Implementing a hospital based injury surveillance system in Africa: lessons learned.

A multinational injury surveillance pilot project was carried out in five African countries in the first half of 2007 (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia). Hospitals were selected in each country and a uniform methodology was applied in all sites, including an injury surveillance questionnaire designed by a joint programme of the Pan American Health Organization and the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 4207 injury cases were registered in all hospitals.

Firearm injuries in Nairobi, Kenya: who pays the price?

Because firearm injuries affect the health and social fabric of Kenya, we investigated the problem in collaboration with Kenya's affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. This public health problem has its roots in the civil strife and prevalence of small arms and light weapons in the Horn of Africa. We studied persons with firearm injuries who reached Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi during a 6-month period in 2006.