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On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization classified COVID‐19, caused by Sars‐CoV‐2, as a pandemic. Although not much was known about the new virus, the first outbreaks in China and Italy showed that potentially a large number of people worldwide could fall critically ill in a short period of time. A shortage of ventilators and intensive care resources was expected in many countries, leading to concerns about restrictions of medical care and preventable deaths. In order to be prepared for this challenging situation, national triage guidance has been developed or adapted from former influenza pandemic guidelines in an increasing number of countries over the past few months. In this article, we provide a comparative analysis of triage recommendations from selected national and international professional societies, including Australia/New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Pakistan, South Africa, Switzerland, the United States, and the International Society of Critical Care Medicine. We describe areas of consensus, including the importance of prognosis, patient will, transparency of the decision‐making process, and psychosocial support for staff, as well as the role of justice and benefit maximization as core principles. We then probe areas of disagreement, such as the role of survival versus outcome, long‐term versus short‐term prognosis, the use of age and comorbidities as triage criteria, priority groups and potential tiebreakers such as 'lottery' or 'first come, first served'. Having explored a number of tensions in current guidance, we conclude with a suggestion for framework conditions that are clear, consistent and implementable. This analysis is intended to advance the ongoing debate regarding the fair allocation of limited resources and may be relevant for future policy‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic was the largest and most devastating outbreak of EVD the world has ever seen. Its impact was felt far from the shores of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with public health systems and clinicians across the globe confronted with an international response both in the affected region and within their own borders. The UK had a prominent role in response efforts, particularly in Sierra Leone. This article highlights how UK academic, health service, military, commercial and public health professionals all played a signifi cant role both at home and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Being a mentor in any setting brings challenges in addition to recognised benefits. Working in a low-income country confers specific challenges including logistical and communication issues. The need to adequately support UK-based international health volunteers prior to, during and after their trip is recognised at government level. Whilst the need to support mentors is recognised little is known about their support needs. This study aims to explore the lived experience of mentorship in a low-income country and gain insight into mentors' support and information needs and the barriers and facilitators to mentoring. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit UK-employed, palliative care clinicians: four consultants, two specialty trainees, and two nurses, who were mentors with an international palliative care project. Semi-structured telephone interviews were recorded and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Results: Participants became mentors to help others. Uncertainty about their achievements constituted a significant challenge. This study highlights the need to prepare mentors before their in-country visits by exploring motivation, describing the reality of international volunteering and ensuring realistic expectations. Post-trip debriefing is important for reducing uncertainty around trip outcomes and maximising transferable impacts. Challenges to mentoring were logistical, related to the concept of mentorship and cultural. Facilitators included shared passion, mentor credibility and serendipity. Conclusion: Awareness of the support needs of mentors and the facilitators and challenges to mentoring can improve mentor preparation and support. This may minimise potential negative emotional impact of being a mentor, maximise positive personal and professional impacts and improve in-country project impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the Hand Hygiene Torch Tour (HHTT) whose aims are to raise awareness on the importance of hand hygiene, support the World Health Organization (WHO) annual call to action for healthcare workers and promote the Infection Prevention Society nationally and internationally. The Torch Tour planning group led by Carole Hallam allocated dates for each IPS Branch to receive the Tourch who would then promote hand hygiene at local events that would meet the aims of the campaign.

We examine variations in nongovernmental organizations' (NGOs') responses to post- 2001 changes in counterterrorism regulations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. We connect the presence of different ideal type responses- hiding, shirking, vocal opposition, participating, and litigating-to the extent of change in regulations, the degree of uncertainty (and risk) created by new regulations, and the availability of political institutions for NGO participation in policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of how development agencies should assess their impact has no simple answers and so is often either unasked, or is framed in terms that privilege time-bound and quantitative findings. Describing a council estate neighbourhood project in the UK, the author probes the understandings and perceptions of different stakeholders concerning what they believe has changed over the life of the project, and to what they would attribute those changes. The findings suggest that the impact of development interventions is always contingent upon many factors and can only be properly viewed over time; and that many of the most critical factors in shaping change are intangible and have to do with a wide range of social relations and with human motivation and drive, both individual and collective. The author does not present a ‘blueprint’ for how to conduct impact assessment, but offers some insights into how to frame the questions and interpret the answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the role of underdeveloped countries' participation in international organizations in their development. In this context, the author cites the case of Barbados, which was an island dependency of Great Britain. This area got representation in an international conference headed by the U.S. diplomat Charles W. Taussig in 1946. The conference marked the first time in the history of international diplomacy that native leaders from backward, dependent areas had been permitted to attend an intergovernmental conference in the capacity of official delegates empowered to speak and vote on behalf of their territories. The Caribbean Commission has pioneered other new developments in the techniques of international organization. Since its modest beginning in 1942, the Caribbean Commission has compiles an enviable record in constructive efforts to ameliorate conditions in the area. The organization has employed on its staff and made extensive use of experts in community development and in the organization of marketing cooperatives and credit unions.

The article discusses the importance of incorporating musculo-skeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) into the rheumatology training curriculum to allow practitioners early detection of inflammatory arthritis (IA). Topics discussed include benefits of early detection of IA to provide subsequent treatment that could possibly alter the prognosis of the disease. Also discussed is the MSUS fellowship program at the Ultrasound School of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology under Dr. Esperanza Naredo.

The article presents abstracts of articles related to chronic alcoholism such as "Emotional Decoding Abilities in Alcohol-Dependence: A Categorical Perception Study," by F. D'Hondt and colleagues, "Interactions Between Drinking Motives and Impulsivity in Binge Drinking: A Cluster Analysis," by S. Lannoy and colleagues.

The article offers news briefs as of February 2, 2013 on topics including the review of oral contraceptives by the European Medicines Agency, men are 35 percent more likely to die from cancer than women in the UK reveals a study, and target to reduce pollution is set by the Beijing's municipality.

The article reports that international health advocates, including the United Nations' special rapporteur on health rights, are giving favorable reviews to a manual published by AAAS that offers medical professionals, nongovernmental organizations, and other groups new tools to monitor the status of health rights in their countries. Based on years of research and collaboration by the AAAS Science and Human Rights program and Great Britain based Commonwealth Medical Trust, the 180-page book explores the legal underpinnings for the right to health and the obligations of states to protect and advance the right.