Schistosomiasis is a helminthic infection and one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is caused by blood flukes ...-highlight medbox">of the genus Schistosoma. It is an important public health problem, particularly in poverty-stricken areas, especially those within the tropics and subtropics. It is estimated that at least 236 million people worldwide are infected, 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, and that this disease causes approximately 300,000 deaths annually. The clinical manifestations are varied and affect practically all organs. There are substantial differences in the clinical presentation, depending on the phase and clinical form of schistosomiasis in which it occurs. Schistosomiasis can remain undiagnosed for a long period of time, with secondary clinical lesion. Here, we review the clinical profile of schistosomiasis. This information may aid in the development of more efficacious treatments and improved disease prognosis.
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The scale of West Africa’s Ebola epidemic has been attributed to the weak health systems of af...fected countries,
their lack of resources, the mobility of communities and their inexperience in dealing with Ebola. This briefing for African Affairs argues that these explanations lack important context. The briefing examines responses to the outbreak and offers a different set of explanations, rooted in the history of the region and the political economy of global health and development. To move past technical discussions of “weak” health systems, it highlights how structural violence has contributed to the epidemic. As part of this, local people – their beliefs, concerns and priorities – have been marginalised. Both the crisis response and post-Ebola ‘reconstruction’ will be strengthened by acknowledgment of its long term structural underpinnings and from a more collaborative inclusion of local people.
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Version 1.1
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
9 September 2020
In a snapshot, fair allocation of vaccines will occur in the following way:
An initial proportional allocation of doses to... countries until all countries reach enough quantities to cover 20% of their population
This document is also available in Arabic | Chinese | French | Russian | Spanish | Portuguese
A follow-up phase to expand coverage to other populations. If severe supply constraints persist, a weighted allocation approach would be adopted, taking account of a country’s COVID threat and vulnerability.
The document is a final working document and may be adjusted in the future as new information about the vaccines and the epidemiology of COVID-19 becomes available.
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This report provides a review and analysis of the research landscape for three diseases – Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis ...ss="attribute-to-highlight medbox">and leishmaniasis – that disproportionately afflict poor and remote populations with limited access to health services. It represents the work of the disease reference group on Chagas Disease, Human African Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis (DRG3) which was established to identify key research priorities through review of research evidence and input from stakeholders' consultations.
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The active participation and engagement of health and care workers (HCWs) in health emerge...ncy preparedness, readiness and response is crucial to support risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE-IM) interventions during emergencies. HCWs hold unique positions in society – repeatedly being identified among the main influencers of people’s behaviours: they are one of the most trusted sources of health information and advice in communities and role models for the acceptance and uptake of protective measures during health emergencies. On the frontline, HCWs have valuable insights and knowledge that can be harnessed to support health emergencies across the entire emergency cycle. Between October and December 2023, the WHO Regional Office for Europe interviewed key informants on strategies and experiences to meaningfully engage HCWs during emergencies
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This manual provides information and guidance for individuals concerned with the mental health needs of children who experience major disasters. Th...is background, training, and experience will vary and may include health and mental health professionals, professional and paraprofessional social service personnel, school and daycare personnel, clergy, volunteers, and parents.
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This integrated operational framework provides an overview of the connections between mental health, neurological and substance use (MNS) condition...s, and their links to health, well-being and the broader public health and sustainable development agenda. The need for integrated approaches is increasingly recognized as critical to address the complex interactions between mental health, brain health, substance use, and physical health, particularly in light of global threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework also provides a series of actions for governments and health service planners and advisors to achieve integration across four domains: leadership and governance; care services; promotion and prevention; and health information systems, evidence generation and research.
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This document provides an overview of the issues and challenges surrounding medical device donations, a...nd offers considerations and best practices that may be useful for making and soliciting donations. The document highlights the importance of an active participatory role for the intended recipients of medical equipment donations and emphasizes the importance of treating donations with the same rigour typically applied when purchasing medical equipment.
