Navigating the digital frontier during the COVID‐19 pandemic and EVALI epidemic: The impact of social media on public health

This commentary explores how social media influenced public health narratives and responses during two recent health crises, the COVID-19 global pandemic and the e-cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) epidemic. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, social media played a dual role, acting as both a catalyst for information dissemination and a breeding ground for misinformation. This situation highlighted the challenges public health institutions face in navigating online narratives and maintaining public trust during crises. Conversely, the EVALI epidemic shed light on how social media narratives can impact public perception and policy decisions. Initially, attributed to nicotine vaping, subsequent investigations revealed that contaminated cannabis oils containing vitamin E acetate were the actual cause, leading to shifts in public discourse and regulatory considerations. This case underscores the importance of accurate information dissemination to prevent misinterpretations that could negatively impact public health interventions. The commentary also highlights the evolving nature of online narratives and the need for public health agencies to adapt their strategies continually. Fact-checking programs, public health campaigns, and collaborations with technology companies emerged as critical strategies to combat misinformation and promote evidence-based practices. However, addressing the root causes of misinformation, such as addressing distrust in institutions, remains an ongoing challenge requiring multifaceted approaches. Looking ahead, controlling online narratives during health crises will continue to present challenges as social media platforms evolve and new challenges emerge. Finding a balance between information sharing and privacy protection while fostering digital literacy skills among the public will be paramount. Collaborative efforts among public health agencies, technology companies, and communities will be essential in navigating and managing online narratives effectively. This commentary underscores the interplay between social media and public health, highlighting the need for strategic interventions, accurate information dissemination, and ongoing adaptation to address emerging challenges in the digital age

Top 10 public health challenges to track in 2023: Shifting focus beyond a global pandemic

The year 2022 saw COVID-19 as the primary public health concern, with vaccine rollout and mandates at the forefront. Other viral infectious diseases, such as Monkeypox and Ebola, emerged as public health concerns. Climate change and political conflicts significantly impacted global health, increasing the demand for humanitarian assistance and protection. In 2023, it remains crucial to identify global and public health priority areas to coordinate and implement effective solutions. Through discussions with public health practitioners and researchers, we have identified key priority areas for 2023, namely, health systems, the mental health crisis, substance abuse, infectious diseases, malnutrition and food insecurity, sexual and reproductive health challenges, environmental pollution, the climate crisis, cancer, and diabetes. These priority areas highlight shared concerns that should be addressed to facilitate proactive and innovative health interventions and practices. To achieve universal healthcare targets for 2030, prioritization, financial investment, international cooperation, and collaboration in addressing these global health challenges are crucial. This requires coordination among public health decision-makers, the private health sector, and opinion leaders to implement country-specific healthcare financing and food security measures. Research, scientific knowledge, and technical capacities must be leveraged to produce sustainable interventions that effectively reduce health disparities and improve health system responsiveness to prevent these challenges from progressing to public health emergencies

Oral health of adolescents in West Africa: prioritizing its social determinants

Abstract Oral health is a major public health issue in West Africa, yet it has gotten little attention. Individual and group disparities in health status are influenced by social determinants of health (SDH), which also affect oral health. Adolescence is a significant transition into adulthood, a time when the SDH can contribute to lifelong health status. This article explored the SDH associated with oral health behaviour, perception, and oral health development amongst adolescents in West Africa. This article engaged articles published in peer-reviewed journals relating to adolescents' oral health and West Africa. The authors undertook this desk review to determine the social determinants of adolescents' oral health in West Africa. The literacy levels and oral health awareness of adolescents, family and social circle influences, socioeconomic status, nutritional levels, and cultural and environmental factors have been identified as important social determinants. Adequate policy implementation with the integration of oral health in schools' curriculum, health systems reorientation with the adoption of oral health delivery in primary health care and expansion in oral health research with the assessment of cultural influences on oral health development have been recommended as interventions to reduce oral health inequalities in West Africa

The Plastic treaty: What is in it for Africa?

