All over the world, young people are stigmatised and discriminated against in relation to their sexual and reproductive health. Stigma, discrimination and the violation of human rights are intimately connected, reinforcing and
legitimising each other. Their manifestations are varied, occurring in families and communities, in health services, at places of work, and in schools.
Values, Policies and Rights
Stigma, discrimination and human rights
Wood k, Aggleton P: Thomas Coram Research Unit
Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol: Draft global strategy
Secretariat of the World Health Organization: 25 March 2010
The Secretariat has drafted this strategy to deal with alcohol abuse through an inclusive and broad collaborative process with member states. In doing so, it took into consideration the outcomes of consultations with other stakeholders on ways in which they can contribute to reducing the harmful use of alcohol. The draft strategy is based on existing best practices and available evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of strategies and interventions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. This document first outlines the history of the consultative process to determine what approaches to take for combating alcohol abuse before it describes the strategy, which consists of a number of areas: increasing global action and international cooperation; ensuring intersectoral action; according appropriate attention; balancing different interests; focusing on equity; considering context in recommending actions; and strengthening information systems.
Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol: Draft global strategy
Secretariat of the World Health Organization: 25 March 2010
The World Health Organisation Secretariat has produced a draft strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol through an inclusive and broad collaborative process with stakeholders in member states. The draft strategy is based on existing best practices and available evidence on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of strategies and interventions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. The document describes the strategy, which includes: increasing global action and international cooperation; ensuring intersectoral action; according appropriate attention; balancing different interests; focusing on equity; considering context in recommending actions; and strengthening information systems.
Strategising national health in the 21st century: a handbook
World Health Organisation, 2016
This handbook is designed as a resource for providing up-to-date and practical guidance on national health planning and strategising for health. It establishes a set of best practices to support strategic plans for health and represents the wealth of experience accumulated by WHO on national health policies, strategies and plans (NHPSPs). WHO has been one of the leading organisations to support countries in the development of NHPSPs. The focus on improving plans has grown in recent years, in recognition of the benefits of anchoring a strong national health sector in a written vision based on participation, analysis, and evidence.
Strengthening the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the African Region through human rights
Ngwena C; Durojaye E: Pretoria University Law Press, 2014
Strengthening the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the African region through human rights uses rights-based frameworks seeks to address some of the serious sexual and reproductive health challenges that the African region is currently facing. The authors provide human rights approaches on how these challenges can be overcome. Human rights issues addressed by the book include: emergency obstetric care; HIV/AIDS; adolescent sexual health and rights; early marriage; and gender-based sexual violence.
Successes and challenges of the One Health approach in Kenya over the last decade
Munyua P; Njenga K; Osoro E; Onyango C; et al: BMC Public Health 19; 465; Suppl 3; 1-9, 2019
More than 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin and a transdisciplinary, multi-sectoral One Health approach is a key strategy for their effective prevention and control. In 2004, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention office in Kenya established the Global Disease Detection Division of which one core component was to support, with other partners, the One Health approach to public health science. A Zoonotic Disease Unit has provided Kenya with an institutional framework to highlight the public health importance of endemic and epidemic zoonoses including Rift Valley Fever, rabies, brucellosis, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, anthrax and other emerging issues such as anti-microbial resistance. The programme is implementing capacity building programs, surveillance, workforce development, research, coordinated investigation and outbreak response. This has led to an improved outbreak response and generated data that has informed disease control programs to reduce the burden of and enhance preparedness for endemic and epidemic zoonotic diseases, enhancing global health security. Since 2014, the Global Health Security Agenda implemented through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention office in Kenya and other partners in the country has provided additional impetus to maintain this effort and Kenya’s achievement now serves as a model for other countries in the region. Significant gaps remain in implementation of the One Health approach at subnational administrative levels. however, with sustainability concerns, competing priorities and funding deficiencies.
