— International Women's Day 2012 Forum

   (Thursday, 08 March 2012 02:00)

Are you interested in maternal health as a student or as a professional? To mark IWD in Sydney, on 8 March the University of Sydney and Médecins Sans Frontières Australia are co-hosting a 90-minute forum on addressing the challenges of maternal health in resource-poor settings. Four speakers, midwives and obstetrician-gynaecologists, will present on critical issues in countries including Ethiopia, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea, and the intensification of efforts to improve mortality and morbidity rates for birthing women in settings like these. Doors open at 17:30 for tea and coffee. Presentations will commence at 18:00 interspersed with time for Q&A. Click...

— Melbourne

   (Saturday, 11 February 2012 08:00)

Date: Wednesday, 21 March Time: 7.30pm Venue: The Nursing Education Centre, The Alfred, Level 2, South Block, Commercial Road, Prahran

Date: Wednesday, 21 March

Time: 7.30pm

Venue:

The Nursing Education Centre,
The Alfred,
Level 2, South Block,
Commercial Road,
Prahran

— Lebanon: Healing those deeply affected

   (Tuesday, 07 February 2012 21:26)

Médecins Sans Frontières has been providing mental healthcare in two refugee camps in Lebanon for the past three years, both to Palestinian refugees and to vulnerable Lebanese in the area. Now Médecins Sans Frontières has opened a new project in northern Lebanon, following the arrival of 4,500 Syrians who have fled the unrest in their country. Bruno Jochum, General Director of Médecins Sans Frontières, is just back from the region.

What was the reason for your visit to Lebanon?

In 1976, Médecins Sans Frontières carried out its first wartime mission...

— Somalia: Four year old boy recovers from malnutrition

   (Thursday, 02 February 2012 18:03)

Four year old Khalif has been under treatment in Médecins Sans Frontières’ in-patient therapeutic feeding centre in the southern Somali town of Kismayo for just over two weeks when his mother, Abshiro Gedi, tells his remarkable story.

The family lives in Mayondo village, around 60 kilometres north of Kismayo, in an area that has been heavily affected by the ongoing crisis in Somalia. Two of Khalif’s brothers recently died because of complications arising from measles, and Khalif and his sister were also suffering the same disease. When one of Abshiro’s brothers, who lives in Kismayo, heard the bad news...

— Auckland

   (Sunday, 29 January 2012 20:29)

Date: Wednesday 18th April Time: 6.30pm Venue: Ernest and Marion Davis Library Auckland City Hospital, 2 Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland Map:

Date: Wednesday 18th April

Time: 6.30pm

Venue:

Ernest and Marion Davis Library

Auckland City Hospital,
2 Park Rd,
Grafton,
Auckland

Map:

— Al Jazeera Examines Unique Polio Eradication Campaign In Pakistan

   (Tuesday, 07 February 2012 10:08)

In this video report, Al Jazeera examines polio eradication efforts in Pakistan, writing, "[I]n an unusual effort to eliminate the disease, health workers are stopping vehicles at a busy toll booth outside Islamabad to administer free polio vaccination drops to children under the age of five." The video recounts a "promise" made by Pakistan's prime minister last month to eliminate new polio infections in the country by the end of the year and provides commentary by Shahnaz Wazir Ali, assistant to the prime minister on social affairs, and Dennis King of UNICEF Pakistan about the target, current infection rates, and...

— Action Needed To Reach Ambitious Targets Set Forth In President's World AIDS Day Speech

   (Tuesday, 07 February 2012 10:05)

President Barack Obama's December 1 World AIDS Day speech "could be pivotal, but only if it is followed by changes in how we tackle global AIDS," Chris Collins, vice president and director of public policy at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, writes in this Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" opinion piece. "Obama signaled a renewed U.S. commitment to funding for global AIDS programs at a time when resources at home are constrained and other countries are backing away from the fight," he writes, adding, "Now it's time to plot a course for implementing the president's vision."

— Calling For Greater Protection Of Health Care Workers In Conflict Settings

   (Tuesday, 07 February 2012 10:02)

In this post in IntraHealth International's "Global Health" blog, editorial manager Susanna Smith examines how health care workers operating in areas of conflict are "being used as pawns of warfare." Smith highlights the decision by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) last month to suspend services in prisons in the Libyan city of Misrata due to reports of torture and notes, "[MSF] General Director Christopher Stokes called the situation an obstruction and exploitation of the organization's work." Smith cites a Center for Strategic and International Studies report released last week "calling for 'the mere handwringing that has largely greeted attack on the...

— Four Options For Resolving Bird Flu Research Debate

   (Tuesday, 07 February 2012 09:59)

In this Scientific American opinion piece, author and former staff writer at Scientific American John Horgan examines "a bitter debate" among scientists over the publication of controversial H5N1 research, writing, "Research involving the bird-flu virus H5N1 poses an especially knotty dilemma, in which scientists' commitment to openness -- and to reducing humanity's vulnerability to potential health threats -- collides with broader security concerns." Horgan provides some statistics on H5N1 infection, recounts a brief history of the research in question and suggests four options to resolve the dilemma.

— World Recognizes 9th Annual International Day Of Zero Tolerance To FGM/C

   (Tuesday, 07 February 2012 09:57)

As the international community on Monday marked the ninth annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), the U.N. and international and human rights organizations called for an end to FGM/C and are appealing for tougher legislation to halt the practice that has affected up to 140 million girls and women worldwide, according to WHO statistics, VOA News reports (Schlein, 2/6). "The United States stands in consensus with women, governments, and donors around the world in a commitment to provide the energy and resources necessary to end this harmful traditional practice that violates girls' right to bodily...