Impact of the Global Fund Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative on malaria control and elimination in the Greater Mekong subregion of southeast Asia.

Responding to the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum partial resistance to artemisinins and partner drugs of artemisinin-based combination therapies in the Greater Mekong subregion (GMS) of southeast Asia, the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative (RAI) was established in 2014 and has made remarkable progress in eliminating falciparum malaria. In Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam, the number of malaria cases has declined from hundreds of thousands in 2010 to 2313 cases in 2023, with only 246 caused by falciparum malaria. The key components of this success have been an effective package of interventions curbing malaria transmission, with an emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment in hard-to-reach populations through an extended and well organised network of community and mobile malaria workers; improved surveillance systems; and evidence-driven implementation of intensified approaches such as active case detection, chemoprevention in specific risk groups, and targeted drug administration.

Advancing green recovery: Integrating one health in sustainable wildlife management in the Asia-Pacific Indigenous People and Local Communities.

Wildlife (in this paper: wild animals) deliver a crucial range of ecosystem services on human health and livelihood, particularly in Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs). 'One Health' extends beyond just health; it also includes a comprehensive framework that can address wildlife and biodiversity conservation to enhance the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment with multisectoral collaboration. Therefore, integrating One Health principles into wildlife management was suggested in this review to improve the quality of life by reducing poverty, improving food security, and preventing zoonotic diseases in IPLCs.

Laboratory Comparison of Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests for Lymphatic Filariasis: STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) Versus Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS).

Accurate rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are needed to diagnose lymphatic filariasis (LF) in global elimination programmes. We evaluated the performance of the new STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) against the Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting antigen (Ag) in laboratory conditions, using serum (n = 195) and plasma (n = 189) from LF-endemic areas (Samoa, American Samoa and Myanmar) and Australian negative controls (n = 46). The prior Ag status of endemic samples (54.

Harnessing genomic technologies for one health solutions in the tropics.

Background: The targeted application of cutting-edge high-throughput molecular data technologies provides an enormous opportunity to address key health, economic and environmental issues in the tropics within the One Health framework. The Earth's tropical regions are projected to contain > 50% of the world's population by 2050 coupled with 80% of its biodiversity however these regions are relatively less developed economically, with agricultural productivity substantially lower than temperate zones, a large percentage of its population having limited health care options and much of its biodiversity understudied and undescribed. The generation of high-throughput molecular data and bespoke bioinformatics capability to address these unique challenges offers an enormous opportunity for people living in the tropics.

Organizational Factors Driving the Realization of Digital Health Transformation Benefits from Health Service Managers: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Healthcare is experiencing a global period of profound transformation, and digital health shows the promise of dispensing innovative and contemporary service models. However, changes are required to improve the capabilities of health managers in driving successful digital transformation.

Objective: This paper aims to explore the organizational barriers that health service managers have encountered when realizing the benefits of a digitally transforming environment.

Cytokine levels in the severity of falciparum malaria: An umbrella review.

This study aimed to synthesise evidence comparing the levels of cytokines in severe falciparum malaria with those in uncomplicated malaria from available systematic reviews and meta- analyses. Relevant individual meta-analyses were searched in PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar, following the selection criteria specified for this umbrella review. The AMSTAR-2 tool was applied to grade the quality of the meta-analyses identified.

CagA toxin and risk of Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric phenotype: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is frequently associated with non-cardia type gastric cancer, and it is designated as a group I carcinogen. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on the prevalence of CagA status in people with gastric disorders in the Indo-Pacific region, and to examine the association of CagA positive in the risk of gastric disorders.

Health Service Managers' Digital Competencies: A Conceptual Framework.

Health service managers play a crucial role in managing and leading in the digital health environment. Development of the health management workforce that is ready to lead and manage digital health transformation requires partnerships across sectors, in not only developing workforce competence but also in developing supportive mechanisms that can translate competencies into practice. A framework presenting a systematic approach in enabling the development of a competent health management workforce in the digital health era has recently been published.

Developing Health Management Competency for Digital Health Transformation: Protocol for a Qualitative Study.

Background: Globally, the health care system is experiencing a period of rapid and radical change. In response, innovative service models have been adopted for the delivery of high-quality care that require a health workforce with skills to support transformation and new ways of working.

