfil their responsibilities towards the Right to Health. Irrespective of gender, income,
ethnicity or place of residence, health care should be available and affordable for every
single citizen. The nongovernmental organizations that have endorsed these recommendations are members of the African Civil Society Network on UHC and passionate
believers of the potential of a continent that is able to provide the health care needs for
its entire population, irrespective of sex, age or income.
CONFERENCES
ISNTD Bites 2015: Vector control, zoonoses and NTDs
March 19th 2015, The International Society for Neglected Tropical
Diseases, London Zoo
“Small bite, big threat”: this year, the World Health Organisation message stressed the
continued global threat to public health of vector-borne diseases (VBD), with diseases
carried and transmitted by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other vectors infecting more than one billion people worldwide every year.
In this context, ISNTD Bites 2015, run by the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases, charts the potential for vector-control strategies and partnerships in controlling VBDs, with opportunities spanning the public health, veterinary and agricultural
sectors.
For more information see: www.isntdbites.com
CARTOON
TIPS & TRICKS
Online Etymology Dictionary
http://www.etymonline.com/
The site is very easy to use. You can start just by typing a word into the blank text box
and clicking the Ok button. And it will bring up all the listings for that word or words that
contain that word.
For example, you searched for the word button. It brings up button, buttonhole, pushbutton, and many more entries. Each entry delineates the part of speech the word is, a
general definition of the word, when that definition came into use.
You can also use the alphabetical navigation, by selecting a letter and then browsing all
the entries under that letter. This is also a fascinating way to browse and learn about
words randomly. Browsing this way shows what popular suffixes mean. For example, if
you look under L you’ll find -ly, -logue, -ling, etc.
This is a very cool way to investigate the English language.
How Safe Is Free WiFi?
Pretty much everywhere you go – hotels, restaurants, cafes, even
gyms – offers free WiFi access. This seems great, why should I have
to pay for Internet access when it is offered for free so many places?
The problem is many people do not realize how much they risk by
using that free access or using a WiFi network that is not secured.
Any WiFi network that does not require a password to connect is unsecured. This
means that anything you send over the network could be intercepted by pretty much anyone else. This includes passwords, log in information, and files you access; anything
you do on the network is easily accessible to someone with even novice hacking skills.
While being able to connect to someone’s Internet for free seems wonderful and great,
you really are taking a risk.
If you are going to be connected to a public WiFi access point make sure you have taken the following precautions before connecting:





Always password protect your computer or device you are using on the public network;
Be certain you have all operating systems up to date;
Have current, up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware programs running;
Enable your firewall. (Windows has a built-in firewall, but a software-based firewall is
even better);
Turn off any file sharing options you have set up on your computer.
There are other options to discuss when connecting to free WiFi networks. Avoid using
a public network for things like accessing your bank account or even for online sho pping. As noted above, it is fairly easy for someone up to no good to intercept your account number or credit card information. Also, it is best to only go to websites with
https:// in front of them, as these sites use encryption to send data and information. This
makes it more difficult (but not impossible!) for someone who tries to intercept the information to access the data.
Also be certain to ask someone who works there or who would be familiar with the ne twork what the name of the network is at that location. Hackers will often create a “rogue
network” that looks like a legitimate network. When users connect to the rogue network,
the hacker has access to all the information sent over that network. Be certain you are
on the real network for that location.
Best regards,
Dieter Neuvians MD

HESP News & Notes 26/2014 - Healthy DEvelopments

Transcription

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