Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Malaria ..................................................................................................................... 11
Integrated Approach to Malaria Control ................................................................................ 11
Relation between falciparum malaria and bacteraemia in Kenyan children: a populationbased, case-control study and a longitudinal study .............................................................. 12 Vaccines against malaria ...................................................................................................... 12 African Malaria Control Programs Deliver ITNs and Achieve What the Clinical Trials Predicted ............................................................................................................................... 12 We Control Malaria: Participatory Learning and Action Planning ......................................... 12 Treatment of imported severe malaria with artesunate instead of quinine - more evidence needed?................................................................................................................................. 13 Preventing the Reintroduction of Malaria in Mauritius: A Programmatic and Financial Assessment ........................................................................................................................... 13
Tuberculosis ............................................................................................................. 13
Priorities in Operational Research to Improve Tuberculosis Care and Control .................... 13 Incidence of Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Patients Before and After Starting Combined Antiretroviral Therapy in 8 Sub-Saharan African HIV Programs........................................... 14 Reduced tuberculosis case notification associated with scaling up antiretroviral treatment in rural Malawi ........................................................................................................................... 14 Guidance to develop GF Round 11 proposal for tuberculosis control .................................. 14 Aidspan Review of a Study by I. Katz et al. on Factors Influencing Performance of Global Fund-Supported TB Grants.................................................................................................. 15
Social Protection....................................................................................................... 18
Working for life: making decent work and pensions a reality for older people...................... 18 Disaster Microcredit: A Mechanism for Recovery ................................................................. 19 Microfinance & Microinsurance: Learnings from Market Studies in Latin America & Africa . 19 Engendering Social Security and Protection......................................................................... 19 Social Safety Nets: An Evaluation of World Bank Support, 2000-2010 ................................ 20 Cash Transfers, Children and the Crisis: Protecting Current and Future Investments......... 20 Liberias Cash for Work Temporary Employment Project: Responding to Crisis in Low Income, Fragile Countries ..................................................................................................... 20 Towards Improved Measurement of Financial Protection in Health ..................................... 21 Insured persons dilemma about other family members: a perspective on the national health insurance scheme in Nigeria ................................................................................................. 21 Integrating Public Works and Cash Transfers in Ethiopia: Implications for Social Protection, Employment and Decent Work ............................................................................................. 21 Child and HIV-sensitive social protection in Eastern and Southern Africa ........................... 22 Lessons from Social Protection Programme Implementation in Kenya, Zambia and Mongolia ............................................................................................................................................... 22 Stopping Child Poverty in its Tracks: The Role for Social Protection in Vietnam ................. 22
Human Resources.................................................................................................... 23
Exploring the Human Resources for Health Landscape for Adult Male Circumcision Rollout in Four Districts in Nyanza Province, Kenya ......................................................................... 23
Health Systems & Research ..................................................................................... 24 HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 2
Expansion of the private health sector in east and southern Africa ...................................... 24 Building the Field of Health Policy and Systems Research: An Agenda for Action .............. 24
Education ................................................................................................................. 25
Futures Stolen: Barriers to Education for Children with Disabilities in Nepal ....................... 25 Building Support for Gender Equality among Young Adolescents in School: Findings from Mumbai, India ........................................................................................................................ 25 Climate Change Starters Guidebook.................................................................................... 26
Others ...................................................................................................................... 28
Getting it Right from the Start: Priorities for Action in the New Republic of South Sudan .... 28 How to read health news....................................................................................................... 29 A journalists guide to reporting research findings ................................................................ 29 Health Care in Danger: Making the Case ............................................................................. 29 World Report on Disability - EasyRead version .................................................................... 30 Surgery in Africa Monthly Reviews: Surgical Safety ............................................................. 30
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES............................................ 32
Blended Learning Course HIV/AIDS & Gender: From basic knowledge to good practice . 32 Distance learning course: Health and Human Rights ........................................................... 32
CONFERENCES................................................................ 33
2011 European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) ............................................................................................................................ 33 5th Entertainment Education Conference (EE5) ................................................................... 33
CARTOON ......................................................................... 34
more about blogs ............................................................................................................... 34
BOOKS
Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality
by Kathleen Stratton, Andrew Ford, Erin Rusch et al. Institute of Medicine, National Academies Press, 2011 800 pp. 17.6 MB(!): http://download.nap.edu/cart/download.cgi?&record_id=13164&free=1 The book reviews the epidemiological, clinical, and biological evidence regarding adverse health effects associated with specific vaccines including varicella zoster vaccine, influenza vaccines, hepatitis B vaccine, and the human papillomavirus vaccine, among others. For each possible adverse event, the report reviews prior studies, summarizes their findings, and evaluates the epidemiological evidence. It finds that while no vaccine is 100% safe, very few adverse events are shown to be caused by vaccines. ***
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
Global Health Health Technologies and Innovation in the Global Health Arena
by Sidhartha R. Sinha and Michele Barry N Engl J Med 2011, 365:779-782; September 1, 2011 4 pp. 424 kB: http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMp1108040 In recent years, interest in both global health and health care innovation has grown tremendously, and there has been increasing recognition of the importance of medical deHESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 4
vices and other non-pharmaceutical health-related technologies to all aspects of health care. Many appropriate technologies, however, are inaccessible to the majority of people who need them, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The recognition that the right to health should include access to certain devices comes more than 30 years after similar recognition for essential medicines. ***
Getting Engaged with the Global Fund: Learning from civil society in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA), August 2011 12 pp. 672 kB: http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/Khana_final_small %5B1%5D.pdf This report summarises some of the key challenges facing civil society in engaging with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and sets out recommendations to improve civil 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.
