Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

•  April 25, 2013 was World Malaria Day.
• The International Labor Organization celebrates the World day for Safety and Health at Work on the 28^th of April, 2013.

Politics and Policies:

• The State House of Representatives voted to allow physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients with specific terminal illnesses or debilitating medical conditions.
• Health officials in Australia have recommended a heavy government subsidy for the abortifacient drug RU-486.

Programs:

• First online mapping tool was launched in Kenya to tackle the burden of malaria by tracking insecticide resistance in malaria causing mosquitoes.
• Healthcare workers expanding their vaccination programs in Somalia. The country is among the first few African Nations to receive new vaccines against five deadly diseases- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and influenza.
• Peace Corps volunteers on the occasion of World Malaria day participated in malaria eradication activities worldwide.
• In their sixth ordinary session at the African Union the African Union Commission has called for more domestic investment in health to fight the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and tropical diseases.
• The Ministry of Heath of Ghana receives mobile clinic facilitates to boost health delivery and improving health care access to people.
• Health groups at the United Nations –backed Global Vaccine Summit announced that they will get rid of polio by 2018 with $5.5 billion vaccination and monitoring plan to stop this disease.
• The U.S Food and Drug Administration has announced the development of a new hand held device called C-3 capable of detecting substandard or counterfeit anti-malaria medicines.
• World athletics governing body IAAF will open a blood test center (BTC) in Kenya’s rift Valley town of Eldoret for Kenyan and Ethiopian runners.
• A donation of US $2.3 million has been announced by the Government of Japan to the United Nations World Food Program to assist people of Lesotho to help to boost food security.
• Japan donates US$1.5 million to Nambia for its rapid reduction of child mortality, malaria related deaths and mother-to-child HIV transmission rates.
• The Federal government of Canada will allocate $250 million between 2013 and 2018 to support eradication of polio in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
• European Union has pledged more than 14.5 million euros to support Sudan health-related programs.

 Research:

• The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung disease has issued guidelines for multidrug resistant tuberculosis bacteria management – appropriate treatment.
• According to an analysis of previous studies published in the British Medical Journal, smokers with HIV were at double risk of contracting bacteria pneumonia compared to HIV-positive non-smokers.
• According to the data obtained from a recently published study, childhood malaria admission rates in three out of four hospital chosen for the purpose of study in Malawi has increased between 2000- 2010. An increase from 41 to 100% was noted.
• According to a survey more men die due to HIV related deaths as compared to women. It was due their living in denial and failed access to treatment.
• A study published in American College of Nutrition suggests that intake of minerals zinc and chromium or taking zinc and or chromium supplements helps people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
• According to a survey in done in the U.K., parents risk children’s future health by failing to understand sun protection.
• In a study done by the Chinese scientists there is no evidence that new bid flu passes between people.
• Haiti launches its vaccination campaign against fatal childhood diseases.

Diseases & Disasters:

• The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning to the people who are planning to travel to Democratic Republic of Congo.
• The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a nationwide shortage of products used in Tuberculosis skin testing.
• The reports state that the outbreak of meningitis has killed at least 40 people in Guinea since the beginning of 2013. About 379 cases of this disease have been reported.
• According to the reports communities in Northern Mali – Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal- are affected by food crises.
• The bird flu H7N9 cases are rising in China. A total of 120 cases have been reported till now of which 23 deaths have been confirmed.
• Air pollution rising in China. The level of air pollutants has risen to more than 40 times the recommended exposure limits.
• According to the press release, two more human cases of avian influenza virus A – H7N9 has been verified by the Centre for Health protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of Hong Kong.
• Reports have confirmed H7N9 bird flu in Taiwan.
• According to the CDC, salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers grown in Mexico.

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

• World Immunization week starts from April 20.

Politics and Policies:

• A partnership between the Government of Benin and the U.S. government was launched to help Benin achieve its objective of eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2020.
• U.S. Supreme Court weighs dispute over AIDS funding.
• HHS announces new digital and mobile health application to help people to stay healthy.

Programs:

• Nigeria may soon relax the criteria for placing people living with HIV on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in order to increase number of people being treated.
• Imbuto project has announced its plans to set up a model facility in Bugesera district, Eastern project. It will integrate elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS services through its family package project.
• The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Gambia have signed an agreement on maternal health improvement program.
• The Word Bank has approved a $7 million line of credit to improve the delivery of healthcare services in Djibouti.
• Smile Train and Operation Smile in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Rwanda have announced the launch of Rwanda Smiles to create the first-ever country in Africa.
• A national strategic plan for HIV, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections has been adopted during South African National AIDS Council meeting in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
• A two year maternal health project aimed at promoting community involvement in the assessment of the performance of selected health facilities and providers in the delivery of maternal health services was launched in Koforidua.
• The UN refugee agency has appealed for millions of dollars to help to meet the needs of Malian refugees including healthcare, water and sanitation.
• Canada funds IOM humanitarian projects involving emergency health, water and sanitation projects in Zimbabwe.
• A partnership between Samaritan’s Purse Canada, University of Calgary, Canadian International Development Agency is running a healthcare project that is helping people of South Sudan.
• To save upto 2 million children every year from deaths caused by pneumonia and diarrhea, the World Health Organization and UNICEF has launched a new Global Action Plan.
• Cuba’s second round of anti-polio vaccination campaign starts on Friday through April 25 to keep this island free of this debilitating disease.

