Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Malaria........................................................................................................................ 13
A geographical location model for targeted implementation of lure-and-kill strategies against disease-transmitting mosquitoes in rural areas..................................................................... 13 Intermittent preventive therapy for malaria with monthly artemether-lumefantrine for the post-discharge management of severe anaemia in children aged 4-59 months in southern Malawi: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial ................................................. 14 The Activities of Current Antimalarial Drugs on the Life Cycle Stages of Plasmodium: A Comparative Study with Human and Rodent Parasites........................................................ 14 Mobile Phone Text Messaging: Tool for Malaria Control in Africa ........................................ 14 External Evaluation of the Presidents Malaria Initiative - Final Report ................................ 15
Tuberculosis ............................................................................................................... 15
The global rise of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: is the time to bring back sanatoria now overdue?........................................................................................................................ 15 Tuberculosis and HIV Co-Infection ....................................................................................... 15
Essential Medicines.................................................................................................... 16
A Blank Cheque for Abuse: The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and its Impact on Access to Medicines............................................................................................. 16 Counterfeit drugs: a growing global threat ............................................................................ 17 The Interagency Emergency Health Kit 2011 ....................................................................... 17 HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria Medicines Landscape .......................................................... 17
Human Resources...................................................................................................... 20
Human resources for health care delivery in Tanzania: a multifaceted problem .................. 20
Education ................................................................................................................... 22
A ten point plan for transforming aid to education ................................................................ 22 The Training for Health Equity Network: THEnets Social Accountability Evaluation Framework ............................................................................................................................ 22 School Fees and Primary Education in Sub Saharan Africa, 1970-2010 ............................. 23 Transitional Learning Spaces (TLS)...................................................................................... 23 The Promise of Preschool in Africa: A Randomized Impact Evaluation of Early Childhood Development in Rural Mozambique ...................................................................................... 23
Accelerating Equitable Achievement of the MDGs: Closing the Gaps in Health and Nutrition in Asia and the Pacific ........................................................................................................... 25 Indias Progress towards the health related Millennium Development Goals: Child Mortality ............................................................................................................................................... 25
Development Assistance............................................................................................ 25
Leading from Behind in Public-Private Partnerships?........................................................... 25 Promoting evidence-based decision-making in development agencies ............................... 26 Rethinking Health Sector Wide Approaches through the lens of Aid Effectiveness ............. 26
Others......................................................................................................................... 26
UNEP Year Book 2012: Emerging issues in our global environment ................................... 26 AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals................................................................... 27 Well-being and Global Success ............................................................................................ 27
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES............................................ 29
WHO training and capacity building: quality assurance & medicines safety ........................ 29
CONFERENCES................................................................ 30
4th Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine 2012 ............................................. 30 The Third Peoples Health Assembly PHA3....................................................................... 30 XIX International AIDS Conference 2012.............................................................................. 30 Berlin 10 Open Access Conference ...................................................................................... 30
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BOOKS
Health Policy and Systems Research: A Methodology Reader
Edited by Lucy Gilson Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, February 2012 474 pp. 7.0 MB: http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/resources/alliancehpsr_reader.pdf Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) is often criticized for lacking rigour, providing a weak basis for generalization of its findings and, therefore, offering limited value for policy-makers. This Reader aims to address these concerns through supporting action to strengthen the quality of HPSR. The Reader is primarily for researchers and research users, teachers and students, particularly those working in low- and middleincome countries. It provides guidance on the defining features of HPSR and the critical steps in conducting research in this field. ***
The story that this book has to tell is not the happiest - widespread evidence from across the developing world that many kids who sit in classrooms for years often learn almost nothing for their time. One big factor behind that low return to class time is the grim quality of teaching. Educators often absent from the classroom, who fail tests on the material they are meant to be instructing, using syllabi designed for only the most able students. Reading the book makes you somewhat sceptical about the speed with which such quality problems are likely to be fixed. And one response to that grim quality is to look beyond the teacher - and the classroom - to technologies that can help learning. ***
Cities and Flooding: A Guide to Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management for the 21st Century
by Abhas K. Jha, Robin Bloch, Jessica Lamond International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - The World Bank, 2012 638 pp. 13.8 MB(!): http://www.gfdrr.org/gfdrr/sites/gfdrr.org/files/urbanfloods/pdf/Cit ies%20and%20Flooding%20Guidebook.pdf Urban flooding is a serious and growing development challenge. It is a global phenomenon which causes widespread devastation, economic damages and loss of human lives. The guide provides forward-looking operational assistance to policy makers and technical specialists in the rapidly expanding cities and towns of the developing world on how best to manage the risk of floods. It takes a strategic approach, in which appropriate risk management measures are assessed, selected and integrated in a process that both informs and involves the full range of stakeholders. ***
652 pp. 6.9 MB: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/information/focus/access/articles_p ublications/publications/age-of-intellectual-property-20101110/age-ofintellectual-property-20101110.pdf This book charts the rise of the access to knowledge (A2K) movement and features 32 essays on A2K. It aims to make accessible a diverse range of subject matter, including: access to medicines and agricultural biotechnology; software patents; food security; the public domain; remix culture (a culture which allows and encourages derivative works); free expression; and semiotic democracy (any reworking of cultural imagery by someone who is not the original author).
