Save the Children Video: Chisomo from Malawi, Africa – Save the Children Introduces Health Worker

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

• January is cervical health awareness month in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) joins the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) in recognizing January as Cervical Health Awareness Month (Source: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphNews/Reader.aspx?id=56BC8126-F0B0-4A97-9096-D34F6CFF85B9 ).

Politics and Policies:

• The West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C has been launched with the goal of saving up to $100 billion in cumulative health care costs within ten years (Source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/23/4207614/dc-based-west-health-policy-center.html ).
• The 130^th executive board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a resolution moved by India that focuses on the global burden of mental disorders. It also focuses on need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level. This resolution was supported by the United States of America and Switzerland (Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2825793.ece ).
• India is planning to soon ban the blood tests to diagnose tuberculosis. The experts not only pointed on their accuracy but also on the effectiveness as compared to the standard culture test provided free by the Indian government. The WHO expert group observed a highly variable sensitivity of these tests ranging from as low as 0 to 100% (Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Soon-ban-on-blood-tests-to-detect-TB/articleshow/11607679.cms  ).

Programs

• To increase the healthcare access, Community Health Center Inc., has launched on Friday an internal telemedicine program. It will provide specialized access to the patients suffering from hepatitis C and HIV (Source: http://www.ctmirror.org/node/15138 ).
• The health ministry in Zimbabwe has announced that it will soon begin HIV/AIDS door to door testing campaigns which will help people living in remote locations that cannot go to clinic for testing (Source: http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/zimbabwe-to-begin-hivaids-door-to-door-testing-campaign.html ).
• Immunization with rotavirus vaccine launched in Zambia. This year it will be administered to new born babies less than 24 weeks in Luska District of Zambia (Source: http://www.times.co.zm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4409:new-diarrhoea-vaccine-unveiled-for-babies&catid=36:local-news&Itemid=27 ).
• A $12.2 million vaccination program being introduced by British charity Absolute Return for Kids to protect African children (Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/9029771/Charity-linked-to-Duke-of-Cambridge-saving-lives-of-African-children.html ).

Research

• The results published in Science by Carnegie Mellon biologists indicate the presence of Magnesium in neutralizing deadly Shiga toxin. This toxin is produced by Shigella and some strains of E.coli. It can cause symptoms from intestinal disease to kidney failure (Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnegie-mellon-university-study-reveals-potential-of-manganese-in-neutralizing-deadly-shiga-toxin-137700868.html ).
• According to a study published in The Lancet medical Journal, the oral HIV tests were 2% less accurate than blood based specimens. This study has raised questions on whether self-testing should be allowed in South Africa using noninvasive and pain free tests for HIV (Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/specialreports/hivaids/2012/01/24/oral-hiv-test-results-found-to-be-less-reliable ).
• A study shows that older women could now skip osteoporosis screening tests if intial bone scan shows no big problem.  (Source: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/jan/23/many-women-can-skip-frequent-bone-scans/ ).
• Journal of the American Medical Association says putting children in foster care is in some cases more ethical than obesity surgery (Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46076745/ns/technology_and_science-science/ ).
• Gilenya (Multiple –Sclerosis Drug) is under review after the death of a patient receiving its first dose. Some other reports have indicated heart problems cause by receiving this medicine (Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240640.php ).
• Hepatitis vaccination programs in US and Spain not reaching the target populations according to a research published in online edition of Infection (Source: http://www.aidsmap.com/Studies-from-US-and-Spain-show-that-hepatitis-vaccination-programmes-not-reaching-target-populations/page/2224722/ ).
• Research shows that a man having unprotected oral sex with female having Human Papilloma virus (HPV causes cervical cancer in women) has greater chances of developing head and neck cancer (Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-22/science/30652195_1_head-and-neck-neck-cancer-hpv-infection ).
• A group of scientists from India, Tanzania and Thailand are doing research to find the ideal variety of bitter gourd that could beat diabetes (Source: http://thecitizen.co.tz/business/-/19062-india-tanzania-scientists-undertake-anti-diabetes-properties-study ).
• According to a research study, aspirin can help to prevent development of cervical cancer in HIV infected women (Source: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120119/Aspirin-may-benefit-HIV-infected-women-at-risk-of-cervical-cancer.aspx ).
• The Na-GST-1 antigen, a candidate for the first human hookworm vaccine developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) has entered phase 1 human trail in Brail (Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240586.php ).
• Cells found that can help to prevent cancer (Source: http://topnews.net.nz/content/220958-scientists-found-cells-can-help-prevent-spread-cancer ).

