The emergence of telehealth in orthotic services across the United Kingdom.

COVID-19 has impacted the National Health Service provision, creating urgency for departments to adapt and adopt new ways of delivering healthcare. The purpose of this service evaluation was to determine the emergence of telehealth in orthotic services across the UK in response to COVID-19. A survey exploring telehealth use was distributed online to orthotists approximately 6 months after the first peak of COVID-19 in the UK. It gathered information on telehealth prevalence, allocated appointment length and waiting times, clinician access to technology and clinicians' opinions on the efficacy of telehealth. The survey received 77 responses with over 90% of respondents reporting using telehealth. Most reported that they expected telehealth to remain part of the service, post COVID-19. Thematic analysis produced two main themes: the impact of COVID-19 and challenges still to overcome. Findings suggest that the pandemic has resulted in a backlog of patients waiting for an orthotic appointment, with services currently understaffed and lacking resources. For telehealth to be effective orthotists must have access to appropriate technology and training on how to use telehealth platforms, be provided with appropriate guidance on which patients are appropriate for telehealth consultations and given appropriate appointment times to enable safe and effective care.

Alimentación, nutrición en emergencias y desastres naturales en Venezuela entre 1999-2021 / Food, nutrition in emergencies and natural disasters in Venezuela between 1999-2021

Los eventos naturales afectan directamente la alimentación y nutrición de personas. Se presentan las experiencias en Venezuela en las emergencias y desastres naturales con intervención nutricional (1999-2021). Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, sobre la revisión de documentos impresos y electrónicos. Se describen los aspectos generales y la intervención nutricional. Se estableció un sistema logístico-nutricional de adquisición y manejo de alimentos con estrategia alimentaria, para lograr sobrevivencia, restauración, mantenimiento de la salud y moral. El plan logístico-nutricional tuvo 3 fases: distribución de alimentos (porcionamientos momentáneos, bolsas combo y cestas de emergencias, menú de emergencia), control de calidad de alimentos e inventarios, canalización del uso de alimentos donados, diseño y distribución de comidas calientes en campamentos de rescate y personal médico en operaciones asistenciales. Se efectuaron inspecciones nacionales, se impartió educación para la salud y recomendaciones nutricionales, se efectuaron encuestas alimentarias transversales con recordatorio de 24 horas y porcentaje de efectividad de ingesta. En Vargas se atendieron 70.000 damnificados en 360 centros nacionales, movimiento de alimentos 2.532 t. mensuales, en Guasdualito 19.621 damnificados y 709,72 t. (101 centros), Mérida 14.000 damnificados y 750 t. (90 centros). La atención fue satisfactoria según inspecciones y encuestas y se conoció más sobre la alimentación y nutrición suministrada. La educación nutricional y sanitaria y las recomendaciones fueron primordial, para proteger la salud, mantener prácticas y conductas saludables. Se suministró una alimentación adecuada en tiempo oportuno a la población damnificada en todos los eventos naturales (inundaciones, COVID-19)(AU)

Natural events directly affect people's diet and nutrition. The lived experiences of emergencies and natural disasters with nutritional intervention (1999-2021) were presented as input and guidance. This is a descriptive study of printed and electronic documents were reviewed and synthesized. General aspects and the nutritional intervention are described. A logistic-nutritional system of food acquisition and handling was established with a food strategy, to achieve survival, restoration, health maintenance and morale. The logistic-nutritional plan had 3 phases: food distribution (momentary portions, combo bags and emergency baskets, emergency menu), quality control of food and inventories, channeling of the use of donated food, design and distribution of hot meals in rescue camps and medical personnel in assistance operations. National inspections were carried out, health education and nutritional recommendations were provided, cross-sectional food surveys were carried out with a 24-hour reminder and percentage of intake effectiveness. Vargas was attended: 70,000 victims in 360 national centers, food movement 2,532 t. monthly, Guasdualito: 19,621 victims and 709.72 t. (101 centers), Mérida: 14,000 victims and 750 t. (90 centers). The care was satisfactory according to inspections and surveys, knowing more about food and nutrition supplied. Nutritional and health education as the recommendations were paramount, to protect health, maintain healthy practices and behaviors. Adequate food was provided in a timely manner to the population affected in all natural events (floods, COVID-19)(AU)

Meeting AT needs in humanitarian crises: The current state of provision.

Humanitarian coordination systems increasingly recognize and aim to respond to the needs of people with disabilities within populations affected by crises, spurred on by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which was adopted in 2006. Many agencies state their aim to meet the requirements of the CRPD using a "twin track" approach: ensuring the inclusion of people with disabilities in mainstream provision, alongside targeted support for their needs, which may include the need for Assistive Technology (AT). However, there is very little evidence of AT provision in humanitarian settings, which is a specific and urgent need for many people including the elderly and people with disabilities, and an implicit requirement of Article 11 of the CRPD and World Health Assembly resolution on improving access to assistive technology. There is also little evidence of effective mechanisms for AT provision in humanitarian settings. This is despite high and growing levels of unmet AT need in crises, and despite the legally binding requirement in the CRPD to provide AT for those who need it. AT provision faces unique challenges in humanitarian settings. This paper discusses the evidence available in the literature for the scale and quality of AT provision interventions in crises, and what is known about the challenges and facilitators of provision. We conducted a search of the academic literature and retained literature that reported on any form of AT provision following crisis, where international humanitarian response was in place, published in English between January 2010 and June 2020. We found very few examples in that academic literature of systematic and coordinated AT provision at the acute stage of crisis, and even less in the preparedness and post-acute stages. However, it is difficult to assess whether this is the result of insufficient academic attention or reflects a lack of provision. The small body of academic literature that describes AT provision in humanitarian settings paints a picture of small-scale provision, specialized to single types of impairments, and delivered by predominantly by NGOs. We also conducted a search of the gray literature, using the same inclusion criteria, in two countries: Afghanistan and South Sudan (case studies forthcoming). This gray literature provided supplementary evidence of the types of AT providers and AT provision available in those protracted crises. There are very few examples of how AT services can be scaled up (from a very low baseline) and maintained sustainably within a strengthened health system. The literature also describes more examples of provision of assistive products for mobility over assistive products for other impairments. If the paucity of literature on AT provision in humanitarian settings is a reflection of the scale of provision, this implies a deficiency in humanitarian response when it comes to providing people with AT needs with the essential products and services to which they have a right, and which will enable their access to basic, life-saving assistance. We conclude by providing recommendations for urgent actions that the AT and humanitarian community must take to fill this critical gap in the provision of essential products and services for a potentially marginalized and excluded group.