Tag Archives: Africa

Video Competition

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AfroPHC has been developing a primary healthcare policy framework that is being launched on the 14th of March 2023. The framework consists of 31 main points/goals plus an opening and closing. Now, we are hosting a competition to create videos for each of the 33 points.

This competition is for healthcare students and professionals in Africa. Participation will be in groups and to participate, the group leader has to register below and download the video scripts document. This document has 33 scenes, one for each of the 33 points in the policy framework. In the scripts document, the policy framework points are in given in peach background. And this document can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tcbBgmYaFECY3v3UPXveiBGssCnKue39/view?usp=drivesdk

The participants are to shoot 5 videos for any 5 scenes directed in the scripts document. Each video should be atleast 15 seconds and atmost 30 seconds long (15-30 seconds long). The participants are to shoot the videos as directed in the scripts. They are free to make slight changes, the number of the main cast in the introduction and closing scenes can be reduced to 5. If participants feel like they can do one or more of the scenes in a better way than the one directed, they should email their suggested script(s) to innocential@innocentialdiaries.xyz for approval first before shooting. Such scripts will not be shared with other participants.

The participants are expected to collaborate with their healthcare centers for the video shooting and the equipment required. The scripts documents lists the extra requirements that might not be available in a healthcare center. Anyone can play any role given in the scripts document. However, identity clothing is required for each specified role. For example, a student nurse can act as a doctor in the play provided he dresses as a doctor in that play. The videos are to be simple and there’s no need for professional equipment or editing.

Technical requirements include:

  • Minimum resolution of the video of at least 720p.
  • The videos should have an aspect ratio of horizontal 4:3.
  • A maximum file size of 300MB, while utilizing commonly used video-codecs (e.g. H.264) and formats (.mov or .mp4).
  • Audio with a minimum bitrate of 128kbps.
  • Do not add text or watermarks or logos on the videos.
  • Only the calls should be cited in the videos. The words spoken in the videos should only be the calls recited.
  • The videos should not be significantly inclined torwards one gender.
  • Name the video files according to the scene titles given.

After shooting the 5 videos, the participants must put them in a Google drive folder and email the link to innocential@innocentialdiaries.xyz. Make sure this email has been granted access to the folder. These 5 videos should be submitted before the deadline, 12 February 2023, 2359hrs GMT+2. We will then shortlist two teams, and these two teams would have to shoot the videos for the remaining 28 scenes (to make a total of 33 videos, one video for each of the scenes given). They are to submit these videos as described above before the deadline, 28 February 2023, 2359hrs GMT+2.

The winners will be announced within a week, on this page and on our social accounts. There will be 2 winners. The 1st place will be awarded $500US. The second place will be awarded $250US. The ranking will be done by a set of judges and it will be based on creativity, quality and excellence. The winning participants will be required to grant AfroPHC the copyrights and ownership of their video content before being awarded the cash prizes.

For questions and updates, kindly join our Competition Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FB9mee2zrWxF5D2OgjGupF. We will be happy to provide any information necessary.

Best of luck!

Register now

Les infections néonatales bactériennes | CPD Meeting 10 Nov

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Véritable problème de santé publique dans les pays en voie de développement. Prise en charge non homologuée, et prévention moins couteuse que le traitement.

Webinar Title: Les infections néonatales bactériennes

Objectives:
Définir infections néonatales
Démarche diagnostique d’une infection néonatale bactérienne
Prendre en charge et prévenir les infections néonatales bactériennes
Speaker: Marguerite Edongue Hika

Passionnée par la médecine de l’enfant, compte se spécialiser en endocrinologie et médecine de l’adolescent.

Facilitator: Elie Badjo

Date: Thursday, 10th of November 2022

Time: 15:00 Central Africa Time (GMT+2 / CAT)

Duration: 1 hour

CPD Points: 1

Register here: https://wcea.education/portfolio-item/les-infections-neonatales-bacteriennes/

Post-doctoral position available at AHRI

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This eighteen-months Post-doc position will support the work of the research vision and objectives, data and methodology, and omics workstreams of the CE-APCC. The work will happen in several phases with the first phase a landscape review of population cohorts in Africa with regards to their research visions and aims, scope for data and methodological harmonization, and opportunities for omics approaches. During the second phase, the candidate will organize and facilitate a series of thematic workshops with stakeholders in Africa to discuss and enhance the landscape review. This information will be summarized in a participatory pathway impact analysis. The third phase will build a consensus on the research vision and objectives for the APCC and opportunities for omics, data, and methodological advances. In the final phase the candidate will participate in the writing of the final APCC blueprint. The candidate will work with three other postdoctoral fellows on this project who are based in Malawi and Kenya.

