Factors associated with uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy among children living with HIV in Mwanza region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death among children living with HIV (CLHIV). Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) reduces the incidence of TB by 70% and mortality by 50% among CLHIV. However, in most developing countries including Tanzania, the uptake of IPT is suboptimal, below the 90% WHO-global uptake target.

Kigelia africana fruit fractions inhibit in vitro alpha-glucosidase activity: a potential natural alpha-glucosidase inhibitor.

Background: Diabetes affects 75% of people in low-income countries, where conventional drugs like metformin are available, but newer drugs like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are not accessible to most Southern African patients.

Aim: To evaluate the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of fractionated aqueous extracts of Kigelia africana fruit (KAFE) and their phytochemical fingerprints using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Materials And Methods: We studied K.

Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda.

Currently, highly active antiretroviral therapy is unable to cure HIV/AIDS because of HIV latency. This study aimed at documenting medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Uganda so as to identify phytochemicals with HIV latency reversing potential. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted across eight districts in Eastern Uganda.

Acute and subacute toxicity profile of ethanolic stem bark extract of Welw. ex Oliv. in Wistar albino rats.

(Fabaceae) crude extracts are key ingredients of several licensed and unlicensed herbal products in East Africa. However, there is limited and often contradicting information regarding its toxicity. We therefore evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity of the ethanolic stem bark extract of in mature healthy Wistar albino rats following Lorke's method and OECD guidelines 407.

Current rates of purchasing of antibiotics without a prescription across sub-Saharan Africa; rationale and potential programmes to reduce inappropriate dispensing and resistance.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern. Currently, the greatest mortality due to AMR is in Africa. A key driver continues to be high levels of dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription.

Ongoing Efforts to Improve Antimicrobial Utilization in Hospitals among African Countries and Implications for the Future.

There are serious concerns with rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across countries increasing morbidity, mortality and costs. These concerns have resulted in a plethora of initiatives globally and nationally including national action plans (NAPs) to reduce AMR. Africa is no exception, especially with the highest rates of AMR globally.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic across Africa: Current Status of Vaccinations and Implications for the Future.

The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction.

Analysis of policies for use of medically important antibiotics in animals in Namibia: implications for antimicrobial stewardship.

Background: In Namibia, overuse of medically important antibiotics in animals is common and is a considerable driver of antimicrobial resistance. The study aims to analyze policies, resistance patterns, and consumption of these antibiotics used in animals in Namibia.

Research Design And Methods: A scoping review and retrospective descriptive analysis of policies, resistance patterns, and use of these antibiotics in Namibia was conducted, and assessed against the Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) antimicrobial use guidance.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance across sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and implications for the future.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a concern as this increases morbidity, mortality, and costs, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rates globally. Concerns with rising AMR have resulted in international, Pan-African, and country activities including the development of national action plans (NAPs). However, there is variable implementation across Africa with key challenges persisting.

Challenges and Innovations Brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic Regarding Medical and Pharmacy Education Especially in Africa and Implications for the Future.

Background: Multiple measures introduced early to restrict COVID-19 have dramatically impacted the teaching of medical and pharmacy students, exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure and experience with e-learning at the start of the pandemic. In addition, the costs and reliability of the Internet across Africa pose challenges alongside undertaking clinical teaching and practical programmes. Consequently, there is a need to understand the many challenges and how these were addressed, given increasingly complex patients, to provide future direction.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pharmaceutical systems and supply chain - a phenomenological study.

Background: Resilient pharmaceutical systems and supply chains are critical in the control of COVID-19, a pandemic that has mostly devastated public health systems and livelihoods in resource-limited countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on pharmaceutical systems and supply chain in a resource-limited setting.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative survey using a phenomenological approach was conducted among key informants in the public and private pharmaceutical sectors of Namibia.

Assessing smoking cessation services and pharmacotherapy in Namibia: findings and implications for future policy initiatives.

Background: Tobacco smoking is a considerable barrier to reducing morbidity and mortality associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have explored access to smoking cessation programs including smoking cessation pharmacotherapy (SCP). This needs to be addressed given the growing burden of NCDs across sub-Saharan Africa including Namibia.

Evidence-based public policy making for medicines across countries: findings and implications for the future.

