Clinton Foundation [to 13 June 2015]
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/press-releases-and-statements

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Press Releases
CGI America Attendees Make 79 New Commitments to Action to Impact Lives of More Than 1.6 Million People in the United States
June 10, 2015
New commitments developed by leaders at fifth annual CGI America Meeting include efforts to increase access to educational and employment opportunities, connect small businesses with capital, advance clean energy solutions, support sustainable infrastructure, and more…

MacArthur Foundation [to 13 June 2015]
http://www.macfound.org/

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Publication
Assessing Reasons for School Dropout in Uganda
Published June 10, 2015
A report by the International Center for Research on Women examines the factors that contribute to girls ages 14-18 dropping out of school in West Nile, Uganda. The report finds that more than 50 percent of girls in the region state that economic factors were primarily to blame, and pregnancy is the second most frequent response given (13.1 percent) for why girls left school. The report contains recommendations for how governments and communities can ensure girls remain in school, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.

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Publication
Assessing the Implementation of DACA
Published June 10, 2015
A study by the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution examines the implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to inform future efforts in support of unauthorized immigrants. The study, which takes a close look at application activity among young immigrants, finds that although DACA is a federal program, it requires civil society intermediaries and state and local government intervention for successful implementation. The report also finds that the decision to apply for DACA is influenced by individual, family, and immigrant origin-community dynamics.

Pew Charitable Trusts [to 13 June 2015]
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases

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Pew Names 22 Top Scientists as Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences
June 11, 2015 Press Release
The Pew Charitable Trusts today named 22 promising early-career researchers as Pew scholars in the biomedical sciences. The recipients join the ranks of more than 600 outstanding scientists who have been selected as Pew scholars in the 30 years since the program’s inception and whose careers have been dedicated to bold scientific discoveries. Many Pew scholars have also been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize, the Shaw Prize, and the Lasker Award…

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [to 13 June 2015]
http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/news-releases.html

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BUILD Health Challenge Announces 18 Inaugural Awardees from Across the Nation
Tue Jun 09 2015
The BUILD Health Challenge announced today that it awarded grants to 18 groundbreaking projects that aim to improve health in low-income communities. The projects were recognized on the strengths of their BOLD, UPSTREAM, INTEGRATED, LOCAL, and DATA-DRIVEN approaches to address the social and environmental factors that have the greatest impact on health…

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 13 June 2015)

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Research article
Management practices to support donor transition: lessons from Avahan, the India AIDS Initiative
Sara Bennett1*, Daniela Rodriguez1, Sachiko Ozawa1, Kriti Singh2, Meghan Bohren1, Vibha Chhabra2 and Suneeta Singh2
Author Affiliations
BMC Health Services Research 2015, 15:232 doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0894-0
Published: 13 June 2015
Abstract
Background
During 2009-2012, Avahan, a large donor funded HIV/AIDS prevention program in India was transferred from donor support and operation to government. This transition of approximately 200 targeted interventions (TIs), occurred in three tranches in 2009, 2011 and 2012. This paper reports on the management practices pursued in support of a smooth transition of the program, and addresses the extent to which standard change management practices were employed, and were useful in supporting transition.
Results
We conducted structured surveys of a sample of 80 TIs from the 2011 and 2012 rounds of transition. One survey was administered directly before transition and the second survey 12 month after transition. These surveys assessed readiness for transition and practices post-transition. We also conducted 15 case studies of transitioning TIs from all three rounds, and re-visited 4 of these 1-3 years later.
Results
Considerable evolution in the nature of relationships between key actors was observed between transition rounds, moving from considerable mistrust and lack of collaboration in 2009 toward a shared vision of transition and mutually respectful relationships between Avahan and government in later transition rounds. Management practices also evolved with the gradual development of clear implementation plans, establishment of the post of “transition manager” at state and national levels, identified budgets to support transition, and a common minimum programme for transition. Staff engagement was important, and was carried out relatively effectively in later rounds. While the change management literature suggests short-term wins are important, this did not appear to be the case for Avahan, instead a difficult first round of transition seemed to signal the seriousness of intentions regarding transition.
Conclusions
In the Avahan case a number of management practices supported a smooth transition these included: an extended and sequenced time frame for transition; co-ownership and planning of transition by both donor and government; detailed transition planning and close attention to program alignment, capacity development and communication; engagement of staff in the transition process; engagement of multiple stakeholders post transition to promote program accountability and provide financial support; signaling by actors in charge of transition that they were committed to specified time frames.

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Research article
A concise, health service coverage index for monitoring progress towards universal health coverage
Anthony Leegwater1, Wendy Wong2 and Carlos Avila1*
BMC Health Services Research 2015, 15:230 doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0859-3
Published: 12 June 2015
Abstract (provisional)
Background There is a growing international commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), but limited means to determine progress towards that goal. We developed a practical index for capturing health service coverage – a critical dimension of UHC — that was more inclusive than previous methods. Methods Our data included publicly-available, indicators reflecting health service delivery, infrastructure, human resources, and health expenditures for 103 countries. We selected a set of internally-consistent indicators and performed principal component analysis. Multiple imputation was used to address missing values. We extracted and rotated four components related to health service coverage and developed a composite index for each country for 2009. Results Explaining cumulatively almost 80% of the total variance, the four extracted components were characterized as: 1) provision of services, 2) infrastructure and human resources, 3) immunization (provision of services), and 4) financial resources. The health service coverage index developed from these components demonstrated strong correlation with health outcome measures such as infant mortality and life expectancy, supporting its validity. Index values also appeared generally consistent with published reports and the regional distribution of health coverage. Conclusions Our approach moved beyond common indicators of service coverage focused on infectious diseases and maternal and child health, to include information on necessary health inputs. The resulting, balanced, composite index of health service coverage demonstrated promise as a metric, likely to discriminate coverage levels between countries and regions. An important number of service provision indicators were correlated, therefore a reduced set of services performed well as a proxy for the full set of available indicators. This parsimonious index is a start toward simplifying the task of policy-makers monitoring progress on a key domain of universal health coverage.

