A guide to facilitating community-managed disaster risk reduction in the Horn of Africa.
This manual describes how to help communities implement disaster risk reduction activities. It was written for development workers and community-based organizations in the Horn of Africa, but practitioners can ...use it to implement activities around the world
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Hundreds of thousands of refugees are at risk of being pushed to return to Syria in 2018, despite ongoing violence, bombing and shelling that are endangering the lives of civilians, leading humanitarian agencies warn in a report released today. The warning comes amid a global anti-refugee backlash, ...harsher conditions in neighbouring countries hosting Syrians, and Syrian government victories in the conflict that have fuelled misleading rhetoric suggesting Syria is safe for refugees to return.
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Strengthening HIV prevention among most-at-risk populations (MARPs) in the Syrian Arab Republic:
Integrating community engagement and accountability into disaster risk reduction activities of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Healthcare programme in rural Myanmar
The 2012 NDRMP lays out the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) architecture of the country and provides guidance for DRM intervention at all levels. However, implementation has been slow and resource challenges exist throughout the government.
The PNG government’s policy and institutional framework... for DRM still faces numerous obstacles. The main challenges in moving towards a more proactive and systematic approach to manage risks and build resilience include 1.) the limited coordination between DRM and Climate Change Adaptation agencies; 2.) the slow migration from emphasis on response to risk reduction and management; 3.) the limited institutional capacity for planning and design of risk informed investments; and 4.) the lack of available historic natural hazard data, which hinders the assessment of risks.
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Practical guidance on immunization services and the risks they present for both Ebola affected and non-affected countries. The specific purpose of this document is to assist countries to:
- Maintain immunization services and use immunization contacts and surveillance system as opportunities to ...educate and monitor for Ebola;
- Provide guidance on infection prevention and control during vaccination;
- Prepare where there is a potential risk of Ebola (e.g. border, etc.) and low immunization coverage, to implement activities to increase immunization coverage in these areas.
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The STEPS survey of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors in Zambia was carried out from July to September 2017. Zambia carried out Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3. Socio demographic and behavioural information was collected in Step 1. Physical measurements such as height, weight and blood pressure w...ere collected in Step 2. Biochemical measurements were collected to assess blood glucose and cholesterol levels in Step 3. The survey was a population-based survey of adults aged 18-69. A multi-stage cluster sample design was used to produce representative data for that age range in Zambia. A total of 4,302 adults participated in the survey. The overall response rate was 74% for Step 1 and 2 and 65% for Step 3. A repeat survey is planned for 2022 if funds permit.
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Examining the needs of at‐risk youth in the Middle East and North Africa: A multi‐method landscape analysis and systematic literature review
Male circumcision reduces a man’s risk of heterosexual acquisition of HIV by about 60%. This guideline provides an evidence-based recommendation on the use of adult male circumcision devices for HIV prevention in public health programmes in high HIV prevalence, resource-limited settings. It also p...resents key programmatic considerations for the introduction and use of these devices in public health HIV prevention programmes. The primary audiences are policy- and decision-makers, programme managers, health-care providers, donors and implementing agencies.
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All small babies are at risk of problems after birth. This video—for health workers—shows how to classify a small baby to determine further care. This video is available in English and the below languages:
Bangla, French, Hindi, Khmer, Nepali, and Spanish
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most serious risks factors for death from heart diseases and strokes, responsible for 13% of all deaths globally. In South Africa more than 1 in 3 adults live with high blood pressure and it is responsible for 1 in every 2 strokes and 2 in every 5 ...heart attacks. High blood pressure is known as a 'silent killer' because there are rarely any symptoms or visible signs to warn that blood pressure is high. That is why more than 50% of people with high blood pressure are unaware of their condition. In some cases, typically with very high blood pressure, symptoms such as headaches, visual disturbances, nose bleeds, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing and sleepiness may be experienced. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. High blood pressure becomes more likely with older age, but anyone, no matter their age, gender, fitness level or lifestyle can develop high blood pressure. Blood pressure should be measured at least once every year, so don’t delay!
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a growing public health problem in Ghana and other African countries. Strokes and other CVDs have become a leading cause of death due to increasing risk factors such as hypertension. According to the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD), ischaemic heart disease was... the fourth leading cause of death in Ghana in 2016. The prevalence of hyper-
tension, a major risk factor for CVDs, is increasing rapidly and ranges from 19% to 48%, according to the Ghana Health Service Annual Report, 2017, due to rising life expectancy and the increasing prevalence of contributing factors such as overweight/obesity. Early diagnosis and adequate management of the risk factors can reduce the fatal consequences of CVDs.
