The commitment to health by country governments in the developing world has grown dramatically over the last two decades, according to a new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington and Harvard Medical School.
Overall domestic government spending on health doubled in low-income countries over 12 years to reach $18 billion in 2006, the study shows. That is three times as much as the amount of development assistance for health the governments received.
"The fact that governments are committing more of their own resources to health is crucial," said Dr. Christopher Murray, IHME director and co-author of the study. "Aid from outside donors plays an important role but can fluctuate from year to year. Governments ultimately have to sustain themselves." Murray is a UW professor of global health.
The study, "Public financing of health in developing countries: a cross-national systematic analysis," appears in the April 9 online-first issue of the Lancet. Researchers analyzed spending data from developing countries and health aid data from agencies, multilateral institutions, such as the World Health Organization and the International Monetary Fund, and hundreds of nonprofit groups and charities.
They found that data on government health spending are often missing entire years of information and can be difficult to reconcile. After overcoming the data challenges, researchers were able to identify two distinct trends. First, in sub-Saharan Africa where many governments receive significant health aid directly, the aid appears to be in part replacing domestic health spending instead of fully supplementing it. The researchers found, in those countries, that for every $1 spent in health aid, governments shifted between 43 cents and $1.14 of their own funds to other priorities. Conversely, in countries where nongovernmental organizations receive most of the aid and then apply it to projects inside the country, government health spending appears to have increased. Both trends merit further research, the authors say.
"Right now, we don't know where all the money is going because the documentation is so poor," said Dr. Dean Jamison, one of the paper's co-authors. He is a UW professor of global health and co-leader of the Disease Priorities Network at the IHME. "Some governments may be channeling parts of their health budgets toward better sanitation or education. All we know is that it isn't going directly into the health budget."
To strengthen the effectiveness of the health aid system, the researchers make five recommendations:
adoption of a clear set of reporting standards for government health spending as source and spending in other health-related sectors
establishment of collaborative targets to maintain or increase the share of government expenditures going to health
investment in developing countries' capacity to effectively receive and spend health aid
careful assessment of the risks and benefits of expanded health aid to non-governmental sectors
study of the use of global price subsidies or product transfers as mechanisms for health aid
The study was written by lead author Dr. Chunling Lu, a Harvard Medical School instructor, and five IHME researchers. It will be unveiled April 9 at a roundtable meeting of representatives from aid organizations, governments, development banks, and research institutions at Imperial College in London.
"We are hoping that the lessons learned from countries that are investing more of their own money in their health systems can be applied where domestic health spending is declining," said Dr. Julio Frenk, IHME board chairman and dean of the faculty, Harvard University School of Public Health. "The worst outcome would be for people to lose faith in health aid, especially now when, as we can see in places such as Haiti, countries need extra help to make a tangible difference in people's lives."
IHME will further explore domestic health spending, track development assistance for health contributions, and forecast international spending on health aid in IHME's upcoming report, Financing Global Health 2010, to be published this summer.
Source:
William Heisel
University of Washington
вторник, 21 июня 2011 г.
понедельник, 20 июня 2011 г.
Saving Children From The Tragedy Of Landmines
Ridding the world of landmines and other explosive remnants of war could be accomplished in years instead of decades, saving thousands of children from devastating injuries and death, UNICEF said today on the first International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
The agency said explosive remnants of war, including landmines and unexploded ordnance, pose a huge threat to children and their communities in more than 80 countries, most of which are no longer in conflict. At least 20 per cent of the estimated 15,000-20,000 people who are killed or disabled each year by these deadly weapons of war are children.
But UNICEF said recent progress has renewed hope that the threat of explosive devices can be eliminated sooner than previously thought. The number of new victims has been decreasing over the last decade, due largely to increasing efforts by governments and NGOs to destroy and clear mines and to educate communities about their dangers. UNICEF said the continued support of donors and the public is vital to these initiatives.
"Wars are not truly over until children can play safely and walk to school without fear of landmines and other explosive remnants of war," UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said in New York. "We cannot afford to reverse the gains that have brought us closer to making the battle against landmines a success story."