This is an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral candidate to work directly with leading scientists in Africa in the fields of population, public health, data, and omics sciences. The candidate will work under the direct supervision of Dr Kobus Herbst, the co-lead of the CE-APCC; Drs. Anjali Sharma, Jacques Emina and Mercy Wanjala, conveners of the Research Vision and Objectives workstream; Drs. Agnes Kiragga and Sikhulile Moyo, co-leads of the Data & Methodology workstreams; and Prof Michele Ramsay, lead of the Omics workstream.

It is an unprecedented opportunity to explore the research landscape of the most important population cohorts, including the more than 30 health and demographic surveillance systems in Africa and build an invaluable network of scientists in Africa as a resource for a scientific career that will positively impact of the health and wellbeing of the African population. This work will result in several publications documenting the landscape review and the process of establishing the APCC.

Qualifications and experience:

PhD in a relevant subject
Strong systematic review skills
Ability to prepare results for publication and draft own manuscripts
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Self-motivated, able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
Good interpersonal skills and team orientated
Please click here to apply. Closing date is Friday, 21 October 2022.

The salary for this position depends on previous experience and brackets are according to AHRI’s official scheme and NRF grades, which will be without tax deduction due to tax exemption status for postdoctoral fellows.

LSHTM PHC seminar series launch

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”Primary Health Care – the heart of every health system”, a 10-part seminar series runs from October 2022 to July 2023 providing an overview of the key features and functions of PHC, the potential of PHC in all health systems and its role in achieving universal health coverage.

The first session will be:
Panel Discussion: Primary Health Care, the heart of every health system?
12.45 – 13.45, Wed 5 Oct 2022
Introduction: Liam Smeeth (LSHTM)
Panellists: Kara Hanson (LSHTM), Shannon Barkley (WHO), Alex Mold (LSHTM), Shabir Moosa (Wits University)
Chairs:
Luke Allen (LSHTM) & Luisa Pettigrew (LSHTM)

…more

WHO: More than half of child deaths are due to conditions that could be easily prevented or treated given access to health care and improvements to their quality of life

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Background Evidence has been accumulating that community health workers (CHWs) providing evidence–based interventions as part of community–based primary health care (CBPHC) can lead to reductions in maternal, neonatal and child mortality. However, investments to strengthen and scale–up CHW programs still remain modest.

Methods We used the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) to estimate the number of maternal, neonatal and child deaths and stillbirths that could be prevented if 73 countries effectively scaled up the population coverage of 30 evidence–based interventions that CHWs can deliver in these high–burden countries. We set population coverage targets at 50%, 70%, and 90% and summed the country–level results by region and by all high–burden countries combined. We also estimated which specific interventions would save the most lives.

Findings LiST estimates that a total of 3.0 (sensitivity bounds 1.8–4.0), 4.9 (3.1–6.3) and 6.9 (3.7–8.7) million deaths would be prevented between 2016 and 2020 if CBPHC is gradually scaled up during this period and if coverage of key interventions reaches 50%, 70%, and 90% respectively. There would be 14%, 23%, and 32% fewer deaths in the final year compared to a scenario assuming no intervention coverage scale up. The Africa Region would receive the most benefit by far: 58% of the lives saved at 90% coverage would be in this region. The interventions contributing the greatest impact are nutritional interventions during pregnancy, treatment of malaria with artemisinin compounds, oral rehydration solution for childhood diarrhea, hand washing with soap, and oral antibiotics for pneumonia.

