Syphilis is inexpensive to detect and treat, making it a possible “easy win” when it comes to cost, feasibility and speed of scale-up, according to the WHO. However, mother-to-child transmission of syphilis, a devastating and preventable silent threat that causes more child deaths globally than HIV, often goes overlooked. Many countries are experiencing rising […]
Category: Communicable disease
Stigma related to COVID-19 threatens to divide humanity further
. The global spread of COVID-19 has been accompanied by a deeply troubling rise of stigma. Stigma related to COVID-19 included stereotyping, blaming and ostracizing groups or individuals that were infected or associated with the disease. This pattern of stigmatization has been fueled by political rhetoric, inequity, and mistrust . Many of these stem from […]
Science, society & politics: being future ready
In the last nine months, COVID-19 has proved to be unlike any other outbreak the world has seen in the past century. Its impact is beyond health and is expected to last years – if not more. We saw first-hand how ill-prepared we were to deal with the pandemic. Even countries like USA and […]
Why are funerals superspreading events for COVID-19 in Kurdistan?
In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), funerals appear to be one of the most significant superspreading events for COVID-19. Officials from the Ministry of Health (MoH) referred to funerals as the source of clusters of cases in several locations. One funeral, for example, accounted for the largest spike in COVID-19 cases on a single day. The role […]
Disruption as an opportunity: giving rise to a global ethos for planetary health
Life as we know it has, for millions of people around the globe, been put on-hold because of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Positive consequences so far recorded include unpolluted skies, cleaner waterways and thriving wildlife.1 Meanwhile, some richer nations have begun to question their socio-economic priorities. This is an opportunity to think carefully how we […]
COVID-19 en Mauritanie: la bataille est-elle déjà gagnée ?
This blog is a part of # COVID19Africa Series. Click for English version Le covid-19, semblerait-t-il être un cauchemar ? La pandémie a entrainé un nombre important de décès dans le monde entier, avec des mesures de confinement drastiques qui impactent profondément la vie quotidienne des millions de citoyens. Dans notre région, elle touche nos voisins […]
Decentralized response to COVID-19 in Nepal
The world is battling with COVID-19 and each country is embracing shared but distinct strategies. COVID-19 presents additional challenge in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal, where the health system is often not adequately prepared to manage the epidemic. Facilities for hand washing and infection prevention at health facilities are minimum requirements and are […]
COVID-19 response in Uganda: notes and reflections
This blog is a part of #COVID19Africa Series Uganda typically experiences recurring disease outbreaks throughout the year is in a state of continuous alerts (1). The country has invested in the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system which has helped to mitigate numerous outbreaks. Despite our fairly advanced surveillance system, the threat of an […]
Ready or not? COVID-19 and epidemic preparedness in Nigeria
This blog is a part of #COVID19Africa Series Nigeria had been waiting for it, expecting it, anticipating it. But no one knew exactly as it came in. Only in hindsight would the country piece together the story of an Italian man who arrived by air in Lagos on March 24, infected with SARS-CoV-2. By four […]
Giving birth amid a pandemic in Belgium: the challenges faced by mothers and midwives
Many voices have arisen as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds to draw attention on the numerous hidden repercussions of the crisis. The magnitude of those consequences will probably be clear only in the aftermath of the pandemic. But one thing is certain: both patients and healthcare workers have been deeply impacted. Since April 22, with […]