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  • 5 children die every minute in Africa – WHO

    5 children die every minute in Africa – WHO

    In 2013, an estimated 6.3 million children under five died, 2.9 million of them in the WHO African region. This is equivalent to five children under 5 years of age dying every minute. Two thirds of these deaths can be attributed to preventable causes. A third of all these deaths are in the neonatal period.

    Pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and HIV are the main causes of death in infants and young children. In the African Region, about 473 000 children die from pneumonia, 300 000 from diarrhoea, and a further 443 000 from malaria every year. In 2012, 230 000 new HIV infections were recorded among children under 5 years of age.

    “Although tremendous progress has been made in identifying and treating infants and children with HIV, much remains to be done to scale-up and sustain effective prevention, care and treatment, especially of pneumonia and diarrhoea,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

    Pneumonia is the single biggest killer of children worldwide, accounting for nearly one in seven deaths among young children, with an estimated over 950 000 deaths annually. Most of the deaths occur in resource-constrained countries, with 50% in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Globally, diarrhoeal diseases account for nearly one out of every six deaths in children under 5 years of age, equivalent to over 578 000 deaths per year. Diarrhoeal disease occurs more commonly in HIV-infected people, with worse outcomes than in uninfected children.

    Persistent diarrhoea in particular is associated with a high risk of death in HIV-infected children. Administration of oral rehydration and zinc in combination with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and restoring immune function are critical for the treatment of diarrhoea in children with HIV.

    “Undernutrition is another critical risk factor in most countries in the African Region, and nutrition and food security remains a fundamental challenge to child survival. Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to provide newborns, infants and young children with the nutrients that they need while protecting them against conditions like pneumonia, diarrhea and undernutrition,” Dr Moeti added.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that exclusive breastfeeding starts within one hour after birth and lasts until a baby is six months old. Continued breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods should be made available for up to 2 years of age and beyond.

    In mid-2013, WHO issued new guidelines for breastfeeding and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. These recommendations were intended for use in resource-poor settings in low-and middle-income countries.

    One of the recommendations for PMTCT is to promote the use of ART in all pregnant and breastfeeding women. These recommendations also include providing ART – irrespective of one’s CD4 count – to all children under 5 years of age with HIV, all pregnant, and all breastfeeding women with HIV including their infants until they cease to breastfeed.

    Health systems in Africa are often not able to adequately address the severe burden of childhood disease. Low total health expenditure with high out of pocket health costs hamper progress in child survival. Hence just as health can drive economic growth, ill-health can push people into poverty and make it very difficult for them to escape the vicious cycle of poverty and disease.

    WHO said it will continue to work with governments and partners to strengthen health systems to reduce unacceptably high infant and child deaths in the African Region.

  • WHO to Nigeria: War against polio must not fail

    WHO to Nigeria: War against polio must not fail

    The Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, has charged Nigeria not to relent in the efforts to rid the country of polio disease.

    Chan, who spoke at the opening of the 68th Session of the World Health Assembly, on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, maintained that overcoming the polio virus disease “is one initiative that must not fail.”

    The WHO chief, according to a statement signed by Mrs. Ayo Adesugba, Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Health, also commended the country for its ongoing efforts, which has ensured that no new cases had been reported in the last nine months.

    The statement reads: “The WHO Director General observed that in the past nine months Nigeria has not had any reported case of the disease and according to her, the situation in Nigeria looks extremely encouraging.”

    “She further stated that overcoming the polio virus disease is one initiative that must not fail. Dr. Chan pointed out that Afghanistan and Pakistan have both made great strides despite severe challenges.

    “Nigeria’s recognition by the WHO boss comes as a result of its aggressive response in tackling the polio virus. Its efforts have yielded success  as no case of the disease has been reported in the southern part of the country for five years and with the exception of some cases in Kano and Yobe States, no polio virus infection has been reported in the past two years in the Northern states.

    “The nation has strengthened surveillance and routine immunization, embarking on house-to-house campaigns to ensure that all eligible children receive the life-saving Polio vaccine. If Nigeria’s efforts are sustained, by July 2015, the country will be removed from the list of polio endemic countries by the World Health Organization. ”

     

     

     

  • When CS is ideal, by WHO

    When CS is ideal, by WHO

    These days, many doctors are wont to deliver women through caesarean section (CS). But the World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging doctors not to breach ethics in the use of CS, writes OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA.

