Groups Look Forward To Hearing On Birx Nomination To Head PEPFAR March 6, 2014 News Summary “At 2 p.m. Eastern today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee takes up the nomination of Dr. Deborah Birx to be the next leader of one of the great successes in United States foreign assistance — the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). … [W]hile we frequently take time to…
G20 Nations Should Address NTDs To Boost Global GDP March 6, 2014 News Summary “The group of 20 (G20) finance ministers meeting in Australia has just announced an ambitious initiative to boost the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) by at least $2 trillion over the next five years. … So far there has been no mention of health as a means to promote economic…
WHO Releases New Guidance On Family Planning, Reproductive Health March 6, 2014 News Summary “In advance of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2014, WHO is launching new guidance to help countries ensure human rights are respected in providing more girls, women, and couples with the information and services they need to avoid unwanted pregnancies. … The guidance recommends that everyone who wants contraception…
Progress On WASH Critical To Post-2015 Development March 6, 2014 News Summary Devex: Turning the post-2015 trickle into a flood Girish Menon, director of international operations for WaterAid U.K. “…The debate around what will follow the MDGs has been long and complex. There are many issues on the table. But putting safe WASH front and center is not negotiable. Sanitation and hygiene…
Opinion Pieces Address International Women’s Day March 6, 2014 News Summary The following opinion pieces address International Women’s Day, recognized on March 8. Huffington Post: International Women’s Day: Give Yourself the Chance to Be Extraordinary Saundra Pelletier, CEO of WomanCare Global “…As you are thinking about what International Women’s Day means to you, I encourage you to look for inspiration from…
Op-Ed Examines Reasons Why India’s Polio Effort Was Successful March 6, 2014 News Summary New York Times: An End to Polio in India? Esha Chhabra, freelance journalist”…The success of India’s polio effort has turned it into a blueprint for large-scale health campaigns. Now India is using what it did with polio to boost rates of routine vaccinations. … The Indian government has pitched in…
Gene Therapy For HIV Is Safe, Shows Promise, Study Shows March 6, 2014 News Summary News outlets report on a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine showing gene therapy for HIV infection is safe and possibly effective. Associated Press: Gene therapy seems safe, may help control HIV “Scientists have modified genes in the blood cells of HIV patients to help them…
Early HIV Treatment Might Have Prompted Remission In Second Infant, Researchers Report At CROI March 6, 2014 News Summary Media sources report on findings reported this week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, taking place this week in Boston. Researchers reported on another case of possible HIV remission in an infant and several other study findings. Associated Press: Doctors hope for cure in a 2nd baby born…
U.S.-Funded Hospital In Afghanistan Fails To Open March 6, 2014 News Summary Reuters: Ambitious U.S. hospital project in Afghanistan faces failure “An ambitious U.S.-funded project to build hospitals in Afghanistan has run into the ground, with the largest hospital ever planned in the country unlikely to open in full, U.S. and Afghan officials said…” (Donati/Harooni, 3/5).
Global Fund Board Meets In Jakarta, Discusses New Funding Model March 6, 2014 News Summary Jakarta Post: Global Fund to offer more flexible funding model “International funding institution the Global Fund has developed a new funding model to maximize the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. … The Indonesian health minister hoped that the new funding model could help accelerate the achievement of…