News
65th World Health Assembly
21 May 2012
The Sixty-fifth session of the World Health Assembly is taking place in Geneva during 21–26 May 2012. At this session, the Health Assembly will discuss a number of public health issues such as universal health coverage, Millennium Development Goals, noncommunicable diseases, mental disorders, nutrition and adolescent pregnancy.
The nomination of Dr Margaret Chan to be WHO Director-General for a second term will be submitted for approval.
The Health Assembly will also discuss the programme budget, administration and management matters of WHO.
Read the provisional agenda here >>>
Researchers hope to reduce sub-Saharan Africa newborn deaths (LSHTM)
16 May 2012
Clinical trials are underway to test a new treatment for pregnant women, which could tackle some of the leading preventable causes of death for babies in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have
Each year an estimated 25 million women in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk of malaria infection during pregnancy, the study said. Malarial infection heightens the risk of miscarriage, still births, or premature birth and death.
Global Fund to Resume New Health Grants
10 May 2012
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has boosted its coffers and will resume funding new grants following the launch of a management overhaul prompted by a slowdown in donations and past disclosures of some misused grant money.
The Geneva-based organization, one of the world's biggest financiers of programs to combat the three infectious diseases, also has cut its work force 7.3% and reorganized to dedicate 75% of its staff to managing grants, up from 40% before the reorganization.
Read the full article here >>>
Ethiopia: too many deaths in childbirth as women opt out of healthcare
8 May 2012
In Ethiopia, a lack of awareness of the importance of skilled hospital deliveries, cultural beliefs and transport challenges in rural areas are causing a high number of deaths during childbirth, say officials. Only 10% of deliveries take place within health facilities, according to the Ethiopia's latest demographic health survey results. Nevertheless, the figure is a significant improvement on 6% in the previous survey, in 2005.
Read the full article here >>>
Photography Exhibition: Palliative Care in sub-Saharan Africa
2 May 2012
The exhibition is open to the public and takes place in the Auchi Foyer until the end of June.
The images were commissioned by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and their display here is supported by the Palliative Care Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. Names have been changed where necessary within the exhibit.
THE DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES MEMORIAL FUND
The Fund has been a leading donor and advocate for palliative care in sub-Saharan Africa since 2001, committing more than £13 million towards integrating palliative care into national health systems and ensuring it is available to all those with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-limiting illnesses who need it.
NADIA BETTEGA
Nadia Bettega is a freelance reportage/portrait photographer with a strong interest in community participation.
In addition to this work, Nadia has recently completed commissions for Art on the Underground and The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She is now working on a project, funded by the Arts Council, exploring of attitudes and experiences of death and palliative care in communities across Britain. For more information please visit www.nadiabettega.com.
The exhibition relates to the meeting on the 20 June: Meeting challenges in Palliative care >>>
UK training for South Sudan midwives
26 April 2012
A team from the University of Southampton has developed an in-service midwifery training programme.
It was appointed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to design a comprehensive midwifery training programme for the newly developed Ministry of Health, Government of South Sudan.
World Malaria Day: 25 April 2012
24 April 2012
This year’s world malaria day has the global theme: Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria. This message could not come at a better time. The global effort to tackle malaria has picked up pace in recent years and impressive achievements in reducing the impact of malaria on some of the world’s poorest people have been made. Since 2000, malaria deaths - mostly among young children - are estimated to have fallen by 20 percent. But this impetus must be maintained or there is a very serious risk of these gains being lost.
On this World Malaria Day 2012, Malaria Consortium would like to celebrate those who have helped bring about the fall in the number of malaria deaths, particularly among young children in Africa.
We need a global treaty on health research for the poor
23 April 2012
In the current financial and political climate, it is brave — some might say foolhardy — to propose a binding international treaty on the funding and coordination of research into health problems facing the developing world.
Nevertheless this is what the World Health Assembly (WHA), the body responsible for the policies of the WHO, is being asked to consider at its annual meeting in Geneva next month (21–26 May).
Read the full article here >>>
Mother: Caring for 7 Billion
13 April 2012
The Global Health Film Club presents the award-winning documentary "Mother: Caring for 7 Billion", a film that brings to light an issue that silently fuels our most pressing environmental, humanitarian and social crises - population growth. In 2011 the world population reached 7 billion, a startling seven-fold increase since the first billion occurred 200 years ago.
6.00 pm Registration
6.30 pm Film Screening
7.40 pm Chaired discussion
(Panellists include author Lionel Shriver and Dr Rip Hayes)
8.20 pm Networking reception
***This screening is organised in association with Population Matters. Please visit populationmatters.org for more information***
THET Medical Equipment Grants
10 April 2012
THET is pleased to announce a call for applications for Medium Paired Institutional Medical Equipment Grants as part of the Health Partnership Scheme (HPS).