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
Global Health The Global Health Strategy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, October 2011 60 pp. 19.2 MB(!): http://globalhealth.gov/pdfs/GlobalHealthSecretary.pdf The health of Americans and the health of people around the world are more closely linked than ever before. This interconnectedness offers both opportunities and challenges. To meet the needs of individuals, communities, and countries, a systematic approach to global health is required. The Global Health Strategy comprises three fundamental goals and ten key objectives that contribute to achieving the Department of Health and Human Services global health vision of a healthier, safer world. ***
WHO Regional Office for Europe has carried out a baseline assessment of the magnitude of environmental health inequality in the European Region based on a core set of 14 inequality indicators. The main findings of the assessment report indicate that socioeconomic and demographic inequalities in risk exposure are present in all countries and need to be tackled throughout the Region. However, the report also demonstrates that each country has a specific portfolio of inequalities, documenting the need for country-specific inequality assessments and tailored interventions on the national priorities. ***
HIV - AIDS - STI The Evolving Landscape of the Economics of HIV Treatment and Prevention
by Bohdan Nosyk and Julio S. G. Montaner PLoS Med 9(2): e1001174 (February 14, 2012) 2 pp. 63 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=463D73BAF6AE7057 FFA9FBA589C88A00?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001174&representation=PDF
In this Essay the authors argue that the cost-effectiveness of HAART roll out has been significantly underestimated, as economic analyses have thus far not considered the secondary benefits of HAART, chief among them the impact of HAART on HIV transmission. They argue that the strategic value of expanded HIV testing and expansion of HAART coverage has dramatically increased. This has opened the door for the possibility of wide-scale implementation of Seek, Test, Treat and Retain programs as a means to control HIV- and AIDS-related morbidity, mortality, and transmission at once. ***
Preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV within HIV Proposals Funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
by Manjula Lusti-Narasimhan, Rhea Bright, Francis Ndowa and Susana Salgado Pires J Womens Health Care 2012, 1:1 5 pp. 751 kB: http://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/JWHC/JWHC-1-101.pdf The objective of this study is to analyze interventions for the prevention of mother-tochild-transmission of HIV (PMTCT) included in HIV proposals approved for funding by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). The Global Fund is one of the largest donors and this study shows interventions that countries could capitalize on to scale-up PMTCT efforts as well as synergize efforts in linking with other global and national initiatives in maternal, reproductive, and child health. ***
Loss-to-follow-up among patients on antiretroviral treatment is a major challenge in resource-constrained settings. A model of cooperation between a Mdecins Sans Frontires HIV-clinic and a non-governmental-organisation network was piloted in a Mumbai slum. A steady decline in delayed appointments and loss-to-follow-up was observed over a four years period. ***
Medical practitioner versus traditional healers: Implications for HIV & AIDS policy
by Malefetsane Soai Consultancy Africa Intelligence (CAI), February 2012 Read online at:
http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=956:medical-practitionerversus-traditional-healers-implications-for-hiv-a-aids-policy-&catid=61:hiv-aids-discussion-papers&Itemid=268
Despite the negative sentiments against traditional healers in favour of the conventional medical system, the developing world, especially Africa and China, constitutes the largest market for the production, selling and consumption of traditional medicine. This discussion paper explores the role traditional healers have played and have yet to play in the fight against HIV & AIDS. It will address the gaps between the two health systems, examine the damage caused by the two warring sides, and finish with the policy implications that should be considered. ***
Sexual & Reproductive Health WHO upholds guidance on hormonal contraceptive use and HIV
16 February 2012 A study published in Lancet Infectious Diseases in October 2011 suggested that hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill or injectable contraceptives, may increase a woman's risk of HIV infection. It also found that women living with HIV and using hormonal contraception may be more likely to transmit the virus to their partner than women who did not use hormonal contraception. WHO has concluded, on the advice of its Guidelines Review Committee, that women living with HIV or at high risk of HIV can safely continue to use hormonal contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Current WHO recommendations in the Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (2009 edition, see below) therefore remain: there are no restrictions on the use of any hormonal contraceptive method for women living with HIV or at high risk of HIV.
Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: The role of Alternative Rites of Passage
A case study of Kisii and Kuria districts by Habil Oloo, Monica Wanjiru, Katy Newell-Jones Population Council, Kenya in partnership with Feed the Minds, UK, March 2011 42 pp. 3.7 MB: http://www.feedtheminds.org/downloads/FGM%20Report_March2011.pdf
This research was undertaken to better understand Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as currently practised by the Kuria and Kisii communities. The findings show that FGM is still a celebrated public event among the Kuria, dictated by the decrees from the Council of Elders, which decides when circumcision should take place. In Kisii, FGM is a private family affair, usually without public celebration, often in secret. Education is seen as an important factor in the abandonment of FGM in Kisii and Kuria, with schools providing a valuable forum in which to address FGM. ***
Maternal & Child Health Strengthening the Global Financing Architecture for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Options for Action
by Christina Schrade, Marco Schferhoff, Gavin Yamey et al. Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), 2011 70 pp. 1.1 MB: http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/press_materials/pr/2011/strengthening_global_a idarchitecture.pdf HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 10
Although significant progress has been made in the last decade towards the health MDGs, MDGs 4 and 5 will not be reached according to the latest projections. One reason is that the current aid financing architecture for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) may not be structured in a way that optimally facilitates the mobilization and channelling of financing and the rapid scale-up of RMNCH interventions. This report examines options for improving this aid architecture in order to accelerate progress towards MDGs 4 and 5. ***
Positioning womens and childrens health in African Union policy-making: A policy analysis
by Kadidiatou Toure, Rotimi Sankore, Shyama Kuruvilla et al. Globalization and Health 2012, 8:3 (16 February 2012) 33 pp. 1.1 MB: http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/pdf/1744-8603-8-3.pdf With limited time to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, progress towards improving womens and childrens health needs to be accelerated. With Africa accounting for over half of the worlds maternal and child deaths, the African Union (AU) has a critical role in prioritizing related policies and catalysing required investments and action. In this paper, the authors assess the evolution of African Union policies related to womens and childrens health, and analyze how these policies are prioritized and framed. ***
Improving Access to Life Saving Maternal Health Services: The Effects of Removing User Fees for Caesareans in Mali
by Marianne El-Khoury, Timothee Gandaho, Aneesa Arur et al. Ministry of Health Mali and Health Systems 20/20 Project, April 2011 50 pp. 499 kB: http://www.healthsystems2020.org/files/2837_file_Mali_Report_E n_FIN_April_2011.pdf Mali has a high maternal mortality ratio. At the same time, access to caesarians and other life saving obstetric care is extremely low. The authors examined the impact of the free caesarean policy introduced by the government in 2005. The study examines the effects of the policy on access to caesareans, assesses equity of utilization across socioeconomic groups, and identifies important remaining access barriers. Findings from the study will be used to define future interventions or programmatic changes to reduce maternal mortality. ***
veloped and developing countries. Because of its importance as a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, and because of evidence of substandard care in the majority of fatal cases, obstetric haemorrhage must be considered as a priority topic for national guideline development. ***
Breaking the Cycle of Violence - Building a Future for the Most Excluded
by Helena Wygard, Alex Pearce, David Luhnow et al Safe Families Safe Children (SFSC) Coalition, 2011 68 pp. 3.6 MB: http://zunia.org/uploads/media/knowledge/SFSCweb1329991840.pdf The booklet is designed to give an overview of a strategy for working with excluded children and families affected by violence in the home. It is not intended to be comprehensive in its reach, and neither is it meant to be an operational manual. We hope it will give a flavour of what this strategy looks like in practice and promote thinking and discussion around the critical issues of how to achieve inclusion for highly excluded children and solve the intergenerational transmission of family violence. ***
