Public Health

Registration Open – Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Short Courses

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Registration Open – Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Short Courses

Each year about 700 health professionals and researchers from all over the world study at ITM. Many students come from low- or middle-income countries. We mainly offer ‘advanced teaching and training’: doctoral and master degree programmes, postgraduate certificate courses and short courses as part of lifelong learning. Our education – in human or veterinary tropical medicine and international public health – is problem-oriented and focuses on both academic and professional skills. The courses use a participatory approach to learning. Exchange on professional experience between students and teaching staff is very enriching. Debate and critical reflection are key.
Most courses are offered on-campus and some partly or entirely online. Applications for ITM’s 2017-2018 short courses in public health are currently open. Candidates should apply online before 15 October 2017.
Help us reach potential candidates by spreading this information through your network!
Health Policy (SC-HP)
For health professionals and researchers involved in health policy development and health financing strategies with the objective of strengthening health systems for Universal Health Coverage in low- and middle-income countries, at decentralised, national or global level.
Duration and dates: 7 weeks, 26 March – 9 May 2018
Course language: English
Strategic Management of Health Systems (SC-MAN)
For professionals working in local health systems management positions, hospitals, and publicly-oriented NGOs, or in health programmes.
Duration and dates: 7 weeks, from 26 March until 9 May 2018
Course language: English
Planning and Management of Reproductive Health Programmes (SC-RH)
For health professionals and researchers involved in reproductive health programmes, including HIV/AIDS, STI, family planning and maternal and child health in low- and middle-income countries.
Duration and dates: 7 weeks, from 5 March until 9 May 2018
Course language: English
Planning and Management of Tropical Disease Control Programmes (SC-TD)
For health professionals and researchers involved in tropical disease control programmes, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and neglected diseases in low- and middle-income countries.
Duration and dates: 7 weeks, from 5 March until 9 May 2018
Course language: English
Study mode: Face-to-face
Location: Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium
Language: The 2018 Public Health Short Courses are organised in English.

More info on our website

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PH Important DayPublic Health Events

World Hepatitis Day: 28 July 2015: Prevent hepatitis. Act now

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update
World Hepatitis Day: Prevent hepatitis. Act now
On World Hepatitis Day, 28 July 2015, WHO and partners will urge policy-makers, health workers and the public to act now to prevent infection and death from hepatitis.
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Source: http://worldhepatitisday.org
The theme for this year’s World Hepatitis Day is “Prevent hepatitis. Act now”.  
Viral hepatitis is caused by 5 distinct hepatitis viruses. Infection from these viruses results in approximately 1.45 million deaths each year. These viruses are transmitted through contaminated water and food, as well as by contact with blood or bodily fluids, through unsafe injections or transfusions. Infection also occurs from a mother to a child, or through sexual contact. Infection through all these routes of transmission can be prevented through proven and effective interventions. It is important for everyone to be aware of hepatitis and to learn how they can protect themselves from being infected.



Viral hepatitis – a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E – affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to 1.5 million people every year, mostly from hepatitis B and C. These infections can be prevented, but most people don’t know how.
The date of 28 July was chosen for World Hepatitis Day in honour of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus and developer of the first hepatitis B vaccine.



Key messages of the World Hepatitis Day 2015
Prevent hepatitis – know the risks
Unsafe blood, unsafe injections, and sharing drug-injection equipment can all result in hepatitis infection.
Prevent hepatitis – demand safe injections
2 million people a year contract hepatitis from unsafe injections. Using sterile, single-use syringes can prevent these infections
Prevent hepatitis – vaccinate children
Approximately 780 000 persons die each year from hepatitis B infection. A safe and effective vaccine can protect from hepatitis B infection for life.
Prevent hepatitis – get tested, seek treatment
Effective medicines exist to treat hepatitis B and cure hepatitis C.
Source of Information:World Health Organization
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PH Important DayPublic Health

#WorldHepDay 2016 : "Know hepatitis – Act now"

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update
Every year on 28 July, WHO and partners mark World Hepatitis Day to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes.

On World Hepatitis Day, 28 July 2016, WHO calls on policy-makers, health workers and the public to “Know hepatitis – Act now”. Activities will take place around the world to improve public knowledge of the risk of hepatitis, and enhance access to hepatitis testing and treatment services.