Diseases & Disasters

• A warning has been issued by the Australian medical authorities against the spread of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV). This virus is known to cause Australian encephalitis or swelling of brain (Source: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/286415/20120124/health-alert-dangerous-mosquito-borne-virus-causing.htm ).
• Death of 36 people over the last month due to malaria and whooping cough in Sudan’s Jonlei State’s Duk County has been reported by Sudan Tribune newspaper (Source: http://www.sudantribune.com/Malaria-and-whooping-coughs-kill,41362 ).
• Diabetes epidemic in India. A cross-sectional study, Sanofi-Aventis India SITE study (Screening India’s Twin Epidemic) done during 2009-10 conducted in 800 medical centers in India revealed that 60% of the patients suffered from diabetes, hypertension or both and 70% of them had uncontrolled diabetes (Source: http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/01/21/7423/the-diabetes-epidemic-in-india–/ ).
• About 25 people in Lahore (Pakistan) died of taking bad heart drugs (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/pakistan-heart-drugs-death_n_1223061.html ).
• Respiratory tuberculosis cases increase in Azerbaijan (Source: http://www.news.az/articles/society/53248 ).

Calling all Bloggers: Medscape Seeking Public Health and Prevention Blogger

Attention all you current or prospective public health bloggers: Medscape (from WebMD) is currently seeking a blogger to write for their Public Health and Prevention website (http://www.medscape.com/public/blogs). They are seeking candidates who write well to blog about any public health-oriented topic of interest – domestic and international. Due to budget constraints, no honorarium is available, but the time commitment is minimal: only one or two posts per month.

I worked under this contract last year (http://blogs.medscape.com/an_ounces_worth) and enjoyed it very much. Dr. Padmini Murthy blogs for them as well (http://blogs.medscape.com/minimurthy). Janet Kim, senior editor and the person in charge of hiring the blog, occasionally suggests or requests posts that correspond to current events or trending topics, but for the most part the blogger has the freedom to write about topics of his or her choosing. I highly recommend this for anyone who is looking to expand their  social media presence in the online public health community!

Interested candidates can contact Janet Kim at jkim@medscape.net.

Webcast: Uniting to Combat NTDs

Please tune in for a special webcast featuring Bill Gates, Margaret Chan, Stephen O’Brien, pharmaceutical industry CEOs and other partners on:

Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases
Ending the Neglect and Reaching 2020 Goals

Webcast will go live Monday, January 30, 6:00 a.m. EST at www.unitingtocombatntds.org.
An archived video will be available after the event for on-demand viewing.

Join a group of international partners for an event that demonstrates how innovative partnership can accelerate improvements in health and development for millions of people living in the world’s poorest countries.

Through a series of coordinated commitments, these partners aim to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and drive progress toward the World Health Organization’s goals for control or elimination by 2020.

The event will feature:

· Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization
· CEOs of Nine Leading Pharmaceutical Companies
· Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
· Senior Government Officials from Tanzania, Mozambique, Brazil and Zanzibar
· Stephen O’Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, UK Department for International Development
· Dr. Bernard Pécoul, Executive Director, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative
· Dr. Ariel Pablos-Méndez, Assistant Administrator for Global Health, US Agency for International Development
· Dr. Caroline Anstey, Managing Director, World Bank
· Moderated by: Riz Khan, Al Jazeera English

Internship – Global Health Fellows Program II (Washington, DC)

The Global Health Fellows Program II is pleased to announce its Internships with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Agency’s Washington, DC headquarters. These exciting positions consist of three current openings and a summer cohort of 25. For a downloadable flyer suitable for posting, please follow this link: GHFP Internship Flyer. All internships require US citizenship or permanent resident status.