Small World, Big Responsibility: The UKs role in the global trade in children
by Erica Hall, Philippa Lei, Kayte Fairfax World Vision UK, February 2012 42 pp. 8.2 MB: http://www.worldvision.org.uk/upload/pdf/Trade_in_children.pdf This report seeks to provide a snapshot of how child exploitation is part of a global trade operating in the world today. And its a lucrative business. Human trafficking is thought to be the third biggest international organised crime, after the drugs and arms trade. An estimated 20% of trafficking victims are children. But child exploitation goes far beyond the act of trafficking a child. Violence, fragility and poverty weaken structures that protect children from exploitation, such as formal child protection systems and the basic family unit, and disrupt livelihood strategies.
Malaria A geographical location model for targeted implementation of lure-and-kill strategies against disease-transmitting mosquitoes in rural areas
Robert D. Sumaye, Dickson W. Lwetoijera, Edith P. Madumla et al. MalariaWorld Journal, 1 February 2012, Vol. 3, No. 1 13 pp. 2.8 MB: http://www.malariaworld.org/sites/default/files/MWJ_2012_3_1.pdf This article describes the use of distribution patterns of human and mosquito populations as well as characteristics of candidate outdoor interventions, showing that it is possible to readily determine suitable areas for targeted positioning of odour-baited lure and kill stations, to improve vector control interventions. This study also highlights possibilities of relying on community knowledge to approximate areas where mosquitoes are most abundant and where to locate outdoor complementary interventions such as odour-baited lure and kill stations for controlling disease-transmitting mosquitoes.
Intermittent preventive therapy for malaria with monthly artemetherlumefantrine for the post-discharge management of severe anaemia in children aged 4-59 months in southern Malawi: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
by Kamija Phiri, Michael Esan, Michael Boele van Hensbroek et al. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Vol. 12, Issue 3, pp. 191-200, March 2012 10 pp. 325 kB: http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473309911703206.pdf Young children with severe malarial anaemia in Africa are at high risk of re-admittance to hospital or death within 6 months of discharge. The authors aimed to assess whether 3 months of chemoprevention with artemether-lumefantrine reduced this risk. They conclude that in areas with intense malaria transmission, chemoprevention with intermittent preventive therapy post-discharge given to children with severe malarial anaemia might reduce rates of re-admittance to hospital for severe anaemia or malaria. ***
The Activities of Current Antimalarial Drugs on the Life Cycle Stages of Plasmodium: A Comparative Study with Human and Rodent Parasites
by Michael Delves, David Plouffe, Christian Scheurer et al. PLoS Med 9(2): e1001169 (21 February 2012) 14 pp. 1.2 MB: http://www.plos.org/media/press/2012/plme-09-02-leroy.pdf Little is known about the wider stage-specific activities of current antimalarials that were primarily designed to alleviate symptoms of malaria in the blood stage. To overcome this critical gap, the authors developed assays to measure activity of antimalarials against all life stages of malaria parasites, using a diverse set of human and nonhuman parasite species. The data enable objective comparisons of the strengths and weaknesses of each chemical class at targeting each stage of the lifecycle. This study might reveal the potential of life-cycle-wide analyses of drugs for other pathogens with complex life cycles. ***
Effective malaria control depends on the range of routinely collected and timely reported health facility data. The rapid expansion of mobile network coverage and the widespread availability of basic handsets have the potential to substantively bridge the communication gap. The authors discuss six areas where text messaging could improve the delivery of health services and health outcomes in malaria in Africa. Future priorities are cost-effectiveness evaluations, qualitative research, and studies measuring impact on the processes of care and health outcomes.