BMC Public Health
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/content
(Accessed 13 June 2015)

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Research article
Challenges and opportunities associated with neglected tropical disease and water, sanitation and hygiene intersectoral integration programs
E. Anna Johnston1*, Jordan Teague2 and Jay P. Graham1
Author Affiliations
BMC Public Health 2015, 15:547 doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1838-7
Published: 11 June 2015
Abstract
Background
Recent research has suggested that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, in addition to mass drug administration (MDA), are necessary for controlling and eliminating many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Objectives
This study investigated the integration of NTD and WASH programming in order to identify barriers to widespread integration and make recommendations about ideal conditions and best practices critical to future integrated programs.
Methods
Twenty-four in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in the global NTD and WASH sectors to identify barriers and ideal conditions in programmatic integration.
Results
The most frequently mentioned barriers to WASH and NTD integration included: 1) differing programmatic objectives in the two sectors, including different indicators and metrics; 2) a disproportionate focus on mass drug administration; 3) differences in the scale of funding; 4) siloed funding; and 5) a lack of coordination and information sharing between the two sectors. Participants also conveyed that a more holistic approach was needed if future integration efforts are to be scaled-up. The most commonly mentioned requisite conditions included: 1) education and advocacy; 2) development of joint indicators; 3) increased involvement at the ministerial level; 4) integrated strategy development; 5) creating task forces or committed partnerships; and 6) improved donor support.
Conclusions
Public health practitioners planning to integrate NTD and WASH programs can apply these results to create conditions for more effective programs and mitigate barriers to success. Donor agencies should consider funding more integration efforts to further test the proof of principle, and additional support from national and local governments is recommended if integration efforts are to succeed. Intersectoral efforts that include the development of shared indicators and objectives are needed to foster conditions conducive to expanding effective integration programs.

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 13 June 2015)

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Research article
Level of immunization coverage and associated factors among children aged 12–23 months in Lay Armachiho District, North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross sectional study
Melkamu Beyene Kassahun1, Gashaw Andargie Biks2 and Alemayehu Shimeka Teferra3*
Author Affiliations
BMC Research Notes 2015, 8:239 doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1192-y
Published: 13 June 2015
Abstract
Background
Immunization against childhood disease is one of the most important public health interventions with cost effective means to preventing childhood morbidity, mortality and disability. However, complete immunization coverage remains low particularly in rural areas of Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the level of immunization coverage and associated factors in Lay Armachiho District, North Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in March, 2014 among 751 pairs of mothers to children aged 12–23 months in Lay Armachiho District. A two stage sampling technique was employed. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to compute association between factors and immunization status of children. Backwards stepwise regression method was used and those variables significant at p value 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results
Seventy-six percent of the children were fully immunized during the study period. Dropout rate was 6.5% for BCG to measles, 2.7% for Penta1 to Penta3 and 4.5% for Pnemonia1 to Pnemonia3. The likelihood of children to be fully immunized among mothers who identified the number of sessions needed for vaccination were higher than those who did not [AOR = 2.8 (95% C1 = 1.89, 4.2)]. Full immunization status of children was higher among mothers who know the age at which the child become fully immunized than who did not know [AOR = 2.93 (95% CI = 2.02, 4.3)]. Taking tetanus toxoid immunization during pregnancy showed statistically significant association with full immunization of children [AOR 1.6 (95% CI = 1.06, 2.62)]. Urban children were more likely to be fully immunized than rural [AOR = 1.82 (95% CI = 1.15, 2.80)] and being male were more likely to be fully immunized than female [AOR = 1.80 (95% CI = 1.26, 2.6)].
Conclusion and recommendation
Vaccination coverage was low compared to the Millennium Development Goals target. It is important to increase and maintain the immunization level to the intended target. Efforts should be made to promote women‘s’ awareness on tetanus toxoid immunization, when the child should start vaccination, number of sessions needed to complete immunization, and when a child become complete vaccination to improve immunization coverage through health development army and health professionals working at antenatal care, postnatal care and immunization units.

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 13 June 2015]

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Review
Approaches and impact of non-academic research capacity strengthening training models in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Lambert Mugabo12*, Dominique Rouleau1, Jackline Odhiambo1, Marie Paul Nisingizwe1, Cheryl Amoroso1, Peter Barebwanuwe1, Christine Warugaba1, Lameck Habumugisha1 and Bethany L. Hedt-Gauthier13
Author Affiliations
Health Research Policy and Systems 2015, 13:30 doi:10.1186/s12961-015-0017-8
Published: 9 June 2015
Abstract
Background
Research is essential to identify and prioritize health needs and to develop appropriate strategies to improve health outcomes. In the last decade, non-academic research capacity strengthening trainings in sub-Saharan Africa, coupled with developing research infrastructure and the provision of individual mentorship support, has been used to build health worker skills. The objectives of this review are to describe different training approaches to research capacity strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa outside academic programs, assess methods used to evaluate research capacity strengthening activities, and learn about the challenges facing research capacity strengthening and the strategies/innovations required to overcome them.
Methodology
The PubMed database was searched using nine search terms and articles were included if 1) they explicitly described research capacity strengthening training activities, including information on program duration, target audience, immediate program outputs and outcomes; 2) all or part of the training program took place in sub-Saharan African countries; 3) the training activities were not a formal academic program; 4) papers were published between 2000 and 2013; and 5) both abstract and full paper were available in English.
Results
The search resulted in 495 articles, of which 450 were retained; 14 papers met all inclusion criteria and were included and analysed. In total, 4136 people were trained, of which 2939 were from Africa. Of the 14 included papers, six fell in the category of short-term evaluation period and eight in the long-term evaluation period. Conduct of evaluations and use of evaluation frameworks varied between short and long term models and some trainings were not evaluated. Evaluation methods included tests, surveys, interviews, and systems approach matrix.
Conclusions
Research capacity strengthening activities in sub-Saharan Africa outside of academic settings provide important contributions to developing in-country capacity to participate in and lead research. Institutional support, increased funds, and dedicated time for research activities are critical factors that lead to the development of successful programs. Further, knowledge sharing through scientific articles with sufficient detail is needed to enable replication of successful models in other settings.

