The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies is a collaborative partnership which supports and promotes evidence-based health policy making in the Asia Pacific Region. Based in WHO’
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s Regional Office for South-East Asia, it brings together governments, international agencies, foundations, civil society and the research community with the aim of linking systematic and scientific analysis of health systems in the Asia Pacific Region with the decision-makers who shape policy and practice.
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Journal of the International AIDS Society 2016, 19:20926
There is a growing interest in the potential contribution the private sector can make towards increasing access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low‐ and middle‐income settings. This article describes a public–private partnership
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that was developed to expand HIV care capacity in Yangon, Myanmar. The partnership was between private sector general practitioners (GPs) and a community‐based non‐governmental organization (International HIV/AIDS Alliance).
https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.19.1.20926
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Since the emergence of COVID 19 in December 2019, various public health responses measures have been implemented to control the pandemic. Among measures taken by the Africa CDC was the launch of PACT initiative to accelerate COVID 19 testing. Key to the initiative is the engagement of
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Community Health Workers (CHWs) in risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), surveillance activities for early case identification, contacts tracing and in facilitating referrals for testing and continuum of care.
As of 31 May 2021, Through PACT support, over 17154 CHWs have been trained and locally deployed in 24 AU Member states. The PACT supported CHWs visited more than 2,568,654 households for community engagement activities, active case search and contact tracing, identified 1,618,601 Contacts, 710,167 COVID 19 suspect cases based on the standard case definition and facilitated referrals for 553053 (78%) suspect cases for testing. These efforts were crucial for early identification and isolation of cases in limiting further transmission.
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LEAVING NO-ONE BEHIND | “A Journey to End NTDs – Elimination and Care” records what we have achieved over the last year and where we are now. It presents our plan of action for the coming years, bringing our ‘traditional’ NTD work together
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with ‘Disease Management Disability and Inclusion’ (DMDI), Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) and Livelihoods. We care for those affected and we’re working to enhance community and government ownership through national
health system strengthening, community engagement and cross-sectoral action. Ultimately, we are working to free future generations from these menacing diseases, improving prevention and treatment, without forgetting those for whom prevention and treatment are too late because they already have a disability.
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The article "Capacity-Building in Community-Based Drug Treatment Services" by Michael J. Cole focuses on the global challenges in providing adequate commu
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nity-based drug treatment services. It highlights the gaps in availability, quality, and accessibility of evidence-based care. The article discusses the principles and strategies for capacity-building at three levels: individual, organizational, and service sector. It emphasizes using an empowerment model, engaging community stakeholders, and creating sustainable practices. The paper also addresses the need for systematic planning, assessment, and collaboration to strengthen drug treatment systems globally.
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Accessed 21 July 2021:The Caregiver Booklet is designed to help patients,family members, and community caregivers in the home-based care of s
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erious long term illness. Home care is best for many people with long term illnesses,including those who are close to the end of life. All patients being cared for at home should be first assessed and treated by a health worker, who will help caregivers provide high quality home care and ensure that medicines are taken correctly.
This booklet explains how to:
1. Deal with specific symptoms.
2. Provide care for terminal and bedridden patients at home.
3. Decide when to seek help from a health facility.
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In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one maternal death was registered every hour in 2020. That same year, the trend in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) for the Region of the Americas regressed alarmingly and unprecedentedly to the levels seen two decades ago. In addition to indicating a wors
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ening of health outcomes, these figures also signal a deepening of inequalities, representing thousands of individual, unacceptable tragedies that in most cases could have been preventable. Maternal death is the result of a multifactorial process in which structural elements such as the economic system, environmental conditions, and culture interact. Other factors related to social inequality are also present, such as racism, poverty, gender inequality, and lack of access to the education system. The current situation calls for urgent mobilization of the health systems of LAC countries in order to strengthen efforts to combat maternal mortality, especially in countries that are still far from achieving the SHAA2030 regional target. For this reason, a preventive, health-promoting, life-course-based approach is needed, with models of care centered on women, families, and the community Scientific evidence shows that health systems with a solid foundation in primary health care (PHC) achieve better outcomes, greater equity, and reduced health expenditures. To address this, PAHO proposes a strategy, aimed primarily at women who are in the most vulnerable situation, who are the ones who represent the greatest burden of maternal mortality, to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality in the Region of the Americas, based on the expansion and strengthening of PHC.
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The purpose of the guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations on nonsurgical interventions for chronic primary LBP (CPLBP) in adults, including older people, that can be delivered in primary and
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community care settings to improve CPLBP-related health and well-being outcomes. For this reason, the guideline does not consider interventions typically delivered in secondary or tertiary care settings (e.g. surgical or other invasive procedures) or workplace interventions.
