Review of the malaria epidemiology and trends in Zambia

A comprehensive desk review of malaria trends was conducted between 2000-2010 in Zambia to study malaria epidemiology and trends to guide strategies and approaches for effective malaria control.This review considered data from the National Health Information Management System,Malaria Surveys and Programme Review reports and analyzed malaria in-patient cases and deaths in relation to intervention coverage for all ages.Data showed three distinct epidemiological strata after a notable malaria reduction(66%)in in-patient cases and deaths,particularly between 2000-2008.These changes occurred following the(re-)introduction and expansion of indoor residual spraying up to 90%coverage,scale-up of coverage of long-lasting insecticidetreated nets in household from 50%to 70%,and artemisin-based combination therapy nationwide.However,malaria cases and deaths re-surged,increasing in 2009-2010 in the northern-eastern parts of Zambia.Delays in the disbursement of funds affected the implementation of interventions,which resulted in resurgence of cases and deaths.In spite of a decline in malaria disease burden over the past decade in Zambia,a reversal in impact is notable in the year 2009-2010,signifying that control gains are fragile and must be sustained toeliminate malaria.

Putting health workers at the centre of health system investments in COVID-19 and beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the implications of chronic underinvestment in health workforce development,particularly in resource-constrained health systems.Inadequate health workforce diversity,insufficient training and remuneration,and limited support and protection reduce health system capacity to equitably maintain health service delivery while meeting urgent health emergency demands.Applying the Health Worker Life Cycle Approach provides a useful conceptual framework that adapts a health labour market approach to outline key areas and recommendations for health workforce investment-building,managing and optimising-to systematically meet the needs of health workers and the systems they support.It also emphasises the importance of protecting the workforce as a cross-cutting investment,which is especially important in a health crisis like COVID-19.While the global pandemic has spurred intermittent health workforce investments required to immediately respond to COVID-19,applying this‘lifecycle approach’to guide policy implementation and financing interventions is critical to centering health workers as stewards of health systems,thus strengthening resilience to public health threats,sustainably responding to community needs and providing more equitable,patient-centred care.

Mobile biosafety level (BSL) 2 laboratories deployment: Strengthening the diagnostic facilities in Pakistan with emerging public health challenges and the way forward

Availability of mobile laboratories can facilitate rapid on-spot detection of pathogens,monitor its presence in certain populations and inform health authorities to take immediate remedial measures.Currently available biosafety and biosecurity guidelines and policies may not completely articulate the increased demand to manage mobile units in infectious disease outbreaks in remote parts of the country for rapid diagnosis,and also allows research and epidemiological study take place appropriately.The main objective of this study is to evaluate the current limitations and develop and implement biosafety and biosecurity guidelines as well as the protocols for operations,security,and response plan of mobile biosafety level 2 laboratories and their deployment.Keeping in view the sensitivity of it,a comprehensive plan was developed to address it in view of Global Health Security framework.Biosafety and biosecurity protocols were developed including Risk Assessment Tool(RAT)fitting the needs and strengthen the diagnostic and epidemiological capacity in the field covering remote parts of country to fill the gaps observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.Currently the biosafety and biosecurity best practices guidelines and biosecurity policy and regulations are directed mostly towards static laboratories.A biosafety and biosecurity manual developed to adopt and meet the requirements for MBSL 2.For acute health infectious threats including the COVID-19 outbreak and other epidemics,rapid diagnosis can curb and mitigate the problem before it gets out of its boundaries creating significant health risks for the public and economy.The deployment of mobile laboratories will certainly help in curbing these catastrophes.