KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report

In The News

Speaking At U.N. Special Meeting, Obama Calls On Member States To Increase Ebola Responses

News outlets report on a U.N. special meeting during which world leaders discussed the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa and U.S. President Barack Obama called on the international community to ramp up efforts to contain the disease.

Agence France-Presse: U.N. confronts deadly Ebola epidemic
“World leaders gathered at the United Nations heard dire warnings and desperate pleas for assistance Thursday as the deadly Ebola virus forced Sierra Leone to quarantine a million people. U.S. President Barack Obama led calls for a ramped up response to the growing West African outbreak, urging governments, businesses and international organizations to join the fight. The United Nations did win fresh pledges of support, and the Group of Seven nations announced it would keep open vital air and sea links with Ebola-hit countries in West Africa…” (Landry, 9/25).

Los Angeles Times: Ebola death toll rises to 2,900 as world leaders gather at U.N.
“…Faced with a caseload that is doubling every three weeks, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a ’20-fold surge in care, tracking, transport and equipment’ to get in front of the epidemic…” (Zavis, 9/25).

NPR: Promised Help To Fight Ebola Arriving At ‘Speed Of A Turtle’
“…The big question has been: How long will it take to turn these promises of aid into action on the ground? … [T]he president of Doctors Without Borders, Joanne Liu, said that rhetoric needs to be translated into actions. So far the promised surge in aid hasn’t happened, she says. ‘We still don’t have enough beds in isolation. We still do not have enough actors. … So, yes, everybody in their intentions are moving fast, but in the field we are moving at the speed of a turtle’…” (Kelemen, 9/26).

U.N. News Centre: U.N. chief to leaders: ‘The world can and must stop Ebola — now’
“… ‘The world can and must stop Ebola — now,’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told world leaders gathered at a special meeting held [Thursday] at the United Nations to speed up the global response to the outbreak that has evolved from a public health crisis into a threat to peace and security…” (9/25).

U.N. News Centre: As host of U.N. hub against Ebola, Ghana calls for cooperated efforts to halt outbreak
“We cannot afford to let fear keep us away, the President of Ghana [on Thursday] told the United Nations General Assembly, calling for a sustained, coordinated international effort to stem the outbreak of the Ebola virus which he calls a ‘disease of isolation’…” (9/25).

New York Times: Global Response to Ebola Is Too Slow, Obama Warns
“Seeking to speed the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, President Obama delivered a blunt warning on Thursday at a high-level United Nations meeting devoted to the health crisis: The world was doing too little and moving too slowly…” (Landler/Sengupta, 9/25).

Wall Street Journal: Ebola Crisis: Obama Says World Falling Short in Response
“President Barack Obama criticized the international response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa as falling short of what is needed to combat a crisis ‘spreading at alarming speed’…” (Lee/Sparshott, 9/25).

Washington Post: Obama: Ebola is ‘growing threat to regional and global security’
“…Citing new commitments from the United Nations last week, Obama said there had been progress. But after meeting with leaders from African nations at the U.N. General Assembly, the president cautioned that ‘we need to be honest with ourselves. It’s not enough’…” (Nakamura, 9/25).

Agence France-Presse: Obama says ‘not enough’ done to battle Ebola (9/25).
Daily Beast: Obama Warns U.N. of Looming Ebola ‘Catastrophe’ (Haglage, 9/25).
The Hill: Obama: ‘Everyone has to do more’ to stop Ebola (Sink, 9/25).
National Journal: Obama: Stopping Ebola ‘Must Be a Priority for the World’ (Novack, 9/25).
Politico: Obama tells United Nations that far greater response needed to Ebola (Levine, 9/25).
TIME: Obama Urges U.N. to Act Faster on Ebola Outbreak (Rogers, 9/25).
VOA News: Obama: Ebola Threat to ‘Regional, Global Security’ (9/25).

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G7 Releases Joint Statement On Ebola Outbreak, Expresses 'Deepest Concern'

Media sources report on a G7 joint statement on countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.