Research:

• According to the reports from the municipal public health supervisor over 20 HIV/AIDS positive cases have been reported during the first quarter of this year.
• According to the reports Kogli (Nigeria) has cases of HIV/AIDS rising since last 2 years. This rise has been attributed to lack of availability of funds for the state action committee on HIV/AIDS.
• Global fund has increased funding (additional $25 million to 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory) for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
• According to the Kwara State Ministry of Health Coordinator (Nigeria) for HIV/AIDS about 1.8 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS related death in Nigeria.
• A study states that breast feeding for more than four months lowers mother-to-infant HIV risk through their milk.
• According to a qualitative research marriages in Malawi are a risk factor for HIV infection in females.
• Results of a study involving people of Uganda states that food access and diet quality are associated with health-related quality of life.
• Scientists from the University of Kansas made a discovery that aspirin directly and indirectly suppressed the proliferation of two different breast cancer strains.
• Statistics from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that China now has nearly 120,000 new cases of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.
• According to the scientists DPP-4 inhibitors have cardio-protective effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• A study finds a relation between endometrial cancer at young age and risk for endometrial cancer.
• A study reports that highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) may help to protect hearts of young patients.
• Scientists from Indiana School of Medicine links beer with increased levels of dopamine in the brain.
• The new U-M National Poll on Children’s health about 40% parents give young children cough/cold medicine that they shouldn’t.
• According to a research letter published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, some visible signs of Lyme disease are easily missed or mistaken.
• A study indicates that high salt diet and ulcer bacteria together combine to increase the risk of cancer.
• According to a study lung cancer mortality rates linked to primary care provider density.

Diseases and Disasters:

• Plaque draws scientist’s attention as potential terrorism weapon.
• Death count due to bird flu reaches 20 in China.
• An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck China on Saturday. It is discouraging volunteers in the earthquake zone.
• Vietnam has announced that special measures have been adopted to prevent the H7N9 avian flu from entering the city.
• The Department of Health of Minnesota has alerted the doctors to a new strain of influenza  for the patients who have travelled to Asian nation and have flu-like symptoms.
• According to the scientists, new strain of bird flu virus that has killed 17 people in China has acquired a significant genetic diversity.
• Honduras reports two deaths from hemorrhagic dengue fever. In addition about 3,000 cases of classic dengue cases have been registered this year.
• Reports have indicated a presence of a bird flu virus in Norfolk, UK.

IH News Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

Politics and Policies:

• Egypt will carry out vaccination campaign in parts of Cairo after polio virus was found in sewer.
• The United Kingdom’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has rejected calls to ban the herbal stimulant, khat.
• Minister of Finance of Kyrgystan has announced a Russian grant of $25 million to be directed to health and education in Kyrgyzstan.

Programs:

• To support veteran’s mental health in Kent and Medway, National Health Service (NHS) invests £150,000.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is in a process of stopping its researches involving the chimpanzees.
• UNESCO has released a booklet that promotes improved links between gender, HIV and education.
• The First lady opened Sh6 Billion health center- the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in Lukaya, Uganda.
• Two projects in the health and education fields have been funded by British Gas Tunisia. It will provide health services to 20 thousand locals.
• A HIV gender assessment tool has been designed by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to assess the cause of women vulnerability to contracting HIV.
• About N$67,720 donation has been received by the Cancer Association of Nambia (CAN) from Quality Tyres Nambia. This money will be used for the prostate cancer treatment of the people.
• The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has called on the international community to contribute nearly $1.4 billion to address to the urgent needs of the children in 45 countries including a need to strengthen the capacity of partners in the field of health and nutrition.
• The UNICEF, EU and Uzbekistan are together implementing a project to protect health of mother and child.
• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Batey Relief Alliance have together launched a food assistance program for people living in extreme poverty in the Dominican Republic.

Research:

• New researches on bird flu is about to begin.
• According to a study published in the British Health Journal, women’s views on over diagnosis in breast cancer screening vary. The highest estimates made some women (50%) perceive need for more careful personal decision making about screening. While lower and intermediate estimates had limited impact on attitudes and intentions related to screening.
• According to a study published in PLoS ONE, scientists in Benin have developed a new technique to detect malaria parasites in mosquito vectors. It could help to estimate malaria transmission intensity in different settings.
• According to a study published in the Lancet folic acid supplements are unlikely to substantially increase or decrease overall cancer risk.
• The monitoring data by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) published by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) suggest that number of people facing food insecurity will reduce.
• According to a meta-analysis published in British Medical Journal, there is no link between consumption of eggs and increased risk of heart disease or stroke.
• A recently published international study states that the children were most hit by 2009 bird flu. About 47% of those aged between five to 19 developed symptoms as compared to only 11% of people aged 65 or older.
• A study published in New England Journal of Medicine states that female smokers were 25.7 times more likely to die from lung cancer than those who never smoked.
• According to a study published in the journal Nutrition Research , a natural extract from the roots of Japanese mushrooms can boost the effectiveness of the flu shot.
• Micro blogging site Twitter has been used by the researchers and computer scientists of the John Hopkins University to track the cases of influenza across the United States. This system was tested by the researchers at the Baltimore University by comparing these results with the data obtained from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• After five years of studying the workings of the mutant form of the p53 gene, scientists from the National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS) have discovered the workings of this gene that has been hindering treatment response in cancer patients.
• According to a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases people who take immunosuppressive drugs to treat lupus do not necessary increase their cancer risk.
• A study published in Nutrition Journal, a mixture of B vitamins, fish oils and plant sterols show a promise in boosting heart health by improving the lipid profile of young people with high cholesterol.