International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology
Volume 22, Issue 4, 2015
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tsdw20/current#.VSj2SpMw1hX

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Management of rural water services in Nicaragua: a systemic network approach to evaluating stakeholder alignment
Jeffrey P. Waltersa* & Amy N. Javernick-Willb
DOI: 10.1080/13504509.2015.1053999
pages 358-367
Abstract
Water sector literature attributes a substantial cause of rural water system failure in developing countries to poor alignment between water service stakeholders. This study aimed to investigate a means for assessing stakeholder alignment by comparing the systemic interaction of stakeholder values, where the term ‘stakeholder values’ refers to aspects stakeholders believe are necessary to ensure rural water services are sustainable. The research held focus groups with key stakeholder groups involved in the management of rural water infrastructure in Terrabona, Nicaragua, to identify stakeholder values, and then used cross-impact analysis to evaluate how these values interacted to form stakeholder value networks (SVNs). Using normalized betweenness centrality measures, the structures of SVNs were compared to determine alignment. Results from this study showed high levels of stakeholder alignment on the topics of water resources and technology for the sustainability of rural water systems, while there was marked nonalignment regarding the involvement of local government and organizations in the management of water infrastructure. This study offers compelling evidence for future studies to assess stakeholder alignment by identifying and structurally analyzing SVNs.

The Lancet
Jun 13, 2015 Volume 385 Number 9985 p2323-2432 e49-e50
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

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Editorial
MERS—the latest threat to global health security
The Lancet
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61088-1
The spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) to South Korea, and now to China, is an important signal of the need for increased vigilance in global health security measures. As reported in Correspondence in this week’s issue, the rapid transmission of MERS in South Korea led to 12 laboratory-confirmed cases over a 2-week period in May, and many more cases since, with relatives, medical staff, and a fellow patient all contracting the disease, which started with one 68-year-old man who had travelled to the Middle East.

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Editorial
Iraq’s neglected health and humanitarian crisis
The Lancet
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61089-3
“The situation is bad, really bad, and rapidly getting worse”, said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in her keynote address to launch a new humanitarian response plan for Iraq last week. Iraq’s health and humanitarian crisis results from decades of war and occupation, most recently the takeover of territory by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the counter-insurgency launch by the government and its allied forces. Since January, 2014, 2·9 million people have fled their homes and presently 8·2 million people in Iraq require immediate humanitarian support.

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 13 June 2015)

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Essay
The Potential for Reducing the Number of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Doses While Sustaining Herd Immunity in High-Income Countries
Stefan Flasche, Albert Jan Van Hoek, David Goldblatt, W. John Edmunds, Katherine L. O’Brien, J. Anthony G. Scott, Elizabeth Miller
Published: June 9, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001839
Summary Points
:: In high-income countries, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines induce strong herd protection that leads to near elimination of vaccine-type disease in vaccinated and unvaccinated alike.
:: In settings with minimal exposure to pneumococcal vaccine types, individual protection from pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is rarely required, and the majority of disease episodes are prevented by controlling vaccine-type transmission.
:: Following the control of pneumococcal vaccine-type disease and colonisation through vaccination, a PCV schedule with a single priming and a booster dose may be sufficient to sustain that control at reduced costs and should be evaluated.

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Research Article
Efficacy of Handwashing with Soap and Nail Clipping on Intestinal Parasitic Infections in School-Aged Children: A Factorial Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Mahmud Abdulkader Mahmud, Mark Spigt, Afework Mulugeta Bezabih, Ignacio Lopez Pavon, Geert-Jan Dinant, Roman Blanco Velasco
Published: June 9, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001837
Abstract
Background
Intestinal parasitic infections are highly endemic among school-aged children in resource-limited settings. To lower their impact, preventive measures should be implemented that are sustainable with available resources. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of handwashing with soap and nail clipping on the prevention of intestinal parasite reinfections.
Methods and Findings
In this trial, 367 parasite-negative school-aged children (aged 6–15 y) were randomly assigned to receive both, one or the other, or neither of the interventions in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Assignment sequence was concealed. After 6 mo of follow-up, stool samples were examined using direct, concentration, and Kato-Katz methods. Hemoglobin levels were determined using a HemoCue spectrometer. The primary study outcomes were prevalence of intestinal parasite reinfection and infection intensity. The secondary outcome was anemia prevalence. Analysis was by intention to treat. Main effects were adjusted for sex, age, drinking water source, latrine use, pre-treatment parasites, handwashing with soap and nail clipping at baseline, and the other factor in the additive model. Fourteen percent (95% CI: 9% to 19%) of the children in the handwashing with soap intervention group were reinfected versus 29% (95% CI: 22% to 36%) in the groups with no handwashing with soap (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.62). Similarly, 17% (95% CI: 12% to 22%) of the children in the nail clipping intervention group were reinfected versus 26% (95% CI: 20% to 32%) in the groups with no nail clipping (AOR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.95). Likewise, following the intervention, 13% (95% CI: 8% to 18%) of the children in the handwashing group were anemic versus 23% (95% CI: 17% to 29%) in the groups with no handwashing with soap (AOR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.78). The prevalence of anemia did not differ significantly between children in the nail clipping group and those in the groups with no nail clipping (AOR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.04). The intensive follow-up and monitoring during this study made it such that the assessment of the observed intervention benefits was under rather ideal circumstances, and hence the study could possibly overestimate the effects when compared to usual conditions.
Conclusions
Handwashing with soap at key times and weekly nail clipping significantly decreased intestinal parasite reinfection rates. Furthermore, the handwashing intervention significantly reduced anemia prevalence in children. The next essential step should be implementing pragmatic studies and developing more effective approaches to promote and implement handwashing with soap and nail clipping at larger scales.