Agence France-Presse: G7 warns Ebola-hit nations ‘must not be isolated’
“The world’s most developed economies pledged to keep open air and sea links with Ebola-hit countries Thursday, saying much-needed help had to be able to reach those nations battling the epidemic…” (9/25).

RIA Novosti: G7, E.U. Call for More Funding in Curbing Ebola Outbreak
“The G7 foreign ministers on Thursday voiced their ‘deepest concern’ about the ‘unprecedented spread of Ebola’ across West Africa and called for the world community to increase its financial support of the effort to stop the lethal virus from spreading further…” (9/25).

U.S. Department of State: G7 Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement on Ebola
In a media note, the White House publishes the G7 statement, “released by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and High Representative of the European Union…” (9/25).

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U.S. Military Establishes Ebola Operations Base In Liberia; Marines Work To Identify New Treatment Center Locations

News outlets report on the U.S. military’s involvement in responding to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Agence France-Presse: U.S. bases Ebola mission in Liberia’s defense ministry
“The United States said on Thursday its mission of 3,000 soldiers helping west Africa’s beleaguered health services battle the Ebola outbreak would be based in Liberia’s defense ministry but would be purely humanitarian…” (9/25).

The Hill: Marines helping with Ebola outbreak in Liberia
“A contingent of Marines is helping Liberian forces combat the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, according to the U.S. Marine Corps…” (Wong, 9/25).

Marine Corps Times: Ebola mission includes risk of malaria for troops
“U.S. troops are trickling in to Liberia to set the stage for a massive deployment to West Africa to help contain the Ebola epidemic. But details — units, types of personnel, even the branches of service involved — on the brigade-sized humanitarian effort remain sparse…” (Kime, 9/25).

Washington Post: AFRICOM’s Ebola response and the militarization of humanitarian aid
“President Obama announced last week an expanded U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The lion’s share of personnel assisting in the response comes from the U.S. military — an estimated 3,000 troops will be deployed to the region. Leading the effort will be Maj. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, commander of the U.S. Army Africa, part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)…” (Dionne et al., 9/25).

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U.S. Congress Members Highlight Different Aspects Of Ebola Outbreak

News outlets highlight statements and other actions of U.S. Congress members related to the Ebola outbreak.

The Hill: Alexander: Ebola is most ‘explosive’ epidemic
“Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) warned that the United States is at risk of becoming exposed to the deadly Ebola outbreak. ‘Unless it is controlled, this will be one of the most explosive, dangerous, deadly epidemics in modern times,’ Alexander said on Wednesday. ‘We need to run toward the burning flames with fireproof suits on’…” (Cox, 9/25).

Roll Call: Ebola Containment Equipment Gets Capitol Hill Debut
“A patient isolation chamber suited for the front lines of the fight against Ebola in West Africa arrived Tuesday on the third floor of the Rayburn House Office building. … The portable patient isolation chamber is a tool that ‘really isn’t being deployed right now,’ said Zach Hunter, spokesman for Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who worked in conjunction with a fellow Illinois Republican, Sen. Mark S. Kirk, to bring the Romeoville, Ill., company that manufactures the product to Capitol Hill…” (Hess, 9/25).

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World Bank Announces Additional Ebola Funding, Bringing Total Commitment To $400M

Media sources report on additional funding from the World Bank to address the Ebola outbreak and its social and economic impacts.

Reuters: World Bank announces $170 mln in new funding to fight Ebola
“The World Bank on Thursday announced it would give another $170 million to help West African countries contain the spread of the Ebola virus, nearly doubling its total contributions to fight an epidemic that has killed nearly 3,000 people…” (9/25).

Wall Street Journal: World Bank Pledges $170 Million to Help West African Nations with Ebola
“The World Bank Thursday pledged an additional $170 million to help West African nations worst-hit by the Ebola endemic deal with the humanitarian and economic crisis, bringing its total commitment to $400 million. … Separately, the International Monetary Fund executive board on Friday is expected to approve the expansion of zero-interest loans for the three nations totaling around $130 million to help the governments cover an estimated $300 million financing gap…” (Talley, 9/25).