Objective: The aim of this research protocol is to describe research that will contribute to developing the capability of health service managers in the digital health era and enabling digital transformation within the Australian health care environment.

Prevalence of zoonotic (brugian) filariasis in Asia: A proportional meta-analysis.

Lymphatic filariasis is a public health problem and targeted for global elimination. WHO recommends mass drug administration to interrupt transmission of the parasites involved. There are concerns that transmission interruption may be difficult in areas of zoonotic filarial infections.

Facilitators and barriers to engaging communities in health service research on dengue control in Indo-Pacific region: a systematic review.

Background: Dengue is a public health problem in the Indo-Pacific countries. There are concerns over the facilitators and barriers to community engagement in health service research aimed at dengue control. The objective of his study was to identify and synthesize facilitators and barriers to community engagement in health service research aimed at dengue control.

Democratising data to address health system inequities in Australia.

Understanding the health status of a population or community is crucial to equitable service planning. Among other uses, data on health status can help local and national planners and policy makers understand patterns and trends in current or emerging health and well-being, especially how disparities relating to geography, ethnicity, language and living with disability influence access to services. In this practice paper we draw attention to the nature of Australia's health data challenges and call for greater 'democratisation' of health data to address health system inequities.

Community engagement in health services research on soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Asia Pacific region: Systematic review.

The research question was what studies are available that have assessed community engagement in the health services research on soil-transmitted helminths? We aimed to synthesise evidence on how communities were engaged in health services research on soil-transmitted helminths in low-and-middle-income countries of the Asia-Pacific Region. We focused on this region because soil-transmitted helminths are endemic, and their burden is significant in this region. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist.

Community engagement in health services research on elimination of lymphatic filariasis: A systematic review.

This study aimed to contextualize the extent, nature, and quality of community engagement in health services research on eliminating lymphatic filariasis in low-and middle-income countries of Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. We performed a systematic review, and the results were reported according to the PRISMA-S checklist. Relevant studies were searched in health-related electronic databases, and selected according to the inclusion criteria.

Building health service management workforce capacity in the era of health informatics and digital health - A scoping review.

Introduction: Health informatics and digital health, two rapidly growing disciplines, are becoming increasingly important to the sustainability of health service provision, highlighted especially through the COVID-19 pandemic. To maximise the benefits of the adoption and growth of health informatics and digital health, health service managers play a critical role in leading and managing the implementation and transformation of the system, both strategically and operationally, whilst still needing to manage 'business as usual'.

Objectives: The objectives of the paper are to present and discuss the findings from a scoping review identifying: 1) competencies required for health service managers leading the implementation and transformation of informatics and digital technology in the health sector; and 2) factors that are critical to building the management workforce capacity in the era of health informatics and digital health.

Socio-cultural implications for women's menstrual health in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs): a scoping review.

Background: Globally, experiences of menarche and subsequent menstruation are embedded in social and cultural beliefs, norms and practices. Menarche is an important developmental milestone in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) for females. Menarche is intertwined with socio-cultural norms, beliefs and practices, which can impact on women's ability to manage menstruation with dignity.

Perspectives of Nurses About Factors Affecting Quality of Care at the Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital During the 2016-2017 Dengue Outbreak: A Qualitative Study.

During the 2016-2017 Solomon Islands dengue outbreak, the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara was the epicenter for the national response. High-quality nursing care is critical for successful management and this study investigated the factors affecting the quality of nursing care for patients admitted to NRH with dengue. Data were collected using two methods: () Focus group discussions with nurses who cared for dengue patients and () a self-administered questionnaire completed by a senior manager.

Adaptation of community-based distribution of family planning services to context-specific social networks: a case of marriage counsellors in Lusaka district, Zambia.

Background: The significant contribution of community-based distribution (CBD) of family planning services and contraceptives to the uptake of contraceptives in hard-to-reach communities has resulted in the scaling-up of this approach in many Sub-Saharan countries. However, contextual factors need to be taken into consideration. For example, social network influence (e.

'Making of a Strong Woman': a constructivist grounded theory of the experiences of young women around menarche in Papua New Guinea.

Background: Menarche, the first menstruation, is a significant developmental milestone for females. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), menarche is an important socio-cultural event marking transition from girlhood to womanhood. PNG is a culturally and linguistically diverse nation, with wide-ranging socio-cultural beliefs and practices around menarche.