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.
Development
US malaria donations saving two million children?
![By Chief Petty Officer Robert Gallagher (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/227675) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://hyderus.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Malaria_study_DVIDS227675-150x150.jpg)
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?
Mexico City Policy: Putting the US at odds with the EU?
![By Voice of America (http://www.voanews.com/a/3430100.html) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://hyderus.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Trump_accepts_nomination-150x150.jpg)
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?
UK parliamentary report on R&D for neglected diseases focuses on …. medieval Venice
This summer, an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Tuberculosis of the UK Parliament produced a report on research and development for diseases that affect poor people. This was admirable, except that the report has little to do with global health R&D and instead concentrates on radical changes to the system of patents and intellectual … [Read more...] about UK parliamentary report on R&D for neglected diseases focuses on …. medieval Venice
Being trendy matters more than making sense in @TheLancet #Palestine
This week's Lancet brings an example of the very worst in medical publishing: trendy, misleading and meaningless. A short article tries to address a very important question: why do women in the Palestinian Territories continue to have a lot of children? Conventional wisdom, much loved by Hans Rosling and Bill Gates, is that improved child … [Read more...] about Being trendy matters more than making sense in @TheLancet #Palestine
Which rich countries are best and worst in the way they treat poor countries?
The 2013 Commitment to Development Index (CDI) is out. The ranking, from the Center for Global Development, aims to say which rich countries have the overall best policies on development and which the worst. Unlike other indices, it doesn't just look at overseas development assistance ("aid") but at six other aspects of policy including technology, … [Read more...] about Which rich countries are best and worst in the way they treat poor countries?
Liconomics: Chinese #greenenergy to grow at twice the rate of general economy
At a private lunch last year, China's ambassador to the UK spent ten minutes answering my question about why China would not support global limits on greenhouse gas emissions. He is an excellent diplomat and it was a private meeting so I can't point to anything he said that deviated at all from the official policy. However, he spent five minutes … [Read more...] about Liconomics: Chinese #greenenergy to grow at twice the rate of general economy
Reactions to the Bongo Bongo Land controversy #aid #development
It's been a hot week for popular discussions of overseas development assistance (ODA or "aid") in the UK . The trigger was a speech by Godfrey Bloom of the UK Independence Party in which he talked about "aid for Bonga Bonga Land" funding Ferraris and luxury apartments in Paris. Bloom is a frequently-drunken, always embarrassing Member of the … [Read more...] about Reactions to the Bongo Bongo Land controversy #aid #development
BRICS co-operation on health: where’s the beef?
The Bullet of the World Health Organization has issued a call for papers for a themed issue on "BRICS and global health to enhance people’s understanding of the dynamics of health and development in BRICS countries and of how these countries contribute to global health, both by improving health outcomes in their own territories and by engaging in … [Read more...] about BRICS co-operation on health: where’s the beef?
Why do UK governments invest in global public health? Academic paper contains nuggets
This is one of those dense academic papers that might seem to use arcane processes to get at the blindingly obvious. However, there are gems of great information within it so we advise you to stick with it. Published in the May 2013 Globalization and Health, it's got the uncatchy title of Understanding how and why health is integrated into foreign … [Read more...] about Why do UK governments invest in global public health? Academic paper contains nuggets
The Three Commitments
Why Consultants end up not telling the truth
The worst kind of market research interviewing technique ever
Why bright people can’t explain themselves
