When COVID-19 hit, Quebec had to quickly find the best ways to handle the situation. Now that the pandemic is behind us, it's time to improve how we deal with crises in the future. The main goal of a recent project was to create a plan for quickly finding and using the best evidence during health crises in Quebec. First, let's look at what didn't work well during CO...
Malaria has been a relentless enemy in Africa, but the fight against it has become even tougher with the rise of drug-resistant strains. Imagine trying to fix a leaky pipe with a broken wrench—that's what it feels like when antimalarial drugs don't work as they should. Why is this happening? Well, malaria parasites are sneaky and can adapt over time, making the drugs...
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an unusual outbreak of illness has baffled experts. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently shared some insights into what could be causing this health crisis. The WHO suspects that well-known diseases like malaria, pneumonia, or measles, worsened by severe malnutrition, might be the culprits. The region has faced ...
In southwestern Congo, a puzzling disease has swept through the Panzi health zone of Kwango province, causing the death of dozens between November 10 and November 25. The illness, characterized by fever, headache, cough, and anemia, has left health officials scrambling to identify its cause. Reports suggest the death toll could range from 67 to 143. A team of expert...
Last year, around 8 million people were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), the highest number ever recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO). The death toll was staggering, reaching 1. 25 million people, which is almost double the number of people killed by HIV in the same year. This grim statistic signals that TB might once again be the deadliest infectious dis...
In the heart of eastern Congo, near the bustling city of Goma, lies an unseen battle. It's not fought with guns or bombs, but in the minds of those trapped in displacement camps. Years of conflict have taken a heavy toll on mental health. People like Nelly Shukuru, a 51-year-old mother of six, found themselves in a hopeless situation. The squalid conditions, hunger, ...
The 988 lifeline for mental health crises has sparked concerns about involuntary interventions, with some fearing that calling the number could result in law enforcement or hospitalization. But new data from Vibrant Emotional Health, the administrator of the 988 Lifeline, suggests that this outcome occurs in only about 1% of cases. The data, which comes from a sampl...
The world is on the brink of a catastrophic crisis. According to a new study, nearly 40 million people could die from antibiotic-resistant superbug infections by 2050. The staggering number is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). But what exactly is AMR, and why should we be so concerned? AMR occurs when pathogens, like...
As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, the country is bracing itself for a potentially catastrophic health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a dire warning, citing the severe damage to Ukraine's energy and healthcare infrastructure, which has left millions vulnerable as temperatures plummet. The ongoing Russian airstrik...
Suicide is a silent epidemic that has been ravaging Ohio for years, claiming the lives of five people every day. As September spotlights suicide prevention awareness nationally and around the world, it's essential to acknowledge the complexity of this issue. What if we told you that suicide prevention efforts require a multi-faceted approach, considering mental heal...