Editors’ Summary
Background
Intestinal parasitic infections are common human infections, particularly in resource-limited countries, where personal hygiene and access to clean water and sanitation (disposal of human feces and urine) is often poor. Worldwide, more than a billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths—roundworms, tapeworms, and other parasitic worms that live in the human intestine (gut). And millions of people are infected with protozoan (single-celled) intestinal parasites that cause diseases such as amebiasis and giardiasis. Both helminths and protozoan parasites are mainly spread by the fecal-oral route. Infected individuals excrete helminth eggs and protozoan parasites in their feces, and in regions where people regularly defecate in the open, the soil and water supplies become contaminated with parasites. People then ingest the parasites by eating raw, unwashed vegetables, by not washing their hands after handling contaminated soil, or by drinking contaminated water. Mild infections with helminths rarely have symptoms, but severe infections can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malnutrition. Protozoan parasites also cause diarrhea. Importantly, among children, who are particularly susceptible to parasitic infections, intestinal parasite infections may slow growth, affect school performance, and cause anemia.
Why Was This Study Done?
Intestinal worm and protozoan infections can be treated with anthelmintic drugs and antibiotics, respectively. However, reinfection is often rapid, and, particularly in resource-limited countries, additional preventative measures are needed that do not rely on drugs (parasites can become drug-resistant) and that are sustainable with available resources. Given that intestinal parasitic infections usually spread through the fecal-oral route, the promotion of handwashing with soap and regular fingernail clipping might be one way to reduce intestinal parasite infection rates in low-income settings. Handwashing prevents other types of infection, and both unwashed hands and dirty, untrimmed nails are associated with high rates of parasite infection. Here, the researchers investigate whether handwashing with soap and nail clipping reduce intestinal reinfection rates by undertaking a factorial cluster randomized controlled trial (a study that compares outcomes in groups of people chosen at random to receive different combinations of two or more interventions) among school-aged children in northern Ethiopia.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
The researchers assigned 367 parasite-negative school-aged children to receive a handwashing intervention, a nail clipping intervention, both interventions, or neither intervention for six months. For the handwashing intervention, fieldworkers visited each intervention household weekly, provided soap, encouraged all the household members to wash their hands with water and soap at key times, such as before meals and after defecation, and checked on the household’s use of soap. For the nail clipping intervention, the fieldworkers clipped the nails of children in the intervention households every week. After six months, parasite reinfection (primary outcome) and anemia (secondary outcome) in the participants were assessed by examining stool samples for parasites and by measuring hemoglobin levels, respectively. After adjustment for factors likely to affect reinfection such as latrine use and drinking water source, 14% of the children in the handwashing with soap groups (handwashing alone and handwashing plus nail clipping) were reinfected with parasites compared to 29% of the children in the no handwashing groups (nail clipping only or neither intervention). Similarly, 17% of the children in the nail clipping groups were reinfected compared to 26% in the no nail clipping groups. Finally, handwashing (but not nail clipping) significantly reduced the rate of anemia among the children.
What Do These Findings Mean?
These findings show that handwashing with soap at key times decreased intestinal parasite reinfection rates by 68% and that weekly nail clipping reduced reinfection rates by 49% among school-aged Ethiopian children. Thus, these findings support the promotion of proper handwashing and weekly nail clipping as a public health measure to reduce parasite reinfection rates in resource-limited regions. However, although both interventions were “efficacious” under trial conditions that included intensive monitoring and follow-up, handwashing and nail clipping may not be “effective” interventions. That is, they may not work as well under real-life conditions. Moreover, because long-established personal hygiene and sanitation practices may be hard to change, large-scale implementation of these interventions might be expensive. The researchers call, therefore, for pragmatic studies to be undertaken to investigate the performance of these interventions under real-life conditions and for the development of effective approaches for widespread promotion of handwashing with soap and nail clipping.

