The Lancet
May 17, 2014 Volume 383 Number 9930 p1693 – 1780
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Comment
Mandatory polio vaccination for travellers: protecting global public health
Paul D Rutter, Liam J Donaldson
Full Text
The goal of following smallpox eradication with another programme to eliminate a disease from the planet was too compelling to resist and, in 1988, the World Health Assembly set its sights on polio.1 26 years later, the dream is not yet a reality. On May 5, 2014, WHO issued strong recommendations that Pakistan, Syria, and Cameroon should ensure that their residents and long-term visitors have up-to-date vaccination against polio before they travel internationally, and that each individual is issued with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis as proof of this.

Beyond expectations: 40 years of EPI
Margaret Chan
Full Text

Use of vaccines as probes to define disease burden
Dr Daniel R Feikin MD a b, Prof J Anthony G Scott c d, Bradford D Gessner MD e
Summary
Vaccine probe studies have emerged in the past 15 years as a useful way to characterise disease. By contrast, traditional studies of vaccines focus on defining the vaccine effectiveness or efficacy. The underlying basis for the vaccine probe approach is that the difference in disease burden between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can be ascribed to the vaccine-specific pathogen. Vaccine probe studies can increase understanding of a vaccine’s public health value. For instance, even when a vaccine has a seemingly low efficacy, a high baseline disease incidence can lead to a large vaccine-preventable disease burden and thus that population-based vaccine introduction would be justified. So far, vaccines have been used as probes to characterise disease syndromes caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus, rotavirus, and early infant influenza. However, vaccine probe studies have enormous potential and could be used more widely in epidemiology, for example, to define the vaccine-preventable burden of malaria, typhoid, paediatric influenza, and dengue, and to identify causal interactions between different pathogens.

New England Journal of Medicine
May 15, 2014 Vol. 370 No. 20
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Perspective
Treating Hepatitis C in Lower-Income Countries
Channa R. Jayasekera, M.D., Michele Barry, M.D., Lewis R. Roberts, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., and Mindie H. Nguyen, M.D.
N Engl J Med 2014; 370:1869-1871May 15, 2014DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1400160
Excerpt
With costs that may exceed $90,000 per course, effective new hepatitis C treatments seem beyond the reach of low- and middle-income countries. But the global rollout of HIV treatment teaches us that it’s possible to make these agents broadly available and affordable.

Editorial
Advancing the Treatment for Chagas’ Disease
Pedro Albajar-Viñas, M.D., Ph.D., and João Carlos P. Dias, M.D.
N Engl J Med 2014; 370:1942-1943May 15, 2014DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe1403689
Excerpt
It is estimated that 8 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi worldwide, with the majority of cases occurring in the Latin American countries in which the parasite is endemic. However, cases of Chagas’ disease have been increasingly detected in the United States, Canada, many European countries, and some Western Pacific countries, owing primarily to an increase in population movements between Latin America and other continents. Moreover, some countries in which the parasite is not endemic have higher estimated numbers of cases than many endemic countries in Latin America (e.g., >300,000 cases in the United States and >50,000 in Spain). . . .

