KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report

In The News

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Supports Mark Green To Be USAID Administrator; Nomination Heads To Full Senate For Vote

Devex: Nominee for USAID administrator Mark Green sails through Senate hearing
“Former Ambassador Mark Green, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday for his nomination hearing. … Lawmakers questioned Green about his views on U.S. global development policy, often contrasting the nominee’s career working in and with developing countries to the Trump administration’s proposal to slash foreign aid spending. … Having secured the committee’s support, Green’s nomination will now proceed to the full Senate for a vote…” (Igoe, 6/16).

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More Efforts Must Be Made To Address Root Causes Of Food Insecurity, U.S. Congress Members Say In Hearing

Devex: Tackling root problems critical in famine response
“Members of Congress on Thursday called for more political pressure to address the underlying conflicts that are creating famine and food insecurity and to ensure emergency aid is delivered. At a House Foreign Affairs Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations subcommittee hearing, chairman Rep. Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, spoke of his recent trip to South Sudan and Uganda, where he met with aid workers who said that emergency relief and food aid is not enough. ‘We need to do more,’ he said. ‘We must focus on ending conflict.’ Rep. Ami Bera, a Democrat from California, echoed his sentiments…” (Saldinger, 6/16).

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U.N. Security Council Urges Cease-Fire, Open Ports In Yemen For Humanitarian Aid Access To Address Cholera, Food Insecurity

Associated Press: U.N. urges Yemen cease-fire and open ports to confront cholera
“The U.N. Security Council urged the warring parties in Yemen on Thursday to immediately agree on a cease-fire and keep all ports open for humanitarian aid to confront the threat of famine and the rapid spread of cholera…” (Lederer, 6/16).

Associated Press: U.N.: Cholera depleting resources meant for fighting famine
“The United Nations is warning that the cholera outbreak in Yemen is depleting aid resources to the point they won’t be able to provide food to the famine-stricken country through the summer. Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian chief in Yemen, said Thursday that 923 people have died of the disease and there are now 124,002 suspected cases. He says that number could double by September…” (6/15).

New York Times: UNICEF Steps In to Pay Yemen’s Doctors as War and Cholera Rage
“Desperate to halt the cholera crisis afflicting Yemen, UNICEF has taken the unusual step of paying the country’s doctors and nurses, who have not received salaries in months. The regional director for UNICEF, Geert Cappelaere, said on Thursday that Yemen’s health workers are crucial to the effort to combat cholera and that they should not be expected to work for free…” (Gladstone, 6/15).

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WHO Confirms 2 Polio Outbreaks In DR Congo, Increasing Risk Of Disease's Spread Within Country

CNN: Risk of polio spread spikes in DRC after 2 outbreaks, WHO says
“Two separate outbreaks of polio have been reported in remote parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a setback for large-scale efforts to eradicate the highly infectious and potentially fatal disease. There is a high risk of the disease spreading across the country, though not beyond its borders, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday in a statement…” (Duggan/Senthilingam, 6/15).

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Trucks Prepared To Take Polio Vaccines Into IS-Held Areas Of Syrian Governorate Following WHO-Confirmed Cases, U.N. Adviser Says

Associated Press: U.N.: Trucks readied to send polio vaccine for IS-held Syria
“A U.N. humanitarian aid adviser for Syria says trucks are being prepared to ship polio vaccine into Islamic State group-held areas of Deir el-Zour governorate following confirmation of a ‘very dangerous’ outbreak of the virus. Jan Egeland made the comments to reporters Thursday in the wake of the confirmation announced last week by the World Health Organization of two [polio] cases…” (6/16).

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More Political Will Needed To Prevent New HIV Infections Among Young Women In South Africa, Expert Says

VOA News: New HIV Infections Climb Among Young Women in South Africa
“…At the South African National AIDS Conference in Johannesburg this week, specialists voiced their concern about the spiking rates of infections among young women, a trend reflected throughout the continent. … ‘[T]here has to be a [political] will [to reduce the vulnerability of young women,’ said Mark Heywood, the director of the Section 27 social justice movement]…” (Taylor, 6/15).

