4^th World Congress on Public Health and Nutrition March 06-07, 2019 Berlin, Germany

Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska completed her PhD on the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. Her research interests include: cognitive and autonomic functions in neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s disease), inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease), autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis) related to the pathogenesis of fatigue.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the world's most common non-traumatic cause of disability in young adults. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of fatigue and autonomic dysfunction (AD) in wide range of patients with MS that might present abnormalities in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system and bladder functions. These non-motor symptoms could be predominant as the disease advances, thereby constituting a major source of disease burden for patients with MS. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and association of AD in MS patients, assessed by cardiovascular reflex test and a symptoms questionnaire. Sixty diagnosed MS patients were enrolled. The most common autonomic dysfunctions included: orthostatic intolerance (60%), bladder and bowel dysfunctions (28%). Fatigue has been reported by more than 90% of MS patients. Fatigue and cardiovascular disorders in MS are often neglected

during physical examination due to its heterogeneity and overlapping clinical symptoms. Additionally, non-motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis might impact the patient’s life quality greater than the effect of motor symptoms. Our study also highlights the need to monitor cardiac dysfunctions in MS patients where certain autonomic dysfunction symptoms are present.

RN Flor Rojas is currently attending a Masters Degree in Public Health from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Tijuana. She is a administrative assitant of Simnsa. Health Plan, provides a full range of health care services within our health plans, and in which is supporting to the planning and construction for its medical Center located in Tijuana. She has contributed to the realization of the medical program for the issuance of the construction license, health services and clinic.

It was found that globally 655,000 of the deaths were attributable to the consumption of sugary drinks, including 369,000 for diabetes; 258,000 for cardiovascular diseases and 28,000 for different types of cancer. In Mexico, 6 out of 10 deaths were attributed to the consumption of sugary drinks in adults over 45 years of age. In the National Survey of Health and Nutrition of Half Way (ENSANUT) 2006 it was reported that the consumption of sugary drinks represented 22.3% of the caloric intake of Mexican adults, and 10 years later, it increased to 85.3%. The consumption of sugary drinks is a modifiable habit, which, if moderate or diminished, protects us against the risk of suffering diseases derived from their consumption and therefore, an improvement in the quality of life. So one of the tasks of professionals is public health, is to promote the consumption of water and healthy drinks, instead of sugary drinks. The intervention program LIFE - live light, fly further, is focused on the young

adult university community from which range from 18 to 60 years of age, through a live educational program it consists on a live educational program through social networks and informative memes. Which aims to raise awareness among students about the caloric content and the impact of the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the promotion of the benefits

of about water in their health through trans-theoretical theory? The latter, is a model that has demonstrated the ability to accelerate the speed of behavioral changes in the populations operated in accordance with the variables that compose it, which, go as follows, it begins with the Precontemplation stage, followed by Contemplation, Preparation, Action and Maintenance.

In order to quantify each one of these variables, an Exercise Questionnaire Based on the Transtheoretical Model was used, in which 48 items were used with five Likert type response options: "No / never", "Rarely", "Sometimes" , "Frequently" and "Yes / always". On the other hand, to know the frequency of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, we used the National Survey

of Health and Nutrition Medium Way 2016 "Frequency of Consumption of Adolescents-Adults (> 12 Years of Age)". Finally, to quantify the level of knowledge, a questionnaire of general knowledge was applied to them, about the repercussions on health regarding the consumption of sugary drinks. The three questionnaires were applied before starting the intervention and at the

end of the intervention. All the data will be contrasted with chi square.

Joanna SÅ‚omko completed her PhD on the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. Her research interests include: cognitive and autonomic functions in neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s disease), inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease), autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis) related to the pathogenesis

of fatigue.

