Focused on international development, global health and health policy, Doctors with Africa CUAMM’s magazine Health and Development is published in Italian and English. It views health as critical to sustainable development, and features articles on our work in the field and good practices learned as well as commentary by international experts.
An online edition of the magazine is also available. It includes further pieces on these topics in addition to the articles offered in the print edition.
In the face of countless challenges on the global agenda – from conflicts and political and economic crises to fast-moving changes of every sort – Doctors with Africa CUAMM remains laser-focused on the most critical issues for vulnerable communities: health service access, equity and coverage.
Universal health coverage in 2024 presents a stark balance sheet. Only a handful of countries worldwide have made progress toward the goal of making health services more accessible to their citizens; most continue to fall behind.
Non-communicable diseases – a group of medical conditions responsible for 74% of global deaths each year, killing approximately 41 million people – represent one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Doctors with Africa CUAMM has been working since 2022 to implement the WHO PEN-Plus model of care. Aimed at expanding access to services for those living with severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in poor rural areas in resource-limited countries, the strategy also points up the importance of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in such settings.
Working effectively in a resource-limited setting requires a deep understanding of that setting, and the ability to act in ways that are best suited to it. This is especially true when it comes to developing health strategies and innovations in such areas. CUAMM’s work on managing NCD treatments in Tanzania highlights the importance of knowing how to adapt interventions to specific socioeconomic contexts.
Mental health has become a significant global health issue. Mental distress and disorders harm the psychophysical well-being of those affected by them; however, it is not easy to take care of one’s own mental health. This is especially true in the case of adolescents, particularly African youth living in challenging environments. A study in Beira, Mozambique, analyzes a psychodrama intervention among adolescents.
The focus on universal health coverage is relevant not only to limited-resource countries, but also to those affected by conflict, which erodes national health systems. A prime example is Ukraine, where the ongoing war has made continuity of care, especially for noncommunicable diseases, increasingly difficult. While CUAMM’s long-term focus is on Africa, we are also addressing this health crisis at Europe's doorstep.
What are the costs of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)? How do they impact health systems and households? These questions highlight a range of issues that demand answers; a clear understanding of these costs is, in fact, crucial to ensuring equitable access to care. A study in Mozambique analyzes the financial burden of NCDs on both the healthcare system and patients.
For many African women, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a double burden. Not only are the most vulnerable among them often burdened with illnesses that may persist throughout their lives, but they also face greater difficulties in accessing and continuing the care they need. Complex intermixes of traditions, cultural factors and educational and financial barriers are often additional obstacles to their health.
The recent spread of a new strain of the mpox (formerly monkey pox) virus across Africa has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) for the second time. The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently the hardest-hit nation. As we face yet another crisis, a question arises: what have we learned from past lessons?