Norwegian Refugee Council [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.nrc.no/

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(11.03.2016)
Five years of war in Syria
World powers must safeguard hope not fan the flames
The fifth year of the Syria conflict was the worst yet for people as warring parties have continued to wreak havoc, increasingly blocked aid and placed more communities under siege.

Russia, the United States, France and the United Kingdom must now safeguard the glimmer of hope that the ceasefire has brought to civilians, rather than “adding fuel to the fire”, warn 30 aid agencies in a new report.

These four countries – all members of the UN Security Council and the International Syria Support Group – could be key players in helping end the suffering in Syria. Instead they have to varying degrees undermined their own resolutions through inadequate diplomatic pressure, political and military support to their allies or direct military action.

The report, Fuelling the Fire, catalogues the deteriorating conditions in Syria, as the country plunged into further chaos and fragmentation. It has been signed by 30 humanitarian and human rights organisations including Oxfam, Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, and Syrian organisations – The Syrian-American Medical Society (SAMS), Big Heart, and Syria Relief and Development…

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

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09.03.2016
For SOS Children’s Villages nurse, a night shift like no other
Ljupka Pavlovic will never forget the night of Friday, 12 February, when she was working the night shift at a Child Friendly Space for refugees operated by SOS Children’s Villages. The nurse was there just in time to help deliver a baby.

08.03.2016
Voting opens for SOS Children’s Villages exceptional alumni award
Voting is now open to the public for the 2016 Hermann Gmeiner Award. Meet the nominees and cast your vote

07.03.2016
Sweden’s Akelius Foundation donates €10.7 million for refugee response
Swedish philanthropist Roger Akelius has donated 100 million Swedish krona, or €10.7 million, to SOS Children’s Villages Sweden to assist thousands of vulnerable children affected by the refugee crisis in Europe and the Middle East.

Tostan [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.tostan.org/latest-news

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March 11, 2016
Celebrating International Women’s Day in Solidarity with Detainees in Rufisque
On March 8th, I visited a women’s prison in Rufisque, Senegal to celebrate International Women’s Day with Tostan’s Prison Project.

CONCORD [to 12 March 2016]
http://concordeurope.org/news-and-events/
[European NGO confederation for relief and development]

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Deconstructing 10 myths about migration and development – publication
Mar 9, 2016 | Migration and development, Publications
The FORIM, ICMC together with CONCORD launch a series of publications named the “10 myths about migration”. The publications aim to deconstruct the stereotypes and prejudices around migration and development issues.

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Encouraging results for the European Year for Development, according to recent EuroBarometer
Mar 7, 2016 | Development Cooperation, Effective Civil Society, Newsroom
Our board members Marius Wanders and Johannes Trimmel attended on February 29th the launch seminar of the ‘EuroBarometer 441′ about the European Year for Development 2015. The conference organised by the European Commission revealed the results of the year as well as the perception of European citizens on development issues.

The Elders [to 12 March 2016]
http://theelders.org/news-media

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Opinion 6 March 2016
Gender equality and climate change: the vital link for success beyond Paris
From assessing the “people-centred” COP21 Paris Agreement and how those on the frontlines can help the world in tackling climate change, to ensuring that women are empowered to make their voices heard, Mary Robinson marks International Women’s Day by highlighting the link between gender equality and climate justice.

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Guest blog Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner 6 March 2016
Rising sea levels: “Our islands will one day be wiped off the map: what will happen to our women?”
Climate activist and poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner marks International Women’s Day by celebrating the strength and resilience of Marshall Islands’ women and highlights the importance of including women in tackling climate change.

Gavi [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

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09 March 2016
Pakistan progressing on immunisation efforts
High level mission praises country’s efforts and calls for increased commitment to reach every child

Islamabad, 9 March 2016 – Pakistan is making progress in improving its childhood immunisation programme, but sustained commitment at federal and provincial level is required to increase the coverage of services and reach children who today miss out on life-saving vaccines.

More than 1,000 Pakistani children under the age of five die every day, many of them from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines. According to WHO and UNICEF estimates, Pakistan’s coverage rate with one of the most basic vaccines (DTP3) stood at 73% in 2014 with large variations between the provinces, districts and communities. The most recent Pakistan Demographic Health Survey, from 2013, showed Punjab had 76% coverage while in Baluchistan the figure was just 27%.

This week, a high level mission to Pakistan was led by Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, together with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK’s Department for International Development, USAID, the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNICEF and WHO. The visit was a follow up to a similar mission conducted in February 2015. The delegation visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to see the progress made in the last 12 months, understand the challenges that lie ahead, and encourage leaders to reinforce their commitment to end childhood vaccine preventable deaths.

