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Background: Identifying healthcare services and also strengthening the healthcare systems to effectively deliver them in the aftermath of large-scale disasters like the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, especially for vulnerable groups cannot be emphasized enough. This study aimed at identifying the interventions undertaken or proposed for addressing the health needs or challenges of vulnerable groups immediately after the occurrence of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, as well as for prioritizing their healthcare service delivery in the post-Turkey-Syria earthquake. Methods: In this scoping review compiled with the five steps of the Arksey and O'Malley framework, five databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, OVID, and Google Scholar, were searched for studies published between March and April 2023 in line with the eligibility criteria. Interventions for enhancing post-earthquake healthcare services (PEHS) were grouped into seven (7) categories, adopted from previous guidelines and studies. Each one was assigned a default score of a value equal to one (1), which, in the end, was summed up. Results: Of the 115 total records initially screened, 29 articles were eligible for review. Different interventions they reported either undertaken or proposed to address the healthcare needs and challenges, especially faced by the most vulnerable groups in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, were categorized into 7 PEHS. They were ranked with their scores as follows: humanitarian health relief (25); medical care (17); mental health and psychosocial support (10); health promotion, education, and awareness (9); disease surveillance and prevention (7); disability rehabilitation (7); and sexual and reproductive health (5). Conclusion: Since there are no proper guidelines or recommendations about the specific or most significant PEHS to prioritize for vulnerable groups after the occurrence of large-scale earthquakes, this scoping review provides some insights that can help inform healthcare service delivery and prioritization for vulnerable groups in the post-2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes and other similar disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria remains a major public health burden to children under five, especially in Eastern Africa (E.A), —a region that is also witnessing the increasing occurrence of floods and extreme climate change. The present study, therefore, explored the trends in floods, as well as the association of their occurrence and duration with the malaria incidence in children < 5 years in five E.A partner countries of Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania between 1990 and 2019. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data retrieved from two global sources was performed: the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) and the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) between 1990 and 2019. Using SPSS 20.0, a correlation was determined based on ρ= -1 to + 1, as well as the statistical significance of P = < 0.05. Time plots of trends in flooding and malaria incidence were generated in 3 different decades using R version 4.0. Results: Between 1990 and 2019, the occurrence and duration of floods among the five E.A partner countries of FOCAC increased and showed an upward trend. On the contrary, however, this had an inverse and negative, as well as a weak correlation on the malaria incidence in children under five years. Only Kenya, among the five countries, showed a perfect negative correction of malaria incidence in children under five with flood occurrence (ρ = -0.586**, P-value = 0.001) and duration (ρ = -0.657**, P-value = < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further research to comprehensively explore how different climate extreme events, which oftentimes complement floods, might be influencing the risk of malaria in children under five in five E.A malaria-endemic partner countries of FOCAC. Similarly, it ought to consider investigating the influence of other attributes apart from flood occurrence and duration, which also compound floods like displacement, malnutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene on the risk and distribution of malaria and other climate-sensitive diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper attempts to discuss the synergies between the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Ebola preparedness and response – with a specific outlook about how the five (5) targets in SDG.3 can be prioritized and integrated into the measures taken against the battle of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) as well as any other sporadic health disasters and emergencies elsewhere. Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws on the published literature, including reports, peer-reviewed articles, statistical data and relevant documents identified from authenticated sources. Findings: Sustainable development, which is the nitty-gritty of SDGs, is underscored as a germane in almost all regional and international frameworks. However, as traditional natural hazards persist, alongside the persistence of civil conflicts and instability, socioeconomic challenges such as EVD pose serious hindrances to SDGs, and achieving them by 2030 might be a deferred dream, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as DRC. Practical implications: This paper will help to inform the decisions of bureaucrats at different levels, especially those aimed at promoting and integrating health into sustainable development. Originality/value: The recent 2018 EVD outbreaks in DRC, which galvanized the regional and global attention, call for an approach that elucidates an interaction between the SDGs and countermeasures of responding to this deadly disease in the DRC and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of globalization, proliferation of digital technologies (DTs) is rapidly changing many activities across sectors, including influencing health to "go digital." Harnessing opportunities of DTs can be a pathway for delivery of health services, such as community-based rehabilitation (CBR) to the vulnerable groups of populations, particularly those in countries with low resources where health systems are weak and experiencing a deficit of trained health workers necessary to effectively deliver a full spectrum of health services. This perspective explored how some DTs can be leveraged in delivery of CBR services in rural and remote areas of countries with low resources. This is described based on information access and exchange, social