A new study on The World Distribution of Household Wealth by the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER) launched on Tuesday 5 December 2006. The most comprehensive study of personal wealth ever undertaken also reports that the richest 1% of adults alone owned 40% of global assets in the year 2000, and that the richest 10% of adults accounted for 85% of the world total. In contrast, the bottom half of the world adult population owned barely 1% of global wealth.
Equity in Health
The World Distribution of Household Wealth
World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER)
Women facing mental-health problems in Darfur
The Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 15 December 2006
A significant number of displaced women in South Darfur, western Sudan, suffer from depression and experience suicidal thoughts because of largely unaddressed mental-health problems, according to a study by the International Medical Corps (IMC).
21st Plenary Assembly of SADC Parliamentary Forum held at Mogale City, South Africa
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum, 10-16th November 2006
The 21st Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum was held at Misty Hills Country Hotel, Mogale City, South Africa under the theme: Enhancing the Role of Parliaments in Governance and Development at Regional Level: Trade and Development Issues Relating to the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)/European Union (EU) Negotiations. This document highlights the key points raised at the assembly.
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Does Mental Health Play a Role?
Miranda JJ, Patel V: PLoS Med 2 (10), October 2005
There is compelling evidence that in developing countries mental disorders are amongst the most important causes of sickness, disability, and, in certain age groups, premature mortality. Mental health–related conditions, including depressive and anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, and schizophrenia, contribute to a significant proportion of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLDs), even in poor countries. Apart from causing suffering, mental illness is closely associated with social determinants, notably poverty and gender disadvantage, and with poor physical health, including having HIV/AIDS and poor maternal and child health. Yet mental health remains a largely ignored issue in global health, and its complete absence from the MDGs reinforces the position that mental health has little role to play in major development-related health agendas. This article seeks to question this assumption. Using evidence on mental health in developing countries, it argues that addressing mental health problems is an integral part of health system interventions aimed at achieving some of the key MDGs.
Challenges and solutions to fight disease and improve health in Africa
Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organisation (WHO AFRO), 2006
This World Health Organisation report focuses on the health of the 738 million people living in Africa. It provides a comprehensive analysis of key public health issues and progress made on them in the Africa region. The report finds that whilst AIDS continues to devastate the region, the number of HIV-positive people on antiretroviral medicines increased eight fold from December 2003 to December 2005. Also, most countries are making good progress on preventable childhood illness: polio is close to eradication and 37 countries are reaching 60 per cent or more of their children with measles immunisation.
Dr Margaret Chan to be WHO's next Director-General
World Health Organisation, 9 November 2006
Dr Margaret Chan of China will be the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). After her appointment, she told the World Health Assembly she wanted to be judged by the impact WHO's work has on the people of Africa and on women across the globe. In her acceptance speech, Dr Chan said: "what matters most to me is people. And two specific groups of people in particular. I want us to be judged by the impact we have on the health of the people of Africa, and the health of women. Improvements in the health of the people of Africa and the health of women are key indicators of the performance of WHO."
Candidates for the post of Director-General
World Health Organisation
The list of names, in English alphabetical order, and titles of the persons proposed by Member States for nomination by the Executive Board for the post of Director-General can be found at the above website. The Board will meet from 6 to 8 November 2006.
Dr Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi's answers to PHM's on the position of the WHO Director General
People\'s Health Movement, 11 October 2006
As the People's Health Movement monitors the election of the organization's new Director General, all candidates have been sent a set of questions on key health issues. Dr Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi answers to the inquiries from the People’s Health Movement to the Candidates for the position of WHO’s Director General.
Election of a new World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General
People\'s Health Movement,
As the UN's specialist health agency, the World Health Organization remains the most important international public health institute. The People's Health Movement is therefore monitoring the election of the organization's new Director General. All candidates have been sent a set of questions on key health issues and their answers will be posted on the website to complement their background profiles.
World Health Organisation (WHO) General Candidate Survey
The Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control (FCTC)
The Framework Convention Alliance is a coalition of over 250 groups from more than 90 countries dedicated to support the ratification and implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. As a candidate for the post of Director General of the World Health Organization, the FCTC wrote and sent out questionnaires to solicit various participants' views on tobacco control by asking them to respond to the survey. The questionnaire used can be found at the weblink above.