Fact sheet on H1N1 Influenza

     FAQs  H1N1 Influenza

Q.  What is the (H1N1) Influenza virus?
A.  - The H1N1 Influenza virus  can cause acute infection in the respiratory tract.   It was the  influenza virus that caused the Pandemic Influenza Outbreak in 2009 but after that the H1N1 virus causes Seasonal Influenza

Q. How do people become infected with the virus?
A. - The H1N1 virus is spread from person to person.
- It can be passed to other people by exposure to infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled, or that can contaminate hands or surfaces.
- The time from infection to illness known as the incubation period is about 2 days
- To prevent spread, people who are ill should cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, stay home when they are unwell, clean their hands regularly, and keep some distance from other people, as much as possible.

Q. What are the signs and symptoms of typical infection?
A. - Signs of the H1N1 influenza includes general body weakness,  fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.
- The majority of people with H1N1 influenza experience mild illness and recover fully without treatment.

Q. When should someone seek medical care?
A. - People should seek medical care if they experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or if a fever, and especially high fever, continues more than three days. For parents with a young child who is ill, seek medical care if a child has fast or labored breathing, continuing fever or convulsions (seizures).
- Supportive care at home - resting, drinking plenty of fluids and using a pain reliever for aches and pains - is adequate for recovery in most cases. A non-aspirin pain reliever should be used for children or adolescents under age 18.

Q. What about Vaccines for H1N1 Influenza?
A. -The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines are available and have been used for more than 60 years. Among healthy adults, influenza vaccine provides protection, even when circulating viruses may not exactly match the vaccine viruses.
- WHO recommends annual vaccination for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy, children aged between 6 months to 5 years, elderly individuals (aged more than 65 years), individuals with chronic medical conditions, health-care workers.

Q. Are the vaccines safe for pregnant women?
A. - To date, studies do not show harmful effects from the H1N1 influenza vaccine with respect to pregnancy, fertility, or a developing embryo or fetus, birthing or post-natal development

Q. What about my child's safety from a reaction?
A. The most frequent vaccine reactions in children following influenza immunization are similar to those seen after other childhood immunizations (such as soreness at the injection site, or fever). A child's health care provider or vaccinator can advise on the most appropriate methods for relief of the symptoms. - If there are concerns about a child's safety from a reaction, consult a health care provider as soon as possible. Please note that a child may suffer from a condition not related to immunization, which coincidentally developed after vaccination.

Q. How can I protect myself and family from H1N1 Influenza ?
A. You can prevent getting infected by taking the following measures:
keeping your distance from people who show symptoms of influenza-like illness, such as coughing and sneezing (trying to maintain a distance of about 1 metre if possible);
- clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching surfaces that are potentially contaminated);
- avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes as much as possible;
reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible;
- improve airflow in your living space by opening windows;
- practise good health habits (including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active); and
- getting yourself (or family members age 6 months and older) vaccinated against H1N1 influenza, if possible.

Q. How do I know if I have H1N1 Influenza?
A. Typical symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat and runny nose.

Q. What should I do if I think I have H1N1 Influenza?
A. - If you feel unwell, have a fever, cough or sore throat:
- stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds;
- rest and take plenty of fluids;
- cover your coughs and sneezes. If using tissues, make sure you dispose of them carefully. Clean your hands immediately after with soap and water or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub;
- if you do not have a tissue close by when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth as much as possible with the crook of your elbow;

Q. Should I take an antiviral drug now just in case I catch the H1N1 virus?
A. - In general, WHO does not recommend the use of antiviral drugs for prevention of H1N1 Influenza. Antiviral drugs should be taken if your health care provider advises you to do so.
- These drugs are generally available by prescription. 
- Caution should be exercised when buying antiviral drugs over the Internet.