Tuberculosis The global rise of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: is the time to bring back sanatoria now overdue?
by Keertan Dheda and Giovanni B Migliori The Lancet, Vol. 379, Issue 9817, pp. 773-775, 25 February 2012 3 pp. 928 kB: http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140673611610623.pdf Before effective treatment for tuberculosis became available thousands of people spent time in sanatoria in the hope of a cure through fresh air, sunlight, adequate nutrition, and micronutrients such as calcium. Surgical techniques to promote part or complete lung collapse (e.g. artificial pneumothorax, plombage, and thoracoplasty) were also used. Although no controlled studies have established the effectiveness of these interventions, the existence of sanatoria led to long-term removal of infectious patients from the community. ***
Tuberculosis is the most common cause of AIDS-related death. Thus, M. tuberculosis and HIV act in synergy, accelerating the decline of immunological functions and leading to subsequent death if untreated. The mechanisms behind the breakdown of the immune defense of the co-infected individual are not well known. The aim of this review is to highlight immunological events that may accelerate the development of one of the two diseases in the presence of the co-infecting organism. The authors describe gaps in knowledge and needs for future studies to develop preventive measures against the two diseases.
Other Infectious Diseases Accelerating Work to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Roadmap for Implementation
by Lorenzo Savioli, Denis Daumerie, David W.T. Crompton WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2012 42 pp. 478 kB:
http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/NTD_RoadMap_2012_Fullversion.pdf
Efforts to combat the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) reached a turning point in 2007, when global partners committed to support WHO goals by working together in an innovative, flexible and cost-effective way. This roadmap paper represents the next step to eliminate NTDs or at least reduce their impact to minimum levels. ***
Essential Medicines A Blank Cheque for Abuse: The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and its Impact on Access to Medicines
Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) Briefing Document updated February 2012 9 pp. 521 kB: http://www.msfaccess.org/sites/default/files/MSF_assets/Access/ Docs/Access_Briefing_ACTABlankCheque_ENG_2012.pdf As a treatment provider, Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) is deeply concerned about the impact of the enforcement agenda on the production and supply of affordable, legitimate medicines. We urge contracting States not to sign or ratify ACTA unless all concerns related to access to medicines are fully addressed. MSF has been increasingly concerned by proliferation of enforcement measures that harm access to medicines and which have been pushed in a number of different forms as a part of free trade agreements, international treaties, domestic legislation and customs regulations. ***
Social Protection Effect of a cash transfer programme for schooling on prevalence of HIV and herpes simplex type 2 in Malawi: a cluster randomised trial
by Sarah J Baird, Richard S Garfein, Craig T McIntosh et al. The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 15 February 2012 10 pp. 209 kB: http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140673611617091.pdf Lack of education and an economic dependence on men are often suggested as important risk factors for HIV infection in women. The authors conclude that cash transfer programmes can reduce HIV and HSV-2 infections in adolescent schoolgirls in lowincome settings. Structural interventions that do not directly target sexual behaviour change can be important components of HIV prevention strategies. ***
Evaluating Conditional Cash Transfers to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Tanzania
by Damien de Walque, William H. Dow, Rose Nathan et al. The RESPECT Study, 2011 4 pp. 131 kB: http://paa2011.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=112619 This study evaluates a randomized intervention that uses economic incentives to reduce risky sexual behavior among young people aged 18-30 and their spouses in rural Tanzania. The goal is to prevent HIV, other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy by linking cash rewards to negative STI test results assessed every 4 months. This paper reports initial results of the randomized controlled trial, finding that enrollees offered US$ 20 incentives experienced 25% lower STI prevalence than the control arm enrollees after one year. ***
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Aid effectiveness in the water and sanitation sector
by Jeske Verhoeven, Erma Uytewaal, Jean de la Harpe IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (Published December 2011 - updated January 2012) 87 pp. 3.3 MB: http://www.irc.nl/content/download/166305/656167/file/26_TOP_Ai d_effectiveness_in_the_WASH_sector2011.pdf This Thematic Overview Paper (TOP) explores current policies, practices and perspectives on aid effectiveness in the water and sanitation sector. It focuses on the current status and challenges for aid effectiveness in the water and sanitation sector and provides an overview of ongoing initiatives to improve the effectiveness of aid at international, regional and country levels. The paper concludes with different perspectives on the future of aid effectiveness in the sector. ***
Human Resources Human resources for health care delivery in Tanzania: a multifaceted problem
by Fatuma Manzi, Joanna Armstrong Schellenberg, Guy Hutton et al. Human Resources for Health 2012, 10:3 (22 February 2012) 31 pp. 213 kB: http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/pdf/1478-4491-10-3.pdf This study documented inadequate staffing of health facilities, a high degree of absenteeism, low productivity of the staff who were present and inadequate supervision in peripheral Tanzanian health facilities. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of decentralized health care in Tanzania.
