The newsletter provides updates on awards, tools, reports, and opportunities from the Center for Global Initiatives (CGI). CGI received a Top-Rated Award from GreatNonprofits for the fourth year in a row. The newsletter also highlights recent blog posts from the Global Health Policy Center, news of restrictive NGO laws passed in Cambodia, and the work of the Center for Global Health at the University of Illinois. Additionally, it provides information on funding opportunities such as the Lipman Family Prize and Forbes Under 30 $1M Change the World Competition.
call girls in Connaught Place DELHI đ >àŒ9540349809 đ genuine Escort Service ...
Â
2015 September Tools for Change CGI Newsletter
1. 1
Greetings and welcome to
the latest edition of the
CGI Newsletter
Dr. Chris Stout, Editor
Volume II, Number 9, September 2015
_____News, Tools, Reports and Shout-Outs______
GreatNonprofits announced that the Center for
Global Initiatives has been honored with a
prestigious Top-Rated Award.
GreatNonprofits, is the leading provider of user reviews about
nonprofit organizations. Supporters posted their personal
experiences and opinions about CGI at the GreatNonprofits
site. While the Top-Rated Awards run through the end of
October, CGI was part of the inaugural group to qualify for the
year. This was CGIâs fourth year in a row.
Being on the Top-Rated list gives donors and volunteers more
confidence as to our success and accomplishments. This award is
a form of recognition by the community. Reviews on the
GreatNonprofits site influence 30 million donation decisions a
year.
2. 2
If you havenât read
the Global Health
Policy Center blog
in a while, now is
a great time to
visit. Here are
some highlights of
their recent posts:
ï· Based on his recent trip, Sahil Angelo highlights efforts in South Africa to reach men with
HIV services. Earlier pieces from that trip include Richard Downieâs analysis of South Africaâs
efforts to attain universal health coverage and Phil Nieburgâs commentary about the lack of
adequate focus on tuberculosis.
ï· Todd Summers weighs in about new prevalence surveys that revealed alarming rates of
tuberculosis in several countries, including Nigeria and Indonesia. Click here to see more of
CSISâs work on TB.
ï· Following the Third International Conference on Financing for Development and the launch
of a new Global Financing Facility (GFF), Katey Peck notes that the international community
must focus on reaching women and children in conflict settings in order to end preventable
maternal and child deaths by 2030.
ï· As Nigeria marks a year without a case of wild poliovirus, Nellie Bristol urges caution and calls
on both Nigeriaâs leaders and the international community to maintain focus in order to reach
certified disease elimination.
ï· Following two recent events at CSIS,
Janet Fleischman comments on the importance
of engaging the faith community and better
understanding the role of faith-based health care
in the developing world.
Cambodia's parliament passes
restrictive draft law on NGOs
On June 13, Cambodia's parliament passed the
draft of a law that would require NGOs
operating in the country to register with the
government and report their activities and
finances or risk fines, criminal prosecution and
closure. More info:
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/par
liament-passes-restrictive-draft-law-on-ngos-
07132015162455.html
3. 3
Newsletter within a newsletter!
Check out the amazing work being done at the
Center for Global Health at the College of
Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago:
CGH Summer 2015 Newsletter
âWe will not be successful in our efforts to end
deaths from AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis unless
we do more to improve health systems around the
world.â
President Barack Obama, 2009
The U.S. Agency for International
Developmentâs (USAIDâs) Office of Health
Systems is pleased to announce the launch of
âImpact of Health Systems Strengthening on Health,â a review of published systematic literature
reviews assessing the documented effects of health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions on
health status and health outcome measures in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Leaders in LMICs require timely and compelling evidence on how to best invest in strengthening their
health systems to improve their citizensâ well-being. Yet, evidence to achieve sustainable improvements
at scale has been limited. USAID is committed to advancing the evidence base on HSS, and this
commissioned report clearly demonstrates that investing in HSS can improve health in LMICs.
Learn more
ï· Follow @USAIDGH for daily updates on Health Systems Strengthening
ï· Read the reportâs press release and find links to the synopsis and full report
4. 4
ï· Join the conversation at Health Systems Global
ï· Read the Health-Related Research and Development Progress Report
Photo credit: Maria Miralles/HFG Project
Fundraising proposal writing guide.
This online guide offered by the Foundation Center,
a leading source of philanthropy worldwide, outlines
how to write a fundraising proposal.
