In order to give access to information published in or related to Africa and to encourage local publishing, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA), has produced an international index to African health literature and information sources.
This index is called African Index Medicus (AIM).
Why index African literature?
The need for improved access to what has been published on health issues in African countries has long been felt by researchers, development agencies, health administrators and planners both inside and outside the continent. Very few African health and biomedical information sources are included in the world's leading bibliographic databases and there is a wealth of untapped information in books, reports and studies from international development agencies, nongovernmental organizations and local institutions.
Only by awareness of what work has already been done, can further advances be made; giving visibility to locally published material avoids overlapping, conflicting or redundant research work or the unnecessary duplication of health learning materials. New studies would then build on earlier reports of projects or research already undertaken. This would reduce costs of duplicated efforts, improve on methodology earlier used and make research more cost-beneficial and original.
Printed knowledge generated in African countries is given global exposure in the African Index Medicus. It will promote African publishing by encouraging writers to publish in their country or regional journals, whereas now scientists and researchers in developing countries are competing for publication space in the few world-wide "prestigious" journals.
The traditional North-South flow of information could be complemented by South-South and South-North communication: information on health problems in one country will be shared with those experiencing similar conditions.
Which Journals are indexed in the African Index Medicus?
All African medical journals could be indexed in the AIM database. Articles on or related to Africa and published in other regional or international journals are indexed. Editors willing to integrate their journals into the African Index Medicus database are kindly invited to fill in the following FORM and send it to the AIM coordinator or Technical support.
Events / Evenements
New journals in AIM
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Annals of Medicine and Health Sciences Research : Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research is a peer reviewed journal with the following purposes: a). To publish contributions in clinical and basic science research in all field of medicine. b). To publish contributions in the prevention, management and treatment of diseases, and on the promotion of health in developed and developing countries. c)..... read more
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Revue d'Anasthésie de Réanimation et de Médecine : Cette revue électronique est un outil de la "Société d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation de Madagascar", ainsi que deux associations scientifiques malgaches : l' "Association des Médecins Urgentistes de Madagascar" (A.M.U.M) et l' "Association des Médecins Urgentistes et des Praticiens Hospitaliers en Anesthésie Réanimation" (A.M.U.P.H.A.R).... read more
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Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (RJPS) : Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (RJPS) is an official publication of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA. The rjps is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal, publishes original articles in basic and applied research, reviews, in areas related to pharmaceutical sciences as well as life sciences. ... read more
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Jos Journal of Medicine : The Jos Journal of Medicine is an editorially independent publication of the Association of Resident Doctors, Jos University Teaching Hospital. The Journal seeks to provide a forum for the dissemination of research, review articles, theories and information on all aspects of medicine. ... read more
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Transactions (Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa): The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) was founded and financed in 1954 by members of the medical profession and was registered as a non-profit making company in 1955. It is the custodian of the quality of medical care in South Africa and is unique in the world in that it embraces 27 constituent Colleges representing all the disciplines of medicine and dentistry.. ... read more
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More: see African Medical journals
Please send also your journals to:
AIM coordinator or Technical support
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