Europe reaffirms its supports for Global Health

The Belgian All Party Parliamentary Group on the MDGs in collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) organised an International High Level Conference on: “The Future of Parliamentary Involvement in Global Health and Development”.

As a key outcome of the Conference, Parliamentarians adopted a Declaration reaffirming that as the world’s largest donor, it is Europe’s responsibility to honor its commitments and highlighting the need for a continued, predictable and sustainable support for Global Health and Development.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/default_en.htm

Providing toilets, safe water is top route to improve Global Health : UN University

Simply installing toilets where needed throughout the world and ensuring safe water supplies would do more to end crippling poverty and improve world health than any other possible measure, according to an analysis released today by the United Nations University.

Diseases due to poor water, sanitation and hygiene account for an estimated 10% of the total global burden of illness.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/10/19/providing.toilets.safe.water.top.route.reducing.world.poverty.un.university

ASIA: Countries lagging in flu pandemic plans, UN warns

Most Asia-Pacific nations are making progress on avian flu control, but are lagging in plans to tackle the social and economic fallout of a human flu pandemic, a senior UN influenza specialist, David Nabarr, has warned. He said: "I'm impressed with progress, but I am saying a lot more needs to be done, particularly on multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness."

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80878

WHO agreed on a research agenda on global climate change and public health

A meeting of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Madrid agreed to a research agenda to develop an evidence-based framework for action on the human health implications of climate change.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr36/en/index.html

Discoverers of AIDS and Cancer Viruses Win Nobel 2008

Two French scientists who discovered the AIDS virus and a German who found the virus that causes cervical cancer were awarded the 2008 Nobel prize for medicine or physiology.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/health/07nobel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Global Health Is a Hot Field

Recently, Washington Post published an article about the current popularity of global health studies among college students.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/18/AR2008091804145_pf.html

Report: Millennium Development Goals at midpoint

The European Union published a major report on the MDGs with recommendations to address slow progress and disparities.


http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/2008%2008%2019%20MDG_Where%20do%20we%20stand_first_draft.pdf