Health in the Middle East
The Global Health Policy Center recently published two reports centered on health in the Middle East: Egypt and U.S. Health Assistance, and Gaza's Health Sector under Hamas.
Blog — Pandemic Preparedness
Ruffled Feathers: A Controversy Over Research on “Bird Flu”
A debate has been raging the past few months over the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity’s (NSABB) unexpected request in December for two leading scientific journals, Nature and Science, to omit major details from soon to be published papers on the H5N1 influenza virus, commonly known as “bird flu.” This controversy encapsulates the continuing battle between short-term priorities of public health safety vs. the long term priorities of preparedness.
The Strategic Power of Vaccines
The second CSIS High-Level Forum on U.S. Leadership in Global Health placed a focus on vaccines as instruments of U.S. global leadership in pursuit of security and economic interests at home and abroad, in close enduring partnerships with corporations, foundations, multilateral organizations, and other countries.
Emerging Practices in Global Health Cooperation
On December 6, 2011 the CSIS Global Health Policy Center hosted a half-day seminar focused on the activities, practices, and strategies that characterize the global health outreach of Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa, or the BRICS.
Health Reconstruction in Japan After 3-11
Since April 2011, I organized a health working group that has examined the complex, evolving health situation in Japan, post-March 11, and weighed what would be the most appropriate and effective U.S. assistance in the medium term to support Japanese-led health recovery efforts. That working group contributed the health chapter contained in a broader CSIS effort – the ‘Partnership for Recovery and a Stronger Future: Standing with Japan after 3-11.’ In Chapter Four of the final report, entitled Health and Recovery, we identify three core issues that are most appropriate and effective for U.S. assistance over the next three years in support of Japanese-led reconstruction initiatives
Launch of CSIS Report on DoD Overseas Research Laboratories
On June 28th, the CSIS Global Health Policy Center released the final report of its project on the Defense Department’s overseas medical research laboratories, which are important U.S. assets at the intersection of health and security.
GAVI Going Forward
The “GAVI Going Forward” event, hosted jointly on June 27 by CSIS and the Center for Global Development (CGD), looked at how GAVI can mitigate its weaknesses and leverage its strengths to save and improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children.
Lisa Carty of CSIS and Amanda Glassman of CGD moderated a panel discussion featuring Amie Batson, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health; Joelle Tanguy, Managing Director of External Relations for GAVI; Nicole Bates, Senior Program Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Claire Moran, Development Counselor at the British Embassy.
Report: The Defense Department’s Enduring Contributions to Global Health
In the spring of 2010, CSIS launched a year-long, independent examination of the U.S. Army and Navy overseas medical research laboratories. The impetus was an awareness that despite the laboratories’ impressive scientific accomplishments and contributions to U.S. national interests and global health, they are not well understood outside of research circles and consequently find themselves undervalued in today’s environment of fiscal austerity. They stand at the intersection of health and security, a topic of increased importance to U.S. approaches to global health.
The CSIS project aimed to assess the laboratories’ contributions and achievements; examine the factors that constrain their performance; and propose reforms that will put them on the best course to continued success
China’s Emerging Global Health and Foreign Aid Engagement
On May 24, CSIS co-hosted with the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) a conference on China’s emerging global health and foreign aid engagement. Participants agreed that global health was one of the most promising areas for U.S.-China-Africa trilateral collaboration. Nevertheless, significant challenges exist.
Report: Leveraging the World Health Organization’s Core Strenghts
On the question of whether WHO has value to U.S. global health policy and U.S. national interests, the answer, in the opinion of the authors of this paper, is decidedly yes—provided that WHO narrows its focus strategically to those activities for which it is best suited and for which it has the greatest prospects of delivering substantial value.
The Exclusive Business of Disaster Relief
Following the Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2009, certain approaches to emergency worked while others did not. The magnitude of the catastrophe brought out the need to fix lingering problems with the existing humanitarian assistance architecture. In emergency response, many of the decisions that need to be made will be difficult and not politically popular, but the focus needs to be unwaveringly and unflinchingly on providing those in need with the best possible care,
Despite Progress, More Work is Needed to Control Infectious Diseases in Nigeria
A recent visit to an HIV/AIDS conference in Nigeria gave me an opportunity to review recent reports on several important infectious diseases in the country. The progress report was decidedly mixed.
Where Does the Money Go?
On October 15th, the United States Institute of Peace held an informative event entitled – “Relief Efforts in the Wake of the Pakistan Floods.” Though many themes arose, I felt that each topic discussed all revolved around one central question: where does the money go?
Important Improvements Towards Water Sanitation
Both at the September MDG Summit - and since then - there have been positive signs that the international community intends to accelerate efforts to improve access to sanitation over the next five years.
Can an Equity Focus Accelerate Progress in Child and Maternal Mortality in the Next Five Years?
One intriguing proposition for doing business differently over the next five years has come from UNICEF and its new executive director Anthony Lake.
A Cause for Optimism After the MDG Summit
The high-profile focus on the need to reinforce global efforts on sanitation and the launch of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves at the MDG Summit offered a cause for optimism, even as the challenges loom large.
Peru’s Human Plague Outbreak: Rats, Sugarcane, and the Challenges of Regional Education and Response
During a visit to Peru in late August, our CSIS team had recurrent conversations about the recent outbreak of human plague in the district of Chocope, roughly 375 miles north of Lima.
A Phone Call from USAID
Last Friday, September 17th, USAID held a phone call with various news and policy institutions providing a preview of USAID’s agenda going into the United Nations General Assembly.
Transcript: Interview with Dr. Heidi Larson, Executive Director of the aids2031 Project
On September 16th, Dr. Heidi Larson spoke at CSIS about some of the findings of the aids2031 Project. Read a transcript of an interview with Dr. Larson here.
Report of the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy
After almost one year of deliberation, the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy is proud to release its final report: "A healthier, safer, and more prosperous world."
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Blog
- Ghana Introduces Two New Vaccines
In April 2012, Ghana will introduce the pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines. For the event, the GAVI Alliance has produced a short film looking at the effort. - The International AIDS Conference Returns to the United States
This report examines the political history of the international AIDS conferences from 1985 to the present and provides insight into the ways the conferences have contributed to ending the epidemic. - Vaccines and New Media “Film Festival” Recap
Watch video from our March 16th event focusing on vaccines and new media. - Video: The Strategic Power of Vaccines in Zambia
A team from CSIS traveled to Zambia to produce a video on vaccination efforts - their value, their long-term sustainability, and the challenges to their implementation. - U.S. Global Health Policy in Palestinian Hands?
Consequences of Palestinian statehood could reach beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if the Palestinians seek membership in specialized UN agencies—including, specifically, the World Health Organization (WHO). - An Epidemic after an Earthquake: The Cholera Outbreak in Haiti, Part 2
In Part 2 of our look at Haiti's cholera outbreak, CSIS examines the response by the the Haitian government and partner organizations to improve WASH activities in the country, and the challenges that lie ahead. - Cholera in the Dominican Republic: The Outbreak and Response
The higher quality of the Dominican Republic’s water and sanitation infrastructure and its responsiveness to the cholera outbreak were critical factors in lessening the impact of the disease.
Podcast
- Interview with Moussa Seck, Program Coordinator for Community Led Total Sanitation Initiatives
- Interview with Darren Saywell, Director of the WASH Program at Plan International USA
- Interview with Lois Quam, Executive Director of the Global Health Initiative (GHI)
- Interview with Dr. Kala Vairavamoorthy on Water and Sanitation Challenges in Emerging Cities
- Interview with Kay Warren of Saddleback Church on the American Faith Community and HIV/AIDS Efforts