A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC)July 2007; Vol. 2, No. 7 Before & After Issue Our annual Before & After issue, perhaps more than any other issue through the year, reaffirms our belief in possibility. The role of the health sector in reducing maternal mortality is to ensure the availability of good-quality essential services to all women during pregnancy and childbirth. No single player has the funding, research and delivery capabilities required to solve problems on a global scale. With increasing globalization and the many problems being faced by all, particularly developing countries, it is clear that alliances and the pooling of knowledge play a central role in development. It is our belief that a global research alliance will foster dialogue within and across various international organizations and will generally encourages international cooperation in the field of science and technology. 20 million readers; 170 countries; 1 address – WomensHealthSection.com – allow us the opportunity to present the most popular publication in women’s health. We had started this publication with only 5 Sections in 2002 and by the end of 2007 we will have 15 Sections dealing with various aspects of women’s health and healthcare. Carve your own path. Start your unique experience with the Editorial Board, Advisory Council and Physician’s Board of WomensHealthSection.com, where the experience is everything. Everyday, a physician defines the practice of medicine to healthcare consumers. Every interaction with a patient determines the perspectives that patients comes away with, and that moment, that perspective has the potential to endure for a lifetime. An enduring moment in the healthcare experience. In 2002 when we started this project, we did not have much, just a computer and a dream. And the computer was the easy part. Now we hope and plan on making second part easier for the next generation. Obstacles that limit women’s access to healthcare – such as distance from home to appropriate health facilities, lack of transport, and financial and social barriers – must be removed. Legislation that supports women’s access to care must be formulated. The support of families and communities is the key to reducing maternal mortality. Input from a wide range of groups and individuals is therefore essential, including community leaders, women’s groups, youth groups, other local associations, and healthcare professionals. I can’t wait to get started. Perfection is black & white; there is no gray. WomensHealthSection.com is designed with such clarity, proving a clear distinction and mark of excellence. As far as vision extends, from USA to Australia, such precision brings with it peace of mind founded on a legacy of achievement and recognition of a simple truth – a knowledge pool for global good. So come along with us and be inspired. The Gateway Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: Are there racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health in USA? What are the recommendations of WHEC in this area? Understanding Health Disparities: Approximately 44 million women in the United States, nearly one third of all women, are of racial and ethnic minority groups. African-American women and women of Hispanic origin together comprise roughly one quarter of the total population of U.S. women. The largest segment of the immigrant population in the United States is from Latin America. It is important to note that race and ethnicity are primarily social characteristics much more than they are biologic categories. Significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in women’s health. These health disparities largely result from differences in socioeconomic status and health-insurance status. Many health disparities are directly related to inequalities in income, housing, safety, education, and job opportunities. The current U.S. healthcare financing paradigm inadvertently may contribute to disparities in health outcomes. The United States is the only developed country that does not extend healthcare as a right of citizenship. Healthcare in US is driven by market forces; the ultimate goal of the healthcare business is to maximize profit. Access to health insurance coverage and care and utilization of care is significantly different for minority women. Uninsured women receive no preventive services and more than twice as likely as health-insured women to begin prenatal care late or not at all. Language and literacy barriers interfere with physician-patient communication and can contribute to culturally driven mistrust of the healthcare system and to reduce adherence to healthcare provider recommendations. Use of traditional or folk remedies can interfere with science-based treatments. Elimination of disparities in women’s health and healthcare requires a comprehensive, multilevel strategy that involves all members of society. Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) strongly supports the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in the health and the healthcare of women. We encourage healthcare professionals to engage in the activities to help achieve this goal. We believe and are advocate of universal access to basic affordable healthcare. The desire for a healthier and better world in which to live our lives and raise our children is common to all people and all generations. About NGO Association with the UN: Chairpersons of UN Committees and their views on various issues: Mona Juul, Deputy Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, was elected Chairperson of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) on 18 July 2006. Her views on some of the issues on First committee’s agenda: With so many nuclear issues in the news this past year, nuclear disarmament was understandably at the forefront of the First Committee’s work during this session. Several delegates expressed concern about the “dual-use character” of scientific and technological advancements, notably in the realm of nuclear energy. The First Committee recently approved a draft resolution on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. In such high-stakes issues, where it only takes one party to endanger an entire region, how effective are measures that are not universally accepted? While not addressing the specific situation in the Middle East, in general terms, that measures which are not universally accepted are less affective than those that are subscribed to by all. This is why we can never give up achieving consensus resolutions to security problems, even if these problems are as protracted as in the Middle East. A Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, specifically condemning the recent nuclear tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was adopted this year by a vote of 175 to 2. Many people believe this to be one of the biggest steps that the United Nations has taken towards a true nuclear weapons ban. In your view, what is the future of this comprehensive ban? A vast majority of States call for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Political realities in a few capitals will most likely prevent this from happening in the near future. Meanwhile, it is important to call on all nuclear-weapons States to abide by a moratorium on nuclear testing. Conventional arms-as opposed to small arms and light weapons, which have been a big focus in recent years-re-emerged as a topic of discussion during this session. What are conventional arms? How will the newly adopted “arms trade treaty” shape a UN strategy for modern arms control? This is an issue that must be addressed in the course of negotiating a possible Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Even if the ATT resolution were adopted without consensus in the First Committee, it would be of importance for the international community and for the UN that all States participate in the preparatory process for these negotiations. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): About the Bulletin of the World Health Organization: The Bulletin seeks to publish and disseminate scientifically rigorous public health information of international significance that enables policy-makers, researchers and practitioners to be more effective; it aims to improve health, particularly among disadvantaged populations. The Bulletin of the World Health Organization is an international journal of public health with a special focus on developing countries. Since it was first published in 1948, the Bulletin has become one of the world’s leading public health journals. In keeping with its mission statement, the peer-reviewed monthly maintains an open-access policy so that the full contents of the journal and its archives are available online free of charge. As the flagship periodical of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Bulletin draws on WHO experts as editorial advisers, reviewers and authors as well as on external collaborators. Anyone can submit a paper to the Bulletin, and no author charges are levied. All peer-reviewed articles are indexed, including in ISI Web of Science and MEDLINE. Information for Authors can be accessed at: http://www.who.int/bulletin/contributors/current_guidelines.pdf (PDF) Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 85, Number 7, July 2007, 501-568 Table of contents United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Program: Volunteerism acts as an effective gateway between the United Nations system and the global citizen. According to one definition of “gateway”, it is a network point that acts as an entrance to another network. That captures the essence of volunteerism. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Program supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism, including mobilization of volunteers. The first place to look for volunteer opportunities is in your community, by joining one of the national volunteer organizations or offering your professional services free of charge. Volunteers recruited nationally should have at least three years of professional experience; assignments usually last 24 months, but 6 to 12 months are increasingly common. For volunteering abroad, UNV recruits a great diversity of talents, such as professionals from various sectors, humanitarian aid specialists, senior business leaders and retired executives, expatriate professionals from the developing world, and information technology specialists. In addition, the UNV Online Volunteering Service connects development organizations and volunteers over the Internet and supports their effective online collaboration. For more information on how to become a UNV volunteer, please visit: www.unvolunteers.org United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): State of World Population: this year turns its focus on urban growth. It notes that in 2008, for the first time in history, more than half of world population, 3.3 billion people will be living in urban areas. This number is expected to swell to almost 5 billion by 2030. In Africa and Asia, the urban population will double between 2000 and 2030, requiring pre-emptive action to prepare for future urban growth. UNFPA’s State of World Population 2007: Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth states that although cities have pressing immediate concerns—including poverty, housing, environment, governance and administration—these problems pale in comparison with those raised by future growth. Reacting to urban challenges as they arise is no longer enough: cities must plan ahead, with specific attention given to poverty reduction and sustainability. The report makes two underlying observations: poor people will make up a large part of urban growth; and most urban growth comes from natural increase rather than migration. Once this is understood, three initiatives stand out: Accept the right of poor people to the city, abandoning attempts to discourage migration and prevent urban growth. Adopt a broad and long-term vision of the use of urban space. This means, among other things, providing minimally serviced land for housing and planning in advance to promote sustainable land use, looking beyond the cities’ borders to minimize their “ecological footprint.” Begin a concerted international effort to support strategies for the urban future. State of World Population 2007: Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth is available – http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2007/presskit/pdf/sowp2007_eng.pdf (PDF) Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU-WIDER Conference – Advancing Health Equality. Measurement and explanation of inequality in health and health care in low-income settings: This paper describes approaches to the measurement and explanation of income related inequality and inequity in health care financing, health care utilization and health and considers the applicability and the feasibility of these methods in low income countries. Results from a comparative study of 14 Asian countries are used to illustrate the main issues. The structure of health finance in low-income countries, in particular the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket payments, means that the equity issues in finance are quite different from those of concern in high-income countries. Primary concern is not with the distribution of contributions to pre-payment mechanisms but with the deterrent effect of payments on utilization and the distribution of uninsured payment risks. Measurement of inequity in utilization of health care in low-income countries is constrained by the lack of reliable measures of health that can be used to standardize for need. Nonetheless, sufficient is known of the distribution of need in many circumstances in order to make inferences about equity from inequality in health care use. The empirical analyses demonstrate that, in low-income countries, the better-off tend to pay more for health care, both absolutely and in relative terms. But they also consume more health care. Health care is financed is largely according to the benefit principle. Assessing the distributional performance of health systems in low income settings therefore requires examination of finance and utilization simultaneously. Corresponding author: Eddy van Doorslaer, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus, The Netherlands. (Details of the paper can be accessed from the link of UNU-WIDER on CME Page of WomensHealthSection.com) Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action”: series continues By 2003, implement universal precautions in health-care settings to prevent transmission of HIV infection; By 2005, ensure: that a wide range of prevention programs which take account of local circumstances, ethics and cultural values, is available in all countries, particularly the most affected countries, including information, education and communication, in languages most understood by communities and respectful of cultures, aimed at reducing risk-taking behavior and encouraging responsible sexual behavior, including abstinence and fidelity; expanded access to essential commodities, including male and female condoms and sterile injecting equipment; harm reduction efforts related to drug use; expanded access to voluntary and confidential counseling and testing; safe blood supplies; and early and effective treatment of sexually transmittable infections; By 2005, ensure that at least 90 per cent, and by 2010 at least 95 per cent of young men and women aged 15 to 24 have access to the information, education, including peer education and youth-specific HIV education, and services necessary to develop the life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection; in full partnership with youth, parents, families, educators and health-care providers; By 2005, reduce the proportion of infants infected with HIV by 20 per cent, and by 50 per cent by 2010, by: ensuring that 80 per cent of pregnant women accessing antenatal care have information, counseling and other HIV prevention services available to them, increasing the availability of and by providing access for HIV-infected women and babies to effective treatment to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, as well as through effective interventions for HIV-infected women, including voluntary and confidential counseling and testing, access to treatment, especially anti-retroviral therapy and, where appropriate, breast milk substitutes and the provision of a continuum of care; Care, support and treatment Care, support and treatment are fundamental elements of an effective response By 2003, ensure that national strategies, supported by regional and international strategies, are developed in close collaboration with the international community, including Governments and relevant intergovernmental organizations as well as with civil society and the business sector, to strengthen health care systems and address factors affecting the provision of HIV-related drugs, including anti-retroviral drugs, inter alia affordability and pricing, including differential pricing, and technical and health care systems capacity. Also, in an urgent manner make every effort to: provide progressively and in a sustainable manner, the highest attainable standard of treatment for HIV/AIDS, including the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections, and effective use of quality-controlled anti-retroviral therapy in a careful and monitored manner to improve adherence and effectiveness and reduce the risk of developing resistance; to cooperate constructively in strengthening pharmaceutical policies and practices, including those applicable to generic drugs and intellectual property regimes, in order further to promote innovation and the development of domestic industries consistent with international law; By 2005, develop and make significant progress in implementing comprehensive care strategies to: strengthen family and community-based care including that provided by the informal sector, and health care systems to provide and monitor treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS, including infected children, and to support individuals, households, families and communities affected by HIV/ AIDS; improve the capacity and working conditions of health care personnel, and the effectiveness of supply systems, financing plans and referral mechanisms required to provide access to affordable medicines, including anti-retroviral drugs, diagnostics and related technologies, as well as quality medical, palliative and psycho-social care; By 2003, ensure that national strategies are developed in order to provide psycho-social care for individuals, families, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS; HIV/AIDS and human rights Realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is essential to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS Respect for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS drives an effective response By 2003, enact, strengthen or enforce as appropriate legislation, regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against, and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people living with HIV/AIDS and members of vulnerable groups; in particular to ensure their access to, inter alia education, inheritance, employment, health care, social and health services, prevention, support, treatment, information and legal protection, while respecting their privacy and confidentiality; and develop strategies to combat stigma and social exclusion connected with the epidemic; By 2005, bearing in mind the context and character of the epidemic and that globally women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, develop and accelerate the implementation of national strategies that: promote the advancement of women and women’s full enjoyment of all human rights; promote shared responsibility of men and women to ensure safe sex; empower women to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection; By 2005, implement measures to increase capacities of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the provision of health care and health services, including sexual and reproductive health, and through prevention education that promotes gender equality within a culturally and gender sensitive framework; To be continued… Top Two-Articles Accessed in June 2007: Challenges of Cultural Diversity and Practice of Medicine; WHEC Publication. Special thanks to Bulletin of the World Health Organization and UN Chronicle for the priceless support. Pregnancy & Nutrition; WHEC Publication. Special thanks to World Health Organization and World Bank for its contributions. News, Invitations, and Letters: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) was created by the General Assembly in 1970 as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations to be an operational program in development cooperation. As a volunteer-based program, UNV is both unique within the United Nations family and in its scale as an international undertaking. It assigns mid-career women and men to sectoral and community-based development projects, humanitarian aid and the promotion of human rights and democracy. UNV reports to the Executive Board of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) / United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and works through UNDP’s country offices around the world. In any given year, some 4,000 UNV specialists, field workers and national UNVs, short-term business / industry consultants and returning expatriate advisers, comprising more than 140 nationalities, are at work in a similar number of countries. Two thirds are themselves citizens of developing countries and one third come from industrialized countries. More than 20,000 persons have served as UNVs since 1971. Graduate qualifications and several years’ working experience are preconditions for recruitment. Contracts are normally for two years, with shorter assignments for humanitarian, electoral and other missions. UNVs receive a modest monthly living allowance. Funding comes from UNDP, partner United Nations agencies and donor contributions to the UNV Special Volunteer Fund. Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Under the UN Charter, the Economic and Social Council consults with NGOs concerned with matters within its competence. Over 1,600 NGOs have consultative status with the Council. The Council recognizes that these organizations should have the opportunity to express their views, and that they possess special experience or technical knowledge of value to its work. The Council classifies NGOs into three categories: category I organizations are those concerned with most of the Council’s activities; category II organizations have special competence in specific areas; category III are those organizations that can occasionally contribute to the Council and are placed on a roster for ad hoc consultations. NGOs with consultative status may send observers to meetings of the Council and its subsidiary bodies and may submit written statements relevant to its work. They may also consult with the United Nations Secretariat on matters of mutual concern. Over the years, the relationship between the United Nations and affiliated NGOs has developed significantly. Increasingly, NGOs are seen as partners who are consulted on policy and program matters and seen as valuable links to civil society. NGOs around the world, in increasing numbers, are working daily with the United Nations community to help achieve the objectives of the Charter. What’s Next for the Internet? Perspectives after the Internet Governance Forum Inaugural Meeting: Two years ago, in March 2004, at the Global Forum on Internet Governance, held at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Kofi Annan highlighted what in the beginning of the twenty-first century is more and more evident: the Internet has become, in a relatively short time, an essential instrument for modern society. “The Internet has revolutionized … the very fabric of human communication and exchange”, he said. “In managing, promoting and protecting its presence in our lives, we need to be no less creative than those who invented it”. Traditional ways of governance might prove useless in dealing with such a complex and peculiar entity as the Internet, but the increasing awareness of its impact on society at the economic, social, political and legal levels has in recent times brought issues of Internet governance into the spotlight. Many important issues are at stake, such as preventing or at least reducing the risk of an excessive fragmentation (“Balkanization”) of the Internet; protecting the rights of all the stakeholders, while defining their responsibilities; safeguarding end users from crimes and abuses; and finally encouraging every opportunity for further development. Details: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/webArticles/120106_igf.htm Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Jean-Marc Coicaud, Director, UN University (UNU), Office at the United Nations, New York for his support to our project/program. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Academic Council for the United Nations Systems (ACUNS) and a member of the Advisory Board of Global Policy Innovation (New York). Thanks for the friendship and support. Beyond the numbers… Improvement begins with “I”.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC)June 2007; Vol. 2, No. 6 Globalization, war, terrorism, social instability, disease, poverty and environmental degradation are among the key challenges facing the world today. In the health arena, individuals, institutions and Governments are taking action to address, issues of global significance, such as maternal mortality / morbidity, HIV / AIDS, pandemic and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as well as bio-terrorism preparedness. To optimize these actions, there is a need for developing clear strategies for global health capacity-building at the national level. Envisioning adequate training for public health professionals is illusionary unless concerted action is taken to build their capacity. The development, testing and validation of global health training and action are therefore necessary in integrating theory, practice and policy domains. In WomensHealthSection.com we have stressed that attainment of these goals requires knowledge and skills, including networking and advocacy. What people see, hear and experience is often what drives passionate commitment to changing the public’s health. The outcomes of such initiatives have the potential for facilitating learning and teaching on critical health challenges in the twenty-first century. Given the breadth of global health, it is imperative that academic and field practitioners recognize as strategies the intersections of information and communication technologies, advocacy, and social capital (networks, norms, mutual goals). Health promotion and health education in schools is a pressing priority, and ensuring the right to health and education for all children is a responsibility shared by all. It is an investment that each society should make in order to generate and augment the creative and productive capacity of all young people and a sustainable social, healthy and peaceful human future. To quote the United Nations Secretary-General: “Individuals, by instinct, have the capacity to care. Institutions must learn how, and how best, to do so.” Developing Global Health Strategies Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: How is agriculture linked with health? What is its significance to global public health? Agriculture and Health: It is well established that population health is strongly influenced by society and the environment. Social and environmental determinants of health include income, employment, access to food and social capital, and exposure to agents in air, water and soil. The recognition of the importance of inter-sectoral work to health is not new. The first step in the development of the framework is to identify the key health conditions and risks, diseases and groups of diseases, associated with agriculture. In the currently available literature, the following health problems – all of which affect the poor in developing countries – were identified as being linked in some way with agriculture: malnutrition, water-associated vector-borne diseases, food-borne disease, HIV/AIDS, livestock-related illnesses (zoonoses), chronic diseases and particular occupational health risks. The framework thus specifies and unites an array of key global health concerns, which interact when present in the same context. The conceptual framework can be used to advance inter-sectoral policy and practice in three main ways. First, it can be used to communicate to decision-makers and the international development and donor communities the importance of examining the links between agriculture and health. Failing to think systemically about these links may be undermining their efforts to improve agricultural livelihoods and address diseases of public health importance; avian influenza being one example. Second, it can be used encourage researchers working at the intersection between agriculture and health to come together to form a larger and stronger community. Microbiologists working on food safety, social anthropologists examining the impacts of HIV/AIDS in rural areas, and public health nutritionists concerned about the healthiness of the food supply many not think they have anything in common, but they do – they all work on the interactions between agriculture and health. Third, the conceptual frame work can be employed to encourage capacity building at all levels, including local settings. All stakeholders should invest in capacity building to help translate the conceptual links into comprehensive action on the ground. Agriculture influences health and health influences agriculture. The goal is clear: healthier people and healthier agriculture. About NGO Association with the UN: Sixth Committee: Legal – The essence in the functioning of the Sixth Committee lies on total consensus among United Nations Member States on resolutions dealing with wide-ranging international legal matters. The adoption of the Convention on Jurisdictional Immunity of States and Their Property concludes a long process of codification that started in the seventies within the framework of the International Law Commission. It represents a positive step that will be useful for NGOs to develop national legislation on the subject. Questions relating to protection of foreign shareholders and compensation for innocent victims of trans-boundary harm are also the issues raised in Sixth Committee. The Convention is legal tool that prevents a State or its property from being sued in any other country. The General Assembly also invited six inter-governmental organizations to participate in its work and sessions as observers: the Southern African Development Community; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; the Collective Security Treaty Organization; the Economic Community of West African States; the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): Building Strategic Partnerships in Education and Health in Africa: There is an insufficient appreciation of the importance of building partnerships between the education sector and the health sector in Africa. Such partnerships would facilitate meeting the dual goals of ensuring the participation of health professionals in the design and implementation of national health policies and reforms and the relevance of health professional education to societal needs. The assessment set out above led the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) and the World Bank to organize a joint consultative meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 29 January to 1 February 2002. Financial support for the meeting was provided by the Norwegian Education Trust fund managed by the World Bank, by WHO/AFRO, by UNESCO, and by the World Bank and World Bank Institute. The general objective of the meeting was to define strategies for constructive partnerships between the health professions, governments and other relevant stakeholders to improve their contributions to health sector reform. This report can be accessed at – Details: BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH IN AFRICA (pdf) Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 85, Number 6, June 2007, 421-500 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU’s Environment and Sustainable Development program probes issues of development, science and technology, environment, and their inter-linkages. Issues of poverty and inequality, as well as growth and employment, are at the core of UNU’s work. The University also examines globalization, technological change (information, software and biotechnology) and urbanization, and their implications for humankind. The global environment, natural resources management, and sustainable energy use and production are critical concerns. We are pleased to inform you that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Centre, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN- DESA) and the United Nations University Office at the UN in New York (UNU-ONY), are co-organizing a panel discussion based on a joint publication of the African Development Bank and the OECD Development Centre, “African Economic Outlook 2007”.The OECD/AfDB African Economic Outlook 2007 foresees solid growth for Africa, but there are risks ahead. Africa achieved its fourth year of strong growth in 2007 and prospects are promising for 2007 and 2008. Strong commodity prices are underpinning this performance. Oil-exporting countries are outpacing the rest of the continent. They face the challenge of capitalizing on these windfall gains to build endogenous sources of long-term growth. Oil-importing countries face increasing inflationary pressures and potentially deteriorating current account deficits. Access to drinking water and sanitation is the topic of special focus for this edition of the report. In order for sub-Saharan African countries to reach the drinking water MDG by 2015, annual growth in the number of people provided with access to safe drinking water would need to triple. Financing remains a major issue. Governments need to strengthen the regulatory framework to stimulate resource mobilization and cover the scale of investments needed. The 31 countries examined in this sixth edition of the African Economic Outlook account for some 86 per cent of Africa’s population and 91 per cent of its economic output. Point of View: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) – problems of multiple diagnostic criteria GDM was originally defined to identify pregnant women who were at a higher risk (up to a 70%) for developing Type 2 diabetes (DM2), later in life. Despite four decades of intensive research, GDM is still fraught with nagging reservations about its current use, i.e., to predict a morbid fetal and maternal outcome in the index pregnancy. However, there is little doubt that it is a harbinger of DM2. The scourge of GDM is the lack of an international consensus on the screening, diagnosis and follow-up approach to GDM among the major pre-eminent panels. The American Diabetes Association, World Health Organization, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society, the Canadian Diabetes Association and the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes suggest varied diagnostic criteria for GDM. Thus, a pregnant woman with a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) result which classifies her as healthy and without GDM in Canada, on crossing the border may be labeled as having GDM in the USA, on the same OGTT test report. There are major discrepancies in the ability of these criteria, often established by consensus and expert opinion rather than being evidence-based, to identify women with GDM and their capacity to predict adverse pregnancy outcome (1). The results of National Institutes of Health funded Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study should be available in the summer of 2007. This mammoth study may give the long-needed consensus voice to GDM, still a riddle, wrapped in a mystery and in the proverbial enigma (2). By Dr. Mukesh M. Agarwal, MD, FCAP Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine UAE University, United Arab Emirates References: Agarwal MM, Dhatt GS, Punnose J, Koster G. Gestational diabetes: dilemma caused by multiple international diagnostic criteria. Diabetic Medicine; 2005; 22:1731 – 1736. Agarwal MM, Dhatt GS, Punnose J, Koster G. Gestational diabetes remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica; 2006; 85:763. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action”: series continues Encourage the development of regional approaches and plans to address HIV/AIDS; Encourage and support local and national organizations to expand and strengthen regional partnerships, coalitions and networks; Encourage the United Nations Economic and Social Council to request the regional commissions within their respective mandates and resources to support national efforts in their respective regions in combating HIV/AIDS; At the global level Support greater action and coordination by all relevant United Nations system organizations, including their full participation in the development and implementation of a regularly updated United Nations strategic plan for HIV/AIDS, guided by the principles contained in this Declaration; Support greater cooperation between relevant United Nations system organizations and international organizations combating HIV/AIDS; Foster stronger collaboration and the development of innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors and by 2003, establish and strengthen mechanisms that involve the private sector and civil society partners and people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS; Prevention must be the mainstay of our response By 2003, establish time-bound national targets to achieve the internationally agreed global prevention goal to reduce by 2005 HIV prevalence among young men and women aged 15 to 24 in the most affected countries by 25 per cent and by 25 per cent globally by 2010, and to intensify efforts to achieve these targets as well as to challenge gender stereotypes and attitudes, and gender inequalities in relation to HIV/AIDS, encouraging the active involvement of men and boys; By 2003, establish national prevention targets, recognizing and addressing factors leading to the spread of the epidemic and increasing people’s vulnerability, to reduce HIV incidence for those identifiable groups, within particular local contexts, which currently have high or increasing rates of HIV infection, or which available public health information indicates are at the highest risk for new infection; By 2005, strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS in the world of work by establishing and implementing prevention and care programs in public, private and informal work sectors and take measures to provide a supportive workplace environment for people living with HIV/AIDS; By 2005, develop and begin to implement national, regional and international strategies that facilitate access to HIV/AIDS prevention programs for migrants and mobile workers, including the provision of information on health and social services; To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in May 2007: Uterine Cancer: Early Detection; WHEC Publication. Special thanks to Dr. Francis H. Boudreau, Chairman, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA (USA) for the collaboration. Health Implications of Urinary Incontinence in Women; WHEC Publication. Special thanks to Roger S. Manahan, MLS, Librarian at Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, MA (USA) for assistance with the research. News, Invitations and Letters: Non-governmental organizations have been active in the United Nations since its founding. They interact with the UN Secretariat, programs, funds and agencies and they consult with the Member States. NGO work related to the UN comprises a number of activities including information dissemination, awareness raising, development education, policy advocacy, joint operational projects, and providing technical expertise and collaborating with UN agencies, programs and funds. This work is undertaken in formal and informal ways at the national level and at the UN. Official UN Secretariat relations with NGOs fall into two main categories: consultations with governments and information servicing by the Secretariat. These functions are the responsibility of two main offices of the UN Secretariat dealing with NGOs: the NGO Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the NGO Section of the Department of Public Information. Formal interactions between NGOs and the UN are governed by the UN Charter and related resolutions of ECOSOC. In February 2003, the Secretary-General also appointed a High Level Panel of Eminent Persons to produce a practical set of recommendations as to how the UN’s work with Civil Society could be improved. The final report of the Panel has been presented to the Secretary-General in June 2004. Broadly speaking, NGOs may cooperate with the United Nations System in at least four ways: NGOs may receive accreditation for a conference, summit or other event organized by the United Nations. Such accreditation is issued through the Secretariat preparing the event and expires upon completion of the event. It entitles NGOs to participate in the preparation process and in the event itself, thus contributing to its outcome. For a compilation of all legislation regarding NGO accreditation and participation in UN Conferences and Summits from 1990 – 2001, please click here. NGOs may establish working relations with particular Departments, Programs or Specialized Agencies of the United Nations System, based on shared fields of interest and potential for joint activities complementing the work of the United Nations office in a particular area. For a list of NGO Focal points throughout the UN System, please click here. The NGLS Handbook also provides a wealth of information on Civil Society engagement throughout the UN system. International NGOs active in the field of economic and social development may seek to obtain consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). For requirements concerning consultative status with ECOSOC, please contact the ECOSOC NGO Section by clicking the link above. NGOs that have at their disposal regular means of disseminating information, either through their publications, radio or television programs, or through their public activities such as conferences, lectures, seminars or workshops, and that are willing to devote a portion of their information programs to dissemination of information about the United Nations, may apply for association with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). Please click here for additional information. Whether affiliated with the United Nations system or not, NGOs can obtain United Nations public information materials from the United Nations Information Centers in countries of their operations (http://www.un.org/aroundworld/unics) . They can also access the UN information on the web at www.un.org Further information on the role of NGOs at the UN can be found on the Global Policy Forum website. Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Mr. Horst Rutsch writer / editor, UN Chronicle, Educational Outreach Section for his priceless support. Thanks for being a friend. It is indeed our privilege to work with you. Beyond the numbers… Your thoughts are heaven above you; Your thoughts are hell below; Bliss is not except in thinking, Torment naught but thought can know; Dwell in thoughts upon the grandest – And the grandest you shall be; Fix your mind upon the highest, And the highest you shall be.