scholarly journals Fighting COVID-19 in Freetown, Sierra Leone: the critical role of community organisations in a growing pandemic

Open Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-63
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Osuteye ◽  
Braima Koroma ◽  
Joseph Mustapha Macarthy ◽  
Sulaiman Foday Kamara ◽  
Abu Conteh
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Community Organisation ◽  
Community Organisations

AbstractAs the COVID-19 pandemic spreads in Africa, attention is increasingly shifting to the potential and ongoing impact on informal settlements, which face considerable challenges around the implementation of conventional control measures of social distancing, hand washing and self-isolation. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, residents of informal settlements have relied on local community organisations and groups, and their resourcefulness to provide essential preparedness, response and on-going support to alleviate the public health and economic risks associated with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is also premised on lessons drawn from dealing with previous epidemics, notably the Ebola virus disease in 2014–2015.This paper will explain the nature and form of community organisation that can be galvanised and leveraged for COVID-19 preparedness and responses that are suited for informal settlements. Secondly, it highlights the critical contribution of community organisations in social protection measures that tackle deeply entrenched inequalities in rapidly urbanising contexts. Finally, the cases examined seek to provide evidence of the value of processes of continuous learning within community organisation that are essential for both humanitarian assistance and emergency management. Although situated in Freetown, the broad lessons drawn are relevant for urban-poor communities and informal settlements in many urban African centres.

Services and surveillance during the pandemic lockdown: Residents’ committees in Wuhan and Beijing

2021 ◽  
pp. 0920203X2110128
Author(s):  
Zhenjie Yang ◽  
Guilan Zhu ◽  
Linda Chelan Li ◽  
Yilong Sheng
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Prevention Policy ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
National Capital ◽  
Prevention And Control Measures ◽  
And Control ◽  
Residents Committee

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lockdown of Wuhan, and strict control was imposed in many major Chinese cities, including the national capital of Beijing. Residents’ committee workers at the grass-roots level have played a critical role in the enforcement of the government’s pandemic prevention and control measures, through their day-to-day service and surveillance as local community managers. This article examines their work in Wuhan and Beijing neighbourhoods during the most critical periods of the outbreak, from late January to June 2020, and the challenges the workers faced as executors of the government’s community-based prevention policy. The two cities have developed different community strategies because of very different epidemiological situations and city functions.

scholarly journals Mathematical modeling and comparative analysis of the Ebola epidemic reveal effective control measures

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junlong Li ◽  
Caiping Song ◽  
Jingya Yang ◽  
Jingmin Zheng ◽  
Lina Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Epidemic Outbreak ◽  
And Control

Abstract The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly contagious disease which is caused by the Ebola virus . Various measures were used to prevent and control the spread of EVD. The aim of this study was to find out the most critical measures to prevent and control the spread of EVD. Both mathematical modeling and comparative analysis were used to explore the development process of EVD outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The results of comparative analysis showed quarantined individuals before infection (R 2 = 0.848, ε = 1.012), safe burial teams (R 2 = 0.772, ε = 0.385), and the Ebola treatment units (ETU) bed (R 2 = 0.690, ε = 0.432) could significantly influence the incidence of EVD which were consistent with the results of mathematical modeling. These findings indicted that a timely and effective quarantine played a significant role in preventing and controlling the spread of EVD, and the findings would help us prevent and control the epidemic outbreak of new infectious disease in the future.

scholarly journals Measuring the impact of Ebola control measures in Sierra Leone

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (46) ◽  
pp. 14366-14371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam J. Kucharski ◽  
Anton Camacho ◽  
Stefan Flasche ◽  
Rebecca E. Glover ◽  
W. John Edmunds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Epidemic Dynamics ◽  
International Response ◽  
The Impact

