COVID-19 oxygen emergency impacting half a million people globally
A surge in demand for oxygen due to the COVID-19 pandemic has created an emergency impacting half a million people in low- and middle-income countries. New assessments have revealed that $90m (~€74.28m) in immediate funding is needed to meet the urgent demand for oxygen treatment in up to 20 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). COVID-19 [...]
Finding missing TB cases among rural women in Sindh – Empowering women to increase their access to diagnostic & treatment services
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those affected. The classic symptoms of active [...]
COVID-19 oxygen emergency impacting half a million people globally
A surge in demand for oxygen due to the COVID-19 pandemic has created an emergency impacting half a million people in low- and middle-income countries. New assessments have revealed that $90m (~€74.28m) in immediate funding is needed to meet the urgent demand for oxygen treatment in up to 20 low- [...]
Finding missing TB cases among rural women in Sindh – Empowering women to increase their access to diagnostic & treatment services
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those [...]
Prioritize public health to better prepare for future pandemics – Experts
COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on health, quality of life and economic activity, charging health experts to push policy makers to prioritise public health to manage pandemics in the making. Human actions like deforestation, encroachment on diverse wildlife habitats and markets in cities and towns where animals are bought [...]
Lack of new antibiotics threatens global efforts to contain drug-resistant infections
Declining private investment and lack of innovation in the development of new antibiotics are undermining efforts to combat drug-resistant infections, according to World Health Organization (WHO). Two new reports reveal a weak pipeline for antibiotic agents. The 60 products in development (50 antibiotics and 10 biologics) bring little benefit over [...]
Uplifting Mental Health Services Upon Judicial Directives – A Hope For The Rights of Marginalized Sufferers and Caregivers
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, President Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS) lauded the directives by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar of Sindh High Court (the petition filed by Ms. Erum Shaheen, submitted through her counsel, Mohammad Qadir Khan), to all the commissioners and the senior superintendents of police to constitute special committees to [...]
UNAIDS delegation briefs Governor Sindh on causes of HIV outbreak in Larkana
Regional UNAIDS officials briefed Governor Sindh, Imran Ismail that unsafe injection practices and poor infection control had emerged as the leading cause of the recent HIV outbreak in Ratodero area of Larkana, saying UNAIDS was ready to extend all possible support to the Pakistani health authorities in managing the situation [...]
No link between vaccination efforts, spread of HIV
The Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP) representing Infectious Diseases and immunization experts, has categorically and unequivocally denied any connection between vaccination efforts and the spread of HIV in Pakistan. Prof. Bushra Jamil, the MMIDSP President and Dean, Infectious Diseases, College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) [...]
UNAIDS to continue support the response to the HIV outbreak in Pakistan
UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Eamonn Murphy reiterated UNAIDS’ commitment to supporting provincial and federal authorities to respond to the HIV outbreak and strengthen the HIV response in the country. He expressed these views during a press briefing in Karachi during his official visit to Pakistan. The [...]
Call for promoting voluntary blood donation culture
There is a dire need of promoting voluntary blood donation culture in the country as it relies on family donors to sustain the transfusion system. It was very important to promote the culture of voluntary blood donations in Pakistan as the country essentially relied on the ‘family donors’ to sustain [...]
KP Blood Transfusion Authority completed Second Round of Inspections in Peshawar
The Second Round of blood bank inspections in Peshawar was completed earlier this month by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Blood Transfusion Authority (KPBTA). The Authority inspected 10 blood banks in Peshawar including Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital; North West General Hospital; Fatimid Foundation Thalassaemia Centre; Mercy Teaching Hospital, Frontier Foundation Thalassaemia [...]