World Bank: World Bank Group to Nearly Double Funding in Ebola Crisis to $400 Million
“…This represents $170 million in new funding. With today’s announcement, the Bank will put $230 million toward the emergency response and $170 million for medium- and long-term projects. The new resources — which the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors will consider in the coming weeks — will be targeted at rapidly increasing the health care workforce and purchasing needed supplies in order to bring care and treatment to all parts of the affected countries. The funding also is aimed at building a stronger health care system because it will aim to train cadres of health workers to bolster care at a community level throughout the affected region…” (9/25).

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West African Health Ministers To Meet In Ghana To Evaluate Ebola Strategy

VOA News: West Africa Health Ministers to Meet Over Ebola Strategy
“Regional health ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will evaluate the implementation of strategic plans aimed at combating Ebola at a meeting in Ghana’s capital, Accra, this weekend, according to Haruna Warkani, acting ECOWAS communications director…” (Clotty, 9/25).

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Canada Pledges $27M To Ebola Fight

Agence France-Presse: Canada pledges $27 million to fight Ebola
“Canada announced Thursday it will contribute Can$30 million (U.S.$27 million) to the United Nations and non-government agencies fighting the spread of Ebola in West Africa…” (9/25).

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Norway To Give Liberia Up To $150M To Stop Illegal Logging Thought To Facilitate Ebola's Spread

The Guardian: Norway to give Liberia $150m to fight illegal logging that may spread Ebola
“Norway will give Liberia up to $150m (£92.1m) over the next six years to fund protective measures aimed at stamping out illegal logging in its agricultural sector, which some scientists believe may have contributed to the worst Ebola outbreak in history…” (Anderson, 9/25).

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Poor Coordination Slowing Ebola Vaccine, Treatment Efforts

News outlets report on the lack of global coordination around the development of treatments and vaccines for Ebola.

Bloomberg Businessweek: How the U.S. Screwed Up in the Fight Against Ebola
“…It’s too early to say whether ZMapp was vital to the Americans’ survival. There were a limited number of doses available. Mapp [Pharmaceuticals] ran out after having given doses to the two Americans, a Spanish priest, and doctors in two West African countries, although it declined to say how many. And that raised fair questions: Why hadn’t the promising treatment gone through human clinical trials sooner, and why were there so few doses on hand?…” (Greeley/Chen, 9/24).

Bloomberg News: Ebola Shot Turned Down by WHO Is Best Hope as Virus Rages
“The calls started coming in August to the office of GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty from the head of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan. The Ebola outbreak was raging out of control and Chan needed the drugmaker’s vaccine as quickly as possible. The sudden sense of urgency for an Ebola vaccine was an about face from a few months earlier when Glaxo contacted the WHO, asking whether its vaccine could help with the outbreak. At that time, the company was told the focus was on containment and the WHO didn’t have a policy for using vaccines in this type of situation. ‘We’ll get back to you’ was the message, said Ripley Ballou, head of Glaxo’s Ebola vaccine program…” (Kitamura/Pettypiece, 9/26).

Reuters: Canada says poor coordination bogging down Ebola vaccine shipment
“Poor global coordination has bogged down Canada’s efforts to deliver its Ebola vaccine to Africa, Canadian International Development Minister Christian Paradis said on Thursday…” (Nickel, 9/25).

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Patients Facing Health Challenges Other Than Ebola May Be Unable To Get Needed Care

News outlets report deaths from causes other than Ebola likely will increase as struggling health systems in West Africa are unable to treat patients.

Reuters: ‘Collateral’ death toll expected to soar in Africa’s Ebola crisis
“Deaths from infectious diseases like malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia are likely to soar in West African countries where a vast outbreak of Ebola has crushed health systems and killed nurses and doctors…” (Kelland, 9/26).