Landmines are designed to disable, immobilize or kill people travelling by foot or in motor vehicles. Other explosive remnants of war include unexploded ordnance - weapons such as grenades and cluster bombs that did not explode on impact but can still detonate - and weapons that are discarded in civilian areas by combatants, known as abandoned ordnance. These munitions outlast the conflicts during which they were planted and become hazards for innocent civilians, particularly for unsuspecting children who often make the fatal mistake of playing with the unfamiliar objects.
Children face the daily threat of explosion in every region of the world. Landmines are buried in nearly half of all villages in Cambodia, and in Lao PDR nearly one-quarter of all villages are contaminated with explosive remnants of war. Other countries that are among the most contaminated include Colombia, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Russian Federation (Chechnya), Iraq, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Children suffer debilitating physical injuries from mine explosions, often losing fingers, toes and limbs. Some are left blind or deaf. An estimated 85 per cent of child victims die before they can get medical attention. Many disabled victims lose opportunities to go to school, and often cannot afford rehabilitative care. The persisting threat of mines takes its toll on entire societies, perpetuating poverty and underdevelopment.
Progress in the battle against mines
More than three-quarters of the world's nations have ratified the Mine Ban Treaty since it came into force in 1999, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of antipersonnel landmines. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the number of countries thought to be producing, stockpiling and using landmines has dropped significantly over the last decade.
Antivehicle mines, unexploded ordnance and other types of explosive remnants of war are addressed in a new protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. Approved three years ago, Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War is the first international agreement obligating parties to conflict to clear explosive munitions that threaten civilians after war has ended. The Protocol will enter into force once it has been ratified by four more countries.
According to UNICEF, an increasing number of mine-affected countries have been involved in mine action over the last decade, which includes a range of efforts to find and destroy explosive remnants of war, assist victims, and raise awareness about their dangers.
UNICEF supports and implements mine action activities in over 30 countries, and believes that mine-risk education is key to preventing the death and disabling of children. Through programmes brought to their schools and communities, children are taught how to live safely in areas contaminated with landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
"The tragedy of children being wounded or killed in landmine explosions is preventable," Veneman said. "We must work together to help ensure that children do not face these horrors in the future."
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world's leader for children, working on the ground in 155 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Note to Broadcasters: B-roll on landmines is available at thenewsmarket/unicef.
Note to editors: The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was declared by the UN General Assembly to help raise awareness about landmines and efforts to eradicate them. UNICEF is one of 14 UN entities working together on mine action services. Activities to commemorate the day are happening in 29 mine-affected countries. In New York, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover will join UN experts and mine activists for a panel discussion on landmines and UXO. Find out more at mineaction
unicef
The agency said explosive remnants of war, including landmines and unexploded ordnance, pose a huge threat to children and their communities in more than 80 countries, most of which are no longer in conflict. At least 20 per cent of the estimated 15,000-20,000 people who are killed or disabled each year by these deadly weapons of war are children.
But UNICEF said recent progress has renewed hope that the threat of explosive devices can be eliminated sooner than previously thought. The number of new victims has been decreasing over the last decade, due largely to increasing efforts by governments and NGOs to destroy and clear mines and to educate communities about their dangers. UNICEF said the continued support of donors and the public is vital to these initiatives.
"Wars are not truly over until children can play safely and walk to school without fear of landmines and other explosive remnants of war," UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said in New York. "We cannot afford to reverse the gains that have brought us closer to making the battle against landmines a success story."
Landmines are designed to disable, immobilize or kill people travelling by foot or in motor vehicles. Other explosive remnants of war include unexploded ordnance - weapons such as grenades and cluster bombs that did not explode on impact but can still detonate - and weapons that are discarded in civilian areas by combatants, known as abandoned ordnance. These munitions outlast the conflicts during which they were planted and become hazards for innocent civilians, particularly for unsuspecting children who often make the fatal mistake of playing with the unfamiliar objects.