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/sh
ortcourse/
_____Award, Grant, Funding, & Job Opportunities_____
Google Ad Grants
Google Ad Grants - the
nonprofit edition of
Google's online advertising
tool, Ad Words - offers
nonprofits $10,000 per
month in in-kind AdWords
advertising. To learn more
and to apply for the
program, visit:
http://goo.gl/MnnNJ0
Applications
NowOpenfor
$250,000
Annual
Lipmann
FamilyPrize
forLeadership
and
Innovationin
theSocial
Sector
5. 5
This yearâs Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize winner and two finalists will take home twice the
amount of their predecessors, thanks to a significant investment from prize founders Barry & Marie
Lipman. The winning organization will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds, up from $125,000 in
previous years. The finalists will receive $25,000 each, up from $12,500. Applications are now being
accepted from organizations working for social change all over the globe.
âPrevious winners of the Lipman Family Prize have shown how well they leverage unrestricted funds
and expert advice to unleash their full potential,â says Lipman, a Wharton School undergraduate
alumnus (Wâ70) who started the prize in 2011, with his wife, Marie. âSeeing the huge difference
innovative organizations can make when they have the resources they need is a better return on
investment than I ever imagined. So we decided to double our investment, to build new knowledge,
resources, and solutions for the social sector.â
The Lipman Family Prize is an annual global prize given to an organization that celebrates leadership
and innovation in the social sector with an emphasis on impact and transferability of practices. First
awarded in 2012, the prize is administered by the University of Pennsylvania through the Wharton
School. Past winners include iDE, READ Global, Breakthrough, and Riders for Health.
In addition to financial support, Lipman Family Prize winners and finalists gain access to University of
Pennsylvania and Wharton School resources, including a tuition-free executive education program,
pro-bono consultation from University faculty and staff, peer learning events, as well as expert- and
student-driven research to inform and guide their work. With a core emphasis on education, the
Lipman Family Prize cultivates long-term partnership among the finalists, the Prize committee and the
School.
âThe unconventional nature of this prize is part of what makes it so valuable for an organization like
ours,â says John Mulvey, Grants Officer for Breakthrough, a global human rights organization working
to make violence against women and girls unacceptable, and winner of the 2014 Lipman Family Prize.
âOur main tool for action is cutting-edge multimedia flash campaigns that mobilize communities,
which means we have to take advantage of situations as they arise. So the unrestricted nature of the
prize is key. It gives us the flexibility to respond quickly, so we can leverage key media and pop culture
momentum to bring attention to domestic abuse.â
Furthermore, he says, âHaving a relationship with Wharton â the leading business school in the
country â is immeasurably valuable. Being able to tap into faculty expertise, network with alumni, and
work with top-notch students has been an unexpected benefit.â
Applications for the 2016 Lipman Family Prize will be accepted until August 31, 2015, at 5 p.m. EST.
The winning organization will be announced in February 2016. Additional information about the
application process can be found on the Lipman Family Prize website.
About the Lipman Family Prize
The Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania is an annual global prize that celebrates
leadership and innovation among organizations creating positive social impact. Governed by a steering
committee comprised of University faculty, staff, and Lipman family representatives, the Lipman
Family Prize is administered by the Wharton School on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania.
6. 6
The Halcyon Incubator is committed to
solving 21st century challenges by helping social
entrepreneurs with audacious ideas incubate and
accelerate social ventures with the capacity for
measurable social change.
ï§ How it Works
ï§ Why Apply
ï§ Eligibility
ï§ Selection Criteria and Process
ï§ Application
WhyApply
The Halcyon Incubator supports Fellows in numerous ways and enables them to build sustainable
ventures with the capacity to change the world.
Fellows accepted into the program will have access to the following resources:
Strategic Venture Resources - The Halcyon Incubator has partnered with some of the leading firms in
the community to advise and directly support the Fellowsâ ventures. During the course of the program,
Fellows receive more than 1,000 hours (in aggregate) of:
ï§ Strategy and operations consulting provided by Deloitte
ï§ Legal and business advice through Tandem Legal
ï§ Communications, public relations, and marketing assistance through Sage Communications
ï§ Accounting and financial training from KPMG
ï§ One-on-one executive coaching provided in partnership with The HR Sage
World-Class Network of Mentors and Advisors - The Halcyon Incubator builds a community of
support around the Fellows by bringing together a robust network of seasoned entrepreneurs,
experienced change-makers, and leaders in the government, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.
