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

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)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) August 2007; Vol. 2, No. 8 Publications are like people, in that, some have high impact and some are not. When someone requests us to publish his or her work in WomensHealthSection.com and / or WHEC Update, we try to make the experience a happy one. We do not intrude or change more than absolutely necessary. Words we dislike to hear from the writers / editors around the world: “I want to publish my work in WomensHealthSection.com but I do not know anyone there”. It is time to repeat the following: You do not have to know anyone at Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) to have your work seen by us. We see and read everything. If there is a reason to believe a work or research is right for WomensHealthSection.com or WHEC Update, I will personally see the work and accommodate reasonable requests. We do not change the message. We report. We love publishing ground-breaking medical research in women’s health and healthcare, and we hope you love it too. I look forward to discovering what I can do to help our fragile planet. It is urgent and vital that we consider public space to be a public good. You do not have to be a politician or a billionaire to help a fellow citizen. In the end, simple acts of humanity and justice can change the world. Leadership is not a mysterious art practiced by only a select few – it is the daily response of every man and woman who wishes to make a positive difference in the world and make it a little bit better place as a result of their efforts. Let us start from what they know, and build on what they have. Currently there is a worldwide effort to reduce maternal mortality in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce maternal mortality by 75% by 2015. In countries where the prevalence of obstetric fistulae is high, all curricula for trainee midwives, nurses, and physicians should include not only theoretical training on obstetric fistula prevention but also treatment. Epidemiologic research is urgently needed to identify communities with a high prevalence of fistulas and to determine the characteristics of women at high risk for bladder or urethral injury during childbirth. Our publications draw attention to the urgent issue of obstetric fistulae in the developing world and advocate for change. They provide essential, factual back-ground information along with guiding principles for clinical management and program development. We hope to contribute to the development of more effective services for women under treatment for fistula repair. We hope to motivate future research that will further enhance the understanding of reproductive health. We will only be able to attain the MDGs and reduce crushing poverty that is debilitating the lives of billions of people across this planet if we pool our resources and efforts for the common good of humanity. A global partnership for development must ensure win-win conditions for the rich and the poor alike. The Capacity to Care Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: What are your views on gender testing and gender selection? How is WHEC addressing this issue in China, India and other developing countries where boy children are preferred? Sex Selection: The low value given to women and girls in some countries is reflected in a marked preference for boy children. The practice of female infanticide has also been documented in some places. Over the decades, this has translated into many practices that heavily discriminate against girls, such as neglect in feeding, education and health care. Over the last decade, the ratio of girls to boys in the 0 – 6 year age group has become increasingly skewed in a number of countries. For instance, India’s census revealed that the juvenile (0 – 6 years) sex ratio declined from 945 girls per 1,000 boys in 1991 to 927 in 2001, with some of the steepest declines occurring among the better educated and in economically better-off districts that also have greater access to commercial health services. Rapidly declining fertility and the trend to limit families to one or two children has increased desire of couples to have a boy. National records on sex ratio at birth in China and South Korea have shown similar rapid changes that are unlikely to be sustainable in the long term. The emergence and increased availability of ultrasound equipment, which can detect the sex of fetus early in pregnancy, has opened up the opportunity for the commercial use of medical technology to pre-select and terminate pregnancies of female fetuses, thus reinforcing the devaluation of girls and women. This is a conundrum which cannot be resolved by focusing only on medical technology. The most severely affected countries such as China, India and South Korea have all banned prenatal sex determination through use of ultrasound or pre-conception techniques. Such policies have so far been largely ineffective because demand continues to be high. Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) with various NGOs and civil society organizations are currently involved in large-scale awareness and sensitization campaigns and in organizing a broader social debate on the devaluation of females and the consequences of sex preference. Join us in our mission. About NGO Association with the UN: Chairpersons of UN Committees and their views on various issues: Tiina Intelmann, the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) for the sixty-first session of the General Assembly on 8 June 2006. Her views on some of the issues on the agenda of Second Committee: In terms of trade and development, where do you think the United Nations has been most effective and where does it have the greatest potential to obtain results? The issue of trade is very complicated, especially since the suspension of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha round [these negotiations, aimed at increasing economic growth by lowering trade barriers worldwide, reportedly broke down because developed countries could not agree on dismantling their agricultural subsidies]. There have even been discussions as to whether we should still try to work things out and improve multilateral mechanisms, or aim at regional mechanisms, or just go bilateral. It is still clear that WTO is the central pillar of the international trading system and that a well-functioning international trading system would greatly contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. I think it is not only the faith and understanding of Burkina Faso that we should have a multilateral framework, but I think it is the understanding of all of us, and we are trying to work towards it. Of course, it is very difficult. Trade liberalization is a very difficult issue and it is not only a North-South issue, it is also a South-South issue. How were higher oil prices worldwide reflected in the Second Committee and what were some of the energy issues discussed? Energy has become a very important topic. Oil prices are fluctuating; they were at a very high point during summer and now they have gone down a little bit. Oil prices go up and down, but we should also find a way to use other energy sources. We had a panel discussion on energy security where experts talked about solar energy and other alternative energy sources. This is a concern that we all have, because we cannot rely only on oil, and as we proceed I think more and more countries will pay attention to this fact. It also relates to climate change. A recent report published in Great Britain showed that climate change is not only about the air we breathe and the melting glaciers in faraway places. Climate change has very serious economic and financial implications. The report said that if we don’t address this issue now we are going to face tremendous costs in the future. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People — 9 August 2007: By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the UN General Assembly decided to observe 9 August as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People every year during the First International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1994 -2004). In 2004, by resolution 59/174 of 20 December 2004, the Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2005 – 2014) and decided to continue observing the Day every year during the Second Decade. This year’s observance will be devoted to honoring indigenous youth, languages and sacred sites. The United Nations commemoration in New York is organized by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the NGO Committee on the Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. “Recently, the international community has grown increasingly aware of the need to support indigenous people — by establishing and promoting international standards; vigilantly upholding respect for their human rights; integrating the international development agenda, including the Millennium Development Goals, in policies, programs and country-level projects; and reinforcing indigenous peoples’ special stewardship on issues related to the environment and climate change. Our fast-paced world requires us to act with urgency in addressing these issues. As we do, let us be guided by the fundamental principle of indigenous peoples’ full and effective participation. Let us give life to “Partnership in action and dignity” — the theme given by the General Assembly to this Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. On this International Day, let this be our motto and inspiration.” Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): An examination of the nexus of security, insecurity and health shows that security is a prerequisite for health. The many and varied ways that armed violence – including threats of armed violence – can affect people’s health and can be documented by formal studies; however, valuable data also exist in other reports, such as media reports. The health community needs to recognize that people’s insecurity is a massive global health issue. The foreign policies of donor governments should incorporate recognition that documentation, analysis and publication of data describing the impact of insecurity on people’s health can lead to the creation of policies to enhance people’s security. In contexts of poor security, public health interventions and the delivery of health care to the individual are more difficult to perform and less likely to succeed than in contexts of security. Violence – including the threat of violence – in such contexts results in injury, death, psychological harm, impaired development or deprivation. The primary purpose of the United Nations is to hold responsibility for a third level of security: international or global peace and security. Human Development Report 2005, Details: http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/hdr05_summary.pdf (pdf) Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 85, Number 8, August 2007, 569-648 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): Researching Conflict in Africa: Insights and Experiences. Parts of Africa experience violence and seemingly intractable conflicts. These violent conflicts have drawn researchers seeking to determine and explain why conflicts have drawn researchers seeking to determine and explain why conflicts are prevalent, what makes them intensify, and how conflicts can be resolved. This book examines the ethical and practical issues of researching within violent and divided societies. It provides fascinating and factual case studies from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. The authors provide insights about researching conflict in Africa that can only be gained through fieldwork experience. Publishing Agency: United Nations University (UNU). (http://www.oecd.org/dev/aeo) Point of View: PIERS (Pre-eclampsia Integrated Estimate of RiSk for mothers) – validation across conditions and clinical settings. Worldwide, pre-eclampsia (‘toxemia of pregnancy’) is a common cause for women to die during or shortly after pregnancy; at least one woman dies from pre-eclampsia every seven minutes. It is also the most common reason for babies who are otherwise doing well to be delivered prematurely to protect maternal health and safety. In many ways pre-eclampsia is similar to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (‘sepsis’). Hitherto, the management of pre-eclampsia was guided by expert opinions not based on firm evidence. Therefore, the requirement is a clinical prediction model that accurately identifies a women’s risk for adverse outcomes, thereby reducing the risk for women while safely prolonging pregnancies remote from term (to improve fetal outcomes). This project is part of an integrated strategy to better understand and modify the mechanisms of disease in pre-eclampsia. We have surveyed Canadian practice, undertaken feasibility and pilot studies for this project, and, in the first 3 years of this project, developed an outcome prediction model that effectively identifies those women at risk for adverse outcomes. In so doing, we have found that instituting assessment and surveillance guidelines is associated with improved maternal outcomes in women with pre-eclampsia (Obstet Gynecol 2007). We have determined that many of the current criteria for ‘severe’ disease do not identify women at greatest risk (Hypertens Pregnancy [in press]). To validate the PIERS model we will recruit women in Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia who are admitted to a hospital (i) pre-eclampsia or (ii) other forms of pregnancy hypertension. We will also validate the model in general obstetric, rather than high risk, units. A further ‘mini-PIERS model’ has also been developed, and will be validated in Developing World settings (Uganda, South Africa, and Fiji) and will be used to identify those women who require transfer to higher level maternity care. Mini-PIERS has the support of the UNDP / UNFPA / WHO / World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development & Research Training in Human Reproduction. Both the full PIERS and mini-PIERS models will be used clinically (to guide management) and in research (in both clinical trials and basic science research), and will provide an evidence base on which to build future practice, improving outcomes for pregnant women and their babies. By Dr. Peter von Dadelszen Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action”: series continues By 2005, ensure development and accelerated implementation of national strategies for women’s empowerment, promotion and protection of women’s full enjoyment of all human rights and reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through the elimination of all forms of discrimination, as well as all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful traditional and customary practices, abuse, rape and other forms of sexual violence, battering and trafficking in women and girls; Reducing vulnerability The vulnerable must be given priority in the response Empowering women is essential for reducing vulnerability By 2003, in order to complement prevention programs that address activities which place individuals at risk of HIV infection, such as risky and unsafe sexual behavior and injecting drug use, have in place in all countries strategies, policies and programs that identify and begin to address those factors that make individuals particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, including underdevelopment, economic insecurity, poverty, lack of empowerment of women, lack of education, social exclusion, illiteracy, discrimination, lack of information and/or commodities for self-protection, all types of sexual exploitation of women, girls and boys, including for commercial reasons; such strategies, policies and programs should address the gender dimension of the epidemic, specify the action that will be taken to address vulnerability and set targets for achievement; By 2003, develop and/or strengthen strategies, policies and programs, which recognize the importance of the family in reducing vulnerability, inter alia, in educating and guiding children and take account of cultural, religious and ethical factors, to reduce the vulnerability of children and young people by: ensuring access of both girls and boys to primary and secondary education, including on HIV/AIDS in curricula for adolescents; ensuring safe and secure environments, especially for young girls; expanding good quality youth-friendly information and sexual health education and counseling service; strengthening reproductive and sexual health programs; and involving families and young people in planning, implementing and evaluating HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs, to the extent possible; By 2003, develop and/or strengthen national strategies, policies and programs, supported by regional and international initiatives, as appropriate, through a participatory approach, to promote and protect the health of those identifiable groups which currently have high or increasing rates of HIV infection or which public health information indicates are at greatest risk of and most vulnerable to new infection as indicated by such factors as the local history of the epidemic, poverty, sexual practices, drug using behavior, livelihood, institutional location, disrupted social structures and population movements forced or otherwise; Children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS Children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS need special assistance By 2003, develop and by 2005 implement national policies and strategies to: build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a supportive environment for orphans and girls and boys infected and affected by HIV/AIDS including by providing appropriate counseling and psycho-social support; ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition, health and social services on an equal basis with other children; to protect orphans and vulnerable children from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking and loss of inheritance; Ensure non-discrimination and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights through the promotion of an active and visible policy of de-stigmatization of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS; Urge the international community, particularly donor countries, civil society, as well as the private sector to complement effectively national programs to support programs for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in affected regions, in countries at high risk and to direct special assistance to sub-Saharan Africa; Alleviating social and economic impact To address HIV/AIDS is to invest in sustainable development By 2003, evaluate the economic and social impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and develop multisectoral strategies to: address the