    Some women give birth with ease; some do not. To help such women out, doctors ask then to go for Caesarean Section (CS). So, when is cs necessary? It is when there is a medical reason for it, says the World Health Organisation (WHO) where normal delivery is possible, doctors should shun cs, WHO adds, noting that many go for CS without any medical  reason, thereby putting mothers and their babies at risk.

    According to WHO, CS is a common surgery whose rate is on the rise, particularly in high and middle-income countries.

    CS becomes necessary when vaginal delivery poses a risk to the mother or baby – for example due to prolonged labour, foetal distress – or because the baby is presenting in an abnormal position.

    “However, caesarean sections can cause significant complications, disability or death, particularly in settings that lack the facilities to conduct safe surgeries or treat potential complications,” it stated.

    The WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates is based on two studies carried out by the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme for Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. This programme is the main instrument within the United Nations system for research in human reproduction, working within the Department of Reproductive Health and Research of the World Health Organisation.

     

    Ideal rate for CS

    The global health watch dog said since 1985, the international healthcare community has considered the “ideal rate” for caesarean sections to be between 10 percent and 15 percent. New studies reveal that when caesarean section rates rise towards 10 percent across a population, the number of maternal and newborn deaths decreases. But when the rate goes above 10 percent, there is no evidence that mortality rates improve.

    “These conclusions highlight the value of caesarean section in saving the lives of mothers and newborns,” said Director of WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Dr Marleen Temmerman. “They also illustrate how important it is to ensure a caesarean section is provided to the women in need – and to not just focus on achieving any specific rate,” she said.

    She added: “Across a population, the effects of caesarean section rates on maternal and newborn outcomes, such as stillbirths or morbidities – birth asphyxia – are still unknown. More research on the impact of caesarean section on women’s psychological and social well-being are still needed. Due to their increased costs, high rates of unnecessary caesarean sections can pull resources away from other services in overloaded and weak health systems.”

     

    International use of Robson

     classification

    The organisation said the lack of a standardised internationally-accepted classification system to monitor and compare caesarean section rates in a consistent and action-oriented manner is one of the factors that have hindered a better understanding of this trend, hence WHO is proposing the adoption of the Robson classification as an internationally applicable caesarean section classification system.

    The Robson system classifies all women admitted for delivery into one of 10 groups based on characteristics that are easily identifiable, such as number of previous pregnancies, whether the baby comes head first, gestational age, previous uterine scars, number of babies and how labour started. Using this system would facilitate comparison and analysis of caesarean rates within and between different facilities and across countries and regions.

    “Information gathered in a standardised, uniform and reproducible way is critical for health care facilities as they seek to optimise the use of caesarean section and assess and improve the quality of care,” explained Temmerman. “We urge the healthcare community and decision-makers to reflect on these conclusions and put them into practice at the earliest opportunity,” she added.

    A member of Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Dr Adebayo Bamisebi, explained why more women are undergoing CS. He said: “There is a better understanding of the relevance of CS to safe delivery nowadays. Before now there is a morbid fear on what CS entails and does not. But with better enlightenment, more professionalism and equipment to work with, professionals launch into CS to save mother and child. The fear is based on the notion that anything that pertains to operation in this part of the world is fearful because we don’t trust our medical experts, with a mindset that anything can happen.”

    Bamisebi continued: “There are many reasons a health care provider may feel that an expectant woman will need to have a CS delivery. Some caesareans occur in critical situations, some are used to prevent critical situations and some are elective.

    “Some reasons for the increased use of caesarean childbirth include the use of heart rate monitors to evaluate the fetal heart rate pattern; baby positioned in a manner other than head first; woman’s preference for repeat caesarean sections; labour does not progress to delivery; mother has an active genital herpes infection (the baby needs to avoid potential exposure through the birth canal); mother has HIV infection; presence of obstructions such as benign or malignant tumors in the lower reproductive tract or pelvic anatomical abnormalities; malpractice concerns, i.e, birth in a private, for-profit hospital; woman’s higher level of education and social status and increased maternal age, as more women are having babies later in life.”

    He said: “Also, the most frequent reasons for performing a caesarean delivery are repeat cesarean delivery: There are two types of uterine incisions – a low transverse incision and a vertical uterine incision. The direction of the incision on the skin (up and down or side to side) does not necessarily match the direction of the incision made in the uterus.”

