Younger Generation Needed in Efforts to Change the Leprosy Perceptions, Says Miss World Brazil
Discussions were firmly centered on the need to raise awareness and increase visibility around Hansen’s disease and the people affected, to work towards their inclusion and integration, and to particularly reach out to the younger generation as their role is critical towards zero leprosy.
“I am very empathetically connected to this cause, and I will use my influence to connect with young people in raising awareness about Hansen’s disease. I am very encouraged about ongoing efforts by MORHAN to educate school-going children about Hansen’s disease,” Ayyagari explained.
Frota stressed the need to spread awareness, e...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - November 8, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Joyce Chimbi Tags: Asia-Pacific Featured Global Headlines Health Human Rights Humanitarian Emergencies IPS UN Bureau IPS UN Bureau Report Sasakawa Health Foundation Source Type: news
UN Needs a Sea Change in its Handling of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (SEA)
An art exhibition in Juba, supported by the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), seeks to educate people about gender and sexual based violence. Credit: UNMISS/Nektarios MarkogiannisBy Anwarul K. ChowdhuryNEW YORK, Nov 8 2022 (IPS) Calling it “so disappointing and disheartening” in social media on 17 October, Dr. Rosie James, a British medical expert, announced that “I was sexually assaulted by a World Health Organization (WHO) staff tonight at the World Health Summit.”
WHO, as we all know, is a part of the UN system of entities. She went to emphasize that “This was not the first time in the global health sphere ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - November 8, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Anwarul K. Chowdhury Tags: Civil Society Editors' Choice Featured Gender Gender Violence Global Headlines Health Human Rights IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news
Lessons from Rome. Weaving Peace Is a Polyphonic Dialogue
Colosseum at the Prayer with the Pope and the representatives of the workd’s religions. Credit: Elena L. PasquiniBy Elena L. PasquiniROME, Nov 7 2022 (IPS) Arms are raised, stretched out towards the sky, holding white cards with the word “peace” written in different languages. A girl, a refugee from Syria, reads the Rome’s “Appeal for peace”: “With firm conviction, we say: no more war! Let’s stop all conflicts […] Let dialogue be resumed to nullify the threat of nuclear weapons.” Pope Francis singed it in front of the people gathered at the Colosseum, holding the word “peace”...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - November 7, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Elena Pasquini Tags: Armed Conflicts Europe Featured Global Headlines Health Human Rights Migration & Refugees Peace Religion TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news
COP 15: It ’s Time to Decide on a Future
By Elizabeth MremaMONTREAL, Canada, Nov 4 2022 (IPS) It is no secret that humankind’s past actions have accelerated the deterioration of ecosystems, negatively impacting our economies, societies, health, and cultures. It is estimated that humans have altered over 97% of ecosystems worldwide, to date. One million species are currently threatened with extinction (IPBES). The writing on the wall is clear. Our planet is in crisis. The sobering reality is that if we continue on our current trajectory, biodiversity and the services it provides will continue to decline, jeopardizing the achievement of the Sustainable Developmen...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - November 4, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Elizabeth Mrema Tags: Biodiversity Climate Action Climate Change Economy & Trade Education Environment Global Headlines Health Poverty & SDGs Sustainability TerraViva United Nations IPBES IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news
Anti-Microbial Resistance Strategies Need Urgent Attention to Prevent Unnecessary Deaths in Africa
Africa’s laboratories need to step up testing to aid in fighting Anti-Microbial Resistance. This photo is a 3D computer-generated image of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, the pathogen responsible for causing the disease tuberculosis (TB). Credit: CDC/UnsplashBy Francis KokutseACCRA, Nov 3 2022 (IPS) African countries must find a way of fighting Anti-Microbial Resistance in the healthcare system to avoid unnecessary deaths.