ï§ Each venture is paired with an experienced, field-specific mentor who provides weekly guidance
and support during the Residency Phase.
ï§ Select dinners and events engage Fellows with a robust network of supporters, advisors, and
potential funders.
Residency, Business and Living Expenses - The Halcyon Incubator was founded to ensure that all
social entrepreneurs, regardless of their economic background, can succeed. The program reduces the
financial barriers to starting a social venture by providing:
ï§ Five months of free housing at the historic Halcyon House
ï§ $10,000 stipend for food and living expenses during the Residency Phase
ï§ One year of free workspace at Halcyon House
ï§ Eligibility for six months of reduced-rent workspace through one of our partners after the Post-
Residency Phase
7. 7
Critical Audiences - The program works to provide exposure for ventures to help ensure long-term
sustainability.
ï§ Access to entrepreneurs, press, and supporters during a formal debut at Kick-Off, an event at
the beginning of the Residency Phase
ï§ Watch previous Kick-Off events here: Fall Kick-Off 2014, Spring Kick-Off 2015
ï§ Access to potential funders, investors, and partners during Demo Day, an event at the end of
the Residency Phase
ï§ Access to key community figures and innovators at conferences and other events
ï§ Watch videos from the Women Leading Disruptive Innovations Conference hosted at
Halcyon House in March 2015 here
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Halcyon Incubator:
ï§ Applicant(s) must be at least 21 years of age by the start of the program.
ï§ Applicant(s) must be fluent in English.
ï§ The venture must be the original idea of the applicant(s).
ï§ The venture must be in start-up phase or have been in operation for less than two years.
ï§ The venture must be independent and autonomous. Ventures cannot be considered
independent or autonomous if they were started under the direction of an existing
organization.
ï§ The applicant or applicant's team must be the primary decision maker for the ventureâs
development and management.
ï§ Applicant(s) must be able to make a full-time commitment to the venture's development
during the first twelve months of the fellowship.
ï§ Applicant(s) who will be enrolled in a college or university during the time of the
fellowship are not eligible.
ï§ Applicant(s) must have legal work status in the United States or be able to obtain a visa
for the Residency and Post-Residency phases.
ï§ Applicant(s) must complete the entire online application and submit it and all required
documents before the closing date.
Ventures may be for-profit, nonprofit, hybrid, or undecided, as long as the core mission is to
create measurable social change. Partnerships (ventures co-founded and led by two individuals)
may apply as long as both founders meet the above eligibility requirements. For more info see
http://halcyonincubator.org/
8. 8
Call for Applications, Global Social Benefit Institute Accelerator, Miller Center for
Social Entrepreneurship
One Application for All GSBI Programs
Cost free for Accepted Social Entrepreneurs
GSBI programs are offered at no cost to participating entrepreneurs.
Participants in the GSBI Accelerator are expected to pay only for round-trip airfare to San Jose or San
Francisco, California for the August in-residence portion of the program.
Program staff time, in-residence meals, and accommodations for the GSBI Accelerator program are all
paid through the fundraising efforts of the Miller Center. We fundraise so that the cost of our
program does not prohibit any social entrepreneur from getting the help they deserve.
Participants in GSBI Online complete the course remotely and require no travel.
Qualifications
Apply now to the GSBI Online and GSBI Accelerator programs! One short application for both
programs.
WhoShouldApply:
ï§ Leaders of for-profit, non-profit, or hybrid enterprises
ï§ Social impact-based mission
ï§ Operational with tested business model
ï§ Seeking investment
ï§ Preparing to scale impact
WhatYouGain:
ï§ In-depth mentoring from Silicon Valley executives for the duration of the program
ï§ Strengthened business model
ï§ Refined business plan
ï§ Financial plan for scaling
ï§ Organizational development
ï§ Talent management
ï§ Operational excellence at scale
9. 9
ApplicationProcess
Complete a simple application to be considered for all of our programs. Just be sure to apply by the
following dates to be considered for the next cohort.
Apply anytime, but applications received by October 23, 2015 will be given priority for the next
cohorts of our GSBI Online and GSBI Accelerator program. http://www.scu-social-
entrepreneurship.org/gsbi-apply
Forbes under 30
$1M Change the
World
Competition
TheChallenge
The Forbes Under 30 $1 Million Change the World Competition is the largest ever for young social
entrepreneurs.