    He said the medical reasons for CS are: “Previous cesarean deliveries as women with a prior history of more than one low transverse cesarean section are at slightly increased risk for uterine rupture. This risk increases significantly when the woman has had three caesarean deliveries. If an abdominal delivery is planned and a trial of labor is not an option, the best time for delivery is determined when the lungs of the fetus are mature.

    “Lack of labour progression: If the woman is having adequate contractions but no change in the cervix (opening to the uterus) beyond three centimeters dilation or the woman is unable to deliver the fetus despite complete dilation of the cervix and “adequate” pushing for (generally for two to three hours or more), cesarean delivery may be performed.

    “Abnormal position of the foetus: In a normal delivery, the baby presents head first. This is the way it happens in most births. The smallest diameter of the human skull is presented to the pelvis in the most advantageous way. This increases the success of a vaginal delivery. There are various other presentations of the fetus, which make vaginal delivery difficult, including the commonly known breech position (when the baby’s buttocks are in the lower portion of the uterus). Certain forms of breech delivery have a very low increased risk to the fetus. Breech deliveries may cause more complications, including death and neurologic disability. Careful counseling, analysis of the exact type of breech position, an estimate of the baby’s weight, and other information are required before making any decision about an attempted vaginal delivery or delivery by cesarean section.”

    Bamisebi added: “The fetal status, although an attractive and much-used tool, the fetal heart rate monitor has not improved birth outcomes as once expected. Some believe the lack of improved outcomes is because many current practicing doctors are poorly trained in interpreting the subtleties of fetal heart rate patterns. Since the use of continuous fetal heart rate monitoring in labour was begun, however, birth experts say death of a fetus during labour is much rarer than in the past.

    “Emergency situations: If the woman is severely ill or has a life-threatening injury or illness with interruption of the normal heart or lung function, she may be a candidate for an emergency caesarean section. When performed within 10 minutes of the onset of cardiac arrest, the procedure may save the newborn and improve the resuscitation rate for the mother. This procedure is performed only in the direst of circumstances. Likewise, elective sterilisation, but desire for elective sterilisation is not an indication for caesarean delivery. Sterilisation after a vaginal delivery can be performed via a tiny three-cm incision along the lower edge of the umbilicus or as a delayed procedure six weeks after delivery with laparoscopic surgery or vaginal surgery.”

     

     

  • WHO alerts on food safety

    WHO alerts on food safety

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on policy makers, producers and the public to promote food safety as it marks this year’s World Health Day today. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes.

    THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is advocating action on food safety. This includes what goes into the food; origin of the ingredients; are they properly and safely handled at every stage of their preparation – from the farm to plate and a host of other factors in food production.

    According to WHO, over 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemical substances. The world body also  estimated that about two million deaths occur every year from contaminated food or drinking water.

    “Food-borne and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases  kill an estimated two million people annually, including many children and particularly in developing countries. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diarrhoea and malnutrition, threatening the nutritional status of the most vulnerable. Where food supplies are insecure, people tend to shift to less healthy diets and consume more “unsafe foods” – in which chemical, microbiological and other hazards pose health risks,” a report by WHO said.

    Unsafe food, it added, poses global health threats and endangers everyone. “Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with an underlying illness are particularly vulnerable,” it said.

    As part of its message for this year’s world health day WHO said: “As our food supply becomes increasingly globalised new threats are constantly emerging. Food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances is responsible for more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhea to cancers. Be informed to ensure that the food on your plate is safe to eat.”

    The body wants governments to make food safety a public health priority, as they play a pivotal role in developing policies and regulatory frameworks, which ensure that food producers and suppliers along the whole food chain operate responsibly and supply safe food to consumers.

    “Food can become contaminated at any point,” the body said. The primary responsibility of keeping foods safe, the body said, lies with its producers.

    The report further said a large proportion of food borne disease cases are caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home, in food service establishments or markets. “Not all food handlers and consumers understand the roles they must play, such as adopting basic hygienic practices when buying, selling and preparing food to protect their health and that of the wider community,” it said.

    The body insisted that everyone can contribute to making food safe and cited some examples of effective actions. Policy-makers, it said, can build and maintain adequate food systems and infrastructures (e.g. laboratories) to respond to and manage food safety risks along the entire food chain including during emergencies. sectoral collaboration among public health, animal health, agriculture and other sectors for better communication and joint action; integrate food safety into broader food policies and programmes (e.g. nutrition and food security);  think globally and act locally to ensure the food produce domestically be safe internationally.

