Vaccination contre la Covid-19: droits des personnes et obligations du Gouvernement Congolais en période d'urgence sanitaire

Cette étude avait pour objectif de mettre en exergue le rapport entre le bénéfice de la couverture vaccinale contre la Covid-19 et les risques individuels et collectifs encourus par la population. A travers le monde, les études ont monté que les campagnes de vaccination ont insufflé une dynamique positive à la lutte contre la pandémie et la courbe de la maladie a fléchi dans les populations vaccinées. Face à ces résultats probants, le législateur congolais doit s'en inspirer pour proposer des instruments juridiques en faveur d'une vaccination obligatoire contre la Covid-19 soumise à tous les citoyens et citoyennes Congolais sans exception. Si tout le monde peut être contaminé, tout le monde peut également faire preuve d'un certain degré de citoyenneté responsable pour réduire les risques de contracter la maladie et ne pas la transmettre à son entourage. La couverture vaccinale contre la Covid-19 est une des mesures de l'incidence de la maladie dans la population et qui ne peut prendre la quasi-totalité de la population qu'en la rendant obligatoire.

Laws and Regulations Associated with Ownership of Human Biological Material in South Africa

Ownership with regard to human biological material (HBM) is addressed to some extent within South African law; specifically in chapter eight of the National Health Act (NHA) and its associated regulations. However; members of the legal fraternity struggle to conceptualise ownership of such materials without objectifying a person or people and risking reducing such individuals to a state of property. This then infers a reduction in human dignity by rendering one-self or parts of that same self as a commodity. The complexity of the issue raises much debate both legally as well as ethically

Implementation of the Mental Health Care Act (2002) at District Hospitals in South Africa : Translating Principles into Practice

Legislation prior to 2002 tended to reinforce the alienation; stigmatisation and disempowerment of mentally ill patients in South Africa. In line with international develop- ments in mental health legislation; the Mental Health Care Act (2002) was promulgated in South Africa. Its core principles - human rights for users; decentralisation and integration of mental health care at primary; secondary and tertiary levels of care; and a focus on care; treatment and rehabilitation - are progressive and laudable. However; the task of implementing the requirements of the Act at community and district hospital levels is fraught with problems. Lack of infrastructure; inadequate skills and poor support and training undermine its successful implementation.Health workers already burdened with enormous workloads and inadequate resources struggle to manage mentally ill patients at district hospitals. The 72- hour observation is a particular area of difficulty throughout the country. This paper outlines the rationale and sense behind this legislation; discusses the problems encountered at the 'rock face'; and offers solutions to the problem of translating principles into practice

The Smoking Habits; Attitudes Towards Smoking And Knowledge Regarding Anti-Smoking Legislation Of Students In Institutions Of Higher Learning In The Eastern Cape Province Of South Africa

Background: The study aimed to i) investigate the smoking habits of students attending tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) and ii) determine the knowledge of the students about the health hazards of smoking and their attitude towards current government anti-smoking legislation.Methods This was a questionnaire-based study involving all seven tertiary institutions of learning in the ECP; viz. the Universities of Transkei; Fort Hare; Port Elizabeth and Rhodes University; and the Border; Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth technikons. A total of 1 728 students were interviewed out of a student population of 30;080. Stratified random sampling was used to select the students. Two-way tables were used to test the independence of the variables and chi-square tests were applied. A `p' value of below 5was used as a test of significance.ResultsA total of 1 480 students completed the questionnaires (86). The racial classification of the respondents was 79Black; 13White; 7Coloured and 2Indian. Twenty-six per cent of the students were smokers; of which 37were male and 15were female. Forty-five per cent of the Coloured students smoked; while the figures for Whites and Blacks were 26and 25respectively. Seventy per cent of the students smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day. Fifty-two per cent of the smokers said they wanted to stop smoking. Sixty-one per cent had been influenced to start smoking by their friends and only 13were influenced by advertisements. Ninety-four percent agreed that smoking was dangerous to the smoker's health; while 73responded that there was a relationship between mothers who smoke and low birth weight. Thirteen per cent thought the legislation was too tough; while 30said it was good as it was. On measures to reduce smoking; 86favoured restricting smoking in public places.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated that smoking is prevalent in tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province. The demographic profile of the smokers reflects the national picture. The knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking is generally good

Profil professionnel des epileptiques suivis a Abidjan : etude prospective realisee chez 55 travailleurs