Q. What about breastfeeding? Should I stop if I am ill?
A. - No, not unless your health care provider advises it. Studies on  influenza infections show that breastfeeding is most likely protective for babies - it passes on helpful maternal immunities and lowers the risk of respiratory disease.
- Breastfeeding provides the best overall nutrition for babies and increases their defense factors to fight illness.

Q. Can I travel?
A.  - If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of influenza, you should delay travel. If you have any doubts about your health, you should check with your health care provider.

Q. Who is more at risk of severe illness from H1N1 Influenza?

A. - Some groups of people appear to be at higher risk of more complicated or severe illness, including:
- pregnant women;
- infants, and young children particularly under age 2;
- people of any age with certain chronic health conditions (including asthma or lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or some neurological conditions);
- people with severely compromised immune systems.

Q. Are there special recommendations for pregnant women or other higher risk groups?
A. - WHO recommends that pregnant women, or others at higher risk of severe illness and their caregivers, be vaccinated against H1N1 influenza and take all the necessary precautions, including hygiene measures, to prevent the spread of illness.

Q. What about risk of death?
A. - The majority of people with H1N1 influenza experience mild illness and the overall risk of dying from this infection is low.

Q. Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
A. - Yes. The H1N1 Influenza virus has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs.

Q. What is the Treatment for H1N1 Flu?
A. - Antiviral drugs for influenza are available and may reduce severe complications and deaths. Ideally they need to be administered early (within 48 hours of onset of symptoms) in the disease.

Source: who.int

Healthcare costs are pushing millions into extreme poverty. This outrage must end

A friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago.

He had two options. He could be treated, but it would cost him most or all of the money he had put aside for his family’s future.

Or he could forego treatment, allow the disease to run its course and die knowing his family would have a more comfortable life, even if he was not there to enjoy it with them.

He chose the latter.

He chose death because he could not afford the treatment that could have kept him alive.

This is an outrage. No one should have to choose between death and financial hardship.

But the shocking truth is that this is a reality for millions of people every year. New data from the World Health Organization and the World Bankreveal that at least half of the world’s 7.3 billion people still do not have access to essential health services, such as having a skilled birth attendant, vaccinations for children or treatment for HIV.

As a result, more than 1 billion people live with uncontrolled hypertension, which can kill without treatment. Every day, more than 800 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. And because nearly 20 million infants do not receive the immunizations they need, they run the risk of dying from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and measles.

Even when health services are available, using them can mean financial ruin. Every year, 100 million people are pushed into poverty because of health spending, and 179 million people spend more than a quarter of their household budget on health care – a level we consider to be “catastrophic health spending”.

Almost 70 years ago, WHO was founded on the conviction that health is a human right, not a privilege. This is a conviction I share. No one should get sick and die just because they are poor, or because they cannot access the health services they need.

Why should a child die from drinking unsafe water?

Why should a woman die from complications of childbirth that are treated easily even in most middle-income countries?

Why should a family have to choose between buying food and buying medicine?

Universal health coverage (UHC) is the practical expression of the right to health. It means that all people, including the most disadvantaged, can access the quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without facing financial hardship.

But UHC is about more than health insurance, or treating the sick – it’s about protecting the healthy by promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing disease.

The power of UHC is that it doesn’t only result in improved health. It also reduces poverty by eliminating one of its causes; it creates jobs for health and care workers; it drives inclusive economic growth by ensuring people are healthy and able to work; it promotes gender equality, because it is often women who miss out on health services; and it protects people against epidemics by ensuring outbreaks are prevented, detected early and contained.

Image: World Health Organization/The World Bank

UHC is not a new idea. But its inclusion as one of the targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has given new political impetus to the global movement that has been gathering pace for some years. It is also the one target that, if achieved, will catalyze progress towards all the other health targets and many of the other goals.

Far from being a luxury that only rich countries can afford, UHC is achievable and affordable for all countries, at all income levels.

Senegal, for example, is making progress towards a publicly-funded health insurance system.

