The GOLD 2023 report provides a comprehensive update on the global strategy for diagnosing, managing, and preventing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It emphasizes that COPD is a leading cause of death worldwide, driven by risk factors such as tobacco smoking, air pollution, and genetic... predispositions. The report outlines key updates, including new diagnostic criteria, the introduction of terms like "Pre-COPD" and "PRISm" for early identification, and expanded sections on comorbidities, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, and rehabilitation. It stresses the importance of personalized treatment plans, early diagnosis, and addressing risk factors to mitigate the disease's impact. The report is aimed at guiding healthcare providers to improve COPD outcomes and adapt treatment approaches based on the latest evidence.
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In this video we take a look at Public Health – the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts of society. Public health focuses on improving the health of a population and preventing health problems before they happen. It is a broad... field and covers a range of topics such as air pollution, epidemiology, communicable disease control, risk assessment and health promotion. We’ll take a look at what public health is, how it is different to clinical medicine, who is responsible for doing it and how it’s done!
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Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have emerged as conditions of great public health concern in Kenya accounting for 39% of deaths annually. The Ministry of Health through the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases has adopted the vision of achieving a nation free from preventable burden of NCDs. Fur...ther, the mission of this strategy is to halt and reverse the rising burden of NCDs through effective multisectoral collaboration and partnerships by ensuring Kenyans receive the highest attainable standard of NCD continuum of care that is accessible, affordable, quality, equitable and sustainable thus alleviating suffering, disease and death for their well-being and socio-economic development.
The scope of NCDs covered by this strategy include; cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health conditions, violence and injuries, hemoglobinopathies, haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, auto immune diseases, chronic renal diseases, epilepsy and other neurological disorders, chronic skin conditions and oral diseases and conditions. It equally addresses seven risk factors; tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and toxins, physical inactivity, indoor air pollution, environmental pollutants and toxins and stress.
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According to the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, 66% of Nepali households use mainly solid fuel for cooking on inefficient stoves. Incomplete fuel combustion of solid fuels emits greenhouse gases and harmful smoke, contributing to climate change, forest degradation, ill health and preventa...ble deaths. Further, the physical burden and time necessary to collect wood for fuel is borne primarily by women and children, thus compromising their productive time, such as social activities and education.
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Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 72% of all deaths globally and this proportion is growing. Greatest increases in NCD mortality are seen in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Places that only a generation ago knew famine are
today experiencing epidemics of obesity, diabetes..., cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These epidemics reduce human capital in developing countries and their economic costs are so great that they threaten to slow and even undercut trajectories of economic and social development.
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Almost the entire Rwandan population (98.5%) relies on polluting fuels, particularly firewood and charcoal, for cooking. Access to clean energy such as electricity is still limited. In 2022, 70% of the population lived in towns and villages that have electricity – 49% from the national grid and 21...% from off-grid (mainly solar) systems. When access is defined as connection and use of households to electricity, an estimated 47% of households had access in 2020, representing 86% of the urban population but only 38% of the rural population.
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Children in Kabwe are especially at risk because they are more likely to ingest lead dust when playing in the soil, their brains and bodies are still developing, and they absorb four to five times as much lead as adults. The consequences for children who are exposed to high levels of lead and are no...t treated include reading and learning barriers or disabilities; behavioral problems; impaired growth; anemia; brain, liver, kidney, nerve, and stomach damage; coma and convulsions; and death. After prolonged exposure, the effects are irreversible. Lead also increases the risk of miscarriage and can be transmitted through both the placenta and breastmilk.
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Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5: e542–52
Air pollution is one of the world’s leading killers. Globally, air pollution causes some 7 million deaths annually from outdoor and household sources.