December 9th 2009
This week in medicine
The following will appear in the December 12 issue of The Lancet:
New PEPFAR plan Barack Obama launched the 5-year strategy for the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) last week. The new plan will focus on transitioning from an emergency response to promoting sustainable country programmes. One of its aims is to support the treatment of 4 million people with HIV/AIDS, doubling the number supported by PEPFAR in its first 5 years.
Medical waste Tonnes of medical waste have been found dumped in South Africa. Environmental officers unearthed used needles and syringes from several sites in the Welkom area, in what is being described as the biggest medical waste scandal in the country’s history. The Department of Environmental Affairs said that the dumping sites were a significant health risk to businesses and communities.
Social care 20% of care homes for older people in England fail to meet the standard for social contact and activities, according to the Care Quality Commission. In a statement on the quality of adult social care, the Commission notes that, although there have been improvements in care, greater effort is needed to eliminate poor-quality services.
China HIV/AIDS ban China is considering lifting its two-decade-old law banning people with HIV/AIDS from entering the country. The Ministry of Health is working with other central government departments to achieve this goal before the Shanghai Expo begins on May 1, 2010. This event is likely to attract 4 million overseas visitors next year.
Stem-cell approval The US National Institutes of Health has authorised the first 13 new lines of human embryonic stem cells for use in scientific research. The lines were created with private money from leftover embryos at fertility clinics. A further 27 lines have been recommended for approval, provided that they are used only for the purpose stated on the consent forms.
Bhopal water 25 years after a disastrous toxic gas leak at a pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, a report shows that the area’s groundwater aquifer is still contaminated. The report, by the Bhopal Medical Appeal and the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, says the contaminants have potentially neurotoxic properties and are especially harmful to children and fetuses.
Building innovation The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation will “provide the resources necessary… to make life-changing biomedical discoveries”, according to vision and design plans unveiled this week. Due to open in 2015, and located near established research centres in London, the facility will tackle major diseases affecting developed and developing countries, and accelerate translation of research to the clinic.
Lung health Poverty and lung health was the theme of the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cancun, Mexico, Dec 3–7. Tuberculosis naturally featured heavily, with HIV co-infection and drug resistance being prominent topics. The Forum of International Respiratory Societies hoped to breathe new life into respiratory health by declaring 2010 the Year of the Lung.
Location, location, location The extent of variation in the availability and quality of UK cancer treatment was highlighted by the latest report of the National Health Service Cancer Reform Strategy. Health Secretary Andy Burnham explained that the survey’s aim was to examine cancer services countrywide to indicate areas where action is needed. Improved cancer awareness and early diagnosis were flagged as crucial for improvement of national survival rates.
Record appeal The UN has called for US$7·1 billion in aid in 2010 to tackle humanitarian crises affecting 48 million people in 25 countries. The funds would go to people most affected by conflict and natural disaster, with $1 billion earmarked for Sudan and $871 million for Afghanistan.
Cleaner stoves The Indian Government has announced its intention to develop high-efficiency biomass stoves and fuel in an effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and mortality caused by indoor air pollution. 135–140 million households currently use traditional “chullas”, leading to soot-related health problems. It is hoped that a clean alternative can be provided that will also bring down energy consumption and living costs.
Green sheep Australia is adopting a novel tactic to combat climate change: selective breeding of sheep that burp less. Australia’s Sheep Cooperative Research Council reports that, since 66% of greenhouse gases consists of methane from the rumen of livestock, there is a need to study breeds that produce fewer “emissions”.
Bookmark on delicious | Digg