Surviving scarcities in Bulengo
Boneza RN: Pambazuka News 11 December 2014
In 2006, statistics showed that there were about three million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the five Eastern provinces of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): The oriental Province, North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema and Katanga. Lately, due to relative peace in the region, the number of IDPs dropped to around two million by 2013. While the number has decreased, however, this article highlights how the people still need assistance for their precarious vulnerability. The majority are elderly, children, women who were victims of sexual violence and teenage mothers affected with all sort of predicaments such famine, AIDS and other disabilities. MSF built a clinic in Bulengo to provide free health care to more than 40,000 people. MSF has conducted more than 25,000 consultations in this camp, mainly for diarrhea and respiratory infections. People are mainly sick due to poor living conditions accentuated by poor nourishment. The author argues that the UN and aid agencies should start planning longer-term assistance, and other governments should respond with the necessary funding. They should join their effort to support Doctors without Borders in providing the necessary services attached to their mandate such food, water supply, shelter distribution and hygienic installations.
Swiss court accepts that criminal HIV exposure is only 'hypothetical' on successful treatment, quashes conviction
Bernard EJ: AIDS-Map, 25 February 2009
In the first ruling of its kind in the world, the Geneva Court of Justice has quashed an 18-month prison sentence given to a 34-year-old HIV-positive African migrant who was convicted of HIV exposure by a lower court in December 2008. This was done after accepting expert testimony from Professor Bernard Hirschel – one of the authors of the Swiss Federal Commission for HIV/AIDS Consensus Statement on the Effect of Treatment on Transmission – that the risk of sexual HIV transmission during unprotected sex on successful treatment is 1 in 100,000. The ruling suggests that, in Switzerland at least, effectively treated HIV-positive individuals should no longer be prosecuted for having unprotected sex. With advocates from around the world taking interest in the case, it is possible that this ruling will have consequences for other countries with HIV exposure laws.
Systematic review of facility-based sexual and reproductive health services for female sex workers in Africa
Dhana A, Luchters S, Moore L, Lafort Y, Roy A, Scorgie F and Chersich M: Globalization and Health (10)46, 2014
Several biological, behavioural, and structural risk factors place female sex workers (FSWs) at heightened risk of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. FSW projects in many settings have demonstrated effective ways of altering this risk, improving the health and wellbeing of these women. Yet the optimum delivery model of FSW projects in Africa is unclear. This systematic review describes intervention packages, service-delivery models, and extent of government involvement in these services in Africa. The authors located 149 articles, which described 54 projects. Most were localised and small-scale; focused on research activities (rather than on large-scale service delivery); operated with little coordination, either nationally or regionally; and had scanty government support (instead a range of international donors generally funded services). Almost all sites only addressed HIV prevention and STIs. Most services distributed male condoms, but only 10% provided female condoms. HIV services mainly encompassed HIV counselling and testing; few offered HIV care and treatment such as CD4 testing or antiretroviral therapy (ART). While STI services were more comprehensive, periodic presumptive treatment was only provided in 11 instances. Services often ignored broader SRH needs such as family planning, cervical cancer screening, and gender-based violence services. Sex work programmes in Africa have limited coverage and a narrow scope of services and are poorly coordinated with broader HIV and SRH services. To improve FSWs’ health and reduce onward HIV transmission, access to ART needs to be addressed urgently. Nevertheless, HIV prevention should remain the mainstay of services. Service delivery models that integrate broader SRH services and address structural risk factors are much needed. Government-led FSW services of high quality and scale would markedly reduce SRH vulnerabilities of FSWs in Africa.
Tanzania’s Ministry of Health now urges precaution against Covid-19
Owere P: The Citizen, Tanzania, February 2021
The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has now urged citizens to take all the required precautions against Covid-19 including wearing face masks. The statement issued on Sunday, February 21, 2021 by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Gerard Chami said the Ministry continues to monitor and stress the implementation of precautionary measures against various non-communicable and communicable diseases including outbreaks and Covid-19. Precautions included hand washing, use of sanitizer, exercising, and protection for all those at risk such as the elderly, obese people, and those with chronic illnesses. The statement also urged Tanzanians to get proper nutrition including fruits and vegetables, use natural remedies registered by the council of traditional healers and as advised by relevant professionals and to visit health facilities on witnessing symptoms of illness.