Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report—Health Workforce & Capacity

Barbara Bush On Youth Involvement In Global Health

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:36:54 GMT

PSI's "Healthy Lives" blog features an interview with Barbara Pierce Bush about her founding of and work with the Global Health Corps. PSI President and CEO Karl Hofmann speaks with Bush, who discusses how young people can make a difference in global health (2/9).

Benin's Government Fighting Malaria With Free Treatment, Cadre Of Community Health Workers

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:32:36 GMT

The Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog" examines how the government of Benin "is making headway in attempts to reduce deaths from malaria" by cracking down on counterfeit treatments, offering malaria treatment free-of-charge in public clinics and hospitals, and creating "an army of ordinary citizens in the battle against preventable diseases like malaria." The article describes a UNICEF-supported program that trains and employs local residents as community health extension workers, who often serve as the front line in providing treatment for malaria or maternal and child health care (Smith, 2/10).

Calling For Greater Protection Of Health Care Workers In Conflict Settings

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:02:00 GMT

In this post in IntraHealth International's "Global Health" blog, editorial manager Susanna Smith examines how health care workers operating in areas of conflict are "being used as pawns of warfare." Smith highlights the decision by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) last month to suspend services in prisons in the Libyan city of Misrata due to reports of torture and notes, "[MSF] General Director Christopher Stokes called the situation an obstruction and exploitation of the organization's work." Smith cites a Center for Strategic and International Studies report released last week "calling for 'the mere handwringing that has largely greeted attack on the health care in the past' to 'be replaced by concerted international action and a system on documentation, protection, and accountability,'" and concludes, "The international community owes at least this much to these health workers, who give so much and put themselves at risk to care for others" (2/2).

Knowledge, Resources Exist To Reach Maternal, Child Mortality MDGs In Africa With Unified Efforts

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:11 GMT

In this Global Health and Diplomacy opinion piece, Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete examines efforts to meet Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on maternal and child mortality in Africa, noting, "Although Africa has just 12 percent of the global population, it accounts for half of all maternal deaths and half the deaths of children under five." He writes, "Though global maternal deaths are in decline and women's health has at last become a global priority, our goal of reducing maternal mortality by 75 percent in 2015 is still a long way off. ... It is unacceptable to allow mothers and children to die when we have the knowledge and resources to save them."

Faster, Less Expensive Methods Of Circumcision Being Tested, Reviewed, New York Times Reports

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:34:07 GMT

The New York Times examines developments in circumcision technology, after "three studies have shown that circumcising adult heterosexual men is one of the most effective 'vaccines' against [HIV] -- reducing the chances of infection by 60 percent or more." The newspaper writes, "[P]ublic health experts are struggling to find ways to make the process faster, cheaper, and safer" and "donors are pinning their hopes on several devices now being tested to speed things up." The New York Times reports on several circumcision methods currently being tested, including PrePex, which received FDA approval three weeks ago and "is clearly faster, less painful and more bloodless than any of its current rivals" (McNeil, 1/30).

MSF Closes Two Large Clinics In Mogadishu After Two Staff Members Killed Last Month

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:21:00 GMT

"Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has shut down two major medical centers in the Somali capital Mogadishu after two of its aid workers were shot dead by a former colleague last month, the international medical aid agency said on Thursday," AlertNet reports. The closure of the two 120-bed centers, the largest of MSF's 13 projects in Somalia, cuts in half the organization's presence in the capital, the news service notes, adding that the centers have treated thousands of malnourished children and provided vaccinations or treatments to tens of thousands more patients since August 2011 (Migiro, 1/19).

Community Health Workers Vital To Improving Health Care In Africa

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:31:13 GMT

Community health workers (CHWs) "are seen to be a key part of a functioning primary health system," especially in African nations, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, writes in a post on Huffington Post's "Impact" blog. "This system should include a clinic within short walking distance, with supplies, a skilled birth attendant and other staff, electricity, and safe water; an ambulance for emergency transport; an emergency '911' number; a policy of free care at the point of service (so as not to turn away the indigent); and trained and remunerated CHWs, taught also to treat diseases and save lives in the community," he says.

Estimating Number Of Births Without Skilled Birth Attendants In South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:07:31 GMT

Noting that the "fifth Millennium Development Goal target for 90 percent of births in low- and middle-income countries to have a skilled birth attendant (SBA) by 2015 will not be met," researchers from University College London estimate "that there will be between 130 and 180 million non-SBA births in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa from 2011 to 2015 (90 percent of these in rural areas)" in this BioMed Central Pregnancy & Childbirth article. They conclude, "Efforts to improve access to skilled attendance should be accompanied by interventions to improve the safety of non-attended deliveries" (1/17).

Improving Obstetric Care With Solar Power

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:47:22 GMT

In the National Geographic News blog "Mobile Message," "a series of posts from FrontlineSMS about how mobile phones and appropriate technologies are being used throughout the world to improve, enrich, and empower billions of lives," Laura Stachel, an obstetrician-gynecologist and the co-founder and executive director of WE CARE Solar, writes about the "'Solar Suitcase,' a portable, rugged, complete solar electric kit packed with solar panels, a charge controller, batteries, medical LED lights, phone chargers, headlamps, and a fetal monitor." She says the suitcases improve lighting so surgeries can be performed 24 hours a day; allow nurses to contact on-call physicians in the case of emergency through a mobile phone; and, with alterations, power blood bank refrigerators (Banks, 1/12).

