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IssueHealthcare facilities in developing countries often lack the infrastructure to effectively communicate with one another. In Uganda, this has led to limitations in the quality and timing of life-saving emergency obstetric care.SolutionThis innovation sought to reduce the time it took for Primary Health Care (PHC) centers to refer mothers who are experiencing emergency obstetric complications to a referral hospital.The Makerere University School of Public Health developed and studied…internet issues interfered with the collaboration between hospitals.The e-partograph successfully recorded and secured data for all deliveries monitored using the system. PHCs found this system to be superior to paper-based monitoring protocols due to its accuracy and constant updates. The main aims for the future with e-partograph are to improve the software and seek scaling options,…

Issue Studies have shown that depression may interfere with the ability to acquire and/or use information about HIV/AIDS and its treatment regimens. Early recognition and treatment of depression would lead to better uptake of behaviour change messages, decrease HIV transmission risk behaviours and enhance adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART), which may result in improved clinical effectiveness of ART regimens. The World Health Organization recommends psychological therapies as first-line treatments for depression but they are non-existent in northern Uganda. Solution The goal of the project was to develop and test a culturally sensitive group support psychotherapy (GSP) intervention…were stratified by gender and randomized to receive either eight weekly sessions of GSP (n = 57) or eight weekly sessions of GHE (n = 52) and were followed up at post-intervention and for six months thereafter. The primary outcomes were the level of depressive symptoms and functioning. Secondary outcomes were perceived social support and self-esteem. Outcome Participants in the GSP study arm recorded a significantly greater reduction in depression symptoms compared with those in the GHE arm at the six-month assessment. The rate of increase in function scores was also greater among…

Issue Cryptosporidium is a waterborne pathogen that causes severe diarrhea that can be fatal for children and immuno-compromised individuals. Existing cryptosporidium detection methods are highly time-consuming and expensive, and often involve cell culturing. Currently, there is no testing and monitoring performed on a routine basis for cryptosporidium in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and no simple testing tool exists. Solution The project team sought to develop and validate a Cryptosporidium biosensor system capable of quantifying a low occurrence of the microorganism. The innovative approach requires the design and optimization of the sample-concentrating chamber, to allow for the collection of all the microbes from the examined water sample and the development of a new detection…the concentrating chamber is not sufficient for water volumes exceeding 1L. The project team strongly believes that the relevant level of microbes can be detected within a couple of hours using this technology. Upon completion of the prototype device, field validation will be performed in Toronto and in the Philippines at Puerto Princesa Water District.…

…A deficiency and iron deficiency. Despite its importance in the etiology of many disorders, iron deficiency anemia has not received the necessary attention in public health, due to its relatively subtle effects and the misperception that it should be addressed therapeutically rather than through preventive strategies. Solution This project took advantage of the cultural habit…to snack many times a day, by developing and introducing rice bran snacks to deliver iron and needed nutrients. The team distributed a limited number of snacks for taste testing in Canada and conducted sample testing with about 30 children in Illocos Norte, Philippines. Working with the Food Centre in Saskatchewan Canada, as well as…10% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) per typical serving size. The product was well received by the tasters and a small-scale production is currently being set up in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, in partnership with GRS Rice Mills and Farm Supply (GRS), to produce the fried snack formulation. The team intends to apply for Transition…

…is low in thiamin, putting their infants at risk of developing beriberi. Solution Fish sauce is a commonly consumed condiment in the Cambodian diet. The researchers sought to test the benefit of a thiamin-fortified fish sauce as a simple, cost-effective and sustainable product to raise maternal blood and breast milk thiamin levels to reduce the…lower concentration (2 g/L thiamin) and a control (no thiamin). Pregnant women and their families in Cambodia were randomized to consume one of these three fish sauces for six months. To ensure that no babies suffered from beriberi, each family in the study participated in a nutrition education workshop to learn about the signs and symptoms of infantile beriberi, thiamin-rich foods, general nutrition information, and best practices for infant and young child feeding. Outcome The project was successful in improving the…Through this project, the research team formed a new partnership with the National Sub-Committee for Food Fortification (NSCFF), Ministry of Planning, in Cambodia, who are considering scaling up thiamin fortification of fish sauce to the wider population. The group is exploring the potential for this intervention to become part of the government-mandated fortification program. Advocacy…