In Vietnam, more than 60% of the population, and 90% of the poor, are now covered by state-subsidized social health insurance. That’s six times more than 20 years ago.

In Peru, budget-funded health insurance for the poor and those who do not work in the formal sector has led to significant improvements in the health of women and children, and large reductions in the death of newborns and infants.

Similar stories can be told in countries as diverse as the Czech Republic, Indonesia and Rwanda.

A WHO study earlier this year predicted that among 67 low- and middle-income countries that account for 75% of the world’s population, 85% of the costs of achieving the SDG health targets by 2030 could be met with domestic resources.

Yes, some of the most fragile countries will continue to need external assistance. But for most countries, UHC is affordable and achievable.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of political will.

Governments with the determination, courage and foresight to invest in strengthening their health systems towards UHC will reap the benefits long into the future.

This is our vision. We back it up with hard evidence, technical know-how and lessons from around the world about what works and what doesn’t.

At the UHC Forum in Tokyo this week, more countries are committing to making the investments in a future that is healthier, safer and fairer for their citizens.

  - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO) 

Source: weforum.org 

Global response to malaria at crossroads

WHO report shows gains are levelling

News release

29 NOVEMBER 2017 | GENEVA - After unprecedented global success in malaria control, progress has stalled, according to the World malaria report 2017. There were an estimated 5 million more malaria cases in 2016 than in 2015. Malaria deaths stood at around 445 000, a similar number to the previous year.

“In recent years, we have made major gains in the fight against malaria,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “We are now at a turning point. Without urgent action, we risk going backwards, and missing the global malaria targets for 2020 and beyond.”

The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria calls for reductions of at least 40% in malaria case incidence and mortality rates by the year 2020. According to WHO’s latest malaria report, the world is not on track to reach these critical milestones.

A major problem is insufficient funding at both domestic and international levels, resulting in major gaps in coverage of insecticide-treated nets, medicines, and other life-saving tools.

Funding shortage

An estimated US$ 2.7 billion was invested in malaria control and elimination efforts globally in 2016. That is well below the US $6.5 billion annual investment required by 2020 to meet the 2030 targets of the WHO global malaria strategy.

In 2016, governments of endemic countries provided US$ 800 million, representing 31% of total funding. The United States of America was the largest international funder of malaria control programmes in 2016, providing US$1 billion (38% of all malaria funding), followed by other major donors, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Germany and Japan.

The global figures

The report shows that, in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, up from 211 million cases in 2015. The estimated global tally of malaria deaths reached 445 000 in 2016 compared to 446 000 the previous year.

While the rate of new cases of malaria had fallen overall, since 2014 the trend has levelled off and even reversed in some regions. Malaria mortality rates followed a similar pattern.

The African Region continues to bear an estimated 90% of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide. Fifteen countries – all but one in sub-Saharan Africa – carry 80% of the global malaria burden.

“Clearly, if we are to get the global malaria response back on track, supporting the most heavily affected countries in the African Region must be the primary focus,” said Dr Tedros.

Controlling malaria

In most malaria-affected countries, sleeping under an insecticide-treated bednet (ITN) is the most common and most effective way to prevent infection. In 2016, an estimated 54% of people at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa slept under an ITN compared to 30% in 2010. However, the rate of increase in ITN coverage has slowed since 2014, the report finds.

Spraying the inside walls of homes with insecticides is another effective way to prevent malaria. The report reveals a steep drop in the number of people protected from malaria by this method – from an estimated 180 million in 2010 to 100 million in 2016 – with the largest reductions seen in the African Region.

The African Region has seen a major increase in diagnostic testing in the public health sector: from 36% of suspected cases in 2010 to 87% in 2016. A majority of patients (70%) who sought treatment for malaria in the public health sector received artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) – the most effective antimalarial medicines.

However, in many areas, access to the public health system remains low. National-level surveys in the African Region show that only about one third (34%) of children with a fever are taken to a medical provider in the public health sector.

