Communication/Media Platform

We are introducing practical e-health solutions in Badakshan province, Afghanistan to improve mental health by reducing stigma amongst the population, providing direct intervention for young adults through cell phones, raising skill and knowledge levels of health care workers (community, clinic, hospital) through e-learning, and providing virtual tele-consultations for service delivery.

Active pair study is implemented by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria. It involves behavioral interventions in diet and physical activity, using education, motivation and tracking programs, to reduce the burden of obesity and physical inactivity on the health care system, as well as decrease obesity related deaths. Follow Sally Akarolo-Anthony on Twitter @sally_anthony"

Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, has a long history of violence and natural disasters, consequences of which include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and increased family violence.  The country also has the region’s highest suicide rates, and the country’s highest rates of psychiatric illness, addictions and suicide are found in the 15- to 24-year-old age group.  Over two years, this project working in secondary and post-secondary schools in Leon, Nicaragua will promote early mental illness identification, the r

We aim to reduce health complications resulting from indoor air pollution. Sensitization and training in Kiambu County, Kenya by installing 20 biogas units will raise the demand of the bio-gas plants, hence more beneficiaries of clean indoor air byproducts of installations. Follow Africa Harvest on Twitter @AHBFI"

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In Vietnam, where half of the men are smoking, SHS is a big issue, especially in the hospitality industry. Vietnamese law allows partial smoking bans or designated smoking areas in many public places, in particular, the hospitality industry (bars and restaurants). However, research has shown that this offers no real protection for patrons and hospitality staff.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes are on the rise in Africa due to changing lifestyles. Half of Cameroon’s urban women are obese and, in 2002, NCDs caused 43% of deaths in the country. This project aims to increase awareness of body fat composition and monitoring beyond hospital settings by tapping into existing exercise groups in several Cameroon cities -- a novel approach to motivate exercise adherence and healthy weight maintenance, providing equipment for body fat tracking.

Reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS will be the main objective of the project. For HIV-infected mothers, formula feeding is recommended due to the risk of HIV-transmission through breast-feeding. Formula feeding presents certain difficulties in low-resource settings such as Sub-Saharan Africa. In these areas, flash heat-treatment of breast-milk could be one of the potential feeding alternatives to stop postnatal transmission of HIV. Mothers can implement the method using simple equipment over an outdoor fire or in the kitchen.

Makerere University investigates whether integrating male partners to women in routinely provided prenatal care (antenatal and maternity services) increases birth preparedness, and if indeed this can affect perinatal outcomes for the mother and baby such as; unattended complications at delivery and baby’s apgar score at 1 minute following delivery.

The purpose of this project is to integrate the WHO education material using mobile phone text messaging, and target pregnant women in remote rural areas in China. The aim is to reduce 4,700 maternal deaths and 63,000 infant deaths in China if the program, which is designed to be accessible and affordable, is successfully implemented.

Road Traffic Accident: A Neglected Public Health Crisis