Every action is an action towards elimination of viral hepatitis
This year sees the first ever World Health Organization’s Global Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, which sets a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

World Hepatitis Day 2016 web banner


What is hepatitis?
  • Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.

  • There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These 5 types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
  • Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids. Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.
  • Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

World Hepatitis Day 2016 infographic


What are the different hepatitis viruses?
  • Scientists have identified 5 unique hepatitis viruses, identified by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. While all cause liver disease, they vary in important ways.

  • Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is present in the faeces of infected persons and is most often transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food. Certain sex practices can also spread HAV.

    Infections are in many cases mild, with most people making a full recovery and remaining immune from further HAV infections. However, HAV infections can also be severe and life threatening. Most people in areas of the world with poor sanitation have been infected with this virus. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HAV.

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through exposure to infective blood, semen, and other body fluids. HBV can be transmitted from infected mothers to infants at the time of birth or from family member to infant in early childhood. Transmission may also occur through transfusions of HBV-contaminated blood and blood products, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injection drug use. HBV also poses a risk to healthcare workers who sustain accidental needle stick injuries while caring for infected-HBV patients. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HBV.
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This may happen through transfusions of HCV-contaminated blood and blood products, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injection drug use. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common. There is no vaccine for HCV.
  • Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections occur only in those who are infected with HBV. The dual infection of HDV and HBV can result in a more serious disease and worse outcome. Hepatitis B vaccines provide protection from HDV infection.
  • Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is mostly transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food. HEV is a common cause of hepatitis outbreaks in developing parts of the world and is increasingly recognized as an important cause of disease in developed countries. Safe and effective vaccines to prevent HEV infection have been developed but are not widely available.

SOURCE OF INFO : 


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PH Important DayPublic HealthPublic Health Events

World Hepatitis Day 2017: ''Eliminate H̶e̶p̶a̶t̶i̶t̶i̶s̶''

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update
World Hepatitis Day 2017: Eliminate hepatitis

The World Hepatitis Day on 28 July 2017 is an opportunity to add momentum to all efforts to implement the WHO’s first global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis for 2016-2021 and help Member States achieve the final goal – to eliminate hepatitis.
whd 2017 logo 630

Activities and awareness around World Hepatitis Day are designed to:
  • Build and leverage political engagement following official endorsement of the Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis at the World Health Assembly 2016.

  • Showcase emerging national responses to hepatitis in heavy burden countries.
  • Encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public.
  • Highlight the need for a greater global response as outlined in the WHO’s Global hepatitis report of 2017.



In support of the “Eliminate hepatitis” campaign, WHO will release new information on national responses in 28 countries with the heaviest burden.
11 countries which carry almost 50% of the global burden of chronic hepatitis:
Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uganda, Viet Nam.
17 countries that also have high prevalence and together with the above, account for 70% of the global burden:
Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe.
                                                                                             World Health Organization

What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These 5 types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids. Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.
Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
What are the different hepatitis viruses?
Scientists have identified 5 unique hepatitis viruses, identified by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. While all cause liver disease, they vary in important ways.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is present in the faeces of infected persons and is most often transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food. Certain sex practices can also spread HAV. Infections are in many cases mild, with most people making a full recovery and remaining immune from further HAV infections. However, HAV infections can also be severe and life threatening. Most people in areas of the world with poor sanitation have been infected with this virus. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HAV.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through exposure to infective blood, semen, and other body fluids. HBV can be transmitted from infected mothers to infants at the time of birth or from family member to infant in early childhood. Transmission may also occur through transfusions of HBV-contaminated blood and blood products, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injection drug use. HBV also poses a risk to healthcare workers who sustain accidental needle stick injuries while caring for infected-HBV patients. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HBV.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This may happen through transfusions of HCV-contaminated blood and blood products, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injection drug use. Sexual
transmission is also possible, but is much less common. There is no vaccine for HCV.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections occur only in those who are infected with HBV. The dual infection of HDV and HBV can result in a more serious disease and worse outcome. Hepatitis B vaccines provide protection from HDV infection.


Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is mostly transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food. HEV is a common cause of hepatitis outbreaks in developing parts of the world and is increasingly recognized as an important cause of disease in developed countries. Safe and effective vaccines to prevent HEV infection have been developed but are not widely available.


