Health, Education, Social Protection News & Notes 18/2011

A bi-weekly newsletter supported by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit)

28 August 2011
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Table of Contents: BOOKS ................................................................................ 4

Achieving an AIDS Transition: Preventing Infections to Sustain Treatment ........................... 4

ONLINE PUBLICATIONS .................................................... 4

Global Health.............................................................................................................. 4
Evidence-based policymaking in global health the payoffs and pitfalls ............................... 4 The Lancet Global Health Portal ............................................................................................. 4 Global Funds Support for Health Systems Strengthening Interventions: A Reference Guide ................................................................................................................................................. 5 The Applications Process and the Proposal Forms ................................................................ 5

HIV - AIDS - STI ......................................................................................................... 5

Resource kit for Global Fund HIV Proposals - Round 11 ....................................................... 5 Global Fund Round 11 Application Tool Kit ............................................................................ 5 Securing the Future Today: Synthesis of Strategic Information on HIV and Young People... 6 Pediatric HIV - A Neglected Disease? .................................................................................... 6 Costs of interventions for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children........................................... 6 Financing the Response to AIDS in Low- and Middle- Income Countries: International Assistance from Donor Governments in 2010 ........................................................................ 7 Promising Approaches to Combination HIV Prevention Programming in Concentrated Epidemics ................................................................................................................................ 7 Why did the Scale-up of HIV Treatment Work?: A Case Example from Malawi..................... 7 HIV/AIDS, Chronic Diseases and Globalisation...................................................................... 8

Sexual & Reproductive Health .................................................................................... 8

Female Genital Mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan - An Empirical Study.......................................... 8 Population, Poverty, and Sustainable Development: A Review of the Evidence.................... 8

Maternal & Child Health.............................................................................................. 9

Improving Access to Skilled Attendance at Delivery ............................................................... 9 Misoprostol use in postabortion care: A Service Delivery Toolkit ........................................... 9 Deadly Delivery: Maternal Health Crisis in the USA ............................................................... 9 Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis ..................................................................... 10

Malaria ..................................................................................................................... 10
Malaria morbidity and pyrethroid resistance after the introduction of insecticide-treated bednets and artemisinin-based combination therapies: a longitudinal study........................ 10 Is the current decline in malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa due to a decrease in vector population? ............................................................................................................................ 10 Saleability of anti-malarials in private drug shops in Muheza, Tanzania: a baseline study in an era of assumed artemisinin combination therapy (ACT).................................................. 11 Feasibility and acceptability of ACT for the community case management of malaria in urban settings in five African sites......................................................................................... 11

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 1

Socially-marketed rapid diagnostic tests and ACT in the private sector: ten years of experience in Cambodia........................................................................................................ 11 Sickle cell disease and malaria morbidity: a tale with two tails ............................................. 12

Tuberculosis ............................................................................................................. 12
Towards Lab-Free Tuberculosis Diagnosis........................................................................... 12 Operational research for improved tuberculosis control: the scope, the needs and the way forward................................................................................................................................... 12

Other Infectious Diseases......................................................................................... 13

Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: Progress Report on Mass Drug Administration, 2010.............................................................................................................. 13 EpiNorth Journal Vol. 12, No. 2 available online................................................................... 13

Non-communicable Diseases ................................................................................... 13

Chronic Emergency: Why NCDs Matter................................................................................ 13 Access to Essential Medicines and Technologies for NCDs ................................................ 13 Changing the future of obesity: science, policy, and action .................................................. 14 Chronic Disease Management Matrix 2010: Results of a survey in ten European countries ............................................................................................................................................... 14

Essential Medicines .................................................................................................. 14

The World Medicines Situation 2011: Pharmacovigilance and Safety of Medicines ............ 14 Essential Medicines Monitor - Issue No. 5, August 2011...................................................... 15 Government use licenses in Thailand: an assessment of the health and economic impacts ............................................................................................................................................... 15

Social Protection....................................................................................................... 16
Social Protection and Socioeconomic Security in Nepal ...................................................... 16 Evidence to Policy: A Look at a Chilean Social Assistance Program ................................... 16 National Health Insurance in South Africa ............................................................................ 16 What is the evidence of the impact of microfinance on the well-being of poor people? ....... 17

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene..................................................................................... 17

Making Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Challenges .............. 17 Reinvent The Toilet Challenge............................................................................................ 17 Water & Risk.......................................................................................................................... 18

Human Resources.................................................................................................... 18
Human Resources for Health for South Africa 2030 ............................................................. 18 Understanding the 'four directions of travel': qualitative research into the factors affecting recruitment and retention of doctors in rural Vietnam ........................................................... 18

Health Systems & Research ..................................................................................... 19

Building the Field of Health Policy and Systems Research: Framing the Questions............ 19 Building the Field of Health Policy and Systems Research: Social Science Matters ........... 19

Information & Communication Technology ............................................................... 19

Leveraging ICT Effectively to Strengthen HIV Prevention for Newborns and Monitoring of Maternal and Child Health in Asia-Pacific ............................................................................. 19

Education ................................................................................................................. 20
Are Our Children Learning? Numeracy and Literacy across East Africa .............................. 20

Harm Reduction and Drug Use................................................................................. 20

By Women, For Women: New Approaches to Harm Reduction in Russia ........................... 20

Development Assistance .......................................................................................... 20

China in Africa: What Can Western Donors Learn? ............................................................. 20

Others ...................................................................................................................... 21
Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers .................................................................. 21 The Seeds of a Movement - Disabled Women and their Struggle to Organize .................... 21

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES ............................................ 21

Development Loop ................................................................................................................ 21

