Month: November 2009

Rotavirus—the most common and lethal form of diarrhea—deadly for children

by Eckhard, posted in Maternal and Child Health, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene

Rotavirus—the most common and lethal form of diarrhea—is one of the most deadly diseases facing children

By Dr. John Wecker, director of the Vaccine Access and Delivery Global Program at PATH

Whether you have heard of rotavirus before or not, it may surprise you to know that you’ve probably had it. Nearly everyone in the world will have at least one rotavirus infection by age 3.

In wealthy countries, ready access to medical care means that few children will die from rotavirus. And with the recent availability of vaccines, the risk of dying, or of ever having to be hospitalized because of rotavirus, has dropped dramatically.

In the developing world, the situation is completely different. Rotavirus—the most common and lethal form of diarrhea—is one of the most deadly diseases a child will face.

This global health crisis can be solved by making rotavirus vaccines widely available in the developing world. The World Health Organization recommends that these vaccines be included in every country’s immunization program. What is lacking is the political will at all levels to make this happen.

Raising awareness about the toll of this disease and the promise that vaccines hold to save lives is critical for building political will. Recently, the scientific Journal of Infectious Diseases released a special supplement on rotavirus, Global Rotavirus Surveillance: Preparing for the Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccines. It provides a comprehensive review of the latest information about rotavirus disease and the role that vaccination can play.

Not only is rotavirus not well known as a major killer of children worldwide, but the fact that diarrheal disease is responsible for the death of 1.5 million young children each year in developing countries is lost on a world that takes for granted access to sanitation, clean water and basic health services. In a recent New York Times story the chief of health at UNICEF, Mickey Chopra, was quoted as saying, “All the attention has gone to more glamorous diseases, but this basic thing has been left behind. It’s a forgotten disease.”

Included below is a short release on the special rotavirus supplement.

To access the supplement, please visit: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/jid/200/s1.

For more information on rotavirus, read: Common Virus and Senseless Killer: Briefing Paper on Rotavirus

Learn more at www.PATH.org or www.EDDControl.org

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Water and Public Health

by Karen, posted in APHA IH Section, MDGs / SDGs, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene

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The theme of APHA’s annual meeting is Water and Public Health. During the opening general session Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) underlined the effects of climate change on human health, the new challenges faced by global health and the importance of access to safe water. Dr. Periago reinforced that combining water, sanitation and hygiene interventions can reduce up to 80% of the preventable water borne and related disease. The Millennium Development Goal target for 7c is to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Dr. Periago stated that a one dollar investment in water and sanitation provides a $46 savings in social and development cost. The ideal would be to have water, climate change and equity addressed in a combined sustainable approach.

Celine Cousteau reinforced the importance of the connection between people and the environment. Ms. Cousteau is a story teller whose passion preserving our natural resources is equaled by her passion to bring health care to the indigenous people of the Vale do Javari reserve in Brazil. The film Amazon Promise is a celebration of one organization’s goal to bring health care to those in need…. the same passion found in so many of our public health workers around the globe.

APHA Annual Meeting Begins!

by Karen, posted in APHA IH Section

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The 2009 Annual APHA meeting has officially begun! The International Health Section has assembled a list of sessions and meetings related to international health for your use. Our blogs from the conference will provide a glimpse into the vast knowledge shared by our colleagues. The conference will continue through November 7, we hope you enjoy it.

World Pneumonia Day

by Melissa, posted in Maternal and Child Health, Stories from the Field

November 2, 2009 is the first annual World Pneumonia Day, recognizing the world’s leading child killer as a global public health issue. A network of nearly 100 IGO, NGO, research and academic institutions, foundations, and community-based organizations have joined forces to raise awareness and urge governments and policymakers to combat this preventable illness. Each year, over 2 million children under the age of five die from pneumonia and pneumonia-related complications.

Although this is a great venture, it is surprising to see that this is the first campaign of its kind. Being the leading killer of children, it is outrageous to know this disease is not only treatable, but preventable. It leads me to wonder: “Why hasn’t more been done?” Mary Beth Powers, Campaign Chief of Save the Children said in an interview about pneumonia, “The sad thing is this is a disease that is largely preventable, and highly treatable.” This is not a disease that requires decades of scientific research to find a cure. Watch the movie.

According to leading public health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, many deaths can be prevented through early vaccination, proper medication (antibiotics) and nutrition, and vitamin supplements, such as zinc that is not typically found in a lower-income diet. Read more about the cause, prevention and treatment of pneumonia at the World Pneumonia Day website.

I would encourage everyone to spread the word about World Pneumonia Day, so greater awareness is made. The coalition firmly believes these deaths can be avoided, and encourages others to join the fight against pneumonia by:

1. Signing the pledge to fight pneumonia
2. Joining the coalition
3. Donating to the cause
4. Educating others about pneumonia prevention, diagnosis and treatment
5. Participating in a World Pneumonia Day event

Killing Health Reform: Not This Time

by sbanoob, posted in Health Systems, Policy and Advocacy

 By Samir N. Banoob, M.D, Ph.D.*

“ The administration inherited a basket of bad apples from its predecessor: the budget deficit, the recession, a week economy and unemployment to mention a few. Among the problems, the health care crisis is the worst by far”

This quote is not recent since I published it on February 7, 1993 in the St Pete Times, an article titled “Health Care: Painful Remedies are needed” 

I was referring to the Clinton administration and the President’s promise to produce his Health Security act within the first administration 100 days. As a reminder, at that time Republicans raised the issues of big government, increasing the deficit, government taking over health care, eliminating choices, more taxation, hurting the private sector and the rest of the same old story. Moreover, they introduced 6 more health plan proposals to the Congress until the whole reform issue faded away and was dropped. This was paralleled with an aggressive heavily funded campaign lead by the Republican Party, insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry and others. Since then, and until 2008, every Democratic presidential candidate, learning the lesson the hard way, dropped the health insurance and universal coverage from his agenda.

In 1994, I published an article in the Florida Journal of Public Health (vol VI, no1) on “Reforming Health Care in the US and Europe: Why we Fail and They Succeed? “ It said: “Why health reforms succeed in all western countries?  They established concrete health policies of universal access and user-friendly systems in the 30s and the 40s, guided by a solid commitment to national welfare and social solidarity. Second, the voice of interest groups is not so loud, and if it becomes so, its impact on policy-making is minimal since policy makers’ behaviors are put under stringent scrutiny of their well-informed voters. Third, the government and the elected representatives, who are elected by the watchful voters, are more trusted, and the government is allowed to govern, and elected representatives make decisions in the public interest”
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– * Samir Banoob, M.D, D.M, DPH, Ph.D. is a professor of international health policy and management and consultant to WHO, World Bank and international agencies who consulted with 76 countries.

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