Global Fund [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/?topic=&type=NEWS;&country=

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17 June 2016
Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership Sign Memorandum of Understanding with Global Drug Facility
GENEVA – The Stop TB Partnership today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to optimize access to TB health products and pharmaceutical services in countries receiving Global Fund financing for TB.
The Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) is the largest supplier of quality assured patient treatments, including first line drugs, second line drugs and pediatric formulations, as well as diagnostics. It is a unique TB medicines procurement mechanism, and provides targeted technical assistance, innovative supply management tools and institutional capacity strengthening to countries for accelerated uptake of new TB products.
The Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership recognize the potential for a more strategic partnership between the Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership’s GDF and the mutual benefits to be gained through structured, collaborative engagement to optimize TB markets and improve the supply chain of TB health products to countries supported by the Global Fund.
“By signing this memorandum of understanding, we can strengthen the global response to ending TB and get the diagnostics and medicines to those who need it the most,” said Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership. “This agreement solidifies the very reasons that our GDF was created and will expand access to quality-assured anti-TB medicines and TB health products, including the introduction of new medicines and tools and regimens.”
Under the agreement, the Global Fund and Stop TB will align pooled procurement and market shaping strategies, demand forecasting, and continuous performance improvement activities…

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Belgium Announces Commitment to the Global Fund
15 June 2016
BRUSSELS – The Government of Belgium announced today a pledge of €19 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2016, a positive signal as the Global Fund prepares for a Replenishment conference later this year.
“Belgium has been an active partner of the Global Fund since its inception and it is very encouraging that they are maintaining their financial commitment with the Global Fund partnership,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “We look forward to continue our work in partnership so that together we can end the three diseases.”…

Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP) [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.alnap.org/

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[Undated]
National NGOs
One of the most striking findings of the State of the Humanitarian System (SOHS) 2015 report is that 4 out of 5 of the 4,480 humanitarian organisations are national NGOs working in country. These organisations have not only increased in numbers, but also in influence. There has been a growing recognition that national NGOs and civil society organisations should lead future humanitarian responses for them to be more relevant, timely and effective.

Although lots of research has addressed the need for an increased role for national NGOs in humanitarian response, the research, advocacy and evaluative pieces are commissioned and elaborated on from the perspective of international actors, primarily international NGOs.

In 2015 ALNAP embarked on new research into national and local NGOs to find out more about the work they do in disaster and emergency response, from their perspective. What are their priorities and commitments? What motivates and guides their decisions and activities? The project will seek to fill the current gap in understanding around what humanitarian action looks like in national NGOs’ own terms.

Through interviews with a wide range of organisations across the humanitarian sector – from DRR and WASH, to livelihoods and organisations of self-mobilised affected-people – in three countries with diverse needs and experiences (Colombia and Lebanon), this project will produce an in-depth qualitative study of the national and local NGO landscape.

To ensure this research will be truly reflecting the perceptions of the NNGOs, ALNAP will be pioneering the use of Grounded Theory in the humanitarian field. This approach is more exploratory and hypothesis generating, rather than other approaches that test, validate or refute pre-established assumptions or hypotheses…
Case Studies
:: Colombia: Learning from exposure
:: Lebanon: We know our wounds

Center for Global Development [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center

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6/14/16
Global Health, Aid and Corruption: Can We Escape the Scandal Cycle?
William Savedoff, Amanda Glassman, and Janeen Madan
Global health action has been remarkably successful at saving lives and preventing illness in many of the world’s poorest countries. This is a key reason that funding for global health initiatives has increased in the last twenty years. Nevertheless, financial support is periodically jeopardized when scandals erupt over allegations of corruption, sometimes halting health programs altogether.

ODI [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.odi.org/media
Research reports and studies | June 2016
Livelihood strategies of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia: ‘We want to live in dignity’
| Caitlin Wake and Tania Cheung
This study explores livelihoods strategies of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia from refugees’ own points of view, to improve understanding of refugee priorities and perspectives.

Measuring subjective household resilience: insights from Tanzania
Working and discussion papers | June 2016 | Lindsey Jones and Emma Samman
Could using a subjective approach to measuring household resilience be useful? This paper offers insights from a survey carried out in Tanzania.