INTERESTING WEB SITES .............................................. 22

Kenyas New OpenData Website .......................................................................................... 22 Policy Action Network: An online resource for people involved in policy in South Africa ..... 22

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 2

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES............................................ 22
Certificate in Essentials of Humanitarian Practice ................................................................ 22 Masters in Public Health specialising in Health Economics.................................................. 23 IEA 4th International Course on Epidemiological Methods................................................... 23 Web 2.0 Learning Opportunity .............................................................................................. 23

CARTOON ......................................................................... 24
Blogging everywhere............................................................................................................. 24

TIPS & TRICKS ................................................................. 24

Launch Windows 7 Programmes with Initials........................................................................ 24 Firefox Tab History ................................................................................................................ 24 Google Chrome Onmibox Calculator .................................................................................... 25

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HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 3

BOOKS
Achieving an AIDS Transition: Preventing Infections to Sustain Treatment
by Mead Over Center For Global Development, 2011; 150 pp. ISBN: 978-1-933286-38-9 US$ 19.95 To order the book online go to: http://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/ecom/MasterServlet/AddToCartFromExter nalHandler?item=9781933286389&domain=brookings.edu This book proposes a feasible medium-term objective for AIDS policy: achieving an AIDS transition, that is, keeping AIDS deaths down by sustaining treatment while pushing new infections even lower, so that the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS begins to decline. How? Through a new, incentive-driven strategy to improve HIV prevention and a sustained effort to get the most from AIDS treatment.

ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
Global Health Evidence-based policymaking in global health the payoffs and pitfalls
by Gavin Yamey and Richard Feachem Evidence-Based Medicine 2011;16:97-99 3 pp. 80 kB: http://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu/pdf/e2piYameyFeachemEBMJournal.pdf The good news is that evidence can matter. The bad news is that it often does not. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the clinicians and clinical epidemiologists who promoted evidence-based medicine in the early 1990s should feel flattered. Evidencebased medicine now has many imitators: from evidence-based nursing, dentistry and public health through to evidence-based social work and social interventions. To this growing list, we can now add evidence-based global health policy, a movement that is gaining increasing prominence. ***

The Lancet Global Health Portal

http://www.thelancet.com/global-health The Lancet has launched a Global Health Portal, which offers free and unlimited access to all global health content in one location including Series, Regional Reports, multim edia content, and from their World Report and Perspectives sections. ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 4

Global Funds Support for Health Systems Strengthening Interventions: A Reference Guide
by Eric Friedman, Itamar Katz, Erin Kiley et al. Physicians for Human Rights, Health Systems 20/20 project, August 2011 21 pp. 365 kB: http://www.healthsystems2020.org/files/2566_file_R11_Global_Fun d_HSS_Reference_Guide_FIN.pdf The reference guide is designed to answer frequently asked questions on Global Funds support for health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions. Answers aim to assist applicants in including HSS interventions in their Global Fund proposal. ***

The Applications Process and the Proposal Forms

Volume 2 of The Aidspan Guide to Round 11 Applications to the Global Fund by David Garmaise and Jamie Uhrig Aidspan, August 2011 Single-Country Applicants (116 pp. 1.0 MB):
http://aidspan.org/documents/guides/aidspan-round-11-applying-guide-volume-2-A-en.pdf

Multi-Country Applicants (112 pp. 1.0 MB):

http://aidspan.org/documents/guides/aidspan-round-11-applying-guide-volume-2-B-en.pdf

Volume 2 of The Aidspan Guide to Round 11 Applications to the Global Fund is now available in English. Volume 2 explains the applications process, describes what is new for Round 11, and provides guidance on how to fill out many of the questions on the Round 11 proposal forms both the regular proposal form and the common HSS proposal form. The guide also includes a number of extracts from proposals that were approved for funding in past rounds.

HIV - AIDS - STI Resource kit for Global Fund HIV Proposals - Round 11
http://www.unaids.org/en/ourwork/programmebranch/programmeeffectivenessandcountry supportdepartment/aideffectivenesscountrycapacitydivision/resourcekit/

On 15 August 2011, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria launched Round 11. To support applicants to develop high quality Round 11 proposals WHO and UNAIDS, in consultation with the other UNAIDS Cosponsors, have developed this resource kit. It includes technical briefings and reference materials on key thematic areas to complement the Global Fund guidance for proposal writing. ***

Global Fund Round 11 Application Tool Kit

UNAIDS, August 2011 MS WORD file (118 pp 879 kB): HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 5

http://www.aidsprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/UNAIDS-GF-Round-11Targeted-Pool-Toolkit-v1.doc This toolkit is designed to assist countries to prepare HIV proposals for the Targeted Pool in Round 11, and will also be useful to countries preparing HIV proposals for the General Pool in which activities for key affected populations form part of the proposal. ***

Securing the Future Today: Synthesis of Strategic Information on HIV and Young People
by Global Interagency Task Team on HIV and young people Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), July 2011 112 pp. 2.7 MB: http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/ unaidspublication/2011/20110727_JC2112_Synthesis_report_en.pdf The UNAIDS 2011-2015 Strategy on young people presents an opportunity to focus on and scale up effective programmes for young people, and to create links between par tners involved in the response. This report shows that these global commitments will be achieved only if the unique needs of young women and men are acknowledged, and their human rights fulfilled, respected, and protected. In order to reduce new HIV infections among young people, to achieve the broader equity goals set out in the MDGs, and begin to reverse the overall HIV epidemic, HIV prevention and treatment efforts must be tailored to the specific needs of young people. ***

Pediatric HIV - A Neglected Disease?

