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Is the U.N. Deadline on Curing Malaria Wishful Thinking?
"In a dramatic call to action in April, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon—backed by the African Union, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, ExxonMobil, the World Bank, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, among other key international organizations and businesses—set a timetable for comprehensive malaria control in Africa by the end of 2010. Secretary-General Ban has thrown down the gauntlet: there is no reason why a million or more children should die every year of a largely preventable and wholly treatable disease.
The main challenge will be organizational rather than conceptual or scientific. Many skeptics doubt that this kind of program can work, much less on an accelerated timetable. The international system is a congeries of overlapping public and private institutions without clear mandates, ease of coordination or a single “conductor” to harmonize activities. Many of these institutions are sporadically funded. The recipient governments are not always noted for their transparency, efficiency and accountability, to say the least."
There's much more to the article, please do read. Many good points. "In a dramatic call to action in April, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon—backed by the African Union, the World Health Org... more -
Breakthrough in Malaria fight
"Australian scientists have identified a potential treatment to combat malaria by pinpointing the process that helps the disease hijack red blood cells.
They have found the key to an adhesive that stops the parasite being flushed out of the body by the immune system.
The removal of just one of these compounds is enough to bring the process to a halt.
Researchers in Melbourne believe their discovery could be a major breakthrough in the fight against the disease.
They have identified eight proteins that allow this glue-like substance onto the surface of a hijacked cell.
Proteins are nature's building blocks. They are large molecules that are essential for the function of cells in the body.
Professor Alan Cowman, a member of the research team at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, said targeting those proteins could be a key to fighting malaria.
"We essentially block the virulence or the capacity of the parasite to cause disease," he said.
Malaria is preventable and curable, but can be fatal if not treated promptly.
The disease kills more than a million people each year. Many of the victims are young children in sub-Saharan Africa. "Australian scientists have identified a potential treatment to combat malaria by pinpointing the process that helps the disease hijac... more -
Bush urges Congress to pass AIDS funds
$50 billion proposed to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
President George W. Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to approve funds to fight AIDS in Africa and other countries, and said the issue was high on his agenda for a Group of Eight summit in Japan next week.
Members of the U.S. Senate sought last week to pass legislation to more than triple funds to fight AIDS, but some Republicans vowed to block it because of its cost.
The House of Representatives has approved its version of the measure which proposes $50 billion in U.S. funds over five years to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since it was first recognized more than a quarter century ago. About 33 million people are infected with HIV, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa where it is spread primarily through heterosexual sex. $50 billion proposed to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria ... more -
The worlds children
10 Facts about Children in the world
Fact 1
A child's risk of dying is highest in the first month of life, when safe childbirth and effective neonatal care are essential. Preterm birth, birth asphyxia and infections cause most newborn deaths. Once children have reached one month of age, and up until the age of five years, the main causes of loss of life are pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and HIV. Malnutrition contributes to more than half of all child deaths.
Fact 2
Newborn life is fragile. Almost four million children die every year within a month of their birth. Health risks to newborns are minimized by:
* quality care during pregnancy,
* safe delivery by a skilled birth attendant, and
* strong neonatal care: immediate attention to breathing and warmth, hygienic cord and skin care, and exclusive breastfeeding.
Fact 3
Pneumonia is the largest single cause of death in children under five years of age. Out of 154 million cases each year, nearly three-quarters occur in just 15 countries. Addressing the major risk factors for the illness - malnutrition and indoor air pollution - is essential to prevention, along with vaccination. Antibiotics and oxygen are vital treatment tools.
Fact 4
Diarrhoeal diseases are a leading cause of sickness and death among children in developing countries. Exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent diarrhoea among young children. Treatment for sick children with Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and zinc supplements is safe, cost-effective and saves lives. The lives of more than 50 million children have been saved in the last 25 years as a result of ORS.
Fact 5
Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa. It is the leading cause of death in that region among under-fives. Insecticide-treated nets prevent transmission and increase child survival. Early treatment with anti-malarial medication saves lives.
Fact 6
Over 90% of children with HIV are infected through mother-to-child transmission, which is preventable with the use of antiretrovirals, as well as safer delivery and feeding practices. An estimated 2.3 million children under 15 years of age are living with HIV, and every day more than 1400 are newly infected. Without intervention, more than half of all HIV-infected children die before their second birthday. Antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected children greatly improves survival rates and quality of life.