Medical Equipment Grant funding is available for clearly defined projects run by institutional partnerships where the ultimate goal is to improve the state of medical equipment. These grants are not intended to fund the provision of medical equipment. They are designed to increase the capacity of developing countries to maintain and manage existing equipment through skills transfer and capacity development of maintenance staff, clinical staff and administrators.
World Health Day 2012
2 April 2012
Saturday 7 April marks the WHO's World Health Day in 2012. This year's topic is "Ageing and Health" with the theme "Good health adds life to years". The focus is how good health throughout life can help older men and women lead full and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities. Ageing concerns each and every one of us – whether young or old, male or female, rich or poor – no matter where we live.
www.who.int/world-health-day/en/
World TB Day: 24 March 2012
23 March 2012
World TB Day raises awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. One-third of the world's population is currently infected with TB. The Stop TB Partnership, a network of organizations and countries fighting TB, organizes the Day to highlight the scope of the disease and how to prevent and cure it.
Read the message from Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership >>>
Shaping the global health agenda - women, children and society, 27 - 28 March
16 March 2012
A two day conference organised by the Royal Society of Medicine in association with the Royal Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH.
We are delighted to announce that HRH The Princess Royal will be attending this conference.
>>> Registration closes 20 March - book now to avoid disappointment. <<<
Global Health Young Leaders Award 2012 Results
15 March 2012
The 10 shortlisted essays were carefully reviewed by the RSM Global Health Steering Group which includes RSM President Professor Parveen Kumar, RSM Dean Professor John Betteridge and RSM Lead for Global Health, Mr B. Sethia.
Click here to see the winners >>>
Call for World Health Organization to target dementia
7 March 2012
Professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, told the Today programme's Justin Webb that, due to lack of funding and research, dementia could be "the next global health time bomb".
Listen Professor Peter Piot here >>
World meets UN target for safe water
6 March 2012
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The world's nations achieved a U.N. goal of cutting in half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water five years ahead of the 2015 target, the United Nations announced Tuesday.
A report issued by the U.N. children's agency and the World Health Organization said over 2 billion people gained access to safe drinking water between 1990 and 2010.
HIV-free generation efforts gaining tempo in Tanzania
5 March 2012
QUESTION: What are the challenges of being HIV positive in this part of the world?
ANSWER: Stigma and discrimination toward HIV/Aids, coupled with the challenges associated with operating in resource-limited settings, are setbacks to ensuring universal provision as well as uptake of effective HIV preventive and treatment services.
India is no longer polio-endemic, leaving just three countries which have not stopped polio
2 March 2012
It was a much-anticipated moment. Weeks after India marked 12 months in which no Indian child had been paralyzed by polio, the World Health Organization notified the national authorities on 25 February that India was officially removed from the list of countries with active transmission of endemic polio. India’s success leaves only three countries remaining polio-endemic - meaning they have never stopped indigenous wild poliovirus transmission: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
A first step in bringing typhoid fever out of the closet
28 February 2012
Whoever invented the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” must have been thinking of typhoid fever. With the exception of a few hardy travellers, the disease has dropped out of sight and out of mind in the rich countries of the world. Gone are the days when the disease decimated armies and rampaged through the filthy streets of 19th century London, New York, and other large cities of the western world, taking the lives of rich and poor alike. Today, it is the poor, the poorest of the poor, living in the slums of the developing world, who bear the full brunt of the mortality and morbidity—216 000 deaths and about 21 million cases a year—wrought by Salmonella typhi.
Mobile Phone Text Messaging: Tool for Malaria Control in Africa
24 February 2012
Across many malaria-endemic areas in rural Africa, health systems are weak, infrastructure is poor, and poverty is widespread. Traditionally, the communication gap between managers of health services, health workers at the periphery, and the patient population they serve has been a barrier to efficient service delivery. This gap, however, has the potential to be bridged through the rapid expansion of mobile network coverage, availability of inexpensive handsets, and decreasing costs of mobile phone services.
Health workers in fragile states: the case for investment
22 February 2012
About Action For Global Health:
AFGH is a broad European network of NGOs advocating for Europe to play a more proactive role in enabling developing countries to meet the Health Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Countries which have suffered, or are still suffering, from severe crises, need to re-establish destroyed infrastructure and systems. Human resources are a critical part of this at all levels. As well as doctors, mid level health care providers such as nurses and midwives, health managers, and community health workers are needed to make vital
contributions. Too often however, health workers are underemphasised in current investments.