A few months ago, the President of the Ghana Public Health Association, Amofah George, narrated how he saw a patient die after failing to respond to all the available antibiotics used for managing...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - November 3, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Francis Kokutse Tags: Africa Featured Headlines Health Humanitarian Emergencies Sustainable Development Goals TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau IPS UN Bureau Report Source Type: news
Developing Countries Need Monetary Financing
By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame SundaramSYDNEY and DAKAR, Nov 1 2022 (IPS) Developing countries have long been told to avoid borrowing from central banks (CBs) to finance government spending. Many have even legislated against CB financing of fiscal expenditure.
Central bank fiscal financing
Such laws are supposedly needed to curb inflation – below 5%, if not 2% – to accelerate growth. These arrangements have also constrained a potential CB developmental role and government ability to respond better to crises.
Anis ChowdhuryImproved monetary-fiscal policy coordination is also needed to achieve desired structural tran...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - November 1, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram Tags: COVID-19 Development & Aid Economy & Trade Featured Financial Crisis Global Headlines Labour TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Jomo Kwame Sundaram & Anis Chowdhury Source Type: news
A New Digitalisation Effort in Bangladesh Could Change Community Health Globally
Data Entry by Specially Trained Community Health Worker in Bangladesh. Credit: Abdullah Al KafiBy Morseda ChowdhuryDHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct 31 2022 (IPS) The digital transformation of thousands of community health workers in Bangladesh has dramatically enhanced their work, while enabling the creation and tracking of a healthcare database covering 64 million people. The resulting model holds remarkable promise for the health of the world, especially in the context of evolving pandemics.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, BRAC digitalised the work of our 4,100 shasthya kormi, specially trained community health workers, in Bangladesh...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 31, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Morseda Chowdhury Tags: Aid Asia-Pacific COVID-19 Development & Aid Economy & Trade Featured Global Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news
Macroeconomic Policy Coordination More One-Sided, Ineffective
By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame SundaramSYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 2022 (IPS) Widespread adverse reactions to the UK government’s recent ‘mini-budget’ forced new Prime Minister Liz Truss to resign. The episode highlighted problems of macroeconomic policy coordination and the interests involved.
Macro-policy coordination
But macroeconomic, specifically fiscal-monetary policy coordination almost became “taboo” as central bank independence (CBI) became the new orthodoxy. It has been accused of enabling CBs to finance government deficits. Critics claim inflation, even hyperinflation, becomes inevitable.
Anis ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 25, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram Tags: COVID-19 Development & Aid Economy & Trade Financial Crisis Global Globalisation Headlines Inequality Labour TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Jomo Kwame Sundaram & Anis Chowdhury Source Type: news
Public Development Banks Can ’t Drag Their Feet When It Comes to Building a Sustainable Future
Civil society organisations at the Finance in Common Summit. Credit: Noel Emmanuel ZakoBy Bibbi AbruzziniABIDJAN, Ivory Coast , Oct 21 2022 (IPS) A coalition of civil society organisations is demanding public development banks (PDBs) to take radical and innovative steps to tackle human rights violations and environmental destruction. No project funded by PDBs should come at the expenses of vulnerable groups, the environment and collective liberties, but should instead embody the voices of communities, democratic values and environmental justice.
The demands, part of a collective statement signed by more than 50 civil soci...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 21, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Bibbi Abruzzini Tags: Civil Society Climate Action COVID-19 Democracy Development & Aid Economy & Trade Environment Gender Global Headlines Human Rights Inequality Sustainability TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news
With Planning Aging Population Could Result in a Silver Dividend
Maldives Minister for Gender, Family, and Social Services, Aishath Mohamed Didi, in her keynote address said her island country faced unique development challenges and is vulnerable to economic shocks and climate change.By Cecilia RussellJohannesburg, Oct 18 2022 (IPS) An aging population needn’t be a burden, experts told Parliamentarians at a conference co-hosted by UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office and the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA).