HIV - AIDS - STI Mind the gap: HIV and AIDS and older people in Africa
HelpAge International Briefing, 2011 8 pp. 1.0 MB: http://www.helpage.org/silo/files/mind-the-gap-hiv-and-aids-andolder-people-in-africa.pdf HIV affects older people in two main ways. Large numbers of older people are themselves living with HIV. Many are also taking on vital caring responsibilities for loved ones living with HIV and the children orphaned by AIDS. This briefing sets out the need to strengthen the response to HIV in Africa by providing interventions on the basis of genuine need rather than age. It also cites examples of interventions that have changed the lives of older people and those who depend on them. ***
Exploring task-shifting practices in antiretroviral treatment facilities in the Free State Province, South Africa
by Katinka de Weta, Edwin Woutersa, and Michelle Engelbrecht Journal of Public Health Policy (2011) 32, S94-S101 8 pp. 64 kB: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jphp/journal/v32/n1s/pdf/jphp201130a.pdf There is good progress with the implementation of South Africas antiretroviral treatment program. The country, however, faces human resource shortages that could be addressed through appropriate task shifting. During 2009, the authors studied task shifting from nurses to community health workers (CHWs) for HIV treatment and care at 12 primary health-care clinics in Free State Province, South Africa. They found inefficiency in nurse deployment, and nurses spent considerable time on training, counselling, and administrative tasks that could be shifted to CHWs. ***
A Tale of Two Countries: Rethinking Sexual Risk for HIV Among Young People in South Africa and the United States
by Audrey E. Pettifor, Brooke A. Levandowski, Catherine Macphail et al. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 49, Issue 3, pp. 237-243, September 2011 8 pp. 1.4 MB: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1054139X/PIIS1054139X10004970.pdf Young people in the United States report riskier sexual behaviours than young people in HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 6
South Africa (SA), despite the much higher prevalence of HIV infection in SA. Factors above and beyond sexual behavior likely play a key role in the ongoing transmission of HIV in South African youth, and thus should be urgently uncovered to develop maximally effective prevention strategies. ***
Integrating maternal, newborn and child health into community-based HIV programmes
International HIV/AIDS Alliance HIV Update No. 11; August 2011 12 pp. 604 kB: http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/Alliance_HIV_upda te_MNCH.pdf This technical update was developed in response to the increasing attention and calls for greater integration of HIV with reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH). It provides an overview of the different components within RMNCH, the importance of linking RMNCH and HIV, and key interventions that link HIV with RMNCH. It also highlights that strategies to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality must use key windows of opportunity such as the Global Fund Round 11 to scale up coordinated and integrated RMNCH services within HIV responses. ***
Can integration of HIV with other health services strengthen the health response?
by Theo Smart HIV & AIDS treatment in practice (HATIP) #181, September 7th, 2011 14 pp. 265 kB: http://www.aidsmap.com/pdf/page/2066591/ This edition of HATIP looks at the question of integration between HIV services and other types of service within the health system. Integration has become a buzz-word in the HIV field over the past few years, but what do we mean by integration, who does it benefit, and where should the integration take place? ***
Expos of fallacious claims that male circumcision will increase HIV infections in Africa
by Brian J. Morris, Jake H. Waskett, Ronald H. Gray et al. Journal of Public Health in Africa 2011; Vol. 2, No.2:e28 6 pp. 600 kB:
http://www.publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/download/jphia.2011.e28/pdf
In a recent issue of the Journal of Public Health in Africa, Van Howe and Storms claim that male circumcision will increase HIV infections in Africa. Here we review the statements they use in support of their thesis and show that there is no scientific basis to such an assertion. We also evaluate the statistics used and show that when these data are properly analyzed the results lead to a contrary conclusion affirming the major role HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 7
of male circumcision in protecting against HIV infection in Africa. Researchers, policy makers and the wider community should rely on balanced scholarship when assessing scientific evidence.