Between September 2014 and February 2015, the number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases reported in Sierra Leone declined in many districts. During this period, a major international response was put in place, with thousands of treatment beds introduced alongside other infection control measures. However, assessing the impact of the response is challenging, as several factors could have influenced the decline in infections, including behavior changes and other community interventions. We developed a mathematical model of EVD transmission, and measured how transmission changed over time in the 12 districts of Sierra Leone with sustained transmission between June 2014 and February 2015. We used the model to estimate how many cases were averted as a result of the introduction of additional treatment beds in each area. Examining epidemic dynamics at the district level, we estimated that 56,600 (95% credible interval: 48,300–84,500) Ebola cases (both reported and unreported) were averted in Sierra Leone up to February 2, 2015 as a direct result of additional treatment beds being introduced. We also found that if beds had been introduced 1 month earlier, a further 12,500 cases could have been averted. Our results suggest the unprecedented local and international response led to a substantial decline in EVD transmission during 2014–2015. In particular, the introduction of beds had a direct impact on reducing EVD cases in Sierra Leone, although the effect varied considerably between districts.

THE IMPACT OF DECENTRALIZATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN UKRAINE

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyudmyla Mishchenko ◽  
◽  
Dmytro Mishchenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Infrastructural Support ◽  
The Impact

The actualization of the results of financial decentralization in Ukraine as part of the reform of decentralization of power and the development of proposals for its improvement is explained by the fact that a clear division of functions, powers and financial resources between national and regional levels is the basis for the well-being of our citizens. opportunities for its sustainable socio- economic development on a democratic basis. It is noted that financial decentralization is a process of giving authority to mobilize revenues and expenditures of local governments in order to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of these powers and better management of community budgets. It is established that unlike traditional entrepreneurship, which focuses on profit generation, the purpose of social entrepreneurship is to create and accumulate social capital. Abroad, social enterprises operate successfully in the fields of education, the environment, human rights, poverty reduction and health care, and their development and dissemination is one way to improve the living conditions of citizens. A similar mission is entrusted to local governments, which allows us to consider the revival of social entrepreneurship as an important element in improving self-government policy. It is determined that in modern conditions social entrepreneurship is one of the tools to ensure the ability of the local community to provide its members with an appropriate level of education, culture, health, housing and communal services, social protection, etc., as well as plan and implement programs efficient use of available natural and human resources, investment and infrastructural support of territorial communities. Due to financial decentralization, local governments have received additional resources that can be used to create economic incentives to promote social entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized businesses at the community level.

JOINT ESTIMATION OF THE TRANSMISSIBILITY AND SEVERITY OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE IN REAL TIME

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (04) ◽  
pp. 587-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUSUKE ASAI ◽  
HIROSHI NISHIURA
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Ascertainment Bias ◽  
Joint Estimation ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Strong Impact

The effective reproduction number [Formula: see text], the average number of secondary cases that are generated by a single primary case at calendar time [Formula: see text], plays a critical role in interpreting the temporal transmission dynamics of an infectious disease epidemic, while the case fatality risk (CFR) is an indispensable measure of the severity of disease. In many instances, [Formula: see text] is estimated using the reported number of cases (i.e., the incidence data), but such report often does not arrive on time, and moreover, the rate of diagnosis could change as a function of time, especially if we handle diseases that involve substantial number of asymptomatic and mild infections and large outbreaks that go beyond the local capacity of reporting. In addition, CFR is well known to be prone to ascertainment bias, often erroneously overestimated. In this paper, we propose a joint estimation method of [Formula: see text] and CFR of Ebola virus disease (EVD), analyzing the early epidemic data of EVD from March to October 2014 and addressing the ascertainment bias in real time. To assess the reliability of the proposed method, coverage probabilities were computed. When ascertainment effort plays a role in interpreting the epidemiological dynamics, it is useful to analyze not only reported (confirmed or suspected) cases, but also the temporal distribution of deceased individuals to avoid any strong impact of time dependent changes in diagnosis and reporting.

scholarly journals Fine Dust and Sustainable Supply Chain Management in Port Operations: Focus on the Major Cargo Handled at the Dry Bulk Port

