Spillover effect of HIV-specific foreign aid on immunization services in Nigeria
Conclusions
HIV-specific aid had a negative spillover effect on immunization services in Nigeria over the study period. Donors may need to rethink their funding strategies in favour of more horizontal approaches. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Chima, C. C., Franzini, L. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research
The impact of ear disease and hearing impairment on the lives of Nepali patients in Pokhara: a qualitative study
Conclusions
This research suggests that a ‘stigma cycle’ has developed and that participants are being trapped within it. This impacts adversely upon individuals' personal, social and economic development, limiting the human capital available to Nepal. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Skilton, M. K., Poole, N., Metcalfe, C. W., Martin, T. P. C., Smith, M. C. F. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research
A successful model for rapid triage of symptomatic patients at an HIV testing site in Haiti
Conclusions
Social workers can identify symptomatic patients at HIV testing and refer them for fast-tracked services. This strategy may increase the rate of ART initiation among eligible patients. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Esperance, M. C., Koenig, S. P., Guiteau, C., Homeus, F., Devieux, J., Edouard, J., Bertrand, R., Joseph, P., Bellot, C., Decome, D., Pape, J. W., Severe, P. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research
Unregulated usage of labour-inducing medication in a region of Pakistan with poor drug regulatory control: characteristics and risk patterns
Conclusions
In a conflict-affected region of Pakistan, exposure to unregulated treatment with labour-inducing medication is common, and carries great risk for mother and child. Tighter regulatory control of labour-inducing drugs is needed, and enhanced training of the mid-level cadres of healthcare workers is required. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Shah, S., Van den Bergh, R., Prinsloo, J. R., Rehman, G., Bibi, A., Shaeen, N., Auat, R., Daudi, S. M., Njenga, J. W., Khilji, T. B.-u.-D., Maïkere, J., De Plecker, E., Caluwaerts, S., Zachariah, R., Van Overloop, C. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research
Experiences from the field: maternal, reproductive and child health data collection in humanitarian and emergency situations
Conclusions
There were numerous challenges associated with data collection assessing the health status of, and services available, to women and children in humanitarian settings, and researchers should be well prepared. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Dickinson, F. M., Pyone, T., van den Broek, N. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research
Cardiac rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries: a review on cost and cost-effectiveness
Conclusions
Cardiac rehabilitation for patients with heart failure in Brazil and Colombia was estimated to be cost-effective. However, given the limited health care budgets in many LMICs, affordable CR models will need to be developed for LMICs, particularly for low-income countries. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Oldridge, N. B., Pakosh, M. T., Thomas, R. J. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research
Towards a toolkit for cross-neglected tropical disease morbidity and disability assessment
Conclusions
Our findings support the acceptability and relevance of five of the six instruments tested and the concept of a cross-NTD toolkit. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: van 't Noordende, A. T., Kuiper, H., Ramos, A. N., Mieras, L. F., Barbosa, J. C., Pessoa, S. M. F., Souza, E. A., Fernandes, T. A., Hinders, D. C., Praciano, M. M. A., van Brakel, W. H. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Social stigma towards neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review
Conclusion
These similarities suggest that joint approaches to reduce stigmatization may be feasible. Lessons from leprosy and other stigmatized health conditions can be used to plan such joint approaches. Further research will be necessary to study the efficacy of joint interventions and to investigate stigma related to NTDs for which no evidence is available yet. (Source: International Health)
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Hofstraat, K., van Brakel, W. H. Tags: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW Source Type: research
Ethiopia and its steps to mobilize resources to achieve 2020 elimination and control goals for neglected tropical diseases: Spider webs joined can tie a lion
In June 2013, at the launch of its National Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Master Plan, the Ethiopian government pledged to achieve WHO NTD elimination and control targets by 2020. With an estimated 80 million people living in areas where one or more NTDs are endemic, this goal presented an enormous challenge for the Federal Ministry of Health. However, as of September 2015, the Federal Ministry of Health has managed to mobilize support to implement mass drug administration in 84% of the trachoma endemic districts and 100% of the endemic districts for onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthes and ...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Mengitsu, B., Shafi, O., Kebede, B., Kebede, F., Worku, D. T., Herero, M., French, M., Kebede, B., Mackenzie, C., Martindale, S., Kebede, Z., Hirpa, T., Frawley, H., Crowley, K., O'Neil, M., McPherson, S. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research