Diagnostics and treatment of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) present a challenge to specialists as this syndrome is not a clearly identified, uniform disease but a set of symptoms resembling those occurring in other diseases, in which a sense of chronic fatigue predominates. Its global prevalence, ranging between 0.4% and 2.5%, is growing; most commonly, it is observed in the group of 20–40-year-olds, more frequently in professionally active women. CFS/ME is considered to be a common condition in countries such as the UK, Australia and the US [1,2]. In the UK, it affects up to 250,000 individuals with frequencies reported of up to 0.2% [3]. In the UK, Fukuda-defined cases have a prevalence of 0.2%. In the US, the prevalence of Fukuda-defined cases has been reported between 0.2%5 and 0.4%. Finding from the Australian cohort showed that from 535 patients diagnosed with CFS/ME by a primary care physician, 30.28% met Fukuda criteria. To date CFS/ME has not been reported in Poland, nor its prevalence defined. There are currently no CFS/ME Clinical services. Despite the evidence demonstrating the public health impact abroad, the characteristics of an Polish CFS/ME population have not been summarized. The aim of this study was to summarize sociodemographic and illness characteristics in those reporting CFS/ME symptoms in a Polish population. We set out to define the presence and characteristics of CFS/ME in Poland in order to identify a cohort of those patients who could potentially participate in further research studies.

Jungyoon Lee graduated from Chungnam National University Medical School in 2014 and got a doctor's certificate in same year. After that, she trained a family medicine department at Chungnam National University Hospital for 3 years. Currently, she is working at the comprehensive health promotion center of St. Mary's Hospital in Daejeon for public health.

More desirable health behaviors were observed in highly adapted couples. Therefore, family physicians should be concerned with marital adjustment and other associative factors to evaluate and improve multicultural couples’ health status.

Iddrisu Bukari is a current practicing Public Health Nutritionist and Health Tutor with the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health. He holds Master of Public Health Degree, BSc. (Hons.) Public Health and Diploma in Community Nutrition and Health. He worked in Gambaga and Mankranso Districts Health Directorates in 2012 and 2016 respectively as District Nutrition Officer. In November, 2016 he was appointed a Nutrition and Public health Tutor by the Ministry of Health and posted to Keta Nursing and Midwifery Training College, where he taught for semesters and was transferred to Hohoe Midwifery Training College till date. His area of research interest is Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health and Water Quality. He is a member of African Nutrition Society, Ghana Nutrition Association. He has worked with Public and Private Sector including international NGOs such as World Food Programme, Care Int., Solidaridad, CRS etc.

Water is one of the most essential and abundant commodities of man occupying about 70% of the earth’s surface (Hazen and Toranzos, 1990). This study is assessed consumers’ perception on the quality and potability of sachet-drinking water in the Ahafo Ano South District.

 

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling to select 3 sub-district, five communities and 300 sachet water consumers, 50 wholesalers and 7 sachet water producers in the Ahafo-Ano South District.

The findings obtained were: Majority of consumers and wholesale 83.7% and 66% respectively had adequate knowledge on basic properties of water, majority 66% of wholesale respondents had adequate knowledge on safe storage conditions of sachet water, 24%, 8% and 14.3% of consumers, wholesalers and manufacturers had knowledge about sachet water regulatory

bodies, 0% and 14.3% of wholesalers and manufacturers are trained on water quality controls.

In conclusion, based on their adequate knowledge on the basic properties of water, majority of consumers are able to make clear distinction between good quality water and poor quality one, also due to the lack of training on water

safety and quality controls in the sachet water supply chain, stakeholders should prioritize trainings and regulatory intensify their monitoring systems.

Zeeshan Ahmad is a Professor of Pharmaceutics & Drug Delivery at De Montfort University (The Leicester School of Pharmacy). He is a Royal Society Industry Fellow (working closely with BlueFrog Design) and leads the EPSRC EHDA Network (a highly interdisciplinary initiative involving several pharma industries (10) and academia (12)). He obtained his first and Doctoral degrees from Queen Mary-University of London (Chemistry Department and EPSRC IRC/Materials, respectively). His work is highly interdisciplinary working at the interface of Materials (Bio), Engineering, Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Devices. This is firmly rooted in his training with a good first degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, PhD in Biomedical Material (Polymer Design, Synthesis, Processing and Analysis) followed by PDRA and Fellowships (EPSRC and Leverhulme Trust) in various engineering related aspects and these have included atomization, flow focusing, microfluidics and fiber based methods.