Sexual & Reproductive Health Strange bedfellows: bridging the worlds of academia, public health and the sex industry to improve sexual health outcomes
Wendy Knerr and Anne Philpott Health Research Policy and Systems 9(Suppl. 1): S13, 16 June 2011 9 pp. 274 kB: http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/pdf/1478-4505-9-S1-S13.pdf The public health response to sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV, has been and continues to be overwhelmingly focused on risk, disease and negative outcomes of sex, while avoiding discussion of positive motivations for sex like pleasure, desire and love. Recent advocacy efforts have challenged this approach and organisations have promoted the eroticisation of safer sex, especially in the context of HIV prevention. ***
latest available data on sexual and reproductive health for seven East African countries. ***
Strategies for Encouraging the Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting: Experiences from Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali
by Nafissatou J. Diop and Ian Askew Chapter 6 in: Female Circumcision - Multicultural Perspectives Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights Series, 2007 15 pp. 2.2 MB: http://www.k4health.org/system/files/FGC%20Multicultural%20pers pectives.pdf This essay evaluates strategies employed to encourage the abandonment of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in three adjacent nation-states: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. This includes evaluations of two strategies that focus on changing the behaviour of traditional practitioners and health care providers, and the findings from an evaluation of one of the best-known examples of a community-wide behaviour changes strategy, the Village Empowerment Program. ***
The first assessment in two decades of abortion in Colombia shows that one in 26 Colombian women had an abortion in 2008 and that approximately 30% of all pregnancies ended in abortion. The authors recommend that to reduce unsafe abortion and help women plan their births, contraceptive services must be strengthened, the coverage and quality of post-abortion services must be improved, and the 2006 court decision on abortion (Sentencia C-355) must be better implemented to provide access to legal abortion services. ***
that together assist staff in addressing the issues that are within their reach. Among the first and most critical questions that facilitators ask participants during the first COPE exercise are: What is quality?
Neonatal Mortality Levels for 193 Countries in 2009 with Trends since 1990: A Systematic Analysis of Progress, Projections, and Priorities
by Mikkel Zahle Oestergaard, Mie Inoue, Sachiyo Yoshida et al. PLoS Med 8(8): e1001080 (30 August 2011) 13 pp. 843 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=4122BA2DDDDB3A2EFEBC790B 33CFFDEB.ambra02?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001080&representation=PDF
Neonatal mortality (deaths <28 days of age) has received limited attention, although such deaths account for about 41% of all child deaths. To better assess progress, the authors developed annual estimates for neonatal mortality rates (NMRs) and neonatal deaths for 193 countries for the period 1990-2009 with forecasts into the future. They conclude that neonatal mortality has declined in all world regions. Progress has been slowest in the regions with high NMRs. Global health programs need to address neon atal deaths more effectively if Millennium Development Goal 4 (two-thirds reduction in child mortality) is to be achieved. ***
Practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and human rights
Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, July 2011 19 pp. 130 kB: http://www.hst.org.za/sites/default/files/HRC%20Effective%20practices%20MMM %20A-HRC-18-27.pdf The study contains an analytical compilation of good and effective practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and morbidity. It identifies the common features of such practices, analyses how they embody a human rights-based approach, and showcases some good practices that have been effective in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. ***
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Given Shortly After Birth Stimulates Effective Antibody Concentrations and Primes Immunological Memory for Sustained Infant Protection
by J. Anthony G. Scott, John Ojal, Lindsey Ashton et al. Clin Infect Dis. 53(7): 663-670 (1 October 2011) 8 pp. 204 kB: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/53/7/663.full.pdf+html In developing countries, newborn immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) could protect young infants who are at high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) but might lead to immune tolerance. Immunization of Kenyan newborns with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is safe and immunogenic. Compared with the Expanded Programme on Immunization schedule beginning at 6 weeks, it stimulates similar antibody concentrations at 18 weeks and induces equal responses to a 9-month booster dose.
Relation between falciparum malaria and bacteraemia in Kenyan children: a population-based, case-control study and a longitudinal study
by J Anthony G Scott FRCP, James A Berkley, Isaiah Mwangi et al. The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 7 September 2011 8 pp. 333 kB: http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS014067361160888X.pdf Malaria infection strongly predisposes individuals to bacteraemia and can account for more than half of all cases of bacteraemia in malaria-endemic areas. Interventions to control malaria will have a major additional benefit by reducing the burden of invasive bacterial disease. ***
African Malaria Control Programs Deliver ITNs and Achieve What the Clinical Trials Predicted
by Thomas P. Eisele and Richard W. Steketee PLoS Med 8(9): e1001088 (6 September 2011) 2 pp. 70 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=3DD0FEA8B022702E703BE 1EF52CF7BA0.ambra01?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001088&representation=PDF
This Perspective discusses a new study published in PLoS Medicine where the authors report findings from a multi-country analysis of household survey data on the association between possession of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and child mortality and parasitemia. Scale-up of net coverage was associated with a substantial reduction in childhood mortality and in parasitemia prevalence. ***
62 pp. 1.7 MB: http://www.crsprogramquality.org/storage/pubs/health/We_Control_ Malaria.pdf The We Control Malaria facilitators guide is designed to assist community facilitators to use participatory methodologies to help community groups to learn more about malaria, its prevention, and treatment, as well as make a community plan to control the disease. ***
Treatment of imported severe malaria with artesunate instead of quinine more evidence needed?
