Every day, the Ministry of Health receives dozens of appeals from volunteer organisations: how exactly can they help Ukrainian medical institutions, what drugs are most needed, what equipment do they lack?
That’s why we have created a priority list of medicines, medical goods and consumables th...at healthcare institutions primarily need. Please, take that into account when you are forming humanitarian aid.
more
The article "Economic Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Systematic Literature Review" examines the financial impact associated with moderate-to-very severe COPD. The review analyzes studies published between 2006 and 2016 that discuss healthcare resource utilization (HRU), di...rect costs, and indirect costs related to COPD, with a focus on Europe and North America. It highlights that direct costs, including hospitalizations and medical treatments, increase with the severity of COPD and the frequency of exacerbations. Multivariate analyses identify key factors driving these costs, such as comorbidities and prior treatment history. The findings underscore the significant economic burden of COPD on healthcare systems and emphasize the need for improved management strategies to reduce costs and optimize patient care.
more
A worldwide increase in the prevalence of asthma has been reported in recent years. With an increase in prevalence comes an increased burden of disease in terms of morbidity, mortality and compromised quality of life. The economic burden in terms of utilisation of healthcare resources and limitation... of the earning capacity of the individuals and families is an added problem. Various indicators such as disability-adjusted life years and healthy life years have been used to define the economic burden. The data from Asian countries regarding these parameters is scarce, underlining the need for systematic studies in these countries, especially those that are resource poor. The purpose of this review is to highlight the varying prevalence of asthma in Asia and to assess the likely economic burden for the future.
more
Learn together. Managing transmission of viral haemmoraghic fever. Only available online!
This book is part of the Bettercare series which addresses the need for continuing education for health professionals. The book is produced under the auspices of the Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN), t...o assist with training of healthcare workers during the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014-2015. However, the infection control principles discussed in the book are applicable to the management of other viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks. The book should be used by healthcare workers, institutions and Ministries of Health dealing with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The book should also be of value to institutions wanting to increase their level of Ebola-preparedness.
more
The report showed commitments made three decades ago to protect the rights of children remain unfulfilled for millions. Violence still affects countless children. Discrimination based on age, gender, disability, sexual orientation and religion harms children worldwide.
Key factors include a lack ...of investment in critically important services. Most countries fall well short of spending the 5-6% of GDP needed to ensure universal coverage of essential health care. And foreign aid, which many lower income countries rely on, is falling short in areas such as health, education, protection and child care.
Another factor, the report said, is the lack of quality data. Governments tend to rely on data that reflects national averages, making it difficult to identify the needs of specific children and to monitor progress. Comprehensive data collection and disaggregation of data by gender, age, disability and locality, are increasingly important as rights violations disproportionately affect disadvantaged children.
more
According to official figures from Migración Colombia by the end of June 2019, there were more than 1.4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants living in Colombia. The majority of people have settled in the border departments of La Guajira and Norte de Santander, continuing to cities along the Car...ibbean coast, or larger cities inland such as Medellin and Bogotá. Significant numbers of Venezuelans continue to cross Colombia by foot, heading for larger cities with more opportunities and better services or towards the southern border with Ecuador to continue their onward journey to a third country. Refugees and migrants arrive in Colombia with immediate humanitarian needs including access to safe accommodation, food, basic health care, but the prolonged nature of their displacement also requires longer term solutions including access to formal employment, education and social integration. The Interagency Group for Mixed Migration Flows (GIFMM) works closely with the Government at both the national level, and across 11 of the most affected departments, to deliver direct emergency assistance, protection, socio-economic integration activities and seeks to build the capacity of the host government.
more
These guidelines were developed as part of Kenya's fast-track plan to end AIDS among adolescents and young people. Based on research into adolescent and young key populations in Kenya and elsewhere, they outline a package of HIV prevention services, and emphasize the need to combine biobehavioural i...nterventions with services in education, job skills training, mental health, and social care and protection.
more
Cardiovascular diseases, principally ischemic heart disease (IHD), are the most important cause of death and disability in the majority of low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). In these countries, IHD mortality rates are significantly greater in individuals of a low socioeconomic status (...SES).