by Marc Lallemant, Shing Chang, Rachel Cohen et al. N Engl J Med 2011; 365:581-583; August 18, 2011 3 pp. 563 kB: http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMp1107275 Since HIV was first discovered, more than 20 antiretroviral drugs and several additional antiretroviral combinations have been approved for the treatment of HIV, and today there remains a robust pipeline of new products in development. Yet there is no such pipeline for pediatric HIV. Because it has been virtually eliminated in wealthy countries, pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to develop child-appropriate formulations. Children with HIV-AIDS in low- and middle-income countries are not considered in the HIV research and development agenda because they are poor and voiceless and do not represent a lucrative market in the traditional sense. ***

Costs of interventions for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children

by Yared Santa-Ana-Tellez, Lisa M. DeMaria, Omar Galrraga Tropical Medicine & International Health, First published online: 21 August 2011 10 pp. 103 kB: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02856.x/pdf HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 6

More research is needed to improve planning and delivery of interventions for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The paucity of cost and cost-effectiveness data reflects the limited number of effectiveness studies. Nevertheless, this systematic literature review shows evidence that suggests that in the area of housing, foster care appears to be more cost effective than institutional care (orphanages). ***

Financing the Response to AIDS in Low- and Middle- Income Countries: International Assistance from Donor Governments in 2010
Kaiser Family Foundation and UNAIDS, August 2011 18 pp. 484 kB: http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/7347-07.pdf In their annual report on international assistance for HIV/AIDS in low- and middle- income countries, Kaiser Family Foundation and UNAIDS report that funding fell from US$ 7.6 billion in 2009 to US$ 6.9 million in 2010. This is the first time funding has dropped in more than a decade of tracking HIV/AIDS spending; between 2002 and 2008, spending rose more than six-fold before levelling off in 2009. The slowdown in spending is worrying because it comes at a time when treatment as prevention has been proposed to curb HIV infections, which will require heavy investment. ***

Promising Approaches to Combination HIV Prevention Programming in Concentrated Epidemics

aidstar-One, Case Study Series, May 2010 The International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine 118 pp. 3.6 MB: http://www.aidstar-one.com/sites/default/files/AIDSTAROne_Case_Study_Ukraine_web.pdf This case study describes a comprehensive HIV prevention programme implemented by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine (Alliance-Ukraine) to meet the changing needs of most-at-risk populations (MARPs), primarily injection drug users (IDUs), sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), and incarcerated individuals. AllianceUkraine's combination HIV prevention programme included a series of targeted communication and other programme efforts designed to address the needs of MARPs and address factors that increase their vulnerability and risk of HIV, especially stigma and discrimination. ***

Why did the Scale-up of HIV Treatment Work?: A Case Example from Malawi
by Anthony D Harries, Simon D Makombe, Edwin Libamba et al. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 1 August 2011, Volume 57, pp. S64-S67 4 pp. 86 kB: http://pdfs.journals.lww.com/jaids/2011/08012/Why_Did_the_Scal e_up_of_HIV_Treatment_Work___A.3.pdf HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 7

The national scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Malawi is based on a public health approach, with principles and practices borrowed from the successful DOTS (directly observed treatment short course - the system used to successfully deliver antituberculosis treatment to people in some of the poorest countries of the world). Malawi has done very well in the last 6 years, but now risks becoming a victim of its own success unless it can deal effectively with the challenges ahead. ***

HIV/AIDS, Chronic Diseases and Globalisation

by Christopher J Colvin Globalization and Health 2011, 7:31 (26 August 2011) 11 pp. 212 kB: http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/pdf/1744-8603-7-31.pdf This article examines the chronic character of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and highlights some of the changes we might expect to see at the global level as HIV is increasingly normalised as "just another chronic disease". The article also addresses the use of this language of chronicity to interpret the HIV/AIDS pandemic and calls into question some of the consequences of an uncritical acceptance of concepts of chronicity.

Sexual & Reproductive Health Female Genital Mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan - An Empirical Study
by Suad Abdulrahman, Anne Mollenhauer, Arvid Vormann et al. Association for Crisis Assistance and Development Co-operation (WADI), 2010 43 pp. 1.2 MB: http://www.crin.org/docs/study_fgm_iraqi_kurdistan_en.pdf The study provides comprehensive evidence on the underlying dynamics of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and helps understand, why mothers who themselves exper ienced the horror of mutilation allow FGM to be practiced on their daughters. A vast m ajority of women who adhere to the practice believe it to be a religious obligation in Islam. Others refer to tradition and state that it has always been like that. The study also shows a clear correlation between the level of education and the attitude towards FGM. ***

Population, Poverty, and Sustainable Development: A Review of the Evidence

by Monica Das Gupta, John Bongaarts, John Cleland World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 5719; June 2011 30 pp. 1.5 MB: http://wwwwds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2011/06/30/000158349 _20110630131122/Rendered/PDF/WPS5719.pdf

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 8

There is a very large but scattered literature debating the economic implications of high fertility. Although family planning programs are only one policy lever to help reduce fertility, studies find them effective. Such programs might help especially in the Sub-Saharan African region, where high fertility and institutional constraints on economic growth combine to slow rises in living standards.