“I have been deeply encouraged by much of what I have seen during this visit,” said Ms Gupta. “Coordination at federal and provincial level has clearly improved and I have seen for myself some of the innovative work at local level to reach children with vaccines. This week’s approval of the budget for the new provincial plans, which will kick-start the National Immunisation Support Project, is welcome news as it paves the way for intensified action on routine immunisation. Timely release of funding at all levels will be a critical next step.”

Among the initiatives witnessed by the mission was a recently-expanded approach using mobile phone technology and real-time data to monitor vaccinators, identify children missing out on vaccinations, and strengthen accountability. In Punjab this has significantly increased immunisation coverage. Similar approaches are now being initiated in KP and Sindh….

Global Fund [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News
Removing Human Rights Barriers to End the HIV Epidemic
11 March 2016
GENEVA – The Global Fund made a strong appeal to address human rights issues as a key component of efforts to end epidemics such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria..
[See Week in Review above for more detail]

Better Education Will Mean Better Health for Young Women & Girls
By Julia Gillard
in Voices on 07 March 2016

Hilton Prize Coalition [to 12 March 2016]
http://prizecoalition.charity.org/
An Alliance of Hilton Prize Recipients

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Empowering Women through Collaboration
Posted March 11, 2016 ·
International Women’s Day, inaugurated in the early 1900s, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s theme, #PledgeforParity, stems from the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Global Gender Gap Report, which states that the gender gap won’t close entirely until the year 2133. International Women’s Day has grown into a movement (#IWD2016) that brings men and women together annually on March 8th to discuss women’s achievements and the progress that still needs to be made.

Below we highlight three of the Hilton Prize Coalition member organizations working to advance women’s rights through their programs and partnerships around the world [Amref Health Africa, BRAC, Landesa]…

Center for Global Development [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Selected Press Releases, Blog Posts, Publications

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Anti-Corruption Strategies in Foreign Aid: From Controls to Results
3/7/16
William Savedoff
Corruption is an obstacle to social and economic progress in developing countries yet we still know very little about the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts and their impact on development impact. This essay looks at 25 years of efforts by foreign aid agencies to combat corruption and proposes a new strategy which could leverage existing approaches by directly incorporating information on development results.

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Do the Results Match the Rhetoric? An Examination of World Bank Gender Projects
3/7/16
Charles Kenny and Megan O’Donnell
This paper seeks to determine the degree to which a gender lens has been incorporated into World Bank projects and the success of individual projects according to gender equality-related indicators.

World Economic Forum [to 12 March 2016]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/

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News 8 Mar 2016
Helping Africa to Unleash its Digital Potential
:: High-level meeting held in Morocco to discuss ways to develop Africa’s digital economy
:: Access to internet, skill development and lower hurdles for entrepreneurship seen as key
:: Future meetings to boost Africa’s digital economy to be held in Mombasa, Kenya, and Kigali, Rwanda

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/news

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Our News
A Tribute to William H. Foege, M.D., M.P.H.
March 10, 2016
After eight years of service, William H. Foege, M.D., M.P.H., has retired from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation board of directors. Dr. Foege previously served for seven years on the prestigious international jury of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest humanitarian award.

Dr. Foege is a world renowned epidemiologist who worked in the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. Dr. Foege became Chief of the CDC Smallpox Eradication Program and was appointed Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in 1977.

In 1984, Dr. Foege and several colleagues formed the Task Force for Child Survival, a working group for the World Health Organization, UNICEF, The World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Its success in accelerating childhood immunization led to an expansion of its mandate in 1991 to include other issues which diminish the quality of life for children.

Dr. Foege has championed many issues, but child survival and development, injury prevention, population, preventive medicine, and public health leadership are of special interest, particularly in the developing world. He is a strong proponent of disease eradication and control, and has taken an active role in the eradication of Guinea worm, polio and measles, and the elimination of River Blindness. By writing and lecturing extensively, Dr. Foege has succeeded in broadening public awareness of these issues and bringing them to the forefront of domestic and international health policies.

Dr. Foege received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, in addition to many other awards during the course of his career. He also holds honorary degrees from numerous institutions, and was named a Fellow of the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 1997. He is the author of more than 125 professional publications.

It is with profound gratitude that we thank Dr. Foege for his exemplary service on the Hilton Foundation board. We were fortunate to benefit from both his broad vision of life as well as his deep knowledge of the health field. His personal style motivated others to want to engage and explore issues further. While we are sad to be losing an influential and prominent member of our board, we remain grateful that Dr. Foege raised the bar of our deliberations. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Steven M. Hilton
Chairman of the Board
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

MacArthur Foundation [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.macfound.org/

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Publication
Assessing the Impacts of State Immigration Policies
Published March 9, 2016
Nearly all states have implemented immigration-related reform in the past 15 years, according to a report by the RAND Corporation, a MacArthur grantee. The report takes stock of states’ immigration legislation – ranging from employment on unauthorized immigrants to making drivers licenses available regardless of immigration status – and provides a cost-benefit framework to help policymakers assess the impacts of those policies.

