Global Health News – IH CONNECT

Ethiopia Has Reached MDG 4

September 24, 2013 by nsoleye, posted in APHA IH Section

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are goals the United Nations and its global partners established in 2000. There are eight goals focused on addressing worldwide social issues including poverty, health, hunger, inequality, education, environment, and sustainability with the target to make measurable improvements in all these areas by 2015.

Earlier this month, UNICEF released a report outlining trends and progress towards MDG 4, which is to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. The report highlights work being done to meet this MDG, as well as challenges and disparities that have slowed progress.

One of the biggest takeaways from the report is that Ethiopia has already achieved MDG 4 despite facing major obstacles such as a severe shortage of health professionals (there is only one doctor for every 36,000 people). The driving forces behind this achievement included strong commitment from the Ethiopian government, support from external organizations, and the use of innovative programs to reach communities throughout the country. Ethiopia joins Bangladesh, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Timor-Leste, and United Republic of Tanzania as another high-mortality country that reached MDG 4 before 2015.

This news is quite timely considering the 68^th session of the UN General Assembly opened last week with a focus on defining a post-2015 development agenda. As 2015 approaches, I am eager to see increased analysis of MDG progress and heightened discussions among members of the international development community about what’s next for global health. Stay tuned!

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

January 3, 2012August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in APHA IH Section

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.

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

January 3, 2012August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in News

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

December 12, 2011August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in News

From December 4 to 10, the US Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) celebrated National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). It was an effort to spread the message of the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FightTheFlu/?s_cid=fb1293)

On December 10, 2011, Human Rights Day was observed . (Source: http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2011/index.shtml)

Politics and Policies

President Obama approved the decision to limit the morning after pill. His administration overruled the decision to make this pill available over the counter for the girls aged 17 years or younger. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/us/obama-backs-aides-stance-on-morning-after-pill.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=policy&adxnnlx=1323604933-CM1yLsRFtM9NYMVPd6JSJA)
Payroll tax package released by the Republicans would delay for the next two years , 27.4% payment cut for the doctors who accept / are paid via the Medicare plan. (Source: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/198389-house-gop-introduces-payroll-tax-package?page=2#comments and http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-kbpjjkZz4s9rbfbxxs2LOwTH-w?docId=46892985f4614d5399a9c6540c119fa0)

Programs

At the 16^th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and STIs, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced “Rapid Advice” document that presents a guidance on the diagnosis, prevention and management of cryptococcal disease in HIV-infected adults, adolescents and children, with a focus on settings with limited health systems capacity and resources, and a high burden of the disease. It will be officially launched in March 2012. (Source: http://www.panapress.com/WHO-gives-guidelines-on-cryptococcus-disease—15-809357-29-lang2-index.html)
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new vaccine “MenAfriVac” for the elimination of a deadly group A meningitis strain. It will be introduced by Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad who are in “Meningitis belt.” (Source: http://www.afriquejet.com/meningitis-vaccine-nigeria-cameroon-chad-to-use-new-meningitis-vaccine-2011121029299.html)
The United Nations (UN) sanctioned $6 million fund to alleviate the sufferings of people from food shortages in Niger. (Source: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40645&Cr=+niger+&Cr1=)
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced funding of $14.5 million for school based clinics. (Source: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2011/December/09/hhs-school-grants.aspx)
A five day campaign against polio has been launched by Congolese Minister of Health and Population. (Source: http://www.afriquejet.com/campaign-polio-congo-2011120929262.html)

Research

Satellite images used to track diseases by the Princeton researchers. (Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-57340232-247/princeton-researchers-use-satellite-images-to-track-disease/)
Research by University of California, San Diego shows a link between high starch diet and the recurrence of breast cancer. (Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2072000/White-bread-pasta-rich-diet-increases-risk-breast-cancer-returning.html)
An inherited mutated gene from father can lead to the development of cancer of breast in women. (Source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2011/12/10/dads-genes-can-speed-cancer.html)
Abortion not related to risk of development of mental illness. (Source: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/womenshealth/story/2011-12-09/Study-Abortion-doesnt-raise-mental-illness-risk/51762674/1)
A research study published in Journal of Sexual Medicine states that women may be able to smell men with sexually transmitted disease (STIs). (Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/men-stds-give-unpleasant-smell-women-study-found-gonorrhea-infected-men-putrid-article-1.989292)
Gene therapy is the new treatment of patients with various hematological disorders. It involves replacing the defective gene with the intact version. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/health/research/hemophilia-b-gene-therapy-breakthrough.html)
The MRI scans used to understand the brain damage caused by Cerebral Malaria by a researcher of Michigan State University. (Source: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20111209/MSU-researcher-uses-MRI-to-unlock-how-cerebral-malaria-damages-brain.aspx)

Diseases and Disasters

An earthquake of intensity 5.8 had hit Ryukyu Islands of Japan on Sunday December 11, 2011 at 10:22:44 AM. (Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc000753q.php#details)
Fire at the Advanced Medical Research Institute hospital in Kolkata, India lead to the death of 92 people. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/world/india-hospital-fire-kolkata-west-bengal.html)
The United Nation (UN) issued a child malnutrition warning for Africa’s Sahel region. (Source: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40687&Cr=sahel&Cr1=)
First West Nile Virus case confirmed in the Palm Beach County, Florida. Public asked to take precautions. (Source: http://www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=4364)
Brazil develops a new formula for the pediatric patients for Chagas disease treatment. (Source: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20111209/New-pediatric-formula-for-Chagas-disease-treatment-developed-in-Brazil.aspx)
In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced a new regimen for latent tuberculosis infection. It is an effective treatment which involves just one-third time of the current therapy. (Source: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20111209/Shorter-effective-treatment-for-latent-TB-infection.aspx)