Health Systems & Research Improving health care system-wide: Approaches in Morocco and Yemen
by Stuart Adams Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, January 2012 36 pp. 1.6 MB:
http://german-practice-collection.org/en/download-centre/doc_download/1010
Improving health system quality is an essential part of helping resourcechallenged Ministries of Health and individual institutions to meet the health-related Millennium Development Goals. But how does this play out in practical terms, taking into account local cultures, professional practices, and systemic challenges? This publication looks at innovative, German-supported programmes aimed at improving health system quality in two countries, Morocco and Yemen. Their similarities and differences are examined, and a number of lessons learnt are drawn from the two experiences. ***
Information & Communication Technology Sustainable ICT Development: A Perspective from ICT Loops in Developing Nations
by Kevin Lock-Teng Low, Seng Fook Ong, Kian Aun Law International Journal of Academic Research Vol. 3. No. 6. November, 2011, I Part 6 pp. 206 kB: http://www.ijar.lit.az/pdf/14/2011(14-16).pdf This paper brings attention to a potential pitfall of ICT systems that has gained little notice, despite the increasing reliance on ICT for economic development and improving profits. Developing nations need to be cognizant of cyber crimes and ICT security issues that could pose a great danger, and potentially bring their economies to a standstill. An examination of national level cyber security incidents in developing and developed nations as well as survey of listed firms in Malaysia suggests that very little attention in being paid to contain ICT security risk, particularly in developing nations. ***
Identifying Factors for Optimal Development of Health-Related Websites: A Delphi Study Among Experts and Potential Future Users
by Francine Schneider, Liesbeth van Osch, Hein de Vries J Med Internet Res 2012;14(1):e18 Read online at: http://www.jmir.org/2012/1/e18/ The Internet has become a popular medium for offering tailored and targeted health promotion programs to the general public. However, suboptimal levels of program use in the target population limit the public health impact of these programs. Optimizing program development is considered as one of the main processes to increase usage rates. This study is an important first step in determining the agreed-upon factors that should be taken into account when developing online health promotion programs. The public health impact of these programs will be improved by optimizing the development process in line with these factors. ***
Simple but not easy - Why strategic integration of ICTs into development programmes is simply not easy
by Patrick Kalas SDC Learning and Networking Blog, December 08, 2010 Read online at: http://www.sdc-learningandnetworking-blog.admin.ch/2010/12/08/simple-but-not-easywhy-strategic-integration-of-icts-into-development-programmes-is-simply-not-easy/ This personal learning reflection and contribution is based on 7 years of engagement within the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Development sphere, including with non-governmental organizations, multilateral and bilateral donor organizations. It aims to spark a critical reflection on initial lessons to be learned exploring (a) why the strategic integration of ICTs is simply not easy while (b) formulating 3 critical lessons learned. HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 21
The Internet raised hopes that knowledge might become more accessible, reaching less affluent groups, as well as those farther away from the producers and sources of information. These early expectations remain largely unrealised. Knowledge institutions, including producers and distributors, around the world remain concentrated. The United States, and to a lesser extent Europe and Japan, are home to the bulk of the worlds content (90%) in Google.