Technical areas include:

• HIV/AIDS
• Infectious diseases (e.g. malaria, avian influenza, TB)
• Maternal and child health
• Reproductive health
• Nutrition
• Commodities and logistics
• A variety of competitive, positions are available. While most positions are at the graduate level, some positions are also open to undergraduate students who meet certain criteria. We are interested in people from a broad range of disciplines including:
• Public health
• Social work
• Education
• International relations/development
• Commodity security and logistics
• Medicine
• Nursing /midwifery
• Public policy
• Pharmacy
• Business administration

To apply
Detailed information, including an online application and instructions, is available on our website at www.ghfp.net.

Free GHFP-II Webinar: Insider tips to maximize your chances for internship selection

Do you know someone who has set their sights on a substantive global health internship this summer, but fear that the competition will be overwhelming? That’s why we’re inviting them to a free webinar that can make a big difference.

The Global Health Fellows Program II has 25 sought-after internships for summer 2012. To help maximize the chances for selection, we’ve developed a webinar filled with inside tips and valuable information to help applicants stand out during the review process. All the positions are with the Bureau for Global Health at the US Agency for International Development in Washington, DC. Requirements and the application are available at www.ghfp.net.

In this interactive webinar, a senior GHFP-II staffer will take participants through the basics—crafting a great application, focusing the resume for maximum effectiveness—and much more. One of our 2011 interns will also be online to describe first hand his experience as an HIV/AIDS Testing and Counseling Intern in the Office of HIV/AIDS at USAID. A Q&A session will round out the event.

Details and a link to registration are below.

GHFP-II Free webinar:
“How to land your Global Health internship—Tips from a recruiter & intern!”
Day/Date/Time: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 12-1:30 pm EST, 9-10:30 am PST
Register now, space is limited: https://publichealthinstitute.webex.com/publichealthinstitute/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=963107424

Global Health Weekly Nwes Round-Up

Politics and Policies:

• Dutch government has announced that it will ban the mild narcotic drug khat (Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16508238 ).
• The Ministry of Health of Malaysia is monitoring orange imported from Brazil (Source: http://www.nst.com.my/latest/health-ministry-monitoring-orange-juice-from-brazil-1.32264 ).

Programs

• European Commission (EU) has given support of 52 million euros to      Ghana to reduce maternal mortality and achieve the MDG 5 targets (Source: http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/general-news/10232-eu-gives-additional-funds-for-maternal-health ).
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has temporarily      suspended aid to more than one million people in central and southern      Somalia (Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/ICRC-Suspends-Food-Aid-to-11-Million-Somalis-137172743.html ).
• India marks major milestone in global fight to eradicate polio. The      World Health Organization has warned India to prevent such virus from      being re-imported. (Sources: http://www.care2.com/causes/india-marks-major-milestone-in-global-fight-to-eradicate-polio.html, http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/India+needs+cautious+about+polio+milestone/5993029/story.html  ).

Research

• Gene      responsible for Atopic Dermatitis identified. The researchers found an      association between ORAI1 Genetic Polymorphisms and the susceptibility of      this disease in Japanese and Taiwanese populations (Source: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029387;jsessionid=5147EF5A0C05A18FB235EFD5B5B40274      ).
• Four      genomic areas associated with the increase risk for exudative age-related      macular degeneration (AMD) in Japanese individuals identified by a      research team led by Michiaki Kubo at RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine in      Yokohama (Japan) (Source: http://esciencenews.com/sources/physorg/2012/01/13/keeping.eye.japanese.genome      ).
• Researchers      reveal the benefits for aspirin therapy for those suffering from a heart      disease or stroke but not for those who may have symptoms and not any history      of these diseases (Source: http://topnews.net.nz/content/220872-aspirin-therapy-heart-disease-stroke-prevention-not-everyone      ).
• A study      reveals that remission of cancer may be linked to chemotherapy drugs used      for its treatment (Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-13/health/30623236_1_cancer-relapse-cancer-cells-dna-damage      ).
• Signs of      changes in brain in people who are dependent online are similar to people      who are addicted to alcohol and cocaine (Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/9009125/Internet-addiction-affects-the-brain-like-a-drink-or-drug-problem.html      ).
• A blood      test for the detection of mad cow disease (Source: http://topnews.net.nz/content/220887-blood-test-could-help-diagnose-deadly-mad-cow-disease      ).
• A possible      link between germ-fighting preservatives in cosmetics and breast cancer      found (Source: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthcare/studies/story/2012-01-13/Does-deodorant-ingredient-affect-breast-cancer-risk/52528952/1      ).
• Rare but      recurrent mutation in gene linked to prostate cancer (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/17/genetic-testing-for-prostate-cancer/      ).
• An      Australian report says women over diagnosed with cancer due to mammograms (Source:      http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/16/women-over-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer-researchers-say/      ).
• Researchers      from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City      identified measures to reduce global warming by 2050 and improve human      health and agriculture (Source: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/shindell-20120113.html      ).