Washington Post: Pregnant women at risk of becoming collateral casualties to Ebola epidemic
“The health of mothers and infants has long been a concern in many West African nations. … The [Ebola] outbreak is causing a major disruption to the health care system, and there are numerous signs that pregnant women in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea could be dying due to Ebola without ever getting the disease…” (Taylor, 9/26).

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Third Ebola Patient Treated In U.S. Cured; French Nurse With Virus In 'Stable' Condition

News outlets report on an American doctor who has been treated and cured of Ebola at the Nebraska Medical Center, and a French nurse who contracted the virus and is in “stable” condition at a hospital in Paris.

The Hill: Second U.S. doctor cured of Ebola
“A second American doctor infected with Ebola has successfully fought off the virus, he announced Thursday. Rick Sacra, who worked at a medical clinic in Liberia, has been released from the Nebraska Medical Center about three weeks after he was brought to the U.S. for treatment…” (Ferris, 9/25).

Reuters: Third Ebola patient treated in the U.S. free from virus: doctors
“The third U.S. patient to be treated in the United States for Ebola is now free of the virus, doctors at the Nebraska Medical Center and the patient said in a news conference on Thursday…” (Steenhuysen, 9/25).

Wall Street Journal: France’s First Ebola Patient in ‘Stable’ Condition
“A French nurse who contracted the Ebola virus in Liberia 10 days ago is in a ‘stable’ condition, but isn’t out of danger after receiving experimental drugs in a hospital in a Paris suburb for a week, health minister Marisol Touraine said Friday…” (Landauro, 9/26).

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Meetings Focus On Strengthening Global Health Security Agenda

News outlets report on an upcoming meeting aimed at fortifying the Global Health Security Agenda.

CQ HealthBeat: NGOs Pushed to Join Drive for Global Health Security Network
“On the eve of a major push by the Obama administration to establish a worldwide system to get ahead of threats like Ebola, global health leaders met Thursday at George Washington University to enlist non-governmental organizations to join in the effort. … One expert said that hundreds of millions of dollars are still needed worldwide for the effort, known as the Global Health Security Agenda. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested $45 million from Congress in fiscal 2015 funding to assist with U.S. efforts…” (Reichard, 9/25).

Washington Post: Leaders urged to strengthen global health security in wake of Ebola epidemic
“Hoping to make the most of the world’s attention in the wake of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, President Obama and other leaders will try again to strengthen a longer-term strategy to enhance global health security. The White House, which launched an initiative in February aimed at preventing the global spread of infectious disease epidemics, will host a meeting Friday of officials from 44 countries to discuss how to develop basic disease detection and monitoring systems to contain the spread of deadly illnesses…” (Eilperin/Sun, 9/25).

White House: FACT SHEET: Global Health Security Agenda: Getting Ahead of the Curve on Epidemic Threats
“…The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) was launched on February 13, 2014 to advance a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats and to bring together nations from all over the world to make new, concrete commitments, and to elevate global health security as a national leaders-level priority. … On September 26, President Obama, National Security Advisor Rice, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Monaco, and Secretaries Kerry, Hagel, and Burwell will meet with Ministers and senior officials from 44 countries and leading international organizations to make specific commitments to implement the GHSA and to work toward a commitment to assist West Africa with needed global health security capacity within three years…” (9/26).

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UNAIDS Launches 'Fast Track' Initiative To End AIDS Epidemic By 2030; Kerry Speaks About U.S. Efforts At Launch

Media sources report on the U.N.’s efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, as well as related PEPFAR activities.

MSNBC: U.N. aims to end AIDS epidemic by 2030
“The United Nations envisions a world without AIDS — and it’s aiming to make that a reality by ending the epidemic by 2030. The presidents of Ghana and Switzerland, in conjunction with UNAIDS, unveiled a new program on Thursday night in conjunction with the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. The new campaign is titled ‘Fast Track,’ and it aspires to stamp out AIDS definitively during the next 16 years. ‘Achieving an AIDS-free generation will pose an incredible test, but I am certain we can pass that test and see this fight across finish line,’ Secretary of State John Kerry said at the conference…” (Neese, 9/26).