Call for applications for Start-up Grants
15 February 2012
THET is pleased to announce a call for applications for Start-up Grants.
The grants form part of the Health Partnership Scheme (HPS) which is a four-year programme that funds health partnerships to carry out training and capacity-building projects in low-income countries. The Scheme is funded by the UK Department for International Development. It is managed by THET in a consortium with HLSP to deliver the programme.
What are Health Partnerships?
Health Partnerships (or “Health Links”) are formalised voluntary partnerships between health institutions in developing countries and their counterparts in the UK. They can support a wide variety of activities to help strengthen the training of health staff and enhance the capacity of health systems in developing countries. Partnerships also benefit the UK partners, developing skills and increasing understanding of global health issues.
For more information visit the THET website >>>
Humanitarian Fund 2012
14 February 2012
The BMA International Department runs the BMA Humanitarian Fund which offers grants of up to £3,000 for projects taking place in developing countries.
Projects must offer clear health benefits to the local population, must involve at least one current NHS employee and should have a sustainable impact. The grants will cover incidental costs such as travel and accommodation only (not equipment or drugs).
Who can apply?
Any current NHS employee who is planning to participate or run a project taking place between May 2012 - May 2013 can apply for funding.
For more information click here >>>
Indian eye clinic uses tiered pricing to combat blindness among poor
8 February 2012
Madan Keshav, a shy 11-year-old, looks tired as he waits for the optometrist to examine his eyes. He says he and his father travelled by bus for two hours to reach the LV Prasad Eye Institute's (LVPEI) hospital in Mudhol, a tiny village in southern India. He perks up a little when he is asked to read aloud from the eye chart.
What does the second decade hold for the Global Fund?
2 February 2012
At Davos last week, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria received an unexpected birthday gift from Bill Gates in the form of a $750m "promissory note" to help shore up its faltering finances.
Kofi Annan: "Save West Africa from the drugs barons"
30 January 2012
Over the last decade, West Africa has made encouraging progress. Violent conflicts that had blighted the region for many years have been ended. There have been real advances in development, health and education. Economic growth is accelerating. Democratic practice, although still not the norm everywhere in the region, is taking root.
Genetic screens bring new hope for tackling sleeping sickness
26 January 2012
Research led by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has exploited a revolutionary genetic technique to discover how human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) drugs target the parasite which causes the disease. The new knowledge could help lead to the development of better treatments for the tens of thousands of people in sub-Saharan Africa who are affected each year.
New malaria maps to guide battle against the disease
24 January 2012
In a study published in 'Malaria Journal', a multinational team of researchers from the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), funded mainly by the Wellcome Trust, present the results of a two-year effort to assemble all available data worldwide on the risk of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the most deadly form of the disease. Using computer modelling and data on climate and human populations, they have revealed the complex landscape of malaria across the globe. The maps build on the first ever Atlas of Malaria-Eliminating Countries published earlier this year.
Food crisis looms in west Africa
23 January 2012
The Red Cross is carrying out assessments in the Sahel region of west Africa where millions of people are at risk of a food crisis this year.
Low and erratic rainfall and insect infestations have led to poor harvests and lack of pasture in parts of Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Burkina Faso. Communities are also dealing with high food prices and reduced cash flow from migrant workers sending money back to their families from Libya and the Ivory Coast.
Battling through the malaria season in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
18 January 2012
Our team arrived to start working at the Lulimba hospital at the height of the malaria season. We barely had time to unpack our boxes because we were greeted by a crowd of sick children, and more have been arriving in ever-greater numbers since. We also found out very quickly that the hospital had only one thermometer.
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2011
17 January 2012
The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 was to be divided in three equal parts between Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected female president. Since her inauguration in 2006, she has contributed to securing peace in Liberia, to promoting economic and social development, and to strengthening the position of women. Leymah Gbowee mobilized and organized women across ethnic and religious dividing lines to bring an end to the long war in Liberia, and to ensure women’s participation in elections. She has since worked to enhance the influence of women in West Africa during and after war. In the most trying circumstances, both before and during the “Arab spring”, Tawakkul Karman has played a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen.
Read the Nobel Lecture by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf >>>
Immunological defence mechanism leaves malaria patients vulnerable to deadly infection
16 January 2012
Malaria patients are at high risk of developing fatal bacterial infections, especially salmonella infections. This is commonly believed to be due to generalised immunosuppression by malaria, whereby the entire immune system is weakened and compromised.
However, researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have discovered that the increased vulnerability to salmonella infections is a side effect of the body’s attempts to protect itself from the damaging effects of the malaria infection.