Children face the daily threat of explosion in every region of the world. Landmines are buried in nearly half of all villages in Cambodia, and in Lao PDR nearly one-quarter of all villages are contaminated with explosive remnants of war. Other countries that are among the most contaminated include Colombia, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Russian Federation (Chechnya), Iraq, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Children suffer debilitating physical injuries from mine explosions, often losing fingers, toes and limbs. Some are left blind or deaf. An estimated 85 per cent of child victims die before they can get medical attention. Many disabled victims lose opportunities to go to school, and often cannot afford rehabilitative care. The persisting threat of mines takes its toll on entire societies, perpetuating poverty and underdevelopment.
Progress in the battle against mines
More than three-quarters of the world's nations have ratified the Mine Ban Treaty since it came into force in 1999, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of antipersonnel landmines. According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the number of countries thought to be producing, stockpiling and using landmines has dropped significantly over the last decade.
Antivehicle mines, unexploded ordnance and other types of explosive remnants of war are addressed in a new protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. Approved three years ago, Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War is the first international agreement obligating parties to conflict to clear explosive munitions that threaten civilians after war has ended. The Protocol will enter into force once it has been ratified by four more countries.
According to UNICEF, an increasing number of mine-affected countries have been involved in mine action over the last decade, which includes a range of efforts to find and destroy explosive remnants of war, assist victims, and raise awareness about their dangers.
UNICEF supports and implements mine action activities in over 30 countries, and believes that mine-risk education is key to preventing the death and disabling of children. Through programmes brought to their schools and communities, children are taught how to live safely in areas contaminated with landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
"The tragedy of children being wounded or killed in landmine explosions is preventable," Veneman said. "We must work together to help ensure that children do not face these horrors in the future."
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world's leader for children, working on the ground in 155 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Note to Broadcasters: B-roll on landmines is available at thenewsmarket/unicef.
Note to editors: The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was declared by the UN General Assembly to help raise awareness about landmines and efforts to eradicate them. UNICEF is one of 14 UN entities working together on mine action services. Activities to commemorate the day are happening in 29 mine-affected countries. In New York, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover will join UN experts and mine activists for a panel discussion on landmines and UXO. Find out more at mineaction
unicef
воскресенье, 19 июня 2011 г.
American Red Cross Steps Up Relief For Survivors Of Myanmar Cyclone
The American Red Cross will receive a contribution of $1 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist the people affected by Cyclone Nargis. This brings the American Red Cross commitment to this international disaster response to $1.25 million.
"Our hearts go out to the families who have been impacted by this crisis," said David Meltzer, senior vice president, International Services of the American Red Cross. "Through this collaboration with USAID, we will be able to strengthen our relief efforts and provide urgently needed supplies to those in the affected area."
Since the storm struck, volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross have been distributing relief items such as tarps, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, drinking water and water-purification tablets to survivors. Teams from the Myanmar Red Cross have also been surveying some of hardest-hit communities along the Irrawaddy delta, assessing the damage and funneling aid to those in need.
"USAID is pleased to work with the American Red Cross to provide assistance to the Burmese people," said USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore. "Many have suffered a great deal during and in the aftermath of the storm, and we offer our support and assistance in their time of need."
The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to facilitate the shipment of supplies-such as tarps, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets- from a warehouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An initial shipment, including shelter kits, is expected to arrive in country tomorrow.
There has been extensive damage to infrastructure and roads, and access through air and sea ports has been disrupted. As access opens, the American Red Cross will continue to work with its partners to expedite the relief supplies and determine additional means of supporting the ongoing relief efforts.
You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit redcross or join our blog at redcrosschat.
American Red Cross
"Our hearts go out to the families who have been impacted by this crisis," said David Meltzer, senior vice president, International Services of the American Red Cross. "Through this collaboration with USAID, we will be able to strengthen our relief efforts and provide urgently needed supplies to those in the affected area."
Since the storm struck, volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross have been distributing relief items such as tarps, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, drinking water and water-purification tablets to survivors. Teams from the Myanmar Red Cross have also been surveying some of hardest-hit communities along the Irrawaddy delta, assessing the damage and funneling aid to those in need.
