Category: International Relations and Economics
Articles on international politics and global economic issues.
New Global Health Directions for All Health Professionals
Dave Baguley, Tim Killeen, Gareth Lewis, Brian D Nicholson & Fred Martineau
Alma Mata Working Group
Lord Nigel Crisp's report into how the UK can contribute to health in developing countries was published today online at the DOH website. The wide-ranging and comprehensive document is the result of consultations since May 2006.
Lord Crisp was invited to carry out the review by the Prime Minister as part of the commitments set out in the commission for Africa and the G8 Gleneagles summit in 2005. It finds a vast array of organisations, enthusiasm and work already being done in the arena of international development, but a need for greater coordination and strategic partnerships between these groups.
Fair medical trade is the focus of Almamata's advocacy for the next 2 months. So read on and get involved!
Fair trade in general has attained an increasing degree of importance over the past 10 years or so. Since the publication of an article in the BMJ in 2006 (see references) there has been growing awareness that the principles of fair medical trade should be applied to procurement in the NHS.
New President Sebastian Pinera took office less than two weeks after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile’s second largest city, Concepcion. The quake and the tsunami it triggered killed nearly 500 people, and damaged 1.5m homes leaving thousands living in tents waiting for emergency housing.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Prior to 12th January 2010 only 50% of Haitians had access to clean drinking water and less than this to sanitation and hygiene services. In 2008 an estimated three quarters of the population had no access to any kind of health care. Open sewage in the slums was common place and the country was endemic with malnourishment. The one doctor for every 3000 citizens was already overwhelmed – and then the earthquake struck into the heart of the country, its capital, Port-au-Prince.
Happy New 2010 - the latest newsletter is available for download here!
We hope to see you at an Alma Mata event this year!
BMJ 2009;339:b3672
The report on climate change and health commissioned by University College London and the Lancet concludes: "Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century."1 In this report, the authors emphasise not only the immediacy and gravity of this threat but also the directness: while the poorest in the world will be the first affected, none will be spared. The escalating carbon footprint of the developed world has led to the present situation, but the rapid impact on developing countries such as the encroaching deserts in Africa is the immediate price.