"Pathologie neurologique frequente et parfois handicapante susceptible de toucher un nombre important d'individus quelque soit l'age; l'epilepsie pose d'enormes problemes socioprofessionnels notamment pour la recherche et l'obtention d'un emploi. C'est pour relever ces difficultes et proposer des solutions adaptees; que nous avons entrepris une etude prospective transversale de juin 2005 a mars 2006 en entreprise et dans les centres hospitaliers universitaires d'Abidjan; soutenue par un questionnaire dirige. Les patients etaient : soumis a des questions portant sur les caracteristiques generales de la maladie; les renseignements professionnels; les interrelations entre l'epilepsie et le travail. Nous avons obtenus une population: de 55 travailleurs epileptiques dont 65 pour cent d'hommes et 35 pour cent de femmes avec une moyenne d'age de 36; l4ans. Ils presentaient pour la plupart des crises tonico-cloniques soit 74;58pour cent. Le secteur d'activite le plus represente etait le secteur prive formel avec 41;80 pour cent des epileptiques; suivi du prive informel avec 30; 90 pour cent des patients et de l'administration publique dans 27;30 pour cent des cas. S'agissant du type d'activite; 83;60 pour cent des sujets se retrouvaient dans les ""services et commerce""; avec 34 ;60 pour cent dans les "" services aux particuliers et a la collectivite"". Seulement 1;8pour cent des patients avaient ete victimes d'accidents du travail. Les arrets de travail etaient observes chez 30;90pour cent d'entre eux et la baisse du rendement ne concernait que 20 pour cent. Nous preconisons pour limiter l'ampleur des problemes d'insertion socioprofessionnels poses par l'epilepsie les mesures suivantes : - L'elaboration et la promulgation de textes de loi concernant les travailleurs porteurs de pathologies chroniques et/ou d'un handicap. - L'organisation de seminaires de formation et d'information sur l'epilepsie pour les responsables d'entreprise et le grand public. - La promotion de la sante au travail dans les differents secteurs d'activite. - une etroite collaboration entre le medecin du travail et le neurologue pour une bonne adequation entre le poste et l'aptitude de la personne epileptique."

Community placement and reintegration of service users from long-term mental health care facilities

Objective: To ascertain community placement and reintegration of service users from long-term mental health care facilities. Method: This study reviewed the progress during 2003 with the alternative placement of a selected candidate group of 27 service users in some of Lifecare's long-term mental health care facilities in Gauteng. Results: Despite a significant amount of time and effort to find alternative options with family; old age homes or other non-governmental organizations; only 9 (33) were placed a year later. A longer follow-up period however is necessary to ascertain the actual successful outcome of these placements. Conclusions: Concerns exist about sufficient development of community-based services in accordance with the new Mental Health Care Act (Act No. 17 of 2002); parallel to hospital-based care

What roles do professional councils play in the development and enforcement of health legislation?

"The Government through the Minsitry of Health has a responsibility for the health of its people. In its preamble; the World Health organisation Constitution affirms that it is one of the fundamental rights of every human being to enjoy ""the highest attainable standard of health"" and that ""governments"" have a responsibility for the health of their people which can be fulfilled only by the provision of adequate health and social measures (WHO Constitution; 1985). The government executes this responsibility by ensuring that the relevant laws are put in place."

Improving health sector performance: how can legislation help?

"Fundamental and strategic changes made in the organisation and operation of health system in order to improve health sector performance; is referred to as health sector reforms. There are 5 ""control knobs"" for improving health sector performance (Roberts M. et al. 1998). These are (a) financing (methods of raising money to support health sector activities); (b) payment (methods by which money is transferred to individuals and organisations within the sector); (c) organisations (set of organisations; their roles; their governance; their sources of financial support; and what happens inside them); (d) regulation (mechanisms to constrain the behaviour of individuals and organisations); and (e) the role of citizens in seeking justice and accoutnability."

A three-day drug policy seminar held in Blantyre; Malawiby editor

The aim of the workshop was to sensitise key decision makers from the public and private sectors on the implications of implementing the Pharmacy; Medicines and Poisons Act (1988) and the development of a clear drug policy to acheive better efficiency of the pharmaceutical supply system

The nurses and midwives amendment act 1987

A description of the powers and functions of the Nurses and Midwives Council

Malawi national drug policy

The overall goal of the National Drug Policy is to develop within the available resources the potential that drugs have to control common diseases and alleviate suffering. This is done by ensuring the ready and constant availability of high quality; acceptably safe and proven effective essential drugs; and to rationalize the use of essential drugs