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 13 June 2015)

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The Complexity of a Dengue Vaccine: A Review of the Human Antibody Response
Jacky Flipse, Jolanda M. Smit
Review | published 11 Jun 2015 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003749

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The Case for Improved Diagnostic Tools to Control Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa and How to Get There
Arlene C. Chua, Jane Cunningham, Francis Moussy, Mark D. Perkins, Pierre Formenty
Policy Platform | published 11 Jun 2015 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003734

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Research Article
Prioritising Infectious Disease Mapping
David M. Pigott, Rosalind E. Hows, Antoinette Wiebe, Katherine E. Battle, Nick Golding, Peter W. Gething, Scott F. Dowell, Tamer H. Farag, Andres J. Garcia, Ann M. Kimball, L. Kendall Krause, Craig H. Smith, Simon J. Brooker, [ … ],Simon I. Hay
Published: June 10, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003756
Abstract
Background
Increasing volumes of data and computational capacity afford unprecedented opportunities to scale up infectious disease (ID) mapping for public health uses. Whilst a large number of IDs show global spatial variation, comprehensive knowledge of these geographic patterns is poor. Here we use an objective method to prioritise mapping efforts to begin to address the large deficit in global disease maps currently available.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Automation of ID mapping requires bespoke methodological adjustments tailored to the epidemiological characteristics of different types of diseases. Diseases were therefore grouped into 33 clusters based upon taxonomic divisions and shared epidemiological characteristics. Disability-adjusted life years, derived from the Global Burden of Disease 2013 study, were used as a globally consistent metric of disease burden. A review of global health stakeholders, existing literature and national health priorities was undertaken to assess relative interest in the diseases. The clusters were ranked by combining both metrics, which identified 44 diseases of main concern within 15 principle clusters. Whilst malaria, HIV and tuberculosis were the highest priority due to their considerable burden, the high priority clusters were dominated by neglected tropical diseases and vector-borne parasites.
Conclusions/Significance
A quantitative, easily-updated and flexible framework for prioritising diseases is presented here. The study identifies a possible future strategy for those diseases where significant knowledge gaps remain, as well as recognising those where global mapping programs have already made significant progress. For many conditions, potential shared epidemiological information has yet to be exploited.
Author Summary
Maps have long been used to not only visualise, but also to inform infectious disease control efforts, identify and predict areas of greatest risk of specific diseases, and better understand the epidemiology of disease over various spatial scales. In spite of the utilities of such outputs, globally comprehensive maps have been produced for only a handful of infectious diseases. Due to limited resources, it is necessary to define a framework to prioritise which diseases to consider mapping globally. This paper outlines a framework which compares each disease’s global burden with its associated interest from the policy community in a data-driven manner which can be used to determine the relative priority of each condition. Malaria, HIV and TB are, unsurprisingly, ranked highest due to their considerable health burden, while the other priority diseases are dominated by neglected tropical diseases and vector-borne diseases. For some conditions, global mapping efforts are already in place, however, for many neglected conditions there still remains a need for high resolution spatial surveys.

PLoS One
[Accessed 13 June 2015]
http://www.plosone.org/

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Research Article
Can Economic Analysis Contribute to Disease Elimination and Eradication? A Systematic Review
Elisa Sicuri, David B. Evans, Fabrizio Tediosi
Published: June 12, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130603
Abstract
Background
Infectious diseases elimination and eradication have become important areas of focus for global health and countries. Due to the substantial up-front investments required to eliminate and eradicate, and the overall shortage of resources for health, economic analysis can inform decision making on whether elimination/eradication makes economic sense and on the costs and benefits of alternative strategies. In order to draw lessons for current and future initiatives, we review the economic literature that has addressed questions related to the elimination and eradication of infectious diseases focusing on: why, how and for whom?
Methods
A systematic review was performed by searching economic literature (cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness and economic impact analyses) on elimination/eradication of infectious diseases published from 1980 to 2013 from three large bibliographic databases: one general (SCOPUS), one bio-medical (MEDLINE/PUBMED) and one economic (IDEAS/REPEC).
Results
A total of 690 non-duplicate papers were identified from which only 43 met the inclusion criteria. In addition, only one paper focusing on equity issues, the “for whom?” question, was found. The literature relating to “why?” is the largest, much of it focusing on how much it would cost. A more limited literature estimates the benefits in terms of impact on economic growth with mixed results. The question of how to eradicate or eliminate was informed by an economic literature highlighting that there will be opportunities for individuals and countries to free-ride and that forms of incentives and/or disincentives will be needed. This requires government involvement at country level and global coordination. While there is little doubt that eliminating infectious diseases will eventually improve equity, it will only happen if active steps to promote equity are followed on the path to elimination and eradication.
Conclusion
The largest part of the literature has focused on costs and economic benefits of elimination/eradication. To a lesser extent, challenges associated with achieving elimination/eradication and ensuring equity have also been explored. Although elimination and eradication are, for some diseases, good investments compared with control, countries’ incentives to eliminate do not always align with the global good and the most efficient elimination strategies may not prioritize the poorest populations. For any infectious disease, policy-makers will need to consider realigning contrasting incentives between the individual countries and the global community and to assure that the process towards elimination/eradication considers equity.

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Vaccination Coverage and Compliance with Three Recommended Schedules of 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine during the First Year of Its Introduction in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study
Fabricia Oliveira Saraiva, Ruth Minamisava, Maria Aparecida da Silva Vieira, Ana Luiza Bierrenbach, Ana Lucia Andrade
Research Article | published 10 Jun 2015 | PLOS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.0128656.

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 6 June 2015

This weekly digest is intended to aggregate and distill key content from a broad spectrum of practice domains and organization types including key agencies/IGOs, NGOs, governments, academic and research institutions, consortia and collaborations, foundations, and commercial organizations. We also monitor a spectrum of peer-reviewed journals and general media channels. The Sentinel’s geographic scope is global/regional but selected country-level content is included. We recognize that this spectrum/scope yields an indicative and not an exhaustive product. Comments and suggestions should be directed to:

David R. Curry
Editor &
Founding Managing Director
GE2P2 – Center for Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net

pdf version: The Sentinel_ week ending 6 June 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries to be posted below on 7-8 June 2015

earlier pdf editions archived here

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announces new $776 million investment in nutrition to tackle child mortality and help all women and children survive and thrive
Melinda Gates makes announcement in Brussels during European Development Days

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (June 3, 2015, 12:30pm CET) – Melinda Gates today urged European leaders to make the health and nutrition of women and children a top priority, and announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will more than double its investments in nutrition to $776 million over the next six years as part of a new commitment to nutrition. The co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made the announcement at the European Development Days (EDD), Europe’s leading forum on development and international cooperation organized by the European Commission.