Neglected tropical diseases in Africa: a new paradigm
Programmes to control onchocerciasis have been ongoing for over 40 years. What was once a devastating blinding and disabling disease, particularly in West Africa, has largely been eliminated at least as a public health problem. Efforts continue to eliminate the transmission of the disease. However, as the elimination agenda has developed so have efforts to control/eliminate other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control will close at the end of 2015. There has been considerable discussion as to what should replace it and the World Health Organization Africa Region has been consul...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Hopkins, A. D. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research
Integration of water, sanitation and hygiene for the control of neglected tropical diseases: a review of progress and the way forward
This article reviews progress made in recent years, explores mechanisms supporting advances, and identifies priorities and next steps for accelerating WASH integration. This paper reveals advances in collaboration between WASH and NTD sectors, resulting in progress made across areas of programming; research; advocacy and policy; training and capacity building; and mapping, data collection and monitoring. Face to face meetings between WASH and NTD sector experts with a clear purpose of informing wider sector discussions, and the development of actionable joint workplans, have been particularly critical in supporting progres...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Waite, R. C., Velleman, Y., Woods, G., Chitty, A., Freeman, M. C. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research
Water, sanitation and hygiene for accelerating and sustaining progress on neglected tropical diseases: a new Global Strategy 2015-20
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over 1 billion people. Safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) contribute to prevention and management of most NTDs. Linking WASH and NTD interventions has potential to impact on multiple NTDs and can help secure sustainable and equitable progress towards universal access to WASH. The need to address the determinants of NTDs has been acknowledged. In response, WHO has published a new Global Strategy: ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for accelerating and sustaining progress on Neglected Tropical Diseases’. The Strategy focuses on cross-cutting actions that benefit diseas...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Boisson, S., Engels, D., Gordon, B. A., Medlicott, K. O., Neira, M. P., Montresor, A., Solomon, A. W., Velleman, Y. Tags: COMMENTARIES Source Type: research
Leaving no one behind: a neglected tropical disease indicator and tracers for the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have emerged as a global pledge to ‘leave no one behind’. Under SDG 3, ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all’, target 3.3 extends the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) beyond HIV, TB and malaria to ‘end the epidemic’ of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2030. Other targets are also relevant to NTDs, especially 3.8 (Universal Health Coverage), 6.1 (water) and 6.2 (sanitation). This commentary summarises the proposed NTD indicator (3.3) and tracers (3.8 and 6.1/6.2). These will help ensure that the world's poorest and most margin...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Fitzpatrick, C., Engels, D. Tags: COMMENTARIES Source Type: research
RRR for NNN--a rapid research response for the Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network: a novel framework to challenges faced by the global programs targeting neglected tropical diseases
While global programs targeting the control or elimination of five of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, schistosomiasis and trachoma—are well underway, they still face many operational challenges. Because of the urgency of 2020 program targets, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development devised a novel rapid research response (RRR) framework to engage national programs, researchers, implementers and WHO in a Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs. After 2 years, this effort has succeeded...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Toledo, C. E., Jacobson, J., Wainwright, E. C., Ottesen, E. A., Lammie, P. J. Tags: COMMENTARIES Source Type: research
Neglected Tropical Diseases, Cross-Cutting Issues Workshop, 4-6 February 2015, Utrecht, the Netherlands: meeting report
In the last decade, work on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has gained momentum. This was accelerated by the London Declaration on NTDs in January 2012. Work on NTDs has expanded worldwide and many countries have set up NTD control and elimination programs. However, the work has focussed disproportionately on preventive treatment. There is an urgent need for more attention and resources to work with people with NTD-related morbidity and disability. A lot can be gained in the fight against NTDs by combining knowledge and experience from cross-cutting fields. For this reason a workshop was organized bringing together scie...
Source: International Health - March 2, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Mieras, L. F., Anand, S., van Brakel, W. H., Hamilton, H. C., Martin Kollmann, K. H., Mackenzie, C., Mason, I., Wickenden, A. Tags: MEETING REPORT Source Type: research