"USAID is pleased to work with the American Red Cross to provide assistance to the Burmese people," said USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore. "Many have suffered a great deal during and in the aftermath of the storm, and we offer our support and assistance in their time of need."
The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to facilitate the shipment of supplies-such as tarps, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets- from a warehouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An initial shipment, including shelter kits, is expected to arrive in country tomorrow.
There has been extensive damage to infrastructure and roads, and access through air and sea ports has been disrupted. As access opens, the American Red Cross will continue to work with its partners to expedite the relief supplies and determine additional means of supporting the ongoing relief efforts.
You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit redcross or join our blog at redcrosschat.
American Red Cross
суббота, 18 июня 2011 г.
Zimbabwean Antiretroviral Drug Manufacturers Seeking WHO Certification To Receive U.N. Funding
Zimbabwean antiretroviral drug manufacturers are seeking certification from the World Health Organization to receive U.N. and other multilateral agency funding to produce more affordable antiretroviral drugs, Amon Mpofu, evaluation and monitoring manager for the country's National AIDS Council, said last week at the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists' annual meeting, the Herald/AllAfrica reports (Herald/AllAfrica, 9/12). According to Mpofu, 600,000 HIV-positive people in Zimbabwe need treatment. He added that the country's antiretroviral program at the end of 2005 was able to provide treatment for 32,000 people, instead of 60,000 as planned, partly because of the shortage of foreign currency. Mpofu also announced that Zimbabwe's AIDS levy, which aims to raise money for HIV/AIDS programs, has yielded roughly $1.7 million since NAC was created in 1999. Zimbabwe was the first country in southern Africa to implement a levy for HIV/AIDS funding (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 9/12). The capacity of local drug manufacturers to produce antiretrovirals is "limited because raw materials [needed to produce the drugs] require foreign currency," Mpofu said, adding that local manufacturers "are not getting funding from NAC because they are not WHO-certified, something that is a requirement for a company to get funding from United Nations agencies." According to Mpofu, some local companies have been certified by WHO but still need to be reviewed by the United Nations to receive funding (Herald/AllAfrica, 9/12).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
пятница, 17 июня 2011 г.
American Academy Of Ophthalmology Responds To The Haiti Earthquake
Reports from Haitian ophthalmologists tell of practices destroyed, a shortage of supplies and equipment, and an increased demand for ophthalmic care. To respond to the urgent and ongoing need for quality eye care in Haiti and to coordinate ophthalmic recovery efforts, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) has formed the Task Force on Haiti Recovery.
The task force is led by former Academy president Michael W. Brennan, MD, a military veteran with unique humanitarian experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is comprised of Academy members and will be in close collaboration with the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO), the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad. All of the task force members have direct connections and experience in Haiti or with strategic partners in humanitarian relief.
In the coming months, the task force will work closely with Haitian leadership - the Haitian Society of Ophthalmology and the University of Haiti Eye Hospital - in a cooperative effort to facilitate the recovery of ophthalmic practice and delivery of eye care.
Through financial and equipment donations and in conjunction with PAAO, the Academy is undertaking a campaign to provide five portable eye units to ophthalmologists in Haiti. Portable eye units can be carried by an individual ophthalmologist and will facilitate microscopic evaluations of the eye, treatment of lacerations, removal of foreign bodies, injections and other severe eye conditions, outside of a clinic or university setting.
Mildred Olivier, MD, is a Haitian-American ophthalmologist and task force member currently assisting in relief efforts in Haiti. "We have met with our Haitian colleagues and are working to rebuild their capability to practice," reports Dr. Olivier. "Many of their clinics have been destroyed. They need a way to bring the care to the patient."
To support the campaign, the Foundation of the Academy has established a Disaster Relief Fund to provide ophthalmic resources and facilitate much-needed patient care. All of the funds collected will be used for Haitian recovery efforts. In addition, the Academy will be working to coordinate the deployment of ophthalmologists interested in volunteering with federal and private sector organizations responding to the earthquake. Volunteer information will be found on the Haiti Earthquake Relief section of the Academy's website, along with relevant relief efforts and firsthand member reports from the field.