“Malnutrition is the underlying cause of nearly half of all under-5 child deaths,” said Gates. “Yet for too long the world has underinvested in nutrition. Today we see an opportunity to change that. Along with the Gates Foundation, many European donors are now prioritizing nutrition, which we believe will be one of the fundamental solutions to help cut child mortality in half by 2030.”

The announcement unlocks $180 million in additional matched funding from the UK’s Department for International Development who had committed to match 1:2 any pledge additional to those made at the Nutrition for Growth summit in 2013.

Every year, millions of children die because they don’t get the optimal nutrition during the critical 1,000 day period from their mother’s pregnancy until their second birthday. Children who miss out on good nutrition during this time never fully grow physically or mentally, limiting their ability to learn in school and reducing their productivity as adults.

The Gates Foundation’s new approach to nutrition will:
:: Reach women and children with solutions proven to improve nutrition, such as breastfeeding and food fortification, and expand research into innovative new approaches.
:: Help women and adolescent girls before they become pregnant, improving the likelihood they’ll have a safe pregnancy and a healthy, well-nourished child.
:: Improve food systems (in conjunction with the agriculture sector) to help ensure people have better access to safe, nutritious and affordable food year-round.
:: Catalyze a data revolution in nutrition to strengthen the evidence-base for action, inform decisions and track progress toward goals and commitments.
:: Focus work in India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, where there is both a high burden of malnutrition and a significant opportunity to affect positive change…

…At the event, the foundation also announced a new $500,000 grant to the European Commission to support the Commission’s National Information Platforms for Nutrition initiative, which aims to strengthen countries’ ability to track and analyze the impact of their nutrition programs…

Global Nutrition Report 2014
ACTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ACCELERATE THE WORLD’S PROGRESS ON NUTRITION
A PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION
International Food Policy Research Institute
ISBN: 978-0-89629-564-3
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/9780896295643
June 2015 :: 118 pages
:: Translations (full report): Français | Español | Português
:: eBook formats: Google Play | Google Books | iTunes | Kindle

Malnutrition affects one in two people on the planet. Of these, 162 million children under the age of five are estimated to be stunted (i.e. low height for age). Two billion people are estimated to be deficient in one or more micronutrients. Nearly 1.5 billion people are estimated to be overweight and over 500 million to be obese. These conditions all have severe consequences for survival, for morbidity, and for the ability of individuals, the economy and society to thrive. In relation to the scale that these problems imply, the allocation of public resources to their prevention and amelioration is minuscule. Resources to specific nutrition programmes amount to a small fraction of one per cent of domestic or aid budgets.

The Global Nutrition Report convenes existing processes, highlights progress in combating malnutrition and identifies gaps and proposes ways to fill them. Through this, the Report helps to guide action, build accountability and spark increased commitment for further progress towards reducing malnutrition much faster.

At its core, the Report aims to empower nutrition champions at the national level to better inform policy decisions and to strengthen the case for increased resources. A repository of global and country-level nutrition data and analysis, the Report also provides civil society organisations (CSOs), donors, governments, the business sector, researchers, the media and engaged citizens with evidence of the current scale of malnutrition, the measures being taken to combat it, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done.

The 2014 Report is funded through the support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Government of Canada, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the European Commission, Irish Aid, 1,000 Days and the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition & Health.

The Report was delivered by an Independent Expert Group and guided at a strategic level by a Stakeholder Group, whose members also reviewed the Report. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) oversaw the production and dissemination of the Report, with the support of the Secretariat based at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). The Lancet, the premier peer-reviewed medical journal, managed the blind external review process for the Report, which was launched during the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) in Rome in November 2014. There will be follow-up events for the Report in a several cities around the world.

2015 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report – Transforming Governance
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme
2015 :: 132 pages
ISBN: 978-92-95045-80-4
Abstract
The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2015 is the first global review of the power of volunteer voices to help improve the way people are governed. Drawing on evidence from countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Lebanon and Bangladesh, the UN report shows how ordinary people are volunteering their time, energies and skills to improve the way they are governed and engaged at local, national and global levels. Better governance at every level is a pre-requisite for the success of the new set of targets for future international development, the Sustainable Development Goals, which are due to be agreed at the United Nations in September 2015.

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Press Release
Volunteers vital to success of new global development agenda, UN report says
05 June 2015
New York, USA: Volunteers are playing a vital role in making governments worldwide more accountable and responsive to their citizens, but their potential is seriously under-valued, a new report from the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme said today.

The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2015 is the first global survey of the contribution of volunteers to better governance, a prerequisite for the success of the new Sustainable Development Goals to be agreed at the United Nations in September.

Drawing on evidence from countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Lebanon and Bangladesh, the UN report, entitled “Transforming Governance”, shows how ordinary people are volunteering their time, energies and skills to improve the way they are governed at local, national and global levels.

Volunteers are working with governments and civil society to hold those in power to account, to influence policies and laws and to represent the voices of those who are often left out of development decisions. The end result, the report says, is more inclusive – and ultimately more effective – development.

