Resources

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major, under–recognized public health problem causing more severe respiratory infections and hospitalizations in infants and young children each year than any other pathogen. New immunization tools have achieved licensure that could help change that.The opportunity to address this pervasive virus has never been better. To raise awareness, PATH and the World Health Organization are developing an evolving toolkit of communication materials that public health stakeholders and advocates can use to share information about RSV disease, new prevention tools, and delivery considerations. Other expert contributors include the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington, UMC Utrecht, RRD Design, and more.To accommodate varying audience and engagement needs, this toolkit includes a stand-alone RSV primer presentation (and fact sheet) providing an overview of RSV disease and prevention options. Also available are modular PowerPoint slides that can be mixed and matched with the primer presentation to dive deeper into key topics for informing understanding and decision-making around RSV prevention. All slides come with speaker notes.To learn more about the toolkit, visit the web page.Editable files are available upon request. Please contact us.

The Pandemic Fund—hosted by the World Bank—was created in September 2022 to provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term funding for critical pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR) in eligible low- and middle-income countries.According to expert forecasts, there is a 66 percent chance of another COVID-like respiratory pandemic with a death toll of more than 10 million in the next 25 years. To prepare, countries must strengthen their health systems to identify, diagnose, and treat respiratory infections.Tools like pulse oximeters, which detect hypoxemia (low oxygen saturation in the blood), can provide critical data that a respiratory pandemic is emerging, and medical oxygen and related therapies are essential to treatment as the recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated.An adequate supply of clinical and biomedical engineers, and technicians trained to operate and maintain both is a critical plank of PPPR. This factsheet outlines key information and resources for pursuing funding for medical oxygen and pulse oximetry through the Pandemic Fund. It is intended for use by beneficiaries, partners, civil society, and others, in developing funding requests and/or advocating for prioritizing medical oxygen and pulse oximetry in future Pandemic Fund proposals.

Africa’s pharmaceutical industry has undergone tremendous growth in all sectors over the years. This growth can be attributed to improvements in infrastructure, health care capacity, and business environment.The COVID-19 pandemic, however, brought to light the critical need for a more structured, robust, and resilient manufacturing sector for the continent. The industry was pushed by crisis to pick up the pace at establishing harmony within its different sectors, ensuring that they largely serve communities within Africa, and reduce over-reliance on pharmaceutical imports.This crisis also prompted increased political support for local medical products manufacturing, leading to a substantial expansion of African pharmaceutical manufacturing.

In Satara, PATH is applying a human-centered design (HCD) approach to redesign the health care system by removing barriers that hinder the utilization of primary health care services, both from the perspective of demand and supply.Our HCD approach includes:Behavioral barrier assessment: We delve into the behavioral dynamics affecting the utilization of PHC services and redesign care-seekers' pathways to facilitate better access and engagement.Redesigning PHC services for women: Our efforts are directed towards restructuring PHC services to minimize the number of touch points required for women to access care, thereby facilitating early detection of health conditions among women.Culturally appropriate community-centered solutions: We facilitated the formation of patient support groups tailored to the cultural context, aimed at improving medical treatment adherence for chronic conditions and enhancing awareness about health conditions within the community.

PATH is deploying cutting-edge technologies in Satara to advance climate proofing of health systems and accelerate early diagnosis of health conditions. These innovations are assisting health care workers to screen cancers and heart disorders, and overcome logistical hurdles in transporting temperature-sensitive products like vaccines in hard to reach areas.