Diseases & Disasters:

• A wave of spiritual human killings has been reported in Camroon.
• Chinese mine pumps chrome (poisonous chemical) into Ngezi river in Zimbabwe.
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a recalled ready-to-eat port product by Houston’s Stallings Head Cheese Co. Inc.
• Global Virus Network has released a statement on 2012-2013 U.S. Flu epidemic.
• The World Health Organization said in a joint statement with the Cambodian health ministry that two Cambodians have died from bird flu contracted while preparing infected chicken.
• According to U.S. health officials a new strain of stomach virus outbreaks has occurred in this flu season.
• The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control in Brussels has reported an increasing trend of influenza transmission.
• The Medical Products Agency of Sweden (MPA) opened an inquiry into vaccinations for H1N1 (Pandemrix) made by GlaxoSmithKline, suspected for provoking narcolepsy.
• The Michigan departments of Community Health and Agriculture and Rural Development are investigating the causes of Salmonella outbreak.
• Health authorities in the Brazilian city of Campo Grande are fighting a dengue fever epidemic.
• French authorities fear drug-resistant tuberculosis from Eastern Europe.

Global Health Weekly News Round-up

Politics and Policies:

• United Nations has urged Philippines to pass reproductive health bill. It will help to achieve its health-related targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).
• States (U.S.) sets standards for insurance exchanges.
• The Costs for senior’s Medicare Part D premiums will remain stable.
• Massachusetts Governor signs health care cost containment bill.
• Medicaid official outlines state flexibility in health law’s Medicaid expansion.
• Dementia has been added to the list of national health priority areas in Australia, following a meeting of federal and state health ministers in Sydney.
• Uganda’s government sued over maternal healthcare.
• Spain will modify the controversial plan to deny public healthcare to undocumented immigrants.  They would now be treated under same system used for temporary foreign visitors to Spain.

Programs:

• A grant of 690,000 from the African Water Facility (AWF) will support Kenya Rainwater Association (KRA) to build resilience to droughts through rain water harvesting management (IRHM).
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say that the HIV pill is also for people at risk of getting this deadly infection- woman, heterosexual men.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lucentis for treatment of diabetic macular edema- a life threatening eye disease that occurs in people with diabetes.
• Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) working with the University of Colorado has embraced PartoPen and Partgraph technology to reduce maternal mortality and life threatening complications.

Research:

• The researchers say that changing diets, urbanization and increasing sedentary lives has resulted in steep rise in obesity among many the African nations (Sub-Saharan Africa). They called it ‘thrifty gene hypotheses’.
• According to a new study the way red meat is cooked can affect cancer risk.  It was found that men who ate more than 2.5 servings of red meat cooked by any high temperature method (broiling or grilling etc.) were 40% more likely to have advanced prostate cancer than men who rarely did so.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there is a slight drop in high school students who smoke cigarettes but sharp increase in percentage of black students who smoked cigars.
• A recent study indicates that babies born to mothers who are overweight or obese in sub-Saharan Africa who are obese more likely die in the first two days after their birth.
• Researchers at Duke University Health System have found a promising stem cell therapy for preventing osteoarthritis after a joint injury, using a type of stem cell, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
• According to a study conducted by University of Minnesota researchers investigating in quality of care for diabetic patients reduces their costs.
• A recent research found that the breast cancer survivors with higher body fat had higher mean concentration of Serum amyloid A protein and C-reactive protein than women with lower body fat. Both of them are related to worse survival rates.
• According to a research article planning and management instruments in healthcare area are limited in Brazil.
• A study reconfirmed the usefulness of bendiocarb on anopheles populations (this mosquito causes malaria) resistant to pyrethroids.
• A research study shows that percentage of exercise repetitions (by Parkinson’s disease patients) completed of those agreed with a physiotherapist in a six week personalized exercise program reduced with patient’s age but better compliance with medication was seen with age.
• A study found that Asian females have very low prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage and compared to those of Europe.
• Study found that the ionizing radiations might triggers mechanisms that might favor the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
• According to Australian researchers persistent heavy marijuana use damages the brains memory and learning capacity.
• In a study involving twins it was found that fainting could be triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
• In a study done in Australia it was found that overqualified immigrants who are not able to find a job of their qualification after three years are likely to suffer from depression.
• A research showed that men who did weight lifting reduced their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diseases and Disasters:

• A West Nile virus epidemic has prompted a public health emergency in Dallas County in Texas. Nine people are reported to be killed by infection with this virus.
• A 6.2 magnitude earthquake killed at least 87 people and injured 400 in northwestern Iran on Saturday (Aug, 11).
• Typhoon Haikui struck China on Wednesday.  It has caused flooding and stranded hundreds of people.
• Sliced apples packages distributed to fast-food and grocery chains being recalled due possible listeria contamination.
• Queensland health authorities have rejected swine flu reports.
• Queensland doctors are concerned with an outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease, syphilis, in states northwest.
• Mexico kills 8 million birds infected with bird flu.
• The CDC says 145 cases of the influenza A (H3N2) variant have been found in four United States states since mid-July. This new strain in humans continues to spread.
• According to the CDC just one drug is left to fight against resistant Gonorrhea.

