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Elsevier, KIT sign MoU to provide developing country researchers access to ScienceDirect and Scopus

Elsevier and the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam announced on 26th of August the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) providing 150 researchers working in least-developed and low-income countries (for example Benin, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Togo etc.) with access to ScienceDirect and Scopus, Elsevier's online scientific research platform and flagship abstract and citation database.

27 Aug 2010

Study evaluates use of drought-tolerant maize in Africa

Reuters reports on a study (.pdf) examining the use of drought-tolerant maize in 13 African countries, which was published on Thursday by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) with input from several other food research institutes (Cocks, 8/26).

27 Aug 2010

Drought-tolerant varieties of maize could boost harvests in 13 African countries: Study

As climate change intensifies drought conditions in Africa and sparks fears of a new cycle of crippling food shortages, a study released today finds widespread adoption of recently developed drought-tolerant varieties of maize could boost harvests in 13 African countries by 10 to 34 percent and generate up to US$1.5 billion in benefits for producers and consumers.

27 Aug 2010

IPS explores why some advocates say women-focused MDGs are missing the mark

"A month ahead of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) review summit at the United Nations, some women's groups are voicing concern that member states' commitment to women's issues is insufficient and slowing progress towards gender parity worldwide," Inter Press Service reports in an article that examines progress towards reaching women-centered MDGs.

26 Aug 2010

Mental health issues during pregnancy contribute to infant mortality and poor child health

Clinical depression and anxiety during pregnancy results in smaller babies that are more likely to die in infancy, according to new research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. The study, which focused on women living in rural Bangladesh, provides the first finding of its kind in a non-Western population. The research indicates that mental health issues are likely to be a primary contributor to infant mortality and poor child health, above poverty, malnutrition or low socio-economic status.

26 Aug 2010

Washington Times examines how U.S. assesses corruption in aid recipient countries

The Washington Times continues its coverage of the challenges facing the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - "the U.S. government agency that provides large-scale grant to … chosen countries to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. … Although MCC says control of corruption is the single most important indicator by which a nation is deemed qualified for aid money, a review of the State Department's most recent report on human rights reveals that … virtually every country receiving similar grants - has been criticized for government corruption."

26 Aug 2010

Canadian government to match private donations for Pakistan flood aid

Donations for flood aid in Pakistan through cbm Canada will be matched dollar for dollar by the federal government until September 12.

24 Aug 2010

Study finds post Katrina period increases mental health issues among children

Key findings documented in American Medical Association's Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness 60% of children - as many as 20,000 - displaced by Katrina either have serious emotional disorders, behavioral issues and/or are experiencing significant housing instability.One-third of children are reported to have been diagnosed with at least one mental health problem, but fewer than 50% of parents were able to access needed professional services.Children post-Katrina are 4.5 times more likely to have serious emotional disturbance than children not affected by the disaster

23 Aug 2010

Afghanistan, African countries lead global food insecurity list

Afghanistan and nine African countries top a list measuring global food insecurity, which was released on Thursday, Agence France-Presse reports.

20 Aug 2010

IR USA increases fundraising goal for Pakistan flood victims to $4M

Islamic Relief USA, a Washington, D.C.-based relief and development organization, today announced that it has increased its fundraising goal for the Pakistan flood victims to $4 million due to the worsening conditions in the region. It has also collected more than $23 million in in-kind donations.

19 Aug 2010

Wis. pushes to expand Medicaid funding for contraceptives, Minnesota encourages 'medical homes,' Md. settles nursing home payment case

"Wisconsin is pushing to expand a controversial program that uses federal Medicaid funds to provide free birth-control pills, vasectomies and other forms of contraception to low-income people, an effort made possible by the federal health-care overhaul. It and 26 other states already provide free contraception and other reproductive-health services through a Medicaid pilot project to lower-earning women who otherwise wouldn't qualify."

19 Aug 2010

Asian Americans still face barriers to quality healthcare, say researchers

Two University at Buffalo researchers are challenging the "myth of the well-adjusted Asian American," detailing how members of one of the country's fastest-growing ethnic groups face crucial disadvantages preventing them from receiving quality health care taken for granted by other, more culturally assimilated Americans.

