South Africa was asked to review the progress made by Africa on the implementation of the Plan of Action on the African Union (AU) Decade of Traditional Medicine (2001-2010). The challenge was noted of getting as broad a representation and information from all regions, to foster collaboration among countries and regions as well as to promote information sharing on how best to put African Traditional Medicine in its rightful place.
Equitable health services
Review of implementation of the AU plan on traditional medicine (2001-2010)
Afriican Union, 9-13 April 2007
Adherence to TB treatment in Ethiopia: Why do patients default?
Tesfaye H: PLoS Med 4 (4): e165, 24 April 2007
This paper outlines the main findings on reasons for adherence to TB treatment in Ethiopia, including physical lack of access to the treatment centre as the main cause of failure to adherence to therapy.
Africa must face the challenge of urban malaria
id21 Health News, December 2006
As more Africans move from rural areas to the cities the risk of urban malaria increases. City health services need to focus on poor people who are most at risk from the disease. Malaria programmes should operate on a district by district basis as levels of malaria can vary dramatically throughout the city.
Diagnosis and treatment of malaria in peripheral health facilities in Uganda: findings from an area of low transmission in south-western Uganda
Ndyomugyenyi R, Magnussen P, Clarke S: Malaria Journal 6:39, April 2007
Early recognition of symptoms and signs perceived as malaria are important for effective case management, as few laboratories are available at peripheral health facilities. The validity and reliability of clinical signs and symptoms used by health workers to diagnose malaria were assessed in an area of low transmission in south-western Uganda.
Eastern Cape Health dept certifies 36 "baby friendly" hospitals
Mbola B: BuaNews, 26 April 2007
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has certified 36 hospitals under the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The assessment of hospitals started in 1999 in the province when one hospital received "baby friendly" status. The BFHI is a global strategy implemented by healthcare facilities that render care to both mothers and children worldwide. It aims to increase awareness of the critical role of health services in the romotion of breastfeeding and to give guidelines for appropriate information and support to mothers. It also focuses on maternity care services which involves the holistic care of mother and baby both within the facility.
Health strategy rejected
Powell J 23 April 2007
European executive directors and alternates have written a letter to staff in the World Bank human development network to explain their rejection of the draft health, nutrition and population strategy. Gender and reproductive health groups have been bombarding the directors with complaints over the alleged watering down of the strategy. In their letter, the directors raise concern that the strategy makes virtually no reference to sexual and reproductive health.
Many obstacles to healthcare for rape survivors
Cullinan K: Health-e, 28 April 2007
Rape survivors are not getting the healthcare they need. Teenage girls who are raped are often scolded or branded liars by healthworkers attending to them, while men, gays and lesbians and sex workers who have been raped are also discriminated against. Other problems facing rape survivors include the denial of healthcare to those who have not reported the rape to police, the lack of privacy for examinations and staff ignorance of basic treatment procedures. This is according to the South African National Working Group on Sexual Offences, a group of 25 organisations including Childline, the Teddy Bear Clinic, People Opposing Women Abuse and the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre.
New project in Malawi
Partners In Health, March 2007
In January, PIH launched its newest project, located in Neno, Malawi – an impoverished rural area in one of Africa’s poorest and most densely populated countries, with an HIV infection rate among adults of more than 14 percent. By mid-February, PIH doctors were working with Malawian nurses who had staffed the hospital prior to our arrival to provide care for more than 100 patients a day and treat 129 HIV patients with antiretroviral therapy.
Over diagnosis and treatment of malaria in Kenya
id21 Health News, 21 November 2006
Clinicians often diagnose and treat patients for malaria in Africa when they do not have the disease. Over diagnosis and treatment may be acceptable when the drugs are cheap and safe. However, new more expensive drugs whose side effects are less well known are now being used. Over diagnosis in these circumstances would not be appropriate.
Health care in Africa: Challenges, opportunities and an emerging model for improvement
Kaseje D, November 2006
This paper suggests a model for sustainable improvement of health system performance which takes into consideration historical lessons, and current opportunities and challenges facing Africans. The essential elements of the suggested model include decentralized governing structures linking the health system to communities; identification of an essential care package for health (ECPH) based on peoples’ priorities; an improved information system to provide evidence of improvement in service access, delivery, and outcomes; and regular dialogue among stakeholders to enhance informed demand, responsibility, and accountability. The model attempts to pay due regard to the people's own beliefs, knowledge, customs, experiences, practices, systems, and structures that give meaning to the ECPH and mitigate the discontinuity between people’s perceptions and the health intervention package through regular dialogue.