World Health Organization Regions Research Articles

Monkeypox; Another global health emergency looming in the horizon.

After the uproar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, non-endemic countries like Pakistan are yet to face the danger of monkeypox, a virus of the Orthopox genus from the Poxviridae family, spread via animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission. Currently, two genetic clades of the virus have been identified within Africa. This disease is self-limiting with an incubation period of 5-21 days and is divided into two phases, with fever and prominent lymphadenopathy dominating the first phase and a skin rash with the propensity for the face and extremities being the main feature of the second phase. The disease has been rendered similar to small pox in presentation, though less contagious. Hence, the smallpox vaccine has proven to be 85% beneficial against monkeypox. With the first human case recorded in Congo in 1970, monkeypox was originally endemic to the African region.1 However, a surge in cases has now been reported in 50 countries in five World Health Organization regions, including non-endemic countries. 2 On 21st July 2022, the WHO declared monkeypox as a Global Health Emergency and issued recommendations to different groups of State Parties, considering their epidemiology and prevalence of disease. State parties with no confirmed cases of monkeypox are advised to strengthen their means to combat the disease. It is also recommended to plan, carry out epidemiological disease surveillance, and corroborate the availability of accurate and affordable diagnostic tests. The necessity for a plan to break stigmas against affected individuals, raise awareness in high-risk groups like transgender people, and encourage voluntary self-reporting and care seeking behaviour was highlighted. The temporary recommendations also elaborated on the need to train health workers from various fields to detect the disease early. Any probable or confirmed case of monkeypox is to be immediately reported to the WHO through established channels.3 Although, there have been no cases reported in Pakistan as of 26th July 2022, the slowly rising incidence in neighboring countries and India being the first to report a case of this region this month puts Pakistan at an immense risk.4 It is safe to assume that the advent of this disease into a resource-poor country may very well beset the country’s frail healthcare system. With the WHO declaring another global healthcare emergency, the need to implement timely and specific healthcare measures by developing states has now become imperative more than ever.3

Transforming pharmaceutical education: A needs-based global analysis for policy development

BackgroundA needs-based approach is desirable for the transformation of pharmaceutical education, and to link pharmaceutical education with the health needs of populations and national priorities. There are varying levels of data in the literature on the status of pharmaceutical education in all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions, especially in the context of needs identification and evidence-based policy interventions. The framework for this study was the FIP Development Goals. ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to develop evidence-based policies through a needs-based approach for pharmaceutical education transformation nationally, regionally and globally by addressing the following objectives: 1. Identify global and regional needs in pharmaceutical education, through a regional SWOT analysis and prioritization of FIP development goals; 2. Develop valid and credible regional roadmaps for pharmaceutical education advancement according to the identified prioritized goals and 3. Develop a global call to action as a policy intervention for advancing pharmaceutical education. MethodsThis study was conducted between 2020 and 2021 using a mixed methods approach. Surveys of higher education institutions and a series of qualitative interviews were conducted with national professional leadership organizations, with further regional workshops having 284 participants recruited from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) membership base, spanning all six WHO regions. ResultsEleven out of 21 FIP DGs were identified as priorities for regional roadmaps and FIP DG 1 (Academic capacity) was identified as a priority in four regions. All regions had distinctive results with an area of commonality between them. There were common weaknesses in the adoption of competency-based education and inter-professional education. ConclusionsIt is critical for every country and region to develop needs- and evidence-based policies for the transformation of pharmaceutical education, for which FIP DGs provide a systematic framework.

The challenges of open data for future epidemic preparedness: The experience of the 2022 Ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda.

On 20 September 2022, the Ministry of Health in Uganda, together with the World Health Organization-Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) confirmed an outbreak of EVD due to Sudan ebolavirus in Mubende District, after one fatal case was confirmed. Real-time information are needed to provide crucial information to understand transmissibility, risk of geographical spread, routes of transmission, risk factors of infection, and provide the basis for epidemiological modelling that can inform response and containment planning to reduce the burden of disease. We made an effort to build a centralized repository of the Ebola virus cases from verified sources, providing information on dates of symptom onset, locations (aggregated to the district level), and when available, the gender and status of hospitals, reporting bed capacity and isolation unit occupancy rate according to the severity status of the patient. The proposed data repository provides researchers and policymakers timely, complete, and easy-accessible data to monitor the most recent trends of the Ebola outbreak in Ugandan districts with informative graphical outputs. This favors a rapid global response to the disease, enabling governments to prioritize and adjust their decisions quickly and effectively in response to the rapidly evolving emergency, with a solid data basis.

