Providing emergency care and assessing a patient triage system in a referral hospital in Somaliland: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In resource-poor settings, where health systems are frequently stretched to their capacity, access to emergency care is often limited. Triage systems have been proposed as a tool to ensure efficiency and optimal use of emergency resources in such contexts. However, evidence on the practice of emergency care and the implementation of triage systems in such settings, is scarce.

A comparative analysis of Alexandrium catenella/tamarense blooms in Annaba Bay (Algeria) and Thau lagoon (France); phosphorus limitation as a trigger.

Environmental conditions ultimately leading to blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella/tamarense were investigated at two Mediterranean sites (Annaba Bay, Algeria and Thau lagoon, France). Three years were examined in details: 1992 (a pre-Alexandrium period), 2002 (a year with the first bloom in Annaba) and 2010 (a year with a major bloom in Annaba). Most conditions were similar, but ammonium concentrations were much higher in Annaba (up to 100μM) than in Thau (up to 10μM).

Supporting 'medicine at a distance' for delivery of hospital services in war-torn Somalia: how well are we doing?

Background: We describe an innovative strategy implemented to support national staff at Istarlin Hospital in the conflict setting of Somalia; and report on inpatient morbidities, mortality and adverse hospital exit outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of hospital data for 2011.

Results: Of 8584 admitted patients, the largest numbers were for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) (2114; 25%), normal deliveries (1355; 16%) and diarrhoeal diseases (715; 8%).

Paediatric in-patient care in a conflict-torn region of Somalia: are hospital outcomes of acceptable quality?

Setting: A district hospital in conflict-torn Somalia.

Objective: To report on in-patient paediatric morbidity, case fatality and exit outcomes as indicators of quality of care.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Practicing medicine without borders: tele-consultations and tele-mentoring for improving paediatric care in a conflict setting in Somalia?

Objectives: In a district hospital in conflict-torn Somalia, we assessed (i) the impact of introducing telemedicine on the quality of paediatric care, and (ii) the added value as perceived by local clinicians.

Methods: A 'real-time' audio-visual exchange of information on paediatric cases (Audiosoft Technologies, Quebec, Canada) took place between clinicians in Somalia and a paediatrician in Nairobi. The study involved a retrospective analysis of programme data, and a perception study among the local clinicians.