Also in Global Health News: Aid Groups Lose Money, Free Condoms in China, Satellites To Predict Epidemics, Kenya Receives Grant
Recession Hurting Aid Groups Efforts
USA Today examines how the world economic situation is affecting aid groups. The paper writes, "The recession is battering organizations that provide medical treatment to children in developing countries, forcing several groups to treat fewer children as they scale back medical missions and limit hospital care" (Bello, USA Today, 5/21).
China To Offer Free Condoms to Migrant Workers
China's estimated 150 million migrant workers will become eligible October 1 for free condoms and other family planning services, Xinhua/Beijing Review reports (Xinhua/Beijing Review, 5/21). The effort aims to help fight the spread of HIV and other STIs. Previously, migrant workers had been excluded from receiving family planning services in China which are "administered by municipal bodies focusing on local residents" (Dasgupta, TNN/Times of India, 5/21).
Satellites Can Help Predict Disease Epidemics
The Economist looks at how scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center have used information from satellites to predict the spread of disease. Such work has "traditionally relied on fieldwork on the ground," which is "often slow and expensive," the Economist writes. It adds, "Crunching data from satellites is much less costly. Satellites transmit copious information on temperatures, precipitation, vegetation cover and even the health, moisture content and chlorophyll-production of plants" (Economist, 5/21).
Kenya Receives $13M Grant from Global Fund
The Standard reports Kenya has received 1 billion shillings nearly $13 million from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. According to the Standard, "[t]he new grant comes at a time when the ministry is also battling rising cases of multi-drug resistant TB strains, which [Health Minister Beth] Mugo described as 'the greatest danger to Kenya.'" (Jamah, Standard, 5/21).
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