Five or six finalists, selected from the complete pool of competitors, will receive a cash award of
$100,000 USD. They will then compete on-stage at the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Philadelphia
on October 6, 2015 in front of 2,000 world-class mentors and the best young entrepreneurs and game-
changers in the world, as culled from the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists.
The overall winner will receive at least $400,000 USD in additional cash and in-kind support, bringing
their award total to at least $500,000 USD, and the overall award total to $1,000,000 USD.
The competition calls on social entrepreneurs with disruptive and scalable ideas with the potential to
change the world. It is open to both nonprofit and for-profit enterprises. This is not a business plan
competition â organizations or companies must already be in operation and the prize money should
be utilized to accelerate the most promising ideas.
All submissions must be submitted on HeroX.com. Applications will be screened by the Wharton
Social Impact Initiative of the University of Pennsylvania. The finalists will be announced in early
September, before competing on the main stage at the Forbes Under 30 Summit on October 6.
These Challenge Guidelines are part of the Challenge Specific Agreement that governs the
competition and to which you must agree before making a submission. To view the Challenge Specific
Agreement, click on "Submit an Entry."
10. 10
Submission Requirements
The competition submission consists of under 30 questions that require you to complete short
answers, upload documents, and create short videos. Click on âSubmit Entryâ to register for the
competition and to view and to complete the submission form.
We encourage you to register for the competition as soon as possible and to make note of all
submission requirements. We also suggest that you compile all components of the submission offline
and then login to HeroX.com to upload and copy/paste your answers.
The submission deadline is August 26, 2015 at 11:59PM Eastern Time. No late entries will be
accepted. Please plan ahead; to avoid any technical issues with your browser do not submit during the
last few minutes.
Applicants who make the first cut-off will be asked for follow-up information; telephone interviews
may be requested. Finalists will be notified by September 9 and must be able to travel to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania from October 5-6, 2015 for the Forbes Under 30 Summit. A full-pass to the Summit will
be provided; finalists are responsible for their own travel expenses. International applicants need to be
mindful of visa and other logistics issues.
The finalists will be notified by email on or around 12:00 noon ET on September 9, 2015. The
challenge partners will make a maximum of three attempts to contact each finalist. If a finalist is
unreachable during the 48-hour period in which challenge partners attempt to make contact, or if he
or she does not comply with this SCA, an alternate finalist may be selected from other eligible
Submissions.
JudgingCriteria
True to the competitionâs name, this challenge seeks innovative models that attack big problems with
solutions that are scalable. The competition is looking for exceptional teams executing bold ideas with
the potential to make a huge impact. Judges are looking for solutions in the areas of education,
extreme poverty, sustainability, global health and any other number of other social problems.
Prizes
The challenge will award a total of $1,000,000 USD in cash and in-kind prizes. The awards and/or
investments will come from the following Sponsoring Organizations: The Charles and Lynn
Schusterman Family Foundation, the Case Foundation, the Pratt Foundation, the Keywell
Foundation and entrepreneur Bob Duggan, plus an in-kind advertising grant from Forbes.
ï§ Five or six $100,000 USD prizes (or equivalent); and
ï§ One $400,000 USD prize (or equivalent) to the overall winner
ï§ Finalists will be invited to participate in the Under 30 Impact Lab â an afternoon during which
the attendees at the Under 30 Summit will work with challenge finalists to help them solve
problems and accelerate their growth.
Nonprofit prizes:
Nonprofits will receive their cash award in the form of a grant or other charitable commitment
(subject to the terms and conditions of the respective sponsoring organizations).
11. 11
For-profit prizes:
For-profit companies will receive their cash award in the form of an investment, in the form of equity
at the same valuation and on the same terms as their current or previous funding round, or if no
funding round is underway, in the form of a convertible note. The investment will be completed no
later than 60 days following the announcement of the winner.
In-kind prizes:
In-kind awards, as part of the grand prize, will be given to the company outright, without any equity
consideration.
ChallengeSchedule
Date Milestone
July 22, 2015 Challenge opens
August 26, 2015 Submissions deadline, 11:59PM Eastern Time
September 9, 2015Finalists announced
October 6, 2015 Forbes Under 30 Summit and Winners Announced
THEONLYGLOBALFELLOWSHIPFORSOCIALINTRAPRENEURS!
