scholarly journals The burgeoning role of global health diplomacy to alleviate suffering of cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-233
Author(s):  
Melissa Adomako ◽  
Alaei Kamiar ◽  
Abdulla Alshaikh ◽  
Lyndsay S Baines ◽  
Desiree Benson ◽  
...  

Abstract The science of global health diplomacy (GHD) consists of cross-disciplinary, multistakeholder credentials comprised of national security, public health, international affairs, management, law, economics and trade policy. GHD is well placed to bring about better and improved multilateral stakeholder leverage and outcomes in the prevention and control of cancer. It is important to create an evidence base that provides clear and specific guidance for health practitioners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through involvement of all stakeholders. GHD can assist LMICs to negotiate across multilateral stakeholders to integrate prevention, treatment and palliative care of cancer into their commercial and trade policies.

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine T Mills ◽  
Joshua D Bundy ◽  
Tanika N Kelly ◽  
Jennifer E Reed ◽  
Patricia M Kearney ◽  
...  

Background: Hypertension is an important global health challenge due to its high prevalence and resulting cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide. Objective: We estimated the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension worldwide in 2010 and compared the global burden of hypertension in 2000 and 2010. Methods: We searched MEDLINE for published reports from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2014 and supplemented with manual searches of references from retrieved articles. We included population-based studies and applied sex-age-specific prevalence of hypertension from each country to population data to assess the number of hypertensive adults in each region and globally. Proportions of awareness, treatment and control from each country were applied to hypertensive populations to obtain regional and global estimates. Results: An estimated 29.8% (95% confidence interval 29.6-30.0%) of the world’s adult population in 2010 had hypertension (30.7% [30.4-31.0%] in men and 28.8% [28.6-29.0%] in women). The estimated total number of hypertensive adults in 2010 was 1.33 billion (1.32-1.34 billion); 346 million (336-356 million) in high-income and 985 million (977-994 million) in low- and middle-income countries. From 2000 to 2010, the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension increased by 2.5% worldwide. The hypertension prevalence decreased 3.5% in high-income countries, whereas the prevalence increased 4.5% in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, from 2000 to 2010 the number of hypertensive adults increased by 354 million (334 million in low- and middle-income countries compared to 19 million in high-income countries). Proportions of hypertension awareness, treatment and control worldwide in 2010 were 43.5% (43.1-44.0%), 33.8% (33.3-34.2%), and 12.3% (12.1-12.6%), respectively. The proportion of hypertension control was 27.7% (27.0-28.3%) in high-income and 6.9% (6.7-7.1) in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions: Prevention and treatment of hypertension should be a global health priority due to its high prevalence and low control rate globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (1_Suppl) ◽  
pp. 3-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres G. Lescano ◽  
Craig R. Cohen ◽  
Tony Raj ◽  
Laetitia Rispel ◽  
Patricia J. Garcia ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia J. M. Osendarp ◽  
Homero Martinez ◽  
Greg S. Garrett ◽  
Lynnette M. Neufeld ◽  
Luz Maria De-Regil ◽  
...  

Background: Food fortification and biofortification are well-established strategies to address micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations. However, the effectiveness of fortification programs is not only determined by the biological efficacy of the fortified foods but also by effective and sustainable implementation, which requires continual monitoring, quality assurance and control, and corrective measures to ensure high compliance. Objective: To provide an overview of efficacy, effectiveness, economics of food fortification and biofortification, and status of and challenges faced by large-scale food fortification programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Methods: A literature review of PubMed publications in English from 2000 to 2017, as well as gray literature, targeting nongovernmental organizations whose work focuses on this topic, complemented by national reports and a “snowball” process of citation searching. The article describes remaining technical challenges, barriers, and evidence gap and prioritizes recommendations and next steps to further accelerate progress and potential of impact. Results: The review identifies and highlights essential components of successful programs. It also points out issues that determine poor program performance, including lack of adequate monitoring and enforcement and poor compliance with standards by industry. Conclusions: In the last 17 years, large-scale food fortification initiatives have been reaching increasingly larger segments of populations in LMIC. Large-scale food fortification and biofortification should be part of other nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive efforts to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies. There are remaining technical and food system challenges, especially in relation to improving coverage and quality of delivery and measuring progress of national programs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (03) ◽  
pp. 569-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANCESCA BASTAGLI ◽  
JESSICA HAGEN-ZANKER ◽  
LUKE HARMAN ◽  
VALENTINA BARCA ◽  
GEORGINA STURGE ◽  
...  