The Methods Lab evaluation toolkit
Toolkits | June 2016
Our latest guidance and analysis on impact evaluation in complex development settings.

Projecting progress: The SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean
Research reports and studies | June 2016 | Susan Nicolai, Tanvi Bhatkal, Christopher Hoy and Thomas Aedy
This paper presents Latin America and the Caribbean’s (LAC) likely progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, if trends continue on their current traject

Earthquake science in DRR policy and practice in Nepal
Working and discussion papers | June 2016 | Katie Oven, David Milledge, Alexander Densmore, Harry Jones, Susanne Sargeant, Ajoy Datta
Nepal has a long history of destructive earthquakes – most recently in 2015. But despite recent advances, it’s unclear what role science plays in DRR in the country.

Clinton Foundation [to 18 June 2016]
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/press-releases-and-statements

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June 14, 2016
More Than 50 Commitments to Action Announced at Sixth Annual CGI America Meeting to Improve Lives of More Than 477,000 People in the United States
New commitments made by CGI America attendees include national efforts to expand summer book distribution; transform energy savings into college savings; and bolster access to financial services for low-income families…

MacArthur Foundation [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.macfound.org/

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Press release Published June 16, 2016
Pessimism About Prolonged Housing Affordability Crisis is On the Rise, 2016 How Housing Matters Survey Finds
Americans are losing faith that the housing crisis that began nearly a decade ago is over. A significant majority (81%) continues to believe that housing affordability is a problem in America today, according to a new survey of housing attitudes released today by MacArthur.

While stable, affordable housing is viewed as a fundamental component of economic security for American families, nearly seven in ten adults (68%) believe that it is more challenging to secure such housing today than it was for previous generations. Still, more than three in five adults (63%) believe a great deal or fair amount can be done to address problems of housing affordability, and the same proportion (63%) believes this issue has not yet received enough attention from presidential candidates.

“Too many Americans today believe the dream of a decent, stable home, and the prospects for social mobility, are receding,” said MacArthur President Julia Stasch. “Having a decent, stable, affordable home is about more than shelter: It is at the core of strong, vibrant, and healthy families and communities. This survey demonstrates that the public wants action to address the nation’s real and pervasive housing affordability challenges…

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation [to 18 June 2016]
https://www.moore.org/news

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June 16, 2016
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation names chief evaluation and learning officer
Palo Alto, Calif. – Debra Joy Pérez, Ph.D., joins the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation as chief evaluation and learning officer. In this newly expanded role, Pérez will work closely with the grantmaking teams to advance the organization’s work in science, environmental conservation, patient care and in the Bay Area.

“Our founders, Gordon and Betty Moore, ask that we apply a scientific approach to our grantmaking, which focuses us on defining measurable outcomes and understanding what does and does not work.” said Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D. “Debra brings important expertise in social science, performance measurement, research and evaluation, expanding our commitment to learning and evidence-based decision making.”…

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June 16, 2016
How does agriculture change our climate?
In collaboration with several partners and with support from the Moore Foundation, the team at University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment (IonE) just released a new report, “How Does Agriculture Change Our Climate?”, on the Food Matters website.

This web-based report illustrates the trends and sources of agricultural emissions, and highlights some of the solutions already in place, and its launch coincides with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) newly updated Ag GHG emissions database.

Contributing partners include: University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment (IonE); FAO; University of Aberdeen; CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS); Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); and others. You can learn more about the collaboration here.

Pew Charitable Trusts [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases

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Press Release June 15, 2016
Pew Applauds New Caribbean Shark Sanctuaries
Global Shark Conservation
Sharks are safer across the Caribbean Sea, with the announcement of four new shark sanctuaries in the region. Prime Minister William Marlin of St. Maarten and Wayne Panton, minister of financial services, commerce, and environment for the Cayman Islands, today announced that their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) are completely closed to commercial shark fishing…

Wellcome Trust [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2016/index.htm

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News 15 June 2016
Fisheries decline may increase malnutrition
A new analysis predicts that falling fish stocks could have serious health consequences for more than 10% of the world’s population.
For many people in low- and middle-income countries, fish is a crucial source of nutrients such as vitamin B12 and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. It is also rich in zinc, iron and vitamin A.