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Reuters Investigation Examines WHO Cancer Agency's Review Of Glyphosate

Reuters: Cancer agency left in the dark over glyphosate evidence
“The World Health Organization’s cancer agency says a common weedkiller is ‘probably carcinogenic.’ The scientist leading that review knew of fresh data showing no cancer link — but he never mentioned it and the agency did not take it into account…” (Kelland, 6/14).

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Open Source Drug Discovery Project Founder Discusses Efforts To Develop New Treatments For Neglected Diseases

The Conversation: Expert Conversation: Using Open Source Drug Discovery To Help Treat Neglected Diseases
“The Open Source Drug Discovery project, launched in 2008 by biophysicist Samir Brahmachari, aims to develop low-cost treatments for neglected diseases using an open-source approach. Brahmachari is founding director of India’s Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. He was interviewed by Gaëll Mainguy, director of development and international relations for the [Centre de Recherches Interdisciplinaires (CRI) in Paris]…” (6/15).

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Editorials and Opinions

Innovative Partnerships Necessary To Improve Health Worldwide, Eliminate AIDS, TB, Malaria Epidemics

EurActiv: New Ideas for Old Problems: How to Get Health Products to Remote Communities
Christoph Benn, director of external relations of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

“…[U]nder its new strategy, the Global Fund continues to look beyond traditional funding approaches to mobilize the requisite funds to reach the global goals of ending the [AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria] epidemics by 2030. … [T]he milestones outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals demand more creative ways to raise funds and engagement of more partners. … Global health is a shared responsibility, and addressing today’s global health challenges requires us to go beyond the 20th-century model of donors and recipients. Effective public-private partnerships leverage the unique expertise of governments, the private sector, and organizations like the Global Fund, increasing our ability to dramatically improve and save the lives of millions around the world. We are very close to eliminating these pandemics as public health threats. And together we can” (6/14).

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From the Global Health Policy Community

Gavi Extends Support For Inactivated Polio Vaccine To 2020 In Up To 70 LMICs

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Gavi to help protect millions more children against polio
“Support for the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) will be extended to 2020 in up to 70 low- and middle-income countries, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced [Thursday]. The Gavi Board decision will enable routine immunization programs to reach millions more children with this critical vaccine and support the final drive towards eradication…” (6/15).

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Bill Gates Highlights Progress Toward, Challenges Of Eradicating Polio In Remarks At Rotary International Convention

Gates Notes: 16 Million Reasons To Be Optimistic About Polio
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlights a speech he recently delivered at the Rotary International Convention, in which he discusses progress made toward and challenges of eradicating polio and highlights Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate the disease (6/12).

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Johns Hopkins' Alfred Sommer Highlights Roles Of Research, Innovation In Global Health

Trend: Alfred Sommer: Inventing Public Health Research
In an interview with Trend, an annual publication from the Pew Charitable Trusts, Alfred Sommer, professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Pew distinguished fellow, discusses the roles of research and innovation in global health (Summer 2017).

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Africa Nutrition Map Highlights Possible Solutions For Addressing Hunger On Continent

Brookings Institution: Figure of the week: Africa Nutrition Map
Mariama Sow, research assistant for the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings, discusses a map recently published by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The map “displays ‘hot points,’ places where hunger, malnutrition, and food security are critical issues. It also measures both the percentage of arable land and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. … [The map] highlights possible solutions, especially the potential for arable land to be used in combating [hunger]” (6/15).

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June 2017 Issue Of Inside FHI 360 Available Online

FHI 360: Inside FHI 360
FHI 360’s monthly newsletter contains features on several topics, including the organization’s 2016 annual report focused on breakthroughs and the “groundbreaking discoveries and the fresh insights they generate”; a conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci on HIV research efforts; and a video on the importance of early childhood nutrition (June 2017).

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From the U.S. Government

GAO Reports Compiles Inventory Of U.S. Foreign Assistance Strategy Documents

U.S. Government Accountability Office: U.S. Foreign Assistance: Inventory of Strategies at Selected Agencies
This GAO report provides an inventory of strategy documents developed to guide foreign assistance efforts by the six U.S. agencies that administer the largest amounts of foreign assistance: the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Department of State (State), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) (6/13).

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