UNAIDS: Countries ready to ‘Fast Track’ response to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030
“A new fast-track strategy proposes rapid and massive acceleration of HIV prevention and treatment programs with a people-centered approach for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This call and new commitments were made at a high-level side event entitled ‘Fast track: Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030’…” (9/25).

U.S. Department of State: Background Briefing on UNAIDS Event and PEPFAR
The department publishes a transcript of a background briefing discussing the UNAIDS event and PEPFAR activities (9/25).

U.S. Department of State: Remarks at UNAIDS
The department presents a transcript of Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech at Thursday’s UNAIDS event (9/25).

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World Bank, Partner Countries, NGOs Launch Global Financing Facility For MCH

Media sources report on the formation of a new Global Financing Facility to address maternal and child health issues.

Reuters: Donors launch $4 billion health fund to cut mother and child deaths
“The World Bank has announced a new global fund to invest about $4 billion in health care for mothers and children in developing countries as part of a drive to end their preventable deaths by 2030. … The Global Financing Facility is designed to accelerate progress by providing capital for poor countries to develop their health care systems and collect better data on births and deaths. It is backed by Norway, Canada, and the United States in partnership with the United Nations, the private sector, and non-profits…” (Dawson, 9/26).

CBC News: Stephen Harper tells U.N. maternal and child health close to his heart
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper has told the United Nations General Assembly that saving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable mothers and their children is not only a global priority, but an issue ‘closest to his heart.’ … The fund is part of an initiative launched by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2010, called Every Woman, Every Child, whose goal is to save the lives of 16 million women and children by the end of 2015. Harper announced that Canada has earmarked $200 million toward the credit fund. Canada’s pledge is part of the five-year $3.5-billion commitment Harper announced in May…” (Mas, 9/25).

Toronto Star: Canada to lead creation of global fund to boost maternal, child health
“…[The fund] essentially an investment strategy, a mechanism that will draw in and pool funding from different sources that can then be leveraged to pay for, for example, systems to register birth and death statistics, boost vaccine rates or provide nutritional support or health services for women and children in developing countries…” (MacCharles, 9/25).

U.N. News Centre: Improving health of women, children ‘moral imperative’ — Ban
“Lauding the gains made in improving the health of women and children worldwide, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [Thursday] called for renewed commitment and action to sustain the unprecedented progress made in this area in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector, philanthropists, and international organizations…” (9/25).

World Bank: Development Partners Support the Creation of Global Financing Facility to Advance Women’s and Children’s Health
“…The GFF, in support of Every Woman Every Child, is being developed in close collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, including partner countries; the H4+ agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS, U.N. Women, and the World Bank Group); civil society organizations; bilateral and multilateral development partners; foundations; private sector and others working in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health…” (9/25).

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Latin American Leaders, U.N.'s Ban Urge Sustained Commitment To MDGs

News outlets report on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the call from Latin American leaders and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for sustained commitment to achieve those goals, and talks surrounding the establishment of new development goals.

Thomson Reuters Foundation: As U.N. meets, world struggles for soul of new development goals
“How do you distill a global push for social, economic, and environmental progress into a short, simple list of targets? That is the Herculean task facing world leaders in the next two years, as the 2015 expiry date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches…” (Rowling, 9/25).

U.N. News Centre: Leaders from Latin America, Caribbean region urge action to erase inequality, spur development
“Inequality is one of the greatest threats to development and international security because it fosters poverty, exclusion and breeds social unrest, resentment, and violence, said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, the first among several leaders from the Latin America and the Caribbean region to address the General Assembly [Wednesday]…” (9/24).

U.N. News Centre: As development goals near deadline, Ban urges global leaders to ‘finish the job’
“Great gains have been made in the global effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, known worldwide as the ‘MDGs,’ but with the deadline fast approaching more must be done to fully meet the targets set for 2015 and beyond, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said [Thursday]…” (9/25).

