Community-led interventions to re-engage people living with HIV into care in Pakistan.

Background: By 2021, Pakistan had an estimated 210 000 people living with HIV (PLHIV), and 27% of those initiated into treatment in 2020 had disengaged from care within one year.

Aim: We assessed the effectiveness of an intervention to re-engage PLHIV lost to follow-up into care in Pakistan.

Methods: Between September 2020 and May 2021, the Association of People Living with HIV (APLHIV) implemented a search and rescue intervention for PLHIV lost to follow-up in 2 large treatment centres in Pakistan.

Deployment of COVID-19 vaccine in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region 2021-23: How do we switch to a life course approach?

In 2020-2021, all countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR] introduced COVID-19 vaccine with inequalities in coverage across countries. As for 2023, we reviewed subsequent progress in deployment, coverage, acceptance, and integration. As of 31 December 2023, coverage in EMR reached 51% for primary series and 19 % for the first booster, higher in high income countries (77 % and 44 %, respectively) than in upper middle-income countries (49 % and 20 %), Advance Market Commitment [AMC] non-Gavi eligible countries (47 % and 15 %) and AMC Gavi eligible countries (49 % and 16 %).

Analyzing Subnational Immunization Coverage to Catch up and Reach the Unreached in Seven High-Priority Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2019-2021.

Yearly national immunization coverage reporting does not measure performance at the subnational level throughout the year and conceals inequalities within countries. We analyzed subnational immunization coverage from seven high-priority countries in our region. We analyzed subnational, monthly immunization data from seven high-priority countries.

A pediatric HIV outbreak in Pakistan.

Background: Following reports of an outbreak of HIV infection among children in Larkana District, Pakistan, an international team investigated the extent and cause of the outbreak between April and June 2019.

Aims: To investigate the incidence of HIV among children in Larkana District, Pakistan and describe the distribution of cases by time, place and person.

Methods: Self-referred persons were tested for HIV using the national testing protocol.

Engagement of private health sector in communicable disease and immunization programmes in Pakistan.

Background: In Pakistan, where the burden of communicable diseases remains high, the private sector accounts for 62% of health care provision.

Aim: To describe the role of the private sector in communicable disease management in Pakistan and inform a more effective engagement towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Methods: We searched the literature and available documents on policies, regulations and experiences in private health sector engagement in Pakistan.

Region-wide assessment of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) using the NITAG Maturity Assessment Tool (NMAT) - Experience from the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization, 2023.

National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are independent bodies that help improve national immunization programmes in decision making on immunization policy. The new NITAG Maturity Assessment Tool (NMAT) provided an opportunity to conduct a region-wide assessment to improve NITAG capacity and foster institutional growth. We share experience of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in using NMAT and the use of findings to develop improvement plans.

Progress Toward Measles Elimination - World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2019-2022.

In 2015, all 22 World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries and areas (countries) pledged to achieve measles elimination by 2020. Despite success in several countries, most countries in the region still have not eliminated measles. This report updates a previous report and describes progress toward measles elimination in EMR during 2019-2022.

National immunization technical advisory groups (NITAGs) in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR): A decade of shaping immunization policies, 2010-2021.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization (WHO), little is known on National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups' (NITAGs) outputs, including recommendations and their outcomes. We abstracted information from the WHO/UNICEF joint reporting forms and extracted implemented immunization policy decisions from the WHO immunization portal. We describe trends in establishments and functionality of NITAGs and immunization policies implemented in EMR from 2010 to 2021.

Immunization in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: some signs of post-COVID-19 recovery, but more work ahead.

Every year, WHO and UNICEF estimate the immunization coverage for 195 Member States, based on reported data and independent coverage surveys (1,2). These estimates indicate progress in reaching children with life-saving vaccines while identifying coverage gaps (3). The 2022 estimates were much awaited, given that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a setback in coverage (1).

Preparations for sustainability and transition from Global Fund support in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Background: HIV, tuberculosis and malaria (HTM) services receive financial support from the Global Fund and need to plan for sustainability and transition from external funding.

Aim: To recommend actions for addressing key sustainability and transition issues in 15 countries receiving Global Fund grants in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean (EMR) Region.

Methods: We reviewed documents, interviewed key informants, and conducted case studies in Sudan and Tunisia to highlight key considerations for sustainability and transition from Global Fund that is tailored to the EMR and the health system building blocks.

Public health impact of the spread of Anopheles stephensi in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region countries in Horn of Africa and Yemen: need for integrated vector surveillance and control.

