UNAIDS Urges Worldwide Reform Of Drug Policies – Links To HIV Prevention, Human Rights

14/03/2019 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

UNAIDS urged UN member states convening today in Vienna for the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to enact sweeping reforms of policies towards injecting drug users, most of whom lack critical access to basic “harm reduction” services that could prevent them from becoming infected with HIV.Continue reading ->

UCLA Students Protest University Patent Claim On Prostate Cancer Treatment

13/03/2019 Divya Schlesinger

Students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) renewed their protests today against a patent claim in an Indian High Court over a leading prostate cancer treatment, saying the claim, if successful, could make the drug unaffordable to millions of people in the developing world.Continue reading ->

Image Credits: Neda Ashtari.

Health Savings Of Reduced Air Pollution “Dwarf” Cleanup Costs, Says UN Report

13/03/2019 David Branigan

UN Environment today released its sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6), assessing the state of the environment over the last five years. The report highlights studies published in the scientific press last year estimating that the health benefits of reducing air pollution would be 1.4 to 2.5 times greater than the costs of mitigation. Savings between 2020 and 2050 would be in the range of US$54.1 trillion, as compared to costs of US$22.1 trillion, in some scenarios cited.Continue reading ->

Image Credits: Shutterstock/TonyV3112.

Global Health Benefits Of Reaching Climate, Environment Targets Could Be US$ 54.1 Trillion – Says UN Report

12/03/2019 David Branigan

The global health benefits of reducing air pollution and reaching the climate targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement could be as “high as $54.1 trillion dollars, at a cost of only $22.1 trillion,” according a new UN Environment analysis, to be released in full tomorrow.Continue reading ->

Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons.

WHA Resolution For Transparent Drug Pricing: Italy Speaks Out

12/03/2019 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Italy’s Minister of Health spoke out publicly today at a press conference in Rome on the proposed World Health Assembly resolution on drug price transparency, while an open letter published on the Ministry’s website called on other World Health Organization member states to support the initiative.Continue reading ->

Trilateral Guide To Preventing Spread Of Animal-Human Diseases

11/03/2019 William New

A extensive new guide released today provides detailed instructions and insight for governments and regions to prevent and combat zoonotic diseases – those that can spread between animals and humans, such as rabies, which continue to have “major impacts” on human health. Continue reading ->

Image Credits: OIE/WHO/FAO.

United Nations Environment Assembly Touches Key Global Health Themes

11/03/2019 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) opened today in Nairobi against the sober backdrop of yesterday’s tragic crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 en route to the Kenyan capital, killing at least 22 UN staff and humanitarian aid workers, including passengers headed to the UNEA meeting.Continue reading ->

Image Credits: Baz Ratner/Reuters, @CCAC coalition.

New WHO Global Influenza Strategy Aims to Strengthen Country Response

11/03/2019 David Branigan

The World Health Organization today launched a new influenza strategy that takes a more holistic approach to protecting people worldwide from deadly flu threats. The Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030 aims to address both seasonal prevention and control of influenza, as well as preparedness for future pandemics, while building the capacity of countries to respond to the flu as well as other emerging infectious diseases.Continue reading ->

Image Credits: WHO/Tom Pietrasik.

CEPI Board Reaffirms Commitment To Safeguard Access To New Vaccines

08/03/2019 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), an innovative collaboration of governments, UN agencies, foundations and the private sector, has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard and promote equitable access to new vaccines under development to head off the risk of disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics that threaten global health.

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Image Credits: CEPI / CureVac.

Global Health Agencies Face Yawning Gaps In Gender Equality – New 50/50 Report

07/03/2019 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Stark gender pay and power gaps remain a fact of life in leading global health organisations, according to a new Global Health 50/50 report on gender-equality in nearly 200 workplaces, including United Nations and national development agencies as well as non-profit organisations, research institutions and private sector firms.Continue reading ->

Image Credits: Global Health 50/50.