U.N. News Centre: Lauding global success in fighting hunger, Ban urges sustained commitment
“Despite a rising global population and the perilous effects of climate change, the goal of eliminating hunger around the world remains within reach, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said [Thursday]…” (9/25).

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Study Examines How HIV Cleared From 'Berlin Patient' After Bone Marrow Transplant

News outlets report on a new study examining why only one person has been cleared of HIV infection.

Live Science: Only 1 Person Has Been Cured of HIV: New Study Suggests Why
“To this date, only one person is thought to have been cured of HIV — the ‘Berlin patient’ Timothy Ray Brown. But no one is exactly sure which aspect of Brown’s treatment may have cured him. Now a new experiment on monkeys provides more evidence that a rare genetic mutation in the person who donated bone marrow to Brown may have had a central role in his cure…” (Gholipour, 9/25).

Science: How did the ‘Berlin patient’ rid himself of HIV?
“Researchers are closer to unraveling the mystery of how Timothy Ray Brown, the only human cured of HIV, defeated the virus, according to a new study. Although the work doesn’t provide a definitive answer, it rules out one possible explanation…” (Cohen, 9/25).

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Mass Vaccination Of Dogs Could Eliminate Rabies In Humans, Study Suggests

Media sources report on a study that suggests mass vaccination of dogs could eliminate human cases of rabies.

HealthDay News/U.S. News: Rabies Shots for Dogs Would Save People in Developing Countries: Study
“Mass rabies vaccination programs for dogs in developing nations could eliminate human cases of the deadly disease, a new study suggests…” (Preidt, 9/25).

Humanosphere: A plan to rid the world of rabies in humans — through dogs
“…[Rabies] kills at least 70,000 people every year — probably many more, some say, mostly in poor parts of Asia and Africa. Scientists at Washington State University who specialize in zoonotics — diseases that pass between animals and humans (aka, most diseases) — say we have the tools and the opportunity to rid the world of human rabies through a concerted and targeted vaccination campaign focused on dogs…” (Paulson, 9/25).

Live Science: Mass Dog Vaccination Could Eliminate Rabies Globally
“It is possible to eliminate cases of the deadly rabies virus in people worldwide through mass vaccinations of dogs, some researchers argue…” (Rettner, 9/25).

Reuters: Experts unveil plan to end rabies globally via dog vaccinations
“Rabies experts on Thursday unveiled a blueprint for eliminating the pernicious disease, which almost always is caused by bites from rabid dogs and kills tens of thousands of people a year worldwide, through a program of mass dog vaccinations in targeted regions…” (Dunham, 9/25).

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ICRW Launches Report On Ending Child Marriage

VOA News: Empowering Girls is Key to Ending Child Marriage
“A new report highlights strategies to end child marriage, a harmful practice that turns millions of young girls worldwide into child brides. The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) launched the report in Washington and hosted a panel discussion that included international NGOs and humanitarian agencies…” (Lewis, 9/25).

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Health Conditions Very Poor For Iraqis Trapped In Conflict Zones, MSF Says

VOA News: Health Conditions in Iraq Become Alarming
“The medical aid group Doctors Without Borders reports the health situation in Iraq is alarming. The group, known by its French initials MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), says conditions are particularly dire for hundreds of thousands of people trapped in conflict zones…” (Schlein, 9/24).

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Editorials and Opinions

Opinion Pieces Discuss Post-2015 Development Goals

The following opinion pieces discuss the next round of global development goals against the backdrop of the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York.