PLoS One
[Accessed 17 May 2014]
http://www.plosone.org/

A Randomized Trial of an Early Measles Vaccine at 4½ Months of Age in Guinea-Bissau: Sex-Differential Immunological Effects
Kristoffer Jarlov Jensen, Mia Søndergaard, Andreas Andersen, Erliyani Sartono, Cesario Martins, May-Lill Garly, Jesper Eugen-Olsen, Henrik Ullum, Maria Yazdanbakhsh, Peter Aaby, Christine Stabell Benn, Christian Erikstrup
Research Article | published 16 May 2014 | PLOS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.0097536
Abstract
Background
After measles vaccine (MV), all-cause mortality is reduced more than can be explained by the prevention of measles, especially in females.
Objective
We aimed to study the biological mechanisms underlying the observed non-specific and sex-differential effects of MV on mortality.
Methods
Within a large randomised trial of MV at 4.5 months of age blood samples were obtained before and six weeks after randomisation to early MV or no early MV. We measured concentrations of cytokines and soluble receptors from plasma (interleukin-1 receptor agonist (IL-1Ra), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor), and secreted cytokines (interferon-γ, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17) after in vitro challenge with innate agonists and recall antigens. We analysed the effect of MV in multiple imputation regression, overall and stratified by sex. The majority of the infants had previously been enrolled in a randomised trial of neonatal vitamin A. Post hoc we explored the potential effect modification by neonatal vitamin A.
Results
Overall, MV versus no MV was associated with higher plasma MCP-1 levels, but the effect was only significant among females. Additionally, MV was associated with increased plasma IL-1Ra. MV had significantly positive effects on plasma IL-1Ra and IL-8 levels in females, but not in males. These effects were strongest in vitamin A supplemented infants. Vitamin A shifted the effect of MV in a pro-inflammatory direction.
Conclusions
In this explorative study we found indications of sex-differential effects of MV on several of the plasma biomarkers investigated; in particular MV increased levels in females, most strongly in vitamin A recipients. The findings support that sex and micronutrient supplementation should be taken into account when analysing vaccine effects.
Trial Registration
clinicaltrials.gov number NCT 00168545

Women Have a Preference for Their Male Partner to Be HPV Vaccinated
Diane Medved Harper, Natalie Marya Alexander, Debra Ann Ahern, Johanna Claire Comes, Melissa Smith Smith, Melinda Ann Heutinck, Sandra Martin Handley
Research Article | published 14 May 2014 | PLOS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.0097119

PLOS Currents: Disasters
http://currents.plos.org/disasters/
[Accessed 17 May 2014]

Funding Based on Needs? A Study on the Use of Needs Assessment Data by a Major Humanitarian Health Assistance Donor in its Decisions to Allocate Funds
May 16, 2014 • Research article
Emma Olin, Johan von Schreeb
Abstract
Background: International humanitarian assistance is essential for disaster-affected populations, particularly in resource scarce settings. To target such assistance, needs assessments are required. According to internationally endorsed principles, donor governments should provide funding for humanitarian assistance based on need.
Aim: The aim of this study is to explore a major donor’s use of needs assessment data in decision-making for allocations of funds for health-related humanitarian assistance contributions.
Setting: This is a case study of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), a major and respected international donor of humanitarian assistance.
Methods: To explore Sida’s use of needs assessment data in practice for needs-based allocations, we reviewed all decision documents and assessment memoranda for humanitarian assistance contributions for 2012 using content analysis; this was followed by interviews with key personnel at Sida.
Results: Our document analysis found that needs assessment data was not systematically included in Sida’s assessment memoranda and decision documents. In the interviews, we observed various descriptions of the concept of needs assessments, the importance of contextual influences as well as previous collaborations with implementing humanitarian assistance organizations. Our findings indicate that policies guiding funding decisions on humanitarian assistance need to be matched with available needs assessment data and that terminologies and concepts have to be clearly defined.
Conclusion: Based on the document analysis and the interviews, it is unclear how well Sida used needs assessment data for decisions to allocate funds. However, although our observations show that needs assessments are seldom used in decision making, Sida’s use of needs assessments has improved compared to a previous study. To improve project funds allocations based on needs assessment data, it will be critical to develop distinct frameworks for allocation distributions based on needs assessment and clear definitions, measurements and interpretations of needs.

UN Chronicle
Vol. LI No. 1 2014 May 2014
http://unchronicle.un.org/

The 50th Anniversary of the Group of 77 at the UN
Issue 1, 2014 celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Group of 77 at the United Nations, with a focus on the negotiations leading to the 15 June 1964 signing of the “Joint Declaration of Seventy-Seven Countries”, as well as the Group of 77 role as a catalyst for international development.

Education as the Pathway towards Gender Equality
Azza Karam
Not being able to read or write is a significant barrier for underprivileged women, since this can lead to their failure to make use of even the rather limited rights they may legally have (to own land or other property, or to appeal against unfair judgment and unjust treatment).

