Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Turning the World Downside Up
Health
Tackling Ebola: Give Autonomy to Local African Communities, Says International Rescue Committee
Recommendations on how to eradicate Ebola and avoid future outbreaks were released in a report on Tuesday by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).Namibian President Wins $5 Million African Leadership Prize
Outgoing Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba was Monday named winner of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, believed to be the most lucrative individual award in the world.
Environmental Damage to Gaza Exacerbating Food Insecurity
Extensive damage to Gaza’s environment as a result of the Israeli blockade and its devastating military campaign against the coastal territory during last year’s war from July to August, is negatively affecting the health of Gazans, especially their food security.
Farm Projects Boost Bangladeshi Women, Children
Women in Bangladesh are carving healthier, wealthier futures for themselves and their children – and they have chicken eggs and pineapples to thank.
Opinion: Manipulate and Mislead – How GMOs are Infiltrating Africa
The most persistent myth about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is that they are necessary to feed a growing global population.WHO Releases New Syringe Safety Policy to Prevent Disease
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a new policy on safe practices around syringe use, saying 90 percent of injections worldwide are unnecessary.
Despite U.N. Treaties, War Against Drugs a Losing Battle
As the call for the decriminalisation of drugs steadily picks up steam worldwide, a new study by a British charity concludes there has been no significant reduction in the global use of illicit drugs since the creation of three key U.N. anti-drug conventions, the first of which came into force over half a century ago.
Opinion: Water and the World We Want
We have entered a watershed year, a moment critical for humanity.
UN at 70: Mega-Cities, Mortality and Migration
As the international community marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, one question worthy of some reflection is: Is world population better or worse off demographically since the establishment of the U.N.?
Big Trouble in the Air in India
Like many others of her age, 15-year-old Aastha Sharma, a Class 10 student at a private school in India’s capital, New Delhi, loves being outdoors, going for walks with her friends and enjoying an occasional ice-cream. But the young girl can't indulge in any of these activities.
Analysis: Collaboration Key for a Clean India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to action for a 100 percent Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2019 was announced as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) or Clean India Campaign last year.
Analysis: Economic Growth Is Not Enough
Recent new data show a worrying picture of Latin America and the Caribbean. Income poverty reduction has stagnated and the number of poor has risen — for the first time in a decade — according to recent figures from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chikungunya Thrives with Climate Variability in the Caribbean
Jenny had gone to bed feeling well, but an hour into her sleep she suddenly awoke with a “stiff, cramping pain” behind one knee. Within the next hour the pains had multiplied and both knees began to lock, followed by stiffened fingers and pains in her chest, along with a fever.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Climate Change
So much information about climate change now abounds that it is hard to differentiate fact from fiction. Scientific reports appear alongside conspiracy theories, data is interspersed with drastic predictions about the future, and everywhere one turns, the bad news just seems to be getting worse.Should We Celebrate 10 Years of the Global Tobacco Control Treaty?
February 27 will mark the 10th anniversary of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first global public health treaty.Next Page »
A rising world population, demographic shifts and the inherent cross-border nature of communicable disease -fueled by growing mobility and trade- have called for informed, comprehensive and global responses to health challenges in rich and poor countries. Medical advancements have enabled strides in the fight against deadly diseases like cancer, AIDS and TB in recent decades, while awareness campaigns have eased suffering by changing social attitudes on issues ranging from vaccination to mental health. All the while, the popular perception of health work has evolved from one heavily focused on treatment and medication to a more inclusive approach that incorporates prevention, nutrition, housing and global food production processes. IPS Health covers the ongoing challenges and innovation with a special eye on the role of poor and marginalized communities.
Tracking global progress towards a sustainable world