"As a result of the disaster, many ophthalmologists currently lack the equipment and structure to provide quality patient care," said David W. Parke II, MD, executive vice president and CEO of the Academy. "By working closely with our colleagues in Haiti, we hope to ease the difficulty in providing eye care and support the rebuilding of ophthalmic education in the future."
Source
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The task force is led by former Academy president Michael W. Brennan, MD, a military veteran with unique humanitarian experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is comprised of Academy members and will be in close collaboration with the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO), the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad. All of the task force members have direct connections and experience in Haiti or with strategic partners in humanitarian relief.
In the coming months, the task force will work closely with Haitian leadership - the Haitian Society of Ophthalmology and the University of Haiti Eye Hospital - in a cooperative effort to facilitate the recovery of ophthalmic practice and delivery of eye care.
Through financial and equipment donations and in conjunction with PAAO, the Academy is undertaking a campaign to provide five portable eye units to ophthalmologists in Haiti. Portable eye units can be carried by an individual ophthalmologist and will facilitate microscopic evaluations of the eye, treatment of lacerations, removal of foreign bodies, injections and other severe eye conditions, outside of a clinic or university setting.
Mildred Olivier, MD, is a Haitian-American ophthalmologist and task force member currently assisting in relief efforts in Haiti. "We have met with our Haitian colleagues and are working to rebuild their capability to practice," reports Dr. Olivier. "Many of their clinics have been destroyed. They need a way to bring the care to the patient."
To support the campaign, the Foundation of the Academy has established a Disaster Relief Fund to provide ophthalmic resources and facilitate much-needed patient care. All of the funds collected will be used for Haitian recovery efforts. In addition, the Academy will be working to coordinate the deployment of ophthalmologists interested in volunteering with federal and private sector organizations responding to the earthquake. Volunteer information will be found on the Haiti Earthquake Relief section of the Academy's website, along with relevant relief efforts and firsthand member reports from the field.
"As a result of the disaster, many ophthalmologists currently lack the equipment and structure to provide quality patient care," said David W. Parke II, MD, executive vice president and CEO of the Academy. "By working closely with our colleagues in Haiti, we hope to ease the difficulty in providing eye care and support the rebuilding of ophthalmic education in the future."
Source
American Academy of Ophthalmology
четверг, 16 июня 2011 г.
Health Experts Come Together To Address Pandemic, Avian Influenza, Outline The Outlook Of Infectious Diseases Threats And Strategies For Containment
An update on the
government's avian and pandemic influenza preparedness efforts was given
today by leading infectious disease experts from around the country at a
news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The news
conference, sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
(NFID), addressed key issues and developments in the control and prevention
of emerging infectious diseases, as well as highlighted global health risks
of foodborne and water-related illnesses and the threat of multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis.
"Emerging, and in some cases re-emerging, infectious diseases, notably
avian and pandemic influenza, pose a very serious threat to the nation's
public health," said Susan J. Rehm, MD, NFID Medical Director and Vice
Chair, Department of Infectious Disease, at the Cleveland Clinic. "As
health care professionals, we need to continue to identify these threats
and take the necessary steps to respond quickly and effectively."
Addressing the prospect of an influenza pandemic, Carole A. Heilman,
PhD, director, division of microbiology and infectious diseases, at the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National
Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services
discussed how NIAID is leading efforts to help bolster the nation's
pandemic influenza preparedness, including activities exploring cell-based
vaccines; expanding the domestic capacity for influenza vaccines;
developing point-of-care diagnostics; supporting influenza antivirals; and
advancing surge capacity for producing H5N1 vaccines. "NIAID is exploring
all avenues to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to act on an
influenza pandemic in this country," stated Dr. Heilman. NIAID is the lead
NIH institute for pandemic influenza preparedness efforts.