    Food handlers and consumers can know much about the food they produce and eat by reading labels on food package, make an informed choice, become familiar with common food hazards; handle and prepare food safely, practicing the WHO Five Keys to Safer Food at home, or when selling at restaurants or at local markets. They can grow fruits and vegetables using the WHO five keys to growing safer fruits and vegetables to decrease microbial contamination.

    WHO, according to the report, aims at facilitating global prevention, detection and response to public health threats associated with unsafe food. It also wants to ensure consumer trust  and confidence in the safe food supply.

    The organisation, according to the report, is helping member states to build capacity to prevent, detect and manage food borne risks by providing independent scientific assessments on microbiological and chemical hazards that form the basis for international food standards, guidelines and recommendations. They are known as the Codex Alimentarius, to ensure that food is safe wherever it originates. The body is also assessing the safety of new technologies used in food production, such as genetic modification and nanotechnology.

    The body, according to the report, is helping to improve national food systems, legal frameworks and implement adequate infrastructure to manage food safety risks. “The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was developed by WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to rapidly share information during food safety emergencies; promoting safe food handling through systematic disease prevention and awareness programmes, through the WHO Five Keys to Safer Food message and training materials; and advocating for food safety as an important component of health security and for integrating food safety into national policies and programmes in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR – 2005),” the report said.

    WHO, the report said, is working closely with FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other international organisations to ensure food safety along the entire  food chain from production to consumption.

  • Children: the innocent victims of TB in vulnerable communities

    Children: the innocent victims of TB in vulnerable communities

    Each year on 24 March, WHO joins the rest of the international community to commemorate World TB Day. This year’s theme “Gear Up to End TB” is a continuation of the call to reach the missing cases, most of who live in the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities, including those in the African Region.

    Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest, yet preventable, communicable diseases and remains a significant problem in the African Region. Every year, there is an estimated 9 million new TB cases worldwide but consistently 3 million cases are either not diagnosed, not treated, or are diagnosed and not registered by national TB control programmes.

    These vulnerable populations include children and women, people living with HIV, people with diabetes, refugees, miners and ex-miners, prisoners and drug users whose access to basic health care services may be limited. The poor are also at risk, especially homeless persons and individuals living in densely populated communities.

    Among children, there were an estimated 550 000 new cases in 2013. Children with vulnerable immune systems, such as the very young, HIV-infected or severely malnourished, are at the greatest risk of falling ill or dying from TB.

    Children can get TB at any age, but the most common age is between one and four years. The source of infection is often an infectious adult that is in a child’s close environment. A TB infected adult often lives in vulnerable communities such as migrants, miners, prisoners, drug users and sex workers whose access to basic health care services may be limited.

    “Any child living in a setting where there are people with infectious TB can become ill with TB, even if they are vaccinated. If infected, TB is often missed or overlooked due to non-specific symptoms and difficulties in accurately diagnosing the condition. This highlights the urgent need to strengthen health systems to be able to manage TB and it’s other associated health conditions,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

    The HIV pandemic also threatens TB control efforts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Wherever children are at risk of HIV infection, the HIV-infected children are at risk of TB. Overall, 34 per cent of TB cases are estimated to be co-infected with HIV in the African Region. In parts of southern Africa, more than 50 per cent of TB cases are co-infected with HIV.

    TB is a treatable and curable disease. Active, drug-sensitive TB is treated with a standard six-month regimen of four antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support by a qualified health care worker or trained volunteer.

    There has been continued progress in the implementation of collaborative TB/HIV activities but intensified efforts are needed, especially to ensure universal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). In 2013, 70 per cent of TB patients known to be HIV-positive were on ART. This level, however, falls short of the 100 per cent target set for 2015.

    As a minimum, all HIV-infected children should be screened for TB and all children with TB should be offered HIV testing and counselling in high HIV prevalence settings. Irrespective of age, all HIV-infected children who are household contacts of infectious TB cases should be evaluated for TB disease and treated.

    For the first time in four decades, new TB drugs are starting to emerge from the pipeline, and combination regimens that include new compounds are being tested in clinical trials, but the funding required to rapidly evaluate whether these treatments are effective and ready for implementation is far from adequate.