by Jakob P Cramer, Rogelio Lopez-Velez, Gerd D Burchard et al. Malaria Journal 2011, 10:256 (7 September 2011) 12 pp. 149 kB: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-10-256.pdf Rapid and fast acting anti-malarials are essential to treat severe malaria. Quinine has been the only option for parenteral therapy until recently. While current evidence shows that intravenous artesunate is more effective than quinine in treating severe malaria in endemic countries, some questions remain regarding safety profiles and drug resistance. Here, the implications of existing evidence for the treatment of imported severe malaria are discussed. ***
The Mauritius experience indicates that ongoing intervention, strong leadership, and substantial predictable funding are critical to consistently prevent the re-establishment of malaria. Sustained vigilance is critical considering Mauritiuss enabling conditions. Although the cost of prevention of reintroduction (POR) is below that of elimination, annual per capita spending remains at levels that are likely infeasible for countries with lower overall health spending. Countries currently embarking on elimination should quantify and plan for potentially similar POR operations and costs.
133 pp. 1.2 MB: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241548250_eng.pdf The publication describes the current areas where gaps in knowledge are hindering the optimal implementation of TB control activities and how these obstacles can be removed. The document has been designed for national TB control programmes and research institutions in countries with a high burden of TB and gives guidance on operational research issues, how to develop, conduct and strengthen operational research projects, and how to raise resources for this area of work. ***
Incidence of Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Patients Before and After Starting Combined Antiretroviral Therapy in 8 Sub-Saharan African HIV Programs
by Sarala Nicholas, Kalpana Sabapathy, Cecilia Ferreyra et al. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol. 57, Nr. 4, August 1, 2011 8 pp. 162 kB: http://fieldresearch.msf.org/msf/bitstream/10144/141405/1/Nicholas %20JAIDS%20TB_incidence%20.pdf The objective of the study was to describe the incidence of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis before and after the start of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) and investigate associated risk factors. The findings show the high burden that tuberc ulosis represents for HIV programs and highlight the importance of earlier ART start and the need to implement intensified tuberculosis finding, isoniazide prophylaxis, and infection control. ***
Reduced tuberculosis case notification associated with scaling up antiretroviral treatment in rural Malawi
by R. Zachariah, M. Bemelmans, A. Akesson et al. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 15(7):933-937, 2011 6 pp. 648 kB: http://fieldresearch.msf.org/msf/bitstream/10144/141437/1/Zacharia h%20IJTLD%20Reduced%20TB%20notification%20with%20ART.pdf The authors report on the trends in new and recurrent tuberculosis (TB) case notifications in a rural district of Malawi that has embarked on large-scale rollout of antiretroviral treatment (ART). They conclude that high ART implementation coverage is associated with a very significant declining trend in new and recurrent TB case notifications at population level. ***
This document is intended for country and other stakeholder applicants, writing committees and consultants supporting TB proposal development for Global Fund Round 11. It aims to provide guidance on key aspects of the process of proposal development. ***
Aidspan Review of a Study by I. Katz et al. on Factors Influencing Performance of Global Fund-Supported TB Grants
by David McCoy Aidspan, 24 August 2011 MS WORD file (8 pp. 119 kB):
http://www.aidspan.org/documents/aidspan/aidspan-review-re-katz-on-tb-2011-en.doc
Global Fund-supported grants do not all work as well as they should. Some grants do well, while others struggle to be effective or efficient. Understanding the reasons for this variation may be useful. Global Fund employees recently published a study that sought to describe the factors influencing the performance of Global Fund-supported tuberculosis (TB) grants. How was this study conducted and what did it say?
Other Infectious Diseases Microfluidics-based diagnostics of infectious diseases in the developing world
by Curtis D Chin, Tassaneewan Laksanasopin, Yuk Kee Cheung et al. Nature Medicine Vol. 17, No. 8, pp. 1015-1019 (August 2011) 6 pp. 797 kB: http://german-practice-collection.org/en/downloadcentre/doc_download/964 An easy-to-use diagnostic chip could be a game changer in the field of cheap diagnostics for remote regions, claim the authors who developed it. Tests of the mChip on blood samples collected in Rwanda showed that it can diagnose HIV/AIDS and detect 100 per cent of cases in just 15 minutes - with the same accuracy as standard laboratory tests that can take weeks to give a result. The chip is roughly the size of a postage stamp and can be cheaply mass produced. The authors say that the same technology could be used to diagnose other diseases, such as malaria and hepatitis. ***
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits
by R Machemedze, R Loewenson, P Nyagura SEATINI, TARSC, Policy Brief 25; May 2011 4 pp. 343 kB:
http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/EQ%20Pol%20Brief25%20PIP.pdf
The sharing by countries of influenza virus samples is important for vaccine development, and for understanding how viruses are mutating. This policy brief outlines the o pportunities that African countries have to negotiate for equitable benefit sharing in the use of viral resources, through international treaties. The brief provides information on their enabling clauses and outlines the options that African countries may consider in their negotiations for an equitable system.