We're talking a high intensity, hands-on, accelerated fellowship experience working one-on-one with a
social enterprise in India. Our six-month accelerator is filled with one-on-one coaching, monthly
capacity building workshops, customized curriculum specifically designed for intrapreneurs,
networking opportunities⊠not to mention you'll build relationships that will last a lifetime.
IDEX is a professional fellowship experience designed for ASPIRING INTRAPRENEURS who want
to take control their career path while helping to address society's most pressing problems. With more
12. 12
than 200 global alumni, IDEX is creating the next wave of âsocial intrapreneursâ who will support,
lead and advance the work of socially-focused enterprises around the world.
Qualifications
Candidates must possess the minimum qualifications to be eligible for the IDEX Fellowship:
ï§ Bachelor or Masters/Graduate Degree (BS/BA/BBA must be obtained prior to start of
program);
ï§ Age limit: 21-35 years old
ï§ Ability to perform in a high pressure environment;
ï§ English fluency (written and spoken);
ï§ Ability to legally work in India for six months (IDEX will provide more information on the
business visa application process).
ï§ Minimum of 1-3 years of professional work experience;
ï§ Excellent listening and communication skills (written and verbal).
Our Ideal Candidate
IDEX values diversity and passion. We believe the unique perspectives and experiences of each fellow
leads to greater impact in the field.
Candidates are chosen from a diverse yet competitive pool of talented, passionate individuals from a
wide range of geographies, professional and academic backgrounds and ethnicities. In the selection
process, we are seeking to understand your passion and the value you bring to IDEX and the larger
social enterprise sector.
Applicants should have:
ï§ Two professional references;
ï§ Proven track record of leadership responsibilities;
ï§ Demonstrated passion for social enterprise and improving quality of life for low-income
communities;
ï§ Ability to work in new and challenging environments with limited resources;
ï§ Willingness to work with low-income populations in developing economies and demonstrated
practical skills in relationship building, cultural sensitivity and thrive in a start-up environment;
ï§ High interest in working in emerging markets;
ï§ A passion and desire to work in emerging markets and use social enterprise principles to solve
global issues;
ï§ An ability to quickly adapt and work in resource constrained environments;
ï§ Desire to engage in an intense professional development experience while applying; creative
solutions to deepen impact;
ï§ Committed to make an equity investment of time, energy and capital in their personal growth
and professional development.
How to Apply: Visit www.idexfellows.com. Applications close September 15th.
13. 13
_____Upcoming Conferences and Events_____
The Society for the Study of
Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC) is a
wonderful group of psychiatrists,
anthropologists, and other
professionals and academics in the
various fields of mental health
interested in culture and mental
health (see:
https://psychiatryandculture.org),
and this year their annual conference
will be in Minneapolis, MN. It will
take place at the University of
Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey
School of Public Policy & Affairs
with the theme of "Transforming
Policy and Practice for Culturally
Competent Mental Health Care."
SSPC also offers two awards geared toward students to cover costs of attending and be spotlighted
with your own plenary session, one for a medical student/resident/fellow and one for a graduate
student in psychology/anthropology/public health/etc. See their website for more information, and
hope many will consider attending. Click here for abstract submission forms:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4etmm_-
LVQtfnlVWnF3WjBSQlBKbmh6QkdoVHlEUjVnajlvbnh2TDczQ01RbVF1V2Y5UmM&usp=drive_
web
_____Ebola, Infectious Disease, and MoreâŠ_____
Aggregated News Reports from:
Global Health NOW is an initiative of the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health, www.jhsph.edu. Views and
opinions expressed in this email do not necessarily reflect those of
the Bloomberg School. Created by Brian W. Simpson, MPH,
Dayna Kerecman Myers, Maryalice Yakutchik, Jackie Frank and
Salma Warshanna-Sparklin. You can connect with them
at: bsimpso1@jhu.edu
16. 16
minorities discussed the spread of drug-resistant malaria. At stake is the effectiveness of artemisinin,
the primary medicine used against malaria.
With elections scheduled for November 8, the participants committed to working together regardless
of the electoral results, said Myaing Myaing Nyunt, from the University of Maryland Institute for
Global Health, which helped organize the meeting.
A recent Lancet Infectious Diseases study found widespread resistance across the country, which has
the most malaria deaths in the Mekong region. Bangkok Post
A Spider Brigade
Mosquito-eating spiders from East Africa and Malaysia could help humans fight malaria, researchers
suggest. One promising recruit called Evarcha culicivora has adapted to hunt
female Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria parasites.