Maternal & Child Health Improving Access to Skilled Attendance at Delivery

by Harriet Nabudere, Delius Asiimwe, Jacinto Amandua Policy Brief prepared by the Uganda country node of the Regional East African Health (REACH) Policy Initiative, 11 August 2011 45 pp. 220 kB: http://www.who.int/rpc/evipnet/SBAFR11082011.pdf Policymakers need evidence to help them make decisions about the best ways to promote health and access to effective healthcare services. This report was prepared to inform deliberations of those engaged in developing policies for increasing skilled care at birth and other stakeholders with an interest in these policy decisions. It summarises the best available evidence regarding the design and implementation of policies on improving skilled attendance at delivery. ***

Misoprostol use in postabortion care: A Service Delivery Toolkit

by Ipas, 2011 144 pp. 12.0 MB(!): http://www.ipas.org/Publications/asset_upload_file133_5949.pdf This toolkit is designed to help district or national-level clinicians, facility managers or program managers initiate the use of misoprostol as a medical treatment for incomplete abortion or integrate misoprostol into existing postabortion care services. ***

Deadly Delivery: Maternal Health Crisis in the USA

by Amnesty International, Spring 2011 32 pp. 2.6 MB: http://www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/DeadlyDeliveryOneYear.pdf This report documents that although the United States spends more on health care than any other country, it ranked 41st in terms of maternal death. Half of these deaths are preventable, and the report clearly demonstrated many barriers women face in accessing high quality maternal care. This update will examine the d evelopments and new data on maternal health in the United States, address the expected impact on maternal health and health care of some key provisions in health care reform. ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 9

Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis
by Evan Mayo-Wilson, Aamer Imdad, Kurt Herzer et al. BMJ 2011; 343:d5094 19 pp. 1.5 MB: http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d5094.full.pdf Vitamin A supplementation is associated with large reductions in mortality, morbidity, and vision problems in a range of settings, and these results cannot be explained by bias. Further placebo controlled trials of vitamin A supplementation in children between 6 and 59 months of age are not required. However, there is a need for further studies comparing different doses and delivery mechanisms (for example, fortification). Until other sources are available, vitamin A supplements should be given to all children at risk of deficiency, particularly in low and middle income countries.

Malaria Malaria morbidity and pyrethroid resistance after the introduction of insecticide-treated bednets and artemisinin-based combination therapies: a longitudinal study
by Jean-Franois Trape, Adama Tall, Nafissatou Diagne et al. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Early Online Publication, 18 August 2011 8 pp. 290 kB:
http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473309911701943.pdf

Substantial reductions in malaria have been reported in several African countries after distribution of insecticide-treated bednets and the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). But increasing pyrethroid resistance of A gambiae and increasing susceptibility of older children and adults, probably due to decreasing immunity, caused the rebound and age shift of malaria morbidity. Strategies to address the problem of insecticide resistance and to mitigate its effects must be urgently defined and implemented. ***

Is the current decline in malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa due to a decrease in vector population?
by Dan W Meyrowitsch, Erling M Pedersen, Michael Alifrangis et al. Malaria Journal 2011, 10:188 (13 July 2011) 9 pp. 407 kB: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-10-188.pdf The incidence of malaria in many African countries south of the Sahara is falling rapidly but the authors say they dont know why. The mosquito carrying the malaria parasite has practically disappeared from many villages without organized mosquito control, but it is not known whether malaria is truly being eradicated or just in a lull before returning with renewed vigor. *** HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 10

Saleability of anti-malarials in private drug shops in Muheza, Tanzania: a baseline study in an era of assumed artemisinin combination therapy (ACT)
by Frank M Ringsted, Isolide S Massawe, Martha M Lemnge et al. Malaria Journal 2011, 10:238 (15 August 2011) 31 pp. 364kB: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-10-238.pdf The main objective was to perform a baseline study of the private market for antimalarials in Muheza town, an area with widespread anti-malarial drug resistance, prior to the implementation of a provider training and accreditation programme that will allow accredited drug shops to sell subsidized Artemether-lumefantrine. ***

Feasibility and acceptability of ACT for the community case management of malaria in urban settings in five African sites
Patricia Akweongo, Peter Agyei-Baffour, Morankar Sudhakar et al. Malaria Journal 2011, 10:240 (16 August 2011) 38 pp. 254 kB: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-10-240.pdf The community case management of malaria (CCMm) is now an established route for distribution of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in rural areas, but the feasibility and acceptability of the approach through community medicine distributors (CMD) in urban areas has not been explored. The authors conclude that the concept of CCMm in an urban environment was positive, and caregivers were generally satisfied with the services. Quality of services delivered by CMDs and adherence by caregivers are sim ilar to those seen in rural CCMm settings. ***

Socially-marketed rapid diagnostic tests and ACT in the private sector: ten years of experience in Cambodia
by Shunmay Yeung, Edith Patouillard, Henrietta Allen et al. Malaria Journal 2011, 10:243 (18 August 2011) 42 pp. 1.0 MB: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-10-243.pdf This paper describes and evaluates Cambodias experience not only in implementing subsidized ACT, but also rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) as part of a nationwide social marketing programme. The programme includes behaviour change communication and the training of private providers as well as the sale and distribution of Malarine, the recommended ACT, and Malacheck, the RDT. The available evidence suggests that pr oviders' and consumers' awareness of Malarine increased rapidly, but that of Malacheck much less so. In addition, improvements in ACT and RDT availability and uptake were relatively slow, particularly in more remote areas. ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 11

Sickle cell disease and malaria morbidity: a tale with two tails
by Thomas N. Williams and Stephen K. Obaro Trends in Parasitology, July 2011, Vol. 27, No. 7 6 pp. 271 kB: http://www.malarianexus.com/articles/read/171/sickle-celldisease-and-malaria-morbidity-a-tale-with-two-tails/ More than 230,000 children are born in Africa with sickle cell disease (SCD) each year. Although malaria is commonly viewed as a major problem for African patients with this condition, questions still remain about its relative importance as a cause of ill heath and death. In the absence of definitive studies investigating the contribution of malaria to morbidity and mortality in African children with SCD, policy makers will continue to lack the evidence on which to base appropriate management guidelines.

