Context The treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is complex and often requires patients to follow long and extensive treatment protocols. This is especially true of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), which is one of the most urgent problems facing TB control in Eastern Europe. As any interruption of treatment can jeopardise effective (DR-)…
Context Despite important progress in therapy and prevention, HIV and viral hepatitis are still a major health threat in the WHO European Region. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released action plans with specific targets to eliminate and control these diseases, which are being translated…
Context Namibia faces a number of public health challenges that threaten the health security of the country. Public health systems need to be able to respond to various, often simultaneously occurring health threats and emergencies. To function well, a single focal point that coordinates the public health activities of…
Context Pathogens with outbreak potential, including zoonotic types, pose severe hazards to public health. This threat gets aggravated when, simultaneously, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs, decreasing options or making it even impossible to treat. For both occurrences, laboratory surveillance is key – either regarding the investigation of pathogens with epidemic potential…
Context Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental disorders are on the rise globally; 80% of annual deaths from NCDs occur in low and middle-income countries. In 2019, NCDs, including mental disorders, caused over 2.1 million premature deaths, and more than 204 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were lost due to NCDs…
Context Disease outbreaks and natural and man-made disasters pose severe threats to public health all over the world. Outbreak control, preparedness and response to public health emergencies are therefore needed on a global scale. The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is a partnership established by the World Health…
Context Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with approximately 4.95 million deaths associated with bacterial AMR in 2019. AMR knows no borders and is internationally recognised as a threat to global health, making it a high public health priority. All countries must collaborate globally to…
Context In recent years, there have been efforts to upscale HIV treatment and prevention in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including conducting studies among men who have sex with men (MSM). One commonly used method to recruit participants for these studies has been respondent-driven sampling. However, this…
Context In the globalised world of the 21st century, public health emergencies are of international concern, as health threats spread easily and rapidly across borders and continents. To ensure the world is prepared and able to respond to potential threats, the International Health Regulations (IHR) were launched in 2005 as…