VACCINE AGAINST DIARRHOEAL DISEASE COULD PROTECT MILLIONS OF CHILDREN – UN

VACCINE AGAINST DIARRHOEAL DISEASE COULD PROTECT MILLIONS OF CHILDREN – UN
New York, Jun 5 2009 1:00PM
The United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) today recommended that the vaccination against rotavirus – responsible for over 500,000 diarrhoeal deaths annually – be included in all national immunization programmes.

Over 85 per cent of deaths caused by rotavirus, which also hospitalizes 2 million children every year, are in developing countries in Asia and Africa, the agency's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) said.

WHO-backed clinical trials in Africa conducted among populations with high child mortality rates, poor sanitary conditions and high diarrhoeal disease mortality demonstrate that the vaccine significantly reduces severe diarrhoea episodes due to rotavirus.

Rotavirus immunizations just became available in the United States, Europe and Latin America three years ago.

Today's recommendation paves the way for low-income countries to apply to the public-private alliance known as GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) – including the WHO, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/index.php">UNICEF) and the World Bank – for the vaccine.

"This is a tremendous milestone in ensuring that vaccines against the most common cause of lethal diarrhoea reach the children who need them most," <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/PSLG-7SPHL6?OpenDocument&RSS20=02-P">said Dr. Thomas Cherian of WHO's Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals.

Due to the many triggers of diarrhoeal disease, SAGE stressed the need to provide the rotavirus vaccine as part of a larger strategy, which must also include improving water quality, hygiene and sanitation, as well as providing oral rehydration solutions and zinc supplements.
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CHILD DEATHS DROP BY NEARLY 30 PER CENT, SAYS UN HEALTH AGENCY

CHILD DEATHS DROP BY NEARLY 30 PER CENT, SAYS UN HEALTH AGENCY
New York, May 21 2009 11:00AM
Deaths of children under five years of age have plummeted by almost one third since 1990, the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2009/millennium_development_goals_20090521/en/index.html">said today, while cautioning that greater action is necessary to achieve similar success in other areas, in particular maternal and newborn health.

Some 9 million children under the age of five died in 1997, marking a sharp decline from the 12.5 million estimated to have died in 1990, according to "World Health Statistics," WHO's first progress report on the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the eight globally-agreed anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.

"The decline in the death toll of children under five illustrates what can be achieved by strengthening health systems and scaling up interventions, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets for malaria and oral rehydration therapy for diarrhoea, increased access to vaccines and improved water and sanitation in developing countries," said Ties Boerma, Director of WHO's Department of Health Statistics and Informatics.

But the new study, which is based on over 100 health indicators collected from WHO's 193 Member States, cautioned that in many African nations and in low-income countries, the fourth MDG – slashing child mortality by two-thirds – may not be met.

Dr. Boerma said that while encouraging progress has been made at the half-way point to the 2015 deadline, "there needs to be more effort to strengthen health systems in countries affected by high levels of HIV/AIDS, economic hardship or conflict."

Additionally, he called for greater attention to be paid to the poorest groups within countries where progress is slowest and child mortality remains high.

Maternal and newborn health has seen almost no improvement, Dr. Boerma said, with nearly 40 per cent of deaths among children under five occurring in the first month, even first week, of life. "While the data are patchy and incomplete, it appears that the regions with the least progress are those where levels of maternal mortality are highest."

Boosting these rates will involve addressing weak health systems, emerging health threats such as pandemics, and climate change, he added.

BAN STRESSES ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY IN PREVENTING DEATHS FROM CHILD BIRTH, TROPICAL DISEASES

BAN STRESSES ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY IN PREVENTING DEATHS FROM CHILD BIRTH, TROPICAL DISEASES
New York, Feb 23 2009 6:00PM
The role of philanthropists and philanthropic organizations is crucial in tackling some avoidable health threats which kill millions of vulnerable people every year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

"Health is a foundation for prosperity, stability and poverty reduction," Mr. Ban said at the opening of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting aiming at advancing progress in strengthening maternal and girls' health, as well as fighting neglected tropical diseases.

Every year more than half a million women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, almost all in developing countries, he told the over 400 participants, including leaders from the business, philanthropic, academic and global health community, including companies such as IKEA, Merrill Lynch and Toyota.

At a press conference ahead of the event, Marianne Barner, who heads IKEA's Social Initiative, announced a $48 million donation to the UN Children's Fund (http://www.unicef.org/UNICEF) programme in India.

She said the funds will impact the lives of 90 million people: 80 million children and young people and 10 million women.

"This brings our total investment in India to around $120 million and our total commitment to UNICEF globally to over $180 million until 2015," added Ms. Barner.

At today's ECOSOC meeting, Mr. Ban insisted that "we must put an end to these senseless deaths," adding that "women are engines of development and drivers of improved health."

Reducing the maternal mortality rate by two-thirds is among the Millennium Development Goals (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/), a set of internationally agreed targets aiming to slash poverty, hunger and eradicate other social ills by 2015.

"Maternal health is a critical component of the well-being of any society. Yet among all the Millennium Development Goals, this is where there has been least progress," warned the Secretary-General.

He called for the UN family and national governments to coordinate their efforts, drawing from the expertise of foundations, research centres and academia, as well the innovative spirit of the private sector and the dynamism of civil society.

Mr. Ban pointed to the example set by cutting down the incidence of malaria in many countries as a way forward with other health issues.

"By making joint efforts and strengthening coordination, the malaria community has achieved real gains. In some African countries there has been a dramatic decline in the incidence of malaria," he said.

The Secretary-General also highlighted the challenge faced by neglected tropical diseases that "afflict about one billion of the world's poorest people. Yet these diseases are largely treatable."

Controlling these diseases offers a strategy for tackling many of the conditions that promote poverty, which is especially important at the present time of economic crisis, he said.

"The economic crisis is putting at risk the unprecedented rise in public and private funding we have witnessed in recent years. The food crisis and the threat posed by climate change have profound implications for people's health and well-being," he warned.

Mr. Ban challenged participants "to think radically about how we can take our efforts to the next level and forge a truly powerful global partnership for global health."

Former United States President Bill Clinton will be offering closing remarks to the Special Event on Philanthropy and Global Public Health Agenda, which was co-organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UN Office for Partnerships (UNOP).
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