Tuberculosis Towards Lab-Free Tuberculosis Diagnosis

by Hans-Georg Batz, Graham S Cooke, Steven D Reid Mdecins Sans Frontires, August 2011 36 pp. 176 kB: http://www.msfaccess.org/sites/default/files/MSF_assets/TB/Docs/ TB_Report_TowardsLabFreeTBDX_2011_ENG.pdf This report provides an overview of the current state of science and research on TB diagnostics, as well as an assessment of resources such as specimen banks available for TB diagnostics research. It details some of the key roadblocks to the development of a simple point-of-care test for TB suitable for peripheral health centres, such as the need for novel biomarkers that can be used to detect TB and can form the basis of test d esign. ***

Operational research for improved tuberculosis control: the scope, the needs and the way forward
by C. Lienhardt and F. G. J. Cobelens Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 15(1):6-13, 2011 9 pp. 400 kB: http://www.stoptb.org/assets/documents/research/OR%20paper_IJ TLD_2011.pdf Although a growing number of Operational Research (OR) projects are being conducted in the world today, little is known about their results or their likely impact on TB control programmes. As funding organisations increasingly recognise the need for OR, the authors propose a rational framework to conduct OR, which covers a spectrum from local setting-oriented to international policy guiding research, and determines the relevance, replicability and generalisability of the results. ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 12

Other Infectious Diseases Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: Progress Report on Mass Drug Administration, 2010
Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) - 26 August 2011, Vol. 86, 35 (pp 377-388) 12 pp. 649 kB: http://www.who.int/wer/2011/wer8635.pdf The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) is a rapidly growing worldwide public health programme which was launched in 2000 with the goal of elim inating the disease as a public health problem by 2020. This report summarizes the progress made in delivery of mass drug administration (MDA) in filariasis affected countries in 2010. ***

EpiNorth Journal Vol. 12, No. 2 available online

36 pp. 1.7 MB: http://www.epinorth.org/dav/009f9f73d0.pdf Tick-borne encephalitis - the most relevant to public health flavivirus infection in the EpiNorth region ygutien Epidemiology of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Lyme Disease in Novgorod Oblast During 2000 -2009 Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Finland Ecological and Epidemiological Aspects of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Disease Prevention in the Republic of Komi

Non-communicable Diseases Chronic Emergency: Why NCDs Matter

by Irina A. Nikolic, Anderson E. Stanciole, Mikhail Zaydman Health, Nutrition, and Population, Human Development Network, The World Bank, July 2011 34 pp. 2.0 MB:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/ Resources/281627-1095698140167/ChronicEmergencyWhyNCDsMatter.pdf

The publication examines the magnitude of the challenge posed by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in middle- and low-income countries, and makes the case for elevating the challenge as a priority item to address on the agenda of decision-makers. ***

Access to Essential Medicines and Technologies for NCDs

The NCD Alliance, August 2011 8 pp. 174 kB:
http://ncdalliance.org/sites/default/files/resource_files/NCD%20Alliance%20briefing%20paper%20%20Access%20to%20Essential%20Medicines%20and%20Technologies%20for%20NCDs%20%28full%20references%29.pdf

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 13

Hundreds of millions with NCDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are dying prematurely or suffering life threatening complications because they cannot access affordable and essential NCD medicines and technologies. The good news is that effe ctive policies and strategies exist to promote equitable access, including rational selection, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, and policies to promote generic products, building capacity amongst health workers and better regulation to assure quality of NCD medicines and services. ***

Changing the future of obesity: science, policy, and action

by Steven L Gortmaker, Boyd A Swinburn, David Levy et al. The Lancet, Vol. 378, Issue 9793, pp. 838-847, 27 August 2011 10 pp. 112 kB: http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS014067 3611608155.pdf The global obesity epidemic has been escalating for four decades, yet sustained pr evention efforts have barely begun. An emerging science that uses quantitative models has provided key insights into the dynamics of this epidemic, and enabled researchers to combine evidence and to calculate the effect of behaviours, interventions, and policies at several levels - from individual to population. Forecasts suggest that high rates of obesity will affect future population health and economics. ***

Chronic Disease Management Matrix 2010: Results of a survey in ten European countries
by Mieke Rijken and Nienke Bekkema The Dutch Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), 2011 118 pp. 23.3 MB(!): http://calliope.nivel.nl/pdf/CHR028%20EUR015%20report%20CDM%20Matrix_fin al%20version.pdf Chronic diseases form the greatest threat to the health of populations worldwide today. The report provides an overview of the current state regarding chronic disease management in several European countries and provide further evidence for the Primary Care case towards the UN high-level meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD's).

Essential Medicines The World Medicines Situation 2011: Pharmacovigilance and Safety of Medicines
3rd Edition by Shanthi Pal, Alex Dodoo, Aukje Mantel et al. World Health Organization, August 2011 22 pp. 1.5 MB: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s18771en/s18771en.pdf HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 14

Pharmacovigilance (PV) aims to improve patient safety through the detection, asses sment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects and other drug related problems. PV, as a discipline, has seen tremendous growth over the past decade, but in response to different needs and priorities worldwide. Many resource-limited countries will require additional support (technical and financial) to build PV capacity to effective levels. For other chapters released in August 2011 see: Medicine Expenditures This chapter provides detailed information about spending on medicines, based on National Health Accounts. Selection of Essential Medicines Describes how WHO develops the Model List of Essential Medicines and how 134 countries have developed national lists. Identifies challenges in selecting medicines in different situations. Procurement of Medicines Identifies different methods of medicine procurement. Describes the major changes that have occurred for vaccines and medicines for TB, Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Access to Essential Medicines as Part of the Right to Health Documents the changes that have occurred over the past decade to assure that access to essential medicines is seen as an integral part of the Right to Health. Provides a practical framework for action. ***

