scholarly journals Bridging the knowledge gap: The HINARI programme

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 27-29
Author(s):  
Maurice Long
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Health Science ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Information Gap ◽  
Health Organization

“The Health InterNetwork Access Initiative (HINARI), is using information technology to narrow the information gap in health science.” Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, in his address to the Pan American Health Organization,Washington DC, 2 December 2002. “As a direct consequence of this arrangement, many thousands of doctors, researchers and health policy-makers among others will be able to use the best-available scientific evidence to an unprecedented degree to help them improve the health of their populations. It is perhaps the biggest step ever taken towards reducing the health information gap between rich and poor countries.” Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization, London, 9 July 2001.

scholarly journals Scientific Certainty in a Time of Uncertainty: Predicting Vulnerability of Canada's First Nations to Pandemic H1N1/09

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Spence ◽  
Jerry P. White
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

On June 11, 2009, the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, announced that the scientific evidence indicated that the criteria for an influenza pandemic had been met: pandemic H1N1/09 virus, the first in nearly 40 years, was officially upon us. The World Health Organization has estimated that as many as 2 billion or between 15 and 45 percent of the population globally will be infected by the H1N1/09 virus. Scientists and governments have been careful to walk a line between causing mass public fear and ensuring people take the risks seriously. The latest information indicates that the majority of individuals infected with the H1N1/09 virus thus far have suffered mild illness, although very severe and fatal illness have been observed in a small number of cases, even in young and healthy people (World Health Organization 2009c). There is no evidence to date that the virus has mutated to a more virulent or lethal form; however, as we enter the second wave of the pandemic, a significant number of people in countries across the world are susceptible to infection. Most importantly, certain subgroups have been categorized as high risk given the clinical evidence to date. One of these subgroups is Indigenous populations (World Health Organization 2009c).

Características y especialización de la respuesta inmunitaria en la COVID-19 y posibles tratamientos profilácticos

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamary Súarez Reyes ◽  
Carlos Agustín Villegas Valverde
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
World Health ◽  
Alveolar Level ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Interferon System ◽  
Severity Of The Disease ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
De Medicina

Characteristics and Specialization of the Immune Response in COVID-19 Abstract The outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China, became a pandemic on March 11, 2020. It has caused almost 4 million confirmed cases worldwide, with more than 270,000 deaths. Coronavirus is an enveloped RNA virus of the β-coronavirus genus distributed in birds, humans, and other mammals. The World Health Organization has named the new disease COVID-19. The scientific community is look http://doi.org/10.22201/fm.24484865e.2020.63.4.02 8 8 Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM | ing for evidence that can lead to a better understanding of the infection and the immune response (IR), prognostic and therapeutic predictors, effective treatments and vaccines. The objective of this review was to compile updated scientific evidence of the IR to COVID-19, in order to guide professionals with solutions that have a clinical impact. The most important elements involve innate immunity with failures in the interferon system in the early stages of the infection and a sustained increase in proinflammatory interleukins. This can end in a potentially fatal cytokine storm. The infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages at the alveolar level, accompanied by neutrophilia, is very characteristic. Lymphopenia is evident at the adaptive immunity level, that, depending on the degree, can indicate the severity of the disease. Understanding the temporal sequence of the IR is crucial for choosing the appropriate and effective therapies, especially when selecting which type of anti-inflammatory drugs can be used and the frequency of the dosage. Due to the fact that it is difficult to determine when they will be clearly beneficial, not harmful to the IR and not too late, due to the irreversibility of the process. Key words: COVID-19; coronavirus; immune response

scholarly journals An Uncertain Risk: The World Health Organization's Account of H1N1

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudeepa Abeysinghe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
World Health ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Public Risk ◽  
Health Organization

ArgumentScientific uncertainty is fundamental to the management of contemporary global risks. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the start of the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic. This declaration signified the risk posed by the spread of the H1N1 virus, and in turn precipitated a range of actions by global public health actors. This article analyzes the WHO's public representation of risk and examines the centrality of scientific uncertainty in the case of H1N1. It argues that the WHO's risk narrative reflected the context of scientific uncertainty in which it was working. The WHO argued that it was attempting to remain faithful to the scientific evidence, and the uncertain nature of the threat. However, as a result, the WHO's public risk narrative was neither consistent nor socially robust, leading to the eventual contestation of the WHO's position by other global public health actors, most notably the Council of Europe. This illustrates both the significance of scientific uncertainty in the investigation of risk, and the difficulty for risk managing institutions in effectively acting in the face of this uncertainty.

scholarly journals Clinical signs of trachoma are prevalent among Solomon Islanders who have no persistent markers of prior infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Robert Butcher ◽  
Oliver Sokana ◽  
Kelvin Jack ◽  
Leslie Sui ◽  
Charles Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Health Organization

