Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS in Central Asia; Nigeria MDGs; Aid transparency; Maternal health in Peru

Aljazerra.net Examines Spread Of HIV/AIDS Along Drug Routes In Central Asia

Aljazerra.net reports on the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout Central Asia along drug routes in the region. The piece examines the lack of information available to the people of Central Asia about HIV prevention strategies and a recent effort among a group of Muslim imams in Tajikistan to educate people about the disease (Andersen, 3/31).

To Meet MDGs, Nigeria Must Eradicate Malaria, Says Nigerian Health Official

To meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, Nigerian Permanent Secretary of the federal ministry of Health Linus Awute said the country must eradicate malaria, the Daily Trust/allAfrica.com reports. During the 7^th Annual Roll Back Malaria review meeting, Awute described the government's efforts to help meet this goal, by "achiev[ing] universal coverage for nets distribution, improv[ing] behavioral change communication, [and] scal[ing] up capacity for treatment and diagnostics," according to the news service (Rabiu, 3/30).

IRIN Examines How International Financial Crisis Has Led To Greater Transparency In Aid

IRIN examines how the global financial downturn has fostered increased "transparency and accountability" and "helped open up disclosures on aid-giving." The article examines several transparency initiatives currently underway or scheduled to be unveiled later this year. The piece also includes details on the challenges increasing transparency among donors (3/30).   

NewsHour Examines Successful Maternal Health Program In Rural Peru

This week, PBS' NewsHour will examine a program in rural Peru to reduce maternal mortality, a country where the "maternal death rate has historically been unusually high." The show traveled to a remote town in the Andes mountains where the "district has cut its maternal death rate in half over the last five years" (Suarez, 3/29).