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These guidelines have been developed to provide guidance to the Ministry of Health in managing applications for registration of human pharmaceutica...l products in Rwanda. It was compiled by the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Medicines Evaluation and Registration (MER) of the East African Community Medicine Regulatory Harmonization (EAC MRH) Project. The group relied on their experiences and knowledge on medicines registration requirements of their individual Countries. World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements of Medicines for Human Use (ICH) and other available literature.
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National emergency medical teams are the best option for providing immediate and appropriate surge response for emergencies directly affecting populations, while international teams may help relieve... overwhelmed health systems. The efficiency and effectiveness of countries and local authorities in mobilizing existing resources is only as good as the quality of care they are able to provide. This publication serves as a practical guide for teams and aims to compliment emergency response systems, fostering seamless collaboration with all emergency response actors and networks
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Summary of research into the consequences of the Ebola outbreak for children ...ute-to-highlight medbox">and communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone
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This section deals with implementing and improving infection control practices in hospitals, health centres and other health services in the outbre...ak area. It explains the need for, and implementation of, effective triage procedures, and basic requirements for infection control and supporting activities. Further guidance can be found in the MSF Infection Control Guideline
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This course describes the health effects of war, weapons and strategies of violent conflict. Beg...inning with weapons of mass destruction it then moves on to other weapons and strategies of war such as the use of landmines and mass rape. The course concludes with a number of lessons which give an historical and practical analysis of the response of health professional groups to war and militarisation.
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This rapid compilation of data analyses provides a ‘stock-take’ of social science and behavioural data related to ...hlight medbox">the on-going outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces. Based on data gathered and analysed by organisations working in the Ebola response and in the region more broadly, it explores convergences and divergences between datasets and, when possible, differences by geographic area, demographic group, time period and other relevant variables. Data sources are listed at the end of the document.
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As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the people of Ukraine, especially ...tribute-to-highlight medbox">the most vulnerable, are paying an enormous price. Lives and livelihoods are being lost, with more than ten million people forced from their homes— and their country—in search of safety. The war has unleashed catastrophic damage to the country’s economy and threatens lasting increases in poverty and societal upheaval. The scale of the war and the devastation it has caused have jeopardized Ukraine’s hard-fought development gains, through destruction of production and property, disruption of trade, diminished investment due to amplified uncertainty, and erosion of human capita
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The purpose of this Operational Guideline is to support state health authorities, programme managers and health care professionals with recommendat...ions on appropriate management of children with SAM in the health facilities. Facility based management includes setting up and managing within the health facility premises, a functional space where these children are cared for. This Facility Based Unit is referred to as Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre or NRC in the document. While the scale and design may vary in a given situation, it is intended that the document provide the basis for a consistent set of principles that can be used by all states for facility based management of children with SAM. The Operational Guideline focuses on the Facility/Hospital based approach for the management of SAM children under 5 years of age based on the WHO and revised IAP protocols.
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This manual describes some of the strategic, managerial, financial, technical and scientific aspects to be considered in establishing a national EQ...A programme for clinical laboratories and other testing services at all health care levels
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Despite the significant role of vector control in national leishmaniasis control programmes, the programmatic community perceives vector control as... the weakest component of leishmaniasis control strategies in terms of resources, scientific evidence of the usefulness of interventions and capacity for quality-assured implementation. Therefore, the main objective of this manual is to provide practical tools, techniques and procedures to strengthen sand fly control and surveillance in order to improve implementation of leishmaniasis control programmes. The manual provides a rationale for programme managers in different geographical regions on the types of vector control interventions to be used in different epidemiological and environmental settings and also how to measure their impact.
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These guidelines are informed by evidence of ‘what works’ and lessons learned in the field. They are designed to accelerate UNICEF regional ...an class="attribute-to-highlight medbox">and country offices’ programming on social service workforce strengthening, and support work to better plan, develop and support the social services workforce with national and regional partners.
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