Follow-up on Women with Abnormal Findings of Cervical Cancer Screening in “The Americas” Region:

The Americas region ranks third in the world in incidence and mortality from cervical cancer among World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Several studies analyze screening coverage and accuracy of screening tests as the main reasons for lack of effectiveness; however, reports on follow-up of positive-screened women are scarce. Aim: To synthesize the existing knowledge about compliance with follow-up recommendations after an abnormal result of cervical cancer screening. Methods: We will search the PubMed via Medline and LILACS databases, with additional searches of grey literature. Inclusion criteria comprise studies on adult women from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) affiliated countries, with full text available and with specified data on follow-up outcomes. There are no language or publication date restrictions. Studies on special populations or including only women under age 25 will be excluded. Two reviewers will screen titles and abstracts independently, and two researchers will assess the methodological quality and risk of bias by using validated tools according to type of study. Disagreements will be solved by consensus. Discussion: This systematic review will provide information on differences and determinants of effective follow-up of positive-screened women in cervical cancer screening. The use of a Latin American database, the review of grey literature, and the inclusion of studies in all languages will allow us to identify more reports that might be relevant for low and middle income countries (LMIC) accounting with a high burden of disease.

Transdisciplinary collaborations to highlight media advocacy on climate change impacts on medicinal plants: Evidence from content analysis, and recommendations for action

Medicinal plants have long been part of the healthcare systems of humanity. At least eighty percent of the population in all World Health Organization (WHO) regions report using herbal medicines. Thus, losing access to medicinal plants from climate change could have a devastating impact on healthcare systems globally. Although the role of the mass media in tackling climate change and health challenges was recognized in a 2017 landmark report on health and climate change, media coverage of the climate crisis and related impacts on medicinal plants appear to be lacking. To assess media coverage of the extinction of medicinal plants due to climate change in three regions — Africa, Asia and Middle East, we conducted a newspaper content analysis, and identified 19 eligible newspaper articles out of 198 articles published from 2008 to 2021. We also conducted a systematic search of studies published in peer-reviewed journals over the same period to determine the extent to which scientific papers on the climate crisis on medicinal plants published over the same period were being cited by the analysed newspaper articles. Of the 478 papers identified, 52 were published from Asian and African countries and were considered eligible. None of the 52 scientific papers were cited by any of the 19 newspaper articles, an indication that studies focusing on medicinal plants’ extinction resulting from climate change were not getting publicity in newspapers. The surprisingly few newspaper articles on the subject may indicate a lack of transdisciplinary initiatives, partnerships, and relationships between stakeholders including journalists and researchers in Africa, Asia and the Middle East working to highlight how climate change is negatively impacting medicinal plants. Therefore, we propose advocacy strategies for promoting media coverage of the climate crisis and its impacts on medicinal plants.

Responding to COVID-19 vaccine-related safety events: WHO Western Pacific regional experience and lessons learned.

Novel vaccines were developed in an unprecedentedly short time in response to the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which triggered concerns about the safety profiles of the new vaccines. This paper describes the actions and outcomes of three major adverse events of special interest (AESIs) reported in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Western Pacific Region: anaphylaxis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) and post-vaccination death. During the large-scale introduction of various novel COVID-19 vaccines, robust monitoring of and response to COVID-19 vaccine safety events were critical. We developed and disseminated information sheets about anaphylaxis and TTS; provided tailor-made training for anaphylaxis monitoring and response, webinars about TTS and AESIs, and an algorithm to support decision-making about AESIs following immunization; as well as provided country-specific technical support for causality assessments, including for possible vaccination-related deaths. Each major vaccine event and situation of high concern was responded to appropriately and in a timely manner with comprehensive technical support from WHO. Our support activities have not only strengthened countries' capacities for vaccine safety surveillance and response, but also enabled countries to decrease the negative impact of these events on their immunization programmes and maintain the confidence of health-care professionals and the general population through proactive delivery of risk communications. This paper summarizes selected, major AESIs following COVID-19 vaccination and responses made by WHO's Regional Office for the Western Pacific to support countries. The examples of responses to vaccine safety events during the pandemic and unprecedented mass vaccination campaigns could be useful for countries to adopt, where applicable, to enhance their preparation for activities related to monitoring vaccine safety.

