Review
Oncology
Ibtihal Fadhil, Eman Alkhalawi, Rihab Nasr, Heba Fouad, Partha Basu, Rolando Camacho, Hafsa Alsaadoon
Summary: Cancer control planning is crucial in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, where there is a significant increase in cancer incidence leading to substantial disease burden, premature deaths, and rising healthcare costs. However, there are significant challenges in the implementation of cancer plans, including weak governance structures, limited coordination mechanisms, and inadequate resources.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Elham Abdalmaleki, Zhaleh Abdi, Sahand Riazi Isfahani, Sara Safarpoor, Bahar Haghdoost, Saharnaz Sazgarnejad, Elham Ahmadnezhad
Summary: This study investigates the implementation of Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) and aims to assess the risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among children and adolescents. The findings reveal a high prevalence of overweight, obesity, insufficient physical activity, tobacco usage, and smoking among students in the region. Therefore, targeted interventions are needed to address the NCDs risk factors among adolescents in this region.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jenny Jung, Eshreena K. Karwal, Steve McDonald, Tari Turner, Doris Chou, Joshua P. Vogel
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of currently available guidelines for the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) during pregnancy, intrapartum, and postnatal periods. The study identifies the focus and scope of recommendations in these guidelines, highlighting the importance of antenatal care interventions, postnatal assessments, and health system recommendations. The findings suggest the need for holistic guidelines that integrate NCD care throughout the maternal health services, with a specific focus on resource-limited contexts.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bhim Prasad Sapkota, Kedar Prasad Baral, Ursula Berger, Klaus G. Parhofer, Eva A. Rehfuess
Summary: The readiness of the Nepalese health sector for the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors is inadequate. Policy documents neglect the control of risk factors, while health workers and policy makers perceive significant weaknesses in various aspects of the health system. The focus is on curative rather than preventive interventions, retention of health workers is poor, and there is insufficient quantity and quality of health commodities for NCDs.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shaffi Fazaludeen Koya, Salma M. Abdalla, Chiori Kodama, Mory Keita, Abdinasir Abubakar
Summary: This systematic review examines selected vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMR) in terms of disease burden, reduction measures, and impacts and interventions. The review found limited research and a lack of studies from countries with humanitarian challenges, indicating a need for more nationally representative studies.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Evans Buliva, Sherein Elnossery, Patrick Okwarah, Muhammad Tayyab, Richard Brennan, Abdinasir Abubakar
Summary: The resurgence of cholera in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is presenting challenges for public health. Despite progress in controlling cholera globally, it remains a major problem in the region due to poor water and sanitation conditions and weak health systems. Implementing the proposed WHO EMR Strategic framework could help sustain cholera prevention, preparedness, and response in the region.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Fayez Harash, Amin Khalaf, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Chao Chen, Imad Alrawi, Harith Al-Khafaji, Mohammed Tageldin
Summary: This study investigates the variations of the surface Moho beneath the northwestern Arabian plate using Bouguer gravity data and a 3DINVER program. The calculation results show that the maximum Moho depth is over 40 km in the western Arabian shield and the minimum depths of 16-20 km are mainly located beneath the Mediterranean Sea. The study also innovatively implements an exponential density contrast decrease in the sediment-basement interface, resulting in a more accurate representation of the subsurface structure and providing valuable insights into the geodynamic processes and seismogenic potential of the area.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Melisande Flatscher, Antoine Garnier, Pedro Marques-Vidal, Vanessa Kraege
Summary: This study aimed to assess the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease. Through a follow-up survey of apparently healthy community-dwelling subjects, it was found that there was no significant association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lipid profile.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Yegane Partovi, Mostafa Farahbakhsh, Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi, Kamal Gholipour, Ahmad Koosha, Jabreil Sharbafi, Andrew Wilson
Summary: Despite progress in preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Iran, challenges related to financing, human resources, and governance hinder the successful implementation of NCD prevention programs.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Peter Mala, Abdinasir Abubakar, Akiko Takeuchi, Evans Buliva, Farah Husain, Mamunur Rahman Malik, Mohammed Tayyab, Sherein Elnoserry
Summary: The study revealed that most Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region adhere to basic structure, with an increasing adoption of electronic platforms. The systems demonstrated optimal performance in terms of reporting timeliness and completeness, but had low population coverage and faced challenges with the increasing number of non-communicable diseases impacting outbreak detection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Mandy Taktouk, Sally Naalbandian, Hassan Aguenaou, Nawal Al Hamad, Salima Almamary, Hend Ali Al-Tamimi, Salah Abdulla Alyafei, Rawhieh Barham, Maha Hoteit, Munawar Hussain, Hanan Massad, Lara Nasreddine
Summary: This systematic review aims to identify and characterize national sugar reduction initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. A total of 162 peer-reviewed documents were analyzed, highlighting the average sugar intake, levels in food products, implementation strategies, and monitoring and evaluation efforts. 95% of countries implemented at least one type of sugar reduction initiative, with consumer education being the most common (71%).