Key messages for World Hepatitis Day 2017
1. Viral hepatitis is a major global health problem and needs an urgent response.
There were approximately 325 million people living with chronic hepatitis at the end of 2015. Globally, an estimated 257 million people were living with hepatitis B (HBV) infection, and 71 million people were living with hepatitis C (HCV) infection in 2015.

2. Very few of those infected accessed testing and treatment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
By the end of 2015, only 9% of HBV-infected people and 20% of HCV-infected people had been tested and diagnosed. Of those diagnosed with HBV infection, 8% (or 1.7 million people) were on treatment, while 7% of those diagnosed with HCV infection (or 1.1 million people) had started treatment in 2015.
The global targets for 2030 are: 90% of people with HBV and HCV infections tested and 80% of eligible patients are reached with treatment.

3. Viral hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015 – comparable with TB deaths and exceeding deaths from HIV. Hepatitis deaths are increasing.


4. New hepatitis infections continue to occur, mostly hepatitis C.
The number of children under five living with chronic HBV infection was reduced to 1.3% in 2015 (from 4.7% before vaccines were introduced).
Hepatitis B vaccine is preventing approximately 4.5 million infections per year in children.
However, 1.75 million adults were newly infected with HCV in 2015, largely due to injecting drug use and due to unsafe injections in health care settings in certain countries.
5. Achieving the 2030 elimination goal is not overly ambitious; reports from 28 high-burden countries give cause for optimism.


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PH Important DayPublic Health

‘Get better with Self-Care’ – International Self-Care Day — July 24

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update
International Self-Care Day (ISD), on 24 July each year, provides a focus and opportunity to raise the profile of healthy lifestyle self-care programmes around the world. ISD is a device developed by the International Self-Care Foundation to promote self-care as a vital foundation of health. 

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IMAGE

The ISD Date
The International Self-Care Day, 24 July, symbolises that the benefits of self-care are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, the benefits of self-care are life-long and do not just relate to a single day. ISD on 24 July simply provides a good focus and opportunity to publicise or report on self-care in action programmes. Programme organisers may work around July 24 as convenient, for example in 2014 for practical convenience organising events on the third Sunday of July.
Each year ISF proposes a general theme for International Self-Care Day. For 24 July 2017, the theme is ‘Get better with Self-Care’


WHAT IS SELF-CARE?

The WHO 1998 definition is:

‘Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), nutrition (type and quality of food eaten), lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure etc), environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.) socio-economic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.) and self-medication.’

ISF proposes a framework for self-care which can conveniently be visualized and organised around seven ‘pillars’ or ‘domains’:
  1. Health literacy – includes: the capacity of individuals to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions
  2. Self-awareness of physical and mental condition – includes: knowing your body mass index (BMI), cholesterol level, blood pressure; engaging in health screening.
  3. Physical activity – practicing moderate intensity physical activity such as walking, cycling, or participating in sports at a desirable frequency.
  4. Healthy eating – includes: having a nutritious, balanced diet with appropriate levels of calorie intake.
  5. Risk avoidance or mitigation – includes: quitting tobacco, limiting alcohol use, getting vaccinated, practicing safe sex, using sunscreens.
  6. Good hygiene – includes: washing hands regularly, brushing teeth, washing food.
  7. Rational and responsible use of products, services, diagnostics and medicines – includes: being aware of dangers, using responsibly when necessary.


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PH Important DayPublic Health

Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations – World Population Day 2017

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987. 

July 11 World Population Day

By resolution 45/216 of December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly decided to continue observing World Population Day to enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development. 


The Day was first marked on 11 July 1990 in more than 90 countries. Since then, a number of a number of UNFPA country offices and other organizations and institutions commemorate World Population Day, in partnership with governments and civil society. 
Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations

Around the world, some 225 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods, for reasons ranging from lack of access to information or services to lack of support from their partners or communities. Most of these women with an unmet demand for contraceptives live in 69 of the poorest countries on earth. 
Access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right. It is also central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and is a key factor in reducing poverty. Investments in making family planning available also yields economic and other gains that can propel development forward.
In 2017 World Population Day, 11 July, coincides with the Family Planning Summit, the second meeting of the FP2020–Family Planning 2020–initiative, which aims to expand access to voluntary family planning to 120 million additional women by 2020.
Further Reading:
MoHP


World Population Day 2017 (Preeti Font) from Sagun Paudel

My Nepali Article : Read Here (Samadhan National Daily dated 11th July 2017)
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National Plan, Policy & GuidelinesResearch & Publication

National Population Policy, Nepal- 2071

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update
Nepal has its first ever National Population Policy endorsed by the Cabinet. The policy saw the day light when world leaders have just agreed to tackle emerging population and development priorities following the successful completion of 20 years of Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Cairo, 1994.

