Adolescence, defined as the period between 10 and 19 years of age, is a developmental stage during which many psychosocial and mental health challenges emerge. There is a well-established link between mental health and HIV outcomes. Adolescents and young adults living with HIV typically have additio...nal mental health needs linked to their experiences of living with and managing a chronic illness, along with prevailing stigma and discrimination. Mental health promotion and prevention is thus a critical priority for this group.
more
This policy brief describes key HIV viral load thresholds and the available viral load testing approaches for monitoring how well antiretroviral therapy is working for people living with HIV. It provides clarification for and elaborates upon the current treatment monitoring algorithm from the Consol...idated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach.
This information can help people living with HIV to live healthy lives, ensure that HIV is not transmitted to other people and support policy-makers in determining the optimal allocation of resources for viral load testing and communicating the results.
more
This country profile presents a summary and analysis of Argentina's status with yellow fever. It is part of a series of profiles on this topic, each focusing on a different country in the Region of the Americas. Argentina's geographical location presents a wide territorial extension throughout diffe...rent latitudes, which determines a wide climatic variety, maintaining the conditions for the enzootic transmission of the yellow fever virus in jungle areas of the northeast of the country bordering Brazil and Paraguay. After controlling the major urban epidemics that hit the port city of Buenos Aires in the 20th century, Argentina maintains foci of enzootic activity in the northeast and isolated human cases for jungle acquisition. The increases in viral activity usually occur in a regional context of epizootics that affect southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay. Argentina has not presented autochthonous cases since 2008. Outbreaks have been sporadic with long intervals without evidence of viral activity.
more
The 2021 Report examines country health spending patterns and trends over the past 20 years, before the COVID-19 pandemic, with greater focus on public spending on health. The report also presents spending on primary health care, preliminary health expenditure in 2020 for a small set of countries (i...ncluding their health spending on COVID-19) and an analysis of high-income countries spending patterns, in particular during the global financial crisis. The report also points out the need for more public investment in health to get progress towards UHC back on track and strong health security.
more
I examine the effectiveness of donors in targeting the highest burden of malaria in the Democratic Republic of Congo when health information structure is fragmented. I exploit local variations in the burden of malaria induced by mining activities as well as financial and epidemiological data from he...alth facilities to estimate how local aid is matching local health needs. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find significant but quantitatively small variations in aid to health facilities located within mining areas. Comparing local aid with the additional cost of treatment and prevention associated with the increased risk of malaria transmission, I find suggestive evidence that local populations with the highest burden of the disease receive a proportionately lower share of aid compared to neighbouring areas with reduced exposure to malaria infection. The evidence of disparities in the allocation of aid for malaria supports the view that donors may have inaccurate information about local population needs.
more
This report examines the support to private healthcare provision in India by the World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Despite supporting private healthcare in the country since 1997, no healthcare results for lending and investments have been disclosed sinc...e the start of these operations over twenty-five years ago. The IFC has overwhelmingly invested in high-end urban hospitals which are out of reach for the majority of Indians. Several have consistently failed to provide free healthcare to poor patients despite this being a condition under which free or subsidized public land was allotted to these hospitals. Supporting private healthcare in a context where 37% of Indians experience catastrophic health expenditures in private hospitals appears to run counter to the World Bank Group’s focus on poverty reduction. These investments do not contribute to the building of stronger healthcare infrastructure or respond to unmet healthcare needs. Only 14% of IFC-financed hospitals are located in the 10 states ranked lowest in terms of the overall performance of the health system. Furthermore, we found many instances where regulators upheld complaints pertaining to violations of patients’ rights by these hospitals including overcharging, denial of healthcare, price rigging, financial conflict of interest and medical negligence.
more
WHO has published the first-ever guidance on the clinical management of diphtheria. The only previously available guidance was an operational protocol. The new guidance followed the rigorous process for developing guidance at WHO.
It addresses the use of Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) in the treatmen...t of diphtheria. There is a worldwide shortage of DAT and evidence based recommendations on the use of DAT were requested by many Member States.
The guidance also includes new recommendations on antibiotics. In patients with suspected or confirmed diphtheria, WHO recommends using macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, erythromycin) rather than penicillin antibiotics.