“By creating environments for people to volunteer their time, it is possible to use their skills and knowledge for the common good in the sphere of governance,” said Richard Dictus, Executive Coordinator of UNV. “Change will occur with greater civic engagement broadening the number of people who have voice, who can participate and who can hold governance actors to account.”

More than 1 billion people volunteer globally, the majority of them working in their own countries. Many are in the forefront of efforts to improve the way they and their fellow citizens are governed.

Recommended steps include:
:: Engaging more volunteers in the process of crafting policies and putting them into action;
:: Integrating volunteers formally into national development frameworks and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) strategies;
:: Engaging more volunteer women and marginalized groups in local and national decision-making.

The aim of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2015, UNV says, is to spark a global conversation about the role of volunteers in the area of governance that is so critical to future development success.

Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health
A State of Knowledge Review
World Health Organization and Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2015.
Languages: English :: 364 pages
ISBN: 9789241508537
Pdfs:
:: Read the publication
:: Loss of biodiversity impacts human health (web release)pdf, 34kb
:: Read the key messages pdf, 155kb
Overview
Healthy communities rely on well-functioning ecosystems. They provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and stabilize the climate. But biodiversity loss is happening at unprecedented rates, impacting human health worldwide, according to a new state of knowledge review of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and WHO.

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Press Release
Loss of biodiversity impacts human health, says CBD and WHO
Montreal, 4 June 2015 – Healthy communities rely on well-functioning ecosystems. They provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and stabilize the climate. But biodiversity loss is happening at unprecedented rates, impacting human health worldwide, according to a new state of knowledge review of the Convention on Biological Diversity and World Health Organization.

The report, Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health, launched today in Brussels at Green Week 2015, Europe’s biggest annual conference on environmental policy, focuses on the complex and multi-faceted connections between biodiversity and human health, and how the loss of biodiversity and corresponding ecosystem services may negatively influence health. One of the first integrative reviews of its kind, the report brings together knowledge from several scientific disciplines, including public health, conservation, agriculture, epidemiology and development.

“This state of knowledge review is a significant contribution to our understanding of the complex relationships between biodiversity and health,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. “Increasing our knowledge enables us to develop effective solutions capable of strengthening ecosystem resilience and mitigating the forces that impede their ability to deliver life-supporting services.”

All aspects of human well-being depend on ecosystem goods and services, which in turn depend on biodiversity. Biodiversity loss can destabilize ecosystems, promote outbreaks of infectious disease, and undermine development progress, nutrition, security and protection from natural disasters,” said Dr Maria Neira, World Health Organization Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. “Protecting public health from these risks lies outside of the traditional roles of the Health sector. We are ready to work with other sectors to bring about change.”

Access to sufficient quantity, quality and diversity of foods, clean air, freshwater, medicines and healthcare are not only central to maintaining healthy populations, they are foundational pillars of sustainable development. Meeting these needs while facing the persistent challenges of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, emerging disease pandemics and shifting disease burdens is not an insurmountable feat, but it does require concerted action, based on robust evidence and coordinated cross-sector solutions. This comprehensive report brings this knowledge to the forefront, demonstrating that biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and ill health often share common threats and pointing toward innovative, mutually-supportive and cross-sectoral solutions.

This contribution is especially timely as governments finalize agreement on the post-2015 development agenda and Sustainable Development Goals and prepare to reach new global commitments to tackle climate change by the end of 2015.

Among the shared threats identified throughout the report, land-use change is identified as an important driver of biodiversity loss with concurrent implications for many of our most pressing public health challenges. For example, land use change through deforestation is a leading driver of disease emergence in humans and is believed to have contributed to the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

While the resulting development of our freshwater and terrestrial resources is also associated with some health benefits, these are unevenly distributed, often to the detriment of our most vulnerable populations and carry unintended consequences. For example, under unsustainable conditions, industrial agricultural practices in many parts of the world may also exacerbate biodiversity loss, pest and disease outbreaks, micronutrient deficiencies, antibiotic resistance and the impacts of climate change on the health. These outcomes are not inevitable. They can be averted through concerted global efforts, by connecting our vast scientific and local knowledge, and developing coherent, cross-sectoral policy priorities toward a healthier, more equitable, sustainable future.

Contributions from over 100 scientists and practitioners working in global public health and biodiversity conservation policy were included in the report, including experts from Bioversity International, COHAB Initiative, DIVERSITAS, EcoHealth Alliance, Harvard School of Public Health, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, IUCN, United Nations University, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The Africa Competitiveness Report 2015
World Bank Group.
2015/06/01 – Report Number 96997 :: 206 pages
Bah, El-hadj M.; Conde, Carlos; Di Battista, Attilio; Hanouz, Margareta Drzeniek; Galvan, Caroline; Heinrigs, Philipp; Hoffman, Barak Daniel; Mckenna, Jonathan Miles; Moyo, Jennifer Mbabazi; O’Sullivan, Anthony; Saez, Juan Sebastian; Speakman, John F.; Verdier-Chouchane, Audrey
Complete Report: Official PDF, 206 pages
Abstract
The Africa Competitiveness Report 2015 comes out at a promising time for the continent: for 15 years growth rates have averaged over 5 percent, and rapid population growth holds the promise of a large emerging consumer market as well as an unprecedented labor force that – if leveraged – can provide significant growth opportunities. Moreover, the expansion of innovative business models, such as mobile technology services, is indicative of the continent’s growth potential. However, Africa continues to be largely agrarian, with an economy that is underpinned by resource-driven growth and a large and expanding informal sector. Indeed, more than a decade of consistently high growth rates have not yet trickled down to significant parts of the population: nearly one out of two Africans continue to live in extreme poverty, and income inequality in the region remains among the highest in the world. What is more, across sectors – from agriculture to manufacturing and services – productivity levels remain low. It will be necessary to raise productivity across all sectors of the economy to achieve higher growth and create quality employment, and turn this progress into sustainable inclusive growth.

