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.