SSMJ August 2009
Editorials
Editorial: Mental Health Services in Southern Sudan - a vision for the future
Major mental illness exists all over the world with a remarkably similar prevalence. This includes the major psychoses such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and major depression. These place a huge burden on the individual, their families and the economy. Southern Sudan is no exception. Mental illness may be less visible than physical illness but the suffering is equally great.News, Reports and Policy
Interview with Agnes Comfort Daru, Country Coordinator, The Capacity Project about the Juba Teaching Hospital Resource Center
The Resource Center (RC) opened on May 17, 2008, and is housed at the Juba Teaching Hospital in the special wing. Based on the success of the Juba RC, the USAID Capacity Project is now in the process of opening the second RC at the Wau Teaching Hospital, in Western Bahr el-Ghazal. We procured a space for the second RC and recently completed the renovations. Francis Tombe, librarian for the Juba RC, will co-ordinate...Southern Sudan Nutrition Health Convention
The Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), Ministry of Health (MOH) Directorate of Nutrition (DN) hosted a Nutrition Health Convention in April 2009 in Juba. One hundred thirty-four participants attended, including representatives from the MOHs of nine states, teaching hospitals, UN agencies, NGOs and nutritionists from outside South Sudan. Its aims were to...Motorbike ambulances for safer childbirth
The Ministry of Health has introduced motorbike ambulances (5 scrambler motorbikes with sidecar "beds") to Eastern Equatoria region in a pilot scheme aimed at cutting the high rates of maternal mortality. "We have a problem bringing critically sick people to the few referral facilities available. We have in our budget this year at least one ambulance per county, but even that one ambulance will not be enough" said Atem Nathan Riek, Director-General of Primary Healthcare...Tribute to Professor David Morely
What a man, what a friend of Africa and the developing world! Professor David Morley (CBE, MD, FRCP) the widely known and loved paediatrician, died on July 2nd aged 86. After working in Nigeria, where he promoted the Child Growth Chart, he was Lecturer and then Professor (and later Professor Emeritus) at the Institute of Child Health, London...Clinical Guidance
Diabetes: Part 2. Management of Diabetes Including Hypoglycaemia and Complications
Previously1 we have discussed the diagnosis, classification and prevention of diabetes mellitus. In this article we provide an overview of management of glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus as well as managing hypoglycaemia. We also look at the management of diabetic complications and provide a basis by which to run a diabetes clinic.Hypertension in Adults: Part 1. Prevalence, types, causes and effects
Arterial hypertension is a common and preventable cardiovascular risk factor, leading to about 1.7 million deaths/year worldwide.Can mothers who have swine flu continue to breastfeed? Yes!
The risk for H1N1 influenza transmission through breast milk is unknown. However, reports of viraemia with seasonal influenza infection are rare. Also unknown is the specific protection to the baby of the antibodies the mother passes through her breastmilk. However the strong recommendations from Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1 and the UK National Health Service2 are that mothers with swine flu should continue to breastfeedResearch
MDR-TB is in town, and might be tugging along XDR-TB
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is defined as TB that is resistant to the two main first-line drugs (isonaiazid and rifampicin). Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR -TB) is a relatively rare type of MDR-TB and is defined as TB which is resistant to...HIV/AIDS: Update on Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment - including Available South Sudan Literature
South Sudan borders countries with significant HIV epidemic profiles. Data on the status of HIV in South Sudan is limited. More than two decades of war have relatively sheltered the country from experiencing an epidemic similar to that in the neighbouring countries. Ironically the coming of peace has the potential of accelerating the development of an epidemic in South Sudan as a result of increased movement of people and altered economic and social activities...Case Reports
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Summaries
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