Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Glob Public Health. 2023 January 1; Volume 18 (Issue 1); 2058047.; DOI:10.1080/17441692.2022.2058047
Sitali N, Briskin E, Foday J, Walker C, Keus K, et al.
Glob Public Health. 2023 January 1; Volume 18 (Issue 1); 2058047.; DOI:10.1080/17441692.2022.2058047
Since 2015 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Tonkolili district, Sierra Leone, with an integrated health care approach at the community, primary health centre (PHC), and hospital level. This programme is planned to be handed over to MoH. To prepare for this handover, a qualitative study exploring elements of a successful handover was undertaken in 2019. Focus group discussions (FGD) with the community members (n-48) and in-depth interviews (IDI) with MSF staff, community leaders, and MoH staff in Sierra Leone (n-15) were conducted. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim from English, Creole, and Themne, coded, and thematically analysed. Participants expressed that an optimal project handover and exit strategy should be a continuous, long-term, the staggered process included from the inception of the programme design. It requires clear communication and relationship building by all relevant stakeholders and demands efficient resources and management capacity. Associated policy implications are applicable across humanitarian settings on the handover of programmes where the government is functional and willing to accept responsibilities.
Conference Material > Poster
Sitali N, Briskin E, Foday J, Walker C, Keus K, et al.
MSF Scientific Days International 2022. 2022 May 9; DOI:10.57740/5nkx-ve40
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 February 1; Volume 22 (Issue 2); 217-23.; DOI:10.3201/eid2202.151250
Crowe SJ, Maenner MJ, Kuah S, Erickson BR, Coffee M, et al.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 February 1; Volume 22 (Issue 2); 217-23.; DOI:10.3201/eid2202.151250
To determine whether 2 readily available indicators predicted survival among patients with Ebola virus disease in Sierra Leone, we evaluated information for 216 of the 227 patients in Bo District during a 4-month period. The indicators were time from symptom onset to healthcare facility admission and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR cycle threshold (Ct), a surrogate for viral load, in first Ebola virus-positive blood sample tested. Of these patients, 151 were alive when detected and had reported healthcare facility admission dates and Ct values available. Time from symptom onset to healthcare facility admission was not associated with survival, but viral load in the first Ebola virus-positive blood sample was inversely associated with survival: 52 (87%) of 60 patients with a Ct of >24 survived and 20 (22%) of 91 with a Ct of <24 survived. Ct values may be useful for clinicians making treatment decisions or managing patient or family expectations.