Global health briefs October 2012

Child index shows uneven progress

Under-nutrition is worsening, according to a new report on children's well-being across all world regions. However, Save the Children's "2012 Child Development Index" shows youth are doing 30 percent better overall than in the mid-1990s, based on gains in health and education.

• Read about and download the full report, The Child Development Index 2012 , from Save the Children.

UNAIDS: more science needed in programs

Scientific breakthroughs and other developments should be better applied to HIV/AIDS programs to bring an end to the epidemic. A new publication, "UNAIDS report: Together we will end AIDS," details strategies.

• Download the full report, Together we will end AIDS , from UNAIDS.

Forecast predicts huge tobacco death toll

One billion people could die prematurely from tobacco use during this century, according to a recent study published in The Lancet. About half of men and 11 percent of women in developing countries use tobacco, the article reports.

• Find more details about the study, Tobacco use in 3 billion individuals from 16 countries: an analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional household surveys , as published in August 18, 2012 issue of The Lancet.

WHO releases new dengue strategy

The WHO is calling for aggressive action to address dengue, with the goal of halving mortality by 2020 and reducing incidences by a quarter. Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries, causing up to 100 million new infections each year that claim 20,000 lives.

• Read about and download the report, Global Strategy for dengue prevention and control, 2012-2020 from the World Health Organization (WHO).

New global health journal launched

A new quarterly publication established by USAID will produce articles on best practices and lessons learned about global health program implementation. The journal, Global Health: Science and Practice , will be peer-reviewed, open-access and available online.

Helping LMIC scientists publish findings

To encourage low- and middle-income country scientists to publish their work, PLOS has created the Global Participation Initiative. Its first effort will address the cost barrier by publishing articles by developing country scientists for free or at a low cost.

• Read the September 4, 2012 post, Announcing the PLOS Global Participation Initiative , from the Official PLOS Blog.

NIH scientists recognized for brain program

A team of NIH program officers who collaborate on managing Fogarty's global brain disorders program has received the 2012 NIH Director's Award. The program develops research and capacity building projects in developing countries on a broad range of brain and nervous system disorders.

• Learn more about Fogarty's Brain Disorders in the Developing World: Research Across the Lifespan (BRAIN) program.

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