Higher Learning Institutions and Global Citizen Education
Vera Jelinek and Jacques Fomerand
Through rigorous scholarship—fundamental or applied—universities are in a unique position to contribute to the search for more effective management and a resolution of such transborder problems as cybersecurity and terrorism, climate change, and cross border migration, to cite only a few.

Resilience: International Policies, Practices and Discourses
Volume 2, Issue 1, 2014
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/resi20/current#.U3im6SjDU1w

Resilience, rights and results in Swedish development cooperation
Ian Christoplosa
DOI: 10.1080/21693293.2014.914767
Abstract
Resilience is an amorphous concept for a development agency. This article, reflecting on the findings of a review of how resilience to natural hazards is addressed within Swedish development cooperation, looks at how resilience has been conceptualised and the implications of the emergence of attention to ‘resilience’ as both a new catchword and perhaps a new perspective on development. A key factor is the interplay of human rights and resilience goals in the relations between vulnerable people and duty bearers. In addition, the implications are considered of resilience in relation to the incentives and monitoring and evaluation frameworks that steer today’s results-based management systems for development cooperation. A conclusion is that resilience is a problematic concept in development cooperation, but may provide added value if it is tied to greater understanding of vulnerability, struggles over resources and recognition of the complexity and uncertainty of the development enterprise.

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment
Volume 5 issue 2 2014
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1759-5908&volume=5&issue=2

Stakeholder Management in Disaster Restoration Projects
Bassam Michael Baroudi, (University of South Australia), Randy Rapp, (Purdue University)
Abstract
Purpose – Disaster occurrences normally warrant substantial restoration and reconstruction efforts. This paper aims to identify stakeholder issues on disaster restoration projects from a contractor perspective. These projects involve the mitigation and repair of disaster affected buildings and structures.
Design/methodology/approach – This study is essentially exploratory in nature. It reviews relevant literature and then presents empirical research findings garnered from disaster restoration practitioners. A survey using a Likert rating scale method was used. The data was collected via an online questionnaire survey.
Findings – The results confirm that disaster restoration projects contain significant stakeholder issues and challenges. Furthermore, these can differ to conventional construction and the work of “first responders” to disaster situations. Hence, disaster restoration projects are seen as having their own unique identity.
Research limitations/implications – This paper has only set out to uncover stakeholder issues on disaster restoration projects. Future research that delves into the issues in greater depth would be useful.
Practical implications – Disaster restoration practitioners need to be aware of conflicting stakeholder interests. These need careful management so that stakeholder issues do not impact successful project outcomes. Hence, informing industry (and academia) on these issues carries significant importance.
Originality/value – Past research has tended to adopt macro perspectives on disaster preparedness, response and management. This research focuses on repairing and restoring disaster affected buildings and structures from a restoration industry standpoint. The findings should be useful to the global disaster restoration community and those in associated fields.

Some design aspects of sustainable post-disaster housing
Simon Tucker, (Cardiff University), Arosha Uppala Gamage, (University of Moratuwa), Chitral Wijeyesekera, (University of East London)
Abstract
Purpose – This paper discusses selected aspects of the design of post disaster housing building on current guidance in this area. We focus on the use of appropriate materials and technology to suit the climate and site and draw lessons from traditional housing types and settlement patterns.
Design/methodology/approach – A case study of a design project is used to illustrate an approach toward sustainable design. The approach is structured and could therefore fit into the wider structures and frameworks of providing such housing.
Findings – A design was generated that meets many of the desired environmental criteria. It was also found that important design resources are required by the design team not mentioned in the existing guidelines.
Research limitations/implications – A limitation of the paper is that the design is hypothetical and there has been no input from prospective inhabitants or other groups.
Practical implications – The design approach illustrated here may be of use to relief organizations working in the field, and also could be used to develop further awareness of sustainability. Organizations that provide for and coordinate post disaster construction could consider making further design resources available as part of a project.
Originality/value – The paper adds to discussion on the design of post disaster housing and supports the argument that such housing can help to support wider and longer term development.

