Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc.’s Post

We are excited to share this pre-print of our Scoping Review of Cholera Elimination Efforts in Zambia. This is the first of several works we hope to publish based on the lessons learnt from this outbreak and beyond. Despite known evidence of the risks from insufficient safe water supplies, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), the protective effects of oral cholera vaccines, and a Roadmap from the GTFCC, there is a continuous increase in cholera outbreaks on the continent. With an increasing frequency related to climatic conditions and unplanned urbanization, it will be important to adopt a decentralised approach to cholera control in Zambia. There is a continued need to advocate strongly for multisectoral interventions aligning health and WASH investments. Enjoy this foray into the challenges and lessons from the last 10 years of cholera control efforts in Zambia.

The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority EFDA has officially announced the cessation of the use of ranitidine medication 💉 due to its potential link to cancer. In light of this decision, all healthcare facilities are required to immediately stop prescribing and administering this medication. Additionally, healthcare providers and pharmacies are urged to halt the marketing and distribution of ranitidine to ensure patient safety. Individuals currently using ranitidine should consult their healthcare professionals for suitable alternatives. Considering the hot weather in Somalia, the prevalent drug shortages, and the high incidence of gastritis in Somalia, it is concerning that ranitidine has been widely used in the region. Given the increasing number of cancer cases among the Somali population, it can be estimated that this medication may significantly contribute to the rising cancer risk. Is there a governmenal beraue in Somalia that has recognized the dangers associated with this drug and taken steps to ban it ? #EthiopianFoodandDrugAuthority EFDA #RANITIDINE❌️🙅♂️⛔️🚫

📢A powerful conversation with Prof. Samuel Kariuki,Continental Lead Africa and Eastern Africa Director, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative - DNDi From groundbreaking research on leishmaniasis and mycetoma to the future of NTDs, Prof. Kariuki shares DNDi's biggest successes and vision for the next five years. As we commemorate #WorldNTDDay2025, his insights remind us why innovation and collaboration are vital in the fight against neglected diseases. 👉Watch the full interview and join us in championing the elimination of NTDs. Together, we can make a difference! #UniteActEliminate #GlobalHealth #Leishmaniasis #ResearchInnovation #DNDi Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative - DNDi The END Fund African Institute for Health and Development Evidence Action WASH Alliance International Kenya Institute of Primate Research Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Global Alliance for NTDs Elimination - GANE MOH_Kenya Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) inSupply Health World Health Organization Nagasaki University FIND

📖 Today's #MondayRead offers important insights into the state of Antimicrobial Stewardship (#AMS) programs in Zambia. 💡 A national survey across 8 hospitals revealed that 62.5% of facilities face challenges in implementing effective AMS initiatives. Key hurdles include: 📝 Reporting challenges: Average score for AMS feedback reporting within hospitals was only 46%. 🏥 DTC functionality: Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) functionality averaged 49%. 📚 Education and training: Average score for education and training efforts was 54%. 🤝 Leadership commitment: Leadership commitment to AMS activities averaged 56%. 💰 No dedicated budget: 100% of hospitals lacked an allocated budget for AMS programs. 🧪 Absence of antibiograms: Over 50% of hospitals did not have antibiograms to guide antimicrobial utilization. The study points to areas for improvement in leadership, training, and resources to support AMS programs and address antimicrobial resistance (#AMR). Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4gXOMrD Joseph Chizimu Dr. Steward Mudenda, PhD, MPH, MSc, BPharm Kaunda Yamba Lukwesa Chileshe Raphael Chanda Ruth Nakazwe Bwalya Agrippa Simunyola misheck shawa Dr Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia, PhD Duncan Chanda Uchizi Chola Tebuho Mateele Jeewan Thapa kenneth kapolowe Dr Mazyanga Lucy MAZABA Prof Mirfin Mpundu Freddie Masaninga Khalid Azam Chie Nakajima Yasuhiko Suzuki Nathan Bakyaita Evelyn Wesangula Martin Matu Roma Chilengi Hokkaido University The University Of Zambia (UNZA) Ministry of Health of Zambia ReAct - Action on Antibiotic Resistance Africa World Health Organization East Central and Southern Africa Health Community Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)

I am pleased to see that WHO AFRO has recognized substandard and falsified antimicrobials as a significant challenge in the fight against AMR. In my work on AMR, particularly in Uganda, I have seen firsthand how poor-quality medicines undermine treatment outcomes and put countless lives at risk. Addressing SF medicines is not only critical for safeguarding public health but also for ensuring the effectiveness of our antimicrobial stewardship efforts. This acknowledgment by WHO is an important step forward that shows greater political commitment to addressing the quality of medicines across the region. Strong political will and collaboration at all levels are essential to strengthen regulatory frameworks, improve medicine quality, and protect communities from the growing threat of AMR. #AMR #MedicineQuality #SubstandardMedicines #AMRinAfrica