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Press Release
Boosting Agriculture, Services and Value Chains is Key to Africa’s Competitiveness
African Competitiveness Report 2015
CAPE TOWN, June 4, 2015—
:: Despite high economic growth, competitiveness in Africa is stagnating, with few signs that productivity is rising, thus hindering the prospect of inclusive and sustained growth.
:: Poor-quality institutions, infrastructure, health and education hold competitiveness down, although efficiency in goods and labor markets is improving.
:: Supporting Africa’s structural transformation will require a comprehensive policy mix that prioritizes transport and ICT infrastructure, education, trade and further regulatory reform.

African economies’ prospects for long-term, sustainable growth are under threat from weakness in the core conditions necessary for competitive and productive economies, despite outwardly healthy-looking growth rates in many parts of the region, according to the African Competitiveness Report, which is published today.

The biennial report, themed Transforming Africa’s Economies, combines detailed data from the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) with studies on three key areas of economic activity; agricultural productivity, services sector growth and global and regional value chains. The data points to low and stagnating productivity across all sectors: agriculture, manufacturing and services, partly as a result of ongoing weakness in the basic drivers of competitiveness, such as institutions, infrastructure, health and education. This shortfall masks a better performance in other areas of the economy; specifically, better functioning of labour and goods markets.

In view of Africa’s young and growing population, labour-intensive sectors must play a larger role in the continent’s transformation: the growth in services – both in terms of GDP and employment – cannot propel Africa’s growth alone, and even here development remains uneven, with too many people employed in low productivity services.

“Due to the rapid growth of Africa’s working-age population, investments in highly productive labor-intensive sectors will be crucial to create more globally competitive economies. These investments will also promote the regional agenda for inclusive growth and generate much-needed employment opportunities for women and youth,” said Barak Hoffman, World Bank Group Governance Specialist and co-author of the report.

Key findings from the report’s analysis include:
:: Improving agricultural productivity:
Agriculture provides an important source of income for the majority of African citizens, but productivity remains too low and based on small-scale subsistence production. Improvements such as better leveraging of technology (both information and communications technologies, as well as development of high-yield crops and better irrigation), more clearly defined land property rights and promotion of rights and opportunities for women, who represent a significant share of the agricultural workforce on the continent, are all needed to address this. Moreover, enabling greater market access for small-scale farmers would help ensure inclusiveness, while the development of regional value chains would serve as a useful stepping stone, enabling them to improve production and marketing processes, and ultimately to meet the quality standards of world markets.

:: Leveraging services:
Services exports are typically viewed as an area of comparative advantage for more advanced economies, but a deeper examination of trade statistics suggests that they are much more significant for Africa than previously thought, especially as inputs into exports from other sectors. Further development of low-cost, high-quality services will help countries participate in local, regional and global value chains. It will also encourage policy-makers to promote services development as part of a wider growth agenda.

:: Tapping global value chains (GVCs):
Greater participation in global and regional value chains can accelerate African economic transformation through the gains associated with enhanced productivity and the development of new activities. However, gains from GVC participation are not automatic and require a broad set of policies, with a particular focus on trade facilitation, investment, transport infrastructure and access to finance. Many of these policy areas have economy-wide benefits beyond GVC integration.

EBOLA/EVD [to 6 June 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); “Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council) .
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WHO: Ebola Situation Report – 3 June 2015 [Excerpts] SUMMARY :: Since the week ending 10 May, when a 10-month low of 9 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported from 2 prefectures of Guinea and 1 district of Sierra Leone, both the intensity and geographical area of EVD transmission have increased. In the week ending 31 May, a total of 25 confirmed cases were reported from 4 prefectures of Guinea and 3 districts of Sierra Leone. Several cases in both Guinea and Sierra Leone arose from unknown sources of infection in areas that have not reported confirmed cases for several weeks, indicating that chains of transmission continue to go undetected. Rigorous contact tracing, active case finding, and infection prevention and control must be maintained at current intensive levels in order to uncover and break every chain of transmission. However, the onset of the rainy season will make field operations more difficult from now onwards. COUNTRIES WITH WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION :: There have been a total of 27 145 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (figure 1, table 1), with 11 147 reported deaths (this total includes reported deaths among probable and suspected cases, although outcomes for many cases are unknown). A total of 13 new confirmed cases were reported in Guinea and 12 in Sierra Leone in the 7 days to 31 May. The outbreak in Liberia was declared over on 9 May.

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Video: Ebola Briefing – General Assembly, Informal meeting of the plenary 2 June 2015 Fifth informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, concerning the public health crisis emanating from the Ebola virus outbreak. Mr. Peter Graaff, Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), and Mr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Ebola, will deliver statements http://webtv.un.org/watch/ebola-briefing-general-assembly-informal-meeting-of-the-plenary/4271433354001#full-text WHO:

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An unprecedented response to an unprecedented outbreak 4 June 2015 — Since notifying the world of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa on 23 March 2014, WHO has, in partnership with the international health community, mobilized its largest ever outbreak response. WHO’s public health expertise, linkages with government and technical networks are unparalleled. This enables collaboration across multiple UN agencies, mobilization of foreign medical teams, deployment of specialized laboratories, training, delivery of millions of sets of personal protective equipment, and rapid development of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. Read more on WHO’s achievements