A weekly e-mail could keep you abreast of health issues in Southern Africa It has become increasingly evident that access to information is essential for development and improvement of health services. HealthLink is the primary information dissemination and advocacy arm of the Health Systems Trust.* Through strategically targeted activities including publications, a website, electronic discussion lists and the Healthlink Bulletin, HST encourages and facilitates the use of information for decision-making to improve health, development and equity. The HealthLink Bulletin is a free weekly electronic news bulletin of interest to health workers, policy makers, journalists, researchers, donor organisations, medical insurance and pharmaceutical companies, civil society organisations and consultants. Information covered includes notice of new research findings, publications, conferences, events, news, job opportunities, resources (electronic and other), courses and news items relevant to health systems development, policy and practice in Southern Africa. Healthlink Bulletin keeps readers abreast of health issues in Southern Africa and has been specially designed for those without access to interactive Internet tools. The bulletin can be accessed by offline, ordinary e-mail messages. Currently around 1350 subscribers regularly receive an issue on Fridays in text format via their e-mail. News topics include among others: the HIV/AIDS Barometer (every issue), malaria, TB, equity, health economics and legislation, drug information, and other public health issues. Averaging seven to eight pages of concise articles, it gives a quick yet informative glance at the week's issues occurring in, or affecting health systems in Southern Africa. In-depth, full length versions of the articles can be accessed on the HST website via the hyperlinks in the index. To view this or previous issues go to : http://www.hst.org.za/newssub.htm To subscribe: http://www.hst.org.za/newssub.htm For more information e-mail : editor@hst.org.za Below is the index of a recent issue (as example) that gives you an idea of the content of the Bulletin HealthLink Bulletin 07-02-2003 HIV/AIDS Barometer ---------------------------------------------- * NAMIBIA: New hope in HIV/AIDS struggle http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030201 * The impact of HIV/AIDS on provinces and LSM groups in South Africa http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030202 * SWAZILAND: Uphill struggle for safe sex campaign http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030203 * Gauteng AIDS prevention progressing http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030204 Other Stories ----------------------------------------------- * Mediscapes markets SA healthcare on Net http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030205 * Healthcare ratio of haves to have-nots is sickening http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030206 * Hospitals offer incentives in a bid to keep their staff http://news.hst.org.za/view.php3?id=20030207 Events ----------------------------------------------- * PHASA CONFERENCE - Extension of abstract submission date to 14 February 2003 * Regional Congress of the Near East and Africa Region of Medical Women Doctors * Scientific Meeting - Empirical Evidence for the Demographic and Socio-Economic Impact of AIDS Legislative Update ------------------------------------------------ * Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act (Act 59 of 2002) Resources and Research ------------------------------------------------ * Global Survey on HIV/AIDS and Disability Publications ------------------------------------------------ * A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences of Population Change *The Health Systems Trust (HST) is a dynamic independent non-government organisation established in 1992 to support health reform in South Africa. It is recognised as a leading organisation in supporting and commissioning research to foster health systems development and equity. HST is: * a leading clearinghouse for information related to health care in South Africa * a major resource for capacity-building in health management and research * an active facilitator of policy and district health service development * an advocacy organisation, aiming to promote evidence-based health systems development, improve the scientific literacy of the public, media and parliamentarians, and campaign for greater equity and social justice HST receives funding from a range of organisations including the National Department of Health, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (USA), the Commission of the European Union, the Department for International Development (UK), the Rockefeller Foundation, Sida, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ireland Aid, UNICEF and the Ford Foundation. http://www.hst.org.za