Numerous conventional methods require engineering aspects to be incorporated into dosage form development. Unlike many dosage forms (e.g. syrups and suspensions), preparation of nano, micro and macro-scaled structures of pharmaceutical relevance using advanced engineering routes have been developed which provide timely opportunities to address healthcare challenges. This talk will provide an overview of recent advances based on electrically driven dosage form development. In addition, the application of such methods for various administration routes will be demonstrated. Future directions will be explained, and current industrial involvement will be demonstrated.

Sanjay Pandey is additional Professor in the Department of Community & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna. He has been in the field of Community Medicine since the last 18 years. His core area of work in HIV, immunization and MCH. He has professional and research experience with Various National and International Organizations viz. WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, NACO and Government of Bihar. She has been involved in capacity building and research related to Immunization. He worked as Member in Core Group of Central Monitoring Team of India and also for states like Bihar for HIV Sentinel Surveillance. He has published and presented over 30 papers International and National peer reviewed journals and conferences. He is member of the International Epidemiological Association, Indian Public Health Association, Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine and National Academy of Medical Sciences.

Routine immunization is one of the most cost- effective public health intervention. Avoidable sickness, disabilities and death among under-5 children, adolescent and pregnant female are prevented by immunization against some specific diseases. The percentage fully immunized children was 69.9% in Bihar, India. Immunization coverage is also associated with various socio demographic factors.

Objectives: To assess the immunization coverage among children and to identify socio-demographic factors associated with it in rural areas of Bhojpur district.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas of bhojpur district during January to May 2015. Two stage cluster sampling was done in the study area. 36 villages were selected randomly as primary selection units and within each village 10 children of age 12-36 months were selected from the sampling frame of all eligible children in selected village. A predesigned, pretested checklist was used by the trained investigators during their visits.

Results: A total of 360 children of age 12-36 months were included in the study, of which 65% were fully immunized, 33.9% were partially immunized and 1.1% were not immunized at all. The odds of full immunization (OR, 95% CI,) were lower in hindu community (0.44 (0.20 - 0.99)). The odds of full immunization were higher in general (1.40 (1.10 - 1.79)) and OBC category (1.98 (1.19 - 3.29)), literate father (2.22 (1.33 - 3.72)) and in children with Birth order ≤2 (1.74 (1.11 - 2.71)). Logistic regression model for mother’s education (AOR= 2.28 (1.28-4.05)) and children born in a health facility (AOR= 29.04 (10.75-78.43)) had shown strong association with full Immunization.

Conclusion: Immunisation coverage in this area was lower. Literacy of parents is important for full immunization of children. Other socio- demographic factors like caste, birth order and place of birth were also important factor for lower rate of full immunization. Economic status has no effect in immunization coverage. There is need and scope of more focussed health education efforts towards parents regarding immunizing services.

Krzysztof Wrzesinski is CSO and Co-founder of CelVivo Ivs, a company dedicated to 3D cell culture technology. He received his PhD in 2005 from the University of Southern Denmark, SDU. After receiving a Postdoctoral grant from the Danish Biotechnology Instrument Centre (DABIC), he has been working together with Olympus Denmark A/S on developing a new Laser Micromanipulation System specially designed to operate on live 3D tissues and tissue like structures. From 2009, he was headhunted to DrugMode ApS and in 2010 he became General Manager. In 2011, he became the Associate Professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SDU and co-founded a new research group, Tissue Culture Engineering Laboratory (TCEL group). He is currently focusing on further improvements and detailed

physiological characterization of 3D tissue like structures and establishing human in vitro systems for pre-clinical development of drugs and toxicological assessment of chemical compounds.