Conclusions Scaling up CHW programming to increase population–level coverage of life–saving interventions represents a very promising strategy to achieve universal health coverage and end preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030. Numerous practical challenges must be overcome, but there is no better alternative at present. Expanding the coverage of key interventions for maternal nutrition and treatment of childhood illnesses, in particular, may produce the greatest gains. Recognizing the millions of lives of mothers and their young offspring that could

be achieved by expanding coverage of evidence–based interventions provided by CHWs and strengthening the CBPHC systems that support them underscores the pressing need for commitment from governments and donors over the next 15 years to prioritize funding, so that robust CHW platforms can be refined, strengthened, and expanded... more

African Health Ministers announce ‘pivotal’ new strategy to combat communicable diseases

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With the burden of cardiovascular disease, mental and neurological disorders and diabetes rising in the region, African health ministers on Tuesday, endorsed a new strategy to boost access to the diagnosis, treatment and care of severe noncommunicable diseases.

The health ministers, gathering for the seventy-second session of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Lomé, Togo, adopted the strategy, known as PEN-PLUS. That plan will be implemented as a regional strategy to address severe noncommunicable diseases at first-level referral health facilities. The strategy supports building the capacity of district hospitals and other first-level referral facilities to diagnose and manage severe noncommunicable diseases…more

Role of Local Evidence in Transferring Evidence-Based Interventions to Low- and Middle-Income Country Settings: Application to Global Cancer Prevention and Control.

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PURPOSE: Although the global burden of cancer falls increasingly on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), much of the evidence for cancer prevention and control comes from high-income countries and may not be directly applicable to LMIC settings. In this paper, we focus on the following question: When the majority of the evidence supporting an evidence-based intervention or implementation strategy comes from high-income countries, what local, contextual evidence is needed when transferring and adapting an intervention or strategy to a specific LMIC setting?

METHODS: We draw on an existing framework (the Population, Intervention, Environment, Transfer-T process model) for assessing transferability of interventions between distinct settings and apply the model to two case studies as learning examples involving implementation of tobacco use treatment guidelines and self sampling for human papillomavirus DNA in cervical cancer screening.

RESULTS: These two case studies illustrate how researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and consumers may approach the need for local evidence from different perspectives and with different priorities. As uses and expectations around local evidence may be different for different groups, aligning these priorities through multistakeholder engagement in which all parties participate in defining the questions and cocreating the solutions is critical, along with promoting standardized reporting of contextual factors.

CONCLUSION: Local, contextual evidence can be important for both researchers and practitioners, and its absence may hinder translation of research and implementation efforts across different settings. However, it is essential for researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to be able to clearly articulate the type of data needed and why it is important. In particular, where resources are limited, evidence generation should be prioritized to address real needs and gaps in knowledge…more

Join us this Friday to consult in Arabic Africa

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We are really keen to get as many people engaging with AfroPHC and the draft Policy Framework. You can make comment here.
https://afrophc.org/2022/08/07/afrophc-draft-policy-framework-released-for-stakeholder-comment/ Join us 1-3pm GMT this Friday 19th August to meet with as many colleagues from Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya [with English-French-Arabic translators]. The consultation will be facilitated by Almoghira Abdella / Ahmed Sallam

The agenda is as follows. The link is below
Welcome/Introductions
Introduction to AfroPHC and Chapter Discussions on “What are the challenges of PHC in the region?”
Review of AfroPHC Policy Framework Discussions on “The Draft Policy Framework: what we like, don’t like and suggestions”
Discussions on “How we take AfroPHC forward?”
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87667423120?pwd=R1p0NHY1ZlNDQ3dGTlRZcjduczlOUT09] ID: 876 6742 3120 | Passcode: 111364

Join the AfroPHC Arabaphone Africa WhatsApp group and engage in discussions before and after our consultations. https://chat.whatsapp.com/GdXGAOyn5Ko44S2U6NzPCf See more here [https://afrophc.org/chapters/].

We are very keen that as many local stakeholders participate. These include professional associations, ministries of health, accreditation / certification bodies, academics, patient advocacy groups etc. Please feel free to share this email to any key stakeholders you think should be there and ask them to join us to discuss AfroPHC and the Policy Framework.

Interested in CPD Meetings? Kindly visit https://afrophc.org/cpd/ for more!

Mooki Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 2

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We are sharing the second issue of Mooki newsletter of the Lesotho Nurses Association. For the success of our newsletter, please feel free to share your stories, articles, events, interviews, and any developments in Lesotho Nursing and Midwifery with the editor (contacts provided in this issue). The editorial team will highly appreciate feedback on how to improve the Newsletter…!!!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THE NEWSLETTER ON YOUR NETWORKS.