Malnutrition Widespread in Indian Children, Report Finds
11 January 2012
NEW DELHI — Roughly 42 percent of all Indian children under age 5 suffer from malnutrition, a sobering reminder of the persistence of poverty and hunger in the world’s largest democracy, according to a major report released on Tuesday.
HIV vaccine trial approved by FDA
21 December 2011
A vaccine that may prevent HIV has been given the green light by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin clinical trials in humans, according to Canadian researchers.
The announcement was made on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont.
Humanitarian needs must take priority in South Sudan, warn aid agencies
19 December 2011
UN's warning of 'gathering storm of hunger' tempers focus on foreign investment agenda at two-day conference
Speaking at a two-day development and investment conference for South Sudan in Washington DC, Hillary Clinton said the newly-independent country had the potential to be "one of Africa's breadbaskets".
Delivering cervical cancer prevention in the developing world
13 December 2011
Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization bringing together voices from around the world to call for action against maternal death.
“Delivering Cervical Cancer Prevention in the Developing World” highlights exciting new partnerships and innovations in cervical cancer prevention and treatment.
The report includes profiles of success in increasing access to HPV vaccines and treatment from around the world, with country spotlights on Mexico, Thailand, Bolivia and Rwanda.
Podcast: The struggle for basic care in DRC
7 December 2011
Paul Brockmann, MSF project coordinator in Mweso, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describes the difficulties Congolese people face in getting even the most basic health care.
People living in this area of eastern DRC have to contend with ongoing insecurity and outbreaks of violence that push them out of their homes. They suffer from preventable diseases like cholera, measles and malaria. They are often unable to access medical care, which is why MSF has been working there for 30 years.
World AIDS Day - December 1st
1 December 2011
World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for you to learn the facts about HIV and put your knowledge into action.
For more information on how you can support the cause visit the link below:
Finding the pulse of the poor
29 November 2011
CAMBRIDGE - It’s no one’s idea of an MIT laboratory: not a beaker or an oscilloscope in sight. But in a wood-paneled suite, on the third floor of a bland, concrete building, researchers are tackling problems as complex and vexing as any in technology, science, or medicine.
This is the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, or J-PAL, where economists through precise, detailed studies are trying to find ways to alleviate poverty.
Read the full article >>>
Marc Koska: 'My self-destructing syringe could save millions of lives'
24 November 2011
The World Health Organization (WHO) says 1.3 million people die every year because of the reuse of syringes.
Marc Koska has worked for 27 years to stop the reuse of syringes. He designed the self-destructing K1 syringe, set up Star Syringe to manufacture it and runs the charity SafePoint, which campaigns against unsafe injections.
Read the full interview here >>>
New Acting Chief Executive for THET
23 November 2011
Jane Cockerell takes up the post of Acting Chief Executive at THET as a replacement for Pia MacRae, who served that role for the past two years.
THET, the Tropical Health and Education Trust, is an international development organisation working to improve the health of people in Africa and Asia. Based in the UK, THET have over twenty years experience working with health institutions around the world, promoting action that is practical, sustainable and responsive.
Visit THET.org >>>
The Guardian: Médecins sans Frontières book reveals aid agencies' ugly compromises
21 November 2011
A controversial new book produced by one of the world's best-known aid agencies, Médecins sans Frontières, lifts the lid on the often deeply uncomfortable compromises aid organisations are forced to make while working in conflicts.
Read the full article >>>
Caravan of Hope: A campaigning road trip in Africa for climate justice
16 November 2011
Glance at the timetable for the Caravan of Hope – a two-week campaigning road trip across 10 African countries, covering more than 7,000km (4,350 miles) – and it resembles the kind of frantic continental tour where countries flash past the coach window and any more meaningful engagement is off the itinerary.
Read the full article >>>
To find more about the Caravan of Hope visit their website >>>
World Pneumonia Day - November 12th
9 November 2011
The Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia was established in April 2009 to raise awareness about the toll of pneumonia, the world's leading killer of children, and to advocate for global action to protect against, effectively treat and help prevent this deadly disease.
The Coalition is a global network of more than 125 NGOs, community‐based organizations, academic institutions, government agencies and foundations who together provide leadership for World Pneumonia Day, marked each year on November 12 to encourage efforts to combat the disease among donors, policy makers, healthcare professionals and the general public.
Visit their website >>>
Malaria Day in the Americas - November 6th
2 November 2011
Malaria Day in the Americas, which is observed on November 6 of every year, is envisioned to be the platform upon which countries of the Region can engage in a year-round aggressive campaign against the disease.
