Journal of public health policy
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J Public Health Policy · Feb 2012
ReviewNigeria's costly complacency and the global tobacco epidemic.
Although smoking prevalence rates remain far lower in Nigeria than in Europe, they are rising, particularly as multinational tobacco companies target youth and work to regain the revenues they are losing in Europe and north America. This article recounts 25 years of Nigeria's tobacco control policy and presents every bit of evidence available about smoking prevalence rates and trends that show troubling increases, especially among youth. It concludes with recommendations for urgent and comprehensive action in Nigeria and by the World Health Organization (WHO) organized largely on a framework provided by the WHO.
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J Public Health Policy · Jan 2012
Emergency care capacity in Africa: a clinical and educational initiative in Tanzania.
Even though sub-Saharan Africa faces a disproportionate burden of acute injury and illness, few clinical facilities are configured to take an integrated approach to resuscitation and stabilization. Emergency care is a high-impact and cost-effective form of secondary prevention; disease surveillance at facilities delivering acute and emergency care is essential to guide primary prevention. ⋯ Despite these challenges, interest in creating dedicated acute care facilities and emergency training programs is rapidly expanding in Africa. We describe one such initiative at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, with a focus on the development of the emergency medicine residency program.
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J Public Health Policy · Jan 2012
Health challenges in Tanzania: context for educating health professionals.
In this commentary we introduce the population age and gender distributions, the birth rate, and life expectancy in Tanzania's largely agricultural society and highlight the vulnerable status of mothers and children. We present underlying causes of poor health, the leading causes of Disability-Adjusted Life Years and review threats from exposure to disease, toxic substances, and injuries that require protection of populations and control efforts. We summarize health challenges posed by malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, and by new threats that may change the picture of disease and require adjustments in how training institutions prepare the health workforce.
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This introduction to Tanzania's health system and acute workforce shortage familiarizes readers with the context in which health professions education takes place. The paper touches on poverty rates, population growth, and characteristics of the health system. ⋯ Other challenges facing the health sector include lack of effective staff supervision, poor transport and communication infrastructure and shortage of drugs and medical equipment. We recommend appropriate action be taken by the government and other stakeholders to provide more financial and human resources for the sector while ensuring their efficient and effective utilization to improve services delivery.
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J Public Health Policy · Aug 2011
Public perceptions of pandemic influenza resource allocation: a deliberative forum using Grid/Group analysis.
The emergence of virulent avian influenza A subtypes with potential to evolve into novel human subtypes prompted directives from the World Health Organisation recommending that countries prepare for a pandemic. In response the Australian government developed the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI), which includes strategies to contain and/or manage a pandemic. ⋯ We used Mary Douglas' Grid/Group analysis to analyse the results, which suggested that the AHMPPI's allocation strategy corresponds well with community views with both based on a hierarchical structure. There are some differences concerning community involvement in the decision process and information provision to the public, for which our study provides recommendations.