This issue of GLOBAL HEALTH magazine highlights the mounting global epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart diseases, cancers, chronic lung diseases and diabetes. The scale and economic toll posed by NCDs is increasingly clear, requiring urgent action. The burden of NCDs is only projected to worsen, particularly among countries least able to respond. Solutions must come from a variety of fronts, and future social and economic progress will undoubtedly be shaped by how the global community understands, prioritizes and responds to NCDs. ***
The UN High Level Meeting of the General Assembly in September 2011 presents an historic opportunity to rethink the global response to NCDs and to substantially step up support for developing countries to address their disproportionate share of the NCD burden. Public health professionals worldwide can play key roles, individually and collectively, in ensuring that the opportunity is not lost. This will require sustained advocacy and mobilizing the full range of tools proven to support effective public health action. The stakes are high and the potential benefits are large, especially for the world's poorest people. ***
Informing the 2011 UN Session on Noncommunicable Diseases: Applying Lessons from the AIDS Response
by Peter Lamptey, Michael Merson, Peter Piot et al. PLoS Med 8(9): e1001086 (6 September 2011) 3 pp. 67 kB: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action?uri=info%3Adoi %2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001086&representation=PDF The September 2011 UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases provides an opportunity for the international community and national stakeholders to raise awareness and launch an effective global response to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Valuable policy lessons have been learned in the control of AIDS that can help inform the global dialogue when designing a NCD response in developing countries. ***
HIV-AIDS has taught us the value of societal engagement: successful programs have actively involved the affected communities, harnessed the goodwill and support of highprofile celebrities, and energized advocacy and political support and will. Above all, we have learned that the fight against diseases such as HIV-AIDS is global and that solutions can emerge from anywhere. The importance of both HIV-AIDS and noncommunicable diseases was initially recognized in high-income countries, but these diseases affect all countries; they may therefore inspire increased global collaboration in research and public health action.
Essential Medicines Preventing substandard, falsified medicines and protecting access to generic medicines in Africa
by R Machemedze, R Loewenson, P Nyagura SEATINI, TARSC, Policy Brief 24; May 2011 4 pp. 300 kB:
http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/EQ%20Polbrief24Counterfeits.pdf
This policy brief defines counterfeit, substandard and falsified medicines. It points to the separate measures and mandates needed to combat each: for dealing with fraudulent trade mark and intellectual property (IP) infringement in counterfeit medicines by IP authorities, for ensuring that any anti-counterfeit measures protect TRIPS flexibilities, including for access to generic medicines; and for national drug regulatory authorities to ensure that substandard and falsified medicines do not compromise health. ***
Draft Guidelines for the Development of Pharmaceutical Services in Primary Health Care
by Nelly Marn, Adriana Mitsue Ivama, Dalia Castillo et al. Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), September 2011 82 pp. 1.1 MB: http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid =14678&Itemid= The focus of this document is to guide the countries in the Region of the Americas for the implementation of pharmaceutical services based on PHC. The guidelines can be used by Ministries, State Secretariats and Departments of Health, academia, NGOs and all those civil society organizations that are working with PHC with a renewed vision by PAHO/WHO. Since it is a work in progress, the document is dynamic and there is the expectation that the contributions of everyone will enrich it.
