Challenges and opportunities for Iranian global health diplomacy: lessons learned from action for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

Abstract Background The steady rise in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide has been a key global health challenge. Governments have the primary responsibility for taking action to prevent and control NCDs. Given the growing importance of globalization of healthcare as well as the increasing use of soft power, governments need to identify challenges and opportunities to enhance global health diplomacy (GHD) for NCD prevention and control. The purpose of this qualitative research was to explain the challenges and opportunities of GHD for NCDs in Iran. Methods This study was conducted in 2020 using a qualitative approach and through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 21 experts and specialists in related fields such as health policy, healthcare management, epidemiology and other related specialties. The participants were selected from all levels of diplomacy, including global, regional and national levels, with at least 3 years of experience in managerial, executive and scientific activities. Data analysis was performed by content analysis with an inductive approach. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results The identified challenges were categorized into five main themes, including content challenges, structural challenges, process challenges, governance challenges and cultural challenges. Opportunities extracted from the interviews were also categorized into four main themes, including strong political will, utilizing the capacity of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), multisectoral collaborations and a well-developed health system. Conclusions NCD prevention and control requires a multilateral collaboration-based solution. Recognition of the challenges and opportunities in GHD can help draw significant lessons for building the necessary capacities and implementing more effective policies to prevent and control NCDs.

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Global Health diplomacy for noncommunicable diseases prevention and control: a systematic review

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-020-00572-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mahnaz Afshari ◽

Ahmad Ahmadi Teymourlouy ◽

Mohsen Asadi-Lari ◽

Mohammadreza Maleki

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Global Health ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Global Health Diplomacy ◽

Health Diplomacy ◽

And Control

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Port of Spain Summit Declaration as a successful outcome of global health diplomacy in the Caribbean region: a systematic review

Health Promotion Perspectives ◽

10.15171/hpp.2019.25 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 174-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Vijay Kumar Chattu ◽

Andy W Knight

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Global Health ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Successful Outcome ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

Global Health Diplomacy ◽

Policy Documents ◽

Health Diplomacy ◽

The Caribbean ◽

And Control

Background: The Caribbean region, with a population of around 17 million, has the highest burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the region of the Americas. It is estimated that diabetes and hypertension has an economic impact of around 5%-8% of the gross domestic product of the region. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand how global health diplomacy contributed to the evolution of a collective Caribbean regional summit declaration to address the epidemic of NCDs. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, and all the major databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Global Health database and other available policy documents from various sources were screened. All articles available from 1910-2018 were extracted. From the total of 3223 titles, after filtering, the search narrowed down to 28 full texts that are included in this study. Policy documents and articles related to NCDs, global health diplomacy, and the Port of Spain Declaration (POSD) were the focused themes. Results: The Caribbean region showed significant commitment to the prevention and control of NCDs through its united voice and commitment since 2001. The successful rounds of negotiations for regional health have led to the formulation of the 15- point multisectoral POSD “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs.” This was the first Summit in the world where the Heads of Government focused on prevention and control of NCDs with a clear road map for policy implementation, collaboration, and collective action. This regional summit declaration gained global attention and resulted in the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and as WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020. Conclusion: There is enormous scope for this evolving area of Global Health Diplomacy in addressing the future challenges of health security.

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

International Health ◽

10.1093/inthealth/ihaa004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 231-233

Author(s):

Melissa Adomako ◽

Alaei Kamiar ◽

Abdulla Alshaikh ◽

Lyndsay S Baines ◽

Desiree Benson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Health ◽

Evidence Base ◽

International Affairs ◽

Global Health Diplomacy ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Health Diplomacy ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

And Control ◽

Low And Middle Income

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.

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Covid-19 pandemic: chronicle of responses and experiences of the infection prevention and control committee at a tertiary hospital in southwest Nigeria

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v21i3.17 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 1093-1099

Author(s):

Akinwumi Ayodeji Akinbodewa ◽

Michael Simidele Odimayo ◽

Olorunfemi Akinbode Ogundele ◽

Tosin Oluwapelumi Ogunleye ◽

Olanrewaju Olayinka Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Healthcare Management ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

And Control

Since the advent of 2019-Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria in February 2020, the number of confirmed cases has risen astronomically to over 61,307 cases within 8 months with more than 812 healthcare workers infected and some recorded deaths within their ranks. Infection prevention and control is a key component in ensuring safety of healthcare workers in the hospital as health- care-associated infection is one of the most common complications of healthcare management. Unbridled transmission of infection can lead to shortage of healthcare personnel, reduced system efficiency, increased morbidity and mortality among patients and in some instances, total collapse of healthcare delivery services. The Infection Prevention and Control Committee is a recognised group by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention with their core programmes including drawing up activities, procedures and policies designed to achieve above-stated objectives before, during and after any disease outbreak, especially emerging and re-emerging ones such as the 2019 Coronavirus Disease. In this report, we highlight the roles played by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within and outside the hospital community and the lessons learned to date. Keywords: COVID-19; infection prevention; infection control; Nigeria.

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