The political economy of 'strengthening health services': The view from WHO AFRO, 1951-c.1985.

Our contribution to this special issue examines the early history of international striving for universal health care, from the perspective of the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO). The aspiration was repeatedly reframed, from 'strengthening health services' in the 1948 constitution of the World Health Organisation (WHO), to 'Health For All' through primary health care (PHC) in the 1970s, to today's articulations of universal coverage and 'health systems strengthening'. We aim to establish how AFRO supported member states in implementing these policies up to the mid-1980s, and with what degree of success. We also compare AFRO's experience to the established historiographical narrative of global health, as over-fixated on vertical interventions, save for the transitory impact of the PHC movement. Using the archives of WHO in Geneva and AFRO in Brazzaville, we first analyse AFRO's influence and capacity through quantitative financial data. The AFRO nations were net recipients of WHO resources, raising questions about their relative autonomy and voice in the organisation. We then examine AFRO's expenditure, showing that though circumscribed by funds with allocated purposes, there was nonetheless a significant proportion committed to services from the early 1960s, specifically capacity for planning and administration and the nursing, maternal and child health workforce. Counter to expectations though, there was no significant boost to these areas, nor to funding PHC projects, in the 1970s/early 1980s, when disease-specific interventions obtained a larger share. Qualitative sources show that despite its slender resources AFRO accomplished much with respect to training, capacity building and supporting innovative service-delivery, while insisting on African policy input into design and implementation. However country level system-wide planning in health was persistently vulnerable, and the bureaucratic capacity of post-colonial states often weak. Thus AFRO's overall impact was decisively bounded by the global structural inequalities in which it operated.

Nutrition Profile for Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region with Different Income Levels: An Analytical Review.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is suffering from a double burden of malnutrition in which undernutrition coexists with rising rates of overweight and obesity. Although the countries of the EMR vary greatly in terms of income level, living conditions and health challenges, the nutrition status is often discussed only by using either regional or country-specific estimates. This analytical review studies the nutrition situation of the EMR during the past 20 years by dividing the region into four groups based on their income level-the low-income group (Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen), the lower-middle-income group (Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, and Tunisia), the upper-middle-income group (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Libya) and the high-income group (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates)-and by comparing and describing the estimates of the most important nutrition indicators, including stunting, wasting, overweight, obesity, anaemia, and early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. The findings reveal that the trends of stunting and wasting were decreasing in all EMR income groups, while the percentages of overweight and obesity predominantly increased in all age groups across the income groups, with the only exception in the low-income group where a decreasing trend among children under five years existed. The income level was directly associated with the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among other age groups except children under five, while an inverse association was observed regarding stunting and anaemia. Upper-middle-income country group showed the highest prevalence rate of overweight among children under five. Most countries of the EMR revealed below-desired rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. Changes in dietary patterns, nutrition transition, global and local crises, and nutrition policies are among the major explanatory factors for the findings. The scarcity of updated data remains a challenge in the region. Countries need support in filling the data gaps and implementing recommended policies and programmes to address the double burden of malnutrition.

Global burden of metabolic diseases: data from Global Burden of Disease 2000-2019. A cosortium of metabolic disease

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background The growing prevalence of metabolic diseases is a major concern. We sought to examine the global trends and mortality of metabolic diseases using estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Methods Global estimates of prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) from 2000-2019 were examined for metabolic diseases (type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], hypertension, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]). For metabolic risk factors (hyperlipidemia and obesity), estimates were limited to mortality and DALYs. Death rates was compared across sex, World Health Organisation regions and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles. Age-standardised prevalence and death rates were presented per 100,000 population with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI). Findings From 2000 to 2019, prevalence rates increased for all metabolic diseases, with the most pronounced increase in high SDI countries. In 2019, the mean (95%UI) age-standardised prevalence per 100,000 population was estimated to be 15,023 (13,493-16,764) for NAFLD, 5,283 (4,864–5,720) for T2DM and 234 (171-313) for hypertension. The highest age-standardised death rates were observed in obesity (62·59 [39·92-89·13]; males, 66·55 [39·76-97·21]; females. 58·14 [38·53-81·39]), followed by hyperlipidemia (56·51 [41·83-73·62]; males, 67·33 [50·78-86·43]; females, 46·50 [32·70-62·38]), T2DM (18·49 [17·18-19·66], males, 67·33 [50·78-86·43]; females, 46·50 [32·70-62·38]), hypertension (15·16 [11·20-16·75]; males, 14·95 [10·32-16·75]; females, 15·05 [11·51-17·09]) and NAFLD (2·09 [1·61-2·60]; males, 2·38 [1·82-3·02]; females, 1·82 [1·41-2·27]). Mortality rates decreased over time in hyperlipidemia (-154%), hypertension (-52%) and NAFLD (-52%), but not in T2DM and obesity. The highest mortality for metabolic diseases was found in Eastern Mediterranean, and low to low-middle SDI countries. Conclusion The global prevalence of metabolic diseases has risen over the past two decades regardless of SDI. Attention is needed to address the unchanging mortality rates attributed to metabolic disease and the regional, socioeconomic, and sex disparities in mortality from metabolic disease.