Diseases & Disasters

• About 70% milk samples picked up by a government agency in New Delhi failed to confirm to standards. About 48% milk in Chandigarh is adulterated (Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-10/india/30611460_1_samples-milk-powder-central-food-laboratory, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-11/chandigarh/30615932_1_milk-powder-milk-samples-pure-milk  ).
• A massive epidemic of incurable form of tuberculosis which cannot be cured with any combination of the World Health Organization recommended drug has emerged in India (Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/india-struck-by-budding-strain-of-incurable-tuberculosis/article2300929/?from=sec431 ).

 

APHA Signs on to Letter to WHO Executive Board on Protection of Health Care Workers

The following message is from Peter Freeman, chair of the IH Section’s Advocacy and Policy Committee.

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Since October 2011, members of the IH Advocacy & Policy Committee have been participating on a coalition, organized through IntraHealth International, whose aim is to bring global focus onto the protection of health care workers, patients and systems in areas and times of conflict.

In mid January 2012, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) is scheduled to meet; members of this coalition will be in attendance. To move the coalition’s agenda forward, a letter is being presented to the WHO Executive Board asking to put a resolution before the WHO Assembly that would call for:
*the development and implementation of a plan to collect and report data concerning attacks on health facilities, workers and patients or other violations of medical neutrality where conflicts are taking place;
*make this data publicly available on the WHO website
*regularly update said data
The coalition has asked for agencies who have stake in the protection of global health care infrastructures to sign onto this letter.

It is greatly exciting to report that on January 13, 2012, APHA agreed to become a signatory of this letter! The Advocacy & Policy Committee is encouraged to see a growing receptiveness and response by APHA staff to give the association a voice on the global health platform and we look forward to many more advocacy victories!

Peter F Freeman, MPH
Chair, APHA-IH Advocacy/Policy Committee
pffreeman@gmail.com

Content of the letter signed on by APHA:

Dear Members of the WHO Executive Board:

We write to urge that you support action at the Executive Board to bring WHO’s expertise to the pressing problem of attacks on health care, including health care workers, during situations of conflict. The report released by the International Committee of the Red Cross last August – Health Care in Danger – concluded that, “in terms of number of people affected, violence, both real and threatened, against health-care workers, facilities and beneficiaries is one of the biggest, most complex, and yet most under-recognized humanitarian issues today.” As Director-General Margaret Chan recognized in her address to the World Health Assembly last May, the problem needs the urgent attention of the global health community. WHO is uniquely positioned to address a key need identified by the ICRC and many others, which is sound and reliable data on the magnitude and dynamics of violence against health care and health workers.

WHO’s expertise in developing an evidence base for global health policy, in health systems development and in humanitarian coordination creates an opportunity for leadership at the global level. The WHO can develop and implement methods for systematic collection of data on attacks on health facilities, workers, and transport and patients in conflict areas. This should be done in cooperation with other relevant UN agencies, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.

We ask that the Executive Board adopt a resolution for consideration by the World Health Assembly that requests the Director-General to develop and implement a plan for WHO to collect and report data on attacks on health facilities, workers and patients where conflicts are taking place or other violations of medical neutrality. The data should be publicly available and periodically updated on the WHO web site.