Abstract The new plastic treaty, slated for 2024, represents a shift in the global fight to address environmental pollution and degradation. The international agreement, unlike previous resolutions, covers the lifecycle of plastics and represents a legally binding instrument for ending plastic pollution across all ecosystems. Plastic waste contamination poses significant challenges to African nations. It challenges food security, ecological variation and economic development. The African region has been identified with a high level of enactment of waste management policies but a deficiency of sustainable measures to adopt and implement these policies. The new treaty could provide an instrument for collaboration and innovation and set the stage for Africa to transition to a sustainable plastics environment that promotes zero‐waste

Integrating eye care into primary healthcare in Nigeria: Challenges of the primary healthcare workforce

Abstract Visual impairment and blindness pose a significant and growing public health threat in Nigeria. Over 1.6 million Nigerians are visually impaired or blind, with more than 80% of these cases being preventable and treatable. The risk for ocular morbidities is expected to increase due to rapid population growth, an aging population, and the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases. Despite efforts to improve eye health services, universal eye health remains elusive, with 35% of Nigerians unable to access eye care in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. Many Nigerians instead turn to traditional and alternative medicine for primary eye care (PEC), which can worsen their outcomes. This article highlights the potential of the country's PHC system to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of PEC as an integral part of PHC. The article discusses the various challenges faced by PHC workers in delivering eye care services in Nigeria, focusing on financing, training, leadership, and policies for eye care. It also provides a set of comprehensive recommendations aimed at overcoming these challenges, including improved leadership and policy implementation, optimized financing, strengthened collaborations and partnerships, enhanced education and training, and effective human resource management systems. We emphasize the importance of holistic and strategic efforts to bolster the PHC workforce's capacity to provide universal eye healthcare in Nigeria, ultimately improving access to high‐quality eye care services for all

Transforming adolescent menstrual health through policy: the role of value added tax exemptions in improving access to sanitary products

In Namibia, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Act 2022, which reclassified the supply of sanitary pads as zero-rated, has significant implications for adolescent girls’ menstrual health and education. The policy change responds to the need to address period poverty by making essential menstrual products more accessible and affordable. Menstruation is a normal biological process, and access to sanitary products is a human right. Taxing menstrual products reinforces gender inequalities and raises concerns about the basic rights and dignity of women and girls. The VAT-free policy creates a system to reduce the financial burden on girls and women, making it easier for them to manage their periods safely and with dignity. It has the potential to reduce absenteeism from school, ultimately improving educational outcomes for adolescent girls. However, VAT exemptions alone are insufficient to address the broader accessibility issues that impact menstrual hygiene. Evidence-based policies that focus on the availability and affordability of a full range of sanitary products, in conjunction with regulatory mechanisms for price and quality control, are necessary to ensure that menstrual products are safe, affordable, and accessible for all

The need for health system strengthening in the wake of natural disasters: Lessons from the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake

Abstract The 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake was reported as the largest earthquake of Mw7.8, resulting in over 50,783 and 7259 deaths in Turkey and Syria, respectively. It has also damaged numerous residential buildings and other essential infrastructures, thus rendering more than 850,000 children and 356,000 pregnant women homeless, forcing them into displacement and its dire consequences, such as inadequate temporary shelters, a lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), necessary for disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance. The disaster has disproportionately affected the Syrian refugee community in Turkey as it has fuelled disparities and discrimination, exacerbating the response to the disaster and forcing refugees to return to Syria due to dire living conditions. Minimizing the effects of the disaster on the communities is therefore essential. There is a need to strengthen health system resilience and emergency response to natural disasters to reduce and prevent the aftermath. Disaster preparedness plans should include regulations that ensure that local buildings and infrastructure are disaster‐resistant. Furthermore, it is vital to highlight the importance of funding and appropriate resource allocation for disaster risk reduction. These include improving plans and logistics for recovery efforts, adequate preparation of temporary shelters and evacuation centres and allocating necessities such as food and water. Investment in proper search and rescue response, a special workforce for response and the rebuilding of important infrastructure are crucial. Finally, response to disasters must be inclusive and prioritize vulnerable populations, such as children, the aged women and refugees

How climate change and insecurity pushed 5 million people to hunger in Chad, Africa

Abstract Climate change and insecurity pose challenges to food security around the globe. Chad has experienced several climate changes and insecurity influences on its food security, where, approximately 5 million people were pushed into hunger in the country. Desertification, flooding, and depletion of freshwater resources have pushed the country into hunger due to their negative effect on agro‐pastoral production in Chad. Insecurity due to the Boko‐Haram insurgency, in particular, has impaired agriculture, which is the mainstay of the country's economy. The influx of refugees from Nigeria and Cameroon has also compounded the hunger in Chad, as the country hosts the largest number of refugees in the region. Leveraging collaboration for climate change and improving security should be a priority for Chad. Increased consideration and action in the region can facilitate focus on climate change action in the region. International and multisectoral collaboration can set the pace for revamping the present security framework. Raising climate change awareness among key stakeholders and building capacity at the national level can help mitigate the impact of climate change on food security in Chad