Two National Transfer Account (NTA) experts told the session that with good planning and policy, it was possible to change the trajectory so that those in retire...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 18, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Cecilia Russell Tags: Asia-Pacific COVID-19 Headlines Health Humanitarian Emergencies Population TerraViva United Nations APDA 2022 Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) IPS UN Bureau IPS UN Bureau Report Parliamentarians working to meet SDG Source Type: news
Stop Worshiping Central Banks
By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame SundaramSYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 2022 (IPS) Preoccupied with enhancing their own ‘credibility’ and reputations, central banks (CBs) are again driving the world economy into recession, financial turmoil and debt crises.
Wall Street ‘cred’
Most CB governors believe ‘credibility’ is desirable and must be achieved by fighting inflation at any cost. To justify their own more harmful policies, they warn inflation is ‘damaging’.
Anis ChowdhuryThey argue CBs need ‘independence’ from governments to pursue ‘credible’ monetary policy. Inflation targeting to ‘anchor’...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 18, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram Tags: Armed Conflicts Development & Aid Economy & Trade Financial Crisis Global Headlines Health Labour TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Jomo Kwame Sundaram & Anis Chowdhury Source Type: news
Persons with Disabilities Integral Players in Determining Innovative Solutions to Fully Inclusive Societies
By Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaBANGKOK, Thailand, Oct 14 2022 (IPS) Ten years ago, the Asia-Pacific region came together and designed the world’s first set of disability-specific development goals: the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities. This week, we meet again to assess how the governments have delivered on their commitments, to secure those gains and develop the innovative solutions needed to achieve fully inclusive societies.
Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaMinisters, government officials, persons with disabilities, civil society and private sector allies from across Asia and the Pac...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 14, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Tags: Asia-Pacific Civil Society Development & Aid Headlines Health Human Rights Labour TerraViva United Nations Source Type: news
Reform Needed As Big Business, Not Vulnerable Communities Benefit from Post-Pandemic Support
Informal sector only received 4 percent of post pandemic funds even though the sector accounts for more than 2 billion workers, many of whom are women. Credit: IITABy Ed HoltBRATISLAVA, Oct 12 2022 (IPS) Governments and international financial institutions must adopt new ways of providing post-pandemic support, say campaigners after a report found that in many poorer countries, big business benefitted most from Covid-19 recovery funds. At the same time, vulnerable communities have been “left behind.”
They say the level and distribution of support of these funds has been poor, with the most vulnerable in society, such a...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 12, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Ed Holt Tags: COVID-19 Development & Aid Editors' Choice Featured Global Headlines Health Humanitarian Emergencies Inequality Labour TerraViva United Nations Women & Economy IPS UN Bureau IPS UN Bureau Report Source Type: news
Development Banks Should Reform Their Lending Practices
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank share a common goal of raising living standards in their member countries. This week, the two international institutions will convene in Washington DC (through October 16) for their annual meeting. The strength of the US dollar will be a key talking point. By adjusting their lending practices, these institutions have a unique opportunity to relieve suffering in the world’s poorest countries.By Alexander Kozul-Wright and Ruurd BrouwerGENEVA, Oct 11 2022 (IPS) In the last week of September, emerging market (EM) bond fund outflows hit $4.2 billion, according to JP Mor...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 11, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Alexander Kozul-Wright and Ruurd Brouwer Tags: Development & Aid Economy & Trade Financial Crisis Global Headlines Health Inequity Poverty & SDGs TerraViva United Nations IPS UN Bureau Source Type: news
Africa, The Looted Continent
Mineral supply chains are often linked to child abuse, human trafficking, forced labour and other human rights violations. Credit: Tommy Trenchard/IPSBy Baher KamalMADRID, Oct 10 2022 (IPS) Africa. The birthplace of “Homo Sapiens.” The land of plenty. The origin of farming. The richest region in terms of natural resources. And human capital. Home to over 1.3 billion humans, continues to be looted.
With 500 million plus people living in extreme poverty, Africa has also been transformed in a sort of grave for half of the world’s victims of terror. The continent is also the land with the highest suicide rate on Earth. W...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 10, 2022 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Baher Kamal Tags: Africa Headlines Health Natural Resources Poverty & SDGs TerraViva United Nations Source Type: news
