July 22nd 2009
This week in medicine
The following will appear in the July 25 issue of The Lancet:
Health care for all Regulations have been changed in Wales to allow refused asylum seekers free access to health care. The move contrasts with the situation in England, where failed asylum seekers, and others deemed not “ordinarily resident”, face charges. The Welsh Health Minister stated that the aim was simply to “ensure that people who are in need of health care receive it.”
Food insecurity increases According to a report by the US Department of Agriculture, the number of food-insecure people in developing countries is rising. The growing population of urban poor is vulnerable to food crises and insecurity. However, policy in this area is outdated in its focus on rural areas, the report states.
NIH and Wikipedia The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Wikimedia Foundation have started a collaboration to improve online health information. NIH representatives attended a Wikipedia Academy event last week to discuss how medical and health experts can cooperate and ensure the accuracy and reliability of future online information in medical, health, and scientific fields.
Togo’s fight against HIV The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has signed a grant agreement of €20 million with Togo. This first part of a €72 million grant, to be donated over 5 years, aims to help Togo to improve treatment and health care for the 3·3% of its population living with HIV, by campaigning, counselling, and testing populations at risk.
Reinforcing child protection The UK’s Care Quality Commission has published results of a survey on child protection in National Health Service (NHS) trusts in England. Safeguarding Children reveals a lack of basic and appropriate training in child protection, a workload much higher than is recommended, and a general absence of follow-up and monitoring. The review provides next steps and recommendations for improvement.
Colombia’s displaced 380 000 people in Colombia were forced from their homes last year because of continuing armed conflict, according to Amnesty International. The displaced population is now one of the largest worldwide. Amnesty has urged Colombian authorities to stop forced displacement, return all stolen assets, and improve civilian protection.
H1N1 update The influenza A (H1N1) pandemic has spread across the world with “unprecedented speed”, according to WHO, which has now officially stopped counting cases and deaths. Alarm grew in the UK as two otherwise healthy 6-year-olds and a pregnant woman died. Researchers have suggested that the decision not to close schools might have to be revisited in the event of increased severity this autumn.
Cyclone recovery In May, cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh, killing almost 300 people and leaving some 500000 homeless. 2 months later, aid workers report that daily flooding has hampered recovery and that survivors still live in crowded temporary shelters with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene. The monsoon could exacerbate the problem and lead to disease outbreaks.
Ara Darzi resigns Ara Darzi—a surgeon enlisted by the UK Government to act as a non-political health minister—has resigned, citing a desire to return to medicine. Darzi, who led the NHS Next Stage Review, which culminated in a roadmap for the NHS over the next 10 years, will continue to serve as a government adviser.
Iraqi refugees Services for Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan might be cut back in 2010 owing to a funding shortfall, according to a spokesperson from the UN Refugee Agency. The cut will affect both physical and mental health services for the estimated 1·65 million refugees, since plans to expand psychosocial care have been shelved.
Shock therapy China’s Ministry of Health has ordered a hospital in Shandong to stop using electric shock therapy on internet addicts. The move is part of a new effort by the ministry to clamp down on unproven and unethical treatments in the country. 3000 young people might have already been exposed to this therapy at the hospital, according to local news reports.
Glucose games A blood glucose monitor compatible with Nintendo DS handheld games consoles has been launched in the UK and Ireland. The Didget, which offers two testing levels, is aimed at children aged 5-14 years, and rewards consistent testing and meeting of personalised glucose targets with points that can be used to unlock new game levels and for buying in-game items.
Bookmark on delicious | Digg