Half century of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region: A significant contribution to public health education

The Association of Institutions Responsible for Advanced Teaching in Public Health and of Schools of Public Health in Europe was established in 1966. It was in response to the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO)Regional Office for Europe as part of a worldwide initiative to set up Regional Associations of Schools in every WHO region as a channel for initiating innovative policies. The Organisation’s name was later changed into Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region(ASPHER). ASPHER has established atradition in terms ofan annual award named Andrija Stampar, whichhasbecome a prestigious European reward for merits in public health.A significant contribution to public health education has been made during half century and the Association is today stronger than ever before

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the quality-of-life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease can adversely affect the quality-of-life. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of global literature on the quality-of-life of patients with Parkinson's disease and examined the association between patient characteristics and quality-of-life. We searched Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from January 2000 to January 2020. We included articles published in English that used the Parkinson's disease questionnaire to estimate the quality-of-life score and to identify the determinants of quality-of-life in patients with Parkinson's disease. In total, 41 studies with data from 4060 patients who had Parkinson's disease met our inclusion criteria. The overall quality-of-life score was 32.37 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 28.72-36.01). Age and duration of disease were inversely related to quality-of-life (P < 0.001). South America had the highest score on the questionnaire (39.73, 95% CI: 28.66-50.79, P < 0.001), indicating the lowest quality-of-life of patients with Parkinson's disease. Of the 6 World Health Organization regions, the Eastern Mediterranean Region had the highest score (36.28, 95% CI: 23.44-49.13, P < 0.001). Although the global score in patients with Parkinson's disease indicated an acceptable quality-of-life, there is a possibility for improvements. The findings of this study can inform evidence-based strategies by health policymakers and clinicians to enhance the quality-of-life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Essential medicines for mental disorders: comparison of 121 national lists with WHO recommendations

BackgroundTo compare the medicines for mental disorders included in national essential medicines lists with the World Health Organization (WHO) essential medicines list and assess the extent to which economic status and WHO Region account for the differences.MethodsWe searched WHO repository and government sites for national essential medicines lists and we abstracted medicines for mental disorders. We calculated the proportion of WHO essential medicines included, the total number of differences (counting both additions and deletions) between national and WHO model list and the proportion of lists including one second-generation oral antipsychotic plus one new-generation antidepressant. Non-parametric statistics was used to investigate whether these indicators were dependent on economic status and WHO Region.ResultsAmongst the 121 identified national lists, the total number of medicines for mental disorders ranged from 2 to 63 (median: 18; IQR: 14 to 25). The median proportion of WHO essential medicines for mental disorders included was 86% (IQR: 71–93%), with 16 countries (13%, 95% CI 7.75–20.5%) including all WHO essential medicines, while the median number of differences with the WHO EML was 11 (IQR: 7 to 15). Country economic level was positively associated with both the proportion of WHO essential medicines included (Spearman's rho = 0.417, p < 0.001) and the number of differences (Spearman's rho = 0.345, p < 0.001), implying that countries with higher income level included more WHO essential medicines, but also more additional medicines. Significant differences were observed in relation to WHO Region, with the African and Western Pacific Region showing the lowest proportions of WHO essential medicines, and the European Region showing the highest median number of differences. Overall, 88 national lists (73%, 95% CI 63–80%) included at least one second-generation oral antipsychotic and new-generation antidepressant, with differences by income level and WHO Region.ConclusionsThe degree of alignment of national lists with the WHO model list is substantial, but there are considerable differences in relation to economic status and WHO Region. These findings may help decision-makers to identify opportunities to improve national lists, aiming to increase access to essential medicines for mental disorders.

