the aid library

Safety and quality of water used with fresh fruits and vegetables

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO; World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) C_WHO

During fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) production, water is used for a variety of purposes. Even the water was conventionally treated and disinfected, it may still potentially contain human pathogens, albeit at low concentrations. A risk assessment ... more

Development of the first edition of African treatment guidelines for common bacterial infections and syndromes

Craig, J.; I. Frost; A. Sriram; et al. (2022) C1

ournal of Public Health in Africa 2021; volume 12:2009

Global Public Health Curiculum

Laaser, U., F. Beluli (2016) CC

Curricular Modules for Lecturers and Teachers. The 2nd edition of the Global Public Health Curriculum has been published in the South Eastern Euro ... more

Cardiovascular diseases in Africa in the twenty-first century: Gaps and priorities going forward

Minja, N.W.; Nakagaayi, D.; Aliku, T. et al. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2022) CC

In 2015, the United Nations set important targets to reduce premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths by 33% by 2030. Africa disproportionately bears the brunt of CVD burden and has one ... of the highest risks of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. There is currently an epidemiological transition on the continent, where NCDs is projected to outpace communicable diseases within the current decade. Unchecked increases in CVD risk factors have contributed to the growing burden of three major CVDs—hypertension, cardiomyopathies, and atherosclerotic diseasesleading to devastating rates of stroke and heart failure. The highest age standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to hypertensive heart disease (HHD) were recorded in Africa. The contributory causes of heart failure are changing—whilst HHD and cardiomyopathies still dominate, ischemic heart disease is rapidly becoming a significant contributor, whilst rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has shown a gradual decline. In a continent where health systems are traditionally geared toward addressing communicable diseases, several gaps exist to adequately meet the growing demand imposed by CVDs. Among these, high-quality research to inform interventions, underfunded health systems with high out-of-pocket costs, limited accessibility and affordability of essential medicines, CVD preventive services, and skill shortages. Overall, the African continent progress toward a third reduction in premature mortality come 2030 is lagging behind. More can be done in the arena of effective policy implementation for risk factor reduction and CVD prevention, increasing health financing and focusing on strengthening primary health care services for prevention and treatment of CVDs, whilst ensuring availability and affordability of quality medicines. Further, investing in systematic country data collection and research outputs will improve the accuracy of the burden of disease data and inform policy adoption on interventions. This review summarizes the current CVD burden, important gaps in cardiovascular medicine in Africa, and further highlights priority areas where efforts could be intensified in the next decade with potential to improve the current rate of progress toward achieving a 33% reduction in CVD mortality. more

Partnering and public health practice

Stop TB Partnership; World Health Organization ; USAI (2013) C_WHO

Experience of national TB partnerships

Strengthening Rwanda’s health workforce: Strategies to improve retention in the health sector

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

Rwanda’s national health sector is focused on the equitable delivery of high-quality health se ... more

Policy Options on Mental Health

World Health Organization WHO Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (2017) C_WHO

"This is the final report of the six-year collaboration between the WHO Department of Mental Health ... more

Cancer Advocacy Traning Toolkit for Africa

Godfrey, E. AfrOx; ESMO; et al. (2014) CC

One of the most important ways we feel we can help to reduce the burden of cancer in Africa is to work with African cancer advocacy organisations t ... more

Antimicrobial resistance and primary health care

World Health Organization WHO (2018) C_WHO

Despite the considerable improvement in global health, millions of people still lack access to quality health services, including access to effecti ... more

Continental Framework on Strengthening Mortality Surveillance Systems in Africa

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) CC

The importance of robust mortality surveillance systems cannot be overstated in an era marked by increasing global health challenges where health t ... more

Disability Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sida (2015) C2

This brief gives an overview of disability rights in the Sub-Saharan region, with focus on Sida partner countries; DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and South S ... more

Public health guidance on screening and vaccination for infectious diseases in newly arrived migrants within the EU/EEA

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (2018) C1

The main objective of this guidance is to provide scientific advice, based on an evidence-based assessment of targeted public health interventions, ... more

Quality health services: a planning guide

World Health Organization WHO (2020) C_WHO

The WHO Quality Health Services: a planning guide focuses on actions required at the national, district and facility levels to enhance quality of ... more

Estimation of the global prevalence of dementia in 2019 and forecasted prevalence in 2050: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

GBD2019 Dementia Forecasting Coolaborators (2022) CC

Lancet Public health 2022 January 6, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2468-2667(21)00249-8 Growth in the number of individuals living with dementia underscores the need for public ... more

Guidelines for Use of the APCA African Palliative Outcome Scale

African Palliative Care Association APCA (2011) C2

The Guidelines for the Use of the APCA African Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) has been developed by the APCA, in collaboration with stakeholders, to help appropriately trained health practition ... more

Turning point for Africa

Joint United Nations Programme on HIVAIDS (UNAIDS) (2018) C1

An historic opportunity to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and launch a new era of sustainability
A decade of progress has inspired ... more

Kangaroo mother care: a transformative innovation in health care

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

This document puts forward the joint position and vision of an expert, global, multistakeholder working group on implementing Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for all preterm or low birth weight (LBW) infants as the foundation for small and/or sick newbor ... more

Cardiovascular Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa Compared to High-Income Countries: An Epidemiological Perspective

Yuyun, M.F.; Sliwa, K.; Kengne, A.P. et al. Global Heart (2020) CC

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the second common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounting for about 35% of all deaths, after a c ... more