Cells grown as active 3D spheroid/organoid cultures have physiological performances that mimic that seen in human tissues better than cells grown in 2D culture. We have previously proposed two extremes of cellular programming (the cultural divide). At one extreme is exponential growth with diminished functionality (as seen in wound healing or cancer, and experimentally as cells grown in traditional 2D cultures) and at the other extreme is a dynamic equilibrium with very slowly proliferating cells with a highly specialized functionality (as seen in tissues and experimentally as cells grown as active 3D spheroids). We have shown that the hepatocellular carcinoma cells HepG2/C3A grown as active microgravity 3D spheroid

cultures for periods longer than 18 days have physiological performances that mimic that seen in human tissues better than cells grown in 2D culture. We have analyzed the proteome and cellular architecture at these two extremes and found that they are dramatically different. Ultrastructurally, actin organization is changed, microtubules are increased and keratins 8 and 18 decreased. Metabolically, glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism and the pentose phosphate cycle are increased while Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation is unchanged. Enzymes involved in cholesterol and urea synthesis are increased underpinning the attainment of cholesterol and urea production rates seen in vivo. DNA repair enzymes are increased even though cells are predominantly in G0. Transport around the cell – along the microtubules, through the nuclear pore and in various types of vesicle has been prioritized. There are numerous coherent changes in transcription, splicing, translation, protein folding and

degradation. The amount of individual proteins within complexes is shown to be highly coordinated. Typically, subunits which initiate a particular function are present in increased amounts compared to other subunits of the same complex. We thus conclude that 3D spheroids offer a window into in vivo physiology!

Ian S Blagbrough is a Chemist teaching Pharmacists and Pharmacologists, Chemists and Natural Science students at the University of Bath where he has carried out natural products and molecular pharmaceutics research for 27 years. He has expertise in pharmaceutical analysis and the evaluation of modern medicines, especially those based upon the applications of natural products. His passion is for molecular pharmaceutics leading to molecular medicine improving health and wellbeing. He has supervised 27 PhD students to successful graduation and together they have co-authored 133 papers and book chapters. In 2016, he won the Excellence in Doctoral Supervision Prize as the best PhD supervisor at the University of Bath. He is also a holder of the BPC Conference Science Medal for his international contributions to the Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has been an adjunct Full Professor in the School of Pharmacy at USC, CA, USA, for 7 years.

Statement of the Problem: We are studying the controlled release of antibiotics from multi-layered electrospun matrices.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the design and application of multilayered electrospun micro-nanofibres as controllable drug-delivery devices, an important avenue in modern medicines design.

Methodology: Many formulations of electrospun poly-caprolactone (PCL) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA) have been designed, prepared as micro-nanofibre layers, and assayed for the controlled release of the clinically useful antibiotic tetracycline (Tet) HCl with potential applications in wound healing and especially in complicated skin and skin-structure infections. Tet HCl was also chosen as a model drug possessing a good UV chromophore and capable of fluorescence together with limited stability.

Findings: Tet HCl was successfully incorporated (essentially quantitatively at 3% w/w) and provided controlled release from multi-layered electrospun matrices. The Tet HCl release test was carried out by a total immersion method on 2×2 cm square electrospun fibrous mats in Tris or PBS heated to 37ºC. The formulation PCL/PEVA/PCL with Tet HCl in each layer gave a large initial (burst) release followed by a sustained release. Adding a third layer to the two layered formulations led to release being sustained from 6 days to more than 15 days. There was no detectable loss of Tet chemical stability (as shown by UV and NMR) or bioactivity (as shown by a modified Kirby-Bauer disc assay). Using Tet HCl-sensitive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25,923), the Tet HCl loaded three layer matrix formulations still showed significant antibacterial effects on days 4 and 5.

Conclusions & Significance: Electro spinning provides good encapsulation efficiency of Tet HCl in PCL/PEVA/PCL polymers in micro-nanofibre layers which display sustained antibiotic release and may find applications in drug releasing wound dressings.