At the heart of improving risk assessment and management of CVDs are nationally approved guidelines, which facilitate standardisation of care approaches.
These guidelines developed by experts from all levels of health care and stakeholders capture all recommended approaches and necessary information for clinicians and other healthcare workers on CVDs. They also serve as a practical guide for assessing and managing the most important CVDs prevalent in Ghana and can be used at all levels of care namely health facilities without a doctor; with a general practitioner and with a physician specialist.
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troke, a major Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), is responsible for 3.5% of disabilityadjusted life year (DALY) in India.Apart from risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases and positive family history, other lifestyle related factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of physical ac...tivity, stress and tobacco use account for its occurrence. Changes in lifestyles, behavioural patterns, demographic profile (aging population), socio-cultural and technological advancements are leading to sharp increases in the prevalence of stroke. The disease by and large can be prevented by making simple changes in the way people live their lives or simply by changing our lifestyle.
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The World Health Organization's fact sheet on hypertension provides a comprehensive overview of high blood pressure, highlighting its prevalence, risk factors, and health implications. It emphasizes that hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide, with an estimated 1.28 billion adult...s aged 30–79 years affected, two-thirds of whom live in low- and middle-income countries.
The document outlines modifiable risk factors, including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and being overweight or obese. It also discusses non-modifiable risk factors such as family history, age over 65 years, and co-existing conditions like diabetes or kidney disease. The fact sheet underscores the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring, as hypertension often presents without symptoms, and highlights lifestyle changes and medications as effective treatments. Additionally, it mentions global targets aimed at reducing the prevalence of hypertension by 33% between 2010 and 2030.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the significant health risks associated with household air pollution, primarily resulting from the use of inefficient and polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, heating, and lighting. In 2020, approximately 2.1 billion people—about one-third of... the global population—relied on open fires or inefficient stoves fueled by kerosene, biomass (such as wood, animal dung, and crop waste), and coal. This exposure led to an estimated 3.2 million deaths, including over 237,000 deaths of children under the age of five. The pollutants emitted from these sources contribute to a range of health issues, including respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. The WHO emphasizes the urgent need for transitioning to cleaner fuels and technologies to mitigate these health risks.
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The IHME webpage discusses alcohol use as a significant global health risk, responsible for over 1.8 million deaths annually. It highlights age-related differences in alcohol's health impacts, with no benefits for individuals aged 15–39 and potential small benefits for those aged 40 and above unde...r certain conditions. The page emphasizes the need to consider factors like age, disease patterns, and individual health in assessing alcohol-related risks.
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The materials focus on promoting healthy eating habits and reducing risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. They emphasize actions to limit sugar, salt, and fat intake, including policy recommendations for eliminating trans-fats, reducing saturated fa...ts, and improving public awareness through education and labelling. These strategies aim to create healthier food environments and improve dietary behaviors globally.
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Evidence shows that oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of contracting HIV during sexual intercourse by more than 90% when taken daily. It is for this reason the National HIV Prevention Strategy 2015-2020 (2018 Revision) emphasises the role of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in ...reducing new HIV infections in Malawi.
The Ministry of Health has prioritised PrEP use among the populations most at-risk of HIV infection in Malawi: young women ages 10 to 24 years, sero-discordant couples, female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and other priority populations (such as members of the uniformed services, prisoners, and mobile populations).
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"Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), risk factors and mental health during the time of COVID-19" is a series of high-level strategic discussions on transforming the approach to noncommunicable diseases, its risk factors and mental health as a result of the pandemic in terms of strengthening he...alth systems and services, responding to emergencies, investing to transform the NCD, RF and MH agenda, optimizing partnerships, among others, with a focus on big picture thought leadership.
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People with diabetes mellitus are at an increased risk for foot ulcerations as a result of poorly controlled blood glucose which may lead to gangrene. These patients are at a high risk for lower limb amputations, higher healthcare costs, and lower quality of life. This course aims to cover the preve...ntion of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes, classification of diabetic foot ulcers, diagnosis and treatment of foot infection in people with diabetes and interventions to enhance healing of foot ulcers.
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