scholarly journals Recent advances in research and control of malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and schistosomiasis

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Croft ◽  
L. Vivas ◽  
S. Brooker
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Roll Back Malaria ◽  
Regular Treatment ◽  
Recent Advances

In the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization [WHO], malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are the parasitic diseases of major importance. Our review focuses on recent advances in the control and treatment of these diseases with particular reference to diagnosis, chemotherapy, vaccines, vector and environmental control. The Roll Back Malaria Programme, for example, emphasizes the use of insecticide treated bednets in Africa and targets a 30-fold increase in treated bednet use by 2007. Increasing risk factors for leishmaniasis include urbanization, extended agricultural projects and civil unrest and the increase in patients with Leishmania infantum and HIV co-infection in the Region may signal a new threat. In the past 20 years, human African trypanosomiasis has resurged in sub-Saharan Africa; within the Region it has become more common in the southern Sudan where anthroponotic and zoonotic sub-species infections overlap. Schistosomiasis in the Region is caused by either Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni and large-scale control efforts include providing regular treatment to at-risk groups and supporting drug delivery through schools.

scholarly journals Are Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region on Track towards Meeting the World Health Assembly Target for Anemia? A Review of Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2449
Author(s):  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Mandy Taktouk ◽  
Radhouene Doggui ◽  
Zahra Abdollahi ◽  
Baseer Achakzai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
World Health ◽  
Deficiency Anemia ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
World Health Assembly ◽  
The World

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.

scholarly journals Identifying pathways for large-scale implementation of a school-based mental health programme in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a theory-driven approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii112-ii123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olakunle Alonge ◽  
Anna Chiumento ◽  
Hesham M Hamoda ◽  
Eman Gaber ◽  
Zill-e- Huma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Programme Implementation ◽  
School Based ◽  
Mental Health Programme ◽  
Health Programme

Abstract Globally there is a substantial burden of mental health problems among children and adolescents. Task-shifting/task-sharing mental health services to non-specialists, e.g. teachers in school settings, provide a unique opportunity for the implementation of mental health interventions at scale in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is scant information to guide the large-scale implementation of school-based mental health programme in LMICs. This article describes pathways for large-scale implementation of a School Mental Health Program (SMHP) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A collaborative learning group (CLG) comprising stakeholders involved in implementing the SMHP including policymakers, programme managers and researchers from EMR countries was established. Participants in the CLG applied the theory of change (ToC) methodology to identify sets of preconditions, assumptions and hypothesized pathways for improving the mental health outcomes of school-aged children in public schools through implementation of the SMHP. The proposed pathways were then validated through multiple regional and national ToC workshops held between January 2017 and September 2019, as the SMHP was being rolled out in three EMR countries: Egypt, Pakistan and Iran. Preconditions, strategies and programmatic/contextual adaptations that apply across these three countries were drawn from qualitative narrative summaries of programme implementation processes and facilitated discussions during biannual CLG meetings. The ToC for large-scale implementation of the SMHP in the EMR suggests that identifying national champions, formulating dedicated cross-sectoral (including the health and education sector) implementation teams, sustained policy advocacy and stakeholders engagement across multiple levels, and effective co-ordination among education and health systems especially at the local level are among the critical factors for large-scale programme implementation. The pathways described in this paper are useful for facilitating effective implementation of the SMHP at scale and provide a theory-based framework for evaluating the SMHP and similar programmes in the EMR and other LMICs.

scholarly journals Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Negarandeh ◽  
Shah Jahan Shayan ◽  
Rajab Nazari ◽  
BSc. Frank Kiwanuka ◽  
MSc. Sanaz Akhavan Rad
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
World Health ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Inappropriate Use

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.

Critical care research in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region over two decades: where do we stand?

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 1588-1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lama H. Nazer ◽  
Mohamad Elaibaid ◽  
Nada Al-Qadheeb ◽  
Ruth Kleinpell ◽  
Keith M. Olsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Hepatitis B control among children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization

Vaccine ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (21) ◽  
pp. 2403-2409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Allison ◽  
Nadia Teleb ◽  
Salah Al Awaidy ◽  
Hossam Ashmony ◽  
James P. Alexander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Dengue: A potentially emerging healthcare challenge for Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Faiz Ahmed Raza
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Control ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vector Surveillance ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Health Organization

Pakistan is facing the third wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and could head towards the fourth one. Although the burden of COVID-19 remained significantly low in the country as compared to its neighboring countries despite similar gene pool, health system, and climatic conditions, still Pakistan has dealt with the disease with relative effectiveness. The pandemic imposed immense pressure on the public health systems due to increased demand for specialized isolation wards and intensive care units and disease-related morbidity and mortality. Many of the tertiary care hospitals in the major pandemic-stricken districts have been transformed into specialized centers dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19. This resulted in diverting major hospital resources and manpower to deal with the pandemic at the cost of other medical and surgical conditions. A recent pulse survey conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) in 135 countries demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic severely affected the global health services, while services for endemic tropical diseases (like dengue) were affected in 44% of countries, especially in resource-limited countries. Moreover, large-scale community-based interventions including vector surveillance and control were disrupted in 60% of the countries.1 Another survey by WHO on malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa demonstrated a >20% increase in malaria cases and a doubling of malaria-associated deaths due to a decline in malaria control activities during the pandemic. It is expected that the future catastrophe due to malaria might be much greater than the COVID-19 in endemic regions. Therefore, WHO recommends continuous monitoring, surveillance, and treatment to control the spread of malaria.2

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