Social Protection Working for life: making decent work and pensions a reality for older people
by Annie Kelly, Julia Pitman and Thiongo Ngugi - HelpAge International, 2011 HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 18
28 pp. 1.4 MB: http://www.helpage.org/download/4c3cfab169f5e This report examines the key issues of decent work; what it is, whether it is a way out of poverty and decent work in EU development co-operation. It also looks at issues around older people and work and whether pensions are an affordable strategy. This paper draws on the experiences and insights of older people in Bangladesh, Peru and Uganda. ***
Microfinance & Microinsurance: Learnings from Market Studies in Latin America & Africa
by Sabrina Rgent, Sophie Chauliac, Benoit Rigollet PlaNet Finance and PlaNet Guarantee, 2011 119 pp. 11.2 MB(!): http://admin.planetfinancegroup.org/upload/medias/fr/pfgroupmarket_study_microinsurance_2011.pdf Microinsurance has huge potential for helping low-income populations confront financial risks, for allowing insurers and intermediaries to enter new markets, and for enabling governments to complement their intervention by relying on privately run insurance. Access to the financial risk management tools of credit, savings and insurance is a key to fighting poverty. But microinsurance is still an infant compared to microfinance. Today, much remains to be done in order to provide people with simple, understandable, accessible, value-based, and efficient products. ***
14 pp. 275 kB: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/08212-20110725.pdf The recent global crisis has underlined the important role of social security and protection. However, in practice there are going to be significant variations in crisis response across countries. What is the best way of equalizing social protection outcomes, especially for women? ***
Events of the past decade have underscored the vital need for social safety net (SSN) programs in all countries, especially in times of crisis. When hous eholds are hit by shocks, SSNs can be used to protect particularly vulnerable people by providing liquidity, offering short-term employment, and discouraging negative mechanisms for coping with the setbacks. Many countries, especially high- and middle-income countries, have some form of targeted SSN programs, and they are spreading to lowincome countries, too. ***
Cash Transfers, Children and the Crisis: Protecting Current and Future Investments
by Ariel Fiszbein, Dena Ringold, Santhosh Srinivasan The World Bank Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 1112, June 2011 32 pp. 169 kB: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOCIALPROTECTION/Resourc es/SP-Discussion-papers/Safety-Nets-DP/1112.pdf This paper aims to describe how conditional cash transfers have been used by different countries to respond to the food, fuel and finance crises of 2008-2009 (e.g. by expanding coverage and/or increasing benefit amounts), distill lessons about their effectiveness as crisis-response programs, identify design features that can facilitate their ability to respond to transient poverty shocks, and assess how they can complement other safety net programs. ***
Liberias Cash for Work Temporary Employment Project: Responding to Crisis in Low Income, Fragile Countries
by Colin Andrews, Prospre Backiny-Yetna, Emily Garin et al. The World Bank Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 1114; July 2011 53 pp. 228 kB: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOCIALPROTECTION/Resources/SPDiscussion-papers/Safety-Nets-DP/1114.pdf The paper looks at the experiences of Liberias Cash for Work Temporary Project in reHESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 20
sponse to food crisis. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative evaluation, the paper explores lessons on the operational performance and policy experiences emerging from program implementation. The evaluation shows that although implementing social pr otection programming on tight timelines is difficult in a post-conflict setting with poor infrastructure and government capacity, private actors and community structures can offer flexibility. ***
Insured persons dilemma about other family members: a perspective on the national health insurance scheme in Nigeria
by Nasir Umar and Shafiu Mohammed Journal of Public Health in Africa 2011; Vol. 2, No. 2:e31 2 pp. 52 kB: http://www.publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/download/ jphia.2011.e31/pdf Results of the national health insurance scheme (NHIS) survey in Nigeria revealed that respondents (heads of households) have generally viewed the NHIS favourably, but consistently expressed dissatisfaction over the terms of coverage. Specifically, because the NHIS enrolment covers only the primary insured person, their spouse and only up to four biological children, in a setting where extended family is common. Dissatisfaction of enrolees could affect their willingness to participate in the insurance scheme, which may potentially affect the success and future extension of the scheme. ***
Integrating Public Works and Cash Transfers in Ethiopia: Implications for Social Protection, Employment and Decent Work
by Maikel Lieuw-Kie-Song International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC - IG) Working Paper #84, September 2011 31 pp. 355 kB: http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCWorkingPaper84.pdf
What is the relevance of Ethiopias Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), the se cond largest social protection programme in Africa, for other countries, especially for India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA)? Are there policy lessons to be noted and operational innovations to be learned from? This paper aims at answering these questions by reviewing and analysing the employment and social-protection aspects of PSNP. ***
Lessons from Social Protection Programme Implementation in Kenya, Zambia and Mongolia
by Carl Jackson, Saul Butters, Enkhtsetseg Byambaa et al. Institute of Development Studies (IDS), July 2011 42 pp. 224 kB: http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/rr69.pdf This paper researches how social protection programming can interrupt the intergenerational transfer of poverty (IGT) through investments in human capital (education, health, nutrition). Research was conducted on three case studies: the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) in Kenya, the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) in Zambia, and the Child Money Programme (CMP) in Mongolia. Research aimed to u nderstand which factors in social protection programming (e.g. design, implementation) account for success. ***
Stopping Child Poverty in its Tracks: The Role for Social Protection in Vietnam
by Keetie Roelen Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Working Paper Nr. 371, September 2011 15 pp. 95 kB: http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/Wp371.pdf This paper explores the role for social protection in reducing child poverty in the specific HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 22
case of Vietnam. Although the country has experienced rapid economic growth with a concurrent rise in living standards, inequalities are widespread across demographic and social groups and deprivation persists in both income and non-income dimensions.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Small-Scale Water Providers in Kenya: Pioneers or Predators?
