Publications by authors named "Janneke van Oirschot"
In August 2024, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) entered into force. This legally binding instrument sets rules for the development, the placing on the market, the putting into service, and the use of AI systems in the European Union. As the world's first extensive legal framework on AI, it aims to boost innovation while protecting individuals against the harms of AI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntivenom is considered the safest and most effective treatment against snake envenomation (SBE); however, global shortages mean that many low-income countries struggle to meet demand. In Rwanda, chronic shortages of essential medicines are an important barrier to robust healthcare delivery and discourage snakebite victims from seeking hospital care. The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to evaluate the availability and affordability of commodities to treat SBE at hospitals and health centers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Access to internationally controlled essential medicines (ICEMs), medicines that are listed on both the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List and one of three international drug control conventions, remains problematic in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Previous reviews have focused only on specific ICEMs or ICEM-related healthcare fields, but none have focused on all ICEMs as a distinct class. This scoping review therefore aims to identify the barriers to accessing ICEMs across all relevant healthcare fields in SSA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Access to sexual and reproductive health services remains a challenge for many in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Health service delivery in the four countries is decentralised and provided by the public, private and private not-for-profit sectors. When accessing sexual and reproductive health services, clients encounter numerous challenges, which might differ per sector.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Annually, about 2.7 million snakebite envenomings occur globally. Alongside antivenom, patients usually require additional care to treat envenoming symptoms and antivenom side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Snakebite envenoming is a serious health issue that has been overlooked, especially in low- and middle-income countries, but global awareness increased until it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A study involving 43 participants from 21 countries showed that while snake exposure remained stable in rural areas, barriers to healthcare access emerged due to the pandemic, including reluctance to seek care and healthcare system overloads.
- Despite challenging conditions, some countries saw improved ventilator availability, although this did not directly benefit snakebite patients, highlighting the need for focused community-based prevention and care solutions.
Annually, about 2.7 million snakebite envenomings occur worldwide, primarily affecting those living in rural regions. Effective treatment exists but is scarce, and traditional treatments are commonly used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Snakebite envenoming is a long-hidden public health threat in the rural communities of Kenya. This study aimed to shed light on the health-seeking behaviour of people bitten by snakes, views on prevention measures and community needs and the consequences for snakebite patients in these areas.
Methods: Six focus group interviews were conducted in communities in the Kajiado (n=3) and Kilifi (n=3) counties.
Article Synopsis
- Snakebites pose a significant public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, where timely medical treatment is often unavailable despite its potential to prevent death and disability.
- The study conducted a survey among healthcare workers (HCWs) in these countries, revealing that many HCWs lacked formal training in snakebite management and that access to essential treatment, like antivenom, was critically low.
- The research highlights the need for comprehensive health policies to strengthen the healthcare system, improve community education, provide HCW training, and ensure better access to snakebite treatments while implementing quality control for antivenoms and systematic reporting of incidents.