Global Biomarker Implementation in the WHO’s World Health Survey Plus

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Getz, Madeleine
Warner-Carey, Micah
Taylor, Rosa

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Abstract

The Global Health Biomarker Laboratory is collaborating with the World Health Organization to plan and implement the World Health Survey Plus (WHS+). The WHS+ is an expansion on the original World Health Survey, a project that was conducted in 69 countries with over 3,000 participants. The WHS+ is a flexible and comprehensive data collection system that provides countries with the ability to monitor progress towards health goals and provide high-quality, nationally-representative data on health, social, economic, and policy topics. This project aims to fill data gaps globally and improve health equity within and between countries. By developing protocols, training videos, and technical expertise on point-of-care biomarker implementation, our lab is at the forefront of implementing new point-of-care biomarker technologies; the biomarkers WHS+ is collecting are hemoglobin as an indicator of anemia, HbA1C and glucose as indicators of diabetes, and lipids as indicators of hypolipidemia and cardiovascular risk. Additionally, the survey is collecting anthropometrics, blood pressure, pulse, hand grip strength, walking speed, and cognitive function as direct measures of health. While we are currently in the early stages of planning and implementation, the WHS+ has the potential not only to help countries provide more equitable and sustainable healthcare and promote country-specific care-seeking behaviors, but also to further our global knowledge of healthcare and disease.

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Single page poster

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Global Biomarker Laboratory, World Health Organization, World Health Survey Plus, global health, point-of-care technology

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