 

          

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National Plan, Policy & GuidelinesPublic Health ProgramsResearch & Publication

Nepal FP2020 Commitment -2017

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Nepal FP2020 Commitment -2017

Nepal FP2020 Commitment 02017: The Government of Nepal updated its commitment at the Family Planning Summit in London, UK on July 11, 2017.
Nepal is committed to maintaining and sustaining the efforts already initiated including through the implementation of the FP2020 commitments made in March 2015, one month before the devastating earthquake. As such, Nepal reiterates that it will continue to increase government budget in Family Planning by 7% each year up to 2020.
Nepal is committed to “leaving no one behind” and “reaching the unreached” to accelerate the progress of increasing the number of additional users of family planning by an estimated 1 million by 2020, provided the proportion of demand satisfied increases to 71% by then. With a special focus on meeting the family planning need of adolescents and youth,
Nepal will strive to increase the method mix with suitable FP methods of their choices.
COMMITMENTS

  • Continue raising financial resources and promoting local-level budgetary allocations for FP that meets on-going policy and programmatic commitments.
  • Continue raising the annual government allocation for FP by 7% each year up to 2020. Furthermore, Nepal will engage with external development partners including donors to raise additional commitments.
  • Identify barriers to accessing FP services among individuals and couples belonging to special groups including adolescents and youth and formulate polices and strategies to address them.
  • Strengthen and gradually scale up adolescent friendly services to cater for the needs of adolescents in all HFs.
  • Improve regulatory framework to promote public-private partnership and expand health service delivery points to increase access to quality FP information and services.
  • Strengthen enabling environment for family planning, including advocacy to mobilize resources from non-health sectors.
  • Strengthen capacity of health institutions and service providers to expand FP service delivery networks, to
    respond to the needs of marginalized, rural residents, migrants, adolescents with special focus during the time of emergencies/humanitarian settings.
  • Increase availability of a broader range of modern contraceptives and improve method mix at different levels of the health care delivery system.
  • Increase health care seeking behavior among populations with high unmet need for modern contraception by raising awareness on the importance of FP through various communication methods and media focusing on special groups like ethnic minorities, marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
  • Strengthen evidence based/informed learnings for effective programme implementation through research and innovations.
  • Introduce eLMIS at the district and gradually to the HFs level by end of 2019
  • Effective procurement functions in place for timely procurement of commodities
  • Proportion of HFs with “no stock out of FP commodities” increased from 70 to 95% by the end of 2020.

The following text is the commitment made by the Government of Nepal in 2015.
POLICY & POLITICAL COMMITMENTS
Nepal pledges to reposition family planning to foster sustainable social and economic development and to execute the Costed Implementation Plan on FP (2015-2020) within the Nepal Health Sector Program III (2015-2020). Nepal commits to identify barriers to accessing family planning services faced by individuals and couples, including adolescents and youth, those living in rural areas, migrants and other vulnerable or marginalized groups. The government also pledges to formulate policies and strategies to address these barriers. Furthermore, Nepal commits to improving the regulatory framework to promote public-private partnerships.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
The government of Nepal commits to raise and invest the financial resources required to meet its policy and programmatic commitments. In particular, it pledges to increase funding for family planning programs by at least 7 percent annually from 2015 to 2020 and engage with external development partners to raise additional resources. In addition, Nepal pledges to strengthen the enabling environment for family planning by engaging in advocacy to mobilize resources from non-health sectors.
PROGRAM & SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITMENTS
The government of Nepal pledges to broaden the range of modern contraceptives available and improve method mix at different levels of the health care system. Nepal commits to engage in a range of communications and media activities to raise awareness of family planning among populations with a high unmet need for modern contraception, focusing particularly on adolescents and young people. Nepal will expand service delivery points to increase access to quality family planning information and services and facilitate family planning by strengthening delivery networks. The government pledges to support mobilizing resources from other, non-health sectors. Nepal commits to strengthening the evidence base for effective program implementation through research and innovation.
http://www.familyplanning2020.org
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