 

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

Politics and Policies:

• House rejects bill to ban sex-selective abortions. It was a measure that sought to impose fines and prison terms on doctors who perform abortions on women who are trying to select the gender of their offspring.
• The Agriculture department (US) has announced that it would expand testing for E.coli in raw beef trimmings.
• California announces intent to award four medi-cal contracts to health net of California subsidiary.
• Wolk’s flu bill passes Senate moves to assembly. This bill would require hospitals and clinics to reach a 90% vaccination rate among their health-care workers by 2015 or adopt masking requirement for those who decline flu shots.
• Federal disability law does not cover medical marijuana patients. A panel of the appeals court threw out the patient’s lawsuit, which had charged that some California cities were violating the ADA by shuttering medical marijuana dispensaries.
• Medical marijuana is legal in Connecticut. A law has been signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy approving its use, a measure that includes strict regulations in an attempt to any avoid problems. Qualifying patients and their primary caregivers would be able to possess a combined one-month supply of marijuana.
• A ban that would impose a 16 ounce limit on any sugary bottled or fountain drinks that contain more than 25 calories per 8 ounces in New city restaurants, delis and movie theaters was proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Programs:

• World Health Organization (WHO) award for reproductive health was given out at the 65^th World Health Assembly in Geneva.  It was awarded to four countries- Rwanda, Nepal, Malawi, Ethiopia and Yemen.
• Norway will provide up to NOK 500 million over a five year period for health in developing countries, which will be used to help women and babies through childbirth and the critical first 24 hours after delivery.
• The first pilot waste water treatment plant with integrated wood production opened in Mongolia. It is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): Model region Mongolia (MoMo) project.

 Research

• According to a recent study, people suffering from pneumonia with high blood sugar level are at a greater risk of death. The team found that those with diabetes had highest risk (14%) followed by those with hyperglycemia not diabetes (10%) and those without diabetes and normal glucose levels had lowest rates (3%).
• In a recent study, researchers found that taking common painkillers might reduce chances of getting skin cancer.
• Consumption of oil rich Mediterranean foods such as fish and sea food helps to improve physical and mental well-being.
• Global research team yields new health insights into different types of trans fats. The findings strengthen the evidence that unlike industrial Trans fats, natural trans fats produced by ruminant animals are not harmful and have an health enhancing potential.
• Soon a breath test will help to detect deadly tuberculosis bacteria in 6 minutes. However the doctors say that it cannot replace the sputum test which will remain the gold standard.
• Researchers from Melbourne’s Burnet Institute said that reducing the prevalence of the disease among the drug users could also lead to a drop in infections across the wider populations.
• Breakthrough drug may extend life of women suffering from deadly breast cancer. According to the daily mail newspaper it could be available in Britain within a year if it passes regulatory checks.
• According to a research released last week, a drug already approved for prostate cancer has been shown to slow the spread of advance forms of this disease. In the patients treated with drug, the cancer did not worsen for 16 months as compared to 8.3 months in the group that did not receive this drug.
• Premature babies are 4.5 times more likely to suffer from severe mental health problems. The study reveals that those born after just seven months in the womb or earlier are at highest risk compared with full-term babies.
• According to a recent study a link between poor asthma control and eczema was seen among Brazilian urban children.
• A study indicates that allergies (specifically allergies to plants, grass and trees) are linked to higher cancer risk. The researchers say that these allergies cause inflammation which may lead to an overactive immune system- and that over activity can in turn lead to blood cancer.

Diseases & Disasters

• 6.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Panama’s pacific coast. There are no reports of injuries or deaths and no tsunami is expected.
• A strong earth tremor of 5.1 magnitude hit northern Italy on Sunday. This area was struck by the deadly quakes in the last two weeks.
• Measles outbreak in west Cork concerns Irish health officials. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is advising patients to vaccinate their children against viral disease.
• Tuberculosis infected beef sold in Edo (Benin). On inspection it was seen that it has nodular lesions which enveloped on the surface of the various organs of the slaughtered cow.
• A new strain of flu is likely to spread through Australia. It is likely to replace swine flu that emerged in 2009. Flu shots are available for people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, people with chronic disease as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Bird flu found in 21 poultry farms out of 85 in Bangladesh this year.
• Hong Kong officials have confirmed H5N1 strain of avian influenza. They have confirmed it being the first human case of bird flu since November 2010 in Hong Kong.
• Greek crisis spurs epidemic of suicides and mental illness.
• New Mexico man is the first human plague case in the U.S. this year. The department of health press release has confirmed that the man is infected with Yersinia pestis.

 

 

 

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

• World Earth Day was celebrated on April 22^nd.
• World Primary Immunodeficiency week is celebrated from April 22- 29^th, 2012.

