Cross-Cutting Topics
- Task-Shifting Immunization Activities to Community Health Workers: A Mixed-Method Cross-Sectional Study in Sahel Region, Burkina Faso
The authors describe a successful strategy of task-shifting child immunization activities to CHWs in insecure areas of Burkina Faso to improve vaccine coverage.
- How Real-Time Case-Based Malaria Surveillance Helps Zanzibar Get a Step Closer to Malaria Elimination: Description of Operational Platform and Resources
The authors describe how the Zanzibar Malaria Program successfully implemented a real-time case-based malaria surveillance platform that is helping Zanzibar get closer to malaria elimination.
- Lessons From Implementing Ask-Boost-Connect-Discuss, a Peer-Delivered Psychosocial Intervention for Young Mothers Living With HIV in Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia
To respond to the distinct needs of young mothers living with HIV, peer supporters can be trained to provide structured psychosocial support. The authors assessed the feasibility of using young peers to deliver this psychosocial support.
- Supporting the Manufacturing of Medical Supplies in Africa: Collaboration Between Africa CDC, Partners, and Member States
Inadequate supply of PPE, vaccines, and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa created an opportunity to promote local manufacturing. Authors describe Africa CDC's contributions and highlight strategies for strengthening the pandemic response.
- Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Product Procurement, Prices, and Supply Chain in Zimbabwe: Lessons for Supply Chain Resiliency
The authors document how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical product supply chain and procurement in Zimbabwe, impacting medicine access and prices. Policies and interventions are needed to ensure ongoing supply chain resilience.
- Measuring Effects of Counseling to Increase Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence and Partner Support in South Africa Using the Healthy Relationship Assessment Tool
Authors examined the effectiveness of the Healthy Relationship Assessment Tool to guide counselors in supporting women to address relationship-related challenges to pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and measured women's score changes after counseling over time.
- Strengthening Integrated Approaches for Family Planning and Menstrual Health
FP and menstrual health integration has the potential to improve individuals' health and well-being. The authors describe potential ways to integrate FP and menstrual health, outlining steps that stakeholders can take in designing integrated approaches.
- Health System Strengthening Through Professional Midwives in Bangladesh: Best Practices, Challenges, and Successes
The authors detail the establishment of the profession of globally standard midwives deployed into the national health care system in Bangladesh that improved the quality and availability of sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health services.
- Calculating the Costs of Implementing Integrated Packages of Community Health Services: Methods, Experiences, and Results From 6 sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors of this article calculated the costs of implementing community health programs and compared the results across 6 sub-Saharan African countries, providing evidence for helping governments plan for sufficient resources for their effective implementation.
- Can a Smartphone Application Help Address Barriers to Reporting Substandard/Falsified Medical Products? A Pilot Study in Tanzania and Indonesia
A training workshop & smartphone app for health care professionals to report suspected substandard or falsified medical products was found to be effective and more convenient than existing reporting systems.