Essential Medicines Monitor - Issue No. 5, August 2011

World Health Organization 10 pp. 1.0 MB: http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/monitor/EMM_Issue_5Full_Aug_10.pdf Access to essential asthma medicines: the response of the Asthma Drug Facility Learn more about the work of the Asthma Drug Facility in combating one of the worlds most common chronic diseases. Promoting rational antibiotic prophylaxis in clean surgeries in China The article looks at a Chinese intervention project to improve rational use of antibiotics in surgical practice. ***

Government use licenses in Thailand: an assessment of the health and economic impacts
by Inthira Yamabhai, Adun Mohara, Sripen Tantivess et al. Globalization and Health 2011, 7:28 (14 August 2011) 30 pp. 268 kB: http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/pdf/1744-8603-7-28.pdf Between 2006 and 2008, Thailands Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) granted government use licenses for seven patented drugs in order to improve access to these essential treatments. The authors conclude that the public health benefits of the government use licenses were generally positive and the policy helped to increase access to patented drugs. Because the levels of benefit gained from the government use licenses varied widely between the seven drugs this study makes recommendations for the f uture implementation of the policy in order to maximise benefits. HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 15

Social Protection Social Protection and Socioeconomic Security in Nepal

by Gabriele Koehler Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Working Paper Vol. 2011, Nr. 370, August 2011 20 pp. 224 kB: http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/Wp370.pdf Nepal is characterised by significant socioeconomic insecurity, comprising structurally generated income poverty, a politically and socially fragile post-conflict situation, threats to the environment, and deeply entrenched forms of social exclusion. The paper explores the policy responses in the domain of social protection devised by the interim government to address the various dimensions of insecurity, and to show their novelty as well as their limitations. The final section offers some ideas on policy areas which would be needed to improve socioeconomic security. ***

Evidence to Policy: A Look at a Chilean Social Assistance Program

From Evidence to Policy No. 7, 2011 Office of the Chief Economist, Human Development Network, World Bank 4 pp. 446 kB: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTHDOFFICE/Resources/Chile_Evid_to_Pol.pdf As governments and aid organizations continue to exert efforts to focus on the very poor, Chiles Social Assistance Program is a useful example of the range of issues that need to be addressed in trying to reach people who live in extreme poverty. From helping families access the services to which they are entitled, to focusing on the psychological and social issues that act as another barrier, the Chilean program provides an example of the broad approach governments may need to consider in their efforts to r educe extreme poverty. ***

National Health Insurance in South Africa

Policy Paper Department of Health, Republic of South Africa, 12 August 2011 59 pp. 1.9 MB: http://www.hst.org.za/sites/default/files/2bcce61d2d1b8d972af41ab0e2c8a4ab.pdf South Africa is in the process of introducing an innovative system of healthcare financing with far reaching consequences on the health of South Africans. The National Heal Insurance (NHI) will ensure that everyone has access to appropriate, efficient and qua lity health services. It will be phased-in over a period of 14 years. This will entail major changes in the service delivery structures, administration and management systems. The NHI is intended to bring about reform that will improve service provision. It will promote equity and efficiency so as to ensure that all South Africans have access to affordable, quality healthcare services regardless of their socio-economic status. See also: HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 16

Media statement by Minister of Health: Release of Green Paper on National Health I nsurance http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&sid=20630&tid=39149 ***

What is the evidence of the impact of microfinance on the well-being of poor people?
by Maren Duvendack, Richard Palmer-Jones, James G Copestake et al. EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, August 2011 192 pp. 1.6 MB: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/SystematicReviews/Microf inance2011Duvendackreport.pdf The study provides a chilly accounting of microfinances impact contrary to the lavish claims of poverty reduction and female empowerment. The authors conclude that no clear evidence exists that microfinance programmes have positive impacts. In the course of their exhaustive review, they looked at 11 academic databases, four microf inance aggregators and eight NGOs and aid websites. They found that many of these studies were poorly designed, including prominent ones that have been very influential.

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Making Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Challenges
by Katherine E. Bliss and Katryn F. Bowe Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), August 2011 18 pp. 787 kB: http://csis.org/files/publication/110810_Bliss_ProgressOnWASH _Web.pdf This report presents conclusions and recommendations offered at a World Water Day Learning Forum, Making Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Challenges, held at CSIS on March 21, 2011. Sessions focused on the role of the private sector in water supply; achieving operational sustainability; the relevance of climate change adaptation programs for the WASH sector; and how to promote transparency and accountability within WASH programs. ***

Reinvent The Toilet Challenge

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Development Program, July 2011 2 pp. 129 kB: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/Documents/wsh-reinventthe-toilet-challenge.pdf The Water, Sanitation & Hygiene program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently challenged 22 universities to submit proposals for how to invent a waterless, hyHESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 17

gienic toilet that is safe and affordable for people in the developing world and doesnt have to be connected to a sewer. Eight universities were awarded grants to reinvent the toilet. ***

Water & Risk

WHOCC Newsletter No. 18, August 2011 15 pp. 1.7 MB: http://german-practice-collection.org/en/downloadcentre/doc_download/961 Although most of the people in Western Europe have access to a continuous supply of safe water and hygienic disposal of waste in their homes, this is not the case for countries in the eastern part of the European region, where there is still a clear gap in phys ical access between urban and rural areas. The Protocol on Water and Health is a unique European instrument linking sustainable use of water resources with the fight against water-related diseases.