Tackling malaria in complex settings

The report also outlines additional challenges in the global malaria response, including the risks posed by conflict and crises in malaria endemic zones. WHO is currently supporting malaria responses in Nigeria, South Sudan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Yemen, where ongoing humanitarian crises pose serious health risks. In Nigeria’s Borno State, for example, WHO supported the launch of a mass antimalarial drug administration campaign this year that reached an estimated 1.2 million children aged under 5 years in targeted areas. Early results point to a reduction in malaria cases and deaths in this state.

A wake-up call

“We are at a crossroads in the response to malaria,” said Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the Global Malaria Programme, commenting on the findings of this year’s report. “We hope this report serves as a wake-up call for the global health community. Meeting the global malaria targets will only be possible through greater investment and expanded coverage of core tools that prevent, diagnose and treat malaria. Robust financing for the research and development of new tools is equally critical.”

Source: who.int

RISE FOR OUR RIGHT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 12.12.2017

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that all UN Member States have agreed to try to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

Despite dramatic gains–including a substantial reduction in maternal and child mortality, lack of access to essential healthcare for all remains problem in the country.

Observing this year’s Universal Health Coverage Day (five years after the United Nations unanimously endorsed universal health coverage) with the theme: Health for all; Rise for Our Right, the Divine Mother and Child (DMAC) Foundation has called on policy makers and stake holders to strengthen health services at the community level.

 In a statement to the press, Mr. Owurani Charles Oduro (programs manager) called on government to strengthen the idea for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana, which was to abolish the cash and carry system of health delivery and provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere they need without financial hardship.

Basic investigative equipment’s should be made available at the primary clinics for effective diagnosis and referral.

We call on all community opinion leaders, civil society organization and cooperate bodies/institutions to support the health services in mobilization and reaching out communities to make health care at the door step of local communities feasible.

“We Rise for Our Right that every Ghanaian no matter where they are, where they live, or how much money they have should have access to quality basic care they need”

Health for all

Rise for our right

Media contact:

Owurani Charles Oduro

(Programs Manager - DMAC Foundation)

Mobile: +233 50 398 4128

 www.dmacfoundation.org

LINK ART's TO CHPS

PRESS RELEASED, 1st December 2017



Observing this year's World Aids Day With  the theme; Right to Health, the Divine Mother and Child Foundation has called on policy makers to link ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) centers to CHPS (Community-Based Health Planning and Services) for progress in ART adherence.

 In his state addressing the press, Mr. Owurani Charles Oduro (programs manager) said  linking ART centers to CHPS will ensure progress in ART adherence in the country.


Despite improved and highly successful programmatic coverage with ART, significant numbers of adults and children drop out of care at various points along the treatment pathway and treatment gains fail to reach sufficient numbers of children and adolescents.

It is essential to deal with reasons why people drop out of treatment plan, since retention on ART and ensuring adherence to treatment are important  determinants of successful long-term outcomes.


Loss to follow-up and long distance to ART centers can negatively impacts on the immunological benefit of ART and increases AIDS-related morbidity, mortality, and hospitalizations.

Loss to follow-up in patients receiving ART can result in serious consequences, such as discontinuation of treatment, drug toxicity, treatment failure due to poor adherence, and drug resistance; this results in an increased risk of mortality.


The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that all UN Member States have agreed to try to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

 This includes financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.


?We therefore appeal to policy makers and stakeholders to ensure strong linkage of ART centers to CHPS for prompt and adequate follow-up to Persons? Living with HIV to improve adherence to treatment for a successful long-term outcome?.

The DMAC foundation also believes that the use of community health nurses and volunteers at the community level will ensure all persons living with HIV  Will have access to treatments and to ensure we achieve the 90-90-90 agenda in Ghana


Leave no one behind
Everybody counts

Media contact:
Owurani Charles Oduro
(Programs Manager - DMAC Foundation)
Mobile: +233 50 398 4128
 _www.dmacfoundation.org_


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