World Health Organization

Evolve or Die

A resounding silence surrounds an event to take place at the end of this month that, in theory at least, has great significance for the health of the people of Africa. Dr Ebrahim Samba is to step down after serving his maximum two terms of office as Director of WHO's Africa Region (WHO/AFRO). A new leader for WHO's governing body in the African region must therefore be nominated when the Regional Committee meets in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, between Aug 31 and Sept 3.

WHO: we are still on track for 3 x 5 HIV treatment goal

Despite pessimistic warnings from critics last week, the World Health Organisation announced yesterday that it is only 60,000 short of its July 2004 target for getting people onto treatment.

World Health Report 2004: Changing History

Series Name: 
World Health Report
Published by: 
World Health Organization

WHO report 2004 calls for a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy that links prevention, treatment, care and long- term support. At a crucial moment in the pandemic's history, the international community has an unprecedented opportunity to alter its course and simultaneously fortify health systems for the enduring benefit of all.

Publication Webpage http://www.who.int/whr/2004/en/report04_en.pdf

Case Study Reports on Implementation and Expansion of the PMTCT Programme in the Nine Provinces of South Africa

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

Implementation of a pilot programme for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV commenced in early 2001 in South Africa following a National government decision in late 2000. A total of 18 pilot sites, two in each of the 9 Provinces, were selected using broad criteria including high HIV prevalence, representation of urban and rural health services, and primary and secondary level facilities. These served as research and learning sites to assess the feasibility of implementing this programme more widely.

Pass or fail – ensuring successful transfer of health policy between countries

How do health policies spread from one country to the next? Transfer without ownership may make implementation difficult. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine look at the development of international policy on tuberculosis (TB) control over the last two decades.

WHO launches intellectual property commission

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced details of a new commission that aims to analyse how intellectual property rights affect the creation of new drugs against 'diseases of poverty' in the developing world.(Source: Satellife's Afro-nets mailing list http://www.healthnet.org)