Based on this scientific information and WHO recommendations of changing to combination therapy, the Ministry of Health has adopted the use of Artemesinin based Combination Therapy (ACT) as 1st line treatment of uncomplicated malaria. There is therefore need to implement a new antimalarial treatment policy using ACTs. The Ministry of Health has developed these guidelines for malaria diagnosis, treatment and prevention with an aim of improving malaria case management by health workers and having a harmonized approach in efforts aimed at the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to malaria.
Equitable health services
National Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of malaria for health workers in Kenya
Government of Kenya, Ministry of Health, January 2006
Primary school children's perspectives on common diseases and medicines used: implications for school healthcare programmes and priority setting in Uganda
Akello G, Reis R, Ovuga E, Rwabukwali CB, Kabonesa C, Richters A: African Health Sciences 7 (2): 73-79, 2007
Existing school health programmes in Uganda target children above five years for de-worming, oral hygiene and frequent vaccination of girls of reproductive age. This study assessed primary school children's perspectives on common diseases they experience and medicines used in order to suggest reforms for school healthcare programmes and priority setting. Children named and ranked malaria as the most severe and frequently experienced disease. Other diseases mentioned included diarrhoea, skin fungal infections, flu, and typhoid.The symptoms children recognised in case of illness were high body temperature, vomiting, headache, weakness, appetite loss and diarrhoea. Children were either given medicines by the school nurse or they selfmedicated using pharmaceuticals including chloroquine, panadol, flagyl, fansidar, quinine injections, capsules (amoxicillin and ampicillin) obtained from the clinics, drug shops, pharmacies,and other unspecified indigenous medicines from their home and markets.
South Africa: The National Infection Prevention and Control Policy & Strategy
Department of Health, 2007
In the quest to improve the safety of health services and thus align ourselves in part with the international challenges set by the World Health Organisation Global Patient Safety drive, a National Infection Prevention Strategy and Control Policy and accompanying strategy have been developed and presented to all health care personnel in the country.
South Africa: The National Infection Prevention and Control Policy for TB, MDRTB and XDRTB
Department of Health, 2007
The goal of this policy is to help management and staff minimize the risk of TB transmission in health care facilities and other facilities where the risk of transmission of TB may be high due to high prevalence of both diagnosed and undiagnosed TB such as prisons.
Africa faces cancer ‘catastrophy’
Thom A: Health-e, 26 October 2007
Experts warn of impending crisis in health systems geared towards epidemics not chronic diseases such as cancer. Unless urgent attention is paid to decreasing the burden of cancer, there are going to be catastrophic results especially in Africa and parts of Asia, experts warned at a gathering in Cape Town in October 2007. Thirty countries in Africa and Asia had no access whatsoever to radiotherapy.
Better breast cancer services urgently needed
Health-e, 31 October 2007
At the close of breast cancer awareness month, cancer organisations say proper testing and treatment services for breat cancer are completely inadequate. Breast cancer organisations are concerned that early detection and treatment services are severely lacking in South Africa where over 3 000 women die from this disease annually. The Breast Cancer Advocacy Coalition have sent a memorandum to the South African health department asking it to improve services. The coalition calls for a comprehensive breast health service that is equitable, available, affordable and accessible to all women in South Africa.
Governments fail to invest adequately in basic health systems, declares WHO Director General
Global Forum for Health Research, 29 October 2007
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan,
on Monday pointed to the failure of governments around the world to invest adequately in basic health systems that make a life-and-death difference to millions of people.
Public Health Crisis in South Africa is more than just TB and HIV
Pienaar D: Critical Health Perspectives, 3, 2007
South Africa's public health crisis is deep-rooted in systemic problems. Progress will require far-sighted, sustainable solutions. This requires a massive change in national consciousness. The authors suggest that one of the better measures of the state of a nation is its burden of disease. Health statistics are never just reflections of physical health alone. Instead, they also reflect, often quite precisely, issues like regional poverty, national inequity, unsound governmental policies, the fair distribution of resources, the quality of our leadership and the state of health services, amongst other things.
Traditional health practitioner and the scientist: bridging the gap in contemporary health research in Tanzania
Mbwambo ZH, Mahunnah RLH, Kayombo EJ: Tanzania Health Research Bulletin 9(2): 115-120, 2007
Traditional health practitioners (THPs) and their role in traditional medicine health care system are worldwide acknowledged. Trend in the use of Traditional medicine (TRM) and Alternative or Complementary medicine (CAM) is increasing due to epidemics like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases like cancer. Despite the wide use of TRM, genuine concern from the public and scientists/biomedical heath practitioners (BHP) on efficacy, safety and quality of TRM has been raised. While appreciating and promoting the use of TRM, the World Health Organization (WHO), and WHO/Afro, in response to the registered challenges has worked modalities to be adopted by Member States as a way to addressing these concerns. Gradually, through the WHO strategy, TRM policy and legal framework has been adopted in most of the Member States in order to accommodate sustainable collaboration between THPs and the scientist/BHP. Research protocols on how to evaluate traditional medicines for safety and efficacy for priority diseases in Africa have been formulated. Creation of close working relationship between practitioners of both health care systems is strongly recommended so as to revamp trust among each other and help to access information and knowledge from both sides through appropriate modalities. In Tanzania, gaps that exist between THPs and scientists/BHP in health research have been addressed through recognition of THPs among stakeholders in the country's health sector as stipulated in the National Health Policy, the Policy and Act of TRM and CAM. Parallel to that, several research institutions in TRM collaborating with THPs are operating. Various programmed research projects in TRM that has involved THPs and other stakeholders are ongoing, aiming at complementing the two health care systems. This paper discusses global, regional and national perspectives of TRM development and efforts that have so far been directed towards bridging the gap between THPs and scientist/BHP in contemporary health research in Tanzania.
Mental illness sufferers shunned and isolated
Integrated Regional Information Network, 7 September 2007
Rising rates of mental and emotional illness in Zambia are being met with growing levels of stigma and discrimination, with sufferers often isolated by their communities. Nora Mweemba, a health information promotion officer for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Zambia, told IRIN, "Mental health problems are on the increase among the population in Zambia, mostly because of the socio-economic difficulties that exist in this country - HIV/AIDS, poverty, joblessness - they all precipitate mental problems."