Health

The outbreak of the H1N1 virus (otherwise known as "swine flu") has taught the world an important lesson: Strong public health surveillance systems are critical to deal with such situations.

World Bank expert Keith Hansen has said that such surveillance measures would not only help health care systems prepare for emergencies and pandemics, but would also help them deal with regular challenges. For example, following the H1N1 scare, health projects in Brazil and Argentina were set up to get funds quickly to communities with urgent medical needs, as well as to increase preparedness for pandemics. 

“The goal is not to just chase the disease du jour, but to really be prepared for what else may be coming down the pike, and strengthening countries overall in their readiness,” says Hansen.

Got a question about how to strengthen health care systems in devleoping countries? Hansen will be online today, Tuesday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m. EDT to answer questions on this topic. Submit your questions now.

I am getting texts and calls asking me if I am okay. The building down the street from me is quarantined. People on the street are wearing masks. I am going to a dinner and someone texts me about how many people are going  b/c of the swine flu scare. In the airport if you get off an international flight you are greeted with masked faces and a thermometer.

The ongoing financial crisis has had many effects throughout the world. Political leaders are coming and going from office, banks are being bailed out, and central banks are pumping billions of dollars of borrowed money into securities to boost investor confidence.

 
With such high-level people and institutions involved, the media often overlooks how the financial crisis is affecting people in developing countries. One of the most serious problems, besides huge worldwide job losses, is the continuation of the "food crisis".

 Once somebody asked me why we can’t eradicate malaria by treating every person in malaria-endemic countries with an effective ant-malarial drug at the same time. As long as they all stay on the drug for as long as it takes for the current generation of infected mosquitoes to die (1-2 weeks on average, maybe a month maximum), then the human reservoir will be eliminated, no new mosquitoes will become infected, and that would be the end of malaria. It was an interesting idea, but who, exactly, was going to take on the task of putting every African on the same drug at the same time and making sure they stick with it long enough?