Additional topics discussed at the 12th Richard J. Duma/NFID Annual
News Conference and Symposium on Infectious Diseases included:
-- New Therapeutic Regimens in the Fight Against Multi-drug Resistant
Tuberculosis: Michael D. Iseman, MD, professor of medicine, National
Jewish Medical Center and Research Center in Denver, Colorado,
discussed the threat of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and new
therapeutic strategies to help address the growing need to control
tuberculosis and reduce barriers to accessing these regimens.
"Since the introduction of the fluorquinolones in the 1980's there have
been no significant advances in the treatment of tuberculosis," stated Dr.
Iseman. "With the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, this is a
critical juncture in our efforts to control this disease."
-- Vaccine Financing Issues: Jerome O. Klein, MD, professor of pediatrics
at Boston University School of Medicine, discussed the rising costs of
vaccines in this country and concerns regarding continued access to
safe and effective vaccines.
-- Foodborne and Water-related Diseases: A National and Global Update:
James M. Hughes, MD, professor of medicine and public health, Rollins
School of Public Health at Emory University, the director of the Emory
Program in Global Infectious Diseases and the Emory Center for Global
Safe Water, provided an overview of the increasing prevalence and
public health risks of foodborne illnesses caused by a variety of
bacteria, viruses and parasites, and water-related diseases associated
with drinking water, water not intended for drinking, and recreational
water.
About the News Conference and Symposium
The 12th Richard J. Duma/NFID Annual News Conference and Symposium on
Infectious Diseases was supported, in part, by unrestricted educational
grants to NFID from the Biotechnology Industry Organization,
GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi pasteur, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. This event is
named for former NFID president and executive director Richard J. Duma, MD,
PhD, currently director of infectious diseases at Halifax Medical Center in
Daytona Beach, FL.
About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1973 and dedicated to
educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes,
treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. For more information,
please visit nfid.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
nfid
government's avian and pandemic influenza preparedness efforts was given
today by leading infectious disease experts from around the country at a
news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The news
conference, sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
(NFID), addressed key issues and developments in the control and prevention
of emerging infectious diseases, as well as highlighted global health risks
of foodborne and water-related illnesses and the threat of multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis.
"Emerging, and in some cases re-emerging, infectious diseases, notably
avian and pandemic influenza, pose a very serious threat to the nation's
public health," said Susan J. Rehm, MD, NFID Medical Director and Vice
Chair, Department of Infectious Disease, at the Cleveland Clinic. "As
health care professionals, we need to continue to identify these threats
and take the necessary steps to respond quickly and effectively."
Addressing the prospect of an influenza pandemic, Carole A. Heilman,
PhD, director, division of microbiology and infectious diseases, at the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National
Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services
discussed how NIAID is leading efforts to help bolster the nation's
pandemic influenza preparedness, including activities exploring cell-based
vaccines; expanding the domestic capacity for influenza vaccines;
developing point-of-care diagnostics; supporting influenza antivirals; and
advancing surge capacity for producing H5N1 vaccines. "NIAID is exploring
all avenues to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to act on an
influenza pandemic in this country," stated Dr. Heilman. NIAID is the lead
NIH institute for pandemic influenza preparedness efforts.
Additional topics discussed at the 12th Richard J. Duma/NFID Annual
News Conference and Symposium on Infectious Diseases included:
-- New Therapeutic Regimens in the Fight Against Multi-drug Resistant
Tuberculosis: Michael D. Iseman, MD, professor of medicine, National
Jewish Medical Center and Research Center in Denver, Colorado,
discussed the threat of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and new
therapeutic strategies to help address the growing need to control
tuberculosis and reduce barriers to accessing these regimens.
"Since the introduction of the fluorquinolones in the 1980's there have
been no significant advances in the treatment of tuberculosis," stated Dr.
Iseman. "With the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, this is a
critical juncture in our efforts to control this disease."
-- Vaccine Financing Issues: Jerome O. Klein, MD, professor of pediatrics
at Boston University School of Medicine, discussed the rising costs of
vaccines in this country and concerns regarding continued access to
safe and effective vaccines.