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine
Vol. 233 (2014) No. 1 May p. 43-48
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/tjem/233/1/_contents

Regular Contribution
Awareness of Disaster Reduction Frameworks and Risk Perception of Natural Disaster: A Questionnaire Survey among Philippine and Indonesian Health Care Personnel and Public Health Students
Motoki Usuzawa1) 2), Elizabeth O. Telan3), Razel Kawano4), Carmela S. Dizon5), Bachti Alisjahbana6), Yugo Ashino7), Shinichi Egawa1), Manabu Fukumoto8), Takako Izumi9), Yuichi Ono9), Toshio Hattori1) 2) 7)
Division of Disaster Medicine, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University 2) International Post-Graduate Program in Human Security, Tohoku University 3) STD AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital 4) Graduate School Program in Public Health, Angeles University Foundation 5) Angeles University Foundation Graduate School 6) Health Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran 7) Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University 8) Department of Pathology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University 9) International and Regional Cooperation Office, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University
Published online May 09, 2014
Abstract
As the impacts of natural disasters have grown more severe, the importance of education for disaster medicine gains greater recognition. We launched a project to establish an international educational program for disaster medicine. In the present study, we surveyed medical personnel and medical/public health students in the Philippines (n = 45) and Indonesia (n = 67) for their awareness of the international frameworks related to disaster medicine: the Human Security (securing individual life and health), the Sphere Project (international humanitarian response), and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (international strategy for disaster reduction). In both countries, more than 50% responders were aware of human security, but only 2 to 12% were aware of the latter two. The survey also contained questions about the preferred subjects in prospective educational program, and risk perception on disaster and disaster-related infections. In the Philippines, significant disasters were geophysical (31.0%), hydrological (33.3%), or meteorological (24.8%), whereas in Indonesia, geophysical (63.0%) and hydrological (25.3%) were significant. Moreover, in the Philippines, leptospirosis (27.1%), dengue (18.6%), diarrhea (15.3%), and cholera (10.2%) were recognized common disaster-related infections. In Indonesia, diarrhea (22.0%) and respiratory infection (20.3%) are major disaster-related infections. Water-related infections were the major ones in both countries, but the profiles of risk perception were different (Pearson’s chi-square test, p = 1.469e-05). The responders tended to overestimate the risk of low probability and high consequence such as geophysical disaster. These results are helpful for the development of a postgraduate course for disaster medicine in Asia Pacific countries.

Environmental Modelling & Software
Volume 58, August 2014, In Progress
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13648152/58/supp/C

A cloud-based global flood disaster community cyber-infrastructure: Development and demonstration
Zhanming Wana, b, Yang Honga, b, Sadiq Khana, b, Jonathan Gourleyc, Zachary Flamigb, c,
Dalia Kirschbaumd, Guoqiang Tange
Highlights
:: We elaborate the global flood disaster community cyber-infrastructure (CyberFlood).
:: Cloud-based service is integrated to provide map and statistic visualization.
:: A crowdsourcing methodology is employed to enable the public to report flood events.
:: This CyberFlood presents an opportunity to modernize the way of managing flood data.
Abstract
Flood disasters have significant impacts on the development of communities globally. This study describes a public cloud-based flood cyber-infrastructure (CyberFlood) that collects, organizes, visualizes, and manages several global flood databases for authorities and the public in real-time, providing location-based eventful visualization as well as statistical analysis and graphing capabilities. In order to expand and update the existing flood inventory, a crowdsourcing data collection methodology is employed for the public with smartphones or Internet to report new flood events, which is also intended to engage citizen-scientists so that they may become motivated and educated about the latest developments in satellite remote sensing and hydrologic modeling technologies. Our shared vision is to better serve the global water community with comprehensive flood information, aided by the state-of-the-art cloud computing and crowd-sourcing technology. The CyberFlood presents an opportunity to eventually modernize the existing paradigm used to collect, manage, analyze, and visualize water-related disasters.