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The purpose of the guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations on nonsurgical interventions for chronic primary LBP (CPLBP) in adults, including older people, that can be delivered in primary and
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community care settings to improve CPLBP-related health and well-being outcomes. For this reason, the guideline does not consider interventions typically delivered in secondary or tertiary care settings (e.g. surgical or other invasive procedures) or workplace interventions.
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A group-based stress managment course for adults.
Self-Help Plus (SH+) is WHO’s 5-session stress management course for large groups of up to 30 people. It is delivered by supervised, non-specialist facilitators who complete a short training cours
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e and use pre-recorded audio and an illustrated guide (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress) to teach stress management skills. The course is suitable for adults who experiences stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. It has been shown to reduce psychological distress and prevent the onset of mental disorders. The format of SH+ makes it well-suited for use alongside other mental health interventions, as a first step in a stepped care programme, or as a community intervention delivered alongside broader community programming.
Download the audio files in English directly from the WHO Website https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240035119
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PACK Nigeria (Adult and Child) provides a single, integrated, comprehensive, evidence-informed clinical guide to support all cadres working in primary healthcare in Nigeria: i.e. junior community health extension workers (JCHEWs),
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community health extension workers (CHEWs), community health officers (CHOs), nurses, midwives and medical officers. Colour-coding is used to clearly delineate the scope of practice of these different cadres and clarify referral pathways. This integration promotes a team-based approach to a patient’s care and enables patients to receive consistent and standardized care from whichever cadre treats them.
You can register for free and get the PACK Global Adult Guide for free
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People living with disabilities (PLWDs) have poor access to health services compared to people without disabilities. As a result, PLWDs do not benefit from some of the services provided at health facilities; therefore, new methods need to be developed to deliver these services where PLWDs reside. Th
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is case study reports a household-based screening programme targeting PLWDs in a rural district in Malawi. Between March and November 2016, a household-based and integrated screening programme was conducted by community health workers, HIV testing counsellors and a clinic clerk. The programme provided integrated home-based screening for HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension and malnutrition for PLWDs. The programme was designed and implemented for a population of 37 000 people. A total of 449 PLWDs, with a median age of 26 years and about half of them women, were screened. Among the 404 PLWDs eligible for HIV testing, 399 (99%) agreed for HIV testing. Sixty-nine per cent of PLWDs tested for HIV had never previously been tested for HIV. Additionally, 14 patients self-reported to be HIV-positive and all but one were verified to be active in HIV care. A total of 192 of all eligible PLWDs above 18 years old were screened for hypertension, with 9% (n = 17) referred for further follow-up at the nearest facility. In addition, 274 and 371 PLWDs were screened for malnutrition and tuberculosis, respectively, with 6% (n = 18) of PLWDs referred for malnutrition, and 2% (n = 10) of PLWDs referred for tuberculosis testing. We successfully implemented an integrated home-based screening programme in rural Malawi.
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WAHA International’s mHealth programme addresses several barriers to maternal and neonatal care, including: a lack of information at the community level about locally available services; a large d
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istance from services and a lack of affordable transport for patients; and ineffective communication between community-based and facility-based health workers.
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PCI works with partners to strengthen the primary healthcare workforce and the systems around them, with a particular focus on NCDs. We advise and support our partners across a range of building blocks of primary care to improve the quality of
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care and to strengthen clinical and community-based management of healthcare.
We work to build confidence and capacity, co-creating innovative, practical solutions to the endemic challenges facing healthcare systems in diverse settings globally. With a firm belief in compassionate, person-centred healthcare, PCI occupies a unique position, bringing deep clinical and systems expertise to integrated primary healthcare
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Objective To assess the effectiveness of a community-based tuberculosis and leprosy intervention in which village health teams and health workers conduct door-to-door tuberculosis screening, targete
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d screenings and contact tracing.
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This article summarises the process involved in developing the updated guideline and includes an infographic to highlight key IPC recommendations from the guideline, following the patient care pathway from the
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community to a healthcare facility to discharge.
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Helping Children Live with HIV offers a holistic approach by building on the existing knowledge of parents and caregivers and respecting the importance of other local resources. It integrates health care, illness prevention, and psychosocial support
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for children and families coping with poverty, food insecurity, emotional trauma, loss, as well as stigma and discrimination.
This guide is intended for broad use by parents, family members, and health workers in home settings and throughout community-based health programs.
To learn more, view the table of contents and a sample chapter, and to buy your copy of this essential new resource from Hesperian.
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Four major objectives are set forth: more effective leadership and governance for mental health; the provision of comprehensive, integrated mental health and social care services in community-
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based settings; implementation of strategies for promotion and prevention; and strengthened information systems, evidence and research.
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