Over the past two decades, the importance of global health, as an emphasis for diplomatic engagement, has grown. The 1994 United Nations Human Development Report heralded the potential to advance human security with "first, safety from such chronic threats of hunger, disease and repression." In 1996, following the first ever UN General Assembly focusing on a health issue, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was launched to strengthen the way in which the world was responding to AIDS. And, just recently the second time the UN General Assembly convened on a health issue was in 2011 when a high level meeting on NCDs led to targets to address the global threat.
We often take simple pleasures for granted such as playing catch or reading with your kids. But, elsewhere, millions of fathers around the world will struggle to help their children survive and thrive.
When leaders of country governments sign political commitments such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they are not only making commitments to the global community but more importantly to the people whose lives depend on the country’s ability to meet these targets to improve health.With stunting rates for children under five at 58 percent in Burundi, maternal mortality rate at 488 per 100,000 live births in Kenya, child mortality rate at 76 per 1,000 live births in Rwanda, 27 percent unmet need for contraceptives in Tanzania, and skilled attendants at only 59 percent of births in Uganda, the countries that comprise the East African Community (EAC) have an opportunity and are committed to improve RMNCH through leveraging the collective market size, knowledge, and continual successes in the region in order to meet and continue to improve beyond the targets identified in recent political commitments. I applaud the leadership of the UN Secretary General as well as the commitment of East Africa’s leaders to focus on Reproductive, maternal and Child Health. They deserve all our support.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, fever in a young child can be an ominous sign. With the possible causes ranging from a self-limited virus to a fatal pneumonia or malaria, a child’s life may depend on rapid diagnosis and treatment. In poor, rural settings, the visit of a Community Health Worker (CHW), who is part of a larger healthcare system can be life saving. Across Africa and the lowincome world, governments and NGOs are turning to a new generation of CHWs which are equipped with new technologies, training, and organization. The Campaign for One Million Community Health Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2015 can mark a decisive step towards success of the health Millennium Development Goals.
Overview: The Center for Global Health and Diplomacy (GHD) provides a rare intersection where high-level political figures, health care workers and leaders in both the public and private sector can share and communicate their ideas. Global Health and Diplomacy wants to ensure that each of our global health stakeholders' vision becomes a reality. The GHD Center is an international hub for health and diplomacy; GHD can tap into a diversity of global health stakeholders through their work with different governments and civil society leaders. The Center for Global Health and Diplomacy reaches presidential offices in 55 countries through its online/ print publication and its international roundtable forums.
Two converging global developments could have a massive impact on the future health of people in developing countries, whose populations are heavily affected by tuberculosis (TB). TB is a disease that still takes the lives of 4,000 people every day. One could result in catastrophe, with 1.7 million people dying over the next five years because treatment is unavailable. The other has the potential to prevent this disaster.
1.3 billion people globally live on less than $1.25 per day, almost 1 billion people are malnourished and over 1 million Sub-Saharan Africans die annually of AIDS .It is clear that the current approach to development has its limitations. Aid does not create sustainable solutions, rather it provides short-term fixes; it fosters dependence rather empowerment. Looking at the work of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, 10 years on, only about 4 of the 10 key recommendations have been achieved!
Tanzania faces multiple challenges in improving health care as it strives to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The creation of public-private partnerships has been key to addressing some of these challenges. The Abbott Fund's successful public-private partnership with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health since 2001 is helping to make progress against these goals.
Attention to gender issues and women's empowerment has been galvanized by President Obama's Global Health Initiative. The Initiative has acted as a catalyst in shifting the accepted paradigm from a disease-centric to a person-centric model of care, especially for poor women and children. We invest in women because they have been neglected and because the health, education and status of women is intimately linked to the health of children and the economic progress of nations. We know children who grow up under the care and influence of a mother, fare better in life. Improving maternal health has a ripple effect on the wellbeing of families and communities.
Q: How do you see the relationship between South Africa and Canada growing over the next few years (specifically the role that Canada will continue to play in south Africa considering that there is a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) between Canada and South Africa in place)?