impact at the individual, family, community and national levels; develop and accelerate the implementation of national poverty eradication strategies to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on household income, livelihoods, and access to basic social services, with special focus on individuals, families and communities severely affected by the epidemic; review the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS at all levels of society especially on women and the elderly, particularly in their role as caregivers and in families affected by HIV/AIDS and address their special needs; adjust and adapt economic and social development policies, including social protection policies, to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on economic growth, provision of essential economic services, labor productivity, government revenues, and deficit-creating pressures on public resources; By 2003, develop a national legal and policy framework that protects in the workplace the rights and dignity of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and those at the greatest risk of HIV/AIDS in consultation with representatives of employers and workers, taking account of established international guidelines on HIV/AIDS in the workplace; Research and development With no cure for HIV/AIDS yet found, further research and development is crucial Increase investment and accelerate research on the development of HIV vaccines, while building national research capacity especially in developing countries, and especially for viral strains prevalent in highly affected regions; in addition, support and encourage increased national and international investment in HIV/AIDS-related research and development including biomedical, operations, social, cultural and behavioral research and in traditional medicine to: improve prevention and therapeutic approaches; accelerate access to prevention, care and treatment and care technologies for HIV/AIDS (and its associated opportunistic infections and malignancies and sexually transmitted diseases), including female controlled methods, and in particular, appropriate, safe and affordable HIV vaccines and their delivery, and to diagnostics, tests, methods to prevent mother-to-child transmission; and improve our understanding of factors which influence the epidemic and actions which address it, inter alias, through increased funding and public/private partnerships; create a conducive environment for research and ensure that it is based on highest ethical standards; To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in July 2007: Surgical Management of Lower Urinary Tract Fistulas; WHEC Publication. Special thanks to WHO for the assistance, and the World Health Report 2005: Make Every Mother and Child Count. Renal Disorders and Pregnancy; Author: Dr. Jonathan Slater, Pioneer Valley Nephrology, Springfield, MA (USA). News, Invitations and Letters: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON WORLD POPULATION DAY -11 July 2007: The theme of this year’s World Population Day – men as partners for maternal health – focuses attention on the fundamental role of men in supporting women’s rights, including their right to sexual and reproductive health. Today, more than half a million women die each year during pregnancy and childbirth, 99 per cent of them in developing countries. Many more suffer serious complications that can have a severe impact on the quality of life for women and their families. Almost all of this death and suffering is preventable. As partners for maternal health, men can save lives. They play a decisive role in many respects. Husbands often make decisions about family planning and the use of household resources that influence the well-being and prospect of the whole family. The support of an informed husband improves pregnancy and childbirth outcomes and can mean the difference between life and death in cases of complications, when women need immediate medical care. And supportive fathers can play an important role in the love, care and nurturance of their children. Far too many women die during pregnancy and childbirth because their right to sexual and reproductive health is denied. The alarming spread of HIV among women is a tragic reminder that in many places, women do not have the power to protect their own health. When a woman can plan her family, she can plan the rest of her life. When she is healthy, she can be more productive. And when her reproductive rights are promoted and protected, she has freedom to participate fully and equally in society. Several countries have succeeded in significantly reducing maternal death rates in the space of a decade, when women gained access to family planning, midwives and backup emergency obstetric care. However, much more needs to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health around the world by 2015. Partnering with men is an important strategy for advancing reproductive health and rights. And gender equality, another Millennium Development Goal, is most likely to be achieved when men recognize that the lives of men and women are interdependent and that the empowerment of women benefits everyone. On this World Population Day, let us all encourage men to become partners and agents for change, supporting human rights and safe motherhood in every way possible, thus contributing to creating a world of greater health and opportunity for all. Children Turn to the Canvas with Witty and Sobering Art to Empower Action on Climate Change. United Nations Environment Programme Honors Winners of its 16th International Children’s Painting Competition – World Environment Day 2007 http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=506&ArticleID=5592&l=en Ethics in Action: The Ethical Challenge of International Human Rights Nongovernmental Organizations. Edited by Daniel A. Bell and Jean-Marc Coicaud, Reviewed by Mark Gibney. It would certainly appear that participants in these sessions upon which the book is based learned an enormous amount from the enterprise itself. But Ethics in Action should prove to be very useful to others as well. For one thing, the exercise of raising the most elementary question that all International Non Governmental Organizations (INGOs) should face-how and why do we do what we do?-is something that is seemingly not asked often enough. This might also lead to another seldom asked question, which relates to the proliferation of INGOs. Is this such a “good thing”, or is proliferation an indication that more time, effort and money are spent on propping up one’s organization, but at the expense of “others”? Details: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/issue1/0107p46.htm Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Mr. David Lazarus, Chief, United Nations Information Services, UN ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) for the priceless support. Thanks for the friendship. Beyond the numbers… Together we can build a poverty-free world. Poverty is not created by the impoverished – it has been created and sustained by the economic and social system that we have designed for ourselves, the institutions and concepts that make up that system – and the policies that we pursue.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) June 2008; Vol. 3, No. 6 We all follow a path, don’t we? We have a life to lead, and we have a choice to follow. Every mistake is an opportunity to increase competence. Once people have the information to understand the current situation, boundaries don’t seem like constraints but rather guidelines for action. Since the launch of WHEC Practice Bulletins in 2006, hundreds of millions of readers around the world have used WomensHealthSection.com in many ways. The web-site’s popularity has expanded in ways that few could have anticipated, and its community of users continues to grow and develop new genres. Hopefully, within the pages of our e-learning publication, you will find something to improve your experience of this ever-evolving project / program. And even learn a few things about Program Development in general. The greatest gap in life is the one between knowing and doing. The journey begins with the first step. Less than a decade ago, the biggest problem in global health seemed to be the lack of resources available to combat the multiple scourges ravaging the world’s poor and sick. Today, thanks to extraordinary and unprecedented rise in public and private giving, more money is being directed toward pressing health challenges than ever before, and thousands of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are vying to spend it. What kind of initiatives could improve the accountability of all institutions to people whose lives they shape? What initiatives could serve merely to undermine NGO’s useful and largely accepted role in holding business and government accountable for their actions? Stay tuned. May be it was the bold dream. May be it was the determination. May be it was crazy hours. No matter how we created WomensHealthSection.com, with a unique understanding of the things that matter most to you. We offer a personal approach to structuring and managing knowledge in reproductive health. It is designed to maximize opportunity for you and your institutions, supported by a depth of personal commitment and intellectual capital – that is rooted in over 200 years of experience. None of us forget where we came from or the values that got us to we are today. Public health education that is irrelevant to national health priorities and divorced from public health practice is useless and constitutes a lost opportunity. Our e-Health Network can serve as a platform for public health education reform. There is a clear understanding among the WHEC Working Group that new information and communicating technologies hold out the promise of changing how people access information, and a determination to use these technologies, in particular the Internet, to improve the condition of millions of disadvantaged people throughout the world. How to get there was and is a continuing challenge. Today, NGOs are involved in all stages of political processes with the UN, influencing decision-making and policy implementation from the inside. These relations have, however, only been partially understood in the social sciences and reproductive health sciences. Health for all needs the participation of each and every one of us. Live your dreams. Reviving A Promise Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: Can we expect full compliance and transparency from scientific, medical, clinical trial community involved in trials when so many interests are involved? What can fix the system? Standards of Clinical Trials & Research: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights [adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948] was a declaration of principles to which governments were invited to sign up. It is important that the declaration was issued because it provided benchmarks against which we think the behavior of human beings to each other should be judged. Governments are responsible for trying to ensure those principles are observed. But there will always be backsliding because the stakes are often very high, particularly the financial stakes for some players in this business. But something else is at stake too, and that is human health. It really does come down to a question on how you balance the interests of human beings who wish to improve and maintain their health, and what we can do about that, against other interest, such as financial, political and academic kudos. Governments can do various things to encourage transparency in clinical trials so that science and the discovery process can be more efficient. Too much secrecy exists in science, which makes it inefficient. There are forces operating against pushing for proper scientific behavior. This is not a problem limited to people with vested commercial interests. It also exists throughout academia, where people do not systematically access what is known already before embarking on new research. It is important to repeatedly remind oneself that the clinical trials business should be about trying to improve health care and the health of people. But as long as distortions exist in the research design and reporting processes, we won’t have done as well as we could for the public interest. World Health Organization (WHO), as the leading health organization in the world, has a leadership role to set the standards. Quite rightly, WHO points out that greater transparency in clinical trials is a moral issue; and that it is a matter of moral concern that the trial process is not more transparent. WomensHealthSection.com is an educational resource helping people understand why trials are necessary. Our main responsibility is to introduce people to these principles. About NGO Association with the UN: The Millennium Declaration, signed by world’s leaders of 189 countries in 2000, established 2015 as the deadline for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The majority of MDG targets has a baseline of 1990, and is set to monitor achievements over the period 1990-2015. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & Other Diseases TARGET: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. HIV prevalence has leveled off in the developing world, but deaths from AIDS continue to rise in sub-Saharan Africa. By the end of 2006, an estimated 39.5 million people worldwide were living with HIV (up from 32.9 million in 2001), mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, 4.3 million people were newly infected with the virus in 2006, with Eastern Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) showing the fastest rates of infection. The number of people dying from AIDS has also increased – from 2.2 million in 2001 to 2.9 million in 2006. The use of non-sterile injecting drug equipment remains the main mode of HIV transmission in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Recently, injecting drug use has emerged as a new factor for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Mauritius, but also in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania. In Southern and South-Eastern Asia, people are most often infected through unprotected sex with sex workers. Over the past two years, HIV outbreaks among men who have sex with men have also become evident in Asia – in Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Viet Nam. In hardest hit areas, more than half of those living with HIV are women. Though access to AIDS treatment has expanded, the need continues to grow. Efforts to provide treatment for those living with HIV and AIDS continue to expand. As of December 2006, an estimated 2 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy in developing regions. This represents 28 per cent of the estimated 7.1 million people in need. Though sub-Saharan Africa is home to the vast majority of people worldwide living with HIV (63 percent), only about one in four of the estimated 4.8 million people there who could benefit from antiretroviral therapy are receiving it. The magnitude of the problem is growing: Though 700,000 people received treatment for the first time in 2006, an estimated 4.3 million people were newly infected that year, highlighting the urgent need to intensify prevention efforts. If current trends continue, the number of people with advanced HIV infection in need of therapy will rise faster than treatment services can be scaled up. Care of orphans is an enormous social problem, which will only get worse as more parents die of AIDS. In 2005, an estimated 15.2 million children had lost one or both parents to AIDS, 80 per cent of them in sub-Saharan Africa. By 2010, the figure is likely to rise to more than 20 million. Several countries are making progress in providing a minimum package of services for orphans and vulnerable children, including education, health care, and social welfare and protection. But far more work is needed to provide a humane and comprehensive response to this unprecedented social problem. TARGET: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. Malaria-control efforts are paying off, but additional effort is needed. Key interventions to control malaria have been expanded in recent years, thanks to increased attention and funding. A number of African countries, for example, have widened coverage of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), which are among the most effective tools available for preventing the mosquito bites that cause malaria. Preliminary results from household surveys conducted in 2005-2006 show that many other countries are advancing on the bed net front as well, though final results will only be available later this year. Still, only a few countries came close to the 2005 target of 60 per cent coverage set at the African Summit on Roll Back Malaria in 2000. A strengthened commitment from all concerned is needed if countries are to reach the revised target of 80 per cent ITN use by 2010. Countries will also need to ensure that coverage is more equitable. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 5 per cent of children under five sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets. And in rural areas of countries where malaria is endemic, the burden of malaria is often highest and ITN coverage lowest. According to the most recent surveys of 30 African countries (conducted from 2000 to 2006), children under five living in urban areas were nearly 2.5 times as likely to be sleeping under an insecticide-treated net as their rural counterparts. To meet the MDG target, the most effective treatment for malaria must also be made available to those in need. A significant proportion of the nearly 40 per cent of children with fever in sub-Saharan Africa who received anti-malarial drugs were treated with chloroquine, which has lost some of its effectiveness due to widespread resistance. A number of African countries have shifted their national drug policies to encourage the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). But to get these medicines to people who could benefit from them will require better forecasting of needs and improved management of procurement and supply-chain processes. Around $3 billion are needed worldwide – $2 billion for Africa alone – to fight malaria in countries hardest hit by the disease. International funding for malaria control has risen more than tenfold over the past decade, but the amount available in 2004 was still only around $600 million. The incidence of tuberculosis is leveling off globally, but the number of new cases is still rising. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): WHO: 61st Session of the World Health Assembly The World Health Organization (WHO) held its 61st World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva from 19-24 May 2008, bringing together 2,704 participants from 190 nations to tackle longstanding, new and looming threats to global public health. The 61st session discussed a number of issues, adopted several resolutions and established a key strategy for removing intellectual property barriers to essential research and development for public health, entitled a Global strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property. The strategy will use innovative methods to encourage research, development and access to medicines for the common diseases of the developing world. The Health Assembly also: Endorsed a six-year action plan to tackle non-communicable diseases, now the leading threats to human health; Called upon WHO to present at the World Health Assembly in 2010 a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol; Adopted a resolution urging Member States to take decisive action to address health impacts from climate change; Committed Member States to accelerating action towards the elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation through laws and educational and community efforts. Directed WHO to help countries in reaching higher coverage of immunization and to encourage development of new vaccines; and Requested WHO to assess the health aspects in migrant environments and to explore options to improve the health of migrants. Details: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2008/wha61/en/index.html Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 86, Number 6, June 2008, 417-496 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) Expert Series on Health Economics: The World Distribution of Household Wealth There has been much recent research on the world distribution of income, but also growing recognition of the importance of other contributions to well-being, including those of household wealth. Wealth is important in providing security and opportunity, particularly in poorer countries that lack full social safety nets and adequate facilities for borrowing and lending. We find, however, that it is precisely in the latter countries where household wealth is the lowest, both in absolute and relative terms. Globally, wealth is more concentrated than income both on an individual and national basis. Roughly 30 per cent of world wealth is found in each of North America, Europe, and the rich Asian-Pacific countries. These areas account for virtually all of the world’s top 1 per cent of wealth holders. On an official exchange rate basis India accounts for about a quarter of the adults in the bottom three global wealth deciles while China provides about a third of those in the fourth to eighth deciles. If current growth trends continue, India, China and the transition countries will move up in the global distribution, and the lower deciles will be increasingly dominated by countries in Africa, Latin American and poor parts of the Asian-Pacific region. Thus wealth may continue to be lowest in areas where it is needed the most. Research on economic inequality–both within countries and between countries–is usually framed in terms of differences in income or consumption. In recent years a number of studies have extended this line of work to the global stage, by attempting to estimate the world distribution of income: see, for example Bourguignon and Morrison (2002), and Milanovic (2002, 2005). The findings document the very high disparity of living standards amongst the world’s citizens, but indicate that the rising inequality seen within many countries in recent decades has not led to a clear upward trend in global income inequality. The lack of trend is due to the rapid increase of incomes in certain developing countries, of which China is by far the most important. Household wealth is important for a number of reasons. First, it provides a means of raising long term consumption, either directly by dissaving, or indirectly via the income stream of investment returns to assets. Second, by enabling consumption smoothing, ownership of wealth helps to insulate households against adverse events, especially those that lead to a reduction in income, such as ill health, unemployment, or simply growing old. Thirdly, household wealth provides a source of finance for informal sector and entrepreneurial activities, either directly or by use as collateral for business loans. These motives are less compelling in countries that have good state pension arrangements, adequate social safety nets and well developed source of business finance. By the same token, private wealth has more significance in countries which lack these facilities, which is the case in much of the developing world. Thus, as our results will make evident, household wealth tends to be lower in precisely those countries where it is needed most. Discussion Paper No. 2008/03; By James B. Davies, Susanna Sandström, Anthony Shorrocks, and Edward N. Wolff (Details of the paper can be accessed from the link of UNU-WIDER on CME Page of WomensHealthSection.com) United Nations Charter: We the Peoples of the United Nations …. United for a Better World (Continued) CHAPTER VIII REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS Article 52 Nothing in the present Charter precludes the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action provided that such arrangements or agencies and their activities are consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. The Members of the United Nations entering into such arrangements or constituting such agencies shall make every effort to achieve pacific settlement of local disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies before referring them to the Security Council. The Security Council shall encourage the development of pacific settlement of local disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies either on the initiative of the states concerned or by reference from the Security Council. This Article in no way impairs the application of Articles 34 and 35. Article 53 The Security Council shall, where appropriate, utilize such regional arrangements or agencies for enforcement action under its authority. But no enforcement action shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without the authorization of the Security Council, with the exception of measures against any enemy state, as defined in paragraph 2 of this Article, provided for pursuant to Article 107 or in regional arrangements directed against renewal of aggressive policy on the part of any such state, until such time as the Organization may, on request of the Governments concerned, be charged with the responsibility for preventing further aggression by such a state. The term enemy state as used in paragraph 1 of this Article applies to any state which during the Second World War has been an enemy of any signatory of the present Charter. Article 54 The Security Council shall at all times be kept fully informed of activities undertaken or in contemplation under regional arrangements or by regional agencies for the maintenance of international peace and security. CHAPTER IX INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CO-OPERATION Article 55 With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United Nations shall promote: higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development; solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational cooperation; and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. Article 56 All Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55. Article 57 The various specialized agencies, established by intergovernmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities, as defined in their basic instruments, in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields, shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations in accordance with the provisions of Article 63. Such agencies thus brought into relationship with the United Nations are hereinafter referred to as specialized agencies. Article 58 The Organization shall make recommendations for the co-ordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies. Article 59 The Organization shall, where appropriate, initiate negotiations among the states concerned for the creation of any new specialized agencies required for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 55. Article 60 Responsibility for the discharge of the functions of the Organization set forth in this Chapter shall be vested in the General Assembly and, under the authority of the General Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, which shall have for this purpose the powers set forth in Chapter X. To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in May 2008: Neural Tube Defects Screening; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to World Health Organization for the contributions Vesico-Vaginal Fistula: The Need for Safe Motherhood Practices in India; Author: Dr. S. Kataria, Director General Health Services (Union Territories), India News, Invitations and Letters: THEMATIC DEBATE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS The Debate took place from the 1st to the 4th of April 2008. This summary is brought to you by the President of the General Assembly. The United Nations General Assembly held a thematic debate on the Millennium Development Goals at United Nations headquarters, New York on 1-4 April, 2008 on the theme ” Recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015″. The meeting consisted of an opening session, three panel discussions and a wrap-up session on 1 April, 2008, followed by a debate in the General Assembly from 2-4 April, 2008. The panel focused on the poverty and huger, education and health MDGs where progress is urgently required and experience has shown that positive result can have a catalytic effect on the other goals. Link to the summary: www.un-ngls.org/docs/ga/summary_MDG_thematic_debate.pdf (pdf) Making Pregnancy Safer in Least Developed Countries – The Challenge of Delivering Available Services By Quazi Monirul Islam Although an increasing number of developing countries have succeeded in improving the health and well-being of mothers and their newborns in recent years, the countries that started off with the highest burdens of maternal and neonatal mortality and ill-health made least progress during the 1990s. In some countries, the situation has actually worsened. Worrying reversals in maternal and newborn mortality have taken place. Progress has slowed down and is increasingly uneven, leaving large disparities between regions and countries. Moreover, within individual countries, there are often striking inequities and differences between population groups. National figures often mask substantial internal variations–geographical, economic and social. Rural populations have less access to skilled care than urban dwellers; mortality is higher among slum populations within urban dwellers; rates can vary widely by ethnicity or wealth status; and remote areas often bear a heavy death burden. Unless efforts are stepped up significantly, there is little hope of eliminating avoidable maternal and newborn mortality. Details: http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/issue4/0407p69.html Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Phillips M. Sarrel, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, CT (USA) for his priceless contributions, support and friendship. It is indeed a pleasure to work with you and hope to explore and develop various areas of mutual interest. The entire team at Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) had pleasant experience with you and we all thank you again. Beyond the numbers… Heaven sees as the people see; Heaven hears what the people hear.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) May 2008; Vol. 3, No. 5 Don’t ever give up on what you believe in. Not once. Not ever. As a longtime admirer of the work of the United Nations and World Health Organization; I was thrilled to participate in the development of e-learning publication: WomensHealthSection.com. What a great way to introduce the next generation about the possibilities and opportunities. And to think it all began…with an idea. This is the age of Internet and this new media has fascinated young and old; rich and poor; men and women. Our spotlight is on: Internet Classrooms to Improve Women’s Health Worldwide. Enjoy your passion for knowledge on the web. This is a timely initiative, and it is very encouraging to see international community with government officials and representatives of the private sector and civil society, are supportive of these efforts. We care about the details. Could it be farther you travel the closer you become! When life feels perfect…..Where to next? In only a few years, the Internet has revolutionized trade, health, education and, indeed, the very fabric of human communication and exchange. Moreover, its potential is far greater than what we have seen in the relatively short time since its creation. In managing, promoting and protecting its presence in our lives, we need to be no less creative than those who invented it. Clearly, there is a need for governance, but that does not necessarily mean that it has to be done in the traditional way, for something that is so very different. Health promotion reaches out to people where they live, work and play. It is essential for health education campaigns to be rooted in the needs of local communities. The issues are numerous, and complex. Even the definition of what we mean by Internet Governance is a subject of debate. But the world has a common interest in ensuring the security and dependability of this new medium. The vision of constructing Internet governance arrangements that are multilateral, transparent and democratic with the full involvement of all stakeholders is a noble challenge. This will require goodwill among all parties, as well as good information on which to base decision. Equally important, we need to develop inclusive and participatory models of governance. The medium must be made accessible and responsive to the needs of all the world’s people. Keep in mind the paramount goal of helping people everywhere, build free and decent lives, is of utmost importance. Whatever you do must contribute to the cause of human development. Governments in the developing world cannot afford to implement expensive, lengthy academic programs. Rather, what is needed are practical courses that give healthcare providers working in underserved areas the competencies they need to enable them to provide skilled health services. Let me assure you the Women’s Health and Education Center’s (WHEC’s) commitment to this effort. Important as it is to address the issues of governance and funding, let us not forget the larger task: implementing the plan of action to benefit both industrialized and developing countries. As the Internet becomes part of the fabric of our lives and as its spread becomes increasingly global, harnessing its full potential may require a re-thinking of how it is should be governed. It is becoming increasingly important to think of inclusive, collaborative approaches that will enhance the Internet’s impact on the achievement of our development goals, and thus improve lives of people everywhere. I wish you every success. Reviewing the Past and Defining the Future Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: Are we wasting our health resources? What is wastage? Under – or Over – utilization of health systems: Efficient health systems provide a maximum of quality healthcare at a minimum cost. Few countries, if any, reach this standard of economic efficiency. Very frequently either expenditure is higher than it should be or the amount and quality of healthcare are lower than they could be for the costs incurred. Inefficiency occurs when the resources used to produce a given result are greater than necessary. Wastage is the careless use or squandering of resources, often in connection with excessive or particularly conspicuous inefficiency. Allocative inefficiency occurs when funds are allocated to urban areas instead of the underserved rural populations, or to tertiary care despite greater needs in primary care. It is seen where the healthcare system does not provide enough for priority diseases or when health facilities are located beyond the reach of the people who need them. Technical inefficiency is found where the costs of providing specific services or goods are higher than necessary. For example, if a health center has been designed and staffed to handle 20,000 visits a year but in fact is only handling 10,000; the cost of each visit is clearly higher than necessary. Wastage by under- or over-utilization of facilities, people, and health inputs is an inadequately studied issue. The small number of careful assessments of the value of “wasted” resources, however, puts them as very large in the health systems of rich and poor countries alike. Spiraling health care costs are causing world wide concerns, and a key component of health sector reform efforts in many countries has to do with making the best use of existing resources. Governments and the public are concerned about waste and inefficiency in the health sector. Although there are likely to be various underlying causes, wastage often results from limited information and from limited accountability for decisions about the use of resources. Corruption and fraud occur where there are conflicting interests in combination with limited accountability. Policy-makers, managers, healthcare providers and service users should feel responsible for ensuring that scarce health resources are used efficiently. They should actively combat wastage by identifying the causes, and then make corresponding changes in policy, management and technical procedures. About NGO Association with the UN: The Millennium Declaration, signed by world’s leaders of 189 countries in 2000, established 2015 as the deadline for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The majority of MDG targets has a baseline of 1990, and is set to monitor achievements over the period 1990-2015. Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5: Improve Maternal Health TARGET: Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio. Half a million women continue to die each year during pregnancy or childbirth, almost all of them in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. A number of middle-income countries have made rapid progress in reducing maternal deaths. Nevertheless, maternal mortality levels remain unacceptably high across the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. Each year, more than 500,000 women die from treatable or preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman’s risk of dying from such complications over the course of her lifetime is 1 in 16, compared to 1 in 3,800 in the developed world. Health-care interventions can reduce maternal deaths, but need to be made more widely available: Proportion of deliveries attended by skilled health care personnel, 1990 and 2005 (Percentage). Efforts to reduce maternal mortality need to be tailored to local conditions, since the causes of death vary across developing regions and countries. In Africa and Asia, hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death, while in Latin America and the Caribbean; hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and childbirth pose the greatest threat. Obstructed labor and abortion account for 13 and 12 per cent, respectively, of maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Asia, anemia is a major contributor to maternal deaths, but is a less important cause in Africa and a negligible factor in Latin America. In Africa, particularly parts of Southern Africa, HIV and AIDS are frequently involved in deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. Preventing unplanned pregnancies alone could avert around one quarter of maternal deaths, including those that result from unsafe abortion. Still, an estimated 137 million women have an unmet need for family planning. An additional 64 million women are using traditional methods of contraception with high failure rates. Contraceptive prevalence increased slowly from 55 per cent in 1990 to 64 per cent in 2005, but remains very low in sub-Saharan Africa, at 21 per cent. In addition, in regions where the adolescent birth rate remains high, a large number of young women, particularly very young women, and their children face increased risk of death and disability. In sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, the high adolescent birth rates prevailing in 1990 have not declined significantly, despite continued reductions in total fertility in those regions. No single intervention can address the multiple causes of maternal deaths. The vast majority of maternal deaths and disabilities could be prevented through appropriate reproductive health services before, during and after pregnancy, and through life-saving interventions should complications arise. Attendance at delivery by skilled health personnel (doctors, nurses, midwives) who are trained to detect problems early and can effectively provide or refer women to emergency obstetric care when needed is essential. The regions with the lowest proportions of skilled health attendants at birth are Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which also have the highest numbers of maternal deaths. Disparities in the support available to women during pregnancy and childbirth are evident both among countries and within them. According to surveys conducted between 1996 and 2005 in 57 developing countries, 81 per cent of urban women deliver with the help of a skilled attendant, versus only 49 per cent of their rural counterparts. Similarly, 84 per cent of women who have completed secondary or higher education is attended by skilled personnel during childbirth, more than twice the rate of mothers with no formal education. Antenatal care has long been recognized as a core component of maternal health services. It can help women identify potential risks and plan for a safe delivery. It also can serve as an entry point into the wider health-care system. Since 1990, every region has made progress in ensuring that women receive antenatal care at least once during their pregnancy. Even in sub-Saharan Africa, where the least progress has occurred, more than two thirds of women receive antenatal care at least one time during pregnancy. For antenatal care to be effective, international experts recommend at least four visits to a trained health-care practitioner during pregnancy. However, in many countries, particularly in Africa, there is a large gap between the proportions of women who receive antenatal care at least once compared to those who receive care four or more times. In Kenya, for example, in 2003, 87 per cent of women received antenatal care at least once, while only 51 per cent received care the recommended four times. Similarly, women in Madagascar were twice as likely to receive antenatal care at least once rather than four or more times. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): Governance of the World Health Organization The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body for WHO. It generally meets in Geneva in May each year, and is attended by delegations from all 193 Member States. Its main function is to determine the policies of the Organization. The Health Assembly appoints the Director-General, supervises the financial policies of the Organization, and reviews and approves the Proposed programme budget. It similarly considers reports of the Executive Board, which it instructs in regard to matters upon which further action, study, investigation or report may be required. The Executive Board is composed of 34 members technically qualified in the field of health. Members are elected for three-year terms. The main Board meeting, at which the agenda for the forthcoming Health Assembly is agreed upon and resolutions for forwarding to the Health Assembly are adopted, is held in January, with a second shorter meeting in May, immediately after the Health Assembly, for more administrative matters. The main functions of the Board are to give effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, to advise it and generally to facilitate its work. The Secretariat of WHO is staffed by some 8000 health and other experts and support staff on fixed-term appointments, working at headquarters, in the six regional offices, and in countries. The Organization is headed by the Director-General, who is appointed by the Health Assembly on the nomination of the Executive Board. WHO Governance: http://www.who.int/governance/en/ Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 86, Number 5, May 2008, 321-416 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) Expert Series on Health Economics Entrepreneurial Ventures and the Developmental State: Lessons from the Advanced Economies (Discussion Paper) A basic intellectual challenge for those concerned with the poverty of nations is to come to grips with the nature and causes of the wealth of the world’s wealthier nations. One might then be in a position to inform the poorer nations how they might achieve similar outcomes. This paper is organized around what I call ‘the theory of innovative enterprise’, a perspective derived from the historical and comparative study of the development of the advanced economies. The theory of innovative enterprise provides the essential analytical link between entrepreneurship and development. Section 2 offers, as a point of departure, a contrast between entrepreneurship in rich and poor nations. Section 3 outlines the theory of the innovating firm in which entrepreneurship has a role to play. Section 4 identifies the roles of entrepreneurship in new firm formation in terms of the types of strategy, organization, and finance that innovation requires, and emphasizes the ‘disappearance’ of entrepreneurship with the growth of the firm. In Section 5 I argue that, in the advanced economies, successful entrepreneurship in knowledge intensive industries has depended heavily upon a combination of business allocation of resources to innovative investment strategies, and government investment in the knowledge base, state sponsored protection of markets and intellectual property rights, and state subsidies to support these business strategies. One cannot understand national economic development without understanding the role of the developmental state. At the same time, the specific agenda and ultimate success of the developmental state cannot be understood in abstraction from the dynamics of innovative enterprise. It is through the interaction of the innovative enterprise and the developmental state that entrepreneurial activity inserts itself into the economic system to contribute to the process of economic development. Publisher: UNU-WIDER; Volume: 2008/01. Authors: William Lazonick; Key words: entrepreneurship, innovative enterprise, developmental state (Details of the paper can be accessed from the link of UNU-WIDER on CME Page of WomensHealthSection.com) United Nations Charter: We the Peoples of the United Nations …. United for a Better World (Continued) CHAPTER VI PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES Article 33 The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice. The Security Council shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to settle their dispute by such means. Article 34 The Security Council may investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security. Article 35 Any Member of the United Nations may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature referred to in Article 34, to the attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly. A state which is not a Member of the United Nations may bring to the attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly any dispute to which it is a party if it accepts in advance, for the purposes of the dispute, the obligations of pacific settlement provided in the present Charter. The proceedings of the General Assembly in respect of matters brought to its attention under this Article will be subject to the provisions of Articles 11 and 12. Article 36 The Security Council may, at any stage of a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 or of a situation of like nature, recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. The Security Council should take into consideration any procedures for the settlement of the dispute which have already been adopted by the parties. In making recommendations under this Article the Security Council should also take into consideration that legal disputes should as a general rule be referred by the parties to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the Court. Article 37 Should the parties to a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 fail to settle it by the means indicated in that Article, they shall refer it to the Security Council. If the Security Council deems that the continuance of the dispute is in fact likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, it shall decide whether to take action under Article 36 or to recommend such terms of settlement as it may consider appropriate. Article 38 Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 33 to 37, the Security Council may, if all the parties to any dispute so request, make recommendations to the parties with a view to a pacific settlement of the dispute. CHAPTER VII ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THREATS TO THE PEACE, BREACHES OF THE PEACE, AND ACTS OF AGGRESSION Article 39 The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to maintain or restore international peace and security. Article 40 In order to prevent an aggravation of the situation, the Security Council may, before making the recommendations or deciding upon the measures provided for in Article 39, call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures shall be without prejudice to the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned. The Security Council shall duly take account of failure to comply with such provisional measures. Article 41 The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations. Article 42 Should the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations. Article 43 All Members of the United Nations, in order to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, undertake to make available to the Security Council, on its call and in accordance with a special agreement or agreements, armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including rights of passage, necessary for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security. Such agreement or agreements shall govern the numbers and types of forces, their degree of readiness and general location, and the nature of the facilities and assistance to be provided. The agreement or agreements shall be negotiated as soon as possible on the initiative of the Security Council. They shall be concluded between the Security Council and Members or between the Security Council and groups of Members and shall be subject to ratification by the signatory states in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. Article 44 When the Security Council has decided to use force it shall, before calling upon a Member not represented on it to provide armed forces in fulfillment of the obligations assumed under Article 43, invite that Member, if the Member so desires, to participate in the decisions of the Security Council concerning the employment of contingents of that Member’s armed forces. Article 45 In order to enable the United Nations to take urgent military measures, Members shall hold immediately available national air-force contingents for combined international enforcement action. The strength and degree of readiness of these contingents and plans for their combined action shall be determined within the limits laid down in the special agreement or agreements referred to in Article 43, by the Security Council with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee. Article 46 Plans for the application of armed force shall be made by the Security Council with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee. Article 47 There shall be established a Military Staff Committee to advise and assist the Security Council on all questions relating to the Security Council’s military requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, the employment and command of forces placed at its disposal, the regulation of armaments, and possible disarmament. The Military Staff Committee shall consist of the Chiefs of Staff of the permanent members of the Security Council or their representatives. Any Member of the United Nations not permanently represented on the Committee shall be invited by the Committee to be associated with it when the efficient discharge of the Committee’s responsibilities requires the participation of that Member in its work. The Military Staff Committee shall be responsible under the Security Council for the strategic direction of any armed forces placed at the disposal of the Security Council. Questions relating to the command of such forces shall be worked out subsequently. The Military Staff Committee, with the authorization of the Security Council and after consultation with appropriate regional agencies, may establish regional sub-committees. Article 48 The action required to carry out the decisions of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security shall be taken by all the Members of the United Nations or by some of them, as the Security Council may determine. Such decisions shall be carried out by the Members of the United Nations directly and through their action in the appropriate international agencies of which they are members. Article 49 The Members of the United Nations shall join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council. Article 50 If preventive or enforcement measures against any state are taken by the Security Council, any other state, whether a Member of the United Nations or not, which finds itself confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of those measures shall have the right to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems. Article 51 Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security. To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in April 2008: Urodynamic Assessment: Patient Evaluation & Equipment; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to the writers/editors/physicians for their contributions in preparing the series on urodynamic assessment. Urodynamic Assessment: Cystometry; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to the writers/editors/physicians for their contributions in preparing the series on urodynamic assessment. News, Invitations and Letters: The Nobel Peace Prize The United Nations: Formally Recognized and Recognized by Association The Nobel prizes, awarded in five different areas, one of which is peace, came into existence upon the death in 1896 of Alfred Nobel, whose trust fund called for bestowing prizes each year on those who have “conferred the greatest benefit on mankind”. First awarded in 1901, the prizes are closely linked to the history of modern science, the arts and political development. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, in its 107 years of existence has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations agencies and staff ten times. Before 1914, the Nobel Committee credited, in particular, efforts at legislation and arbitration leading to peace, especially in connection with the Hague Peace Conferences of 1899 and 1907, and it awarded the Prize to a number of representatives of popular peace movements and international legal tradition, such as Frederic Passy of France (1901), one of the principal founders of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and former Belgian Prime Minister August Beernaert (1909), a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. 1945: Former United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his prominent role as a senior member of the American delegation in the creation of the United Nations. 1949: Lord Boyd Orr, a British scientist and founding Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, was honored with Nobel Prize for his efforts to employ scientific discoveries to “promote cooperation between nations”. 11 December 1950: Ralph Bunche becomes the first United Nations Nobel Peace Laureate. 1951: The Nobel Prize went to Leon Jouhaux of France, a leader in the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions who had helped found the International Labor Organization in 1919. 1957: Former Canadian Secretary of State Lester Bowles Pearson, who served as the President of the seventh session of the UN General Assembly, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957, primarily for his efforts to end the Suez conflict and resolve the Middle East question through the United Nations. 1963: On the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Red Cross, the Prize was awarded jointly to two major arms of the Red Cross movement: the Swiss International Committee of the Red Cross and the International League of Red Cross Societies. 1965: The United Nations was honored in 1965—for the fourth time—when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for playing a vital role in fostering “the brotherhood among nations and the furtherance of peace”. This award was a recognition of the vital role UNICEF has carved for itself in the pursuit of basic human needs and rights of all children. 1968: The Peace Prize went to René Cassin, President of the European Court for Human Rights and, as one of the foremost legal scholars, a principal drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. 1974: The Nobel Peace Prize went to Sean MacBride of Ireland, who founded in 1961 the non-governmental human rights organization Amnesty International, which also received the Prize in 1977. Elected to the Office of United Nations Commissioner for Namibia by the UN General Assembly, MacBride served as Commissioner, with rank of Assistant Secretary-General, from 1973 to 1977. 