But fish stocks, which have been declining since the 20th century, are likely to shrink further in coming decades. This is due to a combination of damaging trends and practices, including:
:: destructive and illegal fishing
:: pollution
:: poor management
:: coastal development
:: climate change.

Christopher Golden and colleagues at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have calculated that this decline could leave:
:: 845 million people (11% of the global population) at risk of deficiencies in iron, vitamin A or zinc
:: 1.39 billion people (19% of the global population) vulnerable to deficiencies in vitamin B12 and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.
This would increase the risk of maternal and child mortality, and health problems such as cognitive deficits and reduced immune function…

The research is supported by Wellcome’s Our Planet, Our Health initiative.

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News 13 June 2016
Protecting mental health: call for Frontiers Innovators
We’re holding our next Frontiers meeting on 3-4 October this year. The topic is ‘Protecting Mental Health – acting early against anxiety and depression’.

Most mental health conditions are chronic. Over 75 per cent begin before the age of 24 and half begin by the age of 15.1
We’re interested in exploring whether there is more Wellcome can do to accelerate research in mental health, specifically for the prevention and early detection of anxiety and depression.

This Frontiers meeting is to help shape our strategy and how we work in this area. We want to:
:: define the research gaps and opportunities for building an evidence base for the prevention and early detection of depression and anxiety
:: identify what is needed to help translate this research into policy and health initiatives.
We’re inviting applications to attend the meeting from early-career researchers and professionals who want to become a Frontiers Innovator. You can work in academia, industry, education or any sector relevant to mental health.

Frontiers Innovators are a core part of our Frontiers meetings. We want you to share your experiences and knowledge, drive conversations and help devise fresh solutions with other innovators and experts in the field.
The deadline for applications is Monday 1 August 2016.
Find out more about why this subject is important to us and how to apply.

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News 13 June 2016
Doug Turnbull and Damon Buffini knighted
Doug Turnbull, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, and Damon Buffini, a Wellcome governor, have been awarded knighthoods in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

:: Journal Watch
The Sentinel will track key peer-reviewed journals which address a broad range of interests in human rights, humanitarian response, health and development. It is not intended to be exhaustive. We will add to those monitored below as we encounter relevant content and upon recommendation from readers. We selectively provide full text of abstracts and other content but note that successful access to some of the articles and other content may require subscription or other access arrangement unique to the publisher. Please suggest additional journals you feel warrant coverage.

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 18 June 2016)

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Research article
Insufficient access to oral paediatric medicines in Ghana: A descriptive study
Daniel N A Ankrah, Joseph T Turkson, Edith B Boateng, Frank T T Amegavie and Elizabeth Bruce
BMC Health Services Research 2016 16:198
Published on: 17 June 2016
Abstract
Background
Among the most vulnerable people in society are children and this is especially so in their access to health care Off-label prescription of paediatric medicines is known to be associated with safety outcomes some of which may be serious. This study identifies frequently prescribed children’s medicines that are not readily available in Ghana and are prepared extemporaneously.
Method
All prescriptions for extemporaneous oral preparations for children presented to the local production unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from November, 2013 were eligible for the study. Information from such prescriptions was recorded in a systematic format. Presence of the prescribed medicine on the World Health Organization Children’s Medicine List was ascertained in addition to the anatomical and therapeutic classification code. The registration of the prescribed medicine for paediatric use by the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana was also checked. Descriptive statistics of the data was presented.
Results
In all 622 prescriptions for 35 different paediatric formulations were served. Prescriptions from several health facilities including government hospitals (6.6 %, N=622), private hospitals (2.4 %, N=622) and the University of Ghana hospital (1.1 %, N=622) were all honoured. Some of the prescribed medicines (Baclofen, Clonazepam, Hydroxyurea and Lamotrigine) were neither on the World Health Organization Children’s Medicine list nor registered with the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana. Most prescribed medicines (88.6 %, N=35) were for non-communicable diseases.
Conclusion
Paediatric prescriptions including off-label medicines are prescribed and formulated extemporaneously in this setting. Steps should be taken to improve access and monitor benefit-risk profiles of paediatric medicines in order to improve treatment outcomes among children.