Fact 7
About 20 million children under five worldwide are severely malnourished, which leaves them more vulnerable to illness and early death. Around three-quarters of these children can be treated with "ready-to-use therapeutic foods". These highly fortified and energy-rich foods provide ample nutrients for malnourished children aged over six months to be treated at home. They need no refrigeration, and can be used even where hygiene conditions are not ideal.
Fact 8
Child survival rates differ significantly around the world - three-quarters of child deaths occur in Africa and South-East Asia. Within countries, child mortality is higher in rural areas, and among poorer and less educated families.
Fact 9
Child health is improving, but serious challenges remain to achieve global goals to reduce deaths. Still, about two-thirds of child deaths are preventable through access to practical, low-cost interventions, and effective primary care up to five years of age. Stronger health systems are crucial for improving access to care and prevention.
Fact 10
Greater investment is key to achieving the target of Millennium Development Goal 4: to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds by 2015. Public and private partners must come together to fill the gap - estimated at around US$ 50 billion - in order to meet this ambitious, but achievable, goal. The launch of the International Health Partnership, the related Global Campaign for the Health MDGs, and several large bilateral donor pledges in recent months are important steps in the right direction.
10 Facts about Children in the world Fact 1 ... more -
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes May Combat Malaria
In a cramped, humid laboratory in London, mosquitoes swarming in stacked, net-covered cages are being scrutinized for keys to controlling malaria. Scientists have genetically modified hundreds of them, hoping to stop them from spreading the killer disease.
Faced with a losing battle against malaria, scientists are increasingly exploring new avenues that might have seemed far-fetched just a few years ago.
"We don't have things we can rely on," said Andrea Crisanti, the malaria expert in charge of genetically modifying mosquitoes at London's Imperial College. "It's time to try something else." In a cramped, humid laboratory in London, mosquitoes swarming in stacked, net-covered cages are being scrutinized for keys to controll... more -
Volunteers get infected with malaria for money
...and to help find a cure for the disease that kills a million poor people a year.
A Seattle research company is conducting a study that you can join. You can earn $4000 and have a malarial mosquito bite you. Ugh!
What I've read about Malaria is that once you have it, it doesn't ever go away. You can take medicine but it will always be in your system and can reinfect you. Apparently this company thinks you they can cure you if their vaccine doesn't work.
Too far? Taking advantage of poor people in the U.S.?
Your thoughts? ...and to help find a cure for the disease that kills a million poor people a year. ... more -
The Onion Presents the Hindu God Vishnu as call center operator
Funny? Not really, right? Kind of un-funny, isn't it?
Here's what Vineet Chander had to say:
I just don't find this Vishnu "Please hold..." ad funny. There is plenty of fodder for good, smart humor relating to the Indian subcontinent or to Hinduism. The malaria reference and lampooning a multiple-armed deity seem to go for easy, cheap laughs instead. Instead of finding something that we could all laugh along with, the Onion seems content in giving us something sufficiently exotic that some of us can laugh at. What a shame!
True, no? Funny? Not really, right? Kind of un-funny, isn't it? Here's what Vineet Chander had to say: ... more -
Japan pledges $560m to fight disease in Africa
Japan today pledged a record $560m to help fight Aids and other diseases in the developing world as it prepares to host a major African aid summit next week.
The money will be channeled through the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria over several years from 2009, the prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, said.
The Geneva-based fund welcomed the announcement, which came soon after Japan promised to double aid to Africa over the next five years to ¥200bn (£975m).
Its executive director, Michel Kazatchkine, said today's pledge "confirms Japan's strong commitment to development and reducing poverty.
The pledge, Japan's single biggest donation so far, takes its contribution to the fund to $1.5bn since its launch in 2002.
