March 2018

March 02, 2018

Photo Essay: Community Health Volunteers Key to Ending Polio in Madagascar [2]

Samy Rakotoniaina [3]

[2]Photo Credit: Samy Rakotoniaina

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Poliomyelitis, or polio, was a greatly feared scourge of the industrial world. It would paralyze hundreds of thousands of children every year. Once effective vaccines were introduced in the 1950s the number of cases of polio dropped dramatically and the virus was eliminated in many countries, but in some places, it still remains a real threat.

Polio is an infectious viral disease that is transmitted from person to person and can lead to paralysis, respiratory failure, even death. The polio virus easily spreads in areas with poor sanitation. Vaccination is the most reliable way to prevent polio and to protect children under five, who are the most vulnerable.

The virus was wiped out in Madagascar 2005 but reappeared in 2014. Since then, Madagascar’s government and health partners, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and the United States Agency for International Development, have held multiple vaccination campaigns across the country.

International Women's Day: Time to Listen to All Women and Girls [6]

Health Systems Strengthening [4]

Women & Gender [7]

[6]

After more than 15 years working on women’s health and development issues, I feel hopeful as the growing movement for women’s rights brings us closer to a breakthrough. Everyday, more women around the world -- from Madagascar to Mexico -- are emerging as leaders. They are organizing and demanding justice, equality, and the full realization of their fundamental human rights. In the halls of the United Nations, at the policymaking tables of country ministries, and in the local health clinics, women and girls are calling for health policies and services that meet their needs, and those of their families and communities.

On International Women’s Day, Management Sciences for Health (MSH) joins women worldwide to press for progress. Our work is grounded in the fundamental view that safeguarding women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health is a core health system function. It is time we listen to all women and girls, because they are the health system.

Sustaining SIAPS’ Impact: What’s Next for Pharmaceutical Systems Strengthening? [9]

Health Systems Strengthening [4]

Universal Health Coverage [10]

[9]Photo Credit: Warren Zelman

The Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) program helped make sure that some of the world’s most vulnerable people have timely access to safe, affordable medicines and to quality services to improve their health. Funded by USAID, the program worked for six years in 46 countries to comprehensively strengthen pharmaceutical systems by addressing five interrelated functions, with a focus on medical products—governance, human resources, information, financing, and service delivery.

Each level of progress in pharmaceutical systems strengthening (PSS) sets the stage for further advances. Which areas need focused attention going forward so that progress continues?

Shortchanging Global Health Now Will Cost Us Later [12]

Ashley Arabasadi [13]

[12]A council worker sprays disinfectant while cleaning up a market in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in October 2017 during an outbreak of plague.Photo Credit: Rijasolo/AFP/Getty Images

This story was originally published by STAT News. [14]

Ashley Arabasadi, Global Health Security Policy Adviser for Management Sciences for Health, describes the negative consequences of scaling back investments in CDC and USAID global health programs in this op-ed for STAT First Opinion.

The White House recently released a report [15] outlining the progress and investments the U.S. has made to make the world safer from the threat of epidemics. But the key to epidemic preparedness and response is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose operations abroad will radically scale back due to looming funding cuts.

World TB Day: Strengthening Leadership for the Fight on TB [17]

Cherie Black [18]

Health Systems Strengthening [4]

Universal Health Coverage [10]

Women & Gender [7]

[17]Mary Nkiinzi, a TRACK TB Community Linkage Facilitator for the Komamboga Health Centre in Uganda, checks on Nakawesi Harriet and her family during a home visit while Harriet and her mother complete treatment for multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).Photo Credit: Diana Tumuhairwe

Tuberculosis remains the world’s leading infectious disease killer. Ending TB will require a comprehensive approach and targeted action, rapid innovation and proven interventions, bold leadership, and intensive community engagement.

On this World TB Day, the global health community is calling for “Leaders for a TB-Free World” to work together, make history, and end TB once and for all.

Leading Voices: Meet Samuel Kasozi [20]

Health Systems Strengthening [4]

[20]Samuel Kasozi is Deputy Chief of Party with the TRACK-TB project.

We’re excited to bring you this month’s edition of Leading Voices, a series that features the incredible talent that makes up MSH.

Can you name the biggest achievement that the TRACK-TB project has made in Uganda?

The TRACK-TB project improved TB control indicators in Kampala and rapidly scaled up MDR-TB programs from 3 to 15 facilities by the end of 2017. Patient enrollment and TB treatment outcomes were greatly improved.

What drives you?