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 18 June 2016)

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Research article
The incidence, clearance and persistence of non-cervical human papillomavirus infections: a systematic review of the literature
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines were designed to prevent cervical cancer in women and their provision remains a major public health need. However, HPV is also a major cause of non-cervical anogenital and o…
Sylvia Taylor, Eveline Bunge, Marina Bakker and Xavier Castellsagué
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:293
Published on: 14 June 2016

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Research article
Changing distribution of age, clinical severity, and genotypes of rotavirus gastroenteritis in hospitalized children after the introduction of vaccination: a single center study in Seoul between 2011 and 2014
This study aimed to explore changes in clinical epidemiology and genotype distribution and their association among hospitalized children with rotavirus gastroenteritis after the introduction of vaccines.
Jung Ok Shim, Ju Young Chang, Sue Shin, Jin Soo Moon and Jae Sung Ko
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:287
Published on: 14 June 2016

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 18 June 2016)

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Research article
Steps toward improving ethical evaluation in health technology assessment: a proposed framework
While evaluation of ethical aspects in health technology assessment (HTA) has gained much attention during the past years, the integration of ethics in HTA practice still presents many challenges. In response …
Nazila Assasi, Jean-Eric Tarride, Daria O’Reilly and Lisa Schwartz
BMC Medical Ethics 2016 17:34
Published on: 6 June 2016

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Debate
Citizen science or scientific citizenship? Disentangling the uses of public engagement rhetoric in national research initiatives
The language of “participant-driven research,” “crowdsourcing” and “citizen science” is increasingly being used to encourage the public to become involved in research ventures as both subjects and scientists. …
J. Patrick Woolley, Michelle L. McGowan, Harriet J. A. Teare, Victoria Coathup, Jennifer R. Fishman, Richard A. Settersten, Sigrid Sterckx, Jane Kaye and Eric T. Juengst
BMC Medical Ethics 2016 17:33
Published on: 4 June 2016

BMC Medicine

(Accessed 18 June 2016)

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Research article
Maternal antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation for long-term health benefits in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Multiple micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women reduces low birth weight and has been recommended in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve child survival, growth and health.
Delan Devakumar, Caroline H. D. Fall, Harshpal Singh Sachdev, Barrie M. Margetts, Clive Osmond, Jonathan C. K. Wells, Anthony Costello and David Osrin
BMC Medicine 2016 14:90
Published on: 16 June 2016

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpregnancychildbirth/content
(Accessed 18 June 2016)

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Research article
The adequacy of antenatal care services among slum residents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
There are recent efforts made to eliminate inequalities in the utilisation of basic health care services. More emphasis is given for improvement of health in developing countries including maternal and child h…
Yibeltal T. Bayou, Yohana S. Mashalla and Gloria Thupayagale-Tshweneagae
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2016 16:142
Published on: 15 June 2016

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Research Article
Boosting antenatal care attendance and number of hospital deliveries among pregnant women in rural communities: a community initiative in Ghana based on mobile phones applications and portable ultrasound scans
The World Health Organization has recommended at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits and skilled attendants at birth. Most pregnant women in rural communities in low-income countries do not achieve the mini…
Benjamin Amoah, Evelyn A. Anto, Prince K. Osei, Kojo Pieterson and Alessandro Crimi
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2016 16:141
Published on: 14 June 2016

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 18 June 2016)

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Research article
Closing the gap in Australian Aboriginal infant immunisation rates – the development and review of a pre-call strategy
Improving timely immunisation is key to closing the inequitable gap in immunisation rates between Aboriginal children and non-Indigenous children. Aboriginal Immunisation Officers were employed in Hunter New E…
Patrick M. Cashman, Natalie A. Allan, Katrina K. Clark, Michelle T. Butler, Peter D. Massey and David N. Durrheim
BMC Public Health 2016 16:514
Published on: 16 June 2016

Conflict and Health
http://www.conflictandhealth.com/
[Accessed 18 June 2016]