The signatories to this letter are familiar with the tragic consequences of violence on health care. There are roles for many entities, including health workers themselves, governments, professional associations, non-governmental organizations and other UN agencies. All must do their part to increase protection. WHO’s role is limited but essential, as it is in the best position to lead the data collection process.

We therefore urge you to support action at the Executive Board to enhance protection of health in situations of conflict.

Save the Children Video: Salif from Mali, Africa – Save the Children Introduces Health Worker

Salif, a local health worker in Mali, helps deliver life-saving care to children who need it the most.

Save the Children Video: Ade from Indonesia – Save the Children Introduces a local health worker

For the past 15 years, Ade has been the person whom mothers turn to when they are pregnant, when they are giving birth and when their children become sick. From house calls to training exercises, Ade cares for the women in her community with hands-on help when they need it most.

Save the Children Video: Felix, a frontline health worker in Guatemala visits Gaspar’s house

I am really getting into these snapshots of village/community health workers that Save the Children has been doing – they provide a unique window into the everyday work and challenges of these amazing individuals, who form the backbone of so much of international health work.

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

 

Politics and Policies:

 

• Announcement of end of death sentence in Oregon puts lethal injection drugs back on market (http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/oregons-governor-puts-lethal-injection-drugs-back-on-the-market/250835/ ).
• World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the strategy adopted by six Gulf States (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) to prevent and control non communicable diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases responsible for more than 60% deaths in these countries (Source: http://www.who.int/en/ ).
• Medicaid budget deficit of $220 million faced by Maine (Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/02/gvsd0106.htm ).
• Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has called for improvements to protect the patients participating in federally funded scientific study to avoid harm and their unethical treatment (Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/02/prsd0105.htm ).

 

Programs

 

• Vodafone through its World of Difference project is working to      reduce sanitation related diseases among the people of Kaleo community in      Ghana. It is an eight week project aimed to increase the environmental and      personal cleanliness (Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/artikel.php?ID=227206).
• A walk was organized by Parkway Cancer Center in Singapore raise      colorectal cancer (most common cancer in Singapore) awareness among the      people (Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1175493/1/.html).
• The Sri Lankan Government currently drafting a national Dengue      Prevention Act which is due to become law in mid-2012. The Health      ministry’s epidemiology unit has announced the action against Dengue      beginning to pay off (Source: http://www.asianscientist.com/features/sri-lanka-national-dengue-prevention-act-2012/).

 

Research

 

• Gene      responsible for lung cancer identified for the first time by the      scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) under the Agency for      Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) and Dr Elaine Lim, medical      oncologist affiliated with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and National      Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS) (Source: http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20120801-22975.html      ).
• First Phase      of clinical trial of fully human monoclonal antibody against VEGF-C,      VGX-100 has been started by Circadian Technologies Limited aimed at      treating cancer (Source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/08/4171873/circadian-commences-first-phase.html      ).
• Study has      been started by the Australian researchers into a drug to manage      withdrawal of Cannabis (Source: http://www.skynews.com.au/health/article.aspx?id=705320&vId=      ).
• Researchers      at University of Nottingham found a link between the growth of an embryo      during early stages of pregnancy and risk of miscarriage. They discovered      that poor growth in first 12 weeks of pregnancy is a good predictor of      miscarriage (Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16441820).
• Trails are      going for a radioactive cream for treatment of benign skin cancer (Source:      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8961988/Radioactive-cream-used-to-treat-skin-cancer.html      ).

 

• Drug abuse highest in richest nations, according to a study published in The Lancet (Source: http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/hsn/global-study-finds-drug-abuse-highest-in-richer-nations ).

 

• Australian      University installs world’s first super resolution microscope to see      infectious disease in super resolution video (Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/science-technology/Super-Resolution-Microscope-Helps-Australia-Fight-Disease-136801848.html      ).
• Coffee has      more beneficial effects on health as compared to soft drinks and energy      drinks. It reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/124897/effects-of-coffee-on-health  ).
• Chinese      crunch Human Genome with videogame chips. They need just six hours to analyze      data describing human genome (Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/01/genomes-and-gpus/      ).