The $10bn fund says it has so far prevented more than 2 million deaths from the three diseases which kill an estimated 6 million people a year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Japan today pledged a record $560m to help fight Aids and other diseases in the developing world as it prepares to host a major Africa... more -
Study finds Africans get substandard malaria drugs
Many Africans are getting substandard malaria drugs, with more than a third of the pills tested failing quality tests, according to a report published on Tuesday..antimalarial drugs sold in Africa have failed quality tests.The study of drugs bought in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda shows that 35 per cent contained too little active ingredient or failed to dissolve, rendering them ineffective. Another third of treatments also belonged to a class of drugs that the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants to be banned because they can cause the malaria parasite to develop resistance.The findings suggest that hundreds of thousands of lives are being put at risk and indicate that drug counterfeiting is to blame. Only 40 of 74 manufacturers of artimisinin drugs have agreed to stop making monotherapies, and 42 countries, including 18 in sub-Saharan Africa, still allow these drugs to be sold.The vast majority of malaria deaths occur in Africa, south of the Sahara, where malaria also presents major obstacles to social and economic development. Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost GDP, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum.There are at least 300 million acute cases of malaria each year globally, resulting in more than a million deaths. Around 90% of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children. Malaria is Africa's leading cause of under-five mortality (20%) and constitutes 10% of the continent's overall disease burden. It accounts for 40% of public health expenditure, 30-50% of inpatient admissions, and up to 50% of outpatient visits in areas with high malaria transmissions.
Many Africans are getting substandard malaria drugs, with more than a third of the pills tested failing quality tests, according to a ... more -
Ekizibu - a short film about midwives in Uganda
Ekizibu means 'an issue' in Swahili Luganda.
I heard the midwives say, 'it's an issue,' a lot while I was shooting this film.
This short film exposes the issues midwives deal with everyday in Uganda, including communication and transportation, electricity, clean water and lack of supplies.
From mud huts to small health centers to busy district hospitals, these midwives work on the frontline in the fight of maternal health care. In Uganda the maternal mortality rate is 1 in 16, in America it is 1 in 4000.
Ekizibu means 'an issue' in Swahili Luganda. I heard the midwives say, 'it's an issue,' a lot while I was shooting this film. ... more -
Ted Turner Partners with Lutherans, Methodists to Fight Malaria
Nope, not an April Fools prank. The man who once called Christianity "a religion for losers" now states that religion is a "bright spot" in the world. Nope, not an April Fools prank. The man who once called Christianity "a religion for losers" now states that religion is a "bright sp... more
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The End of Poverty - The "Homework" of Our Generation
My name is Shawn and I used to be a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame. I was inspired to put graduate school on hold and leave the comforts of home behind and come to Bangladesh after meeting Dr. Jeffrey Sachs. Dr. Sachs is author of the book called "The End of Poverty". His message is simple: we can end poverty in our lifetime and it doesn't take drastic changes for that to happen. I've been here since the last week of June '07 trying to do my part to help the poorest of the poor. This the first of many videos documenting my experiences here.
I also run a blog at http://uncultured.com
I look forward to being able to share this with the Current.com community! My name is Shawn and I used to be a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame. I was inspired to put graduate school on hold an... more -
Join the Net... Save a Life
Did you know that every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria? The problem is that malaria, is caused by a parasite that is transmitted into the bloodstream when a mosquito bites. It is one of the largest single causes of death in children under age five, claiming the lives of more than one million children. There is a solution. Malaria is preventable. A $10 bed net is a simple solution that can save lives. Since mosquitoes are most active during twilight and nighttime hours, the insecticide-treated nets act as a safe and natural barrier to help protect families as they sleep and keep mosquitoes away from the most vulnerable children in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Be a part of Operation Blessing's "Join the Net... Save a Life" program and take part in saving a life today. For more info visit:
www.join-the-net.org. Did you know that every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria? The problem is that malaria, is caused by a parasite that is transmitted... more -
Epic African Bike Ride
The coming to London of the Tour de France 2007 reminds a Londoner of a cycling adventure he made some years ago in Africa...
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Malaria Vaccine for Africa's Babies
There is still no clinically approved vaccine for malaria, which kills more than a million people each year, many of them babies and most in Africa. The World Health Organization estimates that a child dies of malaria roughly every 30 seconds. A malaria vaccine trial in Mozambique has shown that the treatment is safe and effective for babies aged just a few weeks. There is still no clinically approved vaccine for malaria, which kills more than a million people each year, many of them babies and m... more
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Malaria
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Malaria
