The discipline of knowledge management aims to bridge the gap between information availability and its communication in areas where the it is needed most. This editorial looks at two programmes that demonstrate how knowledge management can work
This background paper aims to increase understanding of the requirements for introducing and scaling up provision of antitetroviral therapy (ART) as part of comprehensive HIV/AIDS programmes in resource-poor countries. The paper provides an overview of experience and lessons learned with regard to the feasibility of ART in resource-poor settings, the different approaches being taken to delivery of ART, and the issues to be considered in scaling up ART provision. The review is based on published and unpublished literature, interviews with key informants, web searches and country information
"This document attempts to describe the relationship between prosthetics and orthotics services and community-based rehabilitation activities. It shows how the services offered by central/specialized, provincial and district institutions and the community can work together to provide a comprehensive prosthetics and orthotics service across the country. It should be noted that no definitive model of community based rehabilitation in prosthetics and orthotics is available; each country requires to develop its own system according to its needs and the resources available"
The conference was held to review the experiences of 20 years of CBR and evaluate the impact of the approach in order to provide a direction for the development of CBR in the new millennium
A large number of people are exposed to extreme stressors that are a risk factor for mental health and social problems. This report describes principles and strategies that can be applied in resource poor settings where there are people who have been exposed to extreme stressors, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, disaster survivors and populations exposed to terrorism, genocide or war
This manual describes a new approach to measuring the prices people have to pay for a selection of important medicines in different medicine outlets. The manual also describes how to collect information on price composition (taxes, mark-ups, fees) and assess the affordability and availability of medicines
This report was commissioned by WHO to address the relevance of primary health care (PHC) in a changing world. It addresses three questions: what contribution does WHO see PHC being able to make, at Member State level, in improving the health of populations in the future? How should WHO be helping countries to optimize the contribution PHC can make to improve population health? and, What capacities will WHO need to operate in that way? The first four sections of the report summarise the context for, and outcomes from, the global PHC reviews (undertaken by each regional office) to date. The remaining sections then suggest a range of possible future strategic directions which could inform policy development for PHC, particularly at country level
This document summarises the outcomes of the international consultation. The main conclusions were that human rights play a role in CBR, CBR has to be supported by national governments, various sectors have to cooperate and that UN agencies, governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have to promote CBR as a poverty re-education strategy
A toolkit to support the planning of events in celebration of World Health Day 2004. World Health Day 2004's focus issue is road safety. The toolkit contains ideas of activities, the objectives and messages of the day, and a list of WHO contacts
Written for for health professionals in charge of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm newborn infants in first referral hospitals, this document describes the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method for care of stable preterm or LWT babies (those who can breath air and have no major health problems) who need thermal protection, adequate feeding, frequent observation, and protection from infection. It provides guidance on how to organise services at the referral hospital and on what is needed to introduce and carry out KMC, focusing on settings where resources are limited. Evidence for the recommendations is provided whenever possible
This consultation followed up the work of a WHO study group on diet, nutrition and prevention of non-communicable diseases, which met in 1989 to make recommendations regarding the prevention of chronic diseases and the reduction of their impact. The consultation recognised that the growing epidemic of chronic disease, afflicting both developed and developing countries, relates to dietary and lifestyle changes. This document reviews the considerable scientific progress that has been made in different chronic non-communicable diseases including obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and some types of cancer
This report presents updated information useful for the formulation of a child and adolescent mental health care plan. The plan is based on the magnitude of the burden of child and adolescent mental disorders; advances made in treatment and diagnosis; barriers to treatment; and trends in care for children and adolescents with mental disorders
This case study outlines and assesses the Khayelitha programme, which focused on ART provision and aimed to document the feasibility of low-cost treatment and primary health care provision in developing countries. The document details the clinical outcomes of the programmes, the strategy used to ensure adherence and the contribution made by Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to raise awareness and pressurise the government to develop an adequate response to the epidemic. The provision of ART in Khayelitsha had also a positive impact on prevention, making more HIV-positive people aware of their status, reducing stigma, being the catalyst of educational initiatives, improving the morale of health workers and keeping families intact and less at risk. The case study concludes with a comprehensive list of lessons learned and with key recommendations for the future, which include consolidation of nurse-based care, more training activities, integration of HIV/AIDS and TB services, educational programmes aimed at improving adherence to ART and a greater focus on paediatric AIDS and ART provision in rural remote areas
Reports on two informal consultations on the use of artemisinin during pregnancy. One consultation focused on reproductive risk assessment of antimalarial therapy with artemisinin compounds, and the other on the safety and efficacy of antimalarial therapy with artemisinin compounds in pregnancy
This report argues that real progress in health depends on strengthening health systems, centred on the principles of primary health care. This requires effective use of existing knowledge and technologies and innovation to create new health tools, along with appropriate structures and strategies to apply them. Success will need new forms of cooperation between international health agencies, national health leaders, health workers and communities, and other relevant sectors. Chapter 1 of the report looks at the current state of global health, highlighting the gap between the poor and better-off everywhere. Chapter 2 reflects on the slow progress towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals. Chapter 3 looks at the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and demonstrates why HIV/AIDS control needs to drive the agenda for the global health community. Chapter 4 looks at the steps needed to achieve polio eradication within the next few years, and chapter 5 concentrates on the lessons learned from the SARS outbreak. The theme of chapter 6 is the the overlap between communicable and non-communicable diseases and injuries occurring throughout the developing world, leading to a crisis of priorities for health systems. The concluding chapter returns to the statement that stronger health systems are necessary, and that strengthening health systems should be based on the principles and practices of primary health care
Chronic diseases and socio-environmental conditions are today's leading health problems. Rapidly changing diseases patterns are linked to changing lifestyles, which include diets rich in sugar, widespread use of tobacco and increased consumption of alcohol. In addition to socio-environmental conditions, oral health is highly related to the mentioned lifestyle factors which are common risks to most chronic diseases. Oral diseases qualify as major public health problems due to their high prevalence and incidence. As for all diseases the highest burden of oral diseases is on the disadvantaged and socially marginalised populations. Traditional treatment is extrememly costly and not feasible or possible to most low-income and middle-income countries. The WHO Global Strategy for the prevention and control of non-commincable diseases and the common risk factor approach is a new strategy to managing prevention and control of oral diseases. This document outlines the current oral health situation at the global level and the strategies and approaches for better oral health in the 21st century
This review paper provides background information and a suggested framework for considering the issues and challenges of integrating gender into programmatic and policy action. It also offers examples of successful HIV/AIDS interventions that have addressed gender issues in a meaningful and significant way