These vampire spiders âloveâ feeding on human blood as it gives them a sexually attractive odor to
potential mates, says Fiona Cross, an arachnologist who co-authored arecent study on the spiders.
Another species, the P wanlessi, feeds on mosquito larvae in pools of water.
It may take some convincing, however, before people invite E culicivora spiders to live on their walls
and embrace their potential in malaria control, Cross admits. The Guardian
Related: Copying tuberculosis could yield vaccines against malaria and cancer âStuff.co.nz
Related: Rapid diagnostic testing for malaria reduces overprescribing in Uganda âHealio
HIV/AIDS
A Consensus from Vancouver
More than 500 researchers, clinicians and others have signed on to the Vancouver
Consensus statement calling for immediate access to antiretroviral treatment upon an HIV+ diagnosis.
Following the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and
Prevention (IAS 2015), the experts agreed that antiretrovirals can ârapidly advance the fight to end
AIDS.â
Despite this, representatives of the Consensus signatories note in a Lancet editorial that only 10
countries âhave formally adopted the option for people diagnosed with HIV to start antiretroviral
treatment immediately.â They call on politicians to muster the political will to not only expand
antiretroviral access but to increase support for testing and counseling and protect human rights of
marginalized groups. The Lancet
Donbass Morass
Unless a humanitarian corridor is opened up soon, thousands of patients in need of drugs to treat
HIV and other illnesses in Ukraineâs Donbass region risk losing access.
17. 17
As the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian separatists continues, patients must travel to
government-controlled territories for treatment. Thatâs impractical for many, and the WHO estimates
that supplies of HIV medicines will last only until mid-August in some parts of the Donbassâwhere no
humanitarian convoy has delivered medicines since February.
âFor their part, those in control of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk Peopleâs Republics in the
Donbass have shown little interest in protecting the lives of people with HIV,â writes Michel
Kazatchkine, a French physician and the UN secretary generalâs special envoy for HIV/AIDS in
Eastern Europe and Central Asia, in this sobering op-ed. The New York Times
Related: Peer-led network intervention substantially lowers HIV infections in people who use drugs in
Ukraine â aidsmap
Related:
Transgender Women Face Inadequate Health Care, 'Shocking' HIV Rates â NPR
Kenyaâs Girls Have DREAMS
Kenya will receive $30 million from the DREAMS project to help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS
among adolescent girls, President Obama announced during his visit to East Africa.
The DREAMS project, funded by the US, the Nike Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, falls under the Presidentâs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
DREAMS addresses the fact that young women are as much as 10 times more likely to become HIV
infected than young men, said Deborah Birx, who heads up PEPFAR. Explaining the DREAMS
acronym, Birx said, â⊠the D stands for determine, the R for resilient, the E for empowered, the A for
AIDS-free and the M for mentored and the S for safe.â VOA
Related: A Little-Noticed Win in Global HIV Treatment â Wall Street Journal Washington Wire blog
Related: Drought increases the spread of HIV in Africa â Stanford University, Freeman Spogli
Institute for International Studies
Related: HIV/AIDS: Radio Dramas to Hit the Airwaves in Nigeria â This Day Live
SLEEPING SICKNESS
A Medical Mystery in Kazakhstan
It started in the spring of 2010. A 61-year-old in the Kazakh village of Krasnagorsk, collapsed. She slept
for 4 days and remembered nothing when she awoke. Since that first case, waves of residents have
experienced the same scenario and received the same diagnosis: abnormal brain function of no known
cause.
The symptoms, in varying degrees, affected young and old; men and women. Typically, most victims
became dizzy, toppled over and slept for days. Some thrashed about. Some could be awakened and
spoken to, only to fall back asleep.
Could the illness be traced to a shuttered uranium mine? Was it an unknown virus? Mass hysteria?
18. 18
Sarah A. Topolâs riveting, well-reported story in Buzzfeed chronicles the attempts to solve a medical
mystery. BuzzFeed
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The Cost of Hep C
The hepatitis C epidemic hitting several US states in the Appalachian region is straining federal health
budgets.
Kentucky, which has more than 7 times the national average of acute hepatitis C cases, spent more
than $50 million of its Medicaid budget last year providing new hepatitis C drugs to just 861 people.
