Every year, on April 17, World Hemophilia Day is celebrated, to raise public awareness of the realities of a little-known disease and mobilize as many people as possible in favour of the integration of patients. Hemophilia is an inherited hemorrhagic disease caused by the deficiency of a coagulation protein, usually present in the plasma. It is transmitted hereditarily from father to daughter and from mother to son. It is the most widespread of hereditary hemorrhagic disorders and represents a heavy social and economic burden. The current situation in Cameroon is still a bit complex. Even at the level of hospitalizations or health facilities, it is not easy to diagnose this kind of problem. Because when a patient arrives in a hospital and has a bleeding disorder, he is oriented according to his crisis, and this orientation remains fictitious. Hence the difficulties in obtaining statistical data. This year, the theme is: "Access for all: the prevention of bleeding as a global standard of care".

Building on last year's theme, this call to action for the community in 2023 aims to come together and advocate with local politicians and governments for better access to treatment and care, highlighting the focus on better control and prevention of bleeding, for everyone with a bleeding disorder. This requires the implementation of home care as well as prophylactic treatments to help these people benefit from a better quality of life. As part of this celebration, the Center for the Development of Best Practice in Health, propose these summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews aiming to inform the patients, medical staff and other stakeholders in the prevention and the treatment of Hemophilia.

Read more world-hemophilia-day-2023.pdf

Malaria is a potentially fatal disease that occurs mainly in tropical countries. It is a preventable and curable disease. However, without prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, an uncomplicated case of malaria can progress to a severe form of the disease, which is often fatal if left untreated. Malaria is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person; it is transmitted by the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five species of parasites are responsible for malaria in humans and two of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – are particularly dangerous. There are more than 400 different species of Anopheles mosquitoes and about 40 of them, called vector species, can transmit the disease.

The risk of infection is higher in some areas than in others due to different factors, such as the mosquito species present locally. In addition, the risk of infection may vary depending on the season, knowing that it is during the rainy season in tropical countries that it is highest (WHO, 2022).  Malaria is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in Cameroon, in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the world. This makes this pathology an important public health problem. Indeed, in 2018; Malaria represents in health facilities, 25.8% of consultations including 31.5% among children under 5 years old and 14.3% of deaths including 28.4% among children under 5 years old. These data are a clear increase compared to those of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, (annual reports PNLP 2016-). There are three main epidemiological facies linked to geo-climatic variations: the Sudano-Sahelian facies (Far North and North Regions), the great interior plateau savannah (Adamawa Region), the great equatorial forest (every 7 southern regions). Existing climatic conditions are favorable for the development of vectors and parasites.

As part of this celebration, the Center for the Development of Best Practice in Health, propose these summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews aiming to inform the patients, medical staff and others stakeholders in the prevention and the treatment of Malaria. 

Read the full summary here World Malaria Day -24 April 2023.pdf

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated. People with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms. The only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked. Things that increase the risk of having high blood pressure include:

• older age
• genetics
• being overweight or obese
• not being physically active
• high-salt diet
• drinking too much alcohol

The prevalence of hypertension varies across regions and country income groups. The WHO African Region has the highest prevalence of hypertension (27%) while the WHO Region of the Americas has the lowest prevalence of hypertension (18%). In Cameroon, out of a population of nearly 27,2 million inhabitants, arterial hypertension (HTA) affects 35% of the population. More than 17,000 of them die each year and one in three men suffers from it (MoH ; Cameroonian Heart Foundation). This disease is therefore responsible for a high death rate in Cameroon. Worse, this figure could rise to 40% by 2025 if nothing is done. As part of this celebration, the Center for the Development of Best Practice in Health, propose these summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews aiming to inform the patients, medical staff and others stakeholders on this disease.

Download the full summary here CDBPSH-World Hypertension Day 2023.pdf 

WHO established World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to raise awareness around the world of the tobacco epidemic and its deadly effects. Smoking is the biggest preventable epidemic facing caregivers. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world with more than 5 million deaths annually. World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the world on May 31 every year.

This world day focuses on the dangers of tobacco to health and the anti-tobacco action led by the WHO. The theme of the WHO anti-tobacco campaign this year is "Grow Food, Not Tobacco". Tobacco farming harms our health, the health of farmers and the planet. Tobacco industry interference manifests itself in attempts to replace tobacco growing, contributing to the global food crisis. This campaign encourages governments to end tobacco growing subsidies and use the savings to help farmers switch to more sustainable crops that improve food security and nutrition Indeed, more than 300 million people worldwide face acute food insecurity.

Meanwhile, more than 3 million hectares of land in more than 120 countries are used to grow deadly tobacco, even in countries where people are starving. As part of this World No Tobacco Day, the Center for the Development of Good Practices in Health and Cochrane Cameroon, are offering summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews aimed at informing medical personnel and other interested stakeholders about interventions aimed at smoking cessation.

WHAT IS SKIN CANCER?

