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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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October 31, 2006Out with Beetroot and Lemons, In with Condoms and ARVsPosted by Nandini Oomman in Donor Community, Global Fund, HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases, HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases* This post was written jointly with Michael Bernstein According to recent reports from the Washington Post, South Africa’s leadership has responded to global pressure to leave their imaginary natural remedies for HIV/AIDS prevention behind and focus on the real stuff — the stuff that will make the difference between living and dying: In public comments and private meetings over the past six weeks, [South African] Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has emphasized that the government now believes unequivocally that HIV causes AIDS, a connection that President Thabo Mbeki once publicly questioned. She has also said that antiretroviral drugs must be the centerpiece of the government’s response while playing down the dietary recommendations long cited by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang as key to fighting AIDS. With over 5 million South Africans infected by HIV, this policy shift is long overdue, and has undoubtedly put a smile on the face of Stephen Lewis, the UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa who has quite vocally criticized South Africa for what he sees as misguided AIDS policies. In an earlier blog post, Michael Bernstein noted that Lewis “gambled” by using his keynote address at this year’s international AIDS conference to publicly embarrass South Africa, with the hope of pressuring the government to change its ways. Well, it seems that South Africa is finally listening, to Lewis and its many other critics. And if the policy shift is indeed genuine, it should give us all something to smile about. 1 Comment »October 30, 2006CGD Report Identifies Key Tasks for the Global Fund’s New EDPosted by cgdadmin in Donor Community, Global Fund, HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases
Many aid-giving institutions talk the talk about “country ownership,” “accountability” and “transparency,” but the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has taken those principles to a whole new level by structuring its entire organization around them. This innovative model has achieved a number of real successes, but has also led to a variety of challenges, as described by Steve Radelet in a recent CGD Q&A. Now nearly five years old, the Global Fund faces a critical juncture next week when the Board of Directors appoints a new Executive Director. The five final candidates are assessed in a new Lancet editorial (free registration required), which effectively endorses Michel Sidibe for the position. Mr. Sidibe, in turn, has co-authored a separate article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine discussing many of the same challenges and lays out four key questions facing the Fund moving forward. No matter who is selected, the new Executive Director is certain to play a central role in addressing the Fund’s challenges, a daunting task given the complex environment in which the Global Fund operates. Luckily, the ED is not alone — a CGD working group has just released a report that identifies the seven most critical tasks facing the new ED and issues recommendations on how to tackle them. We welcome comments on the report, and hope that it serves as a good starting point to ensure that the Global Fund maximizes its potential impact going forward. Comment »October 30, 2006CGD Report Identifies Key Tasks for the Global Fund’s New EDPosted by Administrator in HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases, Intellectual Property Rights, Pharmaceuticals & Health Products, WHO
Many aid-giving institutions talk the talk about “country ownership,” “accountability” and “transparency,” but the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has taken those principles to a whole new level by structuring its entire organization around them. This innovative model has achieved a number of real successes, but has also led to a variety of challenges, as described by Steve Radelet in a recent CGD Q&A. Now nearly five years old, the Global Fund faces a critical juncture next week when the Board of Directors appoints a new Executive Director. The five final candidates are assessed in a new Lancet editorial (free registration required), which effectively endorses Michel Sidibe for the position. Mr. Sidibe, in turn, has co-authored a separate article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine discussing many of the same challenges and lays out four key questions facing the Fund moving forward. No matter who is selected, the new Executive Director is certain to play a central role in addressing the Fund’s challenges, a daunting task given the complex environment in which the Global Fund operates. Luckily, the ED is not alone — a CGD working group has just released a report that identifies the seven most critical tasks facing the new ED and issues recommendations on how to tackle them. We welcome comments on the report, and hope that it serves as a good starting point to ensure that the Global Fund maximizes its potential impact going forward. Comment »October 26, 2006HAART DiseasePosted by in HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases, HIV/AIDS and other Infectious DiseasesThe New York Times recently ran a depressing article on a newfound link between antiretroviral therapy and leprosy in patients that had previously been asymptomatic. Since leprosy can be easily treated with antibiotics donated from Novartis, it does not pose a widespread public health threat. But for the affected individuals, it can be deadly:
Comment »October 19, 2006A Double Whammy for Africa: Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB) and HIV/AIDSPosted by Nandini Oomman in Donor Community, Global Fund, HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases, HIV/AIDS and other Infectious DiseasesWhile HIV strips our immune systems and destroys our innate ability to fight diseases, yet another pathogen is emerging the winner, and this time against the very drugs that are used to treat it. Microscopic TB bacilli have maneuvered their way through poorly managed TB treatment programs and have emerged as extensively drug resistant TB or XDR-TB, not just in Africa but also in eastern Europe, western Asia, and South Korea. What’s worse is when you put these two together, it’s a double whammy for countries where HIV/AIDS is already afflicting millions, as Reuters reports: Highly drug-resistant tuberculosis could become a major killer in AIDS-hit parts of Africa where governments have been slow to roll out TB control programmes, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. 1 Comment »October 18, 2006GlobalHealthFacts.org expands to include 40 new indicatorsPosted by in HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases, UncategorizedThe Kaiser Family Foundation has recently expanded GlobalHealthFacts.org to include 40 new data indicators that can be easily displayed in tables, charts, and color-coded maps and downloaded for custom analyses. It’s a great resource for the global health community – which relies on information for, well, just about everything – and I strongly encourage you to check out the new and improved site. Even better, Kaiser welcomes suggestions for future additions as well; personally, I would love to see the eventual inclusion of DTP3 coverage rates, which are widely used as a proxy for health system strength (as discussed in our recent report, Measuring Commitment to Health). See below for the full, updated list of indicators currently available through GlobalHealthFacts.org, by category: Comment »October 16, 2006Bono and Oprah walk into a store to do some shopping…Posted by in Drug Resistance, HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases, HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases, TuberculosisPost by Andy Jeninga To some, this might sound like the opening of a comedy routine. To others, it should serve as the kick off of the (Product) RED campaign in the U.S., including the launch of a new RED iPod. The campaign, which has been in progress for about 6 months in Great Britain, enlists numerous high profile companies to design a special RED product line — a certain percentage of the profits of these products will then go towards existing Global Fund programs. According to a spokesman for the campaign, RED has already raised $12 million and looks to add millions more to the Global Fund coffers with the American launch. Comment » |
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