scholarly journals Tuberculosis and HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

2002 ◽  
Vol 08 (06) ◽  
pp. 699-705
Author(s):  
L. Gillini ◽  
A. Seita

Tuberculosis [TB] is an important public health problem in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization. Every year the disease kills 136, 000 people and affects 630, 000 more. HIV is the most significant risk factor for progression from subclinical infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis to active TB. Although the HIV/AIDS threat in the Region appears to be relatively modest and so far there has been no evidence of an impact of HIV on TB epidemiology in the Region, there is a need to jointly address HIV infection and TB more effectively. In this paper the TB situation in the Region and the measures being taken to combat it are outlined. The impact of HIV infection on TB and the repercussions this could have on theTB situation in the Region are also discussed. Actions that are needed to tackle this double burden are suggested.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S28-S32
Author(s):  
Reda M R Ramzy ◽  
Abdul Samid Al Kubati

Abstract Lymphatic filariasis (LF), a neglected tropical disease, is targeted for global elimination as a public health problem. This article reviews the history of LF control and elimination activities in the countries of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) over the last 2 decades. In 2000, the estimated at-risk population in EMR countries was 12.6 million people, accounting for approximately 1% of the global disease burden. Of the 22 EMR countries, 3 countries (Egypt, Sudan and Yemen) were LF endemic and the disease was suspected in 4 other countries (Djibouti, Oman, Somalia and Saudi Arabia). After almost 2 decades of implementing sustained control and prevention measures, Egypt and Yemen were successfully validated by the WHO as having achieved the elimination criteria in 2017 and 2019, respectively. In 2018, Sudan completed mapping of LF, reaching 26.2% geographical coverage where mass drug administration (MDA) is required and is scaling-up MDA. Extensive epidemiological assessment indicated the absence of LF transmission in the four suspected countries and no MDA required. Challenges faced during the elimination and post-elimination phases are described and discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-101
Author(s):  
N. I. Neouimine

Leishmaniasis is recognized as an important public health problem in some Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region owing to its considerable impact on morbidity and its potential to spread in epidemics, which impose a heavy burden on national health services. The increased incidence of leishmaniasis in countries of the Region is due to several reasons including influx of nonimmune population into natural foci of transmission, changes in ecology of vectors and reservoir host, reduction in the use of residual insecticides for the control of malaria and improvements in diagnosis and reporting of positive cases


2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 534-541
Author(s):  
M. El Setouhy ◽  
R. M. R. Ramzy

Lymphatic filariasis [LF] represents a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The disease is endemic or suspected in several countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Recent advances in diagnosis and therapy led the World Health Assembly to pass a resolution in 1997 calling for “the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. ” The elimination strategy is based on rounds of mass drug administration of an annual single-dose of combined drug regimens for 5-6 consecutive years. Subsequent steps included formation of a Regional Programme Review Group to orient national LF control programmes towards the concept of elimination, provide advice, review each national plan of action and review annual reports. To date, Egypt and the Republic of Yemen have active national LF elimination programmes, however, elimination activities in the Republic of Yemen are still restricted to certain identified endemic regions. Other countries in the Region are on their way to verifying the situation and if LF is proved to be endemic, will start mapping endemic localities. This review sheds light on the status of LF elimination activities in the Region and highlights some of the major accomplishments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Akihiro Seita

Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It is crucial for each country to develop a national tuberculosis surveillance system. WHO has developed a standardized tuberculosis surveillance system through which two important indicators for tuberculosis control, a cure rate and a case detection rate, can be collected. The number of countries that have adopted the WHO tuberculosis surveillance system has been increasing in the Region. At the moment, 13 countries have reported a cure rate, which is the most important indicator for national tuberculosis control programmes. It is hoped that more countries will adopt this system.


Author(s):  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Mandy Taktouk ◽  
Radhouene Doggui ◽  
Zahra Abdollahi ◽  
Baseer Achakzai ◽  
...  