 

Diseases & Disasters

 

• An earthquake of 7.3-magnitude quake struck 260 miles (420 kilometers) off the coast of Aceh province of Indonesia (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-01-10/indonesia-earthquake-coast/52482024/1 ).
• Totally drug resistant Tuberculosis (TB) cases detected in India. Of the twelve people detected with this deadly bacterium one person has already died (Sources: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_first-cases-of-totally-drug-resistant-tb-in-india-one-dead_1634439 , http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/New-deadlier-form-of-TB-hits-India/articleshow/11396410.cms ).
• A 39-year-old man in China died of bird flu. He was tested positive for the H5N1 virus and died of multiple organ failure (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/03/return-bird-flu-chinese-man-dies/ ).
•  Measles on rise in Western Europe (Source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1684514.php/Measles-parties-are-a-hazardous-route-to-immunity).
• New vaccine for Hepatitis C has been developed by the scientists from the Oxford University, the University of Birmingham and an Italian biotech company. The professionals at Oxford University reported the efficacy of vaccine was yielded positive during the first clinical trial (Source: http://www.healthjockey.com/2012/01/05/new-vaccine-for-hepatitis-c-underway/#).

 

Please welcome our Weekly News Editor, Dr. Vani Nanda!

Fellow IH Section members and blog readers, please help me welcome our Weekly News Editor, Dr. Vani Nanda. You may have noticed the slightly different format of the weekly news round-ups since she has taken over. Vani has taken over this function and has been working behind the scenes since early December, and now I am happy to formally introduce her as part of the IH Blog team. You can read more about her below.

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I am a dentist from India and am currently pursuing Masters in Public Health (Community Health Track) from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Apart from having three years of clinical experience in dentistry, I also have one and a half years’ teaching experience in India. I have experience in grant writing and have received grant and award for one of the studies I did in MPH program. I am a full time graduate assistant and an international student representative of MPH Advisory Student Board of West Chester University. During my MPH study, I have received many awards, including Women Grant for academic year 2011-2012.

I have presented many national and international papers related to my research in the field of public health (some of my works highlight health disparities across the nations). I have a keen interest in field of Global Public Health and want to work in future in this field to remove public health disparities across nations.

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

The weekly news round-up for last week is posted below. Apologies for the delay. The holidays keep us all busy!

CDC’s report on its contributions on women’s health is available as the “Review on Women’s Health for the Year 2011″ (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WomensHealthReview/?s_cid=fb1332).

Politics and Policies:

• Democrat Charles Schumer asked Food and Drug Administration Commissioner to review the safety and legality of AeroShot Pure Energy caffeine inhaler (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/controversy-over-inhaled-caffeine-grows-as-as-sen-schumer-calls-for-fda-probe/2011/12/22/gIQAjQaVDP_story.html).
• Due to concerns over bioterrorism the government advisory board that oversees biosecurity in the U.S. has asked the scientific journals Nature & Science to censor details on recent bird flu. It has asked the journals not to publish details on certain biomedical experiments (Source: http://www.thetakeaway.org/2011/dec/22/when-it-ok-censor-science/  and http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/health/fearing-terrorism-us-asks-journals-to-censor-articles-on-virus.html).
• New guidelines from the U.S. advisory committee on Immunization Packages have recommended Hepatitis B vaccination for the unvaccinated adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes due to increased risk of HBV infection. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the guidelines in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Source: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-12-23/Hepatitis-B-vaccine-recommended-for-adults-with-diabetes/52188138/1).
• The HPTN 052 study funded by US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) named as 2011 Breakthrough of the Year. It successfully demonstrated antiretroviral medications not only treat but also prevent transmission of HIV infection among heterosexual individuals (Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/health/2011-12/23/c_131322368.htm).
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged to double check the concentration of acetaminophen before giving it to infants. High concentration can lead to confusion in infants (Source: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20111223/infant-acetaminophen-dosage-change-may-cause-confusion).
• Some mental, emergency care and non-communicable diseases drugs being included in the list of free drugs for distribution in Nepal (Source: http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=180030).
• Avastin has been approved by the European Commission, as a drug for treatment of newly diagnosed and advanced ovarian cancer (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/23/us-avastin-ovarian-cancer-idUSTRE7BM15A20111223).