by Degol Hailu, Sara Rendtorff-Smith and Raquel Tsukada United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), August 2011 48 pp. 2.3 MB: http://www.beta.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Poverty%20Re duction/Inclusive%20development/Kenya%20paper%28web%29.pdf In 2008, 83 percent of Kenyans living in urban areas, had access to safe drinking water down from 91 percent in 1990. This gradual deterioration in urban water access is mainly due to growing demand caused by rapid population growth, especially in the informal settlements. Small-scale private water providers have entered the market to fill the gap left in public service provision. This study examines what role they play in ensuring affordable, safe and reliable water supply. It finds that small-scale providers increase water supply coverage and reduce time poverty. ***
Human Resources Exploring the Human Resources for Health Landscape for Adult Male Circumcision Rollout in Four Districts in Nyanza Province, Kenya
by Paul Perchal, George Odingo, and Melinda Pavin EngenderHealth, 2011 44 pp. 2.4 MB: http://www.engenderhealth.org/files/pubs/hiv-aidsstis/engenderhealth-mc-hrtna-report-final.pdf Research on adult Male Circumcision (MC) in Kenya and in other countries may shed light on some of the Human Resources for Health (HRH) questions. As part of the Male Circumcision Consortium, EngenderHealth is conducting several studies to assess the safety, quality, and acceptability of various service delivery approaches, including task HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 23
Health Systems & Research Expansion of the private health sector in east and southern Africa
by Jane Doherty Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) Discussion Paper 87, August 2011 35 pp. 180 kB: http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/EQ%20Diss%2087%20Private%20HS.pdf This review explores the implications of expansion of the private for profit health sector for equitable health systems in East and Southern Africa. It explores whether there are signs of increasing for-profit private sector activity in the region. The report then identifies issues of concern on private for profit activity in the health sector. Comprehensive policies on the private sector need to be developed, together with a robust regulations and state capacities to monitor private sector activity and enforce regulations and sanctions. ***
Building the Field of Health Policy and Systems Research: An Agenda for Action
by Sara Bennett, Irene Akua Agyepong, Kabir Sheikh et al. PLoS Med 8(8): e1001081 (30 August 2011) 5 pp. 160 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=019222D0C4C28046D8EC CBE815B56FA4.ambra02?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001081&representation=PDF
The lack of clarity and shared understanding regarding the scientific foundations of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) potentially has very negative consequences for the field. This final paper in the Building the Field of HPSR series turns to practical questions concerning how to remove structural barriers that currently inhibit the development of the HPSR field and thus unlock HPSR capacities.
Information & Communication Technology Delivering on the promise of information technology to strengthen health systems
by David Lubinski PATH, June 2011 2 pp. 190 kB: http://www.path.org/files/TS_hmis_delivering.pdf From tracking tuberculosis in Africa to providing better maternal and child health care in India, PATHs work in health information systems is bridging the gap between global health and information and communication technology using a different approach - a user-driven enterprise architecture and technology that addresses user requirements. HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 24
Education Futures Stolen: Barriers to Education for Children with Disabilities in Nepal
by Shantha Rau Barriga, Joseph Amon, Rebecca Schleifer et al. Human Rights Watch, 2011 76 pp. 799 kB: http://www.crin.org/docs/nepal0811ForWebUpload.pdf This report documents the hurdles that children with disabilities face in obtaining a quality education in Nepal. Some children with disabilities experience abuse and neglect at home and in their communities, making it harder for them to gain access to schooling. These barriers result in low attendance and high dropout rates for children with disabilities compared with their non-disabled peers. ***
Building Support for Gender Equality among Young Adolescents in School: Findings from Mumbai, India
by Pranita Achyut, Nandita Bhatla, Ajay Kumar Singh et al. MacArthur Foundation and Nike Foundation, 2011 HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 25
12 pp. 495 kB: http://www.ungei.org/resources/files/GEMS_Building_Support_for_ Gender_Equality_Adolescents.pdf There is increasing recognition that to reduce gender inequality programs must start with youth. Yet there has been limited engagement of both girls and boys during early adolescence to challenge and shift gender norms that contribute to girls and women having less worth, opportunities and decision-making ability than boys and men. Such inequitable gender norms can have a host of harmful consequences for girls and boys during childhood and beyond, including poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, violence and school drop out. ***
Development Assistance What has tax got to do with Development: A Critical look at Mozambiques and Zimbabwes tax system
by Marta Cumbi and Leonard Maveneka AFRODAD, July 2011 Mozambique (36 pp. 439 kB): http://www.eurodad.org/uploadedFiles/Whats_New/Reports/what% 20has%20tax%20got%20to%20do%20with%20development%5B1%5D(1).pdf?n=3094 Zimbabwe (40 pp. 421 kB): http://www.eurodad.org/uploadedFiles/Whats_New/Reports/zimbabwe%20tax%2 0system-web%5B1%5D.pdf If developing countries were able to collect sufficient tax revenues, they might be able to increase their independence, the provision of social protection, infrastructure and basic services such as education and health care which are crucial for development. The two reports on Mozambique and Zimbabwe reveal that mobilising domestic resources as a means to financing development has become an important development issue, a shift from the past emphasis on financing development from aid and external borrowing. *** HESP-News & Notes - 19/2011 - page 26
Universal Health Coverage: A Background Document developed for the Belgian Development Cooperation
by An Appelmans, Luc Van Leemput, Raoul Bermejo et al. Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp (ITMA), September 2011 37 pp. 825 kB: http://www.itg.be/itg/Uploads/Volksgezondheid/wpshsop/WP3%20%20ITM%20UHC%20Technical%20Policy%20Note.pdf Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has sparked a lot of debate over the years, both conceptually and in terms of directions on how to move towards achieving it. It continues to do so. Nevertheless, there is now a broad consensus on the objective of UHC in line with previous milestone targets as health and health care for all. Current challenges such as reaching illegal migrants or keeping health care affordable with an increasingly ageing population show that UHC is not a one-time achievement but rather a work in progress, even in developed countries.
