Community
News
Jan 19, 2018
Tracking progress to address antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when a microorganism (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) evolves to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) from working against it. While the evolution of AMR is a natural and inevitable process, the rate and spread of AMR has been accelerated by the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Jan 19, 2018
Zambia says new cases dropping in deadly cholera outbreak
Zambia has struggled to contain one of its deadliest cholera outbreaks in years, sending soldiers into a slum last week to keep order, collaborating with the World Health Organization on a vaccination program and even declaring a week of prayer.
Jan 18, 2018
Panacea Biotech, Serum collaborate on six-in-one vaccine
Vaccine maker Panacea Biotec has signed two long-term agreements with Serum Institute of India and its wholly-owned subsidiary Bilthovan Biologicals BV, involving a fully liquid six-in-one vaccine. Under the collaboration, Serum will be allowed to make and sell fully liquid Whole cell Pertussis (wP) and Salk-based Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) based Hexavalent vaccine (DTwP-HepB-Hib-IPV) developed and commercialised by Panacea Biotec, touted to be the first of its kind, a joint note said.
Jan 5, 2018
WHO approves a safe, inexpensive typhoid vaccine
A new, highly effective typhoid vaccine — the only one safe for infants — has been approved for global use by the World Health Organization. The approval was given in December but announced on Wednesday.
Dec 27, 2017
1 in 10 infants worldwide did not receive any vaccinations in 2016
Worldwide, 12.9 million infants, nearly 1 in 10, did not receive any vaccinations in 2016, according to the most recent WHO and UNICEF immunization estimates. This means, critically, that these infants missed the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine, putting them at serious risk of these potentially fatal diseases.
Dec 26, 2017
Measles deaths fall to a record low worldwide
For the first time in history, annual deaths around the globe from measles have fallen below 100,000, the World Health Organization announced this year. As recently as the 1980s, measles killed 2.6 million people a year.
Dec 12, 2017
“Supermalaria” is on the way
There has been growing hope in recent years that malaria could eventually be eradicated but that sense of optimism is currently facing some major new challenges. Scientists are warning that a “supermalaria” parasite is spreading rapidly across Southeast Asia, and could pose a global health threat if it spreads to Africa. It is resistant to artemisinin, the recommended first-line treatment for malaria. In addition, if the U.S. Congress carries out the proposed 44 percent cut to the President’s Malaria initiative (PMI) funding, it could have a significantly undercut prevention and treatment programs. Projections show that the PMI cut alone could lead to an additional 300,000 malaria deaths over the next four years.
Dec 7, 2017
Tanzania: Dar shines in vaccination drive
Tanzania has set a world record in national immunisation coverage, thanks to the government-backed national Immunisation and Vaccine Programme currently under implementation. A new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says the country has attained 97 per cent, surpassing the target by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP).
Dec 6, 2017
Incorporating responsible data principles in institutional data management
The nonprofit sector produces a wealth of data that plays a fundamental role in the strategic and operational decision-making and learning. Nevertheless, many organizations face major challenges with storing and integrating data produced in the field, limiting decision and learning capacity. Data warehousing and integration is an approach that could help fill this gap. However, it raises challenges in terms of responsible data management. Join a webinar on the topic on December 12. The webinar will discuss the major conceptual, programmatic and technical considerations needed to implement responsible data principles and approaches, at different levels (field, region, global) and scenarios.
Nov 23, 2017
Vaccination and education are key to relying less on finite antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance is one of the most complex health challenges of our time with the potential for millions of lives to be at risk by 2050 if we do not take urgent action now.