A 12-week course of treatment can cost as much as $100,000.
The identified cases of hepatitis C represent a fraction of the infected population, as only 1 in 10 cases
is reported, say public health officials. New York Times
Related: Aboriginal people are disproportionately affected by hepatitis. We know why âThe Guardian
Syrian Refugees Spark Measles Worry
The Syrian refugee crisis has led to the first serious outbreak of measles in years in Turkey, which hosts
up to 2 million refugees.
While Syrian infants living in refugee camps are vaccinated, thousands of refugee children living
outside the camps are not. As a result, says Savan GĂŒnay, a Turkish pediatrician and professor, âThe
vaccination program that we have been following with care for 30 years is now in disarray.â
Diseases that previously affected only 0.1% of people in Turkey can now be seen in upwards of 2% of
the population, according to GĂŒnay. Cihan (Turkey)
POISON
Perky Rice
Cooking rice in an ordinary coffee percolator that repeatedly flushes it through with fresh hot water
has been shown to remove much of the grainâs stored arsenic, researchers report in PLoS ONE.
Arsenic is "mobile" in liquid water, and thus can be removed by cooking the grain in this different way,
Andrew Meharg and colleagues at Queenâs University Belfast, demonstrated.
Efforts are ongoing to breed low-arsenic strains of rice and alter growing techniques, but in the
meantime, âThis paper . . . is offering a short-term solution to the problem. Itâs giving people an
opportunity to reduce the arsenic burden of their rice,â says Margaret Karagas, an epidemiologist at
Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Scientific American
MERS
Unofficially Over in South Korea
With South Koreaâs release of its last MERS patient yesterday, the government declared a de facto end
19. 19
to the outbreak that led to 186 cases and 36 deaths.
The outbreak cannot be declared officially over, under WHO rules, until 28 days after the recovery of
the last patient.
âFor a tuition fee somewhere over $20 billion, it learned what such an outbreak can do in a badly run
healthcare system. The response was enhanced by a reasonably free press that embarrassed both the
healthcare system and the government funding it,â writes Crawford Kilian in his blog, adding that
South Korea should send the bill to the Saudi Arabian government, where âan absolutist monarchy
and media that say only what they're told to sayâ has cost the world years and lives and sent MERS on
a path to becoming endemic in the Gulf states. H5N1
Related: MERS Isnât An Epidemic. That Makes it Harder to Find a Cure â Wired
Related: A cure for Mers? Hong Kong scientists endorse two drugs they say cured marmosets of the
virus â South China Morning Post
Related: Antibody that fights MERS found â Science News
Related: South Korea declares end to MERS, World Health Organization exercises caution â
euronews
HEPATITIS
Asiaâs Overlooked Epidemic
World Hepatitis Day offers an opportunity today to focus on the epicenter of chronic hepatitis B and
CâAsia Pacificâwhere 70% of deaths from this âsilent epidemicâ occur.
In the region, hepatitis takes more lives than malaria, TB, or HIV/AIDS, yet the response from
governments and donors is largely silent as wellâdespite that viral hepatitis B and C infections are
entirely preventable.
In this commentary, Ding-Shinn Chen and Stephen Locarnini, co-chairs of the Coalition to Eradicate
Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific, describe the state of efforts underway to build political will for a
coordinated, global response. Wall Street Journal (Opinion)
PARASITIC DISEASES
Worm Wars and Magic Fixes
Vox correspondent Amanda Taub weighs in on the much disputed paper concluding that giving
Kenyan schoolchildren deworming pills improved not only their educational outcomes but also those
of kids in neighboring schools.
âIt seemed like the world had stumbled onto an actual magic pill,â notes Taub, whose commentary
reveals the clear-eyed skepticism of a former human rights lawyer. âThe truth is that solving hard
problems almost always requires hard solutions. That sounds obvious. But the ferocity of the worm
wars debate goes to show that it's a lesson the global development community, in its obsession with
finding a magic fix for poverty that probably does not exist, can easily forget.â Vox
20. 20
VACCINES
Stockpile Needed
A WHO appeal for vaccine manufacturers to increase production of meningitis C vaccine by 5 million
doses before January appears to be falling on deaf ears, putting 1000s of Africans at risk of dying in a
large outbreak next year.