This clinical practice guideline has been rapidly developed recognizing the global increase in diphtheria outbreaks. Outbreaks of diphtheria in Nigeria, Guinea and neighbouring countries in 2023 have highlighted the urgent need for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of diphtheria. Given the sporadic nature of outbreaks, many clinicians in the affected regions have never managed acute diphtheria and its related complications. Diphtheria remains a neglected disease and vaccination is the top priority. At the same time, for patients with diphtheria, access to antibiotics, DAT and supportive care can be lifesaving.
more
Protection from a Single Dose of HPV Vaccine A major public health impact from IARC studies of vaccine efficacy.
It is now well known that there is a pandemic of Type 2 Diabetes in the world particularly in developing countries. This fact has several implications for the health care system in the developing countries because this condition is associated with metabolic and vascular complications which in turn i...ncreases the mortality and health care costs and compromises the quality and life expectancy of the society.
more
The article "Barriers and determinants of asthma control in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review" analyzes factors contributing to poor asthma control in African youth. Based on studies conducted between 2014 and 2019 in Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa, the review identifies key... challenges such as limited access to asthma diagnosis, inadequate use of inhaled corticosteroids, and environmental and socio-economic factors. It finds that urban living, older age, and concurrent allergic conditions significantly affect asthma management. The study emphasizes the need for improved diagnostic tools, better access to treatment, and tailored public health interventions to enhance asthma outcomes in African children.
more
Research globally has shown that metered dose inhaler (MDI) technique is poor,
with patient education and regular demonstration critical in maintaining correct use of
inhalers. Patient information containing pictorial aids improves understanding of medicine
usage; however, manufacturer leaflets i...llustrating MDI use may not be easily understood by
low-literacy asthma patients.
more
This document provides a list of key WHO-recommended maternal and newborn health commodities and aims to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. It consolidates the key and enabling commodities from existing WHO guidelines on maternal and newborn health.
Preliminary Key Findings from Interviews in Accra on the Ebola Response
Singing to the Lions est un programme de formation gratuit (guide de l’animateur, supplément et vidéo) conçu par CRS pour aider les enfants et les jeunes à réduire l’impact de la violence et des abus dans leur vie. La principale composante est un atelier de trois jours où les participants ...acquièrent des compétences qui peuvent les aider à transformer leur vie et ne plus se sentir dominés par la peur. Bien que l’atelier soit destiné aux jeunes et comprenne des jeux, des œuvres d’art et des chansons, il peut également aider les adultes à agir sur des aspects de leur vie qui suscitent la peur et, ce faisant, devenir de meilleurs parents et dispensateurs de soins.
more
Singing to the Lions es un paquete de capacitación gratuito (guía del facilitador, suplemento y video) de CRS, que está diseñado para ayudar a los niños y jóvenes a disminuir el impacto de la violencia y el abuso en sus vidas. El componente principal es un taller de tres días en el que los pa...rticipantes aprenden habilidades que pueden ayudarlos a transformar sus vidas y ya no sentirse dominados por el miedo. Aunque el taller está dirigido a jóvenes e incluye juegos, arte y canciones, también se puede utilizar para ayudar a los adultos a tomar medidas en aspectos de sus vidas que causan miedo y, al hacerlo, convertirse en mejores padres y cuidadores.
more
La silla de ruedas es uno de los medios de asistencia de uso más frecuente para mejorar la movilidad personal, condición previa para disfrutar de los derechos humanos y una vida digna, y ayuda a las personas con discapacidad a convertirse en miembros más productivos de sus comunidades. Para mucho...s, una silla de ruedas adecuada, bien diseñada y armada puede constituir el primer paso hacia la inclusión y participación en la sociedad.
Este documento ha sido publicado con el fin de ayudar a los Estados Miembros de la OMS a crear y desarrollar un sistema local de suministro de sillas de ruedas y poner así en ejecución los Artículos 4, 20 y 26 de la Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con discapacidad.
more
Ausgehend von allgemeinen Informationen zum Land über Hintergrundinformationen zum Konflikt (Wirtschaftskrise und politische Krise) werden auch die Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch die Regierung beschrieben. Der Bericht geht in diesem Zusammenhang auf die Aktivitäten der zahlreichen bewaffneten Gr...uppen (Armee, Sicherheitsdienste und "Colectivos") sowie die Rolle des staatlichen Öl- und Gaskonzerns Konzerns "PDVSA" ein. Schließlich behandelt er die Situation der Bevölkerung unter dem Blickwinkel des Zugangs zu sozialen Sicherungssystemen.
more