Politics and Policies

• The Ministry of Health (Angola) with World Bank and Total E&P Angola has launched a project for the Reinforcement of Municipal Health Services. It aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate in the country.
• American Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d’lviore, has sponsored the project launched by the Ministry of Health – HIV/AIDS hotline- to enable the public- especially the youth-to get information about the disease.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines for couples in which one partner is HIV positive and the other is not. The guidelines for so-called “discordant” couples are being praised by UNAID, Doctors without Borders and others.
• Federal health officials endorsed a decision by their advisor to let publication of two controversial bird flu studies to prepare the world against a possible deadly pandemic.
• Indonesian tobacco companies will be forced by the government to place photos of horrific health problems caused by smoking on ever pack and advisers will be banned from showing cigarettes under a planned governmental regulation.

Programs

• Jeffrey Model Foundation joins 20 countries to Launch World Primary Immunodeficiency Week from April 22- 29. The campaign focuses on early diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment, through public awareness and physician education.
• Eurostat Press Office has released Health in the EU27 in 2010. According to it, at the age of 65, both men and women in the member states are expected to live a further 9 years in a healthy condition.
• Edo (state in Nigeria) receives N1.8 Billion cervical cancer vaccines from an international donor agency. The vaccines will be administered to the girl’s ages between 9 and 13 years in the state.
• The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that obesity and diet related illness could emerge as major challenges for Europe and Central Asia while hunger will only be a minor problem.
• Latest findings in Breastfeeding Science presented at Medela’s 7^th international breastfeeding and lactation symposium in Vienna, Austria on April 20-21, 2012. Presentations include insights into the unique properties of human milk, breastfeeding and medication, and stem cells in human milk.

Research

• Scientists of University of Edinburgh have found a key protein which is common to many potentially fatal forms of malaria. It could help to develop vaccines or drugs against life-threatening cases of the infection.
• A study by U.S. National Institute on Aging showed that more daily exercises, even doing housework can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This prospective, observational cohort study involved 716 participants without dementia who participated in the Rush Memory and Aging Project.
• A survey has revealed the misuse of pesticides, some of them banned, in northern Ghana is affecting the health of the farmers, sometimes with fatal consequences, and contaminating the crops.
• A research study shows Ayurvedic cure of HIV/ AIDS might be possible by the Neem tree.
• A study suggests second-generation drug used for hypertension aids heart function independent of blood pressure effect.
• A study done by the Japanese scientists raise hope for treatment of baldness.
• Report shows a link between money, education and life expectancy.
• University of Illinois researchers have shown how soy protein could significantly reduce fat accumulation and triglycerides in the livers of obese patients by partially restoring the function of a key signaling pathway in the organ.
• An Irish medical study confirms swine flu jab caused increased narcolepsy among those with age groups between five to nineteen years. International experts suggest a number of factors might have contributed to this increased risk.
• Discovery of a yeast prion which helps cells to survive.
• A study published in the journal Biofabrication, describes a new method for making medical devices called nerve guidance conduits or NGC’s which may help severely damaged nerves to regrow and restore function.
• Neuroscientists have discovered key protein responsible for controlling nerve cell protection. It is responsible for controlling the chemical process which reduce or enhance protection mechanism for nerve cells in the brain.
• The researchers at Columbia Medical Center have identified a molecular pathway that controls the retention and release of the brain’s stem cells- ‘Housekeeping’ mechanism.
• A team of scientists have shown that the vessels grown from donor cells are good and natural alternative to synthetic vessels. Animal trials have shown promising results.

Diseases and Disasters

• Earthquake in Chile. Two people died of heart attack.
• Mexico’s Popo volcano throws glowing rocks. Residents of the semirural communities near the volcano have reported hearing hours of ‘low-pitched roaring’.
• About 14 students in Bangladesh have been reported suffering from H1N1.
• In Sri Lanka, dengue fever killed 38, infects 10,000 in a few months.
• A mystery skin disease killed 19 in Vietnam. Officials seeking international assistance on this issue.

 

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:

• Florida and 25 other states have officially requested the Supreme Court of United States to stop Medicaid expansion (Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/30/gvsb0130.htm ).
• National Alzheimer’s proposal outlines strategy to improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease. The Health and Human Services released a proposal on January 9^th which had set a goal of 2025 for developing effective means of preventing and treating this disease (Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/30/hlsa0130.htm ).
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a new drug application for standard review for patients with previously treated Philadelphia chromosome for positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) (Source: http://regulatoryaffairs.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/news/fda-accepts-nda-for-pfizer-cml-drug-300112 )
• Pakistan has asked the World Health Organization (The WHO) to help it to find the epidemic dengue in the country (Source: http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5792252 ).

Programs

• The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appealed for $1.28 billion from the governments to provide humanitarian assistance to children around the world in 2012 (Source: http://channel6newsonline.com/2012/01/unicef-appeals-for-1-28-billion-for-2012-humanitarian-aid/ ).
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $750 million to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/health/gates-donates-750-million-to-global-fund.html ).
• Japan is lending $63mn to Bangladesh for a maternal and child health project (Source: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=483291&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24 ).

