Kenya Court, Human Rights Groups Call For Change To Law Criminalizing Mothers Who Pass HIV To Baby April 1, 2015 News Summary Thomson Reuters Foundation: Kenya court urges change to law criminalizing women who pass HIV to baby “Human rights groups have welcomed moves to change a Kenyan law passed to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, which criminalizes pregnant women who pass HIV/AIDS to their babies, saying it discouraged people from finding…
U.K. Scientists, NHS Medics Develop Rapid Ebola Diagnostic Kit In Sierra Leone April 1, 2015 News Summary The Guardian: Ebola rapid diagnostic kit developed by U.K. scientists in Sierra Leone “A rapid Ebola diagnostic kit similar to a pregnancy kit has been developed by British military scientists and NHS medics in Sierra Leone. It can be administered at the bedside and return its first results within 20…
Improved Access To Postnatal Care Can Reduce Maternal, Neonatal Deaths, WHO Report Says April 1, 2015 News Summary VOA News: WHO Calls for Improved Access to Postnatal Care “Governments in developing countries must make access to postnatal care a priority to significantly reduce the mortality rates of women and infants, the World Health Organization says in a new report…” (Schlein, 3/31).
World Bank Backs Access To Contraceptives, Improved Sexual Health In Sahel Region April 1, 2015 News Summary Reuters: World Bank backs contraception, sexual health in Sahel region “Broadening access to contraceptives in Africa’s arid Sahel region and improving women’s sexual health are key parts of a $200 million World Bank project in the conservative Muslim region, its coordinator said…” (Piper, 3/31).
U.N. Agricultural Agency Announces Plan To End Sheep And Goat Plague April 1, 2015 News Summary U.N. News Centre: Eliminating sheep and goat plague will boost livelihoods and nutrition, says U.N. official at conference “The United Nations agricultural agency…outline[d] a strategy in Côte d’Ivoire [Tuesday] for the total eradication of sheep and goat plague by 2030 at an international conference that began [Tuesday] in the country’s…
Donors Pledge $3.8B For Syrian Humanitarian Response, Nearly Half Of U.N.’s Original Appeal April 1, 2015 News Summary The Guardian: Donors pledge $4bn in humanitarian aid for Syrians “The international community has pledged $3.8bn to tackle the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Syria — less than half the amount the U.N. says is needed this year to help the millions of people affected by the ongoing…
USG Awards Pharmaceutical Company Funds To Develop Ebola Treatment April 1, 2015 News Summary The Hill: Feds award company up to $35M to develop Ebola drug “The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday awarded about $12 million to a North Carolina pharmaceutical company that has been developing Ebola treatments. The company, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, has created a ‘promising’ experimental drug that prevents…
Guinea Detects Three New Ebola Cases, Authorities Say April 1, 2015 News Summary Reuters: Guinea finds three Ebola cases in the alumina hub of Fria “Guinea has detected at least three new cases of Ebola in the alumina hub of Fria, according to the national coordination of the fight against the disease, as authorities blamed popular resistance for hampering the battle against the…
State Department Podcast Discusses Frontline Ebola Health Workers In West Africa March 31, 2015 News Summary U.S. Department of State: Fighting Ebola: Being on the frontline of the fight The U.S. Department of State released a SoundCloud podcast on Ebola frontline health workers. “In this episode of Fighting Ebola we hear from health care workers on the ground battling the Ebola outbreak in West Africa” (3/27).