International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology
Volume 21, Issue 3, 2014
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tsdw20/21/3#.U3inuijDU1w

Special Issue: Managing Organizations for Sustainable Development in Emerging Countries
Managing organizations for sustainable development in emerging countries: an introduction
Angappa Gunasekarana, Charbel José Chiappetta Jabbourb* & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbourb
DOI: 10.1080/13504509.2014.915439
pages 195-197
Abstract
This introduction article is for the special issue ‘Managing organizations for sustainable development in emerging countries: natural resources, biodiversity, and climate change’ in the International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology and presents an introduction to the topics and summarizes accepted contributions in the special issue. The accepted works may contribute with organizational management in the search for more sustainable organizations. The works focus on the challenges of managing organizations in a context of degradation of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. Accepted papers discuss these issues, based on the reality of emerging economies (e.g. Brazil, India, and China).

Infectious Agents and Cancer
http://www.infectagentscancer.com/content
[Accessed 17 May 2014]

Review
Human papillomavirus genotypes in cervical cancer and vaccination challenges in Zimbabwe
Nyasha Chin¿ombe, Natasha L Sebata, Vurayai Ruhanya and Hilda T Matarira
Abstract (provisional)
Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in women in Zimbabwe. This is mainly due to the high prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in the population. So far, few studies have been done that showed the presence of high-risk genital HPV genotypes such as 16, 18, 31, 33, 52, 58 and 70 in Zimbabwean women with cervical cancer. The prevalence of HPV DNA in women with cervical cancer has been shown to range from 63% to 98%. The high-risk HPV 16, 18, 31, 33 and 58 were the most common genotypes in all the studies. The introduction of the new HPV vaccines, HPV2 and HPV4, which protect against HPV genotypes 16 and 18 into Zimbabwe is likely to go a long way in reducing deaths due to cervical cancer. However, there are few challenges to the introduction of the vaccines. The target population for HPV vaccination is at the moment not well-defined. The other challenge is that the current HPV vaccines confer only type-specific (HPV 16 and 18) immunity leaving a small proportion of Zimbabwean women unprotected against other high-risk HPV genotypes such as 31, 33 and 58. Future HPV vaccines such as the nanovalent vaccine will be more useful to Zimbabwe as they will protect women against more genotypes.

WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee declares polio as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
5 May 2014
[Editor’s extract and bolded text]
The Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] met by teleconference on Monday 28 April 2014 and Tuesday 29 April 2014. The following affected States Parties participated in the informational session of the meeting on Monday 28 April 2014: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and the Syrian Arab Republic…
… After discussion and deliberation on the information provided, and in the context of the global polio eradication initiative, the Committee advised that the international spread of polio to date in 2014 constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States for which a coordinated international response is essential. The current situation stands in stark contrast to the near-cessation of international spread of wild poliovirus from January 2012 through the 2013 low transmission season for this disease (i.e. January to April). If unchecked, this situation could result in failure to eradicate globally one of the world’s most serious vaccine preventable diseases. It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.
A series of recommendations were issued to curb further spread of the poliovirus for “States currently exporting wild poliovirus” (with Pakistan, Cameroon, and the Syrian Arab Republic named), and States infected with wild poliovirus but not currently exporting (with Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Somalia and Nigeria named). Among the recommendations are aggressive new efforts for immunization and imposition of certain travel-related controls which involve polio immunization and requirements for documentation of immunization. The full statement is here.

Editorials on the declaration from major newspapers include:
:: The Guardian http://www.guardiannews.com/
Outbreaks of disease and war: polio’s history with conflict
The World Health Organization has declared polio as a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern; in the past Polio eradication brought warring nations together –
might it do so again now?
:: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/
The Global Polio Threat, Back Again
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
:: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/
What’s behind the WHO’s emergency declaration on the spread of wild polio
By Editorial Board, Published: May 8

Report: Progress on drinking water and sanitation – Joint Monitoring Programme update
WHO/UNICEF
May 2014 78 pages
ISBN: 978 92 4 150724 0
Overview
Even though progress towards the MDG target represents important gains in access for billions of people around the world, it has been uneven. Sharp geographic, sociocultural and economic inequalities in access persist and sometimes have increased. This report presents examples of unequal progress among marginalized and vulnerable groups.
Section 1 presents the status of and trends in access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation. Section 2 provides a snapshot of inequalities in access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation. Section 3 presents efforts to strengthen monitoring of access to safe drinking water and sanitation services under a post-2015 development agenda, as well as the challenges associated with these efforts.
Related links
:: Note for media: WHO highlights the need to further reduce gaps in access to improved drinking water and sanitation
:: Topic: Water supply and sanitation monitoring