Research

• The scientists in China said that they have identified ten susceptibility genes for leprosy. Tis will help to identify high-risk individuals and help in preventing this infectious disease. This discovery is based on a long-term study of more than 20,000 cases at the Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology in east China (Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-01/29/c_131381550.htm ).
• The scientists at Edinburgh’s Center for Regenerative Medicine, who created Dolly, the sheep via cloning have made brain cells from a scrap of skin. They have created brain tissue from patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar depression and other mental illness (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jan/29/brain-cloning-breakthrough-mental-illness ).
• Researchers in Western Australia say drinking at least eight cups of black leaf tea significantly cuts blood pressure (Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9046030/Drinking-eight-teas-a-day-cuts-blood-pressure-and-heart-disease.html ).
• In a systematic review of forty nine studies covering sixteen medicines it was said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) frequently failed to make an impact on prescribing and clinical monitoring (Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/30/prsb0130.htm ).
• In a recent research study, it was seen that more than fifty percent of the devotees coming to a temple in Sri Lanka were having infections with cutaneous larva migrans. The scientists claim that this increased prevalence may be due to the result of flooding subsequent to high rainfalls which brought with it dog feces infected with hook worms. During the temple rituals the devotees go barefoot to the temple and perform side roll, which increase their chances of getting this infection (Source: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0030516  ).
• Using the data on three groups of several thousand people born in Southern Brazil in 1982, 1993 or 2004, the scientists in their study found that there is no link between the children born by Cesarean section and their chances of becoming obese (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/29/us-c-section-idUSTRE80S0PC20120129 ).
• One of the two trial for a drug, Varisolve, for the treatment of Varicose veins have been completed by the British  pharmaceutical firm (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/btg-idUSL5E8CU0LT20120130 )
• Researchers have identified thirty one regions of the human genome which are associated with the circulating metabolites. Many of them are the biomarkers for the cardiovascular disease or related disorders. This discovery might help the scientists to uncover or give valuable insight into the biological processes leading to these diseases (Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-genetic-metabolomic-biomarkers-paths.html ).
• In a study, the researchers found how bacteria are successful in deceiving the effects of vaccine. They swap the region of their genome responsible for making the polysaccharide coating with the same region from a different serotype, which is not a target for vaccine. Thus the bacteria gets effectively disguised. This process is known as recombination (Source: http://truthdive.com/2012/01/30/How-bacteria-behind-serious-childhood-disease-evolve-to-evade-vaccines.html ).

Diseases & Disasters

• A study conducted by Columbia and Yale universities to rank 132 countries on an Environmental Performance Index, India was ranked in having most toxic air in the world (Source: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/global-observer/indias-air-is-the-most-toxic-finds-yale-columbia-study/3470 ).
• Peru drug rehabilitation center caught fire ion Saturday. At least 26 people are said to be killed (Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/01/29/12/least-26-killed-peru-drug-rehab-center-fire-officials ).
• Bird Flu discovered in duck farm in Australia (Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/bird-flu-discovered-at-victorian-duck-farm/story-e6frfkvr-1226255590059 ).
• In a study reported in the Journal of Urology, Arsenic concentrations are quite high in Antofagasta, Chile (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-chile-cancer-idUSTRE80N1YJ20120124 ).
• Bird flu detected in some regions of Tripura, India (Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/others/bird-flu-tripura-culling-begins-583 ).
• The United States have detained three shipments of Brazilian orange juice and six from Canada. They were tested positive for the fungicide carbendazim. This chemical is illegal in the US (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/27/us-fda-juice-idUSTRE80Q1MJ20120127 ).

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/#).

 

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.

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

UNICEF celebrated its 65^th anniversary on December 11, 2011 (Source: http://www.unicefusa.org/news/news-from-the-field/unicef-at-65-looking-back.html).

Politics and Policies

• The US Department of Health and Human Services announced that, beginning in 2014, states will be allowed a basic set of essential health benefits for millions of Americans who would qualify for coverage through state based insurance exchanges (Source: http://www.politicalnewsnow.com/2011/12/17/states-to-weigh-in-on-basic-health-coverage-reuters/).
• The US National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) called for the first ever nation-wide ban on drive use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) while operating a motor vehicle (Source: http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/111213.html).
• The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) have opposed a rule that required the health care facilities workers to have an annual influenza vaccine or they lose their jobs (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/14/idUS205180+14-Dec-2011+GNW20111214).
• First United Nations (UN) report on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, titled, “Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, A.HRC.19.41.” was released on Wednesday, December 15^th, 2011 (Source: http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=35274).
• The United States Conference of Mayors issued a report indicating emergency food assistance increased over the past year by an average of 15%. This report, prepared by City Policy Associates, contains each city (29 cities) survey report with their individual profiles – median household income, the metro unemployment rate, the monthly foreclosure rate, percentage of people in city who fall below the poverty line and contact information for individual service providers (Source: http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/20111215-release-hhr-en.pdf).

Programs

• A drop of about 20% drop in obesity rates seen in New York obese school children from kinder garden to eight grade as a result of the programs which boost physical activity and healthier eating habits (Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-15/school-obesity-rate-dips-in-new-york-from-healthy-habit-programs.html).
• A county program in Chula Vista, California has made fresh food accessible and is hoping to combat obesity and other health related issues (Source: http://www.cbs8.com/story/16344095/new-program-brings-fresh-produce-to-corner-stores).
• Texas’ request to run a family planning program which excludes certain providers has been turned down by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Source: http://www.arcamax.com/politics/politicalnews/s-1008156).