-- Foodborne and Water-related Diseases: A National and Global Update:
James M. Hughes, MD, professor of medicine and public health, Rollins
School of Public Health at Emory University, the director of the Emory
Program in Global Infectious Diseases and the Emory Center for Global
Safe Water, provided an overview of the increasing prevalence and
public health risks of foodborne illnesses caused by a variety of
bacteria, viruses and parasites, and water-related diseases associated
with drinking water, water not intended for drinking, and recreational
water.
About the News Conference and Symposium
The 12th Richard J. Duma/NFID Annual News Conference and Symposium on
Infectious Diseases was supported, in part, by unrestricted educational
grants to NFID from the Biotechnology Industry Organization,
GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi pasteur, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. This event is
named for former NFID president and executive director Richard J. Duma, MD,
PhD, currently director of infectious diseases at Halifax Medical Center in
Daytona Beach, FL.
About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1973 and dedicated to
educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes,
treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. For more information,
please visit nfid.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
nfid
среда, 15 июня 2011 г.
Creating A Nationwide Capability To Share And Standardize Life-saving Emergency Data In Real Time
Natural disasters - like toddlers with crayons - leave a mess all over the map, spilling across federal, state, and local lines. To clean up, different agencies and jurisdictions must come together and share what they know.
But far too often, critical information goes unseen by those who need it most: our emergency responders.
In the past, there were incidents where deficiencies in communication caused problems for the emergency response community. In one case, while the National Guard was dispatching hundreds of trucks to a hurricane-ravaged area in the Southeast, drivers were unaware of a key road closure. In another instance, a neighboring state did not receive notification that planned evacuation routes were jammed with fleeing motorists. And at times, responders hurrying to aid residents outside their jurisdictions had limited information on what local resources were available.
Even though many authorities track incident management data, these records typically are walled off from one another by incompatible computer systems, proprietary technological platforms, or simply a culture of reluctance to share information.
Recognizing this urgent predicament, the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) is working on a solution. Led by Dr. David Boyd, director of the Command, Control, and Interoperability Division (CCI) within S&T, and patterned after the state of Alabama's Virtual Alabama program, the project has been dubbed "Virtual USA" (vUSA). Its goal: to create a nationwide capability to share and standardize life-saving emergency data in real time.
A collaboration among CCI, first responders, and state governments, vUSA provides a 3-D platform of interactive maps that displays the location and status of critical assets - helicopter landing sites, evacuation routes, shelters, gas supplies, water lines, power grids, and everything in between. Whether you're a county firefighter on the scene, a state-based EMT en route, or a federal FEMA official at your desk, the system equips responders at all levels with the same richly detailed data.
This coordination makes information sharing more comprehensive and decision making more informed, which is why vUSA was included in the recently announced White House Open Government Initiative, which emphasizes transparency, participation, and collaboration.
But one of vUSA's most exciting attributes is platform agnosticism - the ability to integrate disparate data sources seamlessly (as long as the sources use the same standards). To a layman, this might not sound like a big deal. But to a first responder, who must contend with Alabama's preference for Google Earth, Virginia's need for ArcGIS, and X's comfort with Y, interoperability constitutes a revolution.
Most importantly, the price is right. Typically, when an IT department is told it needs a new software system, what it hears is a request for a large amount of money.
Since February, Virtual USA has been operating as a pilot program in eight southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. In September, CCI met with five northwestern states (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming), followed by talks with six northeastern states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont) earlier this month. The goal: to match the number of vUSA states with the number of stars on the American flag.
Yet, according to Boyd, standing up an interstate initiative rivals the difficulty of running it. "Just to socialize the concept of data-sharing - to get everyone communicating, to localize solutions - takes six months," he says. But that's not the end of the process. A plenary meeting for technical and governance matters comes next, after which a plan is designed. By this time, almost a year has passed.
Indeed, the chief challenge that vUSA faces isn't the lack of data. It's the lack of interoperable data. In order for data to be shared, you need to get people to share them. Put another way, mastering the software is the easy part. Getting human beings to collaborate is the hard part.