Programs

• India to start a nation-wide program, weekly iron and folic supplementation program (WIFS) to deal with the problem of anemia among its adolescents (Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/govt-evolves-programme-to-tackle-anaemia_748331.html).
• United Nations population fund (UNFPA) with other agencies is working to provide necessary help to the pregnant and lactating women in the evacuation centers of topical storm hit areas. Team of doctors, midwives and other health care workers are being deployed in those areas. Reproductive health care supplies and medicines are being distributed. They will distribute clean delivery kits to for healthy and hygienic deliveries (Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/reproductive_health/supplies_philippines/prweb9063252.htm).

Research

• Cardiac MRI more accurate ruling out coronary heart disease than stress MRI. The Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) though exposes patients to ionic radiations but its highly accurate (Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/AcuteCoronarySyndrome/30369?pfc=101&spc=230).
• A daily dose of 80mg aspirin reduces bowel cancer risk according to researchers at Dartmouth Medical School, New Hampshire(Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-170649/Aspirin-cut-bowel-cancer-risk.html).
• According to a demonstration done by John Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, by genetically engineering immune system of Plasmodium falciparum, transmission of malaria parasite can be blocked. This will result in killing of large number of parasites which come into the mosquito’s body when they suck the blood of an infected person. The fitness of genetically modified bacteria was almost the same as those who were nonmodified  (Source: http://www.newswise.com/articles/scientists-engineer-mosquito-immune-system-to-block-malaria).
• A study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that to avoid fondness towards salt, its reduced intake should begin early in life (Source: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-babies-salt-20111221,0,6606273.story).

Diseases & Disasters

• Health department of Illinois has urged people to take a shot of whooping cough vaccine after looking into the reports of spread of this disease in Northern Illinois (Source: http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/9537068-418/whooping-cough-spreading-throughout-northern-illinois.html and http://www.thirdage.com/news/pertussis-outbreaks-trouble-illinois_12-18-2011).
• Hospital wards closed in Britain due to Norovirus outbreak (Source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/12/23/Virus-outbreak-strikes-British-hospitals/UPI-91931324663834/?spt=hs&or=tn).
• People in Nairobi, Kenya, are fearing of Ebola virus outbreak after the death of profusely bleeding 29 year old women (Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/africa-emerges/ebola-makes-comeback).
• People in topical storm hit areas in Philippines  are in great need of milk for their babies (Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/23/11/breastmilk-needed-flood-hit-mindanao).
• Second bird found dead after infection with H5N1 in Hong Kong has raised health concerns in the city (Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/12/23/bird-flu-hong-kong.html).

These headlines were compiled by Vani Nanda, MPH Candidate at West Chester University PA.

CGDev Video: Global Risks for Low-Income Countries – Views on the IMF Perspective

Most low-income countries (LICs) recovered swiftly from the 2008-9 global crisis and have grown strongly since early 2010. But progress in rebuilding macroeconomic buffers has been slow, and the LICs are now less well prepared to deal with external shocks than they were before the crisis. At a time when the risks to the global outlook are intensifying, a new IMF study finds that many LICs would struggle to cope with a renewed global downturn. In a second report, the IMF and World Bank explore the role contingent financial instruments—such as commodity hedging, contingent debt, and insurance—could play to help LICs manage global volatility. IMF staff will present the key findings of these studies, highlighting the policy implications for LICs and the international community, with comments by expert discussants to follow.

CGDev Video: Which Countries will the Millennium Challenge Corporation Select this Year?

At this breakfast discussion, CGD policy analyst Casey Dunning will forecast which countries the MCC board is likely to select for FY2012 compact and threshold funding at its December 15th board meeting. This deliberation marks the ninth round of the MCC eligibility selection process. Drawing on a recent MCA Monitor analysis, Casey Dunning and Owen McCarthy will highlight current issues affecting the MCC’s selection process, including the new selection system, second compact eligibility, and the revised threshold program—and suggest principles that should guide the MCC board and management team as they choose eligible countries for FY2012.