Research

• The IMF has published a Staff Discussion Note on economic growth and income inequality. The note argues that while a certain degree of income inequality can help drive markets, excessive inequality can lead to unsustainable growth (Source: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2011/sdn1108.pdf).
• Research shows link between smoking and skin cancer in women (Source: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthcare/studies/story/2011-12-16/Smoking-linked-to-skin-cancer-in-women/52010190/1).
• Key interventions to reduce maternal, newborn and child deaths identified in three year study “Essential interventions, commodities and guidelines for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health” (Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2011/reduce_maternal_deaths_20111215/en/).
• A significant improvement in factors related to metabolism and heart health was seen in patients with  obstructive sleep apnea, when they wore face mask during their slumber hours, according to a research published in New England Journal of Medicine (Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239280.php).
• Two out of three Americans fear of global disease out breaks, according to a study conducted by EcoHealth Alliance (Source: http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2011/12/survey-assesses-americans-fear-of-global-disease-outbreaks.aspx).
• Study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, Chewing Chat, a natural plant-derived stimulant, increase risk of death and stroke in heart disease patients (Source: http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/herbal-amphetamine-increases-risk-220305.aspx).
• A surveillance study from 2007-08 flu season indicates that people on statins (lipid control drug) protected against flu (Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/dec1511statin.html).

Diseases and Disasters

• More than 430 people died due to the flooding caused by tropical storm in Philippines (Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/typhoons-philippines-drowning-victims.html).
• Louisiana state officials issued a warning about dangers of using tap water of nasal irrigation using neti pot after two people died of infection by “brain eating amoeba”  (Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/InfectionControl/30283).
• According to the first National Diabetes audit (U.K.) about three-quarters of avoidable diabetes-related deaths occur in people over 65 years of age (Source: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/news/up-to-24000-diabetes-related-deaths-are-avoidable-id801239169-t116.html).
• World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals 655,000 deaths in 2010 due to Malaria and Africa accounted for 91% of deaths. UN health agency claims to eradicate this deadly disease by the end of the year 2015 (Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/655-000-malaria-deaths-2010-africa-accounted-91-percent-deaths-article-1.991359).
• In his interview, Oliver Aubry, MSF head of mission in the Central African Republic, says Central Africais in a state of health emergency. Mortality rate reaches emergency levels (Sources: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=5665&cat=field-news, http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=5669&cat=press-release).
• More than 100 people died of drinking contaminated liquor in the villages of West Bengal, India (Sources: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/15/bootleg-booze-kills-143-in-eastern-india/, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/15/india-hooch-idUSL3E7NF2SC20111215).
• Malaysia’s Fourth National Health and Morbidity survey report reveal the unhealthy lifestyle and dietary habits of Malaysian’s (Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/16/nation/10109475&sec=nation).
• The International Diabetes Federation president-elect said by 2025, 380 million people will have diabetes, with the greatest burden falling on low and middle-income countries (Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\12\story_12-12-2011_pg7_23).
• Pakistanfacing acute threat of bird flu infection, though no warnings have been issued yet (Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\12\story_12-12-2011_pg7_2).

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

Global Health News, Week of August 28-September 3

Global Fund round 11 is now open for proposals.

GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

A seven-part webinar series, called the “Outstanding Presentations Workshop,” began this Wednesday and is available for free to all who register. Each one-hour seminar will be streamed live over the next few weeks on Wednesday and will be recorded for later viewing.  Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to improve your presentations and spare your audiences death by PowerPoint. More information is available here, and the schedule can be accessed here.

POLITICS AND POLICY

• In Uganda, the landmark legal case of Jennifer Anguko, a mother who died while she was in labor for 12 hours in a government hospital, will begin in early September.
• Critics of the World Health Organization say it needs to redefine and reposition itself within the increasingly complex and convoluted field of global health. These experts suggest that the world will not suffer if the WHO cuts certain programs while narrowing its focus.
• In the United States, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are promoting the use of IUDs as the “most effective form of reversible contraception available and safe for most women.”
• The Global Fund may cut its contributions to China by half.
• USAID Admin Dr. Raj Shah announced that $23 million in new aid will be directed towards the Horn of Africa crisis.
• Anonymity is no longer a right of people seeking HIV/AIDS tests in China, and the change has lead to a significant drop in the number of tests being performed.
• The Asian Development Bank has called for Asia-Pacific countries to collaborate on combating HIV/AIDS at the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
• Tension between the United States and Pakistan will not prevent USAID from continuing to support health, energy and education systems says the USAID Pakistan Chief.
• The epidemics of diabetes, heart disease and cancers that have stricken the populaces of wealthy countries are spreading to the developing world, yet the United Nations lacks an agreement, let alone an overall goal, on how to limit the preventable illnesses and deaths arising from these so-called non-communicable diseases. The British Medical Journal reports many developed countries, including the U.S. and Canada, are resisting specific targets for reduction in fats, sugars and salt in processed foods.