"Too many federal and state programs fall short of their potential because they're driven from the top-down without buy-in at the local level," Boyd continues. So in order to facilitate steadfast local participation, vUSA starts from a set of three principles:
You collect it; you own it. If, for example, a county funds and processes the collection of aerial photographs, then the county - not Washington - owns these data.
You own it; you control it. Decisions related to who the data is shared with - and when, how, and what to share - are at the discretion of the data's owner.
You control it; you make the rules. Instead of having to adapt your data to accommodate others, you can continue to use your existing software and do business your way.
Shaped by this bottom-up foundation, Virtual USA is helping responders across the country to communicate better, and to work together.
Source:
John Verrico
US Department of Homeland Security - Science and Technology
But far too often, critical information goes unseen by those who need it most: our emergency responders.
In the past, there were incidents where deficiencies in communication caused problems for the emergency response community. In one case, while the National Guard was dispatching hundreds of trucks to a hurricane-ravaged area in the Southeast, drivers were unaware of a key road closure. In another instance, a neighboring state did not receive notification that planned evacuation routes were jammed with fleeing motorists. And at times, responders hurrying to aid residents outside their jurisdictions had limited information on what local resources were available.
Even though many authorities track incident management data, these records typically are walled off from one another by incompatible computer systems, proprietary technological platforms, or simply a culture of reluctance to share information.
Recognizing this urgent predicament, the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) is working on a solution. Led by Dr. David Boyd, director of the Command, Control, and Interoperability Division (CCI) within S&T, and patterned after the state of Alabama's Virtual Alabama program, the project has been dubbed "Virtual USA" (vUSA). Its goal: to create a nationwide capability to share and standardize life-saving emergency data in real time.
A collaboration among CCI, first responders, and state governments, vUSA provides a 3-D platform of interactive maps that displays the location and status of critical assets - helicopter landing sites, evacuation routes, shelters, gas supplies, water lines, power grids, and everything in between. Whether you're a county firefighter on the scene, a state-based EMT en route, or a federal FEMA official at your desk, the system equips responders at all levels with the same richly detailed data.
This coordination makes information sharing more comprehensive and decision making more informed, which is why vUSA was included in the recently announced White House Open Government Initiative, which emphasizes transparency, participation, and collaboration.
But one of vUSA's most exciting attributes is platform agnosticism - the ability to integrate disparate data sources seamlessly (as long as the sources use the same standards). To a layman, this might not sound like a big deal. But to a first responder, who must contend with Alabama's preference for Google Earth, Virginia's need for ArcGIS, and X's comfort with Y, interoperability constitutes a revolution.
Most importantly, the price is right. Typically, when an IT department is told it needs a new software system, what it hears is a request for a large amount of money.
Since February, Virtual USA has been operating as a pilot program in eight southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. In September, CCI met with five northwestern states (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming), followed by talks with six northeastern states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont) earlier this month. The goal: to match the number of vUSA states with the number of stars on the American flag.
Yet, according to Boyd, standing up an interstate initiative rivals the difficulty of running it. "Just to socialize the concept of data-sharing - to get everyone communicating, to localize solutions - takes six months," he says. But that's not the end of the process. A plenary meeting for technical and governance matters comes next, after which a plan is designed. By this time, almost a year has passed.
Indeed, the chief challenge that vUSA faces isn't the lack of data. It's the lack of interoperable data. In order for data to be shared, you need to get people to share them. Put another way, mastering the software is the easy part. Getting human beings to collaborate is the hard part.
"Too many federal and state programs fall short of their potential because they're driven from the top-down without buy-in at the local level," Boyd continues. So in order to facilitate steadfast local participation, vUSA starts from a set of three principles:
You collect it; you own it. If, for example, a county funds and processes the collection of aerial photographs, then the county - not Washington - owns these data.
You own it; you control it. Decisions related to who the data is shared with - and when, how, and what to share - are at the discretion of the data's owner.
You control it; you make the rules. Instead of having to adapt your data to accommodate others, you can continue to use your existing software and do business your way.
Shaped by this bottom-up foundation, Virtual USA is helping responders across the country to communicate better, and to work together.
Source:
John Verrico
US Department of Homeland Security - Science and Technology
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