Background: Anopheles stephensi is an efficient vector of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in South Asia and the Middle East. The spread of An. stephensi to countries within the Horn of Africa threatens progress in malaria control in this region as well as the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

Accelerating the prevention, control and elimination of communicable diseases through integration and optimization of the support from Gavi and Global Fund: A vision for the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Over the years, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) has faced a funding gap with respect to malaria, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and vaccine-preventable diseases programmes. In the early 2000s, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the Global Fund against AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) became important financial contributors to these programmes. In 2000-2015, funding support from these two global health initiatives allowed progress.

Over-Prescription and Overuse of Antimicrobials in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: The Urgent Need for Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs with Access, Watch, and Reserve Adoption.

Excessive antimicrobial use contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance. In the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR), there is dearth of information on the prevalence of antimicrobial use in patients hospitalized in acute healthcare settings, clinical indications, types of antimicrobials prescribed, and quality indicators for prescriptions. Between September and December 2019, seven countries in the EMR conducted a standardized point prevalence survey.

Review of the neglected tropical diseases programme implementation during 2012-2019 in the WHO-Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Introduction: The 2012-2020 WHO NTD roadmap set targets for control, elimination, and eradication of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It recommends 5 strategies, out of which preventive chemotherapy (PC) and intensified disease management were key to achieve targets. WHO estimated that globally, between 2012 and 2019, the number of persons affected by NTDs decreased from nearly 2.

Progress towards elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030 in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2019.

The WHO Global Health Sector Strategy and hepatitis regional action plan for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) proposed strategic directions for countries to progress towards the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. In 2019, we reviewed progress to gain a picture of current pressures and identify priority actions for member states to reach this goal. We collected data from country, regional, and global reports published in 2015-19, questionnaires completed by countries, and convened a regional consultation with programme managers and partners.

Worldwide prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among patients with cirrhosis at country, region, and global levels: a systematic review.

Background: Empirical, updated country-level estimates on the proportion of cirrhosis attributable to viral hepatitis are required. We estimated the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with cirrhosis at country, regional, and global levels as an approximation for the fractions of cirrhosis attributable to viral hepatitis.

Methods: In this systematic review, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scielo between Jan 1, 1993, and Aug 1, 2021.

Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2017-2019.

To better guide the regional response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), we report the burden of AMR over time in countries in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region. To assess the capacities of national infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship programs, we analyzed data on bloodstream infections reported to the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System during 2017-2019, data from 7 countries on nationally representative surveys of antimicrobial prescriptions, and data from 2 regional surveys. The median proportion of bloodstream infections was highest for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp.

United for dignity: four strategic shifts to get to zero leprosy by 2030.

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is a curable infectious disease caused by the bacillus M. leprae. In 1991, the World Health Assembly WHA44.

HIV epidemiology in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region: a multicountry programme review.

Background: Worldwide, HIV incidence, and mortality has decreased since 2010; however, in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, trends continue to increase. We reviewed the regional progress to understand determinants of this situation and inform strategies to accelerate the response.

Methods: We conducted a multicountry programme review of 22 countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region from Jan 1, 2010 to Dec 31, 2020.

The global hepatitis delta virus (HDV) epidemic: what gaps to address in order to mount a public health response?

Background: Co-infection between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) causes the severest chronic hepatitis and is associated with a high risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis called for the elimination of hepatitis (- 65% mortality and - 90% incidence) by 2030. Our aims were to summarize key points of knowledge and to identify the gaps that need to be addressed to mount a public health response to HDV.

'Health for All by All' during a pandemic: 'Protect Everyone' and 'Keep the Promise' of Universal Health Coverage in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day has been commemorated on 12 December every year since 2017. In 2019, the theme of the day was "Keep the Promise", referring to the Political Declaration on UHC endorsed by Heads of States at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on 23 September 2019. In 2020, the theme is "Protect Everyone", emphasizing global and individual health security in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to SARS-CoV 2 - a virus that infected more than 4 million people in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and left over 100 000 dead in less than 12 months (6.

Cost-Effectiveness of Testing and Treatment for Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infections: An Analysis by Scenarios, Regions, and Income.

Objectives: Testing and treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are highly effective, high-impact interventions. This article aims to estimate the cost-effectiveness of scaling up these interventions by scenarios, regions, and income groups.

Methods: We modeled costs and impacts of hepatitis elimination in 67 low- and middle-income countries from 2016 to 2030.

Estimating the proportion of people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection eligible for hepatitis B antiviral treatment worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In 2016, of the estimated 257 million people living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection worldwide, only a small proportion was diagnosed and treated. The insufficiency of information on the proportion of people infected with HBV who are eligible for treatment limits the interpretation of global treatment coverage. We aimed to estimate the proportion of people with chronic HBV infection who were eligible for antiviral treatment worldwide, based on the WHO 2015 guidelines.