Zambia is facing a severe economic crisis marked by high inflation, increasing poverty and a heavy debt burden that is straining both its fiscal stability and progress in health outcomes. By 2020, the country's external debt reached United States dollars (USD) 12.7 billion, representing 108% of the ...country's gross domestic product (GDP). In 2020, Zambia sought assistance through the G20 Common Framework and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility (ECF), securing a USD 1.7 billion loan over 5 years. IMF loans, however, come with austerity measures that prioritise fiscal discipline but could potentially exacerbate social inequalities. These measures, which include increasing consumer taxes on goods and services (value added taxes - VATs), electricity tariffs and fuel prices, disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, raising concerns about their long-term effects on essential services, especially accessible and good quality healthcare services.
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This paper examines the implications of the IMF’s April 2024 macro-fiscal forecast updates on government health expenditure (GHE) across 170 economies through 2029, covering nearly all years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings reveal wide disparities in gove...rnments' capacities to increase health spending, with differences not only observed across income groups but also within them. Primary concerns focus to two groups of low- and lower middleincome
countries: the first group is projected to experience a contraction in real per capita GHE from 2019 and 2029, threatening to reverse progress toward the health SDG targets, while the other group faces stagnation in real per capita GHE, greatly limiting advancement. The insights presented are crucial for health policymakers and their external partners to respond to evolving macro-fiscal circumstances and stabilize investment growth in health. While increasing the priority of health in spending is a key policy option, it will not be sufficient on its own. Effective responses also
require improving spending efficiency and addressing broader fiscal challenges. Without decisive action, many countries have little chance of achieving the health SDGs.
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All malaria-endemic countries in the Region of the Americas have taken on the challenge of eliminating malaria and have focused their health programs and strategies on that goal. The risk of emergence of artemisinin resistance in the Americas, the characteristics of P. falciparum parasite, and the e...pidemiological evidence of subnational territories experiencing reintroduction of P. falciparum urge for a call to push for P. falciparum elimination as an intermediate goal of the elimination of all malaria human species. Derived from the elimination of P. falciparum, other important results are expected, such as the empowerment of different actors and entities for the elimination of malaria inspired by the achievements of the elimination of P. falciparum, using early victories as a catalyst. This technical note provides guidance on actions to accelerate P. falciparum elimination in areas close to achieving this goal without compromising unified malaria elimination efforts (P. vivax - P. falciparum), while contributing to the country's ultimate goal of eliminating malaria overall. The acceleration of P. falciparum elimination has several goals: mitigating the risk that resistance to artemisinin and associated drugs will emerge and spread; accelerating the reduction in the total number of malaria cases in areas with a significant proportion of P. falciparum; accelerating malaria elimination (both P. vivax and P. falciparum), considering that P. falciparum is one of the triggers of P. vivax relapses; developing capacities in interventions to accelerate malaria elimination by building on the experience of P. falciparum elimination; and empowering different actors, including high-level authorities, donors, municipalities, and other entities involved in malaria elimination, by inspiring them with the achievements of P. falciparum elimination.
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The document titled "Checklist for Assessing Management of Severe Malaria" is part of the MalariaCare Toolkit. It provides a structured tool for supervisors conducting outreach training and supportive supervision (OTSS) visits in healthcare facilities. The checklist is designed to evaluate and guide... the clinical management of severe malaria cases, including diagnostics, treatment planning, complication management, patient monitoring, and the administration of injectable artesunate. It also includes sections for direct observation of clinical procedures and supervisor feedback to help improve healthcare worker performance and adherence to national treatment guidelines.
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This question bank is a menu of qualitative questions related to healthcare workers’ knowledge, perceptions and practices during infectious disease outbreaks. The question bank will generate qualitative data on healthcare workers’ subjective understandings of risks, case management, protection a...nd wider outbreak operations. These data can be used to inform risk communication and community engagement activities as well as other response pillars. Some of the issues covered in these questions are complex, for example stigma or views on vaccine safety
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ith a view to support the monitoring and reporting on the denial of humanitarian access against children, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF publish today* a guidance note offering new tools to practitioners to better address ...this violation of children's rights in conflict situations. The Denial of Humanitarian Access (DHA) is one of six grave violations against children monitored by the United Nations in the framework of its Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC
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Breaking Barriers is an implementation research project focusing on social and behavioural change. It is conducted in conflict-affected communities in Cameroon. The project explores three innovative, community-based interventions designed to improve health behaviours. This presentation outlines the ...project's context, methodology and implementation process. It also shares qualitative insights and field perspectives, reflecting on key lessons learned for future SBC efforts in fragile settings.