Introduction of short course treatment for latent tuberculosis infection at a primary care facility for refugees in Winnipeg, Canada: A mixed methods evaluation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) End TB strategy document 'Toward tuberculosis elimination: an action framework for low incidence countries'-like Canada- identifies screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) for groups at increased risk for TB disease as a priority, including newcomers from endemic countries. In 2015, the clients-centered model offered at a primary care facility for refugees, BridgeCare Clinic, Winnipeg, Canada was evaluated. The model included LTBI screening, assessment, and treatment, and originally offered 9-months of isoniazid as treatment. This mixed methods evaluation investigates LTBI program outcomes since the introduction of two short-course treatment regimens: 4-months of rifampin, and 3-months of isoniazid and rifapentine. This study combined a retrospective analysis of program administrative data with structured interviews of clinic staff. We included LTBI treatment eligibility, the treatment regimen offered, treatment initiation, and completed treatment from January 1, 2015 to August 6, 2020. Seven hundred and one people were screened, and infection rates varied from 34.1% in 2015 to 53.3% in 2020. Most people living with LTBI came from high TB burden countries in Africa and South-East Asia WHO regions and were younger than 45 years old. Treatment eligibility increased 9% (75% in 2015 to 86% in 2016-2020) and most people diagnosed with LTBI took the short course treatments offered. There was an increase of 14.5% in treatment initiation (75.6 vs. 90.1%), and an increase of 8% in treatment completion (82.4 vs. 90.4%) after short-course regimens were introduced. The final model showed that the treatment regimen tends to affect the frequency of treatment completion, but there are other factors that influence this outcome, in this population. With the new treatments, BridgeCare Clinic achieved the 90% of treatment coverage, and the 90% treatment completion rate targets recommended in the End TB Strategy. Qualitative interviews with clinic staff further affirm the higher acceptability of the new treatments. While these results are limited to government-sponsored refugees in Winnipeg, they highlight the acceptability and value of short-course LTBI treatment as a possibility for reaching End TB targets in primary care settings.

The Global Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Forum: Promoting Optimal Cardiovascular Health Worldwide.

The Global Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Forum: Promoting Optimal Cardiovascular Health Worldwide.

All-cause readmission rate and risk factors of 30- and 90-day after discharge in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The readmission rate following hospitalization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is surprisingly high, and frequent readmissions represent a higher risk of mortality and a heavy economic burden. However, information on all-cause readmissions in patients with COPD is limited. This study aimed to systematically summarize all-cause COPD readmission rates within 30 and 90 days after discharge and their underlying risk factors. Eight electronic databases were searched to identify relevant observational studies about COPD readmission from inception to 1 August 2022. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for methodological quality assessment. We adopt a random effects model or a fixed effects model to estimate pooled all-cause COPD readmission rates and potential risk factors. A total of 28 studies were included, of which 27 and 8 studies summarized 30- and 90-day all-cause readmissions, respectively. The pooled all-cause COPD readmission rates within 30 and 90 days were 18% and 31%, respectively. The World Health Organization region was initially considered to be the source of heterogeneity. We identified alcohol use, discharge destination, two or more hospitalizations in the previous year, and comorbidities such as heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, anemia, cancer, or tumor as potential risk factors for all-cause readmission, whereas female and obesity were protective factors. Patients with COPD had a high all-cause readmission rate, and we also identified some potential risk factors. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen early follow-up and targeted interventions, and adjust or avoid risk factors after discharge, so as to reduce the major health economic burden caused by frequent readmissions. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (no. CRD42022369894).

China has the momentum to eliminate measles

China has the momentum to eliminate measles

Providing information for decision-making in the Nigerian Polio Eradication Program, 2016-2020.

