Africa urgently needs to develop and implement region-wide strategies to combat tuberculosis, given the sobering fact that it is the only continent unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving TB-related deaths by the end of 2015. [Read More]
GIBACHT is an educational programme established and supported by the German Federal
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The training programme focuses on threats and risks conferred by biological agents and bioweapons and their successful prevention and control. [Read More] This case study describes the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating a geographic information system (GIS) project in Rwanda. The document describes Rwanda’s HIV epidemic; gives an overview of GIS and its relevance to Rwanda, HIV monitoring and evaluation, and international goals and guidance; and details the process of implementing a GIS workshop for tracking Rwanda's HIV epidemic. The project description includes both the capacity-building process, which enabled stakeholders to create maps and share data, and the development of a logic framework to track program outcomes; and suggests lessons learned for other countries and organizations that wish to use GIS to link and monitor HIV data. [Read More]
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Guinea has notified WHO of a rapidly evolving outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in forested areas south eastern Guinea. As of 22 March 2014, a total of 49 cases including 29 deaths (case fatality ratio: 59%) had been reported. [Read More]
Between 3 and 5 March 2014, over 400 individuals from 35 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and 59 international partner organizations gathered in Accra, Ghana for an Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) Evidence Review Symposium. The objective of the symposium was twofold: first, to review the current state of the art of iCCM implementation by bringing together researchers, donors, government, implementers and partners to review the map of the current landscape and status of evidence in key iCCM programme areas, in order to draw out priorities, lessons and gaps for improving child and maternal-newborn health. Second, to assist African countries to integrate and take action on key frontline iCCM findings presented during the evidence symposium around eight thematic areas. [Read More]
Arusha — An Africa College of Health Sciences for the Eastern and Southern African Region is to be set up in Arusha.
This was announced during the 58th Eastern, Central and South African (ECSA) Health Ministers Conference which was held at the Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Health Community headquarters in Arusha. [Read More] Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes have been shown to increase health service utilization among the poorest but little is written on the effects of such programmes on maternal and newborn health. We carried out a systematic review of studies on CCT that report maternal and newborn health outcomes, including studies from 8 countries.
[Read More] User fee removal has been put forward as an approach to increasing priority health service utilization, reducing impoverishment, and ultimately reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. However, user fees are a source of facility revenue in many low-income countries, often used for purchasing drugs and supplies and paying incentives to health workers. This paper reviews evidence on the effects of user fee exemptions on maternal health service utilization, service
provision, and outcomes, including both supply-side and demand-side effects. [Read More] A Taxonomy and Results from a Comprehensive Review of 28 Maternal Health Voucher Programmes3/20/2014
In 2012, the United States Agency for International Development convened an Evidence Summit to review the knowledge
and gaps on the utilization of financial incentives to enhance the quality and uptake of maternal healthcare. The goal was to provide donors and governments of the low- and middle-income countries with evidence informed recommendations on practice, policy, and strategies regarding the use of financial incentives, including vouchers, to enhance the demand and supply of maternal health services. The findings in this paper are intended to guide governments interested in maternal health voucher programmes with recommendations for sustainable implementation and impact. [Read More] Representatives from African implementing countries took a step closer in March towards the inauguration of a
regional bureau that will help coordinate and harmonize communications on the continent in order to be better positioned to influence decision-making by the Global Fund Board. Meeting on the sidelines of the 31st Board meeting, held 6-7 March in Jakarta, the assembled government representatives from East and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa agreed to formally call for expressions of interest from countries willing to host the bureau and establish a secretariat. [Read More] |