South America,once an epicenter of COVID-19,has stayed on the road of continued management of the pandemic.The region initially struggled to cope with the pandemic as it experienced spiraling numbers of infections and...South America,once an epicenter of COVID-19,has stayed on the road of continued management of the pandemic.The region initially struggled to cope with the pandemic as it experienced spiraling numbers of infections and overwhelmed public health systems.South America has risen in its pandemic response to be the region with the highest global vaccination rate.The region posed a strong vaccination drive,with over 76%of its population fully vaccinated with the initial protocol.South America leveraged its deeply rooted vaccination culture and public health confidence among its population.Herd immunity is an integral concept in population infectious disease management.Attaining herd immunity is presently not feasible with available vaccines,but the high vaccination rate in the region depicts the acceptance of vaccination as a strategy for population protection.The availability of effective transmission-blocking vaccines,the continuous implementation of strategies that will enable the undisrupted supply of the vaccines,equity in access to the vaccines,improved vaccine acceptance,and trust in the vaccination and public health systems will help shepherd the region towards herd immunity.Local vaccine production backed with investment in infrastructure and international collaboration for research and knowledge development will also drive population safety.展开更多
Oral health is a major public health issue in West Africa,yet it has gotten little attention.Individual and group disparities in health status are influenced by social determinants of health(SDH),which also affect ora...Oral health is a major public health issue in West Africa,yet it has gotten little attention.Individual and group disparities in health status are influenced by social determinants of health(SDH),which also affect oral health.Adolescence is a significant transition into adulthood,a time when the SDH can contribute to lifelong health status.This article explored the SDH associated with oral health behaviour,perception,and oral health development amongst adolescents in West Africa.This article engaged articles published in peer-reviewed journals relating to adolescents’oral health and West Africa.The authors undertook this desk review to determine the social determinants of adolescents’oral health in West Africa.The literacy levels and oral health awareness of adolescents,family and social circle influences,socioeconomic status,nutritional levels,and cultural and environmental factors have been identified as important social determinants.Adequate policy implementation with the integration of oral health in schools’curriculum,health systems reorientation with the adoption of oral health delivery in primary health care and expansion in oral health research with the assessment of cultural influences on oral health development have been recommended as interventions to reduce oral health inequalities in West Africa.展开更多
Africa accounts for over one-third of the global burden of neglected tropical diseases(NTDs).Although continental efforts have been made to combat these diseases,there still exists a significant gap in the fight,rangi...Africa accounts for over one-third of the global burden of neglected tropical diseases(NTDs).Although continental efforts have been made to combat these diseases,there still exists a significant gap in the fight,ranging from a lack of data to multisectoral participation and,most critically,health inequity.Here,we assess the effort made to combat challenges caused by health disparities to prevent and control neglected tropical diseases.This article engages a health equity view to addressing the need for inclusion in achieving universal health coverage towards eradicating NTDs and outlines strategies to achieve such.Health disparities exist,and there is substantial and irrefutable evidence for them.Inequitable distribution and limited access to basic and essential life resources such as water,housing,toilets,soap,and literacy continue to facilitate the existence of NTDs such as Schistosomiasis,soil-transmitted helminths,and trachoma,the occurrence of which can be avoided if affected populations have better access to those resources.To eradicate NTDs,health disparities must be addressed to provide excellent health care to all populations and adequate universal health coverage for long-term sustainability.NTD programmes need to be data-driven to ensure better decision-making and ensure the inclusion of diverse population groups including women,children,and youths.This will ensure that no one is left behind,drawing upon the sustainable development goals.Community participation and engagement should also be considered as an essential approach to ensure people are at the centre of health programmes and their implementation.展开更多
文摘South America,once an epicenter of COVID-19,has stayed on the road of continued management of the pandemic.The region initially struggled to cope with the pandemic as it experienced spiraling numbers of infections and overwhelmed public health systems.South America has risen in its pandemic response to be the region with the highest global vaccination rate.The region posed a strong vaccination drive,with over 76%of its population fully vaccinated with the initial protocol.South America leveraged its deeply rooted vaccination culture and public health confidence among its population.Herd immunity is an integral concept in population infectious disease management.Attaining herd immunity is presently not feasible with available vaccines,but the high vaccination rate in the region depicts the acceptance of vaccination as a strategy for population protection.The availability of effective transmission-blocking vaccines,the continuous implementation of strategies that will enable the undisrupted supply of the vaccines,equity in access to the vaccines,improved vaccine acceptance,and trust in the vaccination and public health systems will help shepherd the region towards herd immunity.Local vaccine production backed with investment in infrastructure and international collaboration for research and knowledge development will also drive population safety.
文摘Oral health is a major public health issue in West Africa,yet it has gotten little attention.Individual and group disparities in health status are influenced by social determinants of health(SDH),which also affect oral health.Adolescence is a significant transition into adulthood,a time when the SDH can contribute to lifelong health status.This article explored the SDH associated with oral health behaviour,perception,and oral health development amongst adolescents in West Africa.This article engaged articles published in peer-reviewed journals relating to adolescents’oral health and West Africa.The authors undertook this desk review to determine the social determinants of adolescents’oral health in West Africa.The literacy levels and oral health awareness of adolescents,family and social circle influences,socioeconomic status,nutritional levels,and cultural and environmental factors have been identified as important social determinants.Adequate policy implementation with the integration of oral health in schools’curriculum,health systems reorientation with the adoption of oral health delivery in primary health care and expansion in oral health research with the assessment of cultural influences on oral health development have been recommended as interventions to reduce oral health inequalities in West Africa.
文摘Africa accounts for over one-third of the global burden of neglected tropical diseases(NTDs).Although continental efforts have been made to combat these diseases,there still exists a significant gap in the fight,ranging from a lack of data to multisectoral participation and,most critically,health inequity.Here,we assess the effort made to combat challenges caused by health disparities to prevent and control neglected tropical diseases.This article engages a health equity view to addressing the need for inclusion in achieving universal health coverage towards eradicating NTDs and outlines strategies to achieve such.Health disparities exist,and there is substantial and irrefutable evidence for them.Inequitable distribution and limited access to basic and essential life resources such as water,housing,toilets,soap,and literacy continue to facilitate the existence of NTDs such as Schistosomiasis,soil-transmitted helminths,and trachoma,the occurrence of which can be avoided if affected populations have better access to those resources.To eradicate NTDs,health disparities must be addressed to provide excellent health care to all populations and adequate universal health coverage for long-term sustainability.NTD programmes need to be data-driven to ensure better decision-making and ensure the inclusion of diverse population groups including women,children,and youths.This will ensure that no one is left behind,drawing upon the sustainable development goals.Community participation and engagement should also be considered as an essential approach to ensure people are at the centre of health programmes and their implementation.