Skin cancer is manifested by the uncontrolled and abnormal proliferation of skin cells, specifically of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. This pathological multiplication is caused by unrepaired DNA lesions, which lead to mutations of these cells, coming to form a malignant tumour. Skin cancers are mainly caused by UV exposure, which comes either from the sun or from artificial sources such as tanning booths. In 2020, more than 1.5 million cases of skin cancers were diagnosed and more than 120,000 associated deaths were reported worldwide. Much of UV-related illness and death can be prevented with simple prevention measures, such as limiting time in the sun at midday, seeking shade when UV rays are most intense, wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses - as well as using sunscreen.

Do you want to know more about skin cancer?

Read the full summary of systematic reviews here on skin Cancer international-skin-cancer-day-cdbpsh.pdf

In 1967, Dr. Baruch Blumberg (1925-2011) discovered the hepatitis B virus. Two years later, he also developed the first vaccine against hepatitis B. Dr. Blumberg was born on July 28, which is why World Hepatitis Day is celebrated today. Infection with the hepatitis B virus can be prevented by vaccination. It should also be added that doctors can now effectively treat hepatitis C, caused by the hepatitis C virus, with antiviral drugs.

Hepatitis causes damage to the normal structure of the liver, preventing it from functioning properly. The theme of this year's edition, One Life, One Liver, aims to focus on the link between viral hepatitis and liver inflammation - i.e. liver damage and injury - as well as on the broader issues of liver health and primary healthcare. Hepatitis B is generally transmitted from mother to child during delivery or at birth. It can also be transmitted through contact with blood or other biological fluids during sexual relations with an infected partner, high-risk injections, or exposure to sharp instruments.

Hepatitis C is transmitted by contact with the blood of an infected person: unscreened blood transfusions, sharing needles or risky sexual practices involving direct exposure to blood. More than 91 million Africans are living with hepatitis. In 2019, an estimated 1.2 million new hepatitis infections were recorded in the African Region, along with 125,000 hepatitis-related deaths. These deaths occur mainly among young, productive segments of the population. The World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Hepatitis Strategy - endorsed by all WHO Member States - and the Framework for an Integrated Multisectoral Response to Tuberculosis, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Hepatitis in the WHO African Region, aim to reduce new hepatitis virus infections by 90% and hepatitis-related deaths by 65% by 2030.

Centre pour le Développement des Bonnes Pratique en Santé 2 The World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Hepatitis Strategy - endorsed by all WHO Member States - and the Framework for an Integrated Multisectoral Response to Tuberculosis, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Hepatitis in the WHO African Region, aim to reduce new hepatitis virus infections by 90% and hepatitis-related deaths by 65% by 2030. WHO supports regional and national efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. Indeed, the Organization is providing clear guidance, including for decentralized and simplified prevention, screening and treatment of viral hepatitis, with an emphasis on a person-centred approach. This includes eliminating hepatitis B by administering a dose of vaccine at birth (on the day of birth or the day after). Much remains to be done to reduce the number of deaths and infections linked to this disease. Despite the availability of effective diagnostic tools and treatments, over 90% of people living with hepatitis in Africa do not receive the care they need, and less than 10% of the population has access to screening and treatment services. This encourages the progressive advance of liver disease, imposes a catastrophic financial burden and leads to repercussions such as emotional distress and stigmatization. Screening and treatment remain the most neglected aspects of the proposed public health response.

The highest prevalence of hepatitis B infection in children under the age of five is found in countries where hepatitis B vaccination is not carried out at birth. Vaccination is therefore an important component in the fight against hepatitis. I am pleased to note that all 47 Member States of the African Region have included hepatitis B vaccine in routine immunization. However, routine hepatitis B vaccination coverage for children in the Region stands at 72%, well below the global target of 90%. By 2022, 16 countries in the region have begun administering a dose of hepatitis vaccine to all newborns, compared with 11 countries in 2021 (WHO, 2023). As part of this celebration, the Center for the Development of Best Practice in Health, propose these summaries of Cochrane systematic reviews aiming to inform the patients, medical staff and other stakeholders on the prevention and management of hepatitis.

Do you want to know more, read the full summary of systematic reviews here word-hepatitis-day-2023.pdf

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A rare disease is a medical condition with a specific profile of signs, symptoms and clinical outcomes, affecting fewer than 1 in 2000 people in a region of the world defined by the World Health Organization. Over 8,000 diseases have been identified, representing 8% of the world's population, or 60 million Africans. 

Rare diseases include, but are not limited to, rare genetic diseases, rare cancers, rare infectious diseases, rare poisoning, rare immune diseases, rare idiopathic diseases and rare undetermined conditions. While the frequency of most rare diseases can be described by prevalence (the number of cases in a specific population at a given time or over a given period), some rare diseases, such as rare cancers and rare infectious diseases, can be more accurately described by incidence (the rate of new cases in a specific population over a given period). 

Rare Disease Day is a coordinated global rare disease movement that fights for social equity in social opportunity, healthcare and access to diagnosis and therapy. Since its inception in 2008, Rare Disease Day has played an important role in creating an international rare disease community that is multi-disease, global and diverse, yet united in its goals. February 28 (or 29 in leap years) is Rare Disease Day, the rarest day of the year. Rare Disease Day provides energy and a focal point for rare disease advocacy at local, national and international levels.

Download the full information sheet here