    The end of 2015 marks a transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to a post-2015 development framework. Within this broader context, WHO has developed a post-2015 global TB strategy (the End TB Strategy) that was approved by all Member States at the May 2014 World Health Assembly.

  • Sugar contributes to emerging health threats in Africa

    Sugar contributes to emerging health threats in Africa

    Africa is long known for high rates of hunger, under nutrition and infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS but a disturbing new threat of non communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with overweight, obesity and diet-related NCDs is emerging in many countries. The rapid unplanned urbanization of countries in the African Region has resulted in increasing consumption of free sugars, sugar-sweetened drinks and processed foodstuffs.

    To help improve dietary choices and counter the rapid upsurge of NCDs, WHO released updated recommendations for adults and children to reduce the intake of free sugars throughout the life course.

    WHO further recommends that in both adults and children, the intake of free sugars be reduced to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake and a further reduction to below 5 per cent of total energy intake would provide additional health benefits.

    “After years of research and over 9000 studies, the dangers of high levels of sugars consumption are finally starting to be known. Daily intake of free sugars should be no more than 10 per cent of total energy intake in order to prevent NCDs, in particular tooth decay and health problems resulting for overweight and obesity, namely diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer and it is suggested to further reduce the intake to less than 5 per cent of total energy intake for added health benefits,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

    Using a 2000-calorie diet as an example, less than 10 per cent of total energy intake of free sugars or 200 calories equates to less than 50 grams of free sugars. Applying the suggested intake of less than 5 per cent of total energy for the same example would reduce the free sugars intake to less than 25 grams. This is of utmost importance to children and adults as over-consumption of free sugars which is contributing greatly to excess energy intake coupled with low-energy expenditures from lack of physical activity is causing unhealthy weight gains.

    Much of the sugars consumed today are “hidden” in processed foods that are not usually seen as sweets. For example, 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce contains around 4 grams (around 1 teaspoon) of sugar. A single can of sugar-sweetened soda contains up to 40 grams (around 10 teaspoons) of
    sugars.

    In recent years, the rate of increase of childhood overweight and obesity in developing countries with emerging economies has been more than 30 per cent higher than that in developed countries.

    In 2013, it was estimated that 42 million children under the age of 5 in the world were overweight or obese and about 35 million of them were living in the developing countries.

    “The risk of type 2 diabetes in adults increases continuously with increasing obesity, and decreases with weight loss. The new WHO sugars recommendations contribute to halting the spread of overweight and obesity and helping individuals maintain a healthy weight throughout the life course,” said Dr Tigest Ketsela, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    The upsurge of sugars consumption in the African Region is closely associated with many cross-cutting variables such as increased availability, cultural traditions, individual preferences and beliefs as well as geographical, environmental, economic and social factors.

    “Rapid uptake of the new WHO sugars guidelines along with increased physical activity is needed to halt and reverse the obesity and NCD epidemics in Africa. New and bold inter sectoral policies and actions are needed to improve overall health and quality of life of populations in the Region,” said Dr Chandralall Sookram, Medical Officer for the Primary Prevention of NCDs at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

  • Ebola: WHO approves 15- minute test

    The World Health Organisation  (WHO) has approved the first rapid test for Ebola in a potential breakthrough for ending an epidemic that has killed almost 10,000 people in West Africa.

    The test, developed by US firm Corgenix Medical Corp, is less accurate than the standard test but is easy to perform; it does not require electricity, and can give results within 15 minutes, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.

    “The test was evaluated under WHO’s emergency assessment and used procedure established to provide a minimum quality, safety and performance assurance for diagnostic products in the context of the Ebola emergency,” he said.

    The standard laboratory test has a turnaround time of 12-24 hours. While the Corgenix test is not fail-safe, it could quickly identify patients who need quarantine and make it much easier to verify rapidly any new outbreaks.

    “It is a little bit less accurate than a standard PCR test that we are currently using, but it’s easy to perform, does not require electricity and it can be therefore used in lower health care facilities, or in mobile units for patients in remote settings,” he said.

    Jasarevic added that when possible, results from the Corgenix test should be checked against the standard laboratory test.

    Procurement and roll-out of the test kits will not begin immediately because the company is still working out costing and needs a week or two more to finish administrative procedures with the US Food and Drug Administration, Jasarevic said.

    The health charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, which has been at the forefront of the fight against Ebola, had expressed an interest, he said.