🌍 📣 Major breakthrough ❗A clinical trial in Sudan has found a shorter, safer, and more effective treatment for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). medicines for africa (mfa) welcomes a major advancement in the treatment of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, a stigmatizing skin disease.  The new regimen reduces hospitalization days by over 50%. It is also child-friendly and it can be delivered in primary healthcare facilities. Furthermore, it mitigates the safety risks associated with long antimonial therapy. The new approach has up to 98% cure rates and it promises to transform the lives of many, children in particular. The study was conducted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative - DNDi and the Institute of Endemic Diseases at the University of Khartoum. #africa #medicines #vaccines #diagnostics #medicaldevices #health #healthcare #publichealth #safemedicines #qualitymedicines #counterfeitedmedicines #beatNTDs #Leishmaniasis #ntds #medicinesforafrica #leniashwenda #sudan

Thank you David Holland for joining the conversation that move the needle. Each week we spotlight valuable comments from our medicines for africa (mfa) network and community and this week, we are spotlighting David Holland's comments on antimicrobial resistance. Here is what he said; "MFA - Thank you for sharing this article. AMR (antimicrobial resistance) is an enormous issue that continues to grow at pace. It is good to see the WHA moving this up its global agenda. It is also worth noting that substandard and falsified (SF) antimicrobials are adding to the problem of global AMR. It really is high time that Medicines Verification and Traceability is prioritised as a key approach to mitigating this growing problem. Moreover, introducing this approach to Animal Medicines Supply Chains that also use variants of Human Antimicrobial Medicines will also help in the fight against AMR. It would be great to see the WHA (and WOAH) also agree on a common and global approach (and solution) to Medicines Verification and Traceability that could help address this problem in the shorter term. " We value the input from medicines for africa (mfa) strong community that continues to engage in conversations that matter on health issues affecting Africa and the global community at large that Africa is a part of. We look forward to continues engagement with an our valuable community here on LinkedIn and on other platforms. Thank you for joining the conversation 🙏 . #africa #health #healthcare #medicines #vaccines #publichealth #EMVS #TRVST #AMR #fakemedicines #WOAH #WHA77 #traceability #Solidsoftreply

📢 Major milestone for river blindness treatment in Africa! The Ghana Food and Drugs Authority has approved moxidectin for the treatment of river blindness, becoming the first African country to do so. This landmark decision marks a significant step forward in combating this neglected tropical disease (NTD) potentially transforming lives in endemic communities. Learn more about this breakthrough and what it means for #GlobalHealth here: https://bit.ly/41j97lA Together, we can #beatNTDs and build a healthier future for all. Medicines Development for Global Health

🌍 ALIMA at the prestigious American Society of Nutrition 2024 in Chicago! 📊 Maguy Daures, epidemiologist and project manager at #ALIMA, presented the OptiMA Niger trial. This pioneering randomized controlled trial compares simplified protocols for treating acute malnutrition in children aged 6 to 59 months. It is the first to compare multiple simplified strategies - OptiMA and ComPas - to the national protocol for managing children suffering from acute malnutrition. 🔍 Since 2017, ALIMA has been conducting clinical and operational research in West and Central #Africa to provide evidence on the effectiveness of the #OptiMA strategy (Optimizing Acute Malnutrition Management). This innovative strategy aims to detect and treat children suffering from acute malnutrition early and efficiently, thereby reducing mortality associated with this scourge. 💡 It is based on the optimization of human and financial resources, allowing more children to be treated at the same cost and with the means available on the ground. The OptiMA approach has already been adopted at the district level in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad. 📢 ALIMA advocates for this strategy, better suited to the contexts of countries where the #NGO saves thousands of children, to be adopted in national and international protocols for the management of children suffering from acute #malnutrition. 🌐 As every year, the American Society of Nutrition 2024 gathered leading experts in #research and medicine from around the world from June 29 to July 2.

Achieving World Health Organization Prequalification (#WHOPQ). The #availability of #essentialmedicines with guaranteed #quality plays a crucial role in the advancement of global health goals, such as eliminating preventable deaths of newborns and children under five, combating waterborne and other #communicablediseases, ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases, and achieving universal health coverage (#UHC). It can be challenging to guarantee a steady supply of these medications. There are frequently #gaps or shortages in the #globalsupply of a certain necessary medication because there are few or no GMP-compliant manufacturers producing it. Encouraging pharmaceutical producers to meet global #quality standards, like the World Health Organization prequalification (#WHOPQ), can assist in resolving concerns about the availability of essential medicines. Bloom Public Health is equipped to provide #pharmaceuticalmanufacturers with responsive #technicalassistance through the journey to becoming WHO-prequalified, empowering them to consistently produce quality-assured essential medicines at par with #globalstandards. Kindly contact us about the WHO prequalification process, and we will respond within 48 hours. #WHOPQ #globalstandards #pharmaceuticalmanufacturers #essentialmedicines #GMP #supplychain #capacitybuilding #BloomPublicHealth #Africa #Nigeria #Cameroon #Botswana #Rwanda #Zambia