From Sub-Saharan Africa to the White House: Life as an APA Science Policy Fellow

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margo Malakoff
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8s-8s
Author(s):  
Danny A. Milner ◽  
Blair Holladay

Abstract 38 A primary goal of any health care system should be to attain universal access for all patients within a catchment area. The cancer care model requires that physicians encountering patients who they suspect of having a malignancy have access to a system that ensures rapid, accurate, and reliable pathology for primary diagnosis of cancer. Sub-Saharan Africa faces immense challenges in providing adequate coverage. Each region, country, and district has unique obstacles to overcome when meeting the health needs of the population. The American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), in partnership with the White House Office of Science Technology Policy and the Clinton Global Initiative, recently launched a $26.5 million multi-year initiative. The initiative begins with assessment of potential countries with the greatest need--including collaboration and capacity program building with local officials and staff--to deploy full service pathology infrastructure for eligible countries to strategically meet their population needs. Working in parallel and together, steering committees for Diagnostics and Technology, Care and Treatment, In-Country Medical Education, Bioethics, and Monitoring & Evaluation have focused on each potential country to optimize success. The maximal intervention includes deployment of automated histopathology systems and integrated whole slide imaging systems. Imaging systems are linked through a customized laboratory information system to a dedicated team of pathologists from the United States. This long-term project will roll out to 10 or more countries in Africa as well as Haiti. An overview of the project will be presented as well as experiences data from countries launched to date. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: No COIs from either author.


Significance Trump's statements on foreign policy have vexed the leaders of countries allied with the United States, particularly NATO members and in East Asia. Both Clinton and Trump have sought to distinguish their approach to foreign policy from that of President Barack Obama. However, the next president will face structural constraints on a dramatic overhaul of the US national security architecture. Impacts The unknown quality of Trump's foreign policy advisers could lead to erratic policymaking. Washington's ability to promote nuclear restraint in international institutions is likely to diminish. US allies' uncertainty will probably encourage greater national expenditure on defence procurements. A Trump victory would likely undermine international climate governance arrangements. Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America policy is likely to be set by lower-level policy officials than the immediate White House circle.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 533-537
Author(s):  
Lorenz von Seidlein ◽  
Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽  
Podjanee Jittmala ◽  
Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.


1993 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-556
Author(s):  
Lado Ruzicka

Crisis ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Kinyanda ◽  
Ruth Kizza ◽  
Jonathan Levin ◽  
Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽  
Catherine Abbo

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document