Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat to public health the world over. Global health governance strategies need to address the erosion of antimicrobial effectiveness on three levels. Firstly, mechanisms to provide incentives for the pharmaceutical industry to develop antimicrobials for diseases threatening the developing world need to be sought out. Secondly, responsible use of antimicrobials by both clinicians and the animal food growing industry needs to be encouraged and managed globally. And lastly, in-country and international monitoring of changes in antimicrobial effectiveness needs to be stepped up in the context of a global health governance strategy.
Governance and participation in health
The global health governance of antimicrobial effectiveness
Martin G: Globalization and Health 2:7, 25 April 2006
Africa: Ask the women
Daniel P: Opendemocracy, 3 August 2006
To address Africa's deep-rooted problems, it's time to reject the superficial male charisma embodied by the likes of Tony Blair and Bob Geldof and instead mobilise the dynamic energies of African and Africa engaged women. The author discusses how Africa at its simplest already has a handful of problems, including, amongst others, HIV/AIDS and gender inequality. For example, the attempt to strengthen national systems in Africa continues to be thwarted by the high incidence of HIV/AIDS which is thinning out cohort after cohort of dynamic young professionals.
Reclaiming SADC for people's solidarity and development cooperation: Sechaba se ea bolaoa!
Southern African Peoples Solidarity Network (SAPSN).
The representatives of many economic justice networks, social development movements, women’s, workers, youth and small-scale farmers, human rights, educational and environmental organisations, and many others, from across the Southern African region gathered in Maseru, Lesotho under the auspices of the Southern African Peoples Solidarity Network (SAPSN). They held a People’s Summit to review their situation and share views on the state of regional development and cooperation, and so present their views to the Summit of the Heads of State and government ministers’ meeting in Maseru, 16-18 August 2006.
Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) 13th National Conference resolutions
CWGH National Conference, Cresta Oasis Hotel, Harare, 5-6 July 2006
Delegates attending the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) 13th National Conference in Harare from 5–6 July 2006 compiled this statement to highlight the key points raised and important conclusions. It covers existing positions on the conditions regarding human resources in health, as well as a number of conditions and policy suggestions to improve both community participation in health and public health performance overall.
Further details: /newsletter/id/31663
Hitting malaria where it hurts: Household and community responses in Africa
Jones C: ID21 health, 18 July 2006
Each year at least 300 million cases of malaria result in more than a million deaths worldwide. Ninety percent of these deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa and most are children under five years old. Preventing and treating malaria are now firmly on the international public health and global poverty agendas. However, despite a considerable increase in funds over recent years the malaria burden in much of sub-Saharan Africa shows little sign of decreasing. Over recent years there has been emphasis on the idea that improving knowledge about malaria in communities will lead to better use of interventions. Research on managing malaria in communities has been largely concerned either with individual perceptions about the causes and symptoms of the disease or with the implementation of specific interventions. It fails to provide essential information on the context in which communities and households cope with their day-to-day problems, including malaria.
Bringing change: Communicating to communities on sensitive themes like sexuality and domestic violence
Italian Association Amici (AIFO)
A new document has been published by the name of "Bringing a Change: Communicating to Communities on Sensitive Themes like Sexuality and Domestic Violence". This document is based on an international workshop organised by AIFO/Italy in October 2005.
Community-based surveillance of malaria vector larval habitats: a baseline study in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Vanek MJ, Shoo B, Mtasiwa D, Kiama M, Lindsay SW, Fillinger U, Kannady K, Tanner M, Killeen GF: BMC Public Health 6:154, 15 June 2006
As the population of Africa rapidly urbanizes it may be possible to protect large populations from malaria by controlling aquatic stages of mosquitoes. This report presents a baseline evaluation of the ability of community members to detect mosquito larval habitats with minimal training and supervision in the first weeks of an operational urban malaria control program.
CSOs press for greater involvement against HIV/AIDS
e-CIVICUS 288
African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have accused heads of governments in the continent of ‘tactfully shutting’ them out of the fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The CSOs made the accusation in Abuja where they attended a three-day consultative meeting to review the 2001 Abuja Declaration and Framework of Action on HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases. In a statement they said that ‘without a massive and sustained effort to meaningfully involve CSOs, the global difficulties in reaching three million people with treatment will also be encountered in extending Universal Access to treatment.
Residents of cholera-hit areas unhappy about water supply
Allafrica.com
Residents of Angolan capital city Luanda's compounds hit by cholera voiced dissatisfaction at the local Government's distribution of treated water as a measure to arrest the spread of the disease. Since the epidemics was declared in Luanda on 13 February, some areas most affected by the disease, have been supplied with water by the Luanda Government (GPL). In order to overcome the poor supply of water to the populations at a time cholera is severely hitting the capital, GPL decided to supply twice a week.
South African government plan promises quality healthcare system
BuaNews: Dlamini N
On World Health Day, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang announced the launch of a government strategy to ensure that the public health sector has essential human capital to deliver quality care. The National Human Resource Plan for Health is one of the health department's strategies to deal with the critical shortage and migration of health workers from the country.