Pew Charitable Trusts [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases

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Press Release
Pew: Major Deficiencies in Monitoring of Chemical Residues in Meat, Poultry
March 08, 2016 Safe Food Project
WASHINGTON—A federal program meant to protect consumers from tainted meat, poultry, and egg products needs greater scientific rigor and transparency, according to a report from The Pew Charitable Trusts released today. The analysis shows that the National Residue Program (NRP) does not routinely test for several compounds, such as dioxins and certain heavy metals, that are widely recognized as posing a significant public health risk. The analysis also finds that the NRP lacks clear processes for incorporating new research and responding to emerging contamination threats.

The report, The National Residue Program for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products: An Evaluation, details how the program selects the drugs, pesticides, and environmental contaminants to monitor and how it documents the results of its sampling and testing…

Rockefeller Foundation [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/newsroom

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March 8, 2016
The Rockefeller Foundation and OMC Power Reach a US$4.5 Million Deal to Finance 100 mini-grids in Rural India
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES/DELHI, INDIA—The Rockefeller Foundation and OMC Power have reached a US$4.5 million deal to finance OMC Power’s construction and retrofitting of 100 solar power plants with mini-grids, in rural Uttar Pradesh…

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/news-releases.html

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March 11, 2016
RWJF Launches Leadership Development Programs
RWJF has launched four new leadership development programs that engage people who work across a variety of sectors to challenge the status quo and build a Culture of Health in the United States.

March 11, 2016
Statement from RWJF on CVS Health’s Anti-Tobacco Campaign
RWJF commends CVS Health for its decision to spend $50 million over the next five years to help create a tobacco-free nation.

March 10, 2016
RWJF Statement on the Passing of Ralph Larsen, Former Foundation Trustee
RWJF mourns Ralph Larsen, former Foundation Trustee and Former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Johnson and Johnson who died on March 9, 2016, in Florida. He was 77 years old.

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 12 March 2016)

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Research article
Scoping review of complexity theory in health services research
There are calls for better application of theory in health services research. Research exploring knowledge translation and interprofessional collaboration are two examples, and in both areas, complexity theory…
David S. Thompson, Xavier Fazio, Erika Kustra, Linda Patrick and Darren Stanley
BMC Health Services Research 2016 16:87
Published on: 12 March 2016

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 12 March 2016)

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Review
Does tuberculosis threaten our ageing populations?
The global population is ageing quickly and our understanding of age-related changes in the immune system suggest that the elderly will have less immunological protection from active tuberculosis (TB).
Rachel Byng-Maddick and Mahdad Noursadeghi
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:119
Published on: 11 March 2016

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Study protocol
Clinical evaluation of dengue and identification of risk factors for severe disease: protocol for a multicentre study in 8 countries
The burden of dengue continues to increase globally, with an estimated 100 million clinically apparent infections occurring each year…
Thomas Jaenisch, Dong Thi Hoai Tam, Nguyen Tan Thanh Kieu, Tran Van Ngoc, Nguyen Tran Nam, Nguyen Van Kinh, Sophie Yacoub, Ngoun Chanpheaktra, Varun Kumar, Lucy Lum Chai See, Jameela Sathar, Ernesto Pleités Sandoval, Gabriela Maria Marón Alfaro, Ida Safitri Laksono, Yodi Mahendradhata, Malabika Sarker…
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:120
Published on: 11 March 2016

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpregnancychildbirth/content
(Accessed 12 March 2016)

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Debate
Millennium development Goal 5: progress and challenges in reducing maternal deaths in Ghana
Minerva Kyei-Nimakoh, Mary Carolan-Olah and Terence V. McCann
Published on: 9 March 2016

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Research article
Factors influencing women’s preference for health facility deliveries in Jharkhand state, India: a cross sectional analysis
Sanghita Bhattacharyya, Aradhana Srivastava, Reetabrata Roy and Bilal I. Avan
Published on: 7 March 2016

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 12 March 2016)