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 530
Author(s):  
Jeho Hwang ◽  
Sihyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Sustainable Operations ◽  
Port Operations

Local residents living adjacent to ports are directly affected by the fine dust generated from the port operations. There is a need to prepare detailed measures according to cargo type given the high correlation between the types of dust-producing cargo primarily managed at ports and local industries. This study attempts to establish the attributes of the cargo handled at ports and the relationship between supply chains built for local key industries and the air quality of the local community. It aims to ascertain which cargo needs managing preemptively at the local level, based on the major cargo types handled in a port. A correlation analysis and Granger causality test were performed to investigate the causality between the factor of cargo and fine dust concentrations. The results in this study indicate the necessity for intensive management of scrap metal cargo among the major cargo handled at the target port, which confirms the large effect of management on fine dust reduction, as well as on reduction efficiency. The results suggest requirements to expand the regulations on the emissions of supply chains by cargo type, not by industry type. Additionally, it is required to minimize the blind spots of management and form an eco-friendly supply chain by introducing green technology. The preparation of emission control measures is also necessary. The findings provide useful insights for the sustainable operations of the local supply chain around the target port and will help the strategic agenda for future improvement.

scholarly journals Renal Manifestations of Covid-19: Physiology and Pathophysiology

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1216
Author(s):  
Zaher Armaly ◽  
Safa Kinaneh ◽  
Karl Skorecki
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Multiorgan Failure ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Renal Physiology ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Enzymatic Production ◽  
High Incidence

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) imposes a serious public health pandemic affecting the whole world, as it is spreading exponentially. Besides its high infectivity, SARS-CoV-2 causes multiple serious derangements, where the most prominent is severe acute respiratory syndrome as well as multiple organ dysfunction including heart and kidney injury. While the deleterious impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pulmonary and cardiac systems have attracted remarkable attention, the adverse effects of this virus on the renal system is still underestimated. Kidney susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection is determined by the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor which is used as port of the viral entry into targeted cells, tissue tropism, pathogenicity and subsequent viral replication. The SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry receptor, ACE2, is widely expressed in proximal epithelial cells, vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells and podocytes, where it supports kidney integrity and function via the enzymatic production of Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7), which exerts vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and diuretic/natriuretic actions via activation of the Mas receptor axis. Loss of this activity constitutes the potential basis for the renal damage that occurs in COVID-19 patients. Indeed, several studies in a small sample of COVID-19 patients revealed relatively high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) among them. Although SARS-CoV-1 -induced AKI was attributed to multiorgan failure and cytokine release syndrome, as the virus was not detectable in the renal tissue of infected patients, SARS-CoV-2 antigens were detected in kidney tubules, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infects the human kidney directly, and eventually induces AKI characterized with high morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are largely unknown. However, the fact that ACE2 plays a crucial role against renal injury, the deprivation of the kidney of this advantageous enzyme, along with local viral replication, probably plays a central role. The current review focuses on the critical role of ACE2 in renal physiology, its involvement in the development of kidney injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection, renal manifestations and therapeutic options. The latter includes exogenous administration of Ang (1-7) as an appealing option, given the high incidence of AKI in this ACE2-depleted disorder, and the benefits of ACE2/Ang1-7 including vasodilation, diuresis, natriuresis, attenuation of inflammation, oxidative stress, cell proliferation, apoptosis and coagulation.

Nosocomial transmission of Ebola virus disease on pediatric and maternity wards: Bombali and Tonkolili, Sierra Leone, 2014

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela C. Dunn ◽  
Tiffany A. Walker ◽  
John Redd ◽  
David Sugerman ◽  
Jevon McFadden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission

scholarly journals The impact of active surveillance and health education on an Ebola virus disease cluster — Kono District, Sierra Leone, 2014–2015

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasha Stehling-Ariza ◽  
Alexander Rosewell ◽  
Sahr A. Moiba ◽  
Brima Berthalomew Yorpie ◽  
Kai David Ndomaina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Active Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Cluster ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Kono District
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