SSMJ August 2015

Editorials

Editorial - Strengthening the healthcare system through an effective General Medical Council

The Chairman and members of the South Sudan General Medical Council (SSGMC) were formally sworn into office on the 17th November 2014. Establishing South Sudan’s first healthcare regulatory body has been a trying process plagued by human capital, fiscal and infrastructure challenges. Despite all the seemingly insurmountable challenges, the SSGMC has finally established its authority to set standards for medical, dental and pharmaceutical practice in the country.

Hand washing poster caption

News, Reports and Policy

Using e-learning to support the Basic Medical Training programme in South Sudan

This article summarises a meeting that was held in London to discuss ways in which the UK medical community, working through existing networks and/or the medical Royal Colleges, can continue to support medical education in South Sudan. In particular, the meeting focussed on the potential for the use of e-learning to enable continuing support during the current difficulties that are reducing the options for direct input.

Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund

At its last meeting the Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF) awarded scholarships/grants to the following applicants from South Sudan and to organisations supporting students at universities in the Sudan.

Scientific writing for publication workshop in Juba

The South Sudan Medical Journal (SSMJ) organized a one-day scientific writing for publication workshop on Saturday, April 25 2015 at the Juba Grand Hotel in Juba, South Sudan. The workshop was attended by 26 medical professionals.

Clinical Guidance

Quinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi: Mechanisms, factors driving the spread of resistance, current epidemiological trends and clinical significance

The human restricted bacteria,Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is the major cause of typhoid fever (or enteric fever), a characteristic severe systemic illness [1]. In 2010, typhoid fever accounted for an estimated global burden of 27 million new cases and 200,000 deaths [2].

Hand washing in South Sudan health facilities: how can we improve it?

The article on page 60 shows that there is patchy knowledge about hand hygiene among the health staff at Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH), and that hand hygiene practices there need improving. As the situation in JTH probably reflects that throughout the country, this article suggests ways to ensure better hand hygiene in all health facilities in South Sudan.

Research

Intestinal parasitic infections and the level of immunosuppression in HIV seropositive individuals with diarrhoea in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: A cross-sectional study

Background: Opportunistic and non-opportunistic intestinal parasites play a significant role in the morbidity and mortality of HIV/AIDS-infected patients. The frequency of their occurrence strongly correlates with the patient’s level of immunity. The most common clinical manifestation of these intestinal parasites is diarrhoea. Prevalence of intestinal parasites among HIV-infected patients has been found to be as high as 95%.

Non-mental health workers’ attitudes and social distance towards people with mental illness in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

Background: Studies on attitudes towards mental health in Nigeria have been mainly community-based surveys. Objective: To determine the knowledge and attitudes towards mental illness (MI) of health workers in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.

Assessment of knowledge of hand washing among health care providers in Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan

Background: Nosocomial infections increase mortality and morbidity although adherence to simple hand washing procedures is suggested to reduce these. Purpose: To assess knowledge of hand washing among health care providers in Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH) in South Sudan and establish associations with demographic, professional and clinical factors.

Case Reports

No documents found.

Summaries

SSMJ 8-3 Resources

-Maternal and child health -Progress for Children -Making women count -Prevention and Treatment of HIV Infection in Pregnant Women, Mothers and Children -Initiation of CPAP in neonates with respiratory distress in Malawi -Benefits of advance oxytocin preparation could extend to newborns -Deworming revisited -Hepatitis B and C co-infection linked to worse liver fibrosis than hepatitis B alone -Eradicating Yaws -Sustainable Sanitation Alliance -The Medical Search