Mooki Newletter Vol 2 Iss 2Download

WHO publishes new guidelines on HIV, hepatitis and STIs

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The guidelines outline a public health response to HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for 5 key populations (men who have sex with men, trans and gender diverse people, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prisons and other closed settings)…

“The new data from UNAIDS show that around 70% of new HIV infections occur among key populations and their partners…” said Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes…

These guidelines also acknowledge that behavioural interventions aimed at changing behaviours – which tend to be prioritized in many settings – have no impact on incidence of HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs or on behaviour change…more

AfroPHC Policy Workshop on Workers Health in African PHC

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Join us at our next interactive AfroPHC Policy Workshop on “Workers Health in African PHC” 11am-2pm Ghana, 12pm-3pm Nigeria, 1-4 pm Central/Southern Africa and 2-5pm Kenya next Tuesday 16th August. Check your local time here.

Our panel, moderated by Dr Jamie Colloty, is made up of the following expert.
· Dr. Dorothy Ngajilo, Occupational Medicine Specialist, World Health Organization (WHO) Global Occupational and Workplace Health Programme
After the panel discussion of 1 hour, we will break up into small groups with specific facilitators / language groups for 45 minutes to discuss the following question/s.
What are some of the positive and negative experiences that have affected yourhealth and safety as a healthcare worker?
What do you understand by the term burnout and what are some of the factors thatlead to burnout among primary health care workers in Africa?
What policies and strategies would you recommend protecting the health and safetyof primary health care workers in Africa?
We will close the meeting with feedback and summarise key issues. We want to build discussions into the draft AfroPHC Policy Document “Building the PHC Team for UHC in Africa”. The panel and feedback will have French translations. See more details, including speaker’s bios here.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85023059229?pwd=aWttVUh5ZTVFdHhRbElKSTBJVjVrZz09
Meeting ID: 850 2305 9229 | Passcode: 241734

Join us this Friday to consult in Central Africa

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Join us 12-2pm GMT this Friday 12th August to meet with as many colleagues from Cameroon, DR Congo, Chad, Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea [with English – French translators]. The consultation will be facilitated by Francoise Nwabufo and Elie Badjo.

The agenda is as follows. The link is below
Welcome/Introductions
Introduction to AfroPHC and Chapters and Discussions on “What are the challenges of PHC in the region?”
Review of AfroPHC Policy Framework and Discussions on “The Draft Policy Framework: what we like, don’t like and suggestions”
Discussions on “How we take AfroPHC forward?”
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87667423120?pwd=R1p0NHY1ZlNDQ3dGTlRZcjduczlOUT09] ID: 876 6742 3120 | Passcode: 111364

See more here [https://afrophc.org/chapters/]. We are very keen that as many local stakeholders participate. These include professional associations, ministries of health, accreditation / certification bodies, academics, patient advocacy groups etc. Please feel free to share this email to any key stakeholders you think should be there and ask them to join us to discuss AfroPHC and the Policy Framework.

GHWN Youth Hub Social media challenge!

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The challenge has begun!



Rules:

Follow the GHWN Youth Hub Instagram page: @ghwnyouthhub

Create Instagram reels with the theme of Planetary Health! There are two challenges:

#YH22Challenge1: What is the main issue for you in planetary health?

#YH22Challenge2: Name 3 tips for fellow youth to engage in planetary health.

Some sub-questions to spark your creativity:

What does planetary health mean to you? Describe in 3 words.

Why should youth advocate for Planetary Health?

Important messages to Youth

Insert either #YH22Challenge1 or #YH22Challenge2 to indicate which challenge you are participating in and add the hashtags: #YHack22, #YHConf22

Tag us on Instagram! @ghwnyouthhub

Nominate your friends or tag your favourite climate activists!

You are free to use any audio or props in their video, be as creative as you like.

The contents must not contain inappropriate content.


Prizes:

The winners will be announced before 26 August 2022.

The Top 2 Winners of the social media challenges will be featured and interviewed on our social media platforms.

New global alliance launched to end AIDS in children by 2030

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Globally, only half of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment. UNAIDS, UNICEF, and WHO have brought together a new alliance to fix one of the most glaring disparities in the AIDS response…more

WHO launches appeal to respond to urgent health needs in the greater Horn of Africa

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The health and lives of people in the greater Horn of Africa are threatened as the region faces an unprecedented food crisis. In order to carry out urgent, life-saving work, WHO is launching a funding appeal for US$ 123.7 million…more

Are Africa’s health resources overly focused on HIV/AIDS?