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Research
Dangerous crossing: demographic and clinical features of rescued sea migrants seen in 2014 at an outpatient clinic at Augusta Harbor, Italy
Alessia Trovato, Anthony Reid, Kudakwashe C. Takarinda, Chiara Montaldo, Tom Decroo, Philip Owiti, Francesco Bongiorno and Stefano Di Carlo
Published on: 15 June 2016

Development Policy Review
July 2016 Volume 34, Issue 4 Pages 465–619
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dpr.2016.34.issue-4/issuetoc

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Original Article
Responses to global challenges: trends in aid-financed global public goods (pages 483–507)
Alessandra Cepparulo and Luisa Giuriato
Version of Record online: 9 JUN 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12163
Abstract
Based on four decades (1973–2013) of OECD-Development Assistance Committee aid to developing countries, this article aims to show aid-financed global public goods trends, their changing composition and their main drivers. In particular, a constant increase in the share of aid-financed global public goods and a shift towards weighted-sum and weakest-link global goods are observed. Economic conditions, imitation effects, global engagement and domestic spending result as the main drivers of donors’ demand for aid-financed global public goods. Besides, a certain complementarity in the provision of global goods plays a role, especially in European countries and Japan, partially easing the prognosis for the collective action problems related to global goods.

Food Policy
Volume 62, In Progress (July 2016)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03069192

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Original Research Article
Explaining the performance of contract farming in Ghana: The role of self-efficacy and social capital
Pages 11-27
David Wuepper, Johannes Sauer
Abstract
Self-efficacy is the belief of an individual to have the ability to be successful in a given domain. Social capital is the economic value of a person’s relationships. In the context of this study, self-efficacy is the belief of a farmer to be able to improve her income with contract farming, which increases her actual ability. Social capital increases the ability of the farmers through social support.
We surveyed 400 smallholder pineapple farmers and find that both self-efficacy and social capital are decisive for their successful integration into contract farming. To identify causal effects, we use two instruments, which are also of interest on their own: the historical presence of (1) cocoa cooperatives and (2) Christian missionary schools. During Ghana’s colonial period, the British established cocoa cooperatives, which differed in their performance as a function of biogeographic factors and thus persistently shaped the self-efficacy of the farmers. Roughly at the same time, Christian missionaries established missionary schools, which impacted the traditional societies so that social capital decreased. The finding that self-efficacy and social capital are still shaped by historic variables could indicate that these variables are only slowly changing, or that they only do so in the absence of policy intervention. The latter raises the possibility that effective policies could benefit from strong reinforcing feedbacks once self-efficacy and social capital improve.

Eurosurveillance
Volume 21, Issue 24, 16 June 2016
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/Public/Articles/Archives.aspx?PublicationId=11678

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Research Articles
Preparing to introduce the varicella vaccine into the Italian immunisation programme: varicella-related hospitalisations in Tuscany, 2004–2012
by S Boccalini, P Bonanni, A Bechini
Abstract
A universal immunisation programme against varicella in the form of the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine for toddlers aged 13–15 months was introduced in Tuscany in July 2008. An assessment of the impact of this programme on varicella-related hospitalisations 4 years after its introduction could further support its adoption at a national level. The hospitalisation data were analysed in two periods: pre-vaccination (2004–2007) and vaccination period (2009–2012). The high coverage of the vaccines (84% in 2012) resulted in a significant decline in notifications, from 33,114 (2004–2007) to 13,184 cases (2009–2012), and also of hospitalisations, from 584 (pre-vaccination period) to 325 (vaccination period). The hospitalisation rate was 4.1 per 100,000 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 3.4–4.7) before the introduction of vaccination, which dropped to 2.2 per 100,000 (95% CI: 1.7–2.7) in the vaccination period (hospitalisation risk ratios: 0.54; 95% CI:  0.472–0.619). The reduction was most significant in the youngest age groups. The introduction of universal vaccination has already led to a significant decline in hospitalisations due to varicella after just 4 years of implementation. Hospitalisation rates fell noticeably among younger individuals involved in the vaccination programme. The decrease in hospitalisation rate in the older age groups suggests a possible indirect protection.