Read the full article >>>
Fighting Polio in Chad - Watch Video
31 October 2011
Chad has the highest number of reported polio cases of any country in the world this year. In spite of monthly campaigns, transmission is now widespread with wild poliovirus now detected in 14 out of 21 regions.
Watch the video >>>
Elsevier helps the RSM and Merlin to give books to the Monrovia medical school in Liberia
24 October 2011
Merlin is the UK's leading charity specialising in international health, sending medical experts to the frontline of global emergencies. When disaster strikes we deliver emergency medical relief and then we stay; taking countries shattered by war, earthquake or floods from emergency to recovery, working with communities and host governments to rebuild health services.
Merlin has been in Liberia since 1997, and is currently working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) to improve the health system in six of Liberia’s 15 counties.
In 2010 Professor Parveen Kumar, president of the Royal Society of Medicine, visited Liberia with Merlin, and saw at first-hand the need for medical text books in the Monrovia medical school. On her return she asked Elsevier (whose mission statement includes a commitment to ‘work in partnership with the communities we serve to advance scholarship and improve lives’) if they could help.
Elsevier responded with a very generous donation of 2,500 medical text books, which have now been sent to Liberia.
The shipment was organised by Merlin and Elsevier, and paid for by the MOHSW Pool Fund.
In Africa, getting things done is as important as democracy, says Blair
21 October 2011
When it comes to conditions of aid, evidence of democracy and good governance now appear high on the list of requirements from donor countries (the EU being the latest donor to announce its intentions in this regard). But how do you square these ideals with leaders whose countries are hitting development targets and showing economic growth, but who play fast and loose with the notion of human rights and freedoms?
Read the full article >>>
Malaria vaccine could save millions of children's lives
19 October 2011
Millions of children's lives could be saved by a new vaccine shown to halve the risk of malaria in the first large-scale trials across seven African countries.
Read the full article >>>
Millennium Development Goal Three:
Promote gender equality and empower women
18 October 2011
MDG 3:Promote gender equality and empower women
To eliminate gender disparity in all levels of education by 2015, based on the ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education, increase the number of women in paid employment outside the agricultural sector, and increase the number of female MPs. Visit the UN webpage to read more about MDG3 and its progress.
Read more about the MDG3, on the Guardian's Global Development microsite.
'First ever' fall in global TB
12 October 2011
The number of people falling ill with tuberculosis has declined for the first time, according to the World Health Organization.
New figures show the global death toll has also fallen, to its lowest level in a decade, with major headway made in China, Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania.
Read the full article on the BBC website >>>
Health Innovation for the world’s poor: Who are the players and what is the game?
10 October 2011
A variety of public private partnering arrangements and innovative financing mechanisms has begun to change the neglected disease landscape over the last decade. How significant are these public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements? Are these players likely to endure? Do they deserve the continued support of development donors? How do they relate to broader shifts in the pharmaceutical industry?
Read the full brief >>>
Optimizing Global Fund Proposals to Promote Women’s & Children’s Health
6 October 2011
The Global Fund Round 11 Call for Proposals is now open, with a submission date of 15 December 2011. Women and children bear a heavy burden of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria: more than two million women and children die every year from AIDS, TB and malaria. There is potential to expand the impact of Global Fund investments to improve the health of women and children even further.
Read more>>>
Millennium Development Goal Two:
Achieve universal primary education
3 October 2011
MDG2: Universal primary education
To ensure that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, complete a full course of primary education. Success is measured based on the number of children enrolled in primary education, the proportion who reach the last grade of primary school, and literacy rates for those aged 15-24.
Read the full article >>>
Rabies is killing more than 55,000 a year
26 September 2011
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there are 55,000 rabies deaths every year. According to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the total is 70,000, with 10 million treated for bites from potentially infected dogs. India has the highest annual rate of deaths in Asia: 20,000. The majority of victims are under 15. Around the world, rabies kills around 100 children every day. In Africa and Asia alone, the disease (the most potently lethal known on earth) threatens 3.3 billion people – just under half the world's population.
Read the full article >>>
The NHS and the world, careers of the future
21 September 2011
View the video of the lecture on www.rsmvideos.com
Millennium Development Goal One:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
20 September 2011
MDG1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
To halve the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day, to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, and to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Hunger figures are based on the number of underweight children under five, and the proportion of the population below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption. Visit the UN webpage to find out more about MDG1 and its progress.
Read more about the MDG1, on the Guardian's Global Development microsite.
Small Steps Project
19 September 2011
This exhibition demonstrates the work of Small Steps Project, a humanitarian project that delivers shoes, aid and medical care to children on inhabited rubbish dumps/landfill sites all over the world.