Nigeria made a coordinated effort to be certified by the World Health Organization's African Region for interrupting endemic transmission of wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) in August 2020 as a response to the resurgence of WPV1 cases in August 2016 after going two years without a case. The NEOC Data Working Group (DWG) was instrumental in providing quality and timely surveillance and campaign information for decision-making in order to interrupt WPV1 transmission and provide data toward documentation of its elimination for regional certification. The polio pre-campaign dashboard was used to assess the level of preparedness for Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV) polio supplementary immunization activities (SIA) at three weeks, two weeks, one week, and three days to the start of each campaign implemented during 2016-2020. The administrative tally sheet, independent monitoring survey, and Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) survey data collected and shared from the implementation level were analyzed by the EOC DWG to provide information by person, place, and time. Using a 90% threshold in LQAS surveys defining quality SIAs, the proportion of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria's states in which post-SIA LQAS surveys were conducted that met this threshold were assessed over time. The highest level of preparedness attained by 3 days to a polio campaign during August 2016-February 2020 was 95% and the lowest attained was 77%. The admin, independent monitoring, and LQAS data analysis results were given to EOC working groups for assessing the performance and quality of each campaign. Twenty-twenty five percent of LGAs that failed LQAS were identified for repeat vaccination. Further, acute flaccid paralysis and environmental surveillance data and laboratory results were analyzed and shared with NEOC and partners. The government and partners used the information generated by the Data Working Group to take evidence-based action including determining the scope of the polio campaign, intensification of surveillance and routine immunization activities, and special intervention activities. On average, 12% of the 774 LGAs were identified as polio high risk LGAs for intervention using selected surveillance, routine immunization (RI), SIAs, and other relevant data sets. National Emergency Operation Centre Data Working Group provided quality and timely information that supported decision-making processes for the polio program in Nigeria. The quality and timely information enabled the NEOC to make evidence-based and timely decisions that contributed to gap identification and decision-making.

The WHO African Region Initiative on Engaging Civil Society Organizations in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for a More Effective Engagement of Communities in Responding to Public Health Emergencies.

Engaging communities is a key factor in efficient response to public health emergencies (PHE). Previous and recent outbreaks have shown that civil society organizations (CSOs) can mobilize the communities to better prepare and respond to a PHE. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) implemented an initiative to partner with community leaders by engaging CSOs. The Civil Society Organization Initiative (CSO Initiative) aims to work directly with well-established community-based organizations to accelerate whole-of-society preparation and response. Twenty-three CSOs from 12 WHO African Region Member States have been supported financially and technically to implement effective community-based interventions to respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. After 1 year of implementation (2021), the successes, challenges, and recommendations for maximizing future engagements with CSOs are outlined. As the COVID-19 outbreak is again underlining, partnering with established CSOs to engage diverse social groups from various communities can help provide a timely and efficient response to a PHE.

Application of WHO 2015 nutritional profile model for the reduction of added sugars in children's dairy

In the last 20 years we have doubled obesity rates. In Spain, 67 % of the population does not have an adequate weight and 40 % of the child population suffers from obesity or overweight. This leads to serious diseases. To avoid this, a national plan to fight obesity is required, with prevention and therapeutic strategies so as not to continue increasing these data in 2030. Among the factors that cause childhood obesity are poor eating habits as well as a lack of physical activity and excessive use of screens. In addition, there is a significant social gap. Childhood obesity especially affects families with lower purchasing power (54 %) who do not have access to a healthy diet or the necessary tools or knowledge to promote health to their sons and daughters through food. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe developed a nutrient profile model in 2015, specifically for the purpose of restricting the marketing of foods aimed at children. This model is considered by the scientific community as a reference tool when it comes to establish policies and improvements in favor of public health, in order to provide families with access to food with a better profile and nutritional value.

Hypertension management in sub-Saharan Africa: an overview of challenges and opportunities for telemedicine

Hypertension is the leading contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths globally, with Africa being one of the World Health Organization regions with the highest prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP). In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), awareness, treatment, and control levels of hypertension remain low in both men and women and in different settings, including rural and urban areas. Important barriers to the management of hypertension in SSA are within health systems, usually overburdened by communicable and non-communicable diseases, acute medical conditions, and child and maternal healthcare. Health system-related challenges include the availability and cost of essential medicines and healthcare workforce constraints. At the patient level, individual barriers such as sociodemographic, economic, and psychosocial factors contribute significantly to the poor control of hypertension. Telemedicine presents a promising approach to improve the delivery of optimal care for individuals living with hypertension by serving as a connection between healthcare providers and patients. This may enhance access to isolated people living with hypertension, such as in rural areas. However, there is a concern that telemedicine may exacerbate some of the barriers to the management of hypertension in disadvantaged groups, such as those with limited access to digital technology, low education and literacy levels, and the ageing population. Therefore, the objective of this review is to summarize the current state of telemedicine use in the management of hypertension in SSA and discuss the challenges and opportunities to provide cost-effective, equitable, and sustainable access to digital health technology for people living with hypertension in SSA.