Background: The low population-prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and high prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) provide contradictory estimates of the magnitude of the public health threat from trachoma in the Solomon Islands. Improved characterisation of the biology of trachoma in the region may support policy makers as they decide what interventions are required. Here, age-specific profiles of anti-Pgp3 antibodies and conjunctival scarring were examined to determine whether there is evidence of ongoing transmission and pathology from ocular Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection. Methods: A total of 1511 individuals aged ≥1 year were enrolled from randomly selected households in 13 villages in which >10% of children aged 1–9 years had TF prior to a single round of azithromycin mass drug administration undertaken six months previously. Blood was collected to be screened for antibodies to the Ct antigen Pgp3. Tarsal conjunctival photographs were collected for analysis of scarring severity. Results: Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity was 18% in 1–9 year olds, sharply increasing around the age of sexual debut to reach 69% in those over 25 years. Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity did not increase significantly between the ages of 1–9 years and was not associated with TF (p=0.581) or scarring in children (p=0.472). Conjunctival scars were visible in 13.1% of photographs. Mild (p<0.0001) but not severe (p=0.149) scars increased in prevalence with age. Conclusions: Neither conjunctival scars nor lymphoid follicles were associated with antibodies to Ct, suggesting that they are unlikely to be a direct result of ocular Ct infection. Clinical signs of trachoma were prevalent in this population but were not indicative of the underlying rates of Ct infection. The current World Health Organization guidelines for trachoma elimination indicated that this population should receive intervention with mass distribution of antibiotics, but the data presented here suggest that this may not have been appropriate.

Developing Medicines in Line with Global Public Health Needs: The Role of the World Health Organization

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIKKI PANG
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Gender Violence ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

“I want my leadership to be judged by the impact of our work on the health of two populations: women and the people of Africa.” This is how Dr. Margaret Chan, the current Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), described her leadership mission. The reason behind this mission is evident. Women and girls constitute 70% of the world’s poor and 80% of the world’s refugees. Gender violence against women aged 15–44 is responsible for more deaths and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, and war. An estimated 350,000 to 500,000 women still die in childbirth every year. The negative health implications of absolute poverty are worst in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Hence, Chan aims to have the biggest impact on the world’s poorest people.

The Reaction to the Ebola Epidemic within the United Nations Framework: What Next for the World Health Organization?

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-424
Author(s):  
Pia Acconci
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Security Council ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (who) was established in 1946 as a specialized agency of the United Nations (un). Since its establishment, the who has managed outbreaks of infectious diseases from a regulatory, as well as an operational perspective. The adoption of the International Health Regulations (ihrs) has been an important achievement from the former perspective. When the Ebola epidemic intensified in 2014, the who Director General issued temporary recommendations under the ihrs in order to reduce the spread of the disease and minimize cross-border barriers to international trade. The un Secretary General and then the Security Council and the General Assembly have also taken action against the Ebola epidemic. In particular, the Security Council adopted a resolution under Chapter vii of the un Charter, and thus connected the maintenance of the international peace and security to the health and social emergency. After dealing with the role of the who as a guide and coordinator of the reaction to epidemics, this article shows how the action by the Security Council against the Ebola epidemic impacts on the who ‘authority’ for the protection of health.

scholarly journals Use of mask in COVID-19 era: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-90
Author(s):  
Rano Mal Piryani ◽  
Suneel Piryani ◽  
Jay Narayan Shah
Keyword(s):  
United States Of America ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
World Health ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Healthy Persons

World Health Organization (WHO) in its interim guidance of 6 April 2020 advises policy makers on the use of masks for healthy people in community settings. The rationale for mask use by healthy person is prevention from COVID-19, when there is risk of exposure, like working in close contact with public, people with comorbidities, where physical distancing cannot be maintained such as travelling in buses, staying in slum areas. Furthermore, WHO says the purpose and reason for mask use should be clear– whether it is to be used for source control (used by infected persons) or prevention of COVID-19 (used by healthy persons).1 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) United States of America (USA) updated its advisory on 4 Apr 2020, and recommended everyone (except some) should wear at least a cloth face covering when they have to go out in public. It will protect other people in case you are infected.2,3 This advisory of no strict demand on use of face masks could be possibly due to unavailability of disposable masks.

scholarly journals A need for holistic approach to the occupational health developing (in Serbia)

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Arandjelovic
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Future Orientation ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
The Road ◽  
Countries In Transition ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractCountries in transition, such as Serbia, have been going through obligatory system reforms, including the reform of the healthcare system. As a rule, occupational health becomes marginalized by the authorities who decide on medical care. In spite of the fact that this branch of medicine cares for working population that mostly carries the burden of transition, when material situation equals the existential minimum, its potentials are not recognized. On the other hand, the World Health Organization makes a remark that such population’s health is undermined now more than ever, and adopts a binding global plan for member countries and their experts in occupational health to take urgent measures for overall working people’s health according to their needs. It seems that former work method of biomedicine specialists could not realize such ambition. This paper discusses the possibilities of occupational health future orientation toward holistic medicine, for the sake of workers’ well-being and better quality of their lives, then creation of more humane society and vocational affirmation. Health promotion at workplace and salutogenic concept may have crucial roles. This concept is a huge challenge for academic public and vocational practitioners in poor countries in transition that are already burdened with the current economic and financial crisis. Each in their own way, helped by self-education and education, without big material investments, together they may take their countries to the road of health, the road still rarely taken, yet more secure.

World Health Organization

1949 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 546-548
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
The World ◽  
Pan American ◽  
Health Organization

On March 22, 1949 Costa Rica ratified the constitution of the World Health Organization and on April 13 WHO was joined by Honduras, thus bringing the membership of the organization to 61.The agreement by which the Pan American Sanitary Organization became the regional office for WHO in the western hemisphere was signed on May 24, 1949 in Washington by Dr. Brock Chisholm, Director General of WHO and Dr. Fred L. Soper, Director of the Pan American Sanitary Office. Under the agreement the office was to adopt and promote health and sanitary conventions and programs in the western hemisphere provided they were “compatible with the policy and programs of the World Health Organization and are separately financed.”

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