The Training for Health Equity Network: THEnets Social Accountability Evaluation Framework
by Sarah Larkins, Iris Lindemann, Marie Matte et al. The Training for Health Equity Network (THEnet), 2011 28 pp. 2.4 MB: http://www.thenetcommunity.org/files/articles/Monograph%20print %20quality%20feb%201.pdf The Training for Health Equity Network (THEnet) has developed an Evaluation Framework to identify key factors that affect a schools ability to positively influence health outcomes and health systems performance as well as to develop ways to measure them across institutions and contexts. The Framework was developed based on the experience of a diverse set of schools, striving to improve health in underserved urban, rural, and remote regions, in both high and low income countries which form part of THEnets partnership. *** HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 22
The Promise of Preschool in Africa: A Randomized Impact Evaluation of Early Childhood Development in Rural Mozambique
by Sebastian Martinez, Sophie Naudeau, Vitor Pereira The World Bank, February 2012 58 pp. 904 kB: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRICA/Resources/The_Pr omise_of_Preschool_in_Africa_ECD_REPORT.pdf In this report the authors present initial results of what, to their knowledge, is the first randomized evaluation of a pre-school intervention in a rural African setting. Starting in 2008, Save the Children implemented a center-based community driven preschool model in rural areas of the Gaza Province of Mozambique. The project financed the construction, equipment and training for 67 classrooms in 30 communities. The study found that children who attended the program are 24 percent more likely to enrol in primary school at the right age. While the program showed promise, the study said more tests are needed using rigorous evaluations of similar interventions before it is duplicated in other countries and contexts. HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 23
Harm Reduction and Drug Use Protecting the Vulnerable: The Importance of Effective Parental TobaccoDependence Treatment During Prenatal and Newborn Care
by Kelly K. Adams, Ashley Beem, Elizabeth Diener et al. Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, December 2011; Ahead of print 8 pp. 199 kB: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ped.2011.0111 Maternal smoking or second-hand smoke exposure during pregnancy is deleterious to the mothers health and contributes to prematurity, low birth-weight infants, and increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and recurrent wheezing during the first year of life. The authors discuss the critical elements of programs to assist mothers to stop smoking during pregnancy and toward family efforts to maintain a smoke-free environment for their infant. ***
Guidelines for the Forensic analysis of drugs facilitating sexual assault and other criminal acts
by Justice Tettey, Benoit Archambault, Marc Deveaux et al. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2011 58 pp. 762 kB: http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/forensic_analys_of_dru gs_facilitating_sexual_assault_and_other_criminal_acts.pdf Drug-facilitated crime (DFC) is a general term that includes rape or other sexual assault, robbery, money extortion, as well as the deliberate maltreatment of the elderly or children under the influence of psychotropic substances. Developed as a practical guide of best practices and logical procedures, this manual will assist in the investigation, analytical detection and prosecution in DFC cases. It is intended for worldwide use with the aim of improving investigational and analytical capabilities. HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 24
Millennium Development Goals Accelerating Equitable Achievement of the MDGs: Closing the Gaps in Health and Nutrition in Asia and the Pacific
Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), February 2012 120 pp. 2.0 MB:
http://beta.adb.org/sites/default/files/equitable-achievement-mdgs.pdf
The report focuses on disparities in MDG achievement within and between countries, to address major bottlenecks holding back MDG progress in Asia and the Pacific region. Even countries making rapid economic progress continue to lose shocking numbers of children before their fifth birthdays as well as thousands of mothers who die unnecessarily during childbirth. Given the lagging performance on health outcomes in the region, the report delves into the causes and shows the many opportunities that exist to achieve good health for all. ***
Indias Progress towards the health related Millennium Development Goals: Child Mortality
by I. Patel, J. Chang, J. Srivastava et al. Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Volume 4, Issue 4, Oct.-Dec., 2011 5 pp. 117 kB: http://ijopp.org/Oct%20-%20Dec,%202011/9-13.pdf India has seen unprecedented growth in its economy in the past ten years. At the same time, India now carries 1/6th of the world's population and carries a large portion of the world's poor. With Indias current population and health status, it plays an important role in meeting the overall MDGs. This report introduces child mortality as the 4th health related MDG, discusses Indias past efforts to combat child mortality, the current trends in child health, and recommendations to accelerate progress towards reducing child mortality.