Three important focus areas for decreasing IHD mortality among those of low SES in LLMICs are (1) acute coronary care; (2) cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention; and (3) primary prevention. Greater mortality in low SES patients with acute coronary syndrome is due to lack of awareness of symptoms in patients and primary care physicians, delay in reaching healthcare facilities, non-availability of thrombolysis and coronary revascularization, and the non-affordability of expensive medicines (statins, dual anti-platelets, renin-angiotensin system blockers). Facilities for rapid diagnosis and accessible and affordable long-term care at secondary and tertiary care hospitals for IHD care are needed. A strong focus on the social determinants of health (low education, poverty, working and living conditions), greater healthcare financing, and efficient primary care is required. The quality of primary prevention needs to be improved with initiatives to eliminate tobacco and trans-fats and to reduce the consumption of alcohol, refined carbohydrates, and salt along with the promotion of healthy foods and physical activity. Efficient primary care with a focus on management of blood pressure, lipids and diabetes is needed. Task sharing with community health workers, electronic decision support systems, and use of fixed-dose combinations of blood pressure-lowering drugs and statins can substantially reduce risk factors and potentially lead to large reductions in IHD. Finally, training of physicians, nurses, and health workers in IHD prevention should be strengthened.
more
Every day, millions of women and girls worldwide experience violence. This abuse takes many forms, including intimate physical and sexual partner violence, female genital mutilation, child and forced marriage, sex trafficking, and rape. The Lancet Series on Violence against women and girls shows tha...t such abuse is preventable. Five papers cover the evidence base for interventions, discuss the vital role of the health sector in care and prevention, show the need for men and women to be involved in effective programmes, provide practical lessons from experience in countries, and present a call for action with five key recommendations and indicators to track progress. You can download articles and comments published in The Lancet
more
This video animation was created for use in West Africa to help dispel myths about how Ebola is spread, and to prevent infection and further spreading of the disease. The story is based around a teenage boy on a hospital cot in Liberia, who speaks to his parents, brother and sister warning them abou...t the disease and telling them how it can be prevented. The story highlights the need for isolation and shows the heartache of the family as they are unable to comfort, touch, or care for the boy who is very ill. His words are words of comfort to those who are separated from their loved ones as they are encouraged to take care of themselves and keep away from those who are ill.
The video was created by Chocolate Moose Media, an organisation specialising in the use of film and animation for behaviour change, and mobile-health-education innovator iHeed, in collaboration with United Methodist Communications, who provided partial funding.
The video, which uses only young voices, is being made available in eight versions: Nigerian English and Pidgin, South African English, French (for Ivory Coast and Guinea), Sierra Leone English, and Liberian English and Krio. It can be downloaded in high definition, low definition, and for use on mobile platforms.
more
The report "Assessing National Capacity for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases" provides an overview of the capacities of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) based on a 2019 survey. It evaluates the progress of 22 countries in ...areas such as governance, policy implementation, health infrastructure, data collection, and healthcare resources for NCD prevention. The report highlights achievements and gaps, emphasizing the need for strengthened health systems, surveillance, and cross-sectoral collaboration to meet the WHO's global NCD targets. The findings guide further actions to reduce the burden of NCDs in the region.
more
The article analyzes the prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory diseases, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights that environmental exposures, such as biomass fuel usage and air pollution, significantly contribute to respiratory health issues in the region. The research underlines... the limited healthcare infrastructure, insufficient diagnostic tools, and the need for comprehensive data collection to better understand the burden of respiratory diseases. The authors advocate for targeted public health interventions, improved access to healthcare, and policies aimed at reducing exposure to risk factors to mitigate the prevalence of respiratory conditions.
more
The article investigates the effectiveness and challenges of remote monitoring systems for chronic respiratory diseases, focusing on COPD and asthma. It reviews various technologies and their potential to improve patient outcomes through better symptom tracking, medication adherence, and early detec...tion of exacerbations. The study highlights that while remote monitoring has significant potential, challenges such as data accuracy, patient compliance, and integration with existing healthcare systems remain. The authors call for further research to standardize and validate remote monitoring tools and emphasize the need for patient-centric approaches to enhance engagement and adherence.
more
The document titled "Early Warning Signs of COPD" from the American Lung Association outlines what COPD is, its risk factors, and the importance of recognizing early symptoms such as persistent cough, breathlessness, and frequent chest infections. It emphasizes the need for early consultation with a... healthcare provider and diagnostic testing like spirometry to confirm COPD. Early diagnosis and treatment can help slow disease progression and improve quality of life.