The images were taken by SSP photographer and videographer, Lucas Orme.
For more information about the exhbition, please visit our web site >>>
The exhibition will culminate in a fundraising Celebrity Shoe Auction and premiere of the latest film 'Small Steps: Nicaragua', at the Royal Society of Medicine on Wednesday 12 October, 7.00pm.
If you would like to attend the event, bid for some of the auction lots or purchase a limited edition print, please visit www.smallstepsproject.org where you can also view the first documentary online and see the celebrity shoes or email info@smallstepsproject.org
Using football to kick about a message on Aids
15 September 2011
In 11 years, Deradjat Ginanjar Koesmayad has gone from a hopeless, homeless, thieving HIV-positive drug addict to a respected community mobiliser and adviser to his country's government. It is a transformation Ginan – as he is more commonly called – attributes, in no small measure, to an unusual quarter.
Read the full article >>>
Getting Engaged with the Global Fund
13 September 2011
This report summarises some of the key challenges facing civil society in engaging with the Global Fund to Fight AID, TB and Malaria, and sets out recommendations to improve civial society participation and success in Global Fund proposal development, Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) engagement, and grant implementation.
Aimed at all key stakeholders including the Global Fund, grant recipients and potential recipients, and technical support providers, the report reflects the experience of civil society across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Read the report >>>
Fake drugs: a global overdose
8 September 2011
We are delighted to share with you this very well-made video exploring the complex and tragic story of fake medicines in the developing world.
View the video >>>
Discover The Lancet Global Health Portal
7 September 2011
'Global Politics of Health'
6 September 2011
Policy for Sustainable and Effective Healthcare
30 August 2011
29-30 September 2011
BMA House
London
NICE International and the BMJ Group are hosting a global event, to be hosted at the BMA House, that will bring together policy-makers and researchers from around the world to discuss and promote, cost-effective and evidence-informed policy-making as a means of improving global health outcomes.
View the full programme >>>
Access to Essential Medicines: Ten Stories That Mattered in 2010
24 August 2011
Through its Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been closely following the developments in the world of access to medicines, vaccines and diagnostics.
Among the positive stories of the past year: new tools were developed for Meningitis A and for tuberculosis, promising research was published on severe malaria, an innovative mechanism was created to make lifesaving HIV medicines more affordable, and the quality of food aid is progressively improving.
But it wasn’t all good news in 2010: donors are turning their back on AIDS, and pursuing a number of policies that threaten access to generic medicines (here and here). At the same time, measles is making a comeback, and neglected tropical diseases continue to take a heavy toll.
<a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/publications/article.cfm?id=4936&cat=special-report" target="_blank">Read the full report >>> </a>
Reducing global health inequalities - Part 1
22 August 2011
This paper promotes the perception of health both as a global public good and as a developmental issue and why a focus on poverty is essential to the address of global health issues.
It sees the designing of appropriate strategies and partnerships towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as an important first step for achieving successful address to global public health issues.
Read the full text article >>>
HIV/AIDS: "Worrying" Drop in Global Spending
18 August 2011
International funding for HIV fell by 10 percent in 2010 from the previous year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and UNAIDS; activists worry that a continued reduction will undermine progress in global HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
For complete article, click here >>>
Addressing the Global Health Workforce Crisis: Challenges for France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK
5 August 2011
This report compares the foreign and domestic policies regarding health workers in the five EU countries home to the Action for Global Health (AfGH) network, which have some of the highest densities of doctors and nurses in the world.
It looks at the reasons for health shortages in both source and destination countries, exploring what needs to change or to be put into practice in order to fulfill the requirements of the WHO Code of Practice and to strengthen health systems in the developing world.
Readd the full report >>>
UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases: addressing four questions
3 August 2011
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), principally heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, are a global crisis and require a global response.
In this report, the authors present the realities of the situation by answering four questions: is there really a global crisis of NCDs; how is NCD a development issue; are affordable and cost-effective interventions available; and do we really need high-level leadership and accountability?
Read the full text article on the Lancet's website.
Improving healthcare in South Sudan - in pictures
1 August 2011
Mobiles Transforming Data Collection in Developing Countries
29 July 2011
More videos are available on RSMvideos.com
Eradicating polio. Late? Or never?
28 July 2011
HUBRIS is always dangerous. In 1977 smallpox was eradicated and—an accidental infection in a British laboratory a year later aside—that claim has stood the test of time. Having eliminated one viral disease, the authorities decided they ought to be able to get rid of another: polio. That, though, proved a tougher opponent. The World Health Organisation’s original target, set in 1988—a polio-free world by 2000—proved illusory.