This report studies the usage of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in international development among six European nations - the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, and Norway. Although all face similar financial constraints and HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 25
have similar histories as generous aid donors, the six countries approaches to PPPs vary greatly. The authors examine which countries use PPPs most effectively in their development strategies and make recommendations about how other countries can improve their usage. ***
Rethinking Health Sector Wide Approaches through the lens of Aid Effectiveness
by Andrew McNee Australian National University, Development Policy Centre Discussion Paper 14; February 2012 52 pp. 879 kB: http://devpolicy.anu.edu.au/pdf/papers/DP_14_Rethinking_Health_Sector.pdf The paper critically tests whether the potential of health Sector Wide Approaches (SWAps) has been realised. It draws on evidence from the now voluminous health SWAp review literature to assess the effectiveness (or otherwise) of health SWAps. In essence, the paper asks if health SWAps, as conceived and implemented, are an effective form of aid. It concludes that overall the performance of health SWAps is, at best, mixed.
Others UNEP Year Book 2012: Emerging issues in our global environment
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), February 2012 80 pp. 5.0 MB:
http://www.unep.org/yearbook/2012/pdfs/UYB_2012_FULLREPORT.pdf
The 2012 Year Book presents the most important events and developments from the year, gives a picture of the status of key environmental indicators, and also highlights two emerging issues in detail: the benefits of soil carbon and the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The Year Book is intended to strengthen the science-policy interface by informing interested parties about the most relevant environmental issues. *** HESP-News & Notes - 05/2012 - page 26
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Mobile Application for iPhone: Safe Pregnancy and Childbirth
by Hesperian Digital Commons, February 2012 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/safe-pregnancy-and-birth/id496919735?mt=8 Covers prenatal health, danger signs during pregnancy and birth, and 20 how-to skills for health workers; Presents life-saving information in a clear, accessible style; Intuitive navigation designed for anyone to easily find the information they are looking for; Once downloaded onto an iPhone, the information can be accessed from the most remote communities, with no Internet connection required. ***
Public Health Perspective (PHP) - The first Online Public Health Newsletter of Nepal
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2012 10 pp. 1.3 MB: http://www.bmhall.yolasite.com/resources/PHP%20Volume%202 %20Issue%201%20January%202012.pdf In this issue: National News; Anti-Leprosy Day; PHP Special; Global Health; Journal Watch; Advertisements; Being Healthy; WHO Publications.
ing countries by setting up a network of non-profit organisations working in the field of supplying medicines. QUAMEDs main objectives include pooling resources between partners, sharing checked and validated information, reinforcing the technical capacity of the networks partners, applied research in the domain of medicine quality and advocacy work with decision-makers and donors. ***
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
WHO training and capacity building: quality assurance & medicines safety
3 pp. 28 kB: http://www.who.int/entity/medicines/training/capacity_building_events_2012.pdf As part of its efforts to improve the internal and external communication, Quality Assurance and Safety of Medicines team of the WHO Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies (EMP) decided to make publicly available, on a regular basis, all details of its planned training and capacity building activities in each of the different programmes. The list of planned activities can be found at the above URL.
CONFERENCES
4th Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine 2012
June 6 - 8, 2012, Dublin, Ireland This conference is designed for those interested in the field of travel and migration medicine. The target audience includes travel medicine practitioners, primary care physicians, infectious disease and tropical medicine specialists, researchers, nurses, pharmacists and students involved in this field. The programme will include all aspects of the rapidly evolving discipline of travel medicine, from the basics such as vaccines, malaria prophylaxis and travellers diarrhoea to the challenges of migration and occupational medicine in a globalised world. For more information see: http://nectm.com/?page_id=10 ***
This will be the first time that the Berlin Open Access Conference will be held in Africa. As is tradition with the conference, it will explore the transformative impact that open, online access to research can have on scholarship, scientific discovery, and the translation of results to the benefit of the public. For more information see: http://www.berlin10.org/
CARTOON