     

    •Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

  • Ebola: WHO approves breakthrough 15- minute test

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the first rapid test for Ebola in a potential breakthrough for ending an epidemic that has killed almost 10,000 people in West Africa.

    The test, developed by US firm Corgenix Medical Corp, is less accurate than the standard test but is easy to perform, does not require electricity, and can give results within 15 minutes, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.

    “The test was evaluated under WHO’s emergency assessment and use procedure established to provide a minimum quality, safety and performance assurance for diagnostic products in the context of the Ebola emergency,” he said.

    The standard laboratory test has a turnaround time of 12-24 hours. While the Corgenix test is not fail-safe, it could quickly identify patients who need quarantine and make it much easier to verify rapidly any new outbreaks.

    “It is a little bit less accurate than a standard PCR test that we are currently using, but it’s easy to perform, does not require electricity and it can be therefore used in lower health care facilities, lower level of health care facilities or in mobile units for patients in remote settings,” he said.

    Jasarevic added that when possible, results from the Corgenix test should be checked against the standard laboratory test.

    Procurement and roll-out of the test kits will not begin immediately because the company is still working out costing and needs a week or two more to finish administrative procedures with the US Food and Drug Administration, Jasarevic said.

    The health charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, which has been at the forefront of the fight against Ebola, had expressed an interest, he said.

    •Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

  • How safe breastfeeding enhances children’s health

    [dropcap]E[/dropcap]very day an estimated 8000 children die in sub-Saharan Africa from easily preventable or treatable illnesses. Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to provide newborns, infants and young children with the nutrients that they need while protecting them against conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and measles.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding that starts within one hour after birth and lasts until a baby is six months old.

    Also, continued breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods should be made available for up to two years of age and beyond.

    In mid-2013, WHO issued new guidelinesfor breastfeeding and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. These recommendations were intended for use in resource-poor settings in low-and middle-income countries.

    A mother can pass the HIV infection during pregnancy, delivery and through breastfeeding. In some African counties, it is estimated that 20 to 30 per cent of pregnant women are infected with HIV and transmission rates from mother-to-child range from 25 to 40 per cent. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.

    “One of the new recommendations for PMTCT is to promote the use of ART in all pregnant and breastfeeding women. These new recommendations also include providing ART – irrespective of one’s CD4 count – to all children with HIV under 5 years of age, all pregnant, and all breastfeeding women with HIV,” said Dr Tigest Ketsela Mengestu, Director of the Health Promotion Cluster of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa.

    To encourage people to do this and to make testing services more widely available, WHO (HQ, Regional and country-level) have worked together with partner organizations to adapt, disseminate and implement these new guidelines in countries.

    At least 90 per cent of people living with HIV/AIDS across the African Region do not know that they are HIV positive, and HIV tests are often expensive and not always available to pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and children.

    More women and children are being encouraged to come forward to be tested for HIV as services become more readily available.

    In sub-Saharan Africa, health systems are fragile and staffing is often grossly inadequate to meet rising health needs. Community health workers (CHWs) often play an important role in educating mothers about nutrition, breastfeeding, PMTCT of HIV, and on-going care requirements.

    CHWs also save the lives of newborns through home visits during the postnatal period. This allows them to review the health of the newborn and the mother, and to connect them to appropriate health care services, wherever there is a need.

    While progress has been made in promoting breastfeeding in the African Region, significant challenges remain. Africa is a vast continent containing extremes of poverty and wealth. Under nutrition is still the most important underlying factor causing high infant and child mortality in the Region.

    In order toimprove infant and child health and kick off the post-2015 development agenda, governments in the Region need to expand the use of safe breastfeeding. In 2012, the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of WHO set the target of increasing the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding from 37 per cent to at least 50 per cent by 2025.

     

    Follow the WHO Regional Office for Africa on Twitter @WHOAFRO. The African Health Report 2014 is also available online at: www.afro.who.int/en/rdo/annual-and-biennial-reports/african-regional-health-report-2014.html

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  • Ebola cases slump in worst-hit countries

    Ebola cases slump in worst-hit countries

    All three countries hit hardest by the Ebola epidemic have recorded their lowest weekly number of new cases for months, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, as the global death toll reached 8,429 out of 21,296 cases reported so far.

    Reuters says Sierra Leone and Guinea both saw the lowest weekly total of confirmed Ebola cases since August 2014.

    Liberia, which reported two days with zero new cases last week, had its lowest weekly total since June.