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The purpose of this guide is to provide updated clinical guidance on TB/HIV, with an emphasis on diagnostic aspects—including new techniques—as well as current treatment, while maintaining a public health approach. By compiling and consolidating the latest World Health Organization recommendatio...ns on the subject into a single guide, the aim is to create a reference and consultation document that is frequently used, and that unifies and standardizes the comprehensive management of TB/HIV co-infection in healthcare facilities based on the principle of “two diseases, one patient.” It also seeks to support the updating of national standards and guidelines on co-infection and to complement the coordinated work that must exist between TB and HIV prevention and control programs at all levels, within the framework of the twelve internationally recommended TB/HIV collaborative activities.
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4th edition, Reference Manual
Presentation Current WHO guidance, strategies and lessons learnt of pre- and post-validation surveillance of NTDs
Le Plan Stratégique National de Lutte contre le Paludisme 2023–2026 du Togo définit les grandes orientations pour réduire de 65 % l’incidence et la mortalité liées au paludisme d’ici 2026, en comparaison avec les niveaux de 2022. Élaboré par le Programme National de Lutte contre le Pa...ludisme (PNLP), il s’inscrit pleinement dans les objectifs mondiaux fixés par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé pour parvenir à l’élimination du paludisme d’ici 2030. Ce plan repose sur quatre axes stratégiques : la prévention à travers l’utilisation des moustiquaires imprégnées, la chimio-prévention et la lutte antivectorielle ; la prise en charge efficace des cas grâce au diagnostic rapide et au traitement par ACT ; le renforcement du système de santé et la gestion du programme ; ainsi que la surveillance, le suivi et l’évaluation des interventions. Une attention particulière est accordée à la digitalisation des outils, à l’amélioration de la qualité des données, à l’implication des communautés locales et à la réduction des inégalités régionales dans l’accès aux services. Intégrant les partenaires techniques et financiers, le secteur privé et les acteurs communautaires, ce document constitue une véritable feuille de route nationale pour coordonner et intensifier la lutte contre le paludisme sur la période 2023–2026.
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These easy to use e-learning modules will teach you different strategies to use at home with your child. This course focuses on supporting you on how to use everyday play and home activities as opportunities for learning and development. Specifically, how to support your child to improve their commu...nication, how to engage and interact with them, and how to encourage positive behaviour and teach them new skills for everyday life.
Including Autism
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This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to implement WHO-recommended TB tests and algorithms. It includes the latest recommendations for novel tests for TB diagnosis and detection of drug resistance, as well as the most recent WHO policy guidance for the use of those tests.... The course also describes the processes and steps for implementing a new diagnostic test for routine use within the TB diagnostic network
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Nutrition Situation of Children in Southern Africa
• Almost 15 million people are food and nutrition insecure (including approximately 7.8 million children) in the 7 priority countries.
• Approximately 36% of children in the 7 priority countries in Southern Africa are stunted and there...fore not able to fully achieve their full developmental, intellectual and physical potential.
• Over 513,000 children are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the 7 priority countries.
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This is a guide for healthcare workers involved in patient care activities in a healthcare setting. It aims to show the type of personal protective equipment or PPE needed to correctly protect oneself. Based on the current available evidence, the WHO recommended PPE for the care of COVID patients ar...e CONTACT and DROPLET precautions, with the exception of aerosol producing procedures, which require CONTACT and AIRBORNE (hence, a respirator mask such as N95, FFP2, FFP3). Keeping in mind, PPE is part of a larger infection prevention and control bundle of measures and should be implemented as part of a multimodal strategy of management of COVID-19 patients. Only clinical staff who are trained and competent in the use of PPE should be allowed to enter the patient’s room.
This course is also available in the following languages:
العربية -македонски - 中文 - Shqip - français - ภาษาไทย - Português - Español - Nederlands - Tetun
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Ce cours fournit des informations sur ce que les établissements devraient faire afin d'être prêts à réagir face à un cas de virus respiratoire émergent tel que le nouveau coronavirus, sur la manière d'identifier un cas lorsqu'il se présente, et sur la façon correcte de mettre en place des ...mesures de PCI pour s'assurer qu'il n'y ait pas transmission au personnel soignant ou à d'autres patients et personnes à l'intérieur de l'établissement de soins.
Cette formation s'adresse aux travailleurs de la santé et aux professionnels de la santé publique, car elle se concentre sur la prévention et la lutte contre les infections.
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The CVIC tool is the WHO-UNICEF tool designed to assist countries in the process of planning and costing COVID-19 vaccination. The aim of this course is to demonstrate the use of the CVIC tool. The course is targeting national programme managers and personnel who have been involved in the costing, b...udgeting or financing processes of COVID-19 vaccine delivery in a country.
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