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) March 2007; Vol. 2, No. 3 In reality, reproductive health is a union between social sciences and medical sciences. The world has publicly acknowledged that health and well-being, and equality and equality, for women are important ends in themselves. The balance between resources and population, development and sustainability concerns people. This is the beginning of the paradigm shift – from maternal and child health to reproductive health. Many issues can be compressed within reproductive health concern. In our e-learning publication: WomensHealthSection.com, we have provided the diversity and breadth of these issues to achieve proper balance between social sciences and medical sciences. Reproductive health reflects health in childhood and sets the stage for health even beyond reproductive years for both women and men. It affects and is affected by the broader context of people’s lives, their economic circumstances, education, employment, living conditions, family-environment, social and gender relationships, and traditional and legal structures within which people live. In WomensHealthSection.com we have focused on five core areas of reproductive health: childbearing; fertility regulation; maintenance of a healthy reproductive system; sexuality and sexual behavior; and the social-cultural context within which reproductive health behavior and ill-health takes place. The tools of our profession have changed – technology has enabled us to diagnose diseases early and in many cases prevent them that we could not have done before. Computers have liberated us from boxes and have allowed us in many ways to serve our patients. The ease of communication via internet has made it possible to be influenced by cultures in every corner of the world. Fine words, and even legislation, are not enough – implementation is the key. We must work to build momentum for a sustained and multifaceted national and international effort. There are no strangers at Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) – only the friends you have not met. A Vision of Hope In Memory of a Friend, Victoria A. White (1956-2007): I met Victoria 5 years ago when Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) undertook the project – e-learning publication, WomensHealthSection.com. To have a friend share this experience provides us with profound wisdom and insights. I have spent many Friday afternoons in her office working with her and her incredible team on this publication. I have laughed and cried many times, her courage and wisdom was an inspiration to me. To be with Victoria was a gift of friendship and insight, courage and generosity. We all have a teacher or a colleague, someone patient and wise, who understood you when you were searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For me, that person was Victoria, a friend. She asked me the first and the only question, when I discussed this e-learning project with her – What would your website like to do? I hope this brings happiness and goodwill in the world; we hope to make a difference. We will miss you. Rita Luthra, MD President Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) Your Questions, Our Reply: Is contracting-approach to public health and privatization same? Can it improve relations between fund-holders and health service providers, and improve health systems? Contracting and Public Health: The delivery of healthcare in almost every country involves some form of public-private partnership. Within a health system, large-scale use of contracting almost automatically involves forms of regulations. We believe that by drawing up national policies on contracting, it will be possible to address all its facets and to determine sound guidelines and strategies, which will be taken up by all those involved in healthcare. Contracting is a tool that formalizes the relationships and obligations between the different actors in health system, though it is not clearly limited to health. While contracting has been used to specify the relationships between government and the private sector, its potential uses are much broader. The overall aim is to improve health system performance by clearly specifying the obligations and expectations of different actors in the health systems. There is a huge untapped potential of contracting in public health, as well as the risks and pitfalls. If poorly implemented, contracting may harm health systems performance, but if managed well, the benefits can be immense. Contracting is used more and more to formalize the relationships between different levels of government. The idea of contracting has been gaining increasing attention among both donor agencies and governments, and recognizes the potential value of contracting to improve health system performance. Contracting is increasingly being used to enhance the performance of health systems in both developed and developing countries. In recent years the way health systems are organized has changed significantly. To remedy the under-performance of their health systems, most countries have undertaken reforms that have resulted in major institutions overhaul, including decentralization of health and administrative services, autonomy for public service providers, separation of funding bodies and service providers, expansion of health financing options and the development of the profit or non-profit private sector. An example of Public-Private partnership: the ministry of health may decide that it will no longer provide certain services and instead will use the funds at its disposal to purchase those services from providers. Several countries in Latin America (Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Peru) have drawn up contracts with NGOs to extend health coverage or to improve the quality of care. In the countries where health financing passes through autonomous or private insurance systems, contracting is used to define the relations between these insurance bodies and the service providers. These relations cover rates, reimbursement arrangements, customer care and quality of care. Alliances lie at the heart of “working together”. The success of agreements requires the active participation of the partners as well as understanding between resources, technology and know-how. Contracting is thus actually much broader and richer than the notion of “contract” in the legal sense of the word. Contracting should not be reduced to a mere management tool used to cut health costs. It is an approach that should lead the various participants to offer to the public health services that are increasingly efficient, effective, superior and fair. Contracting in health systems is extremely diverse in the terms of types of participants that use it, the types of contractual relationships that are established and the purposes thereof. However, one must never lose sight of the fact that contracting is a tool that should be evaluated on the basis of its impact on the performance of a health system, and ultimately on people’s health. About NGO Association with the UN: Third Committee: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural – the Third Committee deals with myriad topics related to social development, advancement of women, international drug control and human rights issues. Delegates meet, discuss and debate these issues and work to forge resolutions that enjoy unanimous support, or if this is not possible can be voted upon. Social development is a critical factor in making poverty reduction effective and sustainable. The promotion of social development at the international level implies the total fulfillment of the commitments by the countries in various conferences and summits. Certainly there is relationship between globalization and human rights, but not all human rights are affected by globalization. Globalization could have both positive and negative aspects. Governments are responsible to protect human rights under their jurisdiction, and if they fail to do so, then there is a legitimate concern for the international community to deal with it. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Instruments: WHO defines Quality of Life as individuals’ perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. It is a broad ranging concept affected in a complex way by the person’s physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs and their relationship to salient features of their environment. Strengths of the WHOQOL instruments can be accessed at: http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/68.pdf (pdf) Collaboration with UN University (UNU): Proposals for new publications: UNU Press accepts a limited number of proposals for new titles from scholars of international issues facing the United Nations and its member states; UNU Press publishes mostly in the fields of peace and governance, environmental and sustainable development, and economic and technological development. UNU Press books reflect the issues and experiences of a broad number of countries or regions and individual countries. They ideally contain clear learning points or policy recommendations applicable beyond the scope of individual topics or locations. A typical book is 100,000 words. Rights for reprints and translations are available at very generous terms for the reproduction and/or translation of UNU Press titles. Point of View: Promoting home-testing for HIV in developing countries: benefits and concerns The increasing prevalence and incidence of HIV has been a global concern. A bigger concern would be the existing lack of awareness among the people, especially in the developing countries, which may result in errors in HIV reporting. Hence expanding our options that may help in increasing the HIV awareness in the developing countries is the need of the hour and one such option that needs to be explored is promoting the use of home-testing kits for HIV. Two frequently observed reasons for people avoiding the HIV counseling sessions are limited availability of HIV testing services and the social stigma and discrimination that is associated with the disease (1). Home-testing helps in overcoming these barriers by offering advantages such as privacy and ease of use. People living in remote areas do not have to travel far-off places to get tested and people do not have to worry about busy clinics and in some cases, the physician’s reluctance to test. It may thus help more and more people in knowing about their HIV status and thus may result in behavior modifications and promoting safer sex practices. However, to maximize its benefits, it is important to provide pre-test and post-test counseling services. Counseling may help in increasing awareness, may help in discussing the possibilities of false positive/false-negative results and may also provide the much-needed emotional support in cases with a positive test. Also, its proper implementation in developing countries needs some social and political transformations such as laws that prevent the possibility of abuse (sending blood sample of a person without his knowledge). It is possible that women may end up at higher risk of domestic violence and social harassment, and hence more research in this area and better laws for protection of these women will be required. Although home testing may not provide a final solution, a well-designed comprehensive strategy in combination with voluntary counseling and testing may help in increasing awareness, thereby decreasing the prevalence rates. By Sumesh Kachroo, MS Doctoral Student, University of Texas School of Public Health Houston, Texas, USA References: Kachroo S. Promoting self-testing for HIV in developing countries: potential benefits and pitfalls. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2006 Dec; 84(12): 999-1000. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action”: series continues Recognizing that poverty, underdevelopment and illiteracy are among the principal contributing factors to the spread of HIV/AIDS and noting with grave concern that HIV/AIDS is compounding poverty and is now reversing or impeding development in many countries and should therefore be addressed in an integrated manner Noting that armed conflicts and natural disasters also exacerbate the spread of the epidemic Noting further that stigma, silence, discrimination, and denial, as well as lack of confidentiality, undermine prevention, care and treatment efforts and increase the impact of the epidemic on individuals, families, communities and nations and must also be addressed Stressing that gender equality and the empowerment of women are fundamental elements in the reduction of the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS Recognizing that access to medication in the context of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS is one of the fundamental elements to achieve progressively the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health Recognizing that the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in a global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, including in the areas of prevention, care, support and treatment, and that it reduces vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and prevents stigma and related discrimination against people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS Acknowledging that prevention of HIV infection must be the mainstay of the national, regional and international response to the epidemic; and that prevention, care, support and treatment for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS are mutually reinforcing elements of an effective response and must be integrated in a comprehensive approach to combat the epidemic Recognizing the need to achieve the prevention goals set out in this Declaration in order to stop the spread of the epidemic and acknowledging that all countries must continue to emphasize widespread and effective prevention, including awareness-raising campaigns through education, nutrition, information and health-care services Recognizing that care, support and treatment can contribute to effective prevention through increased acceptance of voluntary and confidential counseling and testing, and by keeping people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups in close contact with health-care systems and facilitating their access to information, counseling and preventive supplies Emphasizing the important role of cultural, family, ethical and religious factors in the prevention of the epidemic, and in treatment, care and support, taking into account the particularities of each country as well as the importance of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in February 2007: The Bethesda System – An Overview Women’s Health and Education Center’s Contribution Quality of life & Gynecological Malignancies WHEC Publication. Special thanks to World Health Organization project on quality of life (WHOQOL) and Mental Health Department for its assistance and contribution News, Invitations and Letters: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL’S REPORT: Strengthening efforts to Eradicate Poverty and Hunger – A report of the Secretary-General on the theme of the 2007 Annual Ministerial Review is being prepared. It is envisaged to consist of two main sections: I. Global Overview and II. Thematic Discussion. The overview will provide a concise analysis providing an assessment of progress, identifying gaps and obstacles in implementing the UN Development Agenda and making recommendations to overcome those gaps. The global overview will analyze the regional differences (including, where possible and relevant, differences between rural and urban areas) and highlight challenges in implementation. Particular attention may be paid to rural development and food security, financing for development and the role of intellectual property rights. The thematic discussion will approach the 2007 theme from several perspectives. There will be an assessment of the challenges to poverty eradication and hunger, with particular emphasis on successful policies as well as beneficial partnerships. Another section will examine enhancing sustainable fiscal space for countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There will also be an analysis of the impact of MDG 8 (Global Governance and Global Partnership), on eradicating poverty and hunger and of the status of implementation of MDG 8 commitments; in particular Official Development Assistance (ODA), debt relief, agricultural support, and technology transfer. Secretary-General’s address to UNIS-UN Conference on Climate Change; New York, 1 March 2007: http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2462 The 192nd UN Member State: The people of Montenegro, within just two months, transformed their nation from creating a newly independent republic in a referendum in May 2006 to saluting a reinvented flag and becoming a full-fledged member of the United Nations. The country peacefully separated from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2006 and its people, in aspiring for UN membership, have since demonstrated their desire to actively and cooperatively support solving world issues. On 22 June, the UN Security Council, in adopting unanimously resolution 1691 (2006), recommended the admittance of the Republic of Montenegro to the Organization. Six days later, on 28 June, the General Assembly declared and welcomed Montenegro as the 192nd Member State of the United Nations – the newest since Timor Leste’s induction on 27 September 2002. The world witnessed a great leap forward for Montenegro in its desire to become an active member of the international community. UNICEF: The State of World’s Children 2007 examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout their lives – and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. It looks at the status of women today, discusses how gender equality will move all the Millennium Development Goals forward, and show investment in women’s rights will ultimately produce a double dividend: advancing the rights of both women and children. For details please visit: http://www.unicef.org/sowc07/docs/sowc07.pdf Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Ian Smith, Advisor to the Director-General, World Health Organization, for his support and assistance in our efforts to improve maternal and child health worldwide. It was indeed a privilege to present this project with him at NGO Briefing, UN Headquarter, on World Health Day 7 April 2005. Thanks for the friendship and World Health Report 2005: Make Every Mother and Child Count. Thanks again Victoria from all of us at WHEC; your work and contributions to The Board will go on. Beyond the numbers… Woods are lonely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep; And to go miles before I sleep, And to go miles before I sleep.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) February 2007; Vol. 2, No. 2 Confession, they say, is good for the soul. WomensHealthSection.com has been a delight, a challenge, a stimulus, a source of laughter and sometimes irritation and simply pain in the neck. Assembled in 5 separate sections and 8 sub-sections is a selection of more than 200 systematic reviews of the literature, about 1,800 URLs, linked to 12,000 to 15,000 web-networks in any given month reflecting the breadth and depth of the specialty. This delightful collection reminds us that there is more to medicine than strict science. I am certain that is why readers find this publication interesting and entertaining. The goal of WomensHealthSection.com is to promote excellence in the clinical practice of obstetrics and gynecology and closely related fields. We continue to have the highest circulation worldwide among all obstetrics and gynecology journals – about 4 million readers a year in 154 countries. Each month we send you WHEC Update (Policy-Briefs) to highlight the efforts of the United Nations in tackling various issues at the National and International levels. We hope this provides a comprehensive account of the many challenges before the international community, as well as the joint ongoing efforts to find solutions. Helping others gives success true meaning. These basic facts about the United Nations and its system reflect the multitude of ways in which the United Nations touches the lives of people everywhere. It chronicles the work of the Organization in such areas as health, peace, development, human rights, humanitarian assistance, disarmament and international law. Globalization is transforming the world. While it brings great benefits to some countries and individuals – faster growth, higher living standards, new opportunities – a backlash has risen because these benefits are distributed so unequally and because the global market is not yet underpinned by values and rules that address key social concerns such as the protection of human rights, labor standards and the environment. Poverty and inequality are fertile ground for conflict. We hope to help promote understanding about the United Nations and its presence in people’s lives. United Nations in a united world Your Questions, Our Reply: What do people expect from their doctors? Quality in medical care: it might be said that what patients ought to want and are entitled to expect is a professional service of the highest quality. Quality has been defined as “fitness to the purpose”. Clearly patients expect medicine to be something more than the mere application of medical science to the human condition. The simplest way to find out what people might want or expect from their doctors is to ask them. Surprisingly few people seem to worry about the technical competence of doctors. What they worry about is doctor’s ability to understand the patient as a person and provide the right guidance. Financial, legal and administrative techniques seem powerless to ensure that this demand is met. The message seems to be that people want personally relevant healthcare delivered by a doctor who knows them well and which addresses their particular problems. By inference, people do not want healthcare which is pursuing some medically defined agenda, or is delivered by an impersonal team. Market-driven healthcare: A growing proportion of the peoples of the world are now demanding personal medical care on a scale that few countries can afford. What the patient needs is a doctor whom he or she trusts, with the skill to assist in making strategic life decisions. No one wants to be cared for by a committee. Litigation is also a growing phenomenon in many parts of the world. Medical malpractice legislation has been used to control medicine in the United States for some time. As a means of ensuring quality, it has failed. “Defensive medicine” involves much needless investigation and it can become enormously expensive. Yet another solution is to establish a vast bureaucracy of external assessors who scrutinize records and statistics of practice activity. Their methods are biased in favor of checklists and measurable quantities. The subjective and qualitative aspects of care – valued so highly by patients – are inaccessible to such an approach. My suggestion; the quality assurance is best left to the profession itself. The quality of care must be reviewed, but not in a piecemeal fashion. It should be looked at using methods which question total patient management and the values and attitudes on which it is based. This form of peer-review should become an integral part of the professional task, with sufficient working time allotted to it. It requires skills which should form a central part of the physician’s education and training. The market knows best. About NGO Association with the UN: Second Committee: Economic and Financial – From strengthening coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, including special economic aid to individual countries or regions, to correcting global trade imbalances and promoting information technology for development, the Second Committee works hard on these issues. By a draft on the external debt crisis and development, adopted without a vote, the General Assembly stressed that debt-relief could play a key role in liberating resources for poverty eradication, economic growth and sustainable development. A significant proportion of official development assistance (ODA) is aimed at promoting sustainable development in poorer countries, particularly through natural resource conservation, environmental protection and population programs. Many delegations have pointed out that writing off the escalating external debt burden of the world’s poorest countries must become a top priority in helping them to restore economic growth, fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic and meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Africa’s economic growth levels must double to 7% annually over the next decade in order to halve poverty by the year 2015. But continued debt servicing has made it impossible for Africa’s heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) to increase savings and investments to promote economic growth. Eight years after launching the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative, these nations are still far from reaching sustainable debt levels. International financial institutions also drew attention to the intractable debt crisis. However, inexpensive and simple measures, with proper resource allocation and strong institutional structures, are available to reduce the impact of disaster. Focusing on the developmental effects of climate change The UN protocol, a legally binding treaty in effect from 16 January 2005, will have thirty supporting industrialized countries cut their green house gas emissions to nearly 5% below 1990 levels. NGOs have responsibility to try to make good recommendations and the Second Committee has a direct impact in achieving MDGs. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): WHO package of essential Health Impact Assessment (HIA) functions: many countries now find themselves in a process of accelerated development. For sustainability’s sake, their governments will need to consider the health of their population. WHO offers a comprehensive package consisting of workshops for ministry of health staff, which focuses on essential HIA management training courses, with the objective of developing skills for intersectoral negotiation skills in development planning, and policy seminars to create an enabling environment for HIA. These capacity-building activities already refer to health promotion, and the package is continuously reviewed and upgraded to include further elements and to ensure the involvement health promotion staff in its implementation. HIA capacity-building is perhaps the field where strengthening the links between HIA and health promotion can have the most immediate results and benefits. For details please visit: www.who.int/hia/en/ Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU-WIDER – The World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) was established by the United Nations University (UNU) as its first research and training center and started work in Helsinki, Finland in 1985. The Institute undertakes applied research and policy analysis on structural changes affecting the developing and transitional economies, provides a forum for the advocacy of policies leading to robust, equitable, and environmentally sustainable growth, and promotes capacity strengthening and training in the field of economic and social policy maker. Work is carried out by staff researchers and visiting scholars in Helsinki and through networks of collaborating scholars and institutions around the world. An effective state is able to mobilize revenue and spend it on infrastructure, services, and public goods that both enhance human capital and the well-being of communities (especially the poor), as well as stimulating investment and employment creation by the private sector. An effective state also manages public finance to ensure that macroeconomic balance is maintained – with policy neither too restrictive to discourage private investment and growth, nor too accommodative to create high inflation and crowd out private investment. Growth, poverty reduction, and social peace are all undermined when public expenditure management and taxation are weak, and when the fiscal debt are not managed successfully. And large-scale aid and debt relief cannot work without a good fiscal system. These are the some of the important issues on the agenda of UNU-WIDER. Fiscal policy is more than just a question of good economics; it is also fundamental to the politics of development. If a measure of peace can be achieved then any political settlement must have a fiscal dimension. Point of View: Conflict of Interest in Research- why it hurts all of us: We live in a time of increasing commercialization of all aspects of public life. The influence of multinational corporations is not surprising, given that many of them represent more economic power than half the nations on earth. The effects of all this power are easy to see in western democratic societies, where industry lobbying is all pervasive. In our role as healthcare providers, whether at the coalface of patient care or in research, we have to deal with the consequences. We can’t be without them, and our patients and clients can’t either. Industry contacts are valuable and can make a huge difference, helping us reach our goals easier and more effectively. I am personally very grateful to a number of corporate sponsors for support of past and present research projects. No doubt there are many opportunities for cooperation that benefit everybody. But of course commercial companies aren’t nice to us out of humanitarian kindness. They see us in a role that can degenerate into that of a glorified PR consultant- if we let that happen. And it is happening all the time. Many current papers on drug treatment present data from industry-controlled-trials, with data collection and analysis handled by either the companies themselves or a contractor, ‘authored’ by people who have received money from the companies selling the drugs assessed in the papers. As regards who has actually written the paper- that’s often difficult to ascertain. Ghost-writing of such articles is widespread. Our patients and clients expect a very different role from us. When we prescribe medication or suggest the acquisition of a certain product, we take responsibility for purchase decisions, whether by the health service, a hospital or an individual. We are supposed to protect the patient or consumer from inappropriate or dangerous products or interventions. In order to be able to preserve our role of advocate and our professional independence, in order to make sure the public won’t see us as the culprits in the biomedical scandals of the 21st century, we need to reduce the influence of industry on our professional activities, in particular as regards research and teaching. Cooperation between clinical researchers and industry needs to be strictly regulated, in order to avoid conflicts of interest. Our duty is towards the public who expect us to be unbiased in our research and clinical practice. This can only be achieved if we refuse to be part of a sales machine. By Dr. Hans Peter Dietz Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Western Clinical School, Nepean Campus, University of Sydney Nepean Hospital, Penrith NSW 2750 Australia Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action: series continues Recalling and reaffirming our previous commitments on HIV/AIDS made through: The United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000;The Political Declaration and Further Actions and Initiatives to Implement the Commitments made at the World Summit for Social Development of 1 July 2000; The Political Declaration and Further Action and Initiatives to Implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 10 June 2000; Key Actions for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development of 2 July 1999; The regional call for action to fight HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific of 25 April 2001; The Abuja Declaration and Framework for Action for the Fight Against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and other Related Infectious Diseases in Africa, 27 April 2001; The Declaration of the Ibero-America Summit of Heads of State of November 2000 in Panama; The Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS, 14 February, 2001; The European Union Programme for Action: Accelerated Action on HIV/ AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in the Context of Poverty Reduction of 14 May 2001; The Baltic Sea Declaration on HIV/AIDS Prevention of 4 May 2000; The Central Asian Declaration on HIV/AIDS of 18 May 2001 Convinced of the need to have an urgent, coordinated and sustained response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which will build on the experience and lessons learned over the past 20 years; Noting with grave concern that Africa, in particular sub-Saharan Africa, is currently the worst affected region where HIV/AIDS is considered as a state of emergency, which threatens development, social cohesion, political stability, food security and life expectancy and imposes a devastating economic burden and that the dramatic situation on the continent needs urgent and exceptional national, regional and international action; Welcoming the commitments of African Heads of State or Government, at the Abuja Special Summit in April 2001, particularly their pledge to set a target of allocating at least 15 per cent of their annual national budgets for the improvement of the health sector to help address the HIV/AIDS epidemic; and recognizing that action to reach this target, by those countries whose resources are limited, will need to be complemented by increased international assistance; Recognizing also that other regions are seriously affected and confront similar threats, particularly the Caribbean region, with the second highest rate of HIV infection after sub-Saharan Africa, the Asia-Pacific region where 7.5 million people are already living with HIV/AIDS, the Latin America region with 1.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, and the Central and Eastern European region with very rapidly rising infection rates; and that the potential exists for a rapid escalation of the epidemic and its impact throughout the world if no specific measures are taken; To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in January 2007: Infertility: Evaluation and Management Supported by an educational grant from the Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC). Special thanks to Dr. Bradley J. Van Voorhis, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive health, University of Iowa (USA) for his contributions and insights to the symposium Syphilis in Pregnancy: Prevention of Congenital Syphilis Women’s Health and Education Center’s Contribution News, Invitations and Letters: WEDNESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2007 at 10:00 AM; Update on the work of the General Assembly – A Briefing for NGOs A Briefing by the Office of the President of the General Assembly on: Thematic Debates of the General Assembly on Gender Equality and on the Dialogue of Civilizations Security Council Reform Environmental Governance Financing for Development System-wide Coherence The Capital Master Plan Conference Room 3, United Nations, New York; for more information, please contact Ms. Shamina de Gonzaga, Special Adviser on NGO relations in the Office of the President of the General Assembly Summary – Forum on General Assembly and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Relations: An interactive forum on General Assembly and non-governmental organization relations was held on 21st November 2006 at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, under the auspices of the Office of the President of the General Assembly and the United Nations Foundation. The aim of the forum was to stimulate greater understanding between Member States and non-governmental organization (NGOs) regarding the challenges and opportunities for further partnership. The forum brought together representatives of 50 Member States, 150 NGOs and 7 United Nations offices who shared their views, concerns and recommendations. The following key messages emerged from the forum: Partnership between the United Nations and NGOs is vital to the success of the UN in achieving its goals. NGOs bring vision and information to UN meetings and contribute to UN efforts operationally, financially, and in terms of public awareness and support. NGO participation in UN meetings and processes is complementary, not contradictory, to the UN’s intergovernmental structure whereby Member States are the sole decision-makers. The systemic implementation of best practices of NGO participation in the UN would benefit all stakeholders. First Person Diplomacy: Too Important to Be Left to Men? By Akmaral Arystanbkova. Of the delegates from 50 countries who signed the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, four were women: Virginia Gildersleeve (United States), Bertha Lutz (Brazil), Wu Yi-fang (China) and Minerva Bernardino (Dominican Republic). I happened to meet Ms. Bernardino, a woman of quite venerable age, at UN Headquarters in New York when she was given an award from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute by then United States First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Ms. Bernardino had been her country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations for many years. “I used to be a fighter for women’s rights”, she said in her address. “I still am.” She had been an active participant in the movement for women’s right to vote in Latin America, and continued to fight for equal rights within the newly founded world Organization, considering that it was essential that international texts stress not only human rights but also equality between men and women. Details: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2002/issue3/0302p62_first_person.html Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Kaylene Selleck, Editorial Assistant, at the Bulletin of the World Health Organization for her priceless work, support and friendship. Thanks for making editing look so easy. We all wish you the best. Beyond the numbers… The reply of the Spartan father who said to his son, when complaining that his sword was too short. “Add a step to it” is applicable to everything in life.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) January 2007; Vol. 2, No. 1 All of us join in wishing you a successful New Year! It has been quite a ride. Emerging and Surging. Firing on all cylinders, WomensHealthSection.com powered ahead in 2006, at its fastest pace, for over 5 years. The good news is that people love “personal” media. We expect to create more dynamic web-pages in 2007. Is there a place for “user-generated content”? The irony is also philosophical in nature. Power is increasingly in the hands of the users. Think about the blogging phenomenon. Today, digital information about nearly every aspect of our lives is being created at an astonishing rate. The Internet is helping to satisfy our most fundamental human needs — our desire for knowledge, communication, and a sense of belonging. Trend is not destiny, of course. But as a no-nonsense sports writer once wrote during the depth of America’s Depression, “The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong — but that is the way to bet”. We are betting on the Internet-Classrooms because we believe that there is bull market in imagination online. Sophisticated browsers and technologies are simple building-blocks that enable people to produce and distribute content — are critical in this new world. Simplicity is triumphing over complexity. Partnerships with civil society are increasingly important for the United Nations in its efforts to protect vulnerable groups such as the poor. These “vital voices” are very often those of women, who perform invaluable advocacy and service work in numerous human rights fields — combating human trafficking and gender violence or fighting for equal rights, especially in education, health and sports. Collaboration is central to our process. The world must advance the causes of security, health, development and human rights together, otherwise none will succeed. A Time for Renewal Your Questions, Our Reply: How do you see WHEC’s role in the ongoing development of health ethics? Ethics & Health: Nearly all philosophical systems include an ethical component. Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the distinction between right and wrong, and the moral consequences of our actions. Looking at the development of medical ethics from a historical point of view, we see that our Western civilization is based on Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian traditions. Our so-called Western culture is unified by these common roots, which for medical ethics are the Hippocratic writings. Other cultures have different roots — the Chinese and Hindu traditions, for example. The limited contacts between civilizations in the past had little effect on each one’s traditions, culture, and ethical principles. Recent intercultural debates about ethical issues immediately bring to light these differences. In some cultures there is emphasis on the family and the wider circle beyond individual. A great step forward has been the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was developed by the United Nations after the Second World War. Although it is certainly feasible to develop a universal code of ethics, there are substantial differences in values that are dear to each of us, and we do not like others to interfere. In the field of ethics, as with any controversial issue in society or between different cultural settings, dialogue must come first to share ideas and concerns about the issues inherent in the interactions of health and ethics, and to collaborate in devising and applying means of resolving them. The interests of individuals do not necessarily coincide with those of the community — very often the interests of the community are contrary to those of the individual. Such conflict exists and needs to be considered from all points of view to see if it is possible to work out a compromise. In my opinion Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) is doing this very well because there are continually new developments in global thinking in this field. WHEC is well placed to convince politicians and to stimulate the political will for translating this commitment into action. Cultural differences are central in international work — we should always keep in mind that people are different and we must endeavor to understand them. The importance of intercultural debate among like-minded people cannot be emphasized enough. Dialogue, and yet more dialogue, is the way forward. About NGO Association with the UN: First Committee: Disarmament and International Security — As the world stands in the midst of dangers brought on by the nuclear proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, arising environmental concerns and thriving illicit small-arms businesses plaguing all corners of the world, the First Committee convened its session during 61st General Assembly to seek out resolutions to the challenges in international security regime. The agenda that the First Committee is dealing with is a very rich one. It is also an agenda that has not moved according to the means of our times. During the session, reform of the Committee emerged as one of the most visible initiatives. The draft resolution, “improving the effectiveness of the methods of work of the First Committee”, was adopted without a vote. In addressing the Committee’s working methods, texts that are similar in substance were merged. This initiative was especially relevant in light of the fact that there have been originally two draft resolutions on improving working methods: one submitted by the United States, and the other by Malaysia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. After weeks of negotiations, the two co-sponsors managed to unite their divergent draft texts. It was one of the best compromises made between the Non-Aligned Movement Countries and the United States. There was no rivalry, just a consensual merger. In Africa, one of the greatest difficulties in controlling illicit proliferation of small arms is the fact of their easy accessibility to non-States individuals. The First Committee estimates that there are 650 million small arms in the world. About 500,000 people die each year from their use. It is not easy to find a way out; yet the only possibility is that NGOs should try to be more open to proposals, so that window of opportunity can be identified, especially the countries in the middle that are Non-Nuclear-Weapon States or Chemical-Weapon possessors. NGOs can influence countries that need to make specific steps towards disarmaments and advance the agenda by taking initiatives. Summary of 59th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, Unfinished Business: Effective Partnership for Human Security and Sustainable Development can be accessed at: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/webArticles/110206_DPINGO.htm Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): In October 2002, the World Health Organization launched its Ethics and Health Initiative to provide a focal point for the examination of the ethical issues raised by activities throughout the organization, including the regional and country offices, and to develop activities regarding a wide range of global bioethics topics, from organ and tissue transplantation to developments in genomics, and from research with human beings to fair access to health services. Our Activities: work in ethics and health is now carried out by the Department of Ethics, Trade, Human Rights and Health Law in the Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments cluster at headquarters (SDE/ETH). This department is involved in a wide range of ethics activities, both on its own initiative and in response to the needs of other parts of WHO, in Geneva as well as WHO’s country and regional offices. The specific projects, many of which link different departments and involve experts from outside the organization, evolve in response to changes in the field; special attention is paid to issues that overlap work carried out elsewhere in the department on law, human rights, and the effects of globalization. For details please visit: http://www.who.int/eth/ETX_WP_Jan05.pdf (Requires Adobe Reader) Collaboration with UN University (UNU): Ethics in Action — The Ethical Challenges of International Human Rights Nongovernmental Organizations; publication of UN University and Cambridge University Press introduces reflections on dialogues between practitioners and theorists of Human Rights. This book is the product of a multi-layer dialogue between leading human rights theorists and high-level representatives of international human rights nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) sponsored by the United Nations University, Tokyo and the City University of Hong Kong. It is divided into three parts that reflect the major ethical challenges discussed at a series of workshops: the ethical challenges associated with interaction between relatively rich and powerful Northern-based human rights INGOs; and the tension between expanding the organization’s mandate to address more fundamental social and economic problems and focusing on more immediate and clearly identifiable violations of civil and political rights. Each section contains contributions by both theorists and practitioners of human rights. Chapters on — Dilemmas Facing NGOs in Coalition-Occupied Iraq; addresses the challenge of dealing with States that restricts the activities of INGOs. The United Nations University is an organ of the United Nations established by the General Assembly in 1972 to be an international community of scholars engaged in research, advanced training, and the dissemination of knowledge related to the pressing global problems of human survival, development, and welfare. Its activities focus mainly on the areas of peace and governance, environment and sustainable development, and science and technology in relation to human welfare. The University operates through a worldwide network of research and postgraduate training centers, with its planning and coordinating headquarter in Tokyo. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS; “Global Crisis — Global Action” series: We, Heads of State and Government and Representatives of States and Governments, assembled at the United Nations, from 25 to 27 June 2001, for the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly convened in accordance with resolution 55/13, as a matter of urgency, to review and address the problem of HIV/AIDS in all its aspects as well as to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and intensification of national, regional and international efforts to combat it in a comprehensive manner Deeply concerned that the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, through its devastating scale and impact, constitutes a global emergency and one of the most formidable challenges to human life and dignity, as well as to the effective enjoyment of human rights, which undermines social and economic development throughout the world and affects all levels of society — national, community, family and individual Noting with profound concern, that by the end of the year 2000, 36.1 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS, 90 per cent in developing countries and 75 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa Noting with grave concern that all people, rich and poor, without distinction of age, gender or race are affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, further noting that people in developing countries are the most affected and that women, young adults and children, in particular girls, are the most vulnerable Concerned also that the continuing spread of HIV/AIDS will constitute a serious obstacle to the realization of the global development goals we adopted at the Millennium Summit To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in December 2006: Endometriosis Author: Dr. Robert L. Barbieri; Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Boston, MA (USA) Ethical Issues in Reproductive Health: That Delicate Balance Supported by Educational Grant from Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC). Special thanks to UN — Population and Development Program for its assistance in preparation of the symposium. News, Invitations and Letters: The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM): It is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies that promote women’s human rights, political participation and economic security. UNIFEM works in partnership with UN Organizations, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and networks to promote gender equality. It links women’s issues and concerns to national, regional and global agendas by fostering collaboration and providing technical expertise on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment strategies. The UNIFEM Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is the only UN global grant-making mechanism that supports innovative efforts to end violence against women worldwide. Since it was established in 1996, the Trust Fund has awarded over 7.8 million to programs around the globe in 73 countries. Women’s rights have been repeatedly defined in international agreements such as the Beijing Platform for Action, and while much progress has been made, a continued emphasis needs to be made on keeping these promises. One of the most important references is the legally binding Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), a milestone series of commitments to protecting and advancing women’s rights in all spheres of life that is widely known as the women’s international bill of human rights. By the second half of 2005, 180 governments had become party to the Convention. The Millennium Declaration, product of the 2000 Millennium Summit, calls upon governments to implement CEDAW. UNIFEM’s work on women’s human rights makes consistent connections to rights across its programs, including by ensuring that attention goes first to the most marginalized groups. Protecting women’s rights starts with appropriate legislation that must then be upheld in practice. On 29 January 2007, the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) will organize the second annual observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, with a ceremony from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters. Madame Simone Veil, President of the Foundation Pour la Mémoire da la Shoah and a survivor of the Holocaust, will deliver the keynote address. In keeping with the theme of “Remembrance and Beyond”, the observance will focus on the importance of infusing today’s youth with the lessons of the Holocaust, so that future generations may carry the torch of remembrance, and remind the world of the dangers posted by hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice. A university student will speak on the importance of learning about the education in promoting tolerance and ending discrimination. This observance is being organized by DPI’s Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Program, created in the context of General Assembly Resolution 60/7 in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide. From Seeds to System: The United Nations Charter: It is noteworthy that the United States Senate voted 89 to 2 for ratification, and hopes that the Organization could ensure a peaceful and harmonious future were very high. During this great conference in 1945, the evidence of war was unmistakable. The streets continued to swarm with military personnel, even though the war in Europe ended halfway through the Conference, San Francisco Bay throbbed with the energy of naval vessels preparing to join the campaign against Japan — that war outlasted the Conference. The setting is important in understanding what the United Nations was intended to be. Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the United States, and Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom were the main proponents of a new start in organizing the world to do better than it had done between the end of the First World War and the outbreak of the Second World War. They wanted to avert a future like that of the past with its sequence of aggressions, the rise of Fascism and Nazism, the plunge into a war that was the greatest man-made disaster in human history, and the collapse of the League of Nations. They were idealists — and they were also realists. They agreed that at the center of the new structure there had to be a great power nexus. At the heart of their plan were the great power policemen working together to maintain a post-war system of security and peace under law. For them, international peace and security was the dominant purpose. They needed the Soviet Union in the great-power core. They also recognized that economic circumstances and human rights were important to their goal, but these were auxiliary not primary objectives. Details: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2005/issue3/0305p18.html Special Thanks: WHEC acknowledges the indispensable work of Dr. Benton Baker III, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas and Director of Graduate Medical Education, in the launch of e-learning publication: WomensHealthSection.com. His invaluable support and friendship to the project is the corner stone of our success. Thanks again for everything. Beyond the numbers… There are three short and simple words, the hardest to all to pronounce in any language, but the man or nation that is unable to utter them cannot claim to have arrived at manhood. These words are — I was wrong.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) November 2006; Vol. 1, No. 2 The purpose of the e-learning publication WomensHealthSection.com is to provide an overview of current clinical management guidelines in Women’s Health, focusing on the components integral to providing optimum care. The articles are designed for all members of the interdisciplinary team: physicians, physicians-assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives, nurses, social workers, therapists and other members seeking to enhance their knowledge of women’s health and appropriate care and management. WomensHealthSection.com is a vision for the Globalized World. The use of information science and telecommunications to support the practice of medicine when distance separates the caregiver from the patient is the way forward to make medical care more affordable and more accessible in every country. With the increasing integration of the world economy, issues of research and development in health sector has assumed a global dimension. Although we always think big, our approach is to start small, do it really well, and then gradually expand. Most of our work relies on a network of partners. We have been really fortunate because of the dedication, competence and sheer hard work of our partners, and a measure of our success lies in the way they have made this project their own. Great Expectations! Your Questions, Our Reply: What moves you? “What Works?” MDGs # 4 & 5: In September 2000, representatives from 189 countries gathered at the Millennium Summit to set specific targets for human development and poverty reduction to be achieved by 2015. This global commitment has been summarized in eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which provide a framework for measuring development progress. Two of the eight goals focus on child and maternal mortality, underscoring the importance of these issues to global development: Goal 4 aims to reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate of children under five from 1990 levels Goal 5 aims to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three-quarter from 1990 levels When it comes to women’s health and healthcare, no technique bears more fruit than divining a theme and developing variations. In a world obsessed with — what is new and what is next — education is still at the core, after decades, for the better health and the living conditions. There is nothing more classic than a bright idea. Consider this one: a federation of National OB/GYN Societies of all 191 Member States of the United Nations. Thinking globally advocating nationally a global movement can be established for better understanding of reproductive health and cultures. This will be helpful to support national efforts for accelerating universal coverage of essential interventions for maternal, newborn and child health in high-mortality countries. This movement is essential to raise the priority and mobilize the necessary financial investment for maternal, newborn and child health, globally and at the national levels. To help secure coordination, and to strengthen the long-term commitment of different participants and NGOs, the new global Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health seeks to track progress, highlight inequality, and promote greater accountability. Education that empowers women to make decisions about their lives and health is the key to reduce maternal mortality. The tragedy is that these women die not from disease, but during the normal, life-enhancing process of procreation; every woman who dies, many more suffer from serious conditions that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Maternal mortality is an indicator of disparity and inequality between men and women. There is now global momentum to address these issues and we have a unique opportunity to build on this. Leadership is an art, and there are no hard-and-fast rules. About NGO Association with the UN: Literacy as freedom: with over 860 million adults worldwide who cannot read or write — one in five adults — and more than 113 million children out of school, the United Nations has launched the Literacy Decade (2003-2012) under the theme “Literacy as Freedom”. Literacy efforts have so far failed to reach the poorest and most marginalized groups, according to the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and priority attention will be given to the most disadvantaged groups, especially women and girls, ethnic and linguistic minorities, indigenous populations, migrant refugees, disabled persons, and out-of-school children and youth. UNESCO will coordinate the international efforts to extend literacy under the Decade. The implementation of the Decade’s plan of action comprises five two-year periods structured around gender, poverty, health, peace and freedom. Secretary–General Kofi Annan stated that “literacy is the key to unlocking the cage of human misery, the key to delivering the potential of every human being, the key to opening up a future of freedom and hope. We know from study after study that there is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls and women.” Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): To help countries make healthcare programs a reality in the late 1990s, several international agencies and donors became concerned that technical guidelines and programs in the field of reproductive health were not being implemented in some countries. In 1999, WHO, USAID and other organizations launched what has become known as the Implementing Best Practices (IBP) initiative to help countries translate evidence-based policies, programs and guidelines into reality. IBP partners work on collaborative assignments and with country teams in Benin, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia to harmonize approaches, reduce duplication of effort and develop strategies. The partnership has also helped to develop an electronic communication system known as the IBP Knowledge Gateway. This web-based system allows communities of practice — groups of people who share what they know — to exchange knowledge and experiences in implementing reproductive health programs. The system was launched in late 2003 and has over 3800 members from 58 countries and 146 communities of practice. The IBP secretariat is based at WHO, Department of Reproductive Health and Research. By June 2006, 23 international organizations had joined the partnership. For details please visit: www.ibpinitiative.org Collaboration with UN University (UNU): Under the auspices of the United Nations University (UNU) the Global Virtual University (GVU) is a consortium of universities that work together to enhance learning for environmental sustainability. Through a range of online study programs and courses, the mission of GVU is to increase people’s sensitivity to and involvement in finding solutions for environment and development issues. The consortium acknowledges the importance of education for development and is particularly designed to meet the educational needs of the developing countries. Online learning (e-learning) forms the basic educational method for all our study programs and courses. This implies that a substantial part of teaching, collaboration, and supervision take place on the Internet. The pedagogy has a social constructivist approach, which means that group work, online discussions and joint assignments are important. It further implies that an active and regular participation among the students is essential. Students meet their classmates in virtual classrooms, in some cases supported by a face to face session in the beginning of the course. Top Two-Articles Accessed in October 2006: Sonographic Screening for Down Syndrome Author: Dr. Fergal D. Malone, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY (USA); Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin (Ireland). Contraception Counseling & Compliance WHEC Publication. Special thanks to Department of Reproductive Health and Research of World Health Organization for its contributions. News, Invitations and Letters: Background on the 21 November, 2006 forum on General Assembly and Non-Governmental Organization Relations: The Office of the President of the 61st Session of the General Assembly and the United Nations Foundation are convening this forum to provide an opportunity for an informal dialogue between Member States and non-governmental organizations on the future of the relationship between non-governmental organizations and the General Assembly. In recent years, the General Assembly has invited the input of the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to its major deliberations. In June of 2005, the General Assembly held its first informal interactive hearings with the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental-organizations, as an input to the 2005 World Summit. In the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, World leaders welcomed the positive contributions of local authorities, the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to the work of the United Nations and encouraged the continued dialogue between these actors and Member States. Women Presidents of the General Assembly: When Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain was appointed President of the 61st session of the UN General Assembly; she became only the third woman to occupy the prestigious post. The other two — Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India, who presided over the eighth session in 1953, and Angie Elisabeth Brooks of Liberia, over the twenty-fourth session in 1969 — each had to chair during uncertain times for the United Nations. Jyoti Dar, Director of International Affairs and NGO Representative at UN for Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC), is grand-daughter of Mrs. Pandit. You will find the article very informative: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/issue3/0306p06.htm Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Robert L. Barbieri, Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA (USA) for his support, kindness and friendship. It is an honor to work with him on this project, and his work in reproductive health is priceless. Thanks again for sharing it with us. My appreciation and deeply felt regards for the skills of Victoria A. White, CEO, eclecTechs whose suggestions and feedback contributed so much to the ultimate outcome of this e-learning publication. It is a privilege to work with her entire team. Beyond the numbers… Neither a wish nor a hope nor a prayer will grow food or build a shelter or maintain a business or invent a computer / internet or discover a cure for a disease or devise a proper political system or preserve / protect human rights / relationships. All of the values on which our life, well-being and happiness depend require — A Process of Thought and Effort.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) December 2006; Vol. 1, No. 3 It is the time of year when our thoughts turn to gratitude, and one of the things I am most thankful for is wonderful and talented writers / editors / contributors / reviewers of WomensHealthSection.com. The physicians whose work you see in these pages are excellent, and they are experts in their field. Give people the information to act; then look for magic to happen. The fastest-growing parts of the Internet all involve direct human interaction. Empowerment is not “giving power to people”. It is releasing the power — the Knowledge, Experience and Motivation — they already have. The Internet is much more than a technology — it is a completely different way of organizing our lives. Internet-Classrooms are the way forward in improving maternal and child health worldwide. Don’t bet against Internet-Classrooms — it is simply the best. Today we live in the clouds. We’re moving into the era of “cloud” computing, with information and applications hosted in the diffuse atmosphere of cyberspace rather than on specific processors and silicon racks. The network will truly be the computer. Internet has brought unprecedented freedoms to millions of people worldwide — to create and communicate, to organize and influence, to speak and be heard. Happiness never resides in what an individual has, but always in what an individual does. Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties but of little things, in which smiles and kindness and small obligations, given habitually, is what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort. Because the goodwill of those we serve is the foundation of our success; it is a real pleasure at this holiday time to say — Thank You; as we wish you a full year of happiness and prosperity. Happy Holidays Your Questions, Our Reply: Who needs public goods? Who can buy global public goods / virtual space, and who has the authority to sell it? Global Public Sphere: The history of the words “public” and “private” is a key to understanding this basic shift in terms of Western culture. The first recorded uses of the word “public” in English identify the “public” with the common good in society. “Private” has the connotations of being personal and intimate. Public goods, common good, collective goods and global public goods are heavily contested concepts. Natural environment (common good), social policy (collective goods), knowledge (global public goods), national defense systems and systems of property rights (public goods) are typical examples. The public sector can be seen as the dialectical opposite to the private sector. However, defining the public sector as “not for profit” misses the point; rather it should be understood as “not for private profit” or “for the common good”. It is not possible to neglect one or the other anymore. A creative work is said to be in the public domain if there are no laws that restrict its use by the public at large. Such works as the inventions of Sir Isaac Newton, the Bible, the Torah, the Gita and the Qur’an also form part of the public domain, because they were created before copyright and patent laws. In contemporary jargon, public domain refers to space within the openly accessible virtual world, e.g. a private website. The fifth dimension is media, and the information and communication technology (ICT) acts as its infrastructure. Virtual space (Internet) has rapidly become an equally important place for public appearance, political debate / argumentation and scientific forums / discussions, as in any other media. In my opinion, all goods are private and only ownership can give a mandate to decision-making; but if we agree that there are common goods to be shared equally among people, not just a finite amount of private goods, there has to be an open forum where decisions can be made about sharing the commons. May be Internet can be seen as a single public space with virtual portals and websites, and form a purely public space to a fuzzy mix of public and private domains. Stay tuned… About NGO Association with the UN: Human trafficking is one of today’s most egregious human rights violations. Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of society: people burdened by poverty, disabilities and discrimination. Trafficking in persons refers to the illegal trade or “sale” of human beings for sexual exploitation or forced labor through abduction, the use or threat of force, deception and fraud. It knows no gender, race, age or even boundaries. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 are traded annually across international borders; most of the victims are women and girls. In 2000 the international community created the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which supplements the Convention. For the first time in a legal document, the Protocol specifically defines and criminalizes trafficking in persons. It also urges States to assist and protect victims of trafficking, for example by stopping their deportation and allowing their repatriation, strengthening border controls and improving the integrity and security of identification documents. As an international NGO that promotes women’s rights worldwide, Vital Voices Global Partnership pursues three strategies in its anti-trafficking advocacy work: Raising public awareness; Promoting effective partnerships between Governments and NGOs; Training and building NGO capacity to counter human trafficking. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): Over a span of two years and as a result of extensive consultation, the Task Force on Child Health and Maternal Health (MDGs 4 & 5) analyzed what it will take to meet the goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. In its final report, published earlier this year, the Task Force issued a set of nine recommendations for realizing improvements in child mortality and maternal health. These findings will generate momentum for reframing maternal, newborn, and child health, moving from a focus on health systems, equity, and human rights. The report calls on health policymakers to broad systemic issues that affect the delivery of maternal, newborn, and child health services, such as health-sector financing, human-resource systems, and poverty-reduction strategies. This report title: Who got the power: Transforming Health Systems for Women and Children, can be accessed at: www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/maternalchild-complete.pdf (Requires Adobe Reader) Collaboration with UN University (UNU): In 1973, the founders of UN University (UNU) gave it a challenging mission: develop original, forward-looking solutions to the world’s most pressing problems and help build capacity, in particular in developing countries. Mission of UNU contributes, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its peoples and Member States. UNU’s mission remains as relevant as in 1973. Major shifts, however have made the University’s mission more complex, and more important. Globalization, rapid technological advances and economic shifts favoring knowledge-based economies offer great opportunities. They also present challenges — even threats — to many countries. In the early 1970s, the Government of Japan pledged US $ 100 million to launch UNU’s Endowment Fund. Since then, over 50 other governments have contributed to UNU. To world decision makers, UNU offers fresh, alternative views on today’s problems, a proactive analysis of emerging problems and sound policy alternatives to address them. UNU forms and cooperates with networks between universities and research institutes around the globe. UNU welcomes comment and new ideas, and invites you to join in achieving the goals of the United Nations. UNU’s work is both theoretical and practical. It promotes innovative thinking, generates useful knowledge and facilitates down-to-earth action. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): On 1 December World AIDS Day 2006 commemorated worldwide with a wide range of events taking place. In 1988, the General Assembly expressed deep concern at the pandemic proportions of AIDS. Noting that the World Health Organization had declared 1 December 1988 World AIDS Day, the Assembly stressed the importance of observing that occasion (Resolution 43/15). Since then, World AIDS Day has aimed to increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. Out of an estimated 39.5 million people living with HIV worldwide at the end 2006, 4.3 million were newly infected last year alone, according to AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2006, released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in advance of World AIDS Day. The focus of World AIDS Day 2006 is accountability and the slogan is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise,” based on the commitments made through the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. “Accountability—the theme of this World AIDS Day—requires every President and Prime Minister, every parliamentarian and politician, to decide and declare that ‘AIDS stops with me.’ It requires them to strengthen protection for all vulnerable groups—whether people living with HIV, young people, sex workers, injecting drug users, or men who have sex with men. It requires them to work hand in hand with civil society groups, who are so crucial to the struggle. It requires them to work for real, positive change that will give more power and confidence to women and girls, and transform relations between women and men at all levels of society,” UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in his message on World AIDS Day 2006. “The theme of this World AIDS Day is accountability. If we are to reach the targets that countries have set for themselves then, now more than ever, we need to make the money work. Collectively and with civil society we need to strengthen national ownership, improve processes of coordination and harmonization, continue to reform the multilateral response, and define clear means of accountability and oversight for these changes,” UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said in his message commemorating the Day. Spearheading activities and events around World AIDS Day is the World Aid Campaign (WAC), based in Amsterdam and which took over the Campaign from UNAIDS. WAC operates under a governance system led by civil society to shift policy, mobilize resources, and call for action on the ground. Also to commemorate World AIDS Day 2006, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched its report HIV/AIDS and Work: Global Estimates, Impact on Children and Youth, and Response 2006, which presents updated estimates of the impact of the HIV epidemic on the world of work, the labor force and the working-age population in 60 countries in all regions. A new UNAIDS Best Practice Collection report Global Reach: How Trade Unions are Responding to AIDS will also be available. The report brings to public attention the “innovative programs and successful initiatives” of the labor movement in responding to HIV/AIDS. The report is a joint publication by the ILO, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (now the International Trade Union Confederation), Global Union AIDS Program and UNAIDS. Top Two-Articles Accessed in November 2006: Epidural & Spinal Anesthesia: Understanding the Facts Women’s Health and Education Center’s Contribution. HIV in Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review Author: Dr. Howard L. Minkoff, Chairman, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY; Distinguished Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SUNY-Health Science Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY (USA) News, Invitations and Letters: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes investments in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). These investments are designed to help the LDCs reduce poverty and achieve the objectives of the Brussels Program of Action for the LDCs and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UNCDF’s investment capital is flexible, high-risk, and innovative, and its development approach seeks the long-term development of human, institutional, and financial capacity in the poorest countries. UNCDF currently invests in 28 of the 50 LDCs, and plans to expand its investments to 45 LDCs by the end of 2007. UNCDF’s Local Development Programs (LDPs) build the capacity of local governments and make investments in local communities to improve their access to social services and economic infrastructure. Its Microfinance investments provide enhanced access for households and enterprises to financial services and direct support for start-up and emerging microfinance institutions. UNCDF was founded in 1966 as an independent instrument of the United Nations with a special mission: ” … to assist developing countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of loans and grants …” (GA resolution 2186 (XXI) on the establishment of UNCDF, 13 December 1966). UNCDF is a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) group, and reports to UNDP’s Executive Board. As such, UNCDF works in close partnership with UNDP in areas ranging from joint programming to administrative and logistical support. The UNDP Resident Representative represents UNCDF at the country level. The Fund derives its resources from voluntary contributions made by member states, and from co-financing by governments, international organizations and the private sector. UNCDF is committed to results-based management, combining quality programming with financially sound management. The Fund produces concrete results through programs that pilot innovative approaches to local development and microfinance for replication on a larger scale. International migration and development: patterns, problems, and policy directions; seminar held at UN Headquarter, New York in November 2006. In recent years, substantial numbers of people have migrated — or sought to migrate — from regions that are afflicted by poverty and insecurity to more prosperous and stable parts of the world. By the year 2000, the United Nations estimated that about 140 million persons — resided in a country where they were not born. Such population flows, involving increasingly tortuous and dangerous long-distance journeys, have been both prompted and facilitated by a variety of factors associated with the process of globalization: a growing disparity in the level of human security to be found in different parts of the world; improved transportation, communications and information technology systems; the expansion of transnational social networks; and the emergence of a commercial (and sometimes criminal) industry, devoted to the smuggling of people across international borders. The World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER) launched two major research projects on migration. This research identifies and quantifies the movement of skilled people across the global economy, as well as the determinants of these flows, and costs and benefits to the sending countries in the developing world. Ban Ki-moon appointed next Secretary-General by General Assembly: With words of welcome and support the United Nations General Assembly appointed Ban Ki-moon, foreign minister of the Republic of Korea, to its highest post. Regional representatives spoke in turn, welcoming the newly selected Secretary-General. All expressed praise for Mr. Ban’s previous accomplishments and hope for his future tenure at the UN’s helm. Details: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/webArticles/101306_ban The United Nations University Office at the UN in New York (UNU-ONY), in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is holding a seminar on The Role of the Secretary-General on the Eve of Change. The seminar is part of the annual UNU/UNITAR governance series and will take place on 18 and 19 December 2006 in Conference Room 8 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The seminar’s intent is to illustrate to delegates the various roles and functions of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to review these functions in light of the evolving nature of the UN system, and to consider how this role has evolved over time and may develop in the future. The speakers will be drawn from the UN secretariat, Permanent Missions, and civil society. Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, for accepting the goals and mission of e-learning publication: WomensHealthSection.com. Best Wishes from all of us. Thanks for the friendship. My incredible good fortune to coordinate this project with a friend, Paul Hoeffel, Director, UN Information Center; my greatest-debt to him for his unwavering faith when I needed the most. Beyond the numbers… So many Gods, so many creeds So many paths that wind and wind; While just the art of being kind Is all the sad world needs.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) October 2006; Vol. 1, No. 1 On 24th October 2002 when our e-learning publication was launched, I had millions of doubts about this project. In fact the reality has completely exceeded my fantasies. And that is remarkable given that I can dream pretty big. Four years later it is a very well respected international journal in women’s healthcare and has captured many people’s imaginations. A great-big thank you goes out to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, UN Chronicle and Contemporary OB/GYN. WomensHealthSection.com is no longer exclusively mine; it belongs to millions of readers around the world who feel this is their project too. Luckily; the memories of the uncertainty and fear I had in 2002 are almost forgotten. Almost. Enjoy WomensHealthSection.com, and a big thank you. About NGO Association with the UN: Non-governmental organizations have been partners of the Department of Public Information (DPI) since its establishment in 1947. Official relationships between DPI and NGOs date back to 1968. The Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1297 called on DPI to associate NGOs with effective information programs in place and thus disseminate information about issues on the UN’s agenda and the work of the Organization. Through associated NGOs DPI seeks to reach people around the world and help them better understand the work and aims of the United Nations. The DPI/NGO Section is part of the department’s Outreach Division and acts as its liaison between the United Nations and NGOs and other civil society organizations. It oversees partnerships with associated NGOs and provides a wide range of information services to them. These include weekly NGO briefings, communication workshops, an annual NGO conference and an annual orientation program for newly associated NGOs. Currently there are 1533 NGOs with strong information programs associated with DPI out of which 634 are also associated with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council). While consultative status with ECOSOC may be obtained by NGOs whose work covers issues on the agenda of ECOSOC, association with DPI also requires having effective information programs in place and the ability and means to disseminate information about the work of the United Nations. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): The world’s leading advocates for women and children have joined forces to create The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health. The Partnership unites leaders in developing and donor countries in the effort to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5, focusing global efforts to scale up resources, strategies and political commitments to achieve these goals. The vision of The Partnership is to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity through universal coverage of essential care. For details please visit: http://www.pmnch.org/ Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU provides specialized training throughout the world. Its “faculty” is an international network of scholars and professional contributors, while its “students” are mainly young researchers and other professionals (in particular, from developing countries) who receive postgraduate training as UNU fellows, or who benefit from UNU’s capacity-building activities. Academic and professional staff is recruited from universities, research institutions, international organizations and similar institutions, often for fixed terms. The University’s network personnel generally hold positions at major universities or research institutions worldwide and remain in their posts while working with UNU programs. A wide variety of nationalities and cultures are represented. UNU receives no funds from the United Nations regular budget; it is financed entirely from the endowment and from voluntary contributions from governments, agencies, foundations and individuals. UNU also has benefited from counterpart and other support, including cost sharing of scholarships and other activities. Key roles of UNU: An international community of scholars A bridge between the UN and the academic community A think-tank for the UN System A builder of capacities, particularly in developing countries. Top Two-Articles Accessed in September 2006: Managing Vesico-Vaginal Fistulae Authors: Dr. Neeraj Kohli, Director Div. of Urogynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA (USA) Dr. John R. Miklos, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Georgia, Atlanta, GA (USA) Profiling Domestic Violence WHEC Publication. Special thanks to Battered Women’s Shelter of Springfield, MA for the assistance with research. Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. John J. Sciarra, Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, ILL. (USA) for his enthusiasm for International Health and this project since its inception. His support and appreciation always inspires us. WHEC thanks Judy Orvos, Editor, Contemporary OB/GYN for her assistance with Sign Out Column. We all are looking forward to work with her for a long time to come. My deepest gratitude to Dr. James A. Whelton, Chairman (Retired) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA (USA) for teaching us the true meaning of patient-care and many valuable lessons of life. Beyond the numbers… Of all judgments that we pass in life, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves, for that judgment touches the very center of our existence. We stand in the midst of an almost infinite network of relationships: to other people, to things, to the universe. And yet, at three o’clock in the morning, when we are alone with ourselves, we are aware that the most intimate and powerful of all relationships and the one we can never escape is the relationship to ourselves.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC)May 2007; Vol. 2, No. 5 Now is the time to review some of the highlights in our popular publications — WomensHealthSection.com and WHEC Update. There is natural curiosity about the secret of success. It requires more than money to build a successful publication. It takes hard work, determination and passion — we got all three. With an education, equality and a voice, we have the power to help stop spread of disease. The power to start new projects / programs. The power, ultimately, to help an entire society move forward. That is why WHEC is working to empower women worldwide. It is time for empowerment. Every year is crucial for the 3 billion people who are entrapped in poverty. The goal of ending extreme poverty is vital not solely as a matter of compassion. The world economy will benefit enormously from the contributions of those who are able to move from a state of dependency to full participation. Not just aid but also ideas — in particular the idea of legal rights, universal health coverage, access to quality healthcare — will be crucial for reducing poverty. Poverty and maternal mortality / morbidity have direct link. The wide acceptance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the international community confirms the central role of human development, including health and nutrition, in combating poverty. We hope our projects / programs help strengthening efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, including through the global partnership for development. We will be little too optimistic about human development. Legal empowerment has been recognized as a useful approach to poverty reduction only if it offers political leaders a viable path for implementing large-scale reforms. Policymakers are increasingly open to newer concepts, designed not only to alleviate the symptoms of poverty, but also to attack root causes. One such idea is explored by the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, an UN-affiliated initiative. Former US secretary of state, Madeline Albright, co-chairs the commission with Hernando de Soto, a Peruvian economist who champions the idea that the poor remain poor in part because they do not have legal rights. The importance of legal empowerment now also figures prominently in the strategies of organizations that have become partners of the commission, including the UNDP (United Nations Development Program), the World Bank, the International Labor Organization (ILO), UN Habitat and Inter-American Development Bank. The commission’s mandate is daunting but also vital, for legal empowerment can add much to the world’s arsenal in its ongoing struggle to save and enrich human lives. We want to hear from you! Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: Is health-status of women one of the most sensitive indicators of progress in social development? Social Development: Women illustrate better than any other population group the combined impact of poverty, unemployment and social disintegration on health and quality of life. The development and prosperity of any society directly depend on the strength and creativity of its people. Women’s poor health status has a high economic cost in terms of lost productivity; in addition, their ability to provide adequate care and support for themselves and their families is very much diminished. The healthy development of child ensures that child is able to grow up, attend school and acquire skills, find gainful employment, achieve personal autonomy and live a self-fulfilling and productive life within its family and community. Poverty remains the main obstacle to health development. For millions of people, poverty implies lack of access to proper food, water and shelter, and therefore greater vulnerability to disease. In many industrialized countries, urban poverty is increasing, multiplying violence, drug abuse and risk of HIV infection. Everywhere, poverty and unemployment lead to a deterioration in health and jeopardize social cohesion. Health can be used as a rallying cry to foster social cooperation and consensus; it is thus a more powerful tool in coping with violence than confrontation. Unemployment, marginalization, and poverty are conditions that result in poorer health and are exacerbated by the discrimination girls and women face throughout their lives. In virtually every society, women face discrimination in education and employment, as well as social and economic status, all of which contribute to a heightened vulnerability to disease and ill-health. If the world community endorses the concept of equality in health, it will commit itself to achieving a better quality of life for all people and reducing differences in health status among countries and between population groups. As countries develop and implement their Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS), one of the key challenges is to identify actions that will have the greatest impact on poverty and improve the lives of the poor. The challenge is compounded by the fact that poverty has many dimensions, cuts across many sectors, and is experienced differently by women and by men. In no region of the developing world are women equal to men in legal, social and economic rights. Gender gaps are widespread in access to and control of resources, in economic opportunities, in power and political voice. Gender equality is a development objective on its own — it also makes good business sense as it is central to economic growth and sustainable development. We at Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) put particular emphasis on improving the health and well-being of women to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and women’s health to be used as a powerful progress indicator in achieving social development. About NGO Association with the UN: Fifth Committee: Administrative and Budgetary — It confines its scope not just to “budgetary and administration” issues, it also monitors United Nations activities as diverse as reviewing human resources management policies and establishing strengthened security management systems to protect UN staff members worldwide. In a nutshell, it “considers all issues relating to the machinery of the Organization”. A budget outline is normally presented at the end of the “official budget” year and contains an estimate of resources to accommodate the United Nations main priorities, positive or negative growth compared with the previous budget and the size of the contingency fund. It also reflects inflation and exchange rate variations, as well as additional mandates approved after the adoption of biennium budget. Non-payment of dues by the Member States ultimately affects the Organization’s ability to deliver, since resources must be juggled from other parts of the system — to keep programs on tracks. Whether countries are rich or poor, they are all obligated to pay the contributions. One of the main features of the new scale was the reduction of the maximum rates of assessment from 25 to 22 per cent. Subsequently, the new ceiling has been applied to the United Nations main contributor — the United States — and the points arising as a result of the change were distributed among other States. On the Committee’s recommendation, the General Assembly also acted on a wide range of other issues, such as human resources management, financing for the international tribunals, the United Nations contingency fund, the Organization’s first performance report, and reports of UN oversight bodies. Towards a unified security system. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): Science-based companies consider patent protection one of the main forms of expanding their powers of appropriation. Powers of appropriation are those mechanisms, including legal rights and entitlements, which allow individuals or entities to control the distribution of value created. A framework for measuring the degree of public health-sensitivity of patent legislation reformed after World Trade Organization’s TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement entered in force is proposed. It involves three main steps: (1) a literature review on TRIPS flexibilities related to the protection of public health and provisions considered “TRIPS-plus”; (2) content validation through consensus techniques (an adaptation of Delphi method); and (3) an analysis of patent legislation from nineteen Latin American and Caribbean countries. The framework’s potential usefulness in monitoring patent legislation changes arises from its clear parameters for measuring patent legislation’s degree of health sensitivity. Nevertheless, it can be improved by including indicators related to government and organized society initiatives that minimize free-trade agreements’ negative effects on access to medicines. For details please visit — World Intellectual Property Organization: www.wipo.int/clea/en/ Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 85, Number 5, May 2007, 325-420 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): Peace and Governance — Freedom from Fear: UNU strives to promote sustainable peace and good governance. Humankind cannot live free of fear when over a billion people continue to live in servitude to want. Equally, however, an environment of insecurity degrades the prospects for economic growth and development. The Peace and Governance Program examines the nature, roots, outbreaks, tools and consequences of conflict; and how to prevent, manage and resolve conflict. It develops recommendations and guidelines for making the world safer and better, for people of all faiths and ages, through just and equitable institutions and policies, protection and promotion of human rights, and enhancement of the quality of life. Point of View: Tracing adverse and favorable factors in pregnancy care, the TRACE technique “Knowing the precise reasons why women die will enable a start to be made in addressing the specific problems to be overcome” [WHO, 2004] Meaningful assessment of the quality of maternity health care services in developing countries is crucial for improving care. We developed the TRACE technique, based on the confidential enquiry method, to investigate why maternal death or severe obstetric morbidity occurs and to identify opportunities for improving services. In TRACE, contributing factors in cases of maternal death or severe obstetric morbidity are identified by committees of local health care providers. The committees use anonymous data (clinical case notes, medical records, or verbal accounts of events during the provision of care) to assess events according to a specific framework. Assessments are collected and patterns identified to generate recommendations for practice. The TRACE approach is novel in that effort is made to identify favorable, as well as adverse, factors. This helps alleviate some of the anxiety and defensiveness felt by health professionals when an enquiry is undertaken (1). TRACE has been applied to assess the quality of emergency obstetric care provided in communities through the Indonesian village midwife program and the clinical quality of care in hospitals before and after introduction of a fee exemption policy in Ghana. Despite considerable commitment to these safe motherhood strategies from the Ghanaian and Indonesian Governments, it is not certain whether the resources invested have resulted in improvements in care, and how further improvements could be achieved. In two diverse settings, the method proved to be a means for achieving improved resource allocation by identifying locally relevant adaptations to services. The enquiry represented a sustained effort by local providers to learn from adverse events. And the method was a learning tool fostering self-reflection, awareness and an understanding of the needs of pregnant women for those involved. The TRACE technique is freely available for local application as part of the IMMPACT Toolkit. It is a resource collection of research tools developed by IMMPACT, with guidance on how to design and conduct evaluations of complex health interventions for safe motherhood. By Julia Hussein and Lucia D’Ambruoso IMMPACT, University of Aberdeen Health Sciences Building, Foresterhill Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom Reference: Hussein J. Improving the use of confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2007; 85: 68-69. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis — Global Action”: series continues Affirming the key role played by the family in prevention, care, support and treatment of persons affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, bearing in mind that in different cultural, social and political systems various forms of the family exist; Affirming that beyond the key role played by communities, strong partnerships among Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups, medical, scientific and educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, the business sector including generic and research-based pharmaceutical companies, trade unions, media, parliamentarians, foundations, community organizations, faith-based organizations and traditional leaders are important; Acknowledging the particular role and significant contribution of people living with HIV/AIDS, young people and civil society actors in addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS in all its aspects and recognizing that their full involvement and participation in design, planning, implementation and evaluation of programs is crucial to the development of effective responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; Further acknowledging the efforts of international humanitarian organizations combating the epidemic, including among others the volunteers of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the most affected areas all over the world; Commending the leadership role on HIV/AIDS policy and coordination in the United Nations system of the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board; noting its endorsement in December 2000 of the Global Strategy Framework for HIV/AIDS, which could assist, as appropriate, Member Sates and relevant civil society actors in the development of HIV/AIDS strategies, taking into account the particular context of the epidemic in different parts of the world; Solemnly declare our commitment to address the HIV/AIDS crisis by taking action as follows, taking into account the diverse situations and circumstances in different regions and countries throughout the world; Leadership Strong leadership at all levels of society is essential for an effective response to the epidemic. Leadership by Governments in combating HIV/AIDS is essential and their efforts should be complemented by the full and active participation of civil society, the business community and the private sector. Leadership involves personal commitment and concrete actions. At the national level By 2003, ensure the development and implementation of multisectoral national strategies and financing plans for combating HIV/AIDS that: address the epidemic in forthright terms; confront stigma, silence and denial; address gender and age-based dimensions of the epidemic; eliminate discrimination and marginalization; involve partnerships with civil society and the business sector and the full participation of people living with HIV/AIDS, those in vulnerable groups and people mostly at risk, particularly women and young people; are resourced to the extent possible from national budgets without excluding other sources, inter alias international cooperation; fully promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; integrate a gender perspective; and address risk, vulnerability, prevention, care, treatment and support and reduction of the impact of the epidemic; and strengthen health, education and legal system capacity; By 2003, integrate HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support and impact mitigation priorities into the mainstream of development planning, including in poverty eradication strategies, national budget allocations and sectoral development plans; At the regional and subregional level Urge and support regional organizations and partners to: be actively involved in addressing the crisis; intensify regional, subregional and interregional cooperation and coordination; and develop regional strategies and responses in support of expanded country level efforts; Support all regional and subregional initiatives on HIV/AIDS including: the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa (IPPA) and the ECA-African Development Forum Consensus and Plan of Action: Leadership to Overcome HIV/AIDS; the Abuja Declaration and Framework for Action for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Disease; the CARICOM Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS; the ESCAP Regional Call for Action to Fight HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific; the Baltic Sea Initiative and Action Plan; the Horizontal Technical Cooperation Group on HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean; the European Union Program for Action; Accelerated Action on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in April 2007: Elder Abuse;WHEC Publication. Special thanks to American Bar Association, Commission on Legal Problems for the Elderly, for its contribution. Breastfeeding Guidelines for Healthcare Providers;WHEC Publication. Special thanks to WHO and UNICEF for the contributions. News, Invitations and Letters: CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES LONG-TERM GLOBAL RESPONSE, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL SG/A/1061-ENV/DEV/929. SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS THREE NEW SPECIAL ENVOYS ON CLIMATE CHANGE The Year in Review 2006, published by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), gives a snapshot picture of civil society engagement in the policy and normative work of the UN and reviews the various consultations, forums, policy dialogues, hearings, CSO advisory committees that have taken place throughout the year 2006. It is hoped that readers will find this new NGLS publication – supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation – to be a useful and concise overview of the UN system’s engagement with the non-governmental community in 2006. The Year in Review 2006 is available in English as a pdf document at: http://www.un-ngls.org/site/IMG/pdf/YiR2006.pdf (Requires Adobe Reader) The Trusteeship Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945 to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories placed under the administration of 7 Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government or independence. The Charter authorized the Trusteeship Council to examine and discuss reports from the Administering Authority on the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples of Trust Territories; to examine petitions from the Territories; and to undertake special missions to the Territories. By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-government or independence, either as separate States or by joining neighboring independent countries. The last to do was the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), which became the 185th Member State. Its work completed, the Trusteeship Council — consisting of the five permanent members of the Security Council, China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — has amended its rules of procedure to meet as and where occasion may require. Teaching women to care for themselves in Afghanistan: Afghan women have one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. They face many obstacles when it comes to accessing health care: most are rural and do not live close to or cannot access medical facilities, if the need arises. The few existing facilities do not necessarily specialize in obstetric and gynecological care and cannot always offer quality care. Many Afghan families do not recognize signs of complication during pregnancy and delivery, and may not seek medical attention soon enough to save the lives of mothers and babies. Also ongoing insecurity and cultural norms in the country often keep women from leaving the house to seek urgently needed medical care. Because of cultural pressures, families are reluctant to present women to male doctors, and few female doctors are trained to meet the overwhelming medical needs of women; these conditions constitute a death sentence for thousands of women each year. Details: http://www.un.org:80/Pubs/chronicle/2005/issue4/0405p46.html Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Sol Oca, Information Officer, United Nations Department of Public Information (UN-DPI), for her continuing support to our projects. Thanks for the friendship. Beyond the numbers… Some use computers to enhance creative thinking skills; while others use thinking skills to improve computer creativity.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) October 2007; Vol. 2, No. 10 Lessons from the Field The Internet has the potential to revitalize the role played by the people in poverty and growth framework. It is a platform. The democratization of knowledge by the Internet has brought the enlightenment. We can see it happening before our eyes. Proof that nature and progress can coexist comfortably – very, very comfortably. This is WomensHealthSection.com – this is the pursuit of perfection. Science & Art: Simplified. Anyone, anywhere, can make a positive difference. Everyone matters. Everyone makes a difference. Working with the UN and UN System has been a joy and a privilege. It is the best of the best. Eventually it all boils down to: How can we eradicate poverty, improve standard of living for the citizens of the world and eliminate diseases. Statistics may allow us to draw conclusions, but they seldom motivate us to make commitments. Words have the extraordinary power to change our thinking, our emotions, to affect our attitudes and alter results. You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself. As a society, we are getting better – networked democracy is taking hold. The name “United Nations”, coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the “Declaration by United Nations” of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year. On 24 October 2007 WomensHealthSection.com celebrates its 5th anniversary – the journey continues. It also represents both your passion for knowledge and love of humanity. The language of kindness is understood by all. We think you will want to make sure that WHEC Update is part of your reading. And there is more. I remember as a child saying that my true heart was to work with the United Nations. So many people are not happy or do not know what they want to do with their lives. It is something I am grateful for. When I work on WomenHealthSection.com or on any other project with the United Nations, it is really not work for me – it is an extension of my being. Regardless of where we came from, each and every one of us could and should follow our dreams. The perspective and predispositions that you carry around in your head are very important in shaping what you see and what you don’t see. One great teacher can change your thinking. Many great teachers can change your life. It has been a great honor and privilege to compile this journal with our friends and colleagues as we continue to embark this journey. We hope WomensHealthSection.com tempts you with the excitement and possibility. Beckons you. It calls you. This is where the story begins. Welcome to the WomensHealthSection.com team! The Lessons Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: What are Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)? What can we expect from the health components of PRSPs? PRSPs: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers are national planning frameworks for low-income countries. All countries wishing to access concessional loans through the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF), or wishing to benefit from debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative are required to produce a PRSP. As development cooperation continues to move “upstream”, towards program aid and budget support and away from individually funded projects, PRSPs are also becoming the framework around which some bilateral donors – notably the Nordic countries and the UK – build their cooperation programs. As of December 2003, 32 countries have produced “full” PRSPs. The nature of PRSP documents, and the multiple functions they are designed to fulfill, implies at least two important tensions. The first is between PRSPs as country-owned development strategies, and between PRSPs as, essentially, “funding applications” to the World Bank. The second important tension is between PRSPs as planning frameworks. One body of opinion argues that PRSPs should present a program based on need irrespective of available resources, while others believe that PRSPs should plan around available resources, ensuring that these are spent to achieve maximum impact on poverty reduction. PRSPs are multisectoral plans and their discussion of health is therefore limited. They cannot (and should not attempt to) replace existing health-sector programs, nor should they be expected to contain full details of a comprehensive health strategy. PRSPs should prioritize those health interventions most likely to improve the health of the poor(est) and help to reduce poverty. Drawing on work in WHO, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and elsewhere, the framework developed for the review look for: 1) evidence for generic health interventions which are considered pro-poor; 2) specific targeting of the poorest groups or geographical regions, given the country context; 3) interventions in other sectors which can have a positive impact on health. Different combinations of these approaches may be appropriate in different countries. In many African countries, where the number of poor is excessively high, a general strengthening of health services in rural areas and a greater focus on the conditions that disproportionately affect the poor may be appropriate. In Latin America, where health services are better established, a more targeted approach may be needed in conjunction with universal strengthening of services. In either case, a pro-poor policy needs to be used on the country context. Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) hopes to strengthen the links between the United Nations and Civil Society on PRSP issues and in particular for a strengthened Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) – Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) axis. About NGO Association with the UN: Chairpersons of UN Committees and their views on various issues: The Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Madhu Raman Acharya, was elected Chairman of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) for the sixty-first session of the General Assembly on 8 June 2006. His views on various issues on Fourth Committee’s agenda are: The Fourth Committee has shifted away from issues of decolonization as nations gained their independence, and has taken on a more political focus. How prominent are issues of decolonization in this Committee today? As the main wave of decolonization is already completed, I wouldn’t say that decolonization is the most prominent issue. But certainly there are remaining issues that need to be addressed. The Committee is still engaged in a discussion of certain territories that are in question. That said, the United Nations has made significant progress in this area. A major issue that has emerged in the Fourth Committee is an investigation into the Palestinian territories. What are some of the challenges in working with issues in these territories? There are two sides to this issue. One is the question of Palestinian refugees, which the Fourth Committee deals with, and especially the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), with its reports directed to the General Assembly. This is quite challenging. The operations are messy, they are complex and they include both humanitarian as well as development aspects. The work is also difficult because of the complex political climate in the region. The other side of the Palestinian issue is the question of human rights, which falls under the title Israeli Practices in our work. We discuss the human rights situation of the Palestinian people, which has become very challenging as well. Because of recent events in the region, the issue has been highlighted, and we have had very intensive debates. In fact, we’re going to vote on this issue very soon. Israel’s representative has questioned the validity of the Special Committee assigned to track its activities in the Palestinian territories and in Syrian Golan. How does this affects the Fourth Committee? The Committee did discuss these issues at length and the delegation of Israel did, in fact, challenge the validity of these agreements that were reached. It is the Committee’s job to encourage all sides to conform to international humanitarian and human rights norms, and this is where the issue remains to date. While ideally it would be nice to have all Member States conform to the system that has been put in place, we do understand that certain delegations have reservations of their own national interest. However, we must not forget the fact that these situations exist-the practices are there; they need to be addressed. And if a large, universal body like the United Nations cannot address them, then nobody can. Have there been any other issues that really stood out to you at this year’s session? The issue of outer space, which should be used universally by all humankind, and not just by a few States-this is an interesting topic. Some Member States have also highlighted the effects of the atomic radiation tests that have been taking place in some territories. The gravity of both dictates that the United Nations, as a universal global body, should delve into these issues, so that they don’t later become confined to some Member States. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): What is the efficacy/effectiveness of antenatal care and the financial and organizational implications? Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report on the efficacy/effectiveness of antenatal care: Antenatal care, also known as prenatal care, is the complex of interventions that a pregnant woman receives from organized health care services. The number of different interventions in antenatal care is large. These interventions may be provided in approximately 12-16 antenatal care visits during a pregnancy. The purpose of antenatal care is to prevent or identify and treat conditions that may threaten the health of the fetus/newborn and/or the mother, and to help a woman approach pregnancy and birth as positive experiences. To a large extent antenatal care can contribute greatly to this purpose and can in particular help provide a good start for the newborn child. This report is HEN’s response to a question from a decision-maker. It provides a synthesis of the best available evidence, including a summary of the main findings and policy options related to the issue. HEN, initiated and coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, is an information service for public health and health care decision-makers in the WHO European Region. Other interested parties might also benefit from HEN. This HEN evidence report is a commissioned work and the contents are the responsibility of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the official policies of WHO/Europe. Details: http://www.euro.who.int/Document/E82996.pdf (pdf) Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 85, Number 10, October 2007, 733-820 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): United Nations University, Annual Report 2006: Science and technology are critical components of the development process. Rapid technological advances have created unprecedented opportunities, making it crucial that nations possess the ability to develop, master and utilize innovation systems that facilitate technological advancement. But the impact of this increasing technological capability, in terms of social and ethical issues as well as the broader societal impacts of technological change, are only partially understood. UNU work in the area of “science, technology and society” focuses on increasing our understanding as a means to bridge the burgeoning “digital divide” and ensure fair access and benefit-sharing. United Nations University operates as a decentralized, global “network of networks”. The UNU system comprises the following core units, which are assisted by 14 UNU Associated Institutions and hundreds of other cooperating institutions. UNU receives no funds from the regular UN budget; the University is supported entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, agencies, international organizations, private companies and foundations. For the 2006-2007 biennium, the overall UNU budget is US$88.0 million. While this represents an 8 per cent increase from the 2004-2005 biennium for the UNU system overall, the budget for UNU Centre was reduced by almost 15 per cent. Financing for 2006 came predominantly from core funding, with the rest representing specific programme contributions (78 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively). In 2006, UNU received investment income from its Endowment Fund, and operating and specific programme contributions from 14 governments and more than 75 other sources. UNU also benefited from counterpart and other support, such as cost-sharing support for fellowships and other activities. UNU system expenditures in 2006 were allocated 35 per cent for academic activities, 48 per cent for personnel costs and 17 per cent for general costs. Details: http://www.unu.edu/publications/annualreports/files/UNU_ar2006-report.pdf United Nations – Department of Public Information (UN-DPI): DPI informs a global audience about the activities and purposes of the United Nations. It communicates the complex work of the United Nations system through a multiplicity of outreach efforts and campaigns, including the United Nations web site, radio and television, press releases, publications, documentary videos, special events, public tours and library facilities, with the assistance of its 70 information components around the world. The head of DPI is responsible for United Nations communications policy, ensuring a coordinated and transparent flow of information on the work of the United Nations and developing a cohesive culture of communications throughout the Organization. The Public Affairs Division conducts promotional information campaigns on global priority issues, organizes special events and exhibits, arranges issue-oriented press activities, manages workshops and special programs for journalists, educators and other re-disseminators, provides partnerships with civil society, in particular NGOs, serves as an information resource about the United Nations for the general public, and organizes other outreach activities, including the guided tour of the United Nations Headquarters. The News and Media Division facilitates the access of news organizations and media worldwide to news and information about the United Nations and its activities. It puts our daily news via radio and on the Internet, produces other radio and video programming, provides live TV feeds and photo coverage of United Nations meetings and events, and provides press accreditation. The Library and Information Resources Division facilitates access to United Nations documents and publications through the products and services of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, both directly and through its Internet site and its network of more than 350 depository libraries around the world. It also provides cartographic services and manages the publications and sales programs. The Office of the Spokesman of the Secretary-General, administered by DPI, is responsible for planning the Secretary-General’s media-related activities. The Spokesman, who reports directly to the Secretary-General, briefs journalists on a daily basis. Office of Legal Affairs (OLA): The Office of Legal Affairs is the central legal service of the Organization. It provides legal advice to the Secretary-General, Secretariat departments and offices and principal and subsidiary organs of the United Nations in the field of public and private international law; performs substantive and secretariat functions for legal organs involved in public international law, the law of the sea and international trade law; and performs the functions conferred on the Secretary-General in Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice. OLA deals with legal questions relating to international peace and security; to the status, privileges and immunities of the United Nations; and to the credentials and representations of Member States. It prepares drafts of international conventions, agreements, rules of procedure of United Nations organs and conferences and other legal instruments; provides legal services and advice on issues of international private and administrative law and on Untied Nations resolutions and regulations; provides secretariat services for the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, the International Law Commission, the Commission of International Trade Law, the organs established by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, the United Nations Administrative Tribunal and other legal bodies; discharges the Secretary-General’s responsibilities regarding the registration and publication of treaties and the depository of multilateral conventions. The head of the Office – the Legal Counsel – represents the Secretary-General at meetings and conferences of a legal nature, as well as in judicial and arbitral proceedings; certifies legal instruments issued on behalf of the United Nations; and convenes meetings of the Legal Advisers of the United Nations System and represents the United Nations at such meetings. Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action”: series continues Call on the international community, where possible, to provide assistance for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment in developing countries on a grant basis; Increase and prioritize national budgetary allocations for HIV/AIDS programs as required and ensure that adequate allocations are made by all ministries and other relevant stakeholders; Urge the developed countries that have not done so to strive to meet the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance and the targets of earmarking of 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent of gross national product as official development assistance for least developed countries as agreed, as soon as possible, taking into account the urgency and gravity of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic; Urge the international community to complement and supplement efforts of developing countries that commit increased national funds to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic through increased international development assistance, particularly those countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, particularly in Africa, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, countries at high risk of expansion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other affected regions whose resources to deal with the epidemic are seriously limited; Integrate HIV/AIDS actions in development assistance programs and poverty eradication strategies as appropriate and encourage the most effective and transparent use of all resources allocated; Call on the international community and invite civil society and the private sector to take appropriate measures to help alleviate the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS in the most affected developing countries; Without further delay implement the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative and agree to cancel all bilateral official debts of HIPC countries as soon as possible, especially those most affected by HIV/AIDS, in return for their making demonstrable commitments to poverty eradication and urge the use of debt service savings to finance poverty eradication programs, particularly for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support and other infections; Call for speedy and concerted action to address effectively the debt problems of least developed countries, low-income developing countries, and middle-income developing countries, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, in a comprehensive, equitable, development-oriented and durable way through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term and thereby to improve their capacity to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including, as appropriate, existing orderly mechanisms for debt reduction, such as debt swaps for projects aimed at the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS; Encourage increased investment in HIV/AIDS-related research, nationally, regionally and internationally, in particular for the development of sustainable and affordable prevention technologies, such as vaccines and microbicides, and encourage the proactive preparation of financial and logistic plans to facilitate rapid access to vaccines when they become available; Support the establishment, on an urgent basis, of a global HIV/AIDS and health fund to finance an urgent and expanded response to the epidemic based on an integrated approach to prevention, care, support and treatment and to assist Governments inter alia in their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS with due priority to the most affected countries, notably in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean and to those countries at high risk, mobilize contributions to the fund from public and private sources with a special appeal to donor countries, foundations, the business community including pharmaceutical companies, the private sector, philanthropists and wealthy individuals; To be continued… Top Two-Articles Accessed in September 2007: Poverty and Maternal Mortality; WHEC Publications. Dedicated to the Citizens of the World. Special thanks to WHO, World Bank and IMF for the contributions and forums. Gratitude is express to the UN Chronicle for the cover-page. HELLP Syndrome – Diagnosis and Management; Author: Dr. Baha M. Sibai, Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio (USA) News, Invitations, and Letters: UNITED NATIONS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON UNITED NATIONS DAY 24 October 2007 The world is changing in the United Nations’ favor — as more people and Governments understand that multilateralism is the only path in our interdependent and globalizing world. Global problems demand global solutions — and going it alone is not a viable option. Whether we are speaking of peace and security, development, or human rights, demands on our Organization are growing every day. I am determined to ensure that we make progress on the pressing issues of our time, step by step, building on achievements along the way, working with Member States and civil society. That means strengthening the UN’s ability to play its role to the fullest extent in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building. And it means invigorating our efforts for disarmament and non-proliferation. At the same time, we must redouble our efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in Africa. I will seek to mobilize political will and hold leaders to their commitments on aid, trade and debt relief. And I will continue to do all I can to galvanize global and decisive action on climate change. The UN is the natural forum for building consensus on this pressing issue, as we saw in the high-level event held a month ago on the margins of the General Assembly. The many leaders who attended sent a clear message to the Bali negotiations in December under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: this is no longer business as usual, and we must build momentum across industrialized and developing countries to ensure results. Protecting the climate for present and future generations is in the common interest of all. If security and development are two pillars of the UN’s work, human rights is the third. I will work with Member States and civil society to translate the concept of the Responsibility to Protect from word to deed, so as to ensure timely action when populations face genocide, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity. Finally, we must transform the UN itself. We must adapt to meet new needs, and ensure the highest standards of ethics, integrity and accountability, so as to demonstrate that we are fully answerable to all Member States and to people around the world. We will be judged in the future on the actions we take today — on results. On this United Nations Day, let us rededicate ourselves to achieving them. United Nations Charter: The Charter is the constituting instrument of the Organization, setting out the rights and obligations of Member States, and establishing the United Nations organs and procedures. An international treaty, the Charter codifies the major principles of international relations – from the sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use force in international relations. The Preamble to the Charter expresses the ideals and common aims of all the peoples whose governments joined together to form the United Nations: “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, “HAVING RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS. Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.” The purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in the Charter, are: to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these common ends. Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Mr. Russell Taylor, Senior Editor, UN Chronicle, Educational Outreach Section, United Nations for his priceless support to our project / program in women’s health and healthcare. We at the Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) are grateful to him for his friendship and guidance. Thank you very much for everything. Beyond the numbers… People themselves must be at the center of health policy. This implies the need to communicate fully and clearly with the public.Read More