Promoting New Investments In Global Health Workforce

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:18:00 GMT

In this post in the Public Health Institute's (PHI) "Dialogue4Health" blog, Jeff Meer, director of PHI's Washington-based advocacy on global health, reports on the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, launched Wednesday, which is "developing support for new investments in the global health workforce, particularly those working at the community level who are the first and often the only link to health care for millions of people." He outlines the Coalition's targets and quotes a number of officials indicating "that the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress are coming to adopt the same view" (1/11).

Investing In Frontline Health Workers Effective In Saving Lives Of Mothers, Children

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:23:00 GMT

In the Huffington Post's "Impact" blog, Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, writes about the Frontline Health Workers Coalition's call on the U.S. government to train 250,000 new frontline health workers in developing countries, stating, "At a time when every dollar counts more than ever, the new Frontline Health Workers Coalition believes this focus is the most cost-effective way to save mothers' and children's lives around the world, address global health threats, and help advance strategic U.S. interests in a secure and prosperous world."

Frontline Health Workers Coalition Launches Initiative To Add 1M Health Care Workers In Developing Countries

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:15:00 GMT

The Frontline Health Workers Coalition -- which consists of 16 major non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Family Care International, the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, and RESULTS -- has launched "a new initiative to add one million health care workers in developing countries," VOA News reports, adding that the "Coalition says training more community-level workers is the most cost effective way to save lives, speed progress on global health threats and promote U.S. economic and strategic interests" (DeCapua, 1/11). "The Coalition, which launched today with the release of a new report (.pdf) focusing on the need for frontline health workers, is calling on the U.S. administration to train and support an additional 250,000 new frontline health workers -- and to better support the capacity and impact of existing workers where the need is greatest," a Coalition press release (.pdf) states (1/11).

Rwanda Working To Meet 2013 Goal To Medically Circumcise 50% Of Men For HIV Prevention

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:48:00 GMT

Rwanda is expanding its medical male circumcision program this year, "as the country attempts to reach its goal of medically circumcising 50 percent of men by June 2013 as part of HIV prevention efforts," PlusNews reports. "The free male circumcision program began in October 2011, and officials at the Ministry of Health say demand is growing," according to the news service. However, with only 15 percent of men circumcised and a shortage of qualified health care workers, "the goal is unlikely to be met unless lower cadre health workers are involved in the campaign," PlusNews writes.

January Issue Of WHO Bulletin Available Online

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:47:28 GMT

The January issue of the WHO Bulletin features an editorial on non-communicable diseases and post-conflict countries; a public health round-up; an article on Arab health professionals; a research paper on caesarean section rates in China; and a series of round table articles on the Global Fund and the interaction of public and private interests (January 2011).

Innovative Programs Can Help Developing Countries Retain Health Care Workers

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:38:01 GMT

"Medical schools in poor countries continue to produce doctors that they will eventually lose to more lucrative careers in cities or other countries," but some of these countries "are already showing bold efforts to meet the challenge" of retaining health care workers, Manuel Dayrit, director of the WHO Department of Human Resources for Health, writes in a SciDev.Net opinion piece. Dayrit discusses programs in Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Philippines that use community-based education and local service contracts to retain health care workers in areas where they are needed.

Raising Salaries Helped Retain Health Workers In Malawi

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:44:00 GMT

Wall Street Journal Examines Potential Implications Of Allegedly Fake U.S. Vaccination Campaign In Pakistan

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:57:18 GMT

The Wall Street Journal reports on how "a reportedly fake vaccination campaign conducted [by the U.S.] to help hunt down Osama bin Laden has caused a backlash against international health workers in some parts of Pakistan and has impeded efforts to wipe out polio in the country," one of only four worldwide where polio remains endemic. The article quotes a UNICEF country representative, a U.S. Embassy official, a Muslim cleric, a non-governmental organization representative, a local health care worker, and an official with a provincial health department (Tohid, 12/3).

African Countries Lose Billions Of Dollars Training Doctors Who Then Leave For Developed Nations, Study Says

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:37:00 GMT

Nine African countries -- Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – "have lost approximately $2 billion in their investment in doctors who have subsequently migrated abroad," with South Africa and Zimbabwe suffering "the greatest economic losses," according to a study published Friday in BMJ, VOA's "Breaking News" blog reports (11/25). The researchers, led by Edward Mills, chair of global health at the University of Ottawa, found "Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States benefit the most from recruiting doctors trained abroad" and "called on destination countries to recognize this imbalance and invest more in training and developing health systems in the countries that lose out," Reuters writes (Kelland, 11/25). The Los Angeles Times' "World Now" blog writes, "Rich countries saved money by training fewer doctors than they needed and making up the gap by importing medical staff, according to the report" (11/25).

PEPFAR Announces Nursing Education Partnership Initiative For Health In Africa

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:50:18 GMT

IRIN Examines Efforts To Train Midwives, Improve Maternal Health In Laos

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:42:24 GMT

"In 2010, for the first time in more than 20 years, 140 midwives graduated in Laos but specialists say their skills may go untapped because the country's women are not used to visiting health workers," IRIN reports. "Only 34 percent of women in Laos seek the advice of medical professionals; even fewer see one when they are pregnant, according to government data from 2009-2010," the news service writes.