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Research article
A survey of the governance capacity of national public health associations to enhance population health
James Chauvin, Mahesh Shukla, James Rice and Laetitia Rispel
BMC Public Health 2016 16:251
Published on: 11 March 2016
Abstract
Background
National public health associations (PHAs) are key partners with governments and communities to improve, protect and promote the public’s health. Governance and organizational capacity are among the key determinants of a PHA’s effectiveness as an advocate for appropriate public health policies and practice.
Methods
During 2014, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) conducted an on-line survey of its 82 PHA members, to identify the state of organizational governance of national public health associations, as well as the factors that influence optimal organizational governance. The survey consisted of 13 questions and focused on the main elements of organizational governance: cultivating accountability; engaging stakeholders; setting shared direction; stewarding resources; and, continuous governance enhancement. Four questions included a qualitative open-ended response for additional comments. The survey data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis
Results
Responses were received from 62 PHAs, constituting a 75.6 % response rate. The two most important factors that support governance effectiveness were a high degree of integrity and ethical behavior of the PHA’s leaders (77 %) and the competence of people serving on the PHA’s governing body (76 %). The lack of financial resources was considered as the most important factor that negatively affected organizational governance effectiveness (73 %). The lack of mentoring for future PHA leaders; ineffective or incompetent leadership; lack of understanding about good governance practices; and lack of accurate information for strategic planning were identified as factors influencing PHA governance effectiveness. Critical elements for PHA sustainability included diversity, gender-responsiveness and inclusive governance practices, and strategies to build the future generation of public health leaders.
Conclusion
National PHA have a responsibility to put into place the practices and infrastructure that enhance organizational governance. This will enhance their ability to be effective advocates for policies and practices that enhance, protect and promote the public’s health. The WFPHA has an important role to play in providing the technical assistance and financial resources to assist PHAs in attaining and sustaining a higher level of governance capacity.

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Research article
Integrating acute malnutrition interventions into national health systems: lessons from Niger
Since 2007, integrated care of acute malnutrition has been promoted in Niger, a country affected by high burden of disease. This policy change aimed at strengthening capacity and ownership to manage the condition…
Hedwig Deconinck, Mahaman Hallarou, Bart Criel, Philippe Donnen and Jean Macq
BMC Public Health 2016 16:249
Published on: 10 March 2016

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Research article
Influence of internal migration on reproductive health in Myanmar: results from a recent cross-sectional survey
Maternal and reproductive health remains a significant public health issue in Myanmar. Little data exists on women’s health issues, including social and demographic influences.
May Sudhinaraset, Nadia Diamond-Smith, May Me Thet and Tin Aung
BMC Public Health 2016 16:246
Published on: 9 March 2016

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Research article
Maternal knowledge, outcome expectancies and normative beliefs as determinants of cessation of exclusive breastfeeding: a cross-sectional study in rural Kenya
Despite the importance of multiple psychosocial factors on nutrition-related behavior, very few studies have explored beyond the role of mothers’ knowledge and perception of child-focused outcomes on the duration…
Constance A. Gewa and Joan Chepkemboi
BMC Public Health 2016 16:243
Published on: 9 March 2016

Conflict and Health
http://www.conflictandhealth.com/
[Accessed 12 March 2016]

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Research
Retrospective analysis of reproductive health indicators in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees post-emergency camps 2007–2013
Jennifer Whitmill, Curtis Blanton, Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy, Nadine Cornier, Marian Schilperood, Paul Spiegel and Barbara Tomczyk
Published on: 9 March 2016
Abstract
Background
The United Nations Refugee Agency’s Health Information System issues analytical reports on the current camp conditions and trends for priority reproductive health issues. The goal was to assess the status of reproductive health by analyzing seven indicators and comparing them to standards and host country estimates.
Methods
Data on seven indicators were extracted from the database during a seven-year period (2007 through 2013). A standardized country inclusion criterion was created based on the year of country implementation and the percentage of missing reports per camp and year. The unit of analysis was monthly camp reports by year within a country. To account for the lack of independence of monthly camp reports, the variance was computed using Taylor Series Linearization methods in SAS.
Results
Ten of the 23 eligible countries met the inclusion criterion. The mean camp maternal and neonatal mortality rates, except for two country years, were lower than the host country estimates for all countries and years. There was a significant increase in the percent of births attended by a skilled birth attendant (p <0.0001), and 8 of 10 countries did not meet the standard of 100 % for all reporting years. The percent of births performed by Caesarian section (p<0.001), were below the recommended minimum standard for nearly half of the countries every year. There was a significant increase in the percent of women screened for syphilis across years (p<0.0001) and the percent of women who received post HIV exposure prophylaxis (p<0.0001) and 10 % reached the standard for all reporting years, respectively.
Conclusion
Comprehensive, consistent and comparable statistics on reproductive health provides an opportunity to assess progress towards indicator standards. Despite some improvements over time, this analysis confirms that most countries did not meet standards and that there were differences in reproductive health indicators between countries and across years. Consequently, the HIS periodic monitoring of key reproductive health indicators at the camp level should continue. Data should be used to improve intervention strategies.