1982: The Nobel Peace Prize went jointly to Alva Myrdal of Sweden and Alfonso Garcia Robles of Mexico for their efforts in disarmament, much of which was done under various UN negotiations. 12 October 2001: Norwegian Nobel Committee decides to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2001, in two equal portions, to the United Nations and its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, for their work for a better, organized and more peaceful world. It is the eighth Peace Prize awarded to the UN system. 7 October 2005: Nobel Peace Prizes awarded for the ninth time to the UN system. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director-General, Mohamed ElBaradei, are cited for their efforts to ensure that nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes. 12 October 2007: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) won the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with former United States Vice-President Al Gore. The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to recognize the problem of the increasing global warming. With the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, the IPCC joins the following UN officials and bodies as Nobel laureates: UN mediator Ralph Bunche in 1950; the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1954 and again in 1981; UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld in 1961; the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1965;  the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1969; the UN Peacekeeping Forces in 1988; the United Nations and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2001; and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2005. http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/webArticles/101907_nobel_prize_ipcc.html Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Frank A. Chervenak, Given Foundation Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Weill Cornell Medical Center for his priceless support, friendship and contributions. It is indeed a pleasure and privilege for everyone at Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) to work with your group. We all are looking forward to plan and develop many useful projects/programs in women’s health. Thanks again for everything. Beyond the numbers… He who sees things grow from the beginning will have the finest view of them.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) April 2008; Vol. 3, No. 4 Anniversary Edition We honor our past, celebrate present, and always look towards future. Inspired by the past; created for today — Women’s Health Section, brings your unique ideas to life with quality research and passion. Tells your story — for all time. This year on 12th April 2008, Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) celebrates its 7th anniversary. As the producer / publisher of WomensHealthSection.com — A Peer-Reviewed Journal in Women’s Healthcare, it is indeed a proud moment for all of us at WHEC. Why did we spend seven years creating an e-learning publication? The answer is simple: We Promised. Our cover-page reflects the truly unique vision. It is designed as a resource for healthcare providers and general public to offer a better understanding of reproductive health and cultural understanding. The articles are designed for all members of the interdisciplinary team: physicians, physician’s-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. WHEC Working Group wins our Oscar. It is a testament to the scope of “Women’s Health Education — A Global Community”, which was designed more than two decades ago. This concept is not just innovative, our team is revolutionary, and its long reach is felt throughout the academic world. Here is to the incredible voyage ahead and the fulfillment of a life long quest! A moment to hold forever. It has been said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. Well then, let us accept this challenge. This month, we again bring you our special section on: Education & Health. One discipline informs the other. You will want to read all about UN System. And, as always, be sure to check out WHEC Updates. The aim of the monthly newsletter is to help keep relevant stakeholders informed on the latest developments and events on the road to the Safe Motherhood. We share information with interested members of civil society on human health and related topics as well as promote partnerships to advance the causes of peace, health and security amongst civil society, the UN and wider international community — A Grand Collaboration. Log on now. In 2006, Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) began developing scientifically based practice guidelines / Practice Bulletins. The guidelines are derived from the best available evidence of clinical efficiency and consideration of costs, with recommendations explicitly linked to the evidence. These evidence-based practice guidelines are intended to be a means of improving the quality of healthcare, decreasing its cost, and diminishing professional liability. They are prospective in nature and, therefore, directive in approach. Our writers / editors / physician’s board identifies, evaluate, and synthesize evidence from the medical literature to produce practice guidelines. We invite papers on all the aspects of women’s health of interest to our millions of readers worldwide. The emphasis on evidence-based medicine has taken on new and greater importance as the environment of clinical medicine grows more diverse, with increased access to more information by both physicians and patients and the changing allocation of resources. Practice guidelines are a formal synthesis of evidence, developed according to a rigorous research and review process. Each section is devoted to a particular series. As the practice of medicine evolves, so too do WHEC Practice Bulletins. Your privacy and intellectual property rights are important to us (Frequently Asked Questions). Our goal is to promote excellence in the clinical practice of obstetrics and gynecology and closely related fields. So far … so good. Let us design the infrastructure for — Intelligent Internet! A Timeless Concept Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: What needs to be changed and how may such change be brought about by charters, plans and partnerships for everyone’s security and development? Renewing our Thinking: Over the years, the United Nations, governments, civil society and individuals have created countless worthy plans of actions and intended solutions to world issues, increasingly placing them within binding documents and quantifiable frameworks. However experience shows that, no matter how well-intentioned, a technical or political approach to development cannot alone bring about the desire outcome. Development needs the power of individual commitment, collective or national political will, and most importantly, political action. We must continue to make clear, specific, time-bound action plans, and commit to them, but we must remember that in order for them to be realized each of us must support them with spiritual understanding, awareness and practice. Cooperation is facilitated when there is the value of solidarity based on the understanding that the world’s people are but one family of many sisters and brothers, each of whom should be treated as such. The world largely considers poverty as a condition of material poverty and sickness as physical sickness. It is time to recognize the prevalence and effects of spiritual poverty, spiritual illness and spiritual deprivation, among both the materially poor and materially rich. Health is not only a physical condition but one that also involves mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Account must be taken of mental, emotional and spiritual concerns when considering diseases. Education for a culture of values in all aspects of our behavior and relationships is thus of critical importance. Freedom is a concept that takes many guises but surely the greatest of these is freedom of spirit and freedom from one’s own shortcomings and limitations. As a world society, we must include in our education systems content and pedagogy to support development of the larger principles and values that underpin the rule of law, the democratic participation of people in affairs and decisions that concern them and the notion of governance as a form of service. About NGO Association with the UN: The Millennium Declaration, signed by world’s leaders of 189 countries in 2000, established 2015 as the deadline for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The majority of MDG targets has a baseline of 1990, and is set to monitor achievements over the period 1990-2015. Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4: Reduce Child Mortality TARGET: Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate. Estimates for 2005 indicate that 10.1 million children died before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes. Though infant and child mortality rates have declined globally, the pace of progress has been uneven across regions and countries. Accelerated improvements are needed most urgently in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, CIS countries in Asia and in Oceania. Not surprisingly, the lack of progress in child survival has been mirrored by neglect of many basic health services in parts of the developing world. Child survival rates show slow improvement, and are worst in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent surveys show that substantial improvements are possible, though disparities were found in the countries studied. Even in countries that have made good progress (i.e., that have seen a drop of at least 15 per cent in child mortality rates between 1998 and 2004), different patterns are observed. Survival rates have improved at all ages within the five-year span, but in some countries gains were most pronounced during certain periods — for example, in the vulnerable first month of life. Evidence from the latest surveys will be further studied to determine the key interventions necessary to reduce mortality during the various stages of a child’s early life. Changes in the levels of child mortality also show wide differentials according to socio-economic status. In most countries that have made substantial reductions in child mortality in recent years, the largest changes were observed among children living in the richest 40 per cent of households, or in urban areas, or whose mothers have some education. In countries where progress is lagging or where child mortality has increased, AIDS is likely to be a major contributing factor. Malaria, too, continues to kill vast numbers of children. In other countries, war and conflict have been the leading causes of increasing child mortality in the recent past. Vaccinations spur decline in measles and expansion of basic health services: Measles is one of the leading causes of child death among diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. Globally, deaths from measles fell by over 60 per cent between 2000 and 2005 — a major public health success. According to the latest data available, the number of these deaths dropped from 873,000 in 1999 to 345,000 in 2005. The most striking gains were found in Africa, where measles deaths decreased by nearly 75 per cent over the same period — from an estimated 506,000 to 126,000. These achievements are attributed to improved immunization coverage throughout the developing world, as well as immunization campaigns that supplement routine services. While coverage stagnated between 1990 and 1999, immunization has rapidly gained ground since 2000. In sub-Saharan Africa, coverage dipped to 49 per cent in 1999 and increased again to 64 per cent by the end of 2005. This was largely the result of advocacy and support provided by the international Measles Initiative — which targeted 47 priority countries — together with the commitment of the African governments involved. Routine measles immunization serves as a proxy indicator for access to basic health services among children under five. Accelerated activities to control measles are contributing to the development of health infrastructure that supports routine immunization and other health services. Moreover, measles vaccination campaigns have become a channel for delivering other life-saving interventions, such as mosquito nets to protect against malaria, de-worming medicine and vitamin A supplements. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): World Health Day 2008 World Health Day, on 7 April, marks the founding of the World Health Organization and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. In 2008, World Health Day focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. The theme “protecting health from climate change” puts health at the centre of the global dialogue about climate change. WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security. Through increased collaboration, the global community will be better prepared to cope with climate-related health challenges worldwide. Examples of such collaborative actions are: strengthening surveillance and control of infectious diseases, ensuring safer use of diminishing water supplies, and coordinating health action in emergencies. Goals of World Health Day 2008: http://www.who.int/world-health-day/goals/en/index.html Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 86, Number 4, April 2008, 241-320 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) Expert Series on Health Economics: Can We Eradicate Hunger? Overview: World hunger is prevalent yet receives relatively less attention compared to poverty. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have taken a step to address this with the resolution of halving the number of starving people in the world by 2015. A substantial and sustainable reduction in hunger will also greatly improve the chances of meeting the MDGs related to poverty reduction, education, child mortality, maternal health, and disease. Hunger though is not a straightforward problem of producing enough to feed the world’s population; it has many cross-cutting dimensions. This study addresses a combination of economic, social, and political perspectives, drawing upon academic research of the economic factors and the experiences of international organizations and civil society. The first millennium development goal (MDG) is to halve poverty and hunger by 2015. Hunger and malnutrition are major causes of the deprivation and suffering targeted by all of the other MDGs. Without rapid progress in reducing hunger, achieving the other MDGs related to poverty reduction, education, child mortality, maternal health, and disease will be impossible. Nearly 30 per cent of the world’s population is currently suffering from one or more forms of malnutrition. Approximately 840 million people are undernourished or chronically food insecure, and as many as 2.8 million children and 300,000 women die every year because of malnutrition in developing countries. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), if each of the developing regions continues to reduce hunger at the current pace, only South America and the Caribbean will reach the MDG target of cutting the proportion of hungry people by half. None will reach the more ambitious World Food Summit goal of halving the number of hungry people. Despite the scale of human suffering brought about by malnutrition, the fight against world hunger receives less attention than the fight against poverty from bilateral and multilateral donors and lending agencies. A by-product of the lack of attention to food security is that the issue is relatively understudied compared to poverty. The UNU-WIDER research project ‘Hunger and Food Security’, addressed some of these gaps in the literature. It was undertaken in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and with research contributions from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project resulted in two books entitled Food Security: Indicators, Measurement, and the Impact of Trade Openness and, Food Insecurity, Vulnerability and Human Rights Failure, both edited by Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis, Shabd S. Acharya and Benjamin Davis, and henceforth referred to as Food Security and Food Insecurity, respectively. (Details of the paper can be accessed from the link of UNU-WIDER on CME Page of WomensHealthSection.com) United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS): NGLS works side by side with UN organizations and secretariats and representatives of global civil society to promote and facilitate constructive and effective UN-civil society engagement. As a result of the strategically important role NGLS played on the civil society interface of the series of UN World Conferences of the 1990s, NGLS has earned the trust of global civil society as an independent and neutral interlocutor and facilitator. NGLS played a vital role as a bridge and coordinator between the UN and civil society in preparation for the historic General Assembly (GA) Hearings with Civil Society and the Private Sector of June 2005 and subsequently in the series of GA Hearings that took place in 2006. Since the early nineties NGLS has managed selection processes and funding that has brought over 7,000 developing-country NGO representatives to global UN events such as World Conferences, Summits and GA Hearings, and has organized many orientation sessions for NGOs new to UN processes. NGLS occupies a truly unique niche and role in UN system-civil society relations and engagements, which has no parallel elsewhere in the global system of intergovernmental international and regional organizations. Working across the UN system and amongst global civil society provides NGLS with an unrivalled experience, information and knowledge base. This provides NGLS with the expertise of UN-civil society relations and practices that underpins the advice and guidance it provides as a neutral interlocutor to the UN system and global civil society. NGLS focuses its activities on four key areas: Executing an extensive communications and information outreach program on the work of the UN system and the activities of civil society. Providing strategic information and advice to the organizations of the UN system and civil society. Helping to build a foundation and framework that supports the United Nations’ effort to interact with civil society. Supporting the efforts of civil society to constructively engage with the United Nations. NGLS receives a grant from the UN regular budget and voluntary funding from a number of UN agencies, programs and funds. Recently NGLS has received financial support from a number of bilateral donors including Canada (CIDA), Finland, Germany, Switzerland and the UK (DFID). NGLS reports to the UN organizations that fund it and to the bilateral donors that provide funding for specific activities. NGLS’s UN Sponsors: UNCTD, UN / DESA, UN / DPI, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNHCR, FAO, IFAD, ILO, WFP, UNESCO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, UNEP and WHO. NGLS focuses on all the main issues on the UN agenda, including: Sustainable development and environment; Human rights; Humanitarian emergencies and refugees; Peace and development; Least Developed Countries. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): UNICEF was created in 1946 to help overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. Its work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child — the most widely accepted human right treaty in the world. UNICEF believes that caring for children and protecting their rights are the cornerstones of human progress. It is engaged in every facet of child health, from birth through adolescence. It works to ensure that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and have children and their mothers are well nourished. It works to prevent the spread of HIV / AIDS among young people, and helps children and families affected by the disease to live with dignity. UNICEF promotes girls’ education because it benefits all children. It relieves suffering during emergencies and wherever children are exposed to violence, abuse or exploitation. As part of the Global Movement for Children, UNICEF encourages young people to speak out and participate in the decisions that affect their lives. In all its work, UNICEF encourages the participation of children and young people. UNICEF is governed by an Executive Board comprising delegates from 36 countries who govern its policies, programs and finances. There are more than 7,000 UNICEF employees working in 158 countries and territories around the world. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions; its total program expenditure in 2002 were slightly over $ 1 billion. While its strongest support comes from governments, UNICEF also receives considerable aid from the private sector, and from some 6 million individuals who give through National Committees in the industrialized world. In 1965, UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Prize. Its major publication, The State of the World’s Children, is released annually. Headquarter: UNICEF House, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017. United Nations Charter: We the Peoples of the United Nations … United for a Better World (Continued) CHAPTER V THE SECURITY COUNCIL COMPOSITION Article 23 The Security Council shall consist of fifteen Members of the United Nations. The Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America shall be permanent members of the Security Council. The General Assembly shall elect ten other Members of the United Nations to be non-permanent members of the Security Council, due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization, and also to equitable geographical distribution. The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the four additional members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election. Each member of the Security Council shall have one representative. FUNCTIONS and POWERS Article 24 In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf. In discharging these duties the Security Council shall act in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. The specific powers granted to the Security Council for the discharge of these duties are laid down in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII. The Security Council shall submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the General Assembly for its consideration. Article 25 The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter. Article 26 In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human and economic resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the United Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments. VOTING Article 27 Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members. Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting. PROCEDURE Article 28 The Security Council shall be so organized as to be able to function continuously. Each member of the Security Council shall for this purpose be represented at all times at the seat of the Organization. The Security Council shall hold periodic meetings at which each of its members may, if it so desires, be represented by a member of the government or by some other specially designated representative. The Security Council may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of the Organization as in its judgment will best facilitate its work. Article 29 The Security Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. Article 30 The Security Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of selecting its President. Article 31 Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected. Article 32 Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The Security Council shall lay down such conditions as it deems just for the participation of a state which is not a Member of the United Nations. To be continued… Top Two-Articles Accessed in March 2008: Child Abuse — A Universal Challenge; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to World Health Organization and UNICEF for the contributions Staging & Management of Uterine Cancer; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center for the collaboration and support in preparing the document. News, Invitations, and Letters: UNITED NATIONS THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, MESSAGE ON WORLD HEALTH DAY 7 April 2008 Climate change is sometimes debated as if it affected only the planet, and not the people living on it. This year’s World Health Day is an opportunity to broaden this view by spotlighting the major health threats we face as a result of global warming. Climate change endangers the quality and availability of water and food, our fundamental determinants of nutrition and health. It is causing more frequent and more severe storms, heat waves, droughts and floods, while worsening the quality of our air. The result is an upsurge in human suffering caused by injury, disease, malnutrition and death. We need to give voice to this often-overlooked reality, ensuring that protecting human health is anchored at the heart of the global climate change agenda. The impact will be most severe in poor countries, which have contributed least to this global crisis. By 2020, up to a quarter of a billion Africans will experience increased water stress, and crop yields in some African countries are expected to drop by half. Malnutrition and climate-related infectious diseases will take their heaviest toll on the most vulnerable: small children, the elderly and the infirm. Women living in poverty face particular risk when natural disasters and other global-warming related dangers strike. We must do more than decry these circumstances. We must act to ensure that the health of the vulnerable is protected during climate change. This means stepping up efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, from cutting childhood mortality to empowering women, as a central component of the international response to climate change. Public health has decades of experience in dealing effectively with problems that climate change will exacerbate, and we can use this as a basis for predicting — and forestalling — the consequences. Climate change is real, it is accelerating and it threatens all of us. We must respond with urgent action to stabilize the climate, achieve the MDGs, and encourage individual action. Our collective efforts can foster social and economic development for the world’s poorest peoples, improving their health systems and their lives. World Health Day challenges us to join forces in the great effort to combat climate change, for the sake of our planet and all of its inhabitants. Special Thanks: WHEC expresses gratitude to the Academic Partnership Unit / Academic Initiative Section of United Nations for the priceless support. It is indeed an honor and privilege for Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) to improve maternal and child health worldwide with the United Nations. Thanks again for the priceless support. Beyond the numbers… I may not reach the heights I seek, My untried strength may fail me, Or, half way the mountain peak Fierce tempest may assail me, But though that place I never gain Herein lies comfort for my pain I will be worthy of it.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) March 2008; Vol. 3, No. 3 The most important factor to make motherhood safer appears to be political commitment in a country — the conviction among decision-makers and society in general that maternal deaths can and must be avoided. This conviction needs to permeate a society. It is linked to the value given to women and to women’s equal right to live. To promote this conviction people must be made aware that steps can be taken to reduce maternal mortality, and they are feasible even within the limits of scarce resources. One reason why maternal mortality has not received the attention and resources it needs is that it involves some of the most intimate and culturally sensitive aspects of life: birth, death and sexuality. Adolescents in most countries have more difficulty than adults in getting accurate information on sexual and reproductive health services, methods of contraception, maternal healthcare, and care for sexually transmitted diseases. This contributes significantly to the number of unnecessary maternal deaths among adolescent women. Our publication WomensHealthSection.com addresses the need for improving access to reproductive health services for adolescent women and men is thus essential for the reduction of maternal mortality. Pregnancy is special — let us make it safer. Long-held attitudes do not change overnight — it took many years of campaigning to improve services in industrialized countries and reduce maternal deaths. Political commitment in developing countries is now crucial if the necessary steps are to be taken. Safe motherhood, however, is not ensured only be good health services. Poverty, lack of education, and women’s lack of power to make decisions about their own health also contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality. Above all, achieving safe motherhood is about a more equitable distribution of resources so that nothing and nobody stands in the way of women’s access to essential services. Concerted action is needed to make safety a reality for millions of women around the world who give birth without the essential services. Women have a right to safe motherhood — midwives and obstetricians have an indispensable role to play in making it happen — we should take up the challenge. While pregnancy is safer in the USA than in the last century, many minority women still face increased risks of morbidity and mortality, associated with social and economic factors. Until economic, educational and cultural barriers are removed, it will be difficult to eliminate the gaps in maternal health to promote safe and happy pregnancies for all women. The Road Ahead Rita Luthra,, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: What can be done about the private health sector in low-income countries? How can the activities of the private sector in these countries be influenced so that they help to meet national health objectives? Restructuring the Market: A very large private health sector exists in low-income countries. It consists of a great variety of providers and is used by a wide cross-section of the population. There are substantial concerns about the quality of care given, especially at the more informal end of the range of providers. This is particularly true for diseases of public health importance such as tuberculosis, malaria, and sexually transmitted infections. Although the evidence base is not good, there is a fair amount of information on the types of intervention that are most successful in directly influencing the behavior of providers and on what might be the necessary conditions for success. There is much less evidence, however, of effective approaches to interventions on the demand side and policies that involve strengthening the purchasing and regulatory roles of governments. In recent years there has been a considerable growth of interest in the activities of providers in the private health sector in low income countries, and in how policy-makers might best capitalize on the accessibility and popularity of this sector. However, the evidence is limited as to which approaches work best. There have been many references to social marketing, accreditation, franchising and contracting, but much of the experience is documented only in the unpublished literature or has been gained in relatively small projects. Recognizing the importance of the private sector in health system outcomes does not imply that the public sector has a diminished role to play. Rather, attention is drawn to the often neglected governmental role of stewardship, without which the private sector operates unchecked and unguided. Governments should regulate the private sector not just in the sense of legislating and administering formal rules but also by intervening to alter the incentives available to private sector institutions and thereby their activities and performance outcomes. We at Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) support the activities of the private health sector in low-income countries so that they help to meet national health objectives. Research is necessary on the success of demand side strategies, which could both complement and increase the effectiveness of interventions targeted at the providers. About NGO Association with the UN: The Millennium Declaration, signed by world’s leaders of 189 countries in 2000, established 2015 as the deadline for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The majority of MDG targets has a baseline of 1990, and is set to monitor achievements over the period 1990-2015. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women TARGET: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005 and in all levels of education no later than 2015. Women’s participation in paid, non-agricultural employment has continued to increase slowly. The greatest gains are in some of the regions where women have the least presence in the labor market — in Southern Asia, Western Asia and Oceania. In Northern Africa, where women’s participation is also low, progress has been insignificant. Only one in five paid employees in that region is a woman, a situation that has remained unchanged for the last 15 years. In other regions, women are slowly gaining access to paid employment at a level on par with men, or, in the case of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), exceeding it. Doors are opening slowly for women in the labor market. In Africa, although the share of parliamentary seats held by women has increased substantially, from 7 per cent in 1990 to 17 per cent this year, the share of women who earn a salary, aside from farming, still stood at less than one-third in 2005. Poverty cannot be eradicated without gender equality and women’s empowerment, and this would require a change of traditional and cultural gender norms. While failing to effectively address the impact that macroeconomic policies have on national poverty, Governments often view micro-credit as the solution to women’s poverty, because they have a strong track record as prudent savers and borrowers in micro-finance programs. Another crucial point for poverty eradication is women’s access to land, which becomes more difficult with growing privatization. Not only in the developing world do labor market discrimination and cultural and political mechanisms demote ethnic minority and migrant women to low-waged and low-skilled sectors; even developed countries seldom provide women with effective policies that reconcile family and working life. Equal pay and women’s integration in non-traditional sectors are still an exception to the rule. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): About World Health Organization (WHO) WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. In the 21st century, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defense against transnational threats. “Our greatest concern must always rest with disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. These groups are often hidden, live in remote rural areas or shantytowns and have little political voice.” Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. Working for health; An introduction to WHO Download [pdf 1.24Mb] Bulletin of the World Health Organization; Volume 86, Number 3, March 2008, 161-240 Table of contents Collaboration with UN University (UNU): UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) Expert Series on Health Economics: Capital Flows to Developing Countries Since the Asian Crisis: How to Manage their volatility? The project intends to fill the gaps in knowledge in two related areas: 1) what determines decisions by lenders / investors to enter or withdraw from individual developing countries? Even more, how has this decision making process been modified by recent crises and by the subsequent discussion of and measures taken for – a new financial architecture; 2) at a national level, in developing countries, what are the policy implications especially for macroeconomic and financial regulation policies, as well as for their interconnections – of volatile and reversible capital flows? In this context what policies are best pursued to maximize growth, investment and employment in the long-term, whilst minimizing risk of developmentally costly currency and financial crises? The project will consist of two closely integrated and highly complementary parts: 1) analysis of new trends in the supply of different categories of capital flows, since the Asian crisis, as well as their determinants, and international policy and regulatory implications of these trends and 2) evaluation of national policies to reduce both the volatility of capital flows and its’ negative domestic impact.” Project co-directors: Ricardo French-Davis; Stephany Griffith-Jones (Details of the paper can be accessed from the link of UNU-WIDER on CME Page of WomensHealthSection.com) Point of View: Peoples Open Access Education Initiative for Public Health: Peoples-uni.org An educational initiative http://www.peoples-uni.org aims to develop educational context around Open Educational Resources, freely available on the Internet, to help with Public Health capacity building in low- to middle-income countries. Local universities offering public health education may be oversubscribed for face to face courses and fees for overseas universities, including e-learning distance programs, are higher than can be afforded by most potential students in these countries. Internet-based e-learning has the exciting potential to deliver high quality learning resources anytime and anywhere, and although access is by no means universal it is improving quickly. There is an ever expanding range of high quality on line education resources freely available through the Internet, and a number of universities are putting educational material on-line for open access, although they do not include either teaching or accreditation of learning. The starting point is identified problems in Public Health, building towards Masters level courses, and a pilot of our first course module on Maternal Mortality attracted a large interest and was well received (1). Peoples-uni.org aims to provide educational context around the materials freely available on the Internet. A number of national and international partners have agreed to be part of this, and momentum is building. The Peoples-uni.org is still in development, and the Web 2.0 philosophy which underpins the initiative allows for continuous change and revision of the material and educational process, in particular to ensure ‘localization’ of the education to ensure it is relevant to the setting in which it is offered. To this end, any input or collaboration from individuals or organizations in low– to middle-income countries would be welcome. The initiative is largely dependent on volunteerism, taking place outside traditional educational and institutional settings. The main current issue for us to solve is how to engage health professionals in helping as course developers and facilitators of on-line learning. We seek volunteers from the ‘north’ and the ‘south’ to help in this. Reference: Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2007; 85:930-934 http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/12/07-044388.pdf By Richard F Heller Emeritus Professor Universities of Manchester, UK, and Newcastle, Australia Peoples Open Access Education Initiative e-mail: Dick.heller@manchester.ac.uk United Nations Charter: We the Peoples of the United Nations …. United for a Better World (Continued) Chapter IV — THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMPOSITION Article 9 The General Assembly shall consist of all the Members of the United Nations. Each Member shall have not more than five representatives in the General Assembly. FUNCTIONS and POWERS Article 10 The General Assembly may discuss any questions or any matters within the scope of the present Charter or relating to the powers and functions of any organs provided for in the present Charter, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations to the Members of the United Nations or to the Security Council or to both on any such questions or matters. Article 11 The General Assembly may consider the general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, and may make recommendations with regard to such principles to the Members or to the Security Council or to both. The General Assembly may discuss any questions relating to the maintenance of international peace and security brought before it by any Member of the United Nations, or by the Security Council, or by a state which is not a Member of the United Nations in accordance with Article 35, paragraph 2, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations with regard to any such questions to the state or states concerned or to the Security Council or to both. Any such question on which action is necessary shall be referred to the Security Council by the General Assembly either before or after discussion. The General Assembly may call the attention of the Security Council to situations which are likely to endanger international peace and security. The powers of the General Assembly set forth in this Article shall not limit the general scope of Article 10. Article 12 While the Security Council is exercising in respect of any dispute or situation the functions assigned to it in the present Charter, the General Assembly shall not make any recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation unless the Security Council so requests. The Secretary-General, with the consent of the Security Council, shall notify the General Assembly at each session of any matters relative to the maintenance of international peace and security which are being dealt with by the Security Council and shall similarly notify the General Assembly, or the Members of the United Nations if the General Assembly is not in session, immediately the Security Council ceases to deal with such matters. Article 13 The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of: a. promoting international co-operation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification; b. promoting international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. The further responsibilities, functions and powers of the General Assembly with respect to matters mentioned in paragraph 1 (b) above are set forth in Chapters IX and X. Article 14 Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the General Assembly may recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among nations, including situations resulting from a violation of the provisions of the present Charter setting forth the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. Article 15 The General Assembly shall receive and consider annual and special reports from the Security Council; these reports shall include an account of the measures that the Security Council has decided upon or taken to maintain international peace and security. The General Assembly shall receive and consider reports from the other organs of the United Nations. Article 16 The General Assembly shall perform such functions with respect to the international trusteeship system as are assigned to it under Chapters XII and XIII, including the approval of the trusteeship agreements for areas not designated as strategic. Article 17 The General Assembly shall consider and approve the budget of the Organization. The expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the Members as apportioned by the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall consider and approve any financial and budgetary arrangements with specialized agencies referred to in Article 57 and shall examine the administrative budgets of such specialized agencies with a view to making recommendations to the agencies concerned. VOTING Article 18 Each member of the General Assembly shall have one vote. Decisions of the General Assembly on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the election of the members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1 (c) of Article 86, the admission of new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members, questions relating to the operation of the trusteeship system, and budgetary questions. Decisions on other questions, including the determination of additional categories of questions to be decided by a two-thirds majority, shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting. Article 19 A Member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The General Assembly may, nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member. PROCEDURE Article 20 The General Assembly shall meet in regular annual sessions and in such special sessions as occasion may require. Special sessions shall be convoked by the Secretary-General at the request of the Security Council or of a majority of the Members of the United Nations. Article 21 The General Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall elect its President for each session. Article 22 The General Assembly may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. To be continued… Top Two Articles Accessed in February 2008: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Recognition & Prevention; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA (USA), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the assistance in preparation of the manuscript. Menopause: A Close-up Look; WHEC Publications. Special thanks to World Health Organization for the contributions. News, Invitations and Letters: In advance of the General Assembly’s commemorative high-level plenary session to mark the mid-decade point for the Plan of Action “A World Fit for Children (WFFC),” UNICEF has launched its Progress for Children: A World Fit for Children Statistical Review. The statistical review reports on how well the world is doing in meeting its commitments for the world’s children and analyses progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in four priority areas for children: promoting healthy lives, providing a quality education, combating HIV and AIDS, and protecting against abuse, exploitation and violence. For the first time, annual global deaths of children under age five fell below the 10 million mark, to 9.7 million. This represents a 60% reduction in the under-five mortality rate since 1960. Major improvements in the coverage of a number of key child survival interventions, including measles immunization, vitamin A supplementation, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and breastfeeding, are also highlighted. This edition also provides comprehensive information on such indicators as birth registration, child labor, female genital mutilation/cutting, child marriage and children affected by war, which offer a snapshot of the state of child protection. It reveals that the number of primary-school-age children who are not in school has declined from 115 million at the time of the 2002 Special Session to 93 million in 2005-2006, and that new evidence suggests declining HIV prevalence in some sub-Saharan African countries, although these trends are not yet widespread or strong enough to turn the tide. The report is available online. UNITED NATIONS; THE SECRETARY-GENERAL –MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8 March 2008 At the 2005 World Summit, Governments of all nations agreed that “progress for women is progress for all”. Yet the 10-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action revealed a serious gap between policy and practice in many countries. A lack of political will is reflected in the most telling way of all: lack of resources and insufficient budgetary allocations. That is why the theme of this International Women’s Day is “Investing in Women and Girls”. This failure of funding undermines not only our endeavors for gender equality and women’s empowerment as such; it also holds back our efforts to reach all the Millennium Development Goals. As we know from long and indisputable experience, investing in women and girls has a multiplier effect on productivity and sustained economic growth. No measure is more important in advancing education and health, including the prevention of HIV/AIDS. No other policy is as likely to improve nutrition, or reduce infant and maternal mortality. In the United Nations family too, we need to better match demands with resources. The resources available for gender mainstreaming must be made more sustainable and predictable — particularly at the regional and country levels. And to make a real difference, our gender-specific machinery needs funding that is commensurate with the challenges. I firmly believe that one dynamic and strengthened gender entity, consolidating resources currently scattered among several structures, would attract better funding from the donor community. By mobilizing forces of change at the global level, and inspiring enhanced results at the country level, such an entity would better advance our cause to empower women and realize gender equality worldwide. I urge Member States to muster the political will to bring the consultations on this issue to a successful conclusion. This year we find ourselves at the mid-point in the race to reach the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015. Only by investing in the world’s women and girls can we expect to reach our destination. On this International Women’s Day, let us resolve to unite in this mission. Special Thanks: WHEC thanks Dr. Baha M. Sibai, Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati (USA) for his priceless contributions. It is indeed a pleasure to work with you. We hope to develop many projects/programs in women’s healthcare of mutual interest. Thanks again. Beyond the numbers… In all cultures, trained personnel with special knowledge of health are under an obligation to follow the written and unwritten rules that will ensure good practice. The solid principles of ethics and social well-being that have always formed part of health care will be the pillars that continue to support the future development of medical care and the health of society, even in the whirlwind of change in which we live.Read More

A Newsletter of worldwide activity of Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC)April 2007; Vol. 2, No. 4 Anniversary Edition The year was 2001. It was the turn of a new century, and we thought it might be the perfect time for a new kind of peer-reviewed journal in obstetrics and gynecology. In today’s real world, everyone loves and is fascinated with – Internet. Education can be lot of fun. Internet-Classrooms were a brilliant concept we hit upon when we created WomensHealthSection.com – Women’s Health Education for a global community. It was an idea whose time had definitely come. What a great notion, build a portal for better understanding of reproductive health and different cultures. I am always interested in the process, how you figure out things, getting inside of a world of internet and computer that you are never a part of, and learning all about it. That was what this e-learning publication is all about. It has become something of an interactive experience for the readers and writers / editors. We are so proud that WomensHealthSection.com has become a landmark of US Educational and 157 countries’ educational system, hoping that we have innovated the genre and internet in general by injecting qualities. We hope this helps you become even more – a WHEC insider. So click on WomensHealthSection.com and take another step into our world, where social sciences and medical sciences blend together, and education is really fun. Producing good content takes time and devotion. WHEC is grateful to the writers / editors and physicians who contributed their priceless research to the publication. As much as I am enjoying the unfolding of my Second-Life; I can see challenges ahead. Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) came into being on 12th April 2001, and opened its doors to welcome patients. Our patients are our teachers and it is indeed a privilege to take care of them. In the spirit of growth in this digital age, this e-learning publication has been recently redesigned. Increased exposure of the publication’s content has brought heightened awareness of certain issues, especially gynecologic-oncology. I am glad this wealth of information is used by healthcare providers in 157 countries and its popularity is growing fast. We hope this will prove to be a useful addition for your readers. We have accomplished a lot in 6 years and many more to come! A Future within Reach Rita Luthra, MD Your Questions, Our Reply: What is the most important issue on your agenda? What is the role of WHEC in promoting maternal and child health worldwide? Universal Coverage for maternal and child health: Working towards universal coverage of maternal, newborn and child health interventions is our mission. In shaping the global political economy with the view to protecting health in particular that in the most deprived populations is a challenge for rich and poor countries alike. The 58th World Health Assembly Resolution (WHA58. 31) call on World Health Organization to strengthen coordination, collaboration and synergies of World Health Organization programs including those for health systems development. Universal access for mothers and children requires health systems to be able to respond to the needs and demands of the population, and to offer them protection against the financial hardship that results from ill-health. Children are the future of society and their mothers are guardians of that future. To make this possible; investments in health systems and in the human resources for health need to be stepped up. The priority areas are: advocacy in support of activities and decision-making at all levels; partnerships to increase funding and coordination in order to make the provision of services more effective and efficient; monitoring and evaluating the implementation of interventions in order to measure changes in practice and impact in terms of health gains. Long-term sustained improvements in maternal and child health require long-term commitments that go well beyond the political lifespan of many decision-makers. The proper technical strategies can be put in place effectively only if they are implemented, across programs and service providers, throughout pregnancy and childbirth through to childhood. It makes no sense to provide care for a child and ignore the mother, or to worry about a mother giving birth and fail to pay attention to the health of the baby. Policies that increase women’s decision-making power, particularly in regard to their own health, are also essential. 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 and religious leaders, women’s groups, youth groups, other local associations, and healthcare professionals. There is no doubt that health workers are the cornerstone of functioning health systems. Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) addresses through its publications the most pressing public health concerns of populations around the world. To ensure the widest possible availability of authoritative information and guidance on public health matters, WHEC encourages its translation and adaptation. About NGO Association with the UN: Fourth Committee: Special Political and Decolonization – Autonomy eludes millions of people in the world. More than 2 million people continue to live in some 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories, even as the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010) reached half way point. For that reason, the issue of decolonization, along with mine-action assistance, peace-keeping operations and the work of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), topped the Fourth Committee’s agenda. They represent unfinished business of the United Nations in regard to the inalienable rights of people. Many of the obstacles towards self-government trace back to a lack of information flowing to and from the Territories, partly resulting from a lack of serious attention to decades of resolutions on decolonization. The year 2004 also marked the 20th anniversary of the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, known as the “Moon Agreement”, which called for freedom of scientific exploration and the use of the moon for the benefit of all people. Peacekeeping is central in the maintenance of international peace and security, but the question that must be asked was whether all were doing their best to make these efforts succeed. It is widely acknowledged that most of the developing countries, while willing to contribute, lack the capacity; the developed world, while having the capacity, lack the will. The time has come to bridge the gap through partnerships and to consider arrangements between the United Nations, troop-contributing countries and donor States. UN peacekeeping forces have a major role to play, and as their operations become more complex, further coordination and contribution are required on the part of all countries and NGOs. SECRETARY-GENERAL’s MESSAGE ON WORLD HEALTH DAY – 7 April 2007: The theme of this year’s World Health Day — international health security — reminds us that threats to public health know no borders. The spread of diseases, natural disasters, environmental change, bioterrorism or chemical spills can all have a major impact on people, their societies and economies around the world. Such threats present new challenges and require an urgent and collaborative response. Health, development and global security are inextricably linked. Investment in health is a cornerstone of economic growth and development, and a prerequisite for meeting many of the Millennium Development Goals. Moreover, the security of all countries is today increasingly dependent on the capacity of each to act effectively, and collectively, to minimize health threats. The revised International Health Regulations, which will come into force in June this year, represent a milestone in the world’s efforts to build and reinforce effective mechanisms for disease outbreak alert and response at the national and international levels. It is essential for all of us that every country implements fully these regulations. Life and health are our most precious possessions. We have the knowledge and unprecedented resources to build a healthier, safer world. Let us take the occasion of World Health Day to mobilize the political will. Let us ensure that each country — rich and poor — has a robust health system capable of serving all those in need. Addressing our collective vulnerability demands nothing less. Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO): World Health Report 2005: Make Every Mother and Child Count – it comes at a time when only a decade is left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which set internationally agreed development aspirations for the world’s population to be met by 2015. These goals have underlined the importance of improving health, and particularly the health of mothers and children, as an integral part of poverty reduction. The health of mothers and children is a priority that emerged long before the 1990s – it builds on a century of programs, activities and experience. What is new in the last decade, however, is the global focus of the MDGs and their insistence on tracking progress in every part of the world. Moreover, the nature of the priority status of maternal and child health (MCH) has changed over time. Whereas mothers and children were previously thought of as targets for well-intentioned programs, they now increasingly claim the right to access quality care as an entitlement guaranteed by the state. In doing so, they have transformed maternal and child health from a technical concern into a moral and political imperative. This report identifies exclusion as a key feature of inequity as well as a key constraint to progress. In many countries, universal access to the care all women and children are entitled to is still far from realization. Taking stock of the erratic progress to date, the report sets out the strategies required for the accelerated improvements that are known to be possible. It is necessary to refocus the technical strategies developed within maternal and child health programs, and also to put more emphasis on the importance of the often overlooked health problems of newborns. In this regard, the report advocates the repositioning of MCH as MNCH (maternal, newborn and child health).The proper technical strategies to improve MNCH can be put in place effectively only if they are implemented, across programs and service providers, throughout pregnancy and childbirth through to childhood. It makes no sense to provide care for a child and ignore the mother, or to worry about a mother giving birth and fail to pay attention to the health of the baby. To provide families universal access to such a continuum of care requires programs to work together, but is ultimately dependent on extending and strengthening health systems. At the same time, placing MNCH at the core of the drive for universal access provides a platform for building sustainable health systems where existing structures are weak or fragile. Even where the MDGs will not be fully achieved by 2015, moving towards universal access has the potential to transform the lives of millions for decades to come. World Bank Institute (WBI) – Global Development Learning Network: Initiated by the World Bank in June 2000, the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) is a global partnership of more than 100 learning centers (GDLN Affiliates that offer the use of advanced information and communication technologies to people working in development around the world. Through videoconferencing, high-speed internet resources, and interactive facilitation and learning techniques, GDLN Affiliates enable their clients to hold coordination, consultation, and training events in a timely and cost-effective manner. GDLN clients include academic institutions offering distance learning courses on development issues; development agencies seeking dialogue with key partners across the globe; government agencies discussing policy with counterparts in other countries; and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) coordinating with their partners worldwide. The Network’s “anchor unit”, GDLN Services, is housed in World Bank Institute (WBI), and consists of GDLN Secretariat and GDLN Activity Services team. GDLN coordination teams in the Bank’s regional departments work with Affiliates and partners in their respective regions. Furthermore, the Bank provides the Network’s technology backbone through its global communication group. The Bank is also an important client of the Network; WBI alone has offered more than 600 courses, seminars, and dialogues through GDLN. For more information, visit http://www.gdln.org Collaboration with UN University (UNU): “E-Learning for a sustainable future” – The vision of Global Virtual University (GVU) is to contribute to a sustainable future with a main focus on the developing countries making use of the latest e-learning pedagogy and technology. The mission of GVU is to increase people’s sensitivity to, and involvement in, finding solutions for environment and development issues. This shall be accomplished by mobilizing a network of universities in developed and developing countries to participate in developing online educational programs in global environmental and development studies and to provide support to these universities. The mission of UNU is to contribute, 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. The UNU-GVU Consortium in Education for Sustainable Development partners cooperate in the development and implementation of online study programs, short courses and modules and modules that are designed to serve the needs and enhance the capacities of academic institutions in developing countries in the field of education for sustainable development. Partners are expected to share expertise on pedagogical approaches, content and instructional design methodologies, course implementation, quality assurance, and course evaluation. Point of View: Digital Health Libraries – Moving Forward The Internet was a somewhat different place 10 years ago than it is today. Broadband-access was not as widely available, nor was the computer that could easily handle the amount of information now transferred every minute. While informational resources did exist, the Internet, or the piece still then commonly referred to as the Web, was mostly dominated by companies seeking another form of advertising and/or revenue and handfuls of individuals that stayed on the forefront of the ever-changing technology with an eye towards bigger and better things. Today the greater speed and interactivity of today’s internet has given rise to many more educational resources than previously existed, delivering academic journals and research covering an infinite amount of subjects on demand. The concept of WomensHealthSection.com – A Peer Reviewed Journal in Women’s Healthcare was an ambitious one – creating essentially an online textbook that would comprehensively cover the issues affecting the health of women worldwide, both medical and sociopolitical. Womenshealthsection.com is still unique in its vision, but it is also unique in its scope and for providing a very high level of information to the international community without either charging an expensive subscription fee or being affiliated with a university. We have created a comprehensive, detailed medical resource available to those who would immediately benefit from the articles it contains: medical professionals throughout the developed and the developing world concerned about women’s health. In the four plus years since we at eclecTechs began working with Women’s Health and Education Center (WHEC) in the design, execution and maintenance of WomensHealthSection.com, the site has grown from the then extremely impressive twenty-five or so detailed, informative articles to a staggering 250+, and is now available in six different languages, reflecting the international scope of the project. As the connectivity of the world evolves, this will remain an important resource, providing a readily available digital health library to the professionals who need it. By Barbara Meehan and Andee R. Browne eclecTechs 35 State Street, Northampton, MA 01060 (USA) Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS “Global Crisis – Global Action”: series continues Noting with concern that some negative economic, social, cultural, political, financial and legal factors are hampering awareness, education, prevention, care, treatment and support efforts Noting the importance of establishing and strengthening human resources and national health and social infrastructures as imperative for the effective delivery of prevention, treatment, care and support services Recognizing that effective prevention, care and treatment strategies will require behavioral changes and increased availability of and non-discriminatory access to, vaccines, condoms, antibiotics, lubricants, sterile injecting equipment, drugs including anti-retroviral therapy, diagnostics and related technologies as well as increased research and development Recognizing also that the cost availability and affordability of drugs and related technology are significant factors to be reviewed and addressed in all aspects and that there is a need to reduce the cost of these drugs and technologies in close collaboration with the private sector and pharmaceutical companies Acknowledging that the lack of affordable pharmaceuticals and of feasible supply structures and health systems continue to hinder an effective response to HIV/AIDS in many countries, especially for the poorest people and recalling efforts to make drugs available at low prices for those in need Welcoming the efforts of countries to promote innovation and the development of domestic industries consistent with international law in order to increase access to medicines to protect health of their populations; and noting that the impact of international trade agreements on access to or local manufacturing of, essential drugs and on the development of new drugs needs to be further evaluated Welcoming the progress made in some countries to contain the epidemic, particularly through: strong political commitment and leadership at the highest levels, including community leadership; effective use of available resources and traditional medicines; successful prevention, care, support and treatment strategies; education and information initiatives; working in partnership with communities, civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups, and the active promotion and protection of human rights; and recognizing the importance of sharing and building on our collective and diverse experiences, through regional and international cooperation including North/South, South/South cooperation and triangular cooperation Acknowledging that resources devoted to combating the epidemic both at the national and international levels are not commensurate with the magnitude of the problem Recognizing the fundamental importance of strengthening national, regional and sub-regional capacities to address and effectively combat HIV/AIDS and that this will require increased and sustained human, financial and technical resources through strengthening national action and cooperation and increased regional, sub-regional and international cooperation Recognizing the external debt and debt-servicing problems have substantially constrained the capacity of many developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, to finance the fight against HIV/AIDS To be continued… Top Two-Articles Accessed in March 2007: Health Care Patents and The Interests of Patients WHEC Publication. Special thanks to Editorial Office, Bulletin of the World Health Organization for the contributions, support and friendship. Uterine Myomas: A Comprehensive Review Author: Dr. Edward E. Wallach, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD (USA). News, Invitations, and Letters: The World Bank is a group of five institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (established in 1945); the International Finance Corporation (1956); the International Development Association (1960); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (1988); and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (1966). The common goal of all institutions is to reduce poverty around the world by strengthening the economies of poor nations. Their aim is to improve people’s living standards by promoting economic growth and development. The Bank’s governing body is the Board of Governors, in which all member states are represented. General operations are delegated to as smaller group, the Board of Executive Directors, with the President of the Bank serving as Chairman of the Board. The World Bank Group has a staff of some 11,000 and an administrative annual budget of about $ 1.4 billion. Among its major publication is the annual World Development Report. World Bank – Health & AIDS: Money counts! However, more money and even rapid economic growth are not enough to achieve desirable Health Outcomes and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Systems structure and efficiency matter, as do supporting institutions, households and communities, policies and politics. While there is long-standing recognition that health outcomes are significantly determined at the household level and are greatly affected by factors outside the health sector such as water and sanitation and transport infrastructure, policies continue mainly to focus on supply production factors within the health sector. This new program approaches health outcomes from the demand side through a multisectoral perspective, looking into mechanisms such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), and Sector Wide Approaches Projects (SWAPs). The course underscores the different roles necessary at each different sector for a multisectoral approach, the need for coordination at the central level, and also alignment of donors with national processes – especially budgets – to ensure harmonization. This course will build capacity for developing multisectoral health outcome strategies, emphasizing that better effective interventions, actions and policies exist and that adaptation to the country situation is critical. For more information about the content please contact: Isabel Rocha Pimenta, Team Leader; World Bank Institute – Health and AIDS program; 1818 H St. NW, Mail Stop # J3-302; Washington DC; Tel. 1-202-458-1429; Fax: 1-202-676-0961. MESSAGE BY H.E. SHEIKHA HAYA RASHED AL KHALIFA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Violence against women and girls is widespread in all societies. The United Nations Charter affirms faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women. The right to live without fear of violence is a basic human right for all people, including women and girls. The right to seek equal justice, without discrimination, is a basic human right. We have a moral and political duty to uphold these rights. The comprehensive study on violence against women issued during the 61st Session of the General Assembly includes strong recommendations that can end the impunity of violence committed against women. We have made huge advances in setting global standards to prevent, punish and eradicate these heinous crimes. Our efforts have gone far to reverse what used to be the traditional lack of response. But progress in ending violence and impunity remains insufficient and inconsistent in all parts of the world. States have binding obligations and can be held accountable. The failure to comply with international standards or to exercise due diligence is a violation of the human rights of women. Slavery in Twenty-First Century – The slave trade is back in full force. This modern slave trade, however, is not limited to just young Africans; women and children are also being enslaved in almost every continent. It is estimated that there are over 27 million enslaved persons worldwide, more than double the number of those who were deported in the 400-year history of the transatlantic slave trade to the Americas. What is remarkable is that this unprecedented trafficking largely goes unnoticed. The 27 million victims of the modern slave trade are more invisible to the world’s eye than were the 10 million to 12 million Africans who were forcibly sent to the Americas during the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries. How do we account for this fact in this age of media and communications overload and transparency? Details: http://www.un.org:80/Pubs/chronicle/2005/issue3/0305p28.html Special Thanks: WHEC thanks everyone who supported our efforts to improve women’s health and status at local, national and international levels. It is indeed our privilege to share our Letters of Support Page with everyone: http://www.womenshealthsection.com/content/main/h_ls.php3 We hope our efforts help to advance the causes of peace, health and development. Beyond the numbers… And I honor the man who is willing to sink; half his present repute for the freedom to think; And when he has thought to be his cause strong or weak; will risk the other half for the freedom to speak.Read More