AbstractThis article presents the findings of a review of the impact of non-contributory cash transfers on individuals and households in low- and middle-income countries, covering the literature of 15 years, from 2000 to 2015. Based on evidence extracted from 165 studies, retrieved through a systematic search and screening process, this article discusses the impact of cash transfers on 35 indicators covering six outcome areas: monetary poverty; education; health and nutrition; savings, investment and production; work; and empowerment. For most of the studies, cash transfers contributed to progress in the selected indicators in the direction intended by policymakers. Despite variations in the size and strength of the underlying evidence base by outcome and indicator, this finding is consistent across all outcome areas. The article also investigates unintended effects of cash transfer receipt, such as potential reductions in adult work effort and increased fertility, finding limited evidence for such unintended effects. Finally, the article highlights gaps in the evidence base and areas which would benefit from additional future research.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Nicholas Clute-Reinig ◽  
Suman Jayadev ◽  
Kristoffer Rhoads ◽  
Anne-Laure Le Ny

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are global health crises, with most affected individuals living in low- or middle-income countries. While research into diagnostics and therapeutics remains focused exclusively on high-income populations, recent technological breakthroughs suggest that low-cost AD diagnostics may soon be possible. However, as this disease shifts onto those with the least financial and structural ability to shoulder its burden, it is incumbent on high-income countries to develop accessible AD healthcare. We argue that there is a scientific and ethical mandate to develop low-cost diagnostics that will not only benefit patients in low-and middle-income countries but the AD field as a whole.


Author(s):  
Heather Haq ◽  
Amy R. L. Rule ◽  
Alexandra Coria ◽  
Lineo K. Thahane ◽  
Regina M. Duperval ◽  
...  

As North American hospitals serve increasingly diverse patient populations, including recent immigrants, refugees, and returned travelers, all pediatric hospitalists (PHs) require foundational competency in global health, and a subset of PHs are carving out niches focused in global health. Pediatric hospitalists are uniquely positioned to collaborate with low- and middle-income country clinicians and child health advocates to improve the health of hospitalized children worldwide. Using the 2018 WHO standards for improving the quality of care for children and adolescents worldwide, we describe how PHs’ skills align closely with what the WHO and others have identified as essential elements to bring high-quality, sustainable care to children in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, North American global health hospitalists bring home expertise that reciprocally benefits their home institutions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S682-S682
Author(s):  
Smitha Gudipati ◽  
Deepak Bajracharya ◽  
Lenjana Jimee ◽  
Gina Maki ◽  
Marcus Zervos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Non-prescription use of antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries has contributed to significant antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Henry Ford Health System has partnered with multinational organizations in Nepal to address the need for increasing awareness of AMR and implementation of effective antimicrobial stewardship. This partnership confirmed the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness regarding AMR and antibiotic use to community pharmacists. The present pilot study assessed if outpatient antibiotic dispensing guidelines given to community pharmacists could result in a reduction of unneeded antibiotic use. Methods Nine community pharmacies from Kathmandu were selected of which two were used as controls. Seven pharmacists were educated on the appropriate use of antibiotics, and outpatient dispensing before and after guidelines at all pharmacies were evaluated. The pharmacists were given guidelines on antibiotic use and duration needed for common bacterial infections encountered. Controls were not given guidelines. At baseline and post-intervention (1 week), pill counts were performed of the top six antibiotics that were dispensed by the pharmacist. Pharmacists were requested to keep a log of how many antibiotics were dispensed for one week. The pharmacists also were requested to fill out a post-intervention educational assessment to evaluate retention. Results Pill count pre-intervention was 15,856 and 1512 and post-intervention was 11,168 and 1,440 in the intervention and control groups respectively (Table 1). A post-intervention educational assessment revealed that both the intervention and control groups believed antibiotics can treat viruses (57% vs. 50%) and that antibiotics do not kill good bacteria that protect the body from infection (57% vs. 50%) (Table 2). Conclusion There was no difference in the dispensing of antibiotics between pre- and post-intervention. The findings of this study show significant room for improvement in continuing education about antibiotic use in outpatient pharmacies. Further studies are needed to target outpatient antibiotic dispensing with education and identifying economic or other incentives in hopes of reducing the burden of AMR in low- and middle-income countries. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


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