Etajak Samuel | Makerere University School of Public Health (original) (raw)
Papers by Etajak Samuel
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2018
Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death world... more Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Previous experimental and epidemiological studies suggested the role of pollutants as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, international guidelines included specific statements regarding the contribution of particulate matter exposure to increase the risk of these events. In this review, we summarise the main evidence concerning the mechanisms involved in the processes linking air pollutants to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
The Lancet Global Health, 2021
Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death world... more Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Previous experimental and epidemiological studies suggested the role of pollutants as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, international guidelines included specific statements regarding the contribution of particulate matter exposure to increase the risk of these events. In this review, we summarise the main evidence concerning the mechanisms involved in the processes linking air pollutants to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Health, 2013
This paper presents an assessment of the extent and conditions under which private financing can ... more This paper presents an assessment of the extent and conditions under which private financing can be a realistic approach for sanitation in slums. It is based on a cross-sectional study comparing two slum communities in East Africa, where 250 households from Bwaise III in Kampala, Uganda and 379 households from Temeke in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were interviewed in 2010. Also, 10 key-informant interviews and 8 focus group discussions were conducted in addition to field observations. Findings show that majority (85%) of households used unimproved, private-shared pit latrines. These privately owned latrines had many structural shortfalls besides poor operation and maintenance while the public latrines provided by third-party were structurally sound but were underutilized in residential slum neighborhoods. This is attributed to the presence free or at least cheaper alternatives which the community members preferred instead of paying per-visit user-fees. For the few who were willing to pay, willingness to pay was positively associated with the presence of a facility User committee and having been sensitized. In this context, a combination of these factors made cost recovery as well as operation and maintenance very minimal. The poor status of privately owned shared pit latrines matched the limited income levels of households. Similarly, cost recovery for public facilities was dependent on the number of users who were willing to pay: the more the users, the more the cost recovery. A combination of private and public financing is thus necessary to fund different but complementary aspects of sanitation in slums.
Pan African Medical Journal, 2015
Introduction: West Africa is experiencing the largest ever reported Ebola outbreak. Over 20,000 p... more Introduction: West Africa is experiencing the largest ever reported Ebola outbreak. Over 20,000 people have been infected of which about 9000 have died. It is possible that lack of community understanding of the epidemic and lack of institutional memory and inexperienced health workers could have led to the rapid spread of the disease. In this paper, we share Uganda's experiences on how the capacity of health workers and other multidisciplinary teams can be improved in preparing and responding to Ebola outbreaks. Methods: Makerere University School of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), trained health care workers and other multidisciplinary teams from six border districts of Uganda so as to increase their alertness and response capabilities towards Ebola. We used participatory training methods to impart knowledge and skills and guided participants to develop district epidemic response plans. Communities were sensitized about Ebola through mass media, IEC materials, and infection control and prevention materials were distributed in districts. Results: we trained 210 health workers and 120 other multidisciplinary team members on Ebola surveillance, preparedness and response. Evaluation results demonstrated a gain in knowledge and skills. Communities were sensitized about Ebola and Districts received person protective equipments and items for infection prevention. Epidemic Preparedness and Response plans were also developed. Conclusion: training of multidisciplinary teams improves the country's preparedness, alertness and response capabilities in controlling Ebola. West African countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks could draw lessons from the Uganda experience to contain the outbreak.
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2018
Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death world... more Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Previous experimental and epidemiological studies suggested the role of pollutants as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, international guidelines included specific statements regarding the contribution of particulate matter exposure to increase the risk of these events. In this review, we summarise the main evidence concerning the mechanisms involved in the processes linking air pollutants to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
The Lancet Global Health, 2021
Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death world... more Air pollution has a great impact on health, representing one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Previous experimental and epidemiological studies suggested the role of pollutants as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, international guidelines included specific statements regarding the contribution of particulate matter exposure to increase the risk of these events. In this review, we summarise the main evidence concerning the mechanisms involved in the processes linking air pollutants to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Health, 2013
This paper presents an assessment of the extent and conditions under which private financing can ... more This paper presents an assessment of the extent and conditions under which private financing can be a realistic approach for sanitation in slums. It is based on a cross-sectional study comparing two slum communities in East Africa, where 250 households from Bwaise III in Kampala, Uganda and 379 households from Temeke in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were interviewed in 2010. Also, 10 key-informant interviews and 8 focus group discussions were conducted in addition to field observations. Findings show that majority (85%) of households used unimproved, private-shared pit latrines. These privately owned latrines had many structural shortfalls besides poor operation and maintenance while the public latrines provided by third-party were structurally sound but were underutilized in residential slum neighborhoods. This is attributed to the presence free or at least cheaper alternatives which the community members preferred instead of paying per-visit user-fees. For the few who were willing to pay, willingness to pay was positively associated with the presence of a facility User committee and having been sensitized. In this context, a combination of these factors made cost recovery as well as operation and maintenance very minimal. The poor status of privately owned shared pit latrines matched the limited income levels of households. Similarly, cost recovery for public facilities was dependent on the number of users who were willing to pay: the more the users, the more the cost recovery. A combination of private and public financing is thus necessary to fund different but complementary aspects of sanitation in slums.
Pan African Medical Journal, 2015
Introduction: West Africa is experiencing the largest ever reported Ebola outbreak. Over 20,000 p... more Introduction: West Africa is experiencing the largest ever reported Ebola outbreak. Over 20,000 people have been infected of which about 9000 have died. It is possible that lack of community understanding of the epidemic and lack of institutional memory and inexperienced health workers could have led to the rapid spread of the disease. In this paper, we share Uganda's experiences on how the capacity of health workers and other multidisciplinary teams can be improved in preparing and responding to Ebola outbreaks. Methods: Makerere University School of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), trained health care workers and other multidisciplinary teams from six border districts of Uganda so as to increase their alertness and response capabilities towards Ebola. We used participatory training methods to impart knowledge and skills and guided participants to develop district epidemic response plans. Communities were sensitized about Ebola through mass media, IEC materials, and infection control and prevention materials were distributed in districts. Results: we trained 210 health workers and 120 other multidisciplinary team members on Ebola surveillance, preparedness and response. Evaluation results demonstrated a gain in knowledge and skills. Communities were sensitized about Ebola and Districts received person protective equipments and items for infection prevention. Epidemic Preparedness and Response plans were also developed. Conclusion: training of multidisciplinary teams improves the country's preparedness, alertness and response capabilities in controlling Ebola. West African countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks could draw lessons from the Uganda experience to contain the outbreak.