Vera Matta is Clinical Dietitian with a Master degree in Nutrition Counseling and a PhD degree in Nutritional Psychotherapy, currently completing a second PhD in Clinical Nutrition. She is a Counselor for many food institutes. She is Owner of Diet & Health Clinic.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions all around the world and it is alarming because it is affecting populations from different age groups. It is implicated in the development of a variety of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, Cardiovascular diseases and many types of cancer. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of Optifast meal replacement (OF) on body weight and body composition among obese individuals following a period of weight loss and weight maintenance compared to an isocaloric, food based diet (FB). The methods used in this study were as follows: A 12 week randomized, controlled clinical trial included 90 obese adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 50 kgm2 randomly assigned to 1 of 2 weight loss programs. The dietary interventions consisted of Optifast meal replacement for weight loss or a self-selected isocaloric, food based meal plan. Both groups were very well supervised for an average of twice per month in order to make sure that individuals were following strictly the diet program assigned to them. Sometimes they were down and didn’t want to go on with the challenge of loosing weight, so they were allowed to have one cheating meal in order to keep them on track. With the assistance of specialized dietitian both groups stayed motivated and followed the diet to the end, which helped us to get better results from this study. The results of this study showed as follows: Weight loss was significantly better in the Optifast group (OF) versus the food based group (FB) (12.3% versus 6.9%). There was no difference in satiety observed between the 2 groups during the weight loss phase. The optifast group was full of energy after completing the diet program and showed no frustration towards food when done. After completing this 12-week study, the main conclusion was that the meal replacement diet plan evaluated was an effective strategy for weight loss and thus for improving in a number of health related parameters. Moreover, the meal replacement weight loss program ensured the delivery of all nutrients minerals and vitamins needed so there was no risk of developing any deficiency.

Welding is associated with several ocular and systemic hazards especially where adequate protective measures are not taken. The purpose of this project was to study the eye protection practices and symptoms among welders in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Questionnaires designed to investigate eye protection practices and symptoms experienced were completed by one hundred and fifty (150) welders. The types of welding done were shielded metal arc (84%), oxyacetylene gas (4%) and silver brazing (12%). The number of years spent in the welding industry ranged from one to 10 years with a mean of 5 ± 3.1 years and the number of hours of welding per day ranged from one to 10 hours with a mean of 6 ± 2.1 hours. A large percentage of the welders (89%) reported wearing protective devices when welding and the most common protective devices used by the welders were: helmets (57%), goggles(22%), and face shields (15%). Six percent used inefficient protective devices such as sunglasses. Sixty one percent reported occasional exposure to welding flashes when not wearing any eye protection. Welding-related eye symptoms reported included foreign body sensation (18%), persistent after-images (31%), and watery eyes (50%). Al- though the majority of the welders wore protective devices while welding, a few did not always use such devices while others used sunglasses for protection. Moreover, many of the welders were occasionally, and only a few were always, exposed to welding flashes when protective devices were not used. Therefore, we concluded that eye protection practices amongst the welders appeared to be inadequate to avoid hazards associated with welding. It is recommended that an eye protection educational campaign for welders should form part of the South African Government’s workplace safety program.

Vikas Bhatia is Dean at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar and Professor and Head, Deptt. of Community & Family Medicine since August, 2012. and contributed significantly in establishing AIIMS- BBSR. He did MBBS, MD in Community Medicine from MGIMS, Sewagram, Maharashtra and PGD in Hospital & Health Management. Dr Bhatia is Fellow of IMSA, IAPH and IAPSM. He has experience of over three decades in various institutions such as PGIMER, Chandigarh, GMC, Chandigarh, UCMS Delhi. As Health Officer / Officer Incharge, Health Section, UNICEF managed state-wide RCH Program with budget of about US$ one million /annum by facilitating capacity building, advocacy and policy Influencing with Govt. and established partnership with WHO, USAID, CARE, World Vision, NIPI, CDC and other organizations. Jointly with UNICEF – Govt. of UP reached to 180 million population in 70 districts with focus on children and women’s health & nutrition.

The estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) gene has been extensively studied in breast cancer, however, the function as well as regulation of its splice variants are poorly understood. During our study of HMGA1a (formerly termed HMGI), which is known as a DNA-binding transcription factor, we found it regulates alternative splicing of ERα pre-mRNA as a sequencespecific RNA-binding protein.We searched for HMGA1a RNA-binding sites we previously identified (1,2) and found one in ERα exon 1. HMGA1a binds to this sequence (detected by RNA-EMSA) that resulted in a splicing switch of two alternatively spliced isoforms, ERα66 (full length) and ERα46 (truncated). ERα46 is known to inhibit AF-1 activity of ERα66. Psoralenmediated UV crosslinking showed HMGA1a anchored U1 snRNP to the adjacent pseudo-5’ splice site. MCF-7 cells transfected with expression plasmids of HMGA1a and its RNA-decoy could induce and repress ERα46 expression, respectively. The in vivo effect of the HMGA1a RNA-decoy were checked by transplanting its stable transfectants into nude mice, showing that they increased estrogen-dependent proliferation. In tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 TAMR1 cells, the HMGA1a RNA-decoy improved tamoxifen-responsiveness by inhibiting estrogen-dependent cell proliferation. We conclude that this HMGA1a RNA-decoy would be implicated in novel therapeutic application to improve tamoxifen effectiveness in breast cancer patients.

Completed the Master’s Degree in Dental Medicine in 2006 at the Health Sciences Institute of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), Viseu, Portugal. In 2010, completed the Masters Degree in Public Health at the Medical School of the University of Porto and in 2015, completed the PhD degree in Biomedicine at the Beira Interior University. Auxiliary professor at the Health Sciences Institute of the UCP and also Clinical Director of the Dental University Clinic of the UCP. Responsible for the knowledge field of Epidemiology and Community Oral Health at the same university and has presented research in these fields counting with more than 100 congress presentations and publications in the form of abstract and over 40 scientific articles.

The presentation will have as main goals the description of the reality of oral health and the prevalence of oral diseases and consequent need of oral rehabilitation among the institutionalized elderly and patients with mental and physical limitations in Portugal, based on an epidemiological approach. The main problems identified among the elderly and patients with special healthcare needs are: difficulty in maintaining daily oral hygiene habits, toothache, dental infections, edentulism and poor chewing capacity which may bring other systemic diseases associated. This presentation will show what has been done in the field of oral health education and promotion in various nursing homes in the centre region of Portugal and also some results of epidemiological research developed in the past years, demonstrating that poor oral health among the elderly and patients with mental and physical limitations should be considered a serious public health issue and the definition of oral health promotion strategies are needed. The audience will be able to understand the reality of oral health and the lack of oral hygiene and dental treatment among these patients in analysis; understand the difficulties associated with treatment and primary prevention; demonstrate some epidemiological research developed in various samples of institutionalized elderly and patients with mental and physical limitations, which is a population-group that clearly presents lack of epidemiological research developed. Also, the audience may benefit in understanding some efficient strategies in oral health promotion and how an epidemiological research can be developed among these specific risk community groups.

Abigail Brown is a recent graduate from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with a degree in International Public Health. The research conducted in as part of her master’s project was highly important and successful and has led to a recent submission for paper publication.

Background: WHO defines health as a state of “physical, mental and social wellbeing”. In low and middle income settings 15.6% of women experience a mental disorder during pregnancy and 19.8% after pregnancy; almost three times that of women in high income settings. Pregnant women in low resource settings are more susceptible to poor maternal psychological ill-health

due to increased exposure to risk factors such as low socioeconomic status and cultural stigma. The effects of maternal psychological ill-health can be detrimental for both mother and baby, resulting in low birth weight and malnutrition.

Aim: The primary aim of my master’s dissertation research was to qualitatively investigate healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions on screening and treating maternal mental health during and after pregnancy in Ghana.

Methods: Interviews took place at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra; a large tertiary facility and leading referral centre in Ghana. The Ghanaian Mental Health Act was revised in 2012, but fails to specify guidelines to treat maternal psychological ill-health. 20 key informant interviews and 1 focus group discussion were conducted with healthcare providers of varying experience-including doctors and nurses-to allow for triangulation.

Results: Healthcare providers appreciated the importance of maternal mental wellbeing and how psychological ill-health can affect both mother and baby. Time pressures and cultural attitudes were reasons for why maternal mental health was not regularly assessed.

Conclusion: Enthusiasm for potential screening guidelines was shown but to be truly effective, they should be incorporated into pre-existing antenatal and postnatal care treatment.