Read the article >>>
Donate to UNICEF's East Africa Children's Crisis Appeal.
25 July 2011
Right now, today, children in East Africa are facing a desperate crisis caused by prolonged drought, soaring food prices and conflict. The United Nations has formally declared a famine in parts of southern Somalia.
This crisis is getting worse and we need to act now to save lives.
Children and women are the most vulnerable. More than 2 million children under five in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are acutely malnourished, including almost 500,000 children suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition.
Please DONATE now
'The Health Systems Funding Platform: Resolving Tensions between the Aid and Development Effectiveness Agendas'
20 July 2011
This paper briefly assesses the “Health Systems Funding Platform” and argues that the way the initiative is proceeding differs little from prior initiatives, such as sector wide approaches and budget support.
However, the initiative does represent an opportunity to make global health aid more effective if it were to deepen its commitment to improving information for policy, link funding explicitly to well-chosen independently verified indicators, and establish an evaluation strategy to learn from its experience.
Read more >>>
Smelly socks tested in Tanzania as way to prevent malaria
14 July 2011
In global public health, disease-fighting tools that are cheap, available and sustainable are the Holy Grail. It might be hard to top the one being tested in Tanzania as a way to prevent malaria: smelly socks.
Experiments in three villages where people get about 350 bites a year from malaria-infected mosquitoes are using dirty socks to lure the insects into traps, where they become contaminated with poisons and ultimately die.
Read the article on the Washington Post >>>
Campaign Against Severe Acute Malnutrition
13 July 2011
Dr André Briend is the inventor of Plumpy'nut, a ready-to-use food which has transformed the campaign against severe acute malnutrition.
He was invited to discuss the development process and the difficulties encountered before its wide-spread implementation and acclamation at our Medical Innovations Summit, last June.
View the video on RSMvideos.com >>>
THET announces Health Partnership Scheme
12 July 2011
THET, a UK-based international development charity, announced they had been awarded the contract for a major new programme to help develop the skills of health workers in some of the world’s poorest countries. They will be working in consortium with HLSP, an international health sector consultancy, for the delivery of the Health Partnership Scheme.
Funded by the UK government’s Department for International Development, the Health Partnership Scheme will harness the expertise of UK health professionals to improve health outcomes by transferring skills and supporting skills development in low income countries, as well as through promoting UK involvement in volunteering. Activities will be wide-ranging and include training and capacity-building for staff, providing practical skills, continuing professional development, and curriculum development.
Read More >>>
Health workers call for peace. Join them.
11 July 2011
Photo exhibition - Purple Hearts by Nina Berman
5 July 2011
Photo exhibition - Purple Hearts by Nina Berman
In the RSM Auchi Foyer, throughout July 2011 - Free entry
Nina Berman began to photograph and interview wounded American soldiers after their return from Iraq in 2003. This endeavour has resulted in a series of intimate portraits showing the soldiers in their private spaces or in military hospitals or bases, away from the ceremonies and parades.
For more information, please visit the RSM's website
Diabetes' rapid rise makes it a 'defining global health issue'
29 June 2011
That number has more than doubled in three decades, jumping to an estimated 347 million, a new study says. And with the numbers climbing almost everywhere, experts said the disease is no longer limited to rich countries and is now a global problem.
“Diabetes may well become the defining issue of global health for the next decade,” said Majid Ezzati, chair of global environmental health at Imperial College London, one of the study authors.
Read more...
View a video of the first Global Health Alerts
21 June 2011
Countries pledge $4.3bn in funding for child vaccines
15 June 2011
The Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisation says this funding milestone will save more than four million lives in the next four years.
The donations exceeded expectations - GAVI asked for $3.7bn.
Read more on the BBC website
Discover Small Steps Project
13 June 2011
Small Steps Project is a humanitarian project dedicated to supporting the children living on rubbish dumps around the world and raising awareness of the unacceptable hardships faced by them through film.
View their short promo film about how they are trying to raise money for children living on inhabited landfill sites through documentary films. It was shot at The Hampstead Film Society (Exchange Studios), Camp Bestival and uses footage shot in Phnom Penh from the documentary Small Steps: Cambodia, Directed and Produced by Amy Hanson.
AIDS on the agenda
9 June 2011
The meeting came 10 years after the Declaration of Commitment and 5 years after the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, and reunited UN member states to review progress and renew declarations for sustained global commitments in response to the pandemic.
Read more...
Global Health Alerts - In partnership with MSF
7 June 2011
'Global Health Alerts' is a news series of RSM evening events.