Africa Progress Report 2014: Grain, Fish, Money – Financing Africa’s Green and Blue Revolutions
Africa Progress Panel
April 2014
[Chaired by Kofi Annan, the ten-member Africa Progress Panel advocates at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa]
Overview
Africa is a rich continent. Some of those riches – especially oil, gas and minerals – have driven rapid economic growth over the past decade. The ultimate measure of progress, however, is the wellbeing of people – and Africa’s recent growth has not done nearly as much as it should to reduce poverty and hunger, or improve health and education.
To sustain growth that improves the lives of all Africans, the continent needs an economic transformation that taps into Africa’s other riches: its fertile land, its extensive fisheries and forests, and the energy and ingenuity of its people. The Africa Progress Report 2014 describes what such a transformation would look like, and how Africa can get there.
Agriculture must be at the heart that transformation. Most Africans, including the vast majority of Africa’s poor, continue to live and work in rural areas, principally as smallholder farmers. In the absence of a flourishing agricultural sector, the majority of Africans will be cut adrift from the rising tide of prosperity.
To achieve such a transformation, Africa will need to overcome three major obstacles: a lack of access to formal financial services, the weakness of the continent’s infrastructure and the lack of funds for public investment. The Africa Progress Report 2014 describes how African governments and their international partners can cooperate to remove those obstacles – and enable all Africans to benefit from their continent’s extraordinary wealth.

Survey Report: Public Health a Major Priority in African Nations
Improving Hospitals, Dealing with HIV/AIDS are Top Issues
Pew Research: Global Attitudes Project
May 1, 2014 10 pages
[This report examines public opinion in Africa on health priorities. It is based on 5,043 face-to-face interviews with adults 18 and older, between March 6, 2013 and April 12, 2013 in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.]
Excerpt
Concerns about public health are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, and there is considerable support in the region for making public health challenges a top national priority. In particular, people want their governments to improve the quality of hospitals and other health care facilities and deal with the problem of HIV/AIDS.
A Pew Research Center survey, conducted March 6, 2013 to April 12, 2013 in six African nations, also finds broad support for government efforts to address access to drinking water, access to prenatal care, hunger, infectious diseases, and child immunization.
A median of 76% across six countries surveyed say building and improving hospitals and other health care facilities should be one of the most important priorities for their national government. The percentage of the public who holds this view ranges from 85% in Ghana to 64% in Nigeria.
Similarly, a median of 76% believe preventing and treating HIV/AIDS should be one of government’s most important priorities, ranging from 81% in Ghana to 59% in Nigeria.
A median of at least 65% also say the other issues included on the poll — ranging from access to drinking water to increased child immunization — should be among the most important priorities. In fact, majorities hold this view about all seven issues in all six nations…
Complete Report: http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2014/04/Pew-Research-Center-Public-Health-in-Africa-Report-FINAL-MAY-1-2014.pdf