25 countries constitute Africaâs meningitis belt. Cases of the disease have been rising since it re-
emerged in Nigeria in 2013 and 2014, and in Niger this year. WHO reports 12,000 cases of meningitis
C and 800 deaths in Niger and Nigeria in the first 6 months of this year.
"If there is a true willingness to scale up (vaccine) production, I am pretty sure the manufacturers can
do that,â said William Perea, a WHO epidemiological officer. VOA
Related: Africa Risks Large Meningitis Outbreak, Public Health Officials Warn â Infection Control
Today
VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES
Blue Death for Tsetse Flies
Tsetse flies have long causes sleeping sickness in Africa (more than 7,000 cases in 2013). How to stop
them? Give them the blues.
University of Liverpool entomologist Steve Torr tells NPRâs Goats and Soda blog that tsetse flies like
bright colors that stand out from surrounding green vegetation and theyâre gaga over bright blue. So
Torr and colleagues built a fly trap with a handkerchief-sized patch of blue fabric and insecticide-
treated netting. The flies circle the lovely blue, run into the netting and die in 3 minutes. Sweet.
Since only 1 in 1,000 tsetse flies carry the sleeping sickness parasite, Torr hopes the traps could kill off
the parasite-laden flies in 5-6 years. NPR Goats and Soda
21. 21
_____Guest Contribution _____
A dear friend, Monce C. Abraham (www.monceabraham.com), asked that I reprise this post
heâs written:
That's me with Dr
A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam, Eminent
Scientist and
Former President
of India, in the
blurry pic.
Yes, I was wearing a
windcheater, tee
and track pants;
and managed to
end up in his
presence without a
shave on the day
this 'happened'âŠ
But, Dr Kalam was
still kind enough to
respond.
As I browse through my Facebook stream filled with messages of individuals who had their fair
moment of inspiration meeting, working with and learning from the Honâble President, I would have
loved to say that I had the honor of knowing him personally, discussed his vision for India 2020 and
what made him believe in it so much, along other matters that inspired him to act on his beliefs and
which led to such a remarkable inspiring life.
But, all I have to offer are 15 seconds of interaction with him plus a few minutes spent observing him
from close.
Read rest of the article here: http://monceabraham.com/2015/07/28/goodbye-mr-president/
22. 22
_____ CourseWorks _____
Certificate Program and DropBox Library
The Center is pleased to offer access to our Libraryâs DropBox collections free of charge as an
educational resource to anyone with a need or interest working in resource-limited settings anywhere
in the world. Just email me what sections youâd like and what your work/project is. The Libraryâs
Table of Contents is here: http://www.slideshare.net/drchrisstout1/cgi-dropbox-library-table-of-
contents
There is also an option of
obtaining a Certification if you
are interested in doing so as
well.
Our curricula are based on a
compilation of online lectures
on global health and related
areas. CGI is most indebted to
and with big thanks for our
good friend Jennifer Staple-
Clark, founder of Unite for
Sight, and profiled in my book
The New Humanitarians, Vol. 1,
for making their content freely
available on their site (you may
freely read, download,
distribute, and use the material,
as long as all of the work is
properly cited). You rock Jen!
If youâre interested in earning a Certificate in one of 19 areas, CGIâs tuition is $25/course. Just
contact me to enroll or if you have any questions. You may work at your own pace. Itâs pretty cool,
check it out: http://centerforglobalinitiatives.org/courseWorks.cfm
23. 23
_____ My Thanks! _____
I hope you have found this issue to be informative and helpful in your work.
Please send me any information youâd like posted in upcoming issues.
This Newsletter and mailing are a manual process, so if you would no longer
like to receive it, just send me an email.
You can join our Facebook Group and interact with over 1800 likeminded
individuals at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CenterForGlobalInitiatives/
And if youâd like to support the Centerâs work with a tax deductible
donation, that would be fantastic(!) and do a great deal:
http://centerforglobalinitiatives.org/donateNow.cfm
All past issues are available via a Pinterest Portal:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/257831147393441584/ If any of the URLs do not work in that
format, just email me for the desired back-issue, or visit our website:
http://centerforglobalinitiatives.org/newsletters.cfm
Cheers, and thank you for your work,
Chris
http://DrChrisStout.com
Founding Director, http://CenterForGlobalInitiatives.org
LinkedIn Influencer: https://www.linkedin.com/today/posts/drchrisstout
American Psychological Association International Humanitarian Award Winner,
http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec07/rockstar.html