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Biomedical subjects

I D Ladnyi

Publications and source records attributed to I D Ladnyi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

World Health Organization's programme on the prevention of blindness.

The WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness was established in 1978, reflecting the need for action against the burden of avoidable blindness, which constitutes an increasingly serious socioeconomic problem in many countries. A vast majority of the world's blind live in developing countries, where unoperated cataract, trachoma, xerophthalmia and onchocerciasis are the main causes of visual loss. Thus, more than two-thirds of blindness encountered in such areas is either preventable or curable. The objectives of the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness are to reduce the amount of avoidable blindness in developing countries, and to make essential eye care available to all. In order to achieve this, blindness prevention must form part of primary health care, which is the basic strategy of the World Health Organization to attain the overall goal of "Health for All by the Year 2000". Emphasis is placed on the establishment of national programmes for the prevention of blindness, geared to local needs and resources. This implies a need for a careful programming process, in relation to the general provision of health services.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Five years of freedom from smallpox.

In 1967, when the intensified global eradication programme was launched, smallpox was still endemic in 35 countries with a total population of 1200 million and caused an estimated 10-15 million cases, resulting in 2 million deaths. Ten years and ten months later, on 26 October 1977 through intensified public health activities, the chain of smallpox transmission was finally broken in Merka, south Somalia; the World Health Organization missed its ten-year target line by ten months. In December 1979, the Global Commission concluded that the global eradication of smallpox had been achieved and the Organization formulated its policy for the post-eradication era. In May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly endorsed the Commission's conclusion and officially confirmed the international acceptance of smallpox eradication as the most outstanding achievement in international public health. This achievement has unmistakably demonstrated that the concept of disease eradication is correct and feasible. WHO encouraged countries to discontinue smallpox vaccination and/or the need for a smallpox vaccination certificate from international travellers. However, WHO is continuing its vigilance over the disease and promoting further research on orthopox viruses. Globally, US$ 313 million were spent on the eradication of smallpox from the world. However, conservative calculations indicate that in the post-eradication era, concrete economic returns resulting from the eradication of smallpox throughout the world, are estimated at US$ 1000 to 2000 million, annually. For the last five years of smallpox-free status, savings of about US$ 5000-10 000 million could be diverted for other health projects, which has had a major impact on international public health. However, there are other dividends similarly worthy as those of economic value. The most important of these are the hundreds of thousands of experienced and dedicated health workers who remain now in the countries as a solid base for implementing other important public health programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Smallpox eradication: progress and problems.

In 1958, the Eleventh World Health Assembly, on the proposal of the USSR, approved a resolution for world-wide smallpox eradication. In that year alone the disease occurred in 59 countries, and in addition many other areas experienced imported cases. When the intensified eradication programme began in 1967, there were 33 countries with endemic smallpox and two more countries subsequently became endemic. These 33 countries had a population of over 1,200,000,000 and were located in four of the six WHO regions. The most important endemic area was in Asia, but the disease was also endemic in South America and in Africa, south of the Sahara. The intensified campaign quickly narrowed the endemic area. In April 1971, the last case was reported from Brazil, the stronghold of the disease in the Western Hemisphere. By 1973, with the exception of those in the Horn of Africa, smallpox transmission was interrupted in all African countries. The last case in Asia occurred in Bangladesh where variola major made its last stand. The last known case of smallpox in the world was reported from Somalia on 27 October 1977. If no more cases are discovered it will be possible, in two years from that date, to certify that smallpox has been eradicated from all areas of the world, and Member States of the World Health Organization will be able to celebrate an unprecedented victory for preventive medicine. The complete eradication of smallpox is not only the liberation of the world from one of its most dangerous diseases, but also provides an example of what can be achieved when countries throughout the world join together with a common aim.

Africa↗