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

Global Health Weekly News Round-up

November 30, 2011August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in News

Politics and Policies

The US federal government has awarded Iowa $7 million to prepare a computerized system that will help the small businesses and individuals to find affordable coverage. (Source: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/11/29/feds-give-state-7-million-for-insurance-exchange-planning/ )
US federal agency has rejected Indiana’s bid for an exemption from federal health care. (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57332830/feds-reject-ind-request-for-health-care-exemption/ )
The House of Delegates, at its interim meeting in November, directed the AMA to use screening tools from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and others to identify the patients likely to abuse prescription drugs. (Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/11/28/prsd1128.htm )
From December 7-9, 2011, Kenya will hold its first national human resources for health conference which will avail a platform for placing health as a priority in the health strategy and national development towards vision 2030. The theme of the conference will be “Renewing commitment to the health workforce towards achievement of MDGs and vision 2030”. (Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201111291193.html )
AstraZeneca Canada Inc., in partnership with mindyourbody and Physical and Health Educators (PHE) of Canada, together with the active involvement of the youth, has organized a program in Ontario, Canada. It is focused on improving the mental health and emotional well-being of vulnerable adolescents. (Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/505390 )
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be posting no smoke signs within 15 feet of bus stops in Austin, Texas, beginning from February 1^st 2012 to prevent the non-smokers from inhaling the secondhand smoke. (Source: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/opinion/2011/11/28/capmetros-policy-breath-fresh-air )
A recent study done by Dr. Avi Dor, professor in the Department of Health Policy at the GW School of Public Health and Health Services indicates a need to develop policies to encourage medication compliance which will lead to cost savings through healthcare system in the long run. (Source: http://www.newswise.com/articles/higher-patient-adherence-to-disease-modifying-therapies-reduced-costs-for-ms-patients )
An invitation for the bid for consultant on public health authorities’ activities with the aim to protect the environment has been issued by the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan. (Source: http://abc.az/eng/news_29_11_2011_60039.html )

Programs

The first WHO European Conference on the New European Policy for Health – Health 2020, held in Jerusalem, Israel has called for working together across sectors for health and well-being. (Source: http://www.epha.org/spip.php?article4859 )
In the 44^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, it was said that Healthy People 2010 met the goal of lower CVD deaths in CKD patients. (Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/754362 )
The Global Fund will not be able to fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria until the year 2014. (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57331033/massive-global-health-fund-says-its-broke/ )

Research

A study done by a team at Harvard University involving stem cell transplant in the brain circulatory of mice could pave a way for effective treatment of Parkinson’s disease and autism. (Source: http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2659553.ece )
According to a study done by the scientists at Indiana School of Medicine in Indianapolis, playing video games can make you aggressive. The research showed that the areas of the brain most affected were the left inferior frontal lobe and the anterior cingulate cortex. Once the gamers stopped playing, these areas of brain came back to normal. (Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Lifestyle/Wellness/Violent-video-games-make-you-aggressive/Article1-775010.aspx )
In a recent study done by scientists at Harvard School of Public Health, a relationship was found between coffee consumption and rate of occurrence of endometrial cancer. They found an inverse relationship and found that the women who drank four or more cups of coffee had significant reduction (25%) in the risk of endometrial cancer than those who limit themselves to one cup of coffee per day. (Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Lifestyle/Wellness/Four-cups-of-coffee-can-prevent-womb-cancer/Article1-773052.aspx )
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a new wet AMD drug known as EYLEA. This drug, when injected into the eye, will prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye under retina to prevent their bleeding and preventing an abnormal blood loss. (Source: http://www.ffb.ca/research/research_news/eyelea.html )
A new treatment for severe emphysema has been brought to light by the team of doctors at Thoraxklinik in Heidelberg, Germany. They used first endoscopic lung volume reduction system known as InterVapor that does not leave any foreign materials in the lungs but utilizes the body’s self-healing process for the treatment of this problem. (Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/idUS125291+29-Nov-2011+PRN20111129 )

Diseases and Disasters

According to a CDC report, of the 1.2 million Americans who have HIV, 20% are unaware of their status. (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57333212-10391704/cdc-240000-americans-have-hiv-and-dont-know-it/?tag=pop;stories )
Egyptian scientists prepare an anti-diabetes drug from balsam pear. It has properties similar to bovine insulin and it will be taken orally, which will be a relief for the patients on insulin injections. (Source: http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/egyptian-scientists-to-make-diabetes-drug-from-bitter-fruit.html )
The 2010 data indicates that in India, the state of Andhra Pradesh has the highest prevalence of HIV/ AIDS. (Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2663262.ece )
Nearly 6% of the population of Pakistan (about 10 million people) are infected with hepatitis C (Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C11%5C28%5Cstory_28-11-2011_pg7_4 )
The children in South Sudan are dying of preventable diseases. According to the UN, malaria is a hyper-epidemic in this country. It is said to be one of the biggest causes of miscarriage in pregnancy. (Source: http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/s-sudan-children-dying-of-preventable-diseases-1.1188555 )
The countries in East Africa have been hit by the nanana wilt and the Cassava Brown Streak disease which has affected the household incomes and raised the famine threat. A warning has been issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (Source: http://digitaljournal.com/article/315074 )

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

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