19 Aug 2010

More young people are losing their hearing: Study

A new study from US reveals that hearing loss is becoming more common among young people. The study reports that 1 in 5 adolescents now have some hearing problems, particularly in perceiving high-frequency sounds. Researchers say loud music could be one of the reasons for this.

18 Aug 2010

Open Society Foundations to provide additional $5M to help flood-hit areas in Pakistan

In response to unprecedented devastation and human suffering caused by the flooding in Pakistan, the Open Society Foundations today announced it would give an additional $5 million to its foundation there to respond to the humanitarian crisis.

18 Aug 2010

Washington Times examines how Millennium Challenge Corporation deals with recipient country corruption

The Washington Times examines how the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, which dispenses U.S. foreign aid "meant to help reduce global poverty by stimulating economic growth," deals with countries that initially pass screening tests, but are later suspected of corruption.

18 Aug 2010

CLASS Act has potential to transform long-term care financing to insurance-based system: PPAR

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act - a largely overlooked component of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - has the potential to transform long-term care financing in the United States from a welfare-based to an insurance-based system, according to the latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report.

18 Aug 2010

Data indicates increased prevalence of hearing loss among U.S adolescents

Data from two nationally representative surveys indicates that the prevalence of hearing loss among U.S. adolescents increased by about 30 percent from 1988-1994 to 2005-2006, with 1 in 5 adolescents having hearing loss in 2005-2006, according to a study in the August 18 issue of JAMA.

18 Aug 2010

International community must approach cancer as a global health priority

Once thought to be a problem primarily in the developed world, cancer is now a leading cause of death and disability in poorer countries. Almost two-thirds of the 7.6 million cancer deaths in the world occur in low- and middle-income countries.

16 Aug 2010

Opinions: PEPFAR funding; Aid in Africa; Obama, human rights

Following a recent letter by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) to President Barack Obama that "expressed concern about the future of" PEPFAR "as details of the Obama administration's Global Health Initiative emerge," a Courier-Journal editorial looks at how the "U.S. made a commitment to be a major player in the worldwide fight against AIDS" and details how "arguably the most successful program implemented by President Bush" has made huge strides in broadening HIV treatment access and preventing mother-to-child-transmission in the developing world.

16 Aug 2010

Research Roundup: Disabled Medicare Enrollees' challenges; Increasing ER visits; costs/benefits of Part D

Health Affairs: Medicare Doesn't Work As Well For Younger, Disabled Beneficiaries As It Does For Older Enrollees - This paper examines "how well Medicare works for [the 8 million] nonelderly disabled beneficiaries compared to the elderly, based on findings from a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized Medicare beneficiaries conducted in 2008 by the Kaiser Family Foundation."

16 Aug 2010

Poverty News and Research

Elsevier, KIT sign MoU to provide developing country researchers access to ScienceDirect and Scopus

Study evaluates use of drought-tolerant maize in Africa

Drought-tolerant varieties of maize could boost harvests in 13 African countries: Study

IPS explores why some advocates say women-focused MDGs are missing the mark

Mental health issues during pregnancy contribute to infant mortality and poor child health

Washington Times examines how U.S. assesses corruption in aid recipient countries

Canadian government to match private donations for Pakistan flood aid

Study finds post Katrina period increases mental health issues among children

Afghanistan, African countries lead global food insecurity list

IR USA increases fundraising goal for Pakistan flood victims to $4M

Wis. pushes to expand Medicaid funding for contraceptives, Minnesota encourages 'medical homes,' Md. settles nursing home payment case

Asian Americans still face barriers to quality healthcare, say researchers

More young people are losing their hearing: Study

Open Society Foundations to provide additional $5M to help flood-hit areas in Pakistan

Washington Times examines how Millennium Challenge Corporation deals with recipient country corruption

CLASS Act has potential to transform long-term care financing to insurance-based system: PPAR

Data indicates increased prevalence of hearing loss among U.S adolescents

International community must approach cancer as a global health priority

Opinions: PEPFAR funding; Aid in Africa; Obama, human rights

Research Roundup: Disabled Medicare Enrollees' challenges; Increasing ER visits; costs/benefits of Part D

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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