The long-awaited fifteenth episode of PandemiCast is finally here - but it is in two parts. This episode, you will know from the trailer, is an insight into the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. In this special edition, you will hear from leading members of the Baird’s CMC network and its connections from across Africa. They will be in conversation with … [Read more...] about PandemiCast XV, Part I: The view from Africa
Africa
PandemiCast XV: A look at COVID-19 in Africa (Trailer)
The fifteenth edition of PandemiCast - the video podcast co-produced by Baird’s CMC, Hyderus Teoranta, and Health Issues India, takes a much different format than our regular programme. In this special episode, we explore the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Friends of Baird’s CMC, spanning the breadth of its extensive African network, lend their … [Read more...] about PandemiCast XV: A look at COVID-19 in Africa (Trailer)
The global gag rule does not stop abortions. It does the opposite.
New research shows that a US Republican policy is increasing rates of abortion by forty percent in 26 African countries. It is a bitter irony that the policy is designed to starve NGOS which offer advice on abortion or help for policymakers in making evidence-based decisions about abortion services. “Decisions made in Washington DC have … [Read more...] about The global gag rule does not stop abortions. It does the opposite.
US malaria donations saving two million children?
Have US donations in the campaign to fight malaria been responsible for saving the lives of up to two million children in Africa? Foreign aid often faces the accusation of not being cost efficient, or poorly directed. In many cases there are a lack of follow up studies analysing the impact of the donations. A study published in PLOS Medicine is … [Read more...] about US malaria donations saving two million children?
TB ‘miracle cures’ and the issue of high expectations
Controversy has broken out in India regarding access to two treatments that are used to address drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). The medications, bedaquiline and delamanid are all but unavailable in India, with fewer than 1,000 DR-TB patients in India receiving bedaquiline and only 81 receive delamanid. This has led to calls for the issuing of … [Read more...] about TB ‘miracle cures’ and the issue of high expectations
Drug resistant HIV and the potential to render current treatments inviable
Children in Africa have shown a prevalence of up to 54 percent of HIV strains which display a resistance to one or more commonly used antiretroviral (ARV) drugs according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Is this an indication that currently used medications may prove to be ineffective in years to come? Africa has seen a … [Read more...] about Drug resistant HIV and the potential to render current treatments inviable
Mexico City Policy: Putting the US at odds with the EU?
The London Family Planning summit has reportedly documented $5 billion in pledges to aid family planning services in developing nations, however, will the policies of the Trump administration hinder these efforts? On Tuesday, July 11, World Population Day was observed, with a timely theme: “Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing … [Read more...] about Mexico City Policy: Putting the US at odds with the EU?
The Addis deal that will “turbo charge development”
UPDATED WITH INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS The Financing for Development meeting ended last night in Addis Ababa with the UK Secretary of State for Development hailing it as "a historic international deal that takes us beyond aid." Justine Greening went on to say, "It is the first ever agreement that allows us to harness private sector investment and … [Read more...] about The Addis deal that will “turbo charge development”
International declarations and treaties don’t change things — Tweets do
There was a time when international declarations changed the world. Maybe some still do but increasingly leaders communicate in 140 characters, not 20-page communiqués. Even international agreements and treaties may not be worth the paper they're written on, much less the thousands of days of staff time that go into them, according to an elegant … [Read more...] about International declarations and treaties don’t change things — Tweets do
The coming water wars and how bored the media are with climate change
A leak this week says that the second of three reports from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts some very unpleasant changes for a world in which global warming is proceeding at the fastest end of official predictions. If there is a mean global temperature rise of 2.5 degrees C (over the pre-industrialised period) the panel … [Read more...] about The coming water wars and how bored the media are with climate change