I am motivated by good results, availability of efficient work tools, and a conducive work environment.

What do you think makes MSH different?

Its sound capacity and experience in building health systems.

Finish this sentence: Health is a

right and must be.

Anything about yourself that you colleagues may not know about?

I love reading and touring.

Photo Essay: ONSE Health Activity Responds to Cholera Outbreak in Malawi [22]

Health Systems Strengthening [4]

[22]A cholera patient recovers at a treatment center in Lilongwe District, Malawi.Photo Credit: Erik Schouten

Photos by Chisomo Mdalla, ONSE Health communications officer.

As the globe marks World Water Day [23] on March 22, the Organized Network of Services for Everyone’s Health (ONSE) Activity has been supporting the Government of Malawi in responding to a months-long cholera epidemic.

ONSE, funded by the United States Agency for International Development and led by Management Sciences for Health (MSH), works in Malawi to reduce maternal, newborn, and child morbidity and mortality by focusing on health system strengthening; family planning and reproductive health; maternal, newborn, and child health; malaria; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

The first cases of cholera began appearing in Malawi in November 2017. As of March 20, a total of 827 cases had been reported in 13 of country’s 28 districts. Twenty-six deaths have been reported, according to the Epidemiology Unit of the Directorate of Preventive Health Services at the Ministry of Health. Cholera is an infectious bacterial disease that is often transmitted through poor hygiene and contaminated food and water.

Combating Antimicrobial Resistance With Strong Coalitions: Implementation Experiences at the National and Regional Levels [25]

Health Systems Strengthening [4]

[25]Participants of the EPN-SPS AMR regional workshop in Moshi, Tanzania. Photo credit: EPN

Antimicrobial resistance [26] (AMR) occurs when a microorganism becomes resistant to a drug that was originally effective for treating the infections it caused. It is one of the world’s most pressing global health threats and could erode progress made thus far in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and many other infectious diseases.

Management Sciences for Health’s (MSH) role in combatting AMR was recently featured in the peer-reviewed journal, Global Public Health.

The article [27] describes an approach used by the USAID-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program and its predecessors to build and strengthen coalitions to defeat AMR. SIAPS was implemented by MSH.

Read more [25]

Links
[1] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/02/photo-essay-community-health-volunteers-key-to-ending-polio-in-madagascar#comments
[2] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/02/photo-essay-community-health-volunteers-key-to-ending-polio-in-madagascar
[3] https://www.msh.org/users/samy-rakotoniaina
[4] https://www.msh.org/blog-categories/health-systems-strengthening
[5] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/08/international-womens-day-time-to-listen-to-all-women-and-girls#comments
[6] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/08/international-womens-day-time-to-listen-to-all-women-and-girls
[7] https://www.msh.org/blog-categories/women-gender
[8] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/20/sustaining-siaps%E2%80%99-impact-what%E2%80%99s-next-for-pharmaceutical-systems-strengthening#comments
[9] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/20/sustaining-siaps%E2%80%99-impact-what%E2%80%99s-next-for-pharmaceutical-systems-strengthening
[10] https://www.msh.org/blog-categories/universal-health-coverage
[11] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/21/shortchanging-global-health-now-will-cost-us-later#comments
[12] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/21/shortchanging-global-health-now-will-cost-us-later
[13] https://www.msh.org/users/ashley-arabasadi
[14] https://www.statnews.com/2018/03/21/global-health-cdc-funding/
[15] https://www.ghsagenda.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/global-health-security-agenda-2017-progress-and-impact-from-u-s-investments.pdf
[16] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/23/world-tb-day-strengthening-leadership-for-the-fight-on-tb#comments
[17] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/23/world-tb-day-strengthening-leadership-for-the-fight-on-tb
[18] https://www.msh.org/users/cherie-black
[19] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/23/leading-voices-meet-samuel-kasozi#comments
[20] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/23/leading-voices-meet-samuel-kasozi
[21] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/23/photo-essay-onse-health-activity-responds-to-cholera-outbreak-in-malawi#comments
[22] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/23/photo-essay-onse-health-activity-responds-to-cholera-outbreak-in-malawi
[23] http://worldwaterday.org/
[24] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/28/combating-antimicrobial-resistance-with-strong-coalitions-implementation-experiences#comments
[25] https://www.msh.org/blog/2018/03/28/combating-antimicrobial-resistance-with-strong-coalitions-implementation-experiences
[26] http://siapsprogram.org/publication/combating-antimicrobial-resistance-with-stronger-health-systems/
[27] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2018.1449230