Preliminary Benefit-Cost Assessment for 11th Session OWG Goals
Copenhagen Consensus Center
2 May 2014 45 pages
Full pdf: http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/sites/default/files/final_un_ccc_2015.pdf
Excerpt from Overview
In a world of limited resources, we can’t do everything, so which goals should we prioritize? The Copenhagen Consensus Center provides information on which targets will do the most social good (measured in dollars, but also incorporating e.g. welfare, health and environmental protection), relative to their costs. Some of the world’s top economists have assessed the targets from the 11th session Open Working Group document into one of five categories, based on economic evidence:
:: PHENOMENAL – Robust evidence for benefits more than 15 times higher than costs
:: GOOD – Robust evidence of benefits between 5 to 15 times higher than costs
:: FAIR – Robust evidence of benefits between 1 to 5 times higher than costs
:: POOR – The benefits are smaller than costs or target poorly specified (e.g. internally inconsistent, incentivizes wrong activity)
:: UNCERTAIN – There is not enough knowledge of the policy options that could reach the target OR the costs and benefits of the actions to reach the target are not well known
This document was put together over two weeks after the draft of the targets for consideration of the 11th session of the OWG were released on Friday 18 April 2014. Given the short turnaround, the assessments should be considered preliminary, and much nuance explaining the rationales has been omitted. Nevertheless, we hope that the assessments are informative and will help focus the Open Working Group on the targets that will yield the most social benefit relative to cost. The decision on choosing goals will rest on a number of factors, not just economics – but knowing the costs and benefits provides an important piece of information. The Copenhagen Consensus will present full, peer-reviewed economic evidence over the coming half year.

Research: Boosting Resilience through Innovative Risk Governance
Preliminary version
OECD
05 May 2014 148 pages
ISBN : 9789264209114 (PDF) ; 9789264209107 (print) DOI :10.1787/9789264209114-en READ
From media release/content page
Report calls for fundamental shift in risk governance to boost resilience against large-scale disasters
Large-scale natural and human-induced disasters have generated over USD 1.5 trillion in economic damages over the last decade in OECD and BRIC countries. Single events have exceeded damages worth 20% of annual GDP. Resilience of OECD countries is particularly challenged during times of economic downturns, above all in countries that rely on state budgets for post-disaster loss financing.
A shift in risk governance is required as governance obstacles hamper the effectiveness of current risk reduction investments. The report urges governments to address widespread disincentives that persist for governmental and also non-governmental risk management actors, leading to an over-reliance on the government for post-disaster risk financing.
Abstract
This report examines what countries have achieved in terms of strengthening resilience through better risk management and identifies persisting challenges. It focuses on the importance of creating an institutional environment that engages all stakeholders and allows them to build resilience against future shocks. This report has contributed to the development of the OECD Recommendation on the Governance of Critical Risks

Media Release: Global Fund and Munich Re in Risk Management Partnership
Full text
09 May 2014 GENEVA – The Global Fund is further strengthening risk management in health programs that it supports worldwide, under an agreement signed with Munich Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurers. The partnership provides for the German company to contribute know-how in areas such as supply chain optimization, which can enhance program effectiveness when fighting the three diseases.

“This is a great new partnership,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “We are very encouraged that leading companies like Munich Re are engaging in the response to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and that we can draw on their knowledge to improve the effectiveness of the programs that we support.”

Munich Re, a reinsurance company based in Munich, will contribute risk management and insurance expertise to help implementers of programs supported by the Global Fund to identify and effectively manage risks through appropriate solutions.

The initiative launched today will focus on identifying risks in the Global Fund’s supply chain linked to procurement initiatives that are already in place. Munich Re will also give advice and propose risk management solutions that can maximize effectiveness in program implementation. In addition, it will identify solutions to improve the lives of vulnerable populations.

The project will target countries with a potential for high impact according to Global Fund criteria: countries with limited infrastructure or reduced grant absorption capacity, and countries where introducing optimization and risk management solutions can make a difference to the effectiveness of grants awarded.

Private sector engagement plays a key role by providing additional financial resources and in-kind contributions to support national disease strategic plans in implementing countries. Private companies and foundations have to date contributed approximately 5 percent of the funding provided to the Global Fund.

Amref Health Africa [to 10 May 2014]

Amref Health Africa @AMREF_Worldwide May 5
Current rate of increase in no. of midwives in Africa will take 29yrs to reach WHO recommended no. of 2.28 per 1000 population in Africa

Amref Health Africa @AMREF_Worldwide May 4
@AMREF_Worldwide salutes #midwives as we celebrate #IDM2014. Txs 4 saving the lives of millions of #pregnant women & babies

Aravind Eye Care System [to 10 May 2014]

AravindEyeFdtn @AravindEye May 6
82% of #Aravind #cataract patients spend less than 5 hours in the hospital. #ARVO2014