more
The ethical values and behaviors are not only abstract terms, but they are refined and conceptualized byreal-life experiences. The societal context where the actions of humans can be analyzed by ethicaldecision-making is entirely relevant to deliberate on what is the right thing to do and what the m...oralagent should do, since the ethical values and principles response to the actual practices of life and to theneeds of humans in the society. This elaboration takes us to the realm of social ethics.This article reviews the definition and contextual meaning of social ethics at a broader level by givingspecial emphasis to the ethical theories and principles, focusing on the societal and public setting. Ethicswill be deliberated with social and community aspects. Based on the principle of justice and public healthethics, the concept of social ethics has been investigated concisely through the relationship between man,as a moral person, and the society in exemplification of the issues of healthcare ethics. It is argued that thetension between individualism and communitarian needs can be reconciled with the perspective of socialethics by respecting the individual autonomy without disregarding the common good and social justice.By promoting the values of social responsibility, solidarity, and social utility, social ethics has beenproposed as the basis of a rational, moral, egalitarian, pluralistic, democratic society rising on the pillars ofhuman rights and human dignity.
more
The burden of diabetes is high and increasing globally, and in developing economies like India, mainly fueled by the increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. The estimates in 2019 showed that 77 million individuals had diabetes in India, which is expected to rise to over... 134 million by 2045. Approximately 57% of these individuals remain undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for majority of the cases, can lead to multiorgan complications, broadly divided into microvascular and macrovascular complications. These complications are a significant cause for increased premature morbidity and mortality among individuals with diabetes, leading to reduced life expectancy and financial and other costs of diabetes leading to profound economic burden on the Indian health care system. The risk for diabetes is largely influence by ethnicity, age, obesity and physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and behavioral habits in addition to genetics and family history. Good control of blood sugar blood pressure and blood lipid levels can prevent and/or delay the onset of diabetes complications. The prevention and management of diabetes and associated complications is a huge challenge in India due to several issues and barriers, including lack of multisectoral approach, surveillance data, awareness regarding diabetes, its risk factors and complications, access to health care settings, access to affordable medicines, etc. Thus, effective health promotion and primary prevention, at both, individual and population levels are the need of the hour to curb the diabetes epidemic and reduce diabetes-related complications in India
more
The pharmacological treatment of heart failure has evolved over the last three decades since the demonstration of the effect of angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors on major cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Composite analysis of heart failure wi...th reduced ejection fraction trials and the recent identification of newer drug treatments show early benefits on the major cardiovascular outcomes, ushering in a change of the treatment strategy; from a ‘sequential’ initiation of the treatments to a ‘simultaneous’ initiation to harness the early benefits. The adoption and implementation of these changes at the bedside have been dismal in many healthcare settings. Papua New Guinea, like many other lower-to-middle-income countries, is facing many barriers that impact on the care of heart failure patients. It needs to adopt and implement these changes to provide evidence-based treatment for its people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
more
The article investigates the diagnostic capabilities and prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care settings in northern Brazil. It highlights that COPD is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in resource-limited regions. The study involved 34 general practitioners a...nd used spirometry to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy compared to clinical assessments. Findings revealed significant discrepancies between GP diagnoses and spirometry results, with many false positives and negatives. The study underscores the need for better training and the use of spirometry to improve COPD diagnosis and case-finding in primary care, emphasizing the importance of targeted strategies to enhance healthcare outcomes in developing countries.
more
The article from the European Respiratory Journal discusses the natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphasizing its increasing global impact on morbidity and mortality. It highlights that while cigarette smoking is a primary risk factor, other influences such as environm...ental exposures and genetics also play significant roles. The article notes that lung function, measured by FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second), is a critical indicator of both diagnosis and prognosis. It further explores the impact of exacerbations, comorbidities, and systemic inflammation on disease progression and outcomes. The need for comprehensive patient management, which considers various comorbid conditions and inflammatory factors, is emphasized to improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
more
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are significant differences in the burden of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors, across high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. Cardiac imaging by echocardiography, cardia...c computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging are well-established non-invasive tests that aid in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of various cardiac diseases. However, there are significant inequalities in availability and access to imaging modalities in low- and middle-income countries attributed to financial constraints, disparities in healthcare and technical infrastructure. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, these disparities are exaggerated by the continued technological advancements driving innovations in the field of cardiovascular (CV) imaging in high-income countries, while there is an urgent need to provide sustainable access to diagnostic imaging for patients in economically strained healthcare systems in regions like Africa. This review aims to highlight the inequalities in the burden of cardiac disease, associated risk factors, and access to diagnostic CV imaging tests, while also exploring the need for sustainable solutions to implementing CV imaging all over the world.
more