PROGRAMS

• Overall, more newborn children are surviving, but slower progress in cutting death rates among babies in the first weeks of life is putting the global goal of reducing child deaths by two-thirds in jeopardy.
• One expert says as the question of aid effectiveness has moved to the centre of development debates. If donors want to make their aid more effective, then they need to engage strategically with the private sector.
• In the Washington Post, Michael Gerson makes the “pro-life” case for increased support for contraception and family planning worldwide.
• UNICEF and international NGOs are working to raise awareness and encourage West African communities to invest in the construction of more pit latrines. Pit latrines, say advocates, can drastically reduce the spread of diarrhea, cholera and worms.

RESEARCH

• A study published in Lancet finds that the workers who took part in the efforts to rescue people from the World Trade Center on 9/11 are at a high risk of suffering physical and mental illness.
• A study by the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation in Uganda and Zambia found high rates of syphilis and HIV co-infection among pregnant women, but showed that “integrating rapid syphilis screening and HIV testing for pregnant women was feasible, cost-effective, and helped to prevent transmission of syphilis and HIV from mother-to-child.”
• A genetically engineered virus may be the key to combating cancer, says a group of scientists.
• Believed to only help children under four, researchers have determined that the rotavirus vaccine also reduces deaths in children between the age of five and fourteen.
• Researchers who have tracked Haitian cell phone SIM cards relative to the cholera outbreak are optimistic that their findings will lead to future use of the same technology for other outbreaks.
• Scientists may have found a critical weakness in Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria. Researchers say the discovery provides a promising target for new malaria therapies.
• Engineers at Michigan State University are developing a low-cost mobile phone application that can detect certain types of cancer.
• Danish scientists say mosquito populations are dropping in many parts of Africa, even in parts where there are no human efforts such as insecticide spraying or bed net distributions underway.
• A study published in the British Medical Journal reports a 24% reduction in deaths in children who received vitamin A.
• A new approach to malaria vaccines grows the parasite inside mosquitoes and extracts vaccine components from the salivary gland.

DISEASES AND DISASTERS

• A study published in Nature says that the last three waves of cholera can all be traced back to the Bay of Bengal.
• Despite a massive humanitarian effort after the 2010 earthquake, females in Haiti remain neglected, rights activists say, lacking access to care as they give birth to babies in squalid conditions, often as a result of sex in trade for food or other necessities.
• UN FAO warns that the bird flu is on the rise in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
• Reports from the Libyan capital Tripoli say a humanitarian crisis appears to be emerging following the ouster of long-time ruler Muammar Qaddafi. There is a shortage of medicine, fuel, food, water, and power supplies, and growing piles of uncollected garbage.
• Polio has been reported in China and Kenya.

Thanks to Tom Murphy and Mark Leon Goldberg, Tom Paulson, Isobel Hoskins, and UN Wire.

Global Health News Last Week

POLICY

• Amanda Glassman discusses the debate surrounding a new proposal by the United Network for Organ Sharing to prioritize younger, healthier donors for kidney transplants instead of their current “first come, first served” approach.
• The highly-anticipated new UN agency, UN Women was launched on Thursday. It will be headed by former Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet. Women’s rights advocates argue that domestic violence should be the agency’s top priority.

RESEARCH

• A paper published in Science by a research group at the University of Maryland demonstrates that a fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, can be used to combat the malarial parasite inside the mosquito. Another promising study suggests that a compound produced by a seaweed in Fiji could be used to combat malaria.
• A new study has shown that that Internet kiosks providing information on prenatal and postnatal care have helped reduce infant, child, and maternal mortality rates in rural India.
• A study published by the Harvard School of Public Health last year found that the poorest third of the world’s population account for only 4% of surgeries worldwide, and that over two million people in low-income countries have no access to life-saving surgery.
• The first phase trials of the HIV vaccine developed in India were completed with no side effects reported. Meanwhile, a three-year research trial on a vaginal anti-HIV gel has been launched in Rwanda.
• The Trachoma Atlas, an open-access resource on the geographical distribution of trachoma, was launched by a team of collaborators from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the International Trachoma Initiative at The Task Force for Global Health, and the Carter Center. It is funded by a generous donation from (you guessed it!) the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• The European Solutions Enterprise for Neglected Diseases (euSEND), a new initiative, based in the Netherlands, was launched to aid in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. The organization’s goal is to “take the role of matchmaker” to facilitate partnerships in research for NTD treatments and vaccines.

PROGRAMS

• Swaziland has a large-scale circumcision drive in an attempt to lower HIV rates.
• Cash-transfer programs as a means of assisting the poor are beginning to gain attention and popularity from development and economic professionals. Mexico’s and Brazil’s have captured particular attention and are credited with poverty reduction and GDP growth.
• The first methadone maintenance program in sub-Saharan Africa recently opened in a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Heroin use is a growing problem in port cities, where the drug passes through en route from Afghanistan to Europe.

DISEASES

• WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano published a joint editorial on the growing burden of cancer on the world’s poor and disadvantaged populations.
• H5N1, colloquially known as bird flu, is making a comeback: a report of a Cambodian mother and her infant dying after eating meat from a contaminated chicken is the latest in a series of cases in Indonesia, South Korea, and India.
• here has been an increase in reported cholera cases in three regions in Ghana, where 34 deaths have occurred over the last five months. In Haiti, the WHO has warned of a high risk of cholera during Carnival in the absence of strict hygiene measures.