Posted by Katherine Bliss on Dec 08, 2011 at 09:41 am
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.
Posted on Nov 06, 2011 at 08:08 pm
Announced in mid-September at the “Summit to Save Lives,” hosted by the George W. Bush Institute, the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (PRRR) initiative aims to leverage the public health infrastructure established through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with new public and private investments to make progress in the early detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancer in the developing world. The initiative’s name highlights its linkage of cancer and HIV/AIDS programs: pink ribbons have traditionally denoted support for breast cancer research and awareness, and red ribbons have signified support for HIV/AIDS research and awareness.
Posted by J. Stephen Morrison on Nov 03, 2011 at 12:42 pm
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
Posted by J. Stephen Morrison on Sep 26, 2011 at 10:36 am
The September 19-20 High-Level Meeting at the UN General Assembly was a high-profile, somewhat risky and ultimately sobering test of the proposition that non-communicable disorders (NCDs) could become a new global health priority. Though the result last week for NCDs fell far short of a transformative moment, it was hardly a failure. Indeed there were many achievements. Outcomes were mixed, were largely predictable, and were shaped by a profoundly different set of economic and political factors at play in 2001.
Posted by Seth Gannon on Sep 23, 2011 at 12:40 pm
The conclusion this week of an unprecedented UN High-Level Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases offers an opportunity to take stock of U.S. efforts against chronic disease at home and abroad. Given the emphasis the Obama administration has placed on global health as a strategic priority, it is important that U.S. foreign policy reflect the common-sense principles that have led to smart tobacco control domestically.
Posted on Sep 16, 2011 at 01:30 pm
In the lead up to the UN High-Level Meeting that begins on Monday, September 19th 2011, major private sector partners have come together to support a robust agenda in the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Among these private sector partners, Medtronic – a medical device company – has played an important leadership role. In this statement, introduced with a cover letter from J. Stephen Morrison, Medtronic and other leading business corporations express their commitment to providing assets and finding solutions to stem the tide of non-communicable diseases.
Posted on Sep 13, 2011 at 12:38 pm
One in four people in the Americas has a chronic disease. These diseases—mainly cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes—contribute to two thirds of U.S. healthcare costs. On September 12, CSIS senior fellow Katherine Bliss hosted Dr. Jon Andrus, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to discuss how PAHO’s regional action strategy can inform the September 2011 high-level UN meeting on noncommunicable diseases.
Posted on Aug 29, 2011 at 12:41 pm
In August 2011, the CSIS Global Health Policy Center traveled to South Africa to look at the major efforts underway to renew United States' bilateral relationship with South Africa. In lead up to the report from the trip, we are publishing four articles summarizing the significant health challenges facing the country: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Maternal and Child Health, and Noncommunicable Diseases. This piece on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) briefly highlights the rising number of NCDs in South Africa's urban populations.
Posted by CSIS Staff on Aug 05, 2011 at 12:52 pm
In August 2011, the CSIS Global Health Policy Center will be traveling to South Africa to look at the major efforts underway to renew United States' bilateral relationship with South Africa. In lead up to the trip, we are publishing four articles summarizing the significant health challenges facing the country: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Maternal and Child Health, and Noncommunicable Diseases. This piece on Maternal and Child Health briefly highlights the maternal mortality ratio rise in South Africa and other health issues that affect women and children in the country every day.
Posted on Jul 05, 2011 at 04:10 pm
In order to create a global movement, we need to introduce the world to the people who are affected by lifesaving policies and programs and the impact of meaningful government and civil-society commitments to make this a global health priority. Behind every diagnosis there are people and their families who will deal with the risk, diagnosis and treatment or management of their NCD as a unique individual. There is a distinct need to focus less on the disease itself and focus more on the person(s) with the disease.
Posted on Jul 05, 2011 at 03:53 pm
Is our movement – the global NCD movement – on the same path to success? As a young health professional are NCDs the social justice issue, the HIV/AIDS, of my generation? I answer in the affirmative, and we must seize the opportunities before us.
Posted on Jul 05, 2011 at 03:36 pm
In low and middle-income countries, 28 million people die each year from NCDs. Rather than call for a new “mega-fund” for NCDs, we need to use the growing focus on NCDS to build a global social movement for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to address all health needs according to national and local epidemiology and priorities.
Posted on Jul 05, 2011 at 02:26 pm
We are at an incredibly unique moment and vantage point in time in respect to non-communicable diseases, with knowledge and tools that those early HIV/AIDS activists could not have dreamed of. We know our epidemic. We know how it is caused, we know what the risk factors are, and we have even estimated how and when it will hit us and how much it will cost. What we need is “prevention revolution” for NCDs that will use the information we have to change the way we think about combating illness.
Posted by Judyth Twigg on Jun 02, 2011 at 02:37 pm
Russia’s top political leaders are searching for vehicles to demonstrate expanding global responsibility and influence. Health can be an important venue and issue area for Russia’s global leadership aspirations, but only if approached carefully and responsibly, with thoughtful strategy and institutional development preceding substantial allocation of resources and action.
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 12:43 pm
It seems the issue of chronic diseases has stayed at the global health community level. People speak to and convince the already committed. While gaining the attention of policy elites is important, we believe that more must be done for the world to mobilize against NCDs. The time is now for the NCD movement to make a concerted effort to engage the rest of the world, especially women and youth, in this fight. We need to mount a social movement framing NCDs as the social justice issue of our generation.
Posted by Julia Nagel on May 23, 2011 at 08:48 am
Watch this short video explaining what NCDs are, who they affect, and why the upcoming UN High Level Meeting in September is an opportunity we can not ignore.
Posted by Margaret Reeves on May 17, 2011 at 12:11 pm
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.
Posted by Julia Nagel on May 12, 2011 at 02:52 pm
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a project to reduce the often overlooked, but formidable problem of the world’s traffic fatalities. While a laudable effort by the WHO, I have to ask, why did this take so long?
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 09:16 am
Although the world leaders have much to discuss at the UN High-Level Meeting later this year, we at the World Heart Federation urge actions towards a tobacco-free world to be prioritized, and in particular will be calling for ratification and full implementation of the FCTC, by all governments worldwide.
Posted by J. Stephen Morrison on May 06, 2011 at 01:43 pm
On April 27 the WHO Global Forum on Addressing the Challenge of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) assembled diverse civil society actors – ranging from churches to patient groups to medical societies – to solicit views on the multiple measures needed to address the rising epidemic of chronic disease. The first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and NCDs, held from April 28 – 29, strived for a declaration that would inform and advance preparations for the September 2011 UN High Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, which many hope will be a historic turning point similar to the 2011 UN General Assembly Special Session that propelled forward global attention on HIV/AIDS.