satisfaction, shortages of rehabilitation workforce, professional development, and capacity building. However, since seizing advantages of DTs can inevitably be associated with spillovers and limitations, including needs prioritization, skills and language limitations, internet addiction and censorship issues, professionalism and ethical dilemmas, and sustainability, if proper measures are not taken, a caution is made. Moreover, as DTs are revolutionizing various activities across sectors, including health, this is not meant as a substitute for traditional health care activities, including those delivered through CBR, but rather to augment their delivery in settings with low resources and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-hospital emergency care is a vital and integral component of health systems particularly in the resource constrained countries like Uganda. It can help to minimize deaths, injuries, morbidities, disabilities and trauma caused by the road traffic incidents (RTIs). This study identifies the weaknesses and capacities affecting the pre-hospital emergency care for the victims of RTIs in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the GKMA using a three-part structured questionnaire. Data related to the demographics, nature of RTIs and victims' pre-hospital experience and existing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were collected from victims and EMS specialists in 3 hospitals and 5 EMS institutions respectively. Data was descriptively analyzed, and after the principal component analysis was employed to identify the most influential weaknesses and capacities affecting the pre-hospital emergency care for the victims of RTI in the GKMA.Results: From 459 RTI victims (74.7% males and 25.3% females) and 23 EMS specialists (91.3% males and 8.7% females) who participated in the study between May and June 2016, 4 and 5 key weaknesses and capacities respectively were identified to affect the pre-hospital emergency care for RTI victims in the GKMA. Although some strengths exist like ambulance facilitation, EMS structuring, coordination and others), the key weaknesses affecting the pre-hospital care for victims were noted to relate to absence of predefined EMS systems particularly in the GKMA and Uganda as a whole. They were identified to involve poor quality first aid treatment; insufficient skills/training of the first responders; inadequate EMS resources; and avoidable delays to respond and transport RTI victims to medical facilities.Conclusions: Though some strengths exist, the weaknesses affecting prehospital care for RTI victims primarily emanate from the absence of predefined and well-organized EMS systems in the GKMA and Uganda as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA) is the fastest developing region in Uganda. Over recent years, this has placed exponential demand on the road sector, which consequently has contributed to rapid growth in motorized vehicles which, predisposes the region to a high risk of road traffic incidents (RTIs). A number of concerted road safety and post-crash management measures to respond to RTIs in the KMA in particular and Uganda as a whole have been undertaken. However, there is a need to greatly improve the measures by better identifying the factors influencing the exposure, vulnerability and emergency medical service (EMS) capacity for RTI victims. The present study seeks to investigate and reveal these factors.Methods: A Delphi technique employing a questionnaire and involving a multidisciplinary panel of experts was used in three rounds.Results: The ten (10) most important factors affecting the exposure, vulnerability and EMS capacity for victims of RTIs in the KMA were identified. Socio-cultural, infrastructure and road safety aspects were the factors most identified as affecting the exposure and vulnerability. The absence of a national EMS policy and post-crash care system, as well as the fact that many victims lack health insurance, were noted to be the factors adversely affecting the EMS capacity.Conclusions: There exists is a real need to substantially reduce the burden of RTIs in KMA, with ultimate goal of saving lives that are being lost needlessly and reducing the impact of injuries and trauma and the economic losses associated with it. This study offers insights into the causes of RTIs and the most appropriate ways of responding to them especially with the establishment and empowerment of predefined and structured EMS systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ecosystem service value (ESV) in Sichuan Province was evaluated dynamically based on the improved value equivalent method. • Eco-economic benefit model was constructed to evaluate the value efficiency and return rate on investment of Grain for Green Program (GFGP). • GFGP investments had a significant effect on forest ESV. • Return rate on GFGP investments in Sichuan was only 17.09%. The Grain for Green Program (GFGP) is an important policy implemented by the Chinese government to restore degraded forests. However, there is a limited understanding of the eco-economic benefits of GFGP in Sichuan province. In this study, the ecosystem service value (ESV) in Sichuan from 2001 to 2019 was evaluated dynamically based on the improved value equivalent method. Then, the impact of climate and human activities on ESV was explored. Finally, the eco-economic benefit model of afforestation was constructed to calculate its value efficiency in 183 counties and the return rate on afforestation investment in Sichuan. Our results indicated that the forest ESV (R2 = 0.82, P < 0.05) in Sichuan increased significantly from 2001 to 2019. Moreover, GFGP investments had a significant positive effect on forest ESV, and the correlation between afforested area and forest ESV was the highest (r = 0.88, P < 0.05). Besides, the value efficiency was relatively low in central and southwestern Sichuan, especially in and around Chengdu. In general, a total of 106 counties demonstrated low value efficiency, making up 57.92 % of the total number of counties. We also found that the return rate on GFGP investments in Sichuan was only 17.09 %. Finally, we discovered that during the consolidation phase of afforestation, 38.05 % of ESV in the core area afforested experienced degradation. Based on these findings, there is a need to encourage multistakeholder participation to jointly improve the eco-economic benefits of investing in GFGP in Sichuan now and in the future. In addition, the findings could help inform government regulators to reconsider their approach to GFGP investments and also promote more effective nature-based ecological solutions and management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]