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… Africa’s double burden of infectious and chronic disease is at the center of this debate on whether Africa is overspending health resources on … For starters, according to the World Health Organization, Africa has the highest incidence of HIV…more

Family Medicine in Malawi Newsletter

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We would like to share some recent updates with you from our Department.
In our last newsletter, we shared the Family Medicine Department response in February and March to the flooding victims in Southern Malawi. But this wasn’t the only opportunity our Family Medicine doctors had to extend healthcare in a disaster. In late April, two of our doctors, Dr. Catherine Hodge and registrar Dr. Antonio Giannakis, joined a team of American Family Medicine doctors to fly to Uzhhorod, Ukraine. The group ran a week of clinics for the many refugees who had fled from the southeast and middle of Ukraine due to the war raged by Russia…more

Healthcare workers’ perspectives on access to SRH services in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

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Background: Access to sexual and reproductive health services remains a challenge for many in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia…

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers working in health facilities offering sexual and reproductive health services in Kenya (n = 212), Tanzania (n = 371), Uganda (n = 145) and Zambia (n = 243)…

Results: According to healthcare workers, the most common barrier to accessing sexual and reproductive health services was poor patient knowledge (37.1%). Following, issues with supply of commodities (42.5%) and frequent stockouts (36.0%) were most often raised in the public sector; in the other sectors these were also raised as an issue. Patient costs were a more significant barrier in the private (33.3%) and private not-for-profit sectors (21.1%) compared to the public sector (4.6%), and religious beliefs were a significant barrier in the private not-for-profit sector compared to the public sector (odds ratio = 2.46, 95% confidence interval = 1.69–3.56). In all sectors delays in the delivery of supplies (37.4-63.9%) was given as main stockout cause. Healthcare workers further believed that it was common that clients were reluctant to access sexual and reproductive health services, due to fear of stigmatisation, their lack of knowledge, myths/superstitions, religious beliefs, and fear of side effects. Healthcare workers recommended client education to tackle this.

Conclusions: Demand and supply side barriers were manifold across the public, private and private not-for-profit sectors, with some sector-specific, but mostly cross-cutting barriers. To improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, a multi-pronged approach is needed, targeting client knowledge, the weak supply chain system, high costs in the private and private not-for-profit sectors, and religious beliefs…more

AFROPHC Advisory Board Meeting: 5 Aug 2022

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Dear colleagues

Our last AfroPHC Advisory Board Meeting of the African Forum for Primary Health Care (AfroPHC) was 6th May 2022 in preparation for the AfroPHC Conference and AGM. Minutes attached. The Conference/AGM successfully discussed the AfroPHC Policy Framework with the revised draft attached now (and some unresolved issues still highlighted). Apologies for the delay!
We are really chuffed that AfroPHC has been awarded $40 000 by PHCPI to deepen the draft AfroPHC Policy Framework on “Building PHC teams for UHC in Africa”. Activities will be extensive online consultations on the document across Africa over August-October, with a hybrid Final Workshop in South Africa 25-26 October 2022 and a virtual Launch Event around 12th December 2022.

Please join the next AfroPHC ADVISORY Board Meeting next week Friday August 5th, 2021 1-3pm Ghana/GMT, 2-4pm Nigeria, 3-5pm SA, 4-6pm Kenya. Confirm your local time here PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS AN HOUR LATER THAN USUAL AS AGREED IN OUR LAST EB MEETING.

Please join the Zoom Meeting with this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88101803423?pwd=K01yNFkxVEtjQWtNVmRDeGN2SUFrUT09 Meeting ID: 881 0180 3423 Passcode: 791293

We are also inviting leaders in the AfroPHC Youth Hub to be part of this meeting. We hope to briefly update you on AfroPHC organisational progress, and to more extensively discuss this iteration of the AfroPHC Policy Call and the AfroPHC Workshop in October. We are really keen to see as many of you at the October workshop in person. Please see draft agenda below.
Welcome and brief introductions
Adoption of minutes of last meeting/matters arising
EB Report (Brief)
AfroPHC Policy Call Draft “Building effective PHC Teams for UHC in Africa”
Closure
See you on the 5th August!