Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Impact on Health Service Utilisation in Sierra Leone
This preliminary report summarizes the impact of the Ebola epidemic on the health workforce of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It investigates the determinants of infection and describes safe practices put in place to protect health workers during the epidemic. The report covers the period from 1 ...January 2014 to 31 March 2015 and is presents findings from the 815 confirmed and probable cases for whom individual case reports were available.
more
There is strong evidence of the impact CHWs can have on health outcomes for their communities. Justification for investment in in CHWs has been well established, but there remain questions about how to find the resources to do this sustainably. Real and practical challenges to building and supportin...g a strong community health workforce persist- challenges that existed before Ebola, but in many cases have become even worse
more
Consultancy to conduct desk review on impact of national policies and programs on disability rights and develop an action plan to make existing policies and programs and legislation disability friendly
This article aims to assess the impact of cerebral palsy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Nigerian children.
This study aims to explore the impact on the lives of caregivers of
children with cerebral palsy.
Despite growing evidence on the impact of psychosocial support interventions, there is an urgent need for a stronger evidence base on approaches that effectively support children affected by armed conflict. To contribute to this evidence base, and building on a pilot study conducted in Uganda in 200...9, War Child conducted an exploratory outcome evaluation of its psychosocial support intervention ‘I DEAL’ in South Sudan and Colombia in 2012. The objective of the evaluation was to explore the outcomes that I DEAL achieves for children and the factors that influence the achievement of those outcomes to further inform and strengthen the intervention
more
The President has declared the impact of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe a state of disaster.
• The Cyclone Idai weather system hit eastern Zimbabwe on 15 and 16 March, with Chimanimani and Chipinge districts in Manicaland Province hardest-hit.
• At least 31 deaths have been reported and over 100 peo...ple are missing.
• The town of Chimanimani has reportedly been cut-off by floods and landslides.
more
New assessment guidelines for measuring the overall impact of mental health problems in Latin America have served as a catalyst for countries to review their mental health policies. Latin American countries have taken various steps to address long-standing problems such as structural difficulties, s...carce financial and human resources, and social, political, and cultural obstacles in the implementation of mental health policies and legislation. These policy developments, however, have had uneven results. Policies must reflect the desire, determination, and commitment of policy-makers to take mental health seriously and look after people’s mental health needs. This paper describes the development of mental health policies in Latin American countries, focusing on published data in peer-reviewed journals, and legislative change and its implementation. It presents a brief history of mental health policy developments, and analyzes the basis and practicalities of current practice.
more
Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia can massively impact functionality and quality of life, furthering the importance of cognitive training. Despite the development of the field in Europe and in the United States, no programmes have been developed and tested in developing countries. Different cultur...al backgrounds, budget restrictions, and other difficulties may render treatment packages created in high income countries difficult for adoption by developing nations. We performed a pilot double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in order to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of an attention and memory training programme specially created in
a developing nation. The intervention used simple, widely available materials, required minimal infrastructure, and was conducted in groups.The sample included seventeen stable Brazilians with schizophrenia. Sessions were conducted weekly during five months. The cognitive training group showed significant improvements in inhibitory control and set-shifting over time. Both groups showed improvements in symptoms, processing speed, selective attention, executive function, and long-term visual memory. Improvements were found in the control group in long-term verbal memory and concentration. Our findings reinforce the idea that cognitive training in schizophrenia can be constructed using simple resources and infrastructure, facilitating its adoption by developing countries, and it may improve cognition.
more
Guidelines
June 2017
HIV strategic information for impact
New digital map shows terrible impact of COVID-19 on school meals around the world
Le Cameroun conduit actuellement une évaluation d’impact à grande échelle pour étudier les effets du Financement basé sur la Performance sur les résultats de santé dans le contexte spécifique du Cameroun. Bien que l’évaluation d’impact repose largement sur l’analyse quantitative à ...partir d’enquêtes de base et finale, l’équipe de l’évaluation d’impact a proposé d’introduire une composante qualitative à l’évaluation globale pour creuser en profondeur afin d’obtenir des explications ou explorer des questions spécifiques relatives à l’expérimentation du PBF au Cameroun. Les rôles de la recherche qualitative en lien avec l’évaluation de l’impact du PBF sont nombreux : (i) identifier les problèmes inhérents au contexte camerounais; (ii) élaborer des mesures quantitatives pertinentes; (iii) investiguer les questions importantes plus en profondeur et de manière détaillée; (iv) comprendre le rôle du lieu, du moment, des pratiques et des processus et; (v) améliorer l’interprétation des résultats quantitatifs.
more
Recommendations and Summary
This report explores the impact of COVID-19 on humanitarian access in the initial months of the crisis, including both the delivery of assistance and performance of protection activities. It examines the varying crisis responses, including the shift to a more localized a...pproach in certain cases. The analysis draws on case research from Colombia, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen, as well as on wide-ranging interviews with humanitarian practitioners and experts from around the world. The research was conducted between August – November 2020. It does not make claims about the legitimacy of government decisions to restrict access – indeed, in many instances, there appeared to be a clear objective of limiting the spread of COVID-19 – but instead focuses on how access limitations have affected the delivery of aid.
more
Video discusses ways that climate change can impact community health, and things communities can do to prepare.
COVID-19 is having a catastrophic impact on the most vulnerable communities around the world and is threatening decades of progress in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. The Global Fund works with partners, countries and communities to fight COVID-19, adapt lifesaving HIV, TB and malaria program...s, and reinforce fragile systems for health. Through our COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM ), the Global Fund is now the primary channel for providing grant support to low- and middle-income countries for COVID-19 tests, treatments (including medical oxygen), personal protective equipment (PPE) and critical elements of health system strengthening.
more
Despite the human and economic impact of viral epidemics, the world is not well enough prepared for the next emerging viral outbreak. Global trends indicate that new microbial threats will continue to emerge at an accelerating rate, driven by our growing population, expanded travel and trade network...s, and human encroachment into wildlife habitat.
more
The war is having a devastating impact on health and human capital in Ukraine and is expected to affect generations to come. The most obvious effects on health are immediate: an estimated 4,339 conflict-related deaths and 5,246 people injured. Less visible is the illness caused, and exacerbated, by ...people not being able to access care for acute and chronic conditions.
more
A new survey on the impact of the floods in Pakistan on older people reveals that hundreds of lives are needlessly being put at risk due to the decimation of health services and the rise of diseases like malaria and diarrhoea, which can be killers to older people with weaker immune systems.
The article discusses the significant impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a global health issue, with cigarette smoking as the main risk factor. However, in developing countries, the causes of COPD are often multifactorial, involving environmental tobacco smoke, biomass fuel sm...oke, dust, fumes, childhood illnesses, and tuberculosis (TB). Up to half of COPD patients in these regions are non-smokers. The article emphasizes that while smoking is crucial, other risk factors contribute significantly to COPD, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the need for targeted research and public health strategies to address these diverse contributors to COPD, especially in Africa.
more