Global expenditure on medicines is rising up to 6% per year driven by increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and new premium priced medicines for cancer, orphan diseases and other complex areas. This is difficult to sustain without reforms. Extensive narrative review of published papers and contextualizing the findings to provide future guidance.

Strategies to Improve Antimicrobial Utilization with a Special Focus on Developing Countries.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a high priority across countries as it increases morbidity, mortality and costs. Concerns with AMR have resulted in multiple initiatives internationally, nationally and regionally to enhance appropriate antibiotic utilization across sectors to reduce AMR, with the overuse of antibiotics exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Effectively tackling AMR is crucial for all countries.

An analysis of hospital pharmacy practice in Namibia, based on FIP's Basel Statements.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa, a region faced with a double challenge of infectious and non-communicable diseases requires strengthening of hospital pharmacy practice to improve treatment outcomes and patient safety.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the current state of pharmacy practice in hospitals in Namibia and to identify opportunities for expanding pharmacists' role in addressing public health challenges and improving medicines use outcomes.

Methods: A survey utilized FIP's self-assessment tool to evaluate current hospital pharmacy practice in Namibia against best practices articulated in the Basel Statements.

Consumption of psychotropic medicines at a referral hospital in Namibia: findings and implications.

Setting: In Namibia, the burden of mental illnesses is estimated at 25.6% and is expected to double by 2025. Few studies in sub-Saharan Africa estimate the consumption rates of psychotropic medicines as a proxy of irrational use.

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed considerable lives. There are major concerns in Africa due to existing high prevalence rates for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and limited resources in terms of personnel, beds and equipment. Alongside this, concerns that lockdown and other measures will have on prevention and management of other infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Creating clinical pharmacy capacity in Namibia: a collaboration to establish a post-graduate pharmacy degree programme.

Namibia has previously relied on external training of pharmacists but began in-country training in 2011. In response to an identified need for postgraduate clinical pharmacy development and training in the country, a Master's degree was set up at the University of Namibia in 2016. The country has a considerable health burden of HIV and TB as well as a shortage of healthcare professionals.

A model to strengthen utility of quality pharmaceutical health systems data in resource-limited settings.

Background: Limited utility of quality health data undermines efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in resource-limited settings. Few studies model the effective utility of quality pharmaceutical information system (PIS) data in sub-Saharan Africa, typified with weak health systems.

Aim: To develop a model and guidelines for strengthening utility of quality PIS data in public healthcare in Namibia, a resource-limited setting.

Compliance to prescribing guidelines among public health care facilities in Namibia; findings and implications.

Background The World Health Organization estimates that over 50% medicines are prescribed inappropriately and the main driver of antimicrobial resistance globally. There have only been a limited number of studies evaluating prescribing patterns against national standard treatment guidelines (STGs) in sub-Saharan African countries including Namibia. This is important given the high prevalence of both infectious and non-infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa alongside limited resources.

Utility of medicines information leaflets in hypertensive care in a setting with low health literacy: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Higher levels of health literacy improve utilization of health information, medication adherence and outcomes. Few studies evaluate the utility of medicines information in hypertensive care in settings with low health literacy.

Aim: To determine the level of health literacy and utility of medicines information leaflets (MILs) among hypertensive patients in public health care in Namibia.

Review of Ongoing Activities and Challenges to Improve the Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Across Africa and the Implications for the Future.

Background: There has been an appreciable increase in the number of people in Africa with metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in recent years as a result of a number of factors. Factors include lifestyle changes, urbanisation, and the growing consumption of processed foods coupled with increasing levels of obesity. Currently there are 19 million adults in Africa with diabetes, mainly T2DM (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045 unless controlled.

Predictors of loss to follow-up of tuberculosis cases under the DOTS programme in Namibia.

Background: In Namibia, one out of every 25 cases of tuberculosis (TB) is "lost to follow-up" (LTFU). This has impacted negatively on national efforts to end the disease by 2035. The aim of this study was to determine the trends and predictors of LTFU under the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) programme in Namibia.

Ongoing and planned activities to improve the management of patients with Type 1 diabetes across Africa; implications for the future.

Background: Currently about 19 million people in Africa are known to be living with diabetes, mainly Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045. However, there are concerns with early diagnosis of patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) as often patients present late with complications. There are also challenges with access and affordability of insulin, monitoring equipment and test strips with typically high patient co-payments, which can be catastrophic for families.