Maintaining the provision and use of services for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and older people during the COVID-19 pandemic


Book Description

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, decision-makers in affected countries have acted quickly to address the immediate health effects of the pandemic and to put into place public health and social measures to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19. In order to preserve the gains made in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in the last decades and avoid negative impacts due to the pandemic, the global community quickly mobilized to advocate for protecting the health of these populations. Since May 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO), through its headquarters, regional and country office teams, has supported 19 countries in five WHO Regions (see Figure 1) to raise the profile of and commitment to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and ageing (MNCAAH)b through an Initiative on mitigating the indirect impacts of COVID-19 on MNCAAH services. The goal was to ensure that during the response to COVID-19, actions would be taken to mitigate indirect effects on MNCAAH due to disruptions to service provision and use.













Managing epidemics: key facts about major deadly diseases


Book Description

Epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases are occurring more often, and spreading faster and further than ever, in many different regions of the world. The background factors of this threat are biological, environmental and lifestyle changes, among others. A potentially fatal combination of newly-discovered diseases, and the re-emergence of many long-established ones, demands urgent responses in all countries. Planning and preparation for epidemic prevention and control are essential. The purpose of the Managing epidemics handbook is to provide expert guidance on those response. Building on the first edition, the second edition provides concise and basic up-to-date knowledge with which World Health Organization country representatives can advise Ministries of Health to respond effectively and rapidly at the very start of an outbreak. Part I of the handbook provides insights on epidemics of the 21st century and offers context on the upsurge of recent epidemics. Part II has been updated and offers 10 key facts about 19 deadly diseases including tips on the interventions required to respond. Part III presents various Tool boxes that summarize guidance on several important topics. The handbook focuses on practical and indispensable things to know about infectious diseases that are most important for national, political and operational decision-makers; it also links readers to more exhaustive WHO guidance.




Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth


Book Description

The emphasis of the manual is on rapid assessment and decision making. The clinical action steps are based on clinical assessment with limited reliance on laboratory or other tests and most are possible in a variety of clinical settings.







Fiscal Space for Health in Uganda


Book Description

This paper reviews the performance of the health sector in Uganda. It addresses concerns in the Ugandan health community that health financing must be increased to improve health, nutrition, and population outcomes, especially given the rapid increase in the country s population. Although international development aid targeted to health has increased dramatically, Uganda s first priority is actions to reduce waste and inefficiency in existing health expenditures. Such actions could include improved management of human resources in the health sector, strengthened procurement and logistics management for medicines and medical supplies, and better programming of development assistance of health. This paper is targeted to health policy makers and those involved in health services financing, both in the government and in donor agencies. This working paper was produced as part of the World Bank s Africa Region Health Systems for Outcomes (HSO) Program. The Program, funded by the World Bank, the Government of Norway, the Government of the United Kingdom, and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), focuses on strengthening health systems in Africa to reach the poor and achieve tangible results related to Health, Nutrition, and Population. The main pillars and focus of the program center on knowledge and capacity building related to Human Resources for Health, Health Financing, Pharmaceuticals, Governance and Service Delivery, and Infrastructure and ICT.