Human Resources Human Resources for Health for South Africa 2030
Department of Health, Republic of South Africa, August 2011 110 pp. 2.1 MB: http://www.hst.org.za/sites/default/files/consultation_doc.pdf The future character and culture of the South Africa health sector in 2030 will be determined by decisions and actions taken in the next five years. The claim that human resources are the most critical resource in the delivery of health services has to be borne out in succinct and coherent policy and practice. ***

Understanding the 'four directions of travel': qualitative research into the factors affecting recruitment and retention of doctors in rural Vietnam
by Sophie Witter, Bui THI THU Ha, Bakhuti Shengelia et al. Human Resources for Health 2011, 9:20 (17 August 2011) 47 pp. 321 kB: http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/pdf/1478-4491-9-20.pdf Motivation and retention of health workers, particularly in rural areas, is a question of considerable interest to policy-makers internationally. Many countries, including Vietnam, are debating the right mix of interventions to motivate doctors in particular to work in remote areas. The objective of this study was to understand the dynamics of the health labour market in Vietnam, and what might encourage doctors to accept posts and remain in-post in rural areas. ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 18

Health Systems & Research Building the Field of Health Policy and Systems Research: Framing the Questions
by Kabir Sheikh, Lucy Gilson, Irene Akua Agyepong et al. PLoS Med 8(8): e1001073 (16 August 2011) 6 pp. 177 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=CD088E8B3F9B3E213C1E 495A2700FFD7.ambra02?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001073&representation=PDF

This is the first of a series of three papers addressing the current challenges and opportunities for the development of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR). HPSR is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field identified by the topics and scope of questions asked rather than by methodology. The focus of discussion is HPSR in low- and middleincome countries. Topics of research in HPSR include international, national, and local health systems and their interconnectivities, and policies made and implemented at all levels of the health system. ***

Building the Field of Health Policy and Systems Research: Social Science Matters
by Lucy Gilson, Kara Hanson, Kabir Sheikh et al. PLoS Med 8(8): e1001079. (23 August 2011) 6 pp. 175 kB:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action;jsessionid=3396F1EA596755A8D BB9075529C20021.ambra01?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001079&representation=PDF

The first paper in this series on building the field of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [see above] outlined the scope and questions of the field and highlighted the key challenges and opportunities it is currently facing. This paper examines more closely one key challenge, the risk of disciplinary capture - the imposition of a particular knowledge frame on the field, privileging some questions and methodologies above others.

Information & Communication Technology Leveraging ICT Effectively to Strengthen HIV Prevention for Newborns and Monitoring of Maternal and Child Health in Asia-Pacific
by Lori Thorell United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) and Asia-Pacific Shared Service Center (APSSC), November 2010 80 pp. 1.1 MB: http://www.unicef.org/eapro/Unicef_AsiaPacific_ICT_Assessment_Report_Final_19Jan2011.pdf This report shares the results of a regional information and communication technology (ICT) assessment carried out in 11 countries to examine the current and potential use of HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 19

ICT in strengthening outcomes related to the monitoring of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. It is envisaged that the findings and ways forward ou tlined in this assessment will bring greater clarity in leveraging ICT effectively to strengthen PMTCT, maternal and child health (MCH), and the health information system.

Education Are Our Children Learning? Numeracy and Literacy across East Africa
by Hans Hoogeveen, Dorica Andrew, Fenohasina Mareth et al. Uwezo East Africa (managed by Twaweza), July 2011 33 pp. 1.8 MB:
http://www.twaweza.org/uploads/files/Uwezo%20EA%20Report%20FINAL.pdf

The report presents, for the first time, data comparing literacy and numeracy levels across East Africa, based on a survey of over 80,000 households - the largest exercise of its kind. The findings give the clearest picture we have so far of the basic foundation and readiness of Kenyan, Uganda and Tanzanian citizens to thrive, including their engagement with East African integration. How do the countries do against their own benchmarks? How do they do relative to each other? How does the picture look when broken down by wealth quintile? Which factors explain success? The report answers these questions.

Harm Reduction and Drug Use By Women, For Women: New Approaches to Harm Reduction in Russia
Soros Open Society Foundations, August 2011 20 pp. 676 kB:
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/ihrd/articles_publications/publication s/russia-women-harmreduction-20110803/russia-women-harmreduction-20110803.pdf

Women who use drugs face profound challenges to accessing essential health care. In many countries, harm reduction programs are taking active steps to reach out to women by providing gender-sensitive services. This new fact sheet documents how five harm reduction projects in Russia achieved greater participation among women drug users and ultimately enabled safer behaviour.

Development Assistance China in Africa: What Can Western Donors Learn?

by Deborah Brutigam Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund), August 2011 20 pp. 4.2 MB: http://www.norfund.no/images/stories/publikasjoner/andre_publikas joner/Norfund_China_in_Africa.pdf HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 20

This paper outlines the Chinese model of development cooperation, and the implications of this approach for recipient countries (governments, business, and civil society) as well as for western donors and the international financial institutions. A closer look at Chinas engagement can dispel some myths, and provide some perhaps unexpected food for thought.