Anemia is a multifactorial condition, with a complex etiology that involves nutritional and non-nutritional factors. The misconception that iron deficiency is equivalent to anemia may mask the need to address other potential causative factors. This review paper aims to (1) assess the burden of anemia vs. iron deficiency anemia (IDA) amongst women of reproductive age (WRA), pregnant women (PW), and children under five years old (underfive children, U5C) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR); (2) evaluate trends in anemia prevalence and whether countries are on track towards meeting the World Health Assembly (WHA) target for 2025; and (3) characterize anemia reduction efforts and provide a road map for future programs. A search of pertinent literature and databases was conducted. Anemia prevalence in the EMR ranged between 22.6% and 63% amongst PW, 27% and 69.6% amongst WRA, and 23.8% and 83.5% amongst U5C. Data showed that the EMR is not on course towards meeting the WHA target. The contribution of IDA to anemia was found to be less than half. Other potential contributors to anemia in the region were identified, including micronutrient deficiencies, parasitic infestations, and poor sanitation. A framework of action was proposed as a roadmap to meet the targets set by the WHA.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Negarandeh ◽  
Shah Jahan Shayan ◽  
Rajab Nazari ◽  
BSc. Frank Kiwanuka ◽  
MSc. Sanaz Akhavan Rad

Abstract Background Recently, inappropriate use of antibiotics has been correlated with life-threatening side-effects such as adverse effects, increased cost of treatment, and the higher rate of microbial resistance. Besides, it leads to a waste of resources. Therefore, this review sought to determine the pooled prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics, self-medicated illness, reasons for self-medication, antibiotics used for self-medication, source of obtaining antibiotics, the inappropriate practice of antibiotics and suggested recommendations for talking self-medication with antibiotics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (EMRWHO). Methods Review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Database search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science using a combination of keywords which included; antimicrobial, antibacterial, antibiotic, self-medication, self-treatment, self-prescription, non-prescribed, irrational use, inappropriate use, misuse, abuse and Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO countries. The lists of references of the selected articles were also hand-searched to obtained additional relevant articles. Studies published in English from 2000 to 2018 were included in the review. Results We report on data from 60 articles and 49629 participants in this review. The overall prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in EMRWHO was 47.2% (95% CI 41.6% – 52.9%). Yemen has the highest pooled rate with a rate of 75.0% (95% CI 63.4% − 83.9%), whilst Lebanon has the lowest pooled rate with a prevalence of 28.7% (95% CI 18.4% − 41.8%). The most common illnesses implicated in antibiotic self-medication were upper-respiratory infections and the most common antibiotic was Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid. The commonest reasons for antibiotic self-medication include: saving time and money. Pharmacies pointed out as the most common source of obtaining antibiotics for self-medication. Conclusion Self-medication with antibiotics is significantly high in the member states of EMRWHO. Intervention such as an educational program for communities’ members to change their behaviors, policy on the mechanism of distribution of antibiotics is called for in this area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Winter 2021) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Soliman Al-Zawawy

This paper aims to forecast the route that Joe Biden, will take in his foreign policy toward the Eastern Mediterranean, by trying to analyze the content of his speeches and rhetoric before and shortly after taking office. In this context, America’s relation to Turkey will be pivotal in order to gauge the impact of any change in U.S. course. After four years of Trump’s doctrine of ‘America First’ and his bilateral approach, there are many expectations that the newly elected president will follow a more multilateral approach and will put more importance on international organizations and alliances across the Atlantic. Those expectations are more like wishes, however, when it comes to the Eastern Mediterranean, which is on the verge of a critical standoff between Turkey and its neighbors. There are some speculations that Biden will take a more affirmative stance against Turkey. Indeed, Biden has stressed the value of cooperating with allies to achieve foreign policy objectives. But despite the harsh language, Biden used during his election campaign to describe Turkey’s leadership, it is still unclear whether Biden will place the U.S. on a collision course with Turkey.


Author(s):  
Matteo Riccò ◽  
Sergio Garbarino ◽  
Nicola Bragazzi

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and, according to the Islamic tradition, it coincides with the month when the Noble Koran/Qur’an began to be revealed. In recent years, concerns about the potentially negative health effects of Ramadan fasting and the risks of work-related injuries have increased in Western European (EURO) countries. In the present study, we performed a retrospective database-based analysis assessing the impact of Ramadan fasting on occupational injuries (OIs) in North-Eastern Italy among migrant workers from the Eastern-Mediterranean Region (EMRO). Our results suggest that EMRO workers exhibit a significantly increased risk for OIs during Ramadan in periods characterized by heat-waves, while their frequency was somehow reduced for days associated with Ramadan characterized by increased but not extreme temperatures. However, these results may be attributable to an explanatory causation in the specific differences between EMRO and EURO workers in the job tasks performed at the workplace. Not coincidentally, no significant differences were found regarding industrial settings, mechanisms of OIs and final prognosis. Despite the obvious practical implications for health decision- and policy-makers, due to the limitations of the present investigation, further studies are warranted.


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