Blog, Editorial Address Unsafe Abortion In Developing Countries
In light of a recent Guttmacher Institute report that indicated 70,000 women in developing countries die each year from unsafe abortion, a Lancet editorial outlines ways to reduce deaths, and says, "The current political climate is favourable, because the global-gag rule (the U.S. Government's policy on banning funding of foreign organisations linked to any type of abortion practice) is out of favour" (10/17).
In The Hill's "Congress Blog," Guttmacher's Director of Government Affairs Susan Cohen writes, "It's time for the U.S. to get serious about addressing better access to contraception, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion as the key public health challenges they are." Cohen lays out her view on how U.S. global health policy can be "engaged in mitigating the impact of unsafe abortion" (10/14).
Fogarty International Center Announces Global Health Grants
The Fogarty International Center, part of NIH, announced more than $9.23 million in grants as part of the "Informatics Training for Global Health" program, which "is intended to increase informatics expertise in low- and middle-income countries by training scientists to design information systems and apply computer-supported management and analysis to biomedical research" (Policy Tracker, 10/14). More information on recent U.S. global health policy developments is available on Kaiser's Policy Tracker tool.
Blog: Biofuel Vs. Food
The Global Health blog on Change.org examines the boosting of biofuel consumption as part of the recently launched U.S. National Institute of Food. "This is a really bad idea if fighting hunger is a priority. Biofuels either require new arable be created (cutting down rainforest etc) or arable land used for food production is re-purposed in land for biofuels. Doing this in countries that suffer food insecurity and hunger (as often happens) is utter madness" (Smith, 10/14).
Viewpoint Piece Addresses Zimbabwe's Health System
A Lancet viewpoint article describes Zimbabwe's "recent health crisis and its causes, and make[s] proposals for an effective and sustainable health system." The authors conclude, "Zimbabwe's once proud achievements in health have been undermined over the past 20 years by increasing poverty, bad governance, poor economic policies, widespread HIV/AIDS, and a weakened health system. … A new opportunity now exists to rebuild the health-care system; its success will be contingent on firmly re-establishing the principles of social justice, equity, and public participation" (10/13).
Blog: Congressman Discusses U.S. Health Investments In Kenya
The CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy's blog features video of a recent talk by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), in which he discussed the Commission's trip to Kenya. He "repeatedly emphasized the need for sound global health policy. 'It spreads good will,' he said. 'It builds communities. It provides opportunities for partnership. It's the right thing to do'" (Gannon, 10/13).
Blog: Uganda Health Minister's Letter To Clinton; Finding 140,000 New Health Workers For PEPFAR
"In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Dr. Stephen Mallinga [Uganda's health minister] says any weakening in U.S. support or funding for PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria would be a significant setback for Uganda and other countries, and indeed could strain partnerships with key African allies," according to the Infectious Diseases Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog. "No word yet about a response from Clinton or from Dr. Eric Goosby, the Obama Administration's global AIDS coordinator, who was copied on the missive," the blogs writes (10/13).