Devex: Beyond 2015: A new agenda for a better world
Jim Emerson, CEO of VSO International

“People everywhere around the world want to be able to influence the decisions that affect their lives. As world leaders meet this week at the U.N. General Assembly to discuss a future path for addressing global poverty, they shouldn’t forget that people in the poorest countries and communities don’t want to be told what is best for them — they want to be active partners in their own development. … As we look ahead, we need to take into account the different world we live in compared to when the MDGs were drawn up in 2000 — including the ways in which inequality and economic crises are still hurting many. Much remains to be done to create an equitable and sustainable world where every person is safe, lives well and enjoys their human rights, and where political and economic systems deliver well-being for all women, men, and children, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized, within the limits of our planet’s resources. That’s why we must take the lessons learned from this global approach and why the leaders meeting this week must re-energize the fight against poverty and inequality with an ambitious, transformative, common framework that can mobilize governments, civil society, parliaments, businesses and — most importantly — people…” (9/25).

Inter Press Service: Delivering on the Promises of the Global Partnership for Development
Wu Hongbo, under-secretary-general for the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)

“Persistent gaps between the promises made, and actually delivered, by developed countries to developing countries, hold back efforts to improve people’s lives and end poverty. The poorest countries need more access to aid, trade, debt relief, medicines, and technologies, if we are going to make greater progress on reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). … As the deadline for achieving the MDGs approaches and Member States of the United Nations prepare to launch a new sustainable development agenda, we must do our utmost to close the remaining gaps. With little more than one year remaining, now is the time to take action. Let us all work together — governments, international institutions, all citizens of the globe — to commit to concrete accelerated actions in achieving all MDGs, as well as to a renewed global development cooperation, to underpin our development efforts, so that we can usher in a more sustainable future” (9/25).

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NTD Control Should Be Larger Component Of U.S. Policy In Latin America

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: The NTDs and Vaccine Diplomacy in Latin America: Opportunities for United States Foreign Policy
Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute

“…Overall, science and global health diplomacy as it pertains to NTDs in Latin America comprise a modest element of today’s U.S. foreign policy. … Ultimately it could be exciting to see how joint programs of NTD control and vaccine and other types of R&D might become front and center to U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America. Such programs represent an important, potentially highly productive, and yet largely untapped opportunity” (9/25).

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Tools Available To Prevent Pediatric Tuberculosis

Huffington Post: The Preventable Disease We Should All Be Fighting Against
Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson

“Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a serious problem that has received inadequate attention, in large part because we simply didn’t know the magnitude of the problem. … This is not acceptable, especially when we have the tools to help prevent such suffering among this vulnerable population. … We can no longer stand idly by as children continue to contract and, in the worst cases, die from this preventable disease. We must do something about it” (9/25).

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From the Global Health Policy Community

Marking World Contraception Day, USAID Blog Discusses New Innovations in Contraception

USAID’s “IMPACTblog”: Five Promising Innovations in Contraception
Marking World Contraception Day, Ellen Starbird, director of USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health, discusses issues related to contraception, USAID’s role in providing contraception, and “five promising new innovations in contraception” (9/26).

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Engaging Communities Essential For Success Of U.S. Government Health Programs

Center for Global Health Policy’s “Science Speaks”: Nothing about us without us: The evolving role of PEPFAR in community engagement
In a guest post, Ron MacInnis, deputy director for HIV for the Futures Group’s Health Policy Project, discusses community involvement in global health programs, including PEPFAR, as well as a “Presidential Memorandum issued Tuesday by U.S. President Barack Obama, ‘Deepening U.S. Government Efforts to Collaborate with and Strengthen Civil Society,’ [that] outlines the importance of engaging non-governmental actors in all USG programs…” (Barton, 9/25).

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Blog Post Discusses Differences Between CDC, MSF Approaches To Ebola

Center for Global Development’s “Global Health Policy Blog”: CDC vs Médecins Sans Frontières on Ebola: Is the Perfect the Enemy of the Good?
Mead Over, senior fellow at CGD, discusses a recent “disagreement between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Ebola experts and the Médecins Sans Frontieres Ebola doctors regarding the value of community Ebola treatment centers staffed with community volunteers for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. … These individuals and their organizations are hugely competent and are working from the same facts about Ebola. How could they disagree on such a major question of strategy?…” (9/25).

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