Article
Virology
Soran Amin Hamalaw, Ali Hattem Bayati, Muhammed Babakir-Mina, Domenico Benvenuto, Silvia Fabris, Michele Guarino, Marta Giovanetti, Massimo Ciccozzi
Summary: Early detection and prompt response are crucial in preventing and controlling outbreaks. This study evaluates the performance of the Communicable Disease Surveillance System (CDSS) in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, finding deficiencies in surveillance guiding manuals, data analysis, epidemic preparedness, feedback, and standard guidelines. Strengthening the CDSS in this region requires continuous feedback, supervision, well-trained staff, and coordination between researchers and physicians.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ehsan Mostafavi, Abdolmajid Ghasemian, Abubakar Abdinasir, Seyed Alireza Nematollahi Mahani, Salman Rawaf, Mostafa Salehi Vaziri, Mohammad Mahdi Gouya, Tran Minh Nhu Nguyen, Salah Al Awaidy, Lubna Al Ariqi, Md. Mazharul Islam, Elmoubasher Abu Baker Abd Farag, Majdouline Obtel, Peter Omondi Mala, Ghassan M. Matar, Rana Jawad Asghar, Amal Barakat, Mohammad Nadir Sahak, Mariam Abdulmonem Mansouri, Alexandra Swaka
Summary: EIDs and RIDs are prevalent in most countries in the EMR, with diseases like Leishmaniasis, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) reported throughout the region. Additionally, diseases such as Chikungunya, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), dengue fever, and H5N1 have been increasing in number and expanding in geographic distribution. Despite efforts to control diseases like cholera, diphtheria, leishmaniasis, measles, and poliomyelitis, challenges remain in some countries. Limited information is available about diseases like Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF), Rift Valley fever (RVF), plague, Q fever, and tularemia in the region. Improved regional capacities and capabilities are crucial for preventing and responding to disease outbreaks effectively.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ahmed K. Al-Delaimy
Summary: This paper reviews the impact of climate change on neglected tropical diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The research results indicate that climate change has a direct effect on these diseases in the region, but there is a lack of research funding and expertise.
CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Xinming Yu, Mengye Li, Laurie Lawson-Portuphy, Avirup Chowdhury, Padmanabhan Badrinath
Summary: This study systematically assessed the quality of Local Outbreak Control Plans (LOCPs) produced by local authorities in England and identified significant variations in reporting high-risk settings and groups. The suggested recommendations may improve future LOCP updates.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Siham Sikander, Joanna Maselko, Shamsa Zafar, Zaeem Haq, Ikhlaq Ahmad, Mansoor Ahmad, Assad Hafeez, Atif Rahman
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Zaeem Haq, Assad Hafeez, Shamsa Zafar, Abdul Ghaffar
HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING
(2017)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mamunur R. Malik, Zaeem Ul Haq, Quaid Saeed, Ruth Riley, Wasiq M. Khan
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2018)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Z. Haq, W. Khan, S. Rizwan
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
(2013)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Atif Rahman, Zaeem Haq, Siham Sikander, Ikhlaq Ahmad, Mansoor Ahmad, Assad Hafeez
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2012)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zaeem Ul Haq, Muhammad Safdar Rana
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zaeem ul Haq, Zafar Mirza, Tajudeen Oyeyemi Oyewale, Faisal Sultan
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Assad Hafeez, Ramesh Kumar, Ikhlaq Ahmed, Zaeem ul Haq
Summary: The We Care programme in Pakistan successfully trained 100,000 frontline healthcare workers, enhancing their safety and reducing the improper use of personal protective equipment.
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HEALTH JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Zaeem Haq, Babar Tasneem Shaikh, Nhan Tran, Assad Hafeez, Abdul Ghaffar
HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS
(2019)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Babar Tasneem Shaikh, Zaeem ul Haq, Nhan Tran, Assad Hafeez
PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS
(2018)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Z. Haq, M. Malik, W. Khan
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HEALTH JOURNAL
(2016)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Zaeem Haq, Assad Hafeez
HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH
(2009)