In this new series well respected speakers are being asked to address controversial issues and current challenges in their areas of activity. Following the presentation, attendees will be able to share some refreshments and network with colleagues.
Book your free place
Hunger crisis worsens, food system broken
31 May 2011
Food prices could double in the next 20 years and demand in 2050 will be 70 percent higher than now, UK charity Oxfam said on Tuesday, warning of worsening hunger as the global food economy stumbles close to breakdown.
Read the full article
Merlin’s Hands Up For Health Workers campaign
25 May 2011
This May Merlin’s Hands Up For Health Workers campaign team attended the World Health Assembly alongside Merlin campaign ambassador Miatta, a health worker from Liberia who has worked in some of the world’s toughest places, including Darfur and the DR Congo.
Miatta spoke at an event where Merlin was a contributor, calling for better protection of health workers caught up in conflict – increasingly the targets in the fight to secure territory, resources and power.
Click here to read more about Miatta and the event and to join Merlin’s call for better protection of health workers.
Birth of Hope Appeal
17 May 2011
Professor Parveen Kumar, the RSM President, visited Liberia last October and as a result of the visit and the shocking conditions she witnessed, the RSM is launching an appeal - The Birth of Hope Appeal - to raise £25,000 for a maternal health clinic run by Merlin, who have worked in the country for the last 13 years.
Members have already donated nearly £23,000. For more information, please contact Paul Summerfield: paul.summerfield@rsm.ac.uk
So you want to be a relief doctor?
12 May 2011
RedR is an international charity that provides training and recruitment services for the humanitarian sector, improving emergency response worldwide.
Are you thinking about a new career direction? Or simply
interested in learning more about working in the humanitarian
sector?
If so this introductory one day workshop is for you.
Kofi Annan at the RSM
5 May 2011
Mr Kofi Annan was at the RSM where the Royal African Society held their inaugural annual lecture. He spoke about Africa and the World Food Security System. You can now view the video on our YouTube channel.
Kofi Annan at the RSM
12 April 2011
View the pictures of the events.
World Health Day
7 April 2011
Antimicrobial resistance is not a new problem but one that is becoming more dangerous; urgent and consolidated efforts are needed to avoid regressing to the pre-antibiotic era.
For World Health Day 2011, WHO is introducing a six-point policy package to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Visit WHO website for more information.
View the WHO brohure
Volunteer with the Welbodi Partnership
28 March 2011
The Welbodi Partnership is a young charity supporting child health care in Sierra Leone, a small West Africa country where one in seven children die before the age of five, mostly from preventable and treatable infections. They are currently looking for two volunteer programme managers and a consultant subspecialist paediatrician. All the positions are based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Click on the job description for more details and to apply.
Programme Manager (Healthcare Professional)
Programme Manager (Hospital Management)
Consultant Subspecialist Paediatrician
Want to treat the bigger picture?
25 March 2011
The day is aimed at young people (clinicians and non-clinicians) interested in finding out more about how to have a career in clinical trials and epidemiology (the study of the distribution and determinants of population health). The invited speakers will provide an overview of potential career pathways and how to progress in this relatively new area. There will also be numerous opportunities throughout the day to allow people to interact more informally with the speakers and other relevant parties in order to get further information and guidance.
Event date: Friday 8 July
Venue: The Royal Society of Medicine
View the full programme and register
View a video of the recent 'Healing Southern Sudan' lecture held at the RCOG
21 March 2011
Click here to view the video.
Birth of Hope Appeal - Photo exhibition
18 March 2011
Professor Parveen Kumar, the RSM President, visited Liberia last October and as a result of the visit and the shocking conditions she witnessed, the RSM is launching an appeal - The Birth of Hope Appeal - to raise £25,000 for a maternal health clinic run by Merlin, who have worked in the country for the last 13 years.
For more information about the exhibition, click here, or make a donation.
First RSM Global Health Symposium
18 March 2011
On 14 March the RSM Global Health programme hosted the First International RSM symposium on Global Health in association with THET. Entitled 'Engaging in Global Health: Controversies and Solutions', the event attracted a packed house who listend to presentations from a distinguished group of national and international experts in the field.
We were fortunate to have secured the attendance of Prof 'Zeke' Emanuel who currently advises President Obama on aspects of his new Global Health programme and who gave an excellent presentation entitled 'What the Global Community should be doing to improve health' (this talk can be viewed on the RSM Global Health website). Plans for the 2012 RSM symposium 'Shaping the Global Health Agenda: Women, Children and Society' being held on 27/28 March 2012 are progressing rapidly. Put these dates in your diary!