Others Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers

by Leslie Snider, Mark van Ommeren, and Alison Schafer World Health Organization, 2011 64 pp. 1.4 MB: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241548205_eng.pdf Humanitarian emergencies - like earthquakes, extreme drought, or war - not only affect peoples physical health but also their psychological and social health and well-being. A new guide makes sure that best practices are consistently applied in humanitarian settings to improve the mental health of disaster affected populations. ***

The Seeds of a Movement - Disabled Women and their Struggle to Organize

by Janet Price Association for Womens Rights in Development (AWID), 2011 24 pp. 285 kB: http://www.awid.org/content/download/117344/1335437/file/CTW_S eedsofaMovement_ENG.pdf This paper is an attempt to map out some of the challenges that disabled women have confronted in their struggle to fight discrimination and build their own movements. It r ecords some of the history of their organizing, marking the inequity that disabled women across the globe have struggled with and surmounted, whether at the level of small local groups facing specific challenges, in national bodies addressing policy and law-making, or in focused international linkages working with the UN and others on establishing global rights. And finally, it asks: where now for disabled women?

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Development Loop
http://184.73.156.57/aiddata/#/Home Development Loop is a simple, easy-to-use application that tells the real story of foreign assistance by enabling users to add and edit their own project information at a subnational level, including comments, pictures, and stories, and to view and share this information with others in both online and offline environments. This prototype includes current development projects from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, several World Development Indicators, and local citizen feedback collected by the nonprofit GlobalGiving. HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 21

INTERESTING WEB SITES

Kenyas New OpenData Website
http://www.opendata.go.ke The Kenya government took a bold step toward transparency a few weeks ago when it fired up its Open Data website and posted loads of data in a format that makes the information easily understood by the average person. The data sets include national census statistics as well as government spending, and the government promises more data to come. This is a boon for researchers and journalists willing to wade into the numbers to exa mine what is going on in their country and hold their government accountable. ***

Policy Action Network: An online resource for people involved in policy in South Africa
http://www.pan.org.za/research-into-policy.html The Policy > Action Network (P>AN) supports the policy community by sourcing information on social policy with the aim of contributing to rigour in policy making and greater participation in policy processes. Its site contains a range of resources including case studies, policy briefs, research reports, events info and how-to info on getting social sciences research into policy, and getting policy into action.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Certificate in Essentials of Humanitarian Practice
10th - 14th October, 2011 RedR, London, United Kingdom Course Content: This course aims to introduce the underlying principles of the human itarian sector and the realities of working in emergencies. Topics: humanitarian and relief systems, accountability, international law, needs assessment, mainstreaming gender, culture and security and the impacts and dilemmas of relief work. Target Audience: Anyone entering or already working in the humanitarian sector. Language: English; Fees: GBP 495 to GBP 1,000 For more information contact: Tel.: +44-20-7840-6000 mailto:training@redr.org or see: http://www.redr.org.uk/en/What_We_Do/training/Course_Calendar.cfm/certificate-in-theessentials-of-humanitarian-practice-credit-rated-october-2011 For more courses and conferences see also: http://www.going-international.at/index.php?lang=EN ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 22

Masters in Public Health specialising in Health Economics

Since 1999, the Health Economics Unit in the School of Public Health & Family Medicine at University of Cape Town has offered a Masters in Public Health, specialising in health economics. The programme comprises course work and dissertation components, and is the only regional masters in public health programme within Anglophone Africa that offers a sp ecialisation in health economics. Details of application procedures are available on the MPH website. Interested students need to complete a questionnaire. The final deadline for applications is 30 September 2011. Download the brochure for more details. ***

IEA 4th International Course on Epidemiological Methods

7-18 May 2012, Lima, Peru Hosted by Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Application Deadline: November 1, 2011 The IEA is offering an intermediate level residential course on epidemiological methods, which will include lectures, computer-based analyses, exercises, discussion sessions, and practical experience in the design of a research proposal. The course will be of interest to epidemiologists, public health professionals, statisticians, and clinicians. In addition to epidemiological study design and analyses, special one-day modules will cover social epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, causal inference, meta-analyses and how to write and publish scientific articles. For more information see: http://www.iea-course.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=319&Itemid=112 ***

Web 2.0 Learning Opportunity

12-16 December 2011 University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania Technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace. Simple, open source internet-based applications and services designed to enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all. These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 applications - sometimes called social media - enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information. Participants will be introduced to s elected web 2.0 applications and will learn how to use them hands-on. For more information see: http://www.web2fordev.net/component/content/article/1-latest-news/140-web2lo-udsm2-tza ***

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 23

CARTOON
Blogging everywhere

TIPS & TRICKS

Launch Windows 7 Programmes with Initials
One of the things nice about Windows 7 is the ability to just type in a programmes name in the search box rather than click through all that other stuff to launch it. So, if you want to launch Firefox, you just type firefox in the search box and click the icon that appears in the list above. In most cases you dont even have to go that far. Next time you go to launch a programme from the search box, try just typing in the initials or the first couple of letters in the programmes name. So, Firefox could just as easily be opened by typing in fi, Internet Explorer could be found with in and so on. ***

Firefox Tab History

If you are a multi-tab fan in Firefox, then you will be glad to know that with a simple right-click you can view each individual tabs history! Make sure the tab in question is highlighted and right-click the Back button in the Firefox navigation bar. It is just that easy! Now you can go back in time InternetStyle per tab! HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 24

Google Chrome Onmibox Calculator

You call it the address bar of the web browser, but Google Chrome calls it the Omnibox, because of all the cool stuff it can do! For example, if you need a quick answer to a simple mathematical question - say, what is 6% of 5,600 - then all you have to do is put your query in the Omnibox and the answer will pop up almost immediately! Use it for addition, subtraction, multiplication, finding percentages and more! It is way faster than opening up your calculator or even browsing over to Google itself to do the calculation.

Best regards, Dieter Neuvians MD

HESP-News & Notes - 18/2011 - page 25