the aid library

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 epide ... miological 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

Infrastructure, policy and regulatory interventions to increase physical activity to prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes: a systematic review

Durão, S.; Burns, J.; Schmidt, B. et al. BMC Public Health (2023) CC

Background Noncommunicable diseases are major contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Modifying the risk factors for these conditions, such as physical inactivity, is thus essential. Addressing the context or circumstances in which physical activity occurs may promote physical activity a ... t a population level. We assessed the effects of infrastructure, policy or regulatory interventions for increasing physical activity. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase and clinicaltrials.gov to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled before-after (CBAs) studies, and interrupted time series (ITS) studies assessing population-level infrastructure or policy and regulatory interventions to increase physical activity. We were interested in the effects of these interventions on physical activity, body weight and related measures, blood pressure, and CVD and type 2 diabetes morbidity and mortality, and on other secondary outcomes. Screening and data extraction was done in duplicate, with risk of bias was using an adapted Cochrane risk of bias tool. Due to high levels of heterogeneity, we synthesised the evidence based on effect direction. Results We included 33 studies, mostly conducted in high-income countries. Of these, 13 assessed infrastructure changes to green or other spaces to promote physical activity and 18 infrastructure changes to promote active transport. The effects of identified interventions on physical activity, body weight and blood pressure varied across studies (very low certainty evidence); thus, we remain very uncertain about the effects of these interventions. Two studies assessed the effects of policy and regulatory interventions; one provided free access to physical activity facilities and showed that it may have beneficial effects on physical activity (low certainty evidence). The other provided free bus travel for youth, with intervention effects varying across studies (very low certainty evidence). Conclusions Evidence from 33 studies assessing infrastructure, policy and regulatory interventions for increasing physical activity showed varying results. The certainty of the evidence was mostly very low, due to study designs included and inconsistent findings between studies. Despite this drawback, the evidence indicates that providing access to physical activity facilities may be beneficial; however this finding is based on only one study. Implementation of these interventions requires full consideration of contextual factors, especially in low resource settings. more

World Heart Federation Roadmap for Hypertension – A 2021 Update

Jemoon, P.; Séverin, T.; Amodeo, C. et al. Global Heart (2021) CC

The World Heart Federation (WHF) Roadmap series covers a large range of cardiovascular conditions. These Roadmaps identify potential roadblocks and their solutions to improve the prevention, detection and management of cardiovascular diseases and provide a generic global framework available for loca ... more

Assessing Health Vulnerabilities and Adaptation to Climate Change

Berry, P.; P. M. Enright, J. Shumake-Guillemot et al. (2018) CC

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(12), 2626; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122626 Climate change is increasing risks to human health and to the health systems that seek to protect the safety and well-being of populations. Health authorities require information about current associatio ... more

Namibia: MoHSS PPP Strategy

Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) (2014) C1

Health Information System Strategic Plan 2008-2015

Department of Planning and Health Information, Ministry of Health Cambodia (2008) CC

India: Programme Implementaion Plan (PIP) for 12th Plan Period (2012-13 to 2016-17)

National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India (2013) C1

India: Office Memorandum on 3 pronged strategy for Early Case Detection

Directorate General of Health Services, National Leprosy Eradication Programme, New Delhi (2015) C1

The Haiti Health Sector Directory: U.S.-Based Implementers Working in Haiti

USAID, Synergie Project (2003) C1

Strategies to improve retention of mother-baby pairs in PMTCT programs

K. Achebe; A. Isehak; R. A. Golin; et al. Children & AIDS; Unicef; Save the Children; et al. (2019) C2

Child Survival Working Group Accessed: 30.10.2019

National Action Plan for the Containment and Prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance

Republic of Kenya, Ministry of Health (2021) CC

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat that requires urgent collaborative action within and among countries. As a result of the worldwide reports of the increasing rates of AMR to hospital and community-acquired infections and in the agricultural sector, the Global Action Plan on AMR was ... more

National Family Planning Costed Implemetation Plan 2017-2020

Ministry of Health, Kenya Ministry of health (2017) C1

UNICEF’s Child Protection System Building Approach in Indonesia

UNICEF Indonesia (2015)

A Formative Evaluation of UNICEF’s Child Protection System Building Approach in Indonesia

National Guidelines and Operational Manual for Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT), 2nd ed.

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Directorate General of Health Services (2013) C1

Specific measures are being taken within the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) to address the MDR TB problem through appropriate management of patients and strategies to prevent the propagation and dissemination of MDR TB.
The term "Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB" (PMD ... more

Nepal: Health Sector - GESI Strategy

Governement of Nepal, Ministry of Health (2009) C1

Nepal: National Safe Motherhood Plan 2002-2017 (English Version)

Governement of Nepal, Family Health Division Department of Health Services (2002) C1

The Cost of Security Risk Management for NGOs

Finucane, C.; European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) (2013) C2

The Cost of Security Risk Management for NGOs explores the costs related to safety and security management for aid programmes. It aims to assist all aid practitioners to determine their risk management expenditure more accurately, and demonstrate an evidence-based approach when presenting this infor ... more

Impact Evaluation Notes No.3 - Introduction To Mixed Methods In Impact Evaluation

Michael Bamberger InterAction, The Rockefeller Foundation (2012) C2

This is the third guidance note in a four-part series of notes related to impact evaluation developed by InterAction with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation.This third guidance note, Introduction to Mixed Methods in Impact Evaluation, starts by explaining what a mixed methods (MM) imp ... more

National Nutrition Programme - June 2013 – June 2015

Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (2013) C1