Others Getting it Right from the Start: Priorities for Action in the New Republic of South Sudan
by Rebecca Barber on behalf of a coalition of 38 organizations providing humanitarian, development, and peace-building programs in South Sudan - Published: 6 September 2011 39 pp. 1.1 MB: http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/20110906-southsudan-getting-it-right-from-the-start.pdf Amidst jubilant celebration, the new Republic of South Sudan entered the international stage in July 2011 albeit as one of the least developed countries in the world. The challenges and opportunities are enormous, and donors, the government, implementing agencies and most importantly the people of South Sudan have a lot at stake but much more to gain. This paper presents ten areas that the Government of South Sudan and donors must prioritize in the first years of the countrys independence so as to e nsure the best possible results for the people of South Sudan. ***
http://german-practice-collection.org/en/download-centre/doc_download/963 Attacks on health-care facilities, health-care personnel and medical vehicles, and impediments to the wounded and the sick reaching health-care services have become common in conflicts and upheavals all over the world. Violence, both actual and threatened, against patients and health-care workers and facilities is one of the most crucial yet overlooked humanitarian issues of today. This publication first looks at the general disruption to health care that occurs during conflict and civil strife, before looking more closely at specific types of violence. ***
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
The World Bank - Social Protection Datasets
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSOCIALPROTECTION/EXTSAFETYNETSANDTRANSFERS/0,,contentMDK:22986320~menuPK:282766~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282761,00.html
The Social Protection (SP) databases consolidate comparable country data on program benefit incidence, targeting accuracy, cost-benefit, poverty/inequality impacts, overlap, spending, and performance under a unique platform. The data provided intend to support countries make evidence-based decisions on what works and does not work in SP, and ultimately focus assistance on cost-effective programs.
tabase of all life on Earth. The Encyclopedia of Life contains some 700,000 pages, each listing a different living thing. The redesign is meant to increase ease of use - and allow users to personalize the site and to interact with fellow enthusiasts worldwide.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Blended Learning Course HIV/AIDS & Gender: From basic knowledge to good practice
11 November 2011 - 11 March 2012 GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH This course provides a starting-point for developing a clear understanding of the global HIV epidemic, as well as an opportunity for participants to examine their own beliefs and attitudes towards HIV and AIDS and those affected by the disease. Considering the 'feminisation' of the HIV epidemic in Sub-Sahara Africa, the course addresses a gender focus and gives priorities to multipliers with gender-sensitive responses to HIV and AIDS. The online course is designed for non medical professionals who deal with HIV and AIDS issues in various contexts, e.g. health, education, civil society, business, or development co-operation. According to the main GIZ partner countries we are specifically inviting applicants from Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania. A 1 day start-up seminar (planned in the capital of each country) will precede the start of the course. During the seminar participants will have the chance to familiarise themselves with the online environment and the various communication tools that will be followed by an online introduction of 10 days. After the online phase, a five-day face-toface seminar will be conducted in Tanzania. The detailed programme of it will be deve loped based on the specific interests of the course participants. For more information download the course flyer (Adobe PDF file - 3 pp. 94 kB): http://german-practice-collection.org/en/download-centre/doc_download/965 Application deadline is 14 October 2011. Application form: (MS Word file - 4 pp. 83 kB) http://german-practice-collection.org/en/download-centre/doc_download/966 ***
NGOs, WHO staff and other UN agencies etc. from Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania. Language: English Entry Requirements: Fluency in English, internet access. For more information contact: Nikola Hging Tel.: +49-228-4460-1588 Fax: +49-228-4460-1844 mailto:nikola.hueging@giz.de For more courses and conferences see also: http://www.going-international.at/index.php?lang=EN
CONFERENCES
2011 European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE)
6-8th November 2011, Stockholm, Sweden The conference aims at: (a) strengthening and expanding the human network of all involved in applied infectious disease epidemiology (b) sharing scientific knowledge and experience in this field in Europe and internationally and (c) providing a dedicated pla tform for EPIET/FETP (field epidemiology training programme) fellows to present their work. For more information download the ESCAIDE Flyer (2 pp. 2.1 MB): http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/ESCAIDE/Documents/1106_ESCAIDE_2011_Flyer.pdf ***
CARTOON
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If you have a mouse with a scroll wheel on it, here is a cool trick. Try Holding the Shift Key on your keyboard and then spin the mouse wheel. In both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox you will go forward or back a page depending on which way you spun the wheel. ***
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