After his studies at the University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon tyne, UK where he received his graduation of Masters, MA in Events and Conference Management and Masters Sciences, Msc in Business Information Technology, Cevito WILSON joined back home, Togo in 2009 the Catholic University of Togo and the University of Lome as lecturer of Business Management, Communication and Information System courses. In November 2011 he was appointed by the SOS Children Villages Togo where he led the Information System department of this International Organisation for over Three (3) years and a half while still delivering courses in the above Universities. In November 2015, Cevito started his PhD in Learning and Cognitive at the University of Jyvàskylà, Finland. He is the actual Catholic University of Togo’s Manager of the Information System. Cevito WILSON was involved in several ICT projects including with World Bank in Mali and the UNHCR in Togo.

Despite the growing state of the African economy which is recording nowadays growth of up to 7% each year, poverty remains a critical concern throughout the continent. Africans do not give any consideration to their healthcare, because of the unavailability of funds to afford it. The poor are usually facing health risk factors; they have insufficient access to health care services, and have off course limited lifestyle-related choices. Hence, health care issues are tremendous over Africa and need to be seriously tackled even though sub-Saharan Africa is showing some signs of a little progress towards the Millennium Development goals. Sub-Saharan Africa is the place of the world where public health is particularly strained. Therefore, a lot

need to be done in order to totally cure low level diseases and maintain the greatest one at an acceptable stage. Health Poverty Action should definitely orient its efforts providing sustainable and innovative pathways to reach goals and to meet people’s health needs. If the reason for this situation is at first the lack of resources and the failure of the African governments, the other reason is the absence of the qualified Doctors and practitioners throughout the continent. However there are several Africa Doctors who are serving extremely well in western hospitals mostly due to the brain drain of homegrown doctors who has

moved abroad, in search of higher wages and a better standard of living. We could recall the various stories of those African Doctors who can cure medical ‘brain drain’, treat cancer and other affections oversea. Thus, there is a need to connect them to the mother land in order for them to give back to the local health service. Diaspora Doctors are already helping. However, this should be institutionalized and automated in order to help carry out difficult surgeries, train and assist local doctors for the wellbeing of the patients in Africa. In order to achieve this goal, a tailor made Information and Communication Technology infrastructures should be developed in order to reinforce this link of a very promising Africa new Healthcare services connecting and stressing mobility of partners including: stakeholders from the private and public hospitals from the

north and the south, African patients, Diaspora Doctors, friends of Africa practitioners from oversea and other Doctors from down Africa. Hence, the infrastructure will be developed and deployed inclusively with the stakeholders to stress medical information exchanges, plan the delivery of various surgeries on the continents, easily plan and implement various training of local physicians involved. Doctors will also get accessed by the patients and answer their questions. This system will at the end save lives by not only implementing several critical health treatments on the continent but also brings the international Doctors closer to the remote patients in Africa and also save money to those fortunate African patients who have to deal with visa issues

and expensive travel and international stay and healthcare bills.

Eman Derbi is a PhD student in public health at Swansea University, had a master degree in Public Health from Westminster University London. She has worked as a lecturer in public health department, Faculty of medical Technology, Tripoli University/ Libya and in Health Promotion department at the National Centre for disease control.

Food subsidy program is a common policy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In Libya the food subsidy program has been established at the beginning of 1970s to provide social support and reduce health inequalities among citizens. Despite that there is growing arguments and criticisms regard food subsidy programmes as being one of the reasons for increasing obesity especially in the low socio-economic class due to lowering the cost of high calorie dense food. Besides the big financial burden of the program on the state budget. According to the Libya’s Price Regulation Fund the cost of the program is over 2 billion LYD in 2012 which is the latest available data. The aim of this presentation is to share some of the preminarly results of a qualitative study conducted in Tripoli which explored views of health professionals, policy makers and community members towards the food subsidy program, using semi structured interviews with 9 health professionals (doctors, dieticians, and nurses), 6 policy makers and six focus groups with 48 community members from different socio-economic classes and education levels. The findings indicate that there are contradictory views regarding the food subsidy program, where most policy makers and high educated participants reported that the program had a negative impact on people’s eating behaviours and food choices and need to be reformed, while the less educated participants reported that the program provides people with the stable food at a cheap price to feed their children as their wages are very low.