The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, remains a global threat, but while Southern Africa should prepare for its emergence, the region needed to bear in mind that the disease has yet to mutate into a deadly human strain, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert told IRIN. News reports suggesting that least one case of bird flu in humans had been identified in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion raised concern this week, but these reports proved inaccurate after medical tests were conducted by French authorities.
Equity in Health
Southern African countries must prepare for bird flu
Southern African states to collaborate on Ebola
Makholwa A: BusinessDay live, 7 August 2014
HEALTH ministers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have agreed to collaborate in the event of an outbreak of Ebola in the region. The ministers held an extra ordinary meeting in Johannesburg in August to plan a coherent response should the Ebola outbreak in West Africa spread to other regions of the continent as feared. There has not been a reported case of Ebola in the SADC region but there is a risk. People travel frequently between Southern and West African countries. Among other things, the SADC ministers agreed to organise cross-border consultations to facilitate the exchange of information, and to strengthen surveillance of the virus. They agreed to commit additional financial resources, but proposed a regional fund for emergency situations as a long-term solution. South Africa was chosen as the centre of excellence in Ebola laboratory diagnosis in the region. It is expected to help with the training of health professionals treating infected individuals.
Spatial modelling of perinatal mortality in Mchinji, Malawi
Banda M; Kazembe L; Lewycka S; King C; Phiri T; Masache G; Kazembe P; Mwasambo C: Spatial and spatio-temporal epidemiology16, 50-58, 2016
Annual global estimates of perinatal mortality show Malawi among sub-Saharan Africa with the highest rates. Targeted interventions are required to reduce this mortality. This study aimed to quantify small-scale geographical variations in perinatal mortality, and estimate risk factors associated with perinatal mortality in Mchinji district. Factors associated with reduced perinatal mortality were: previous pregnancy; early and consistent use of antenatal care; syphilis test; abdominal examination; pregnancy danger signs advice; skilled birth attendant; normal labour duration; gestation period of at least 9 months; and normal delivery. Perinatal babies whose mothers had a blood test were associated with high probability of dying. Perinatal babies from mothers between 16 and 40 years had reduced prevalence of dying while those aged less than 16 years and greater than 40 years were associated with higher prevalence of dying.
SPOTTING THE DIFFERENCE: THE FIGHT AGAINST MEASLES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
The measles vaccine is safe and highly effective, so why is this disease still the leading cause of death among African children? The governments of seven countries in southern Africa have implemented targeted measles elimination campaigns over the past five years with help from the World Health Organisation (WHO). How successful have they been?
Spread of tuberculosis relentless in Zambia, AIDS responsible
The spread of tuberculosis has been relentless in Zambia, southern Africa in the last thirty seven years and the trend continues to date. This disturbing fact was published recently in the South African Journal of Medicine by a group of Zambian doctors led by Dr. Mwaba, working together with doctors from London. The study reviewed official health records of TB cases reported throughout the country between January 1, 1964 to December 31, 2000.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29722
Squaring the Circle: AIDS, Poverty, and Human Development
Piot P, Greener R, Russell S: PLoS Med 4(10), 23 October 2007
The relationship between AIDS and poverty has more to do with inequality than poverty per se. The relationship between socioeconomic status and HIV varies considerably from country to country, reflecting differences in culture and traditions. Effective actions to tackle AIDS must directly address these specific factors—the inequalities—that drive HIV transmission in different contexts, and must overcome the obstacles to accessing treatment in different groups. It is crucial to place AIDS squarely at the centre of all socio-economic development, and provide long-term, high-level domestic and international investment in HIV prevention and treatment in the world's poorest countries.
State of inequality: Reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health
World Health Organisation: Global Health Observatory Data, WHO Geneva, 2015
The report delivers both promising and disappointing messages about the situation in low- and middle-income countries with respect to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health indicators. Within-country inequalities have narrowed, with a tendency for national improvements driven by faster improvements in disadvantaged subgroups. 

However, inequalities still persist in most reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health indicators. The extent of within-country inequality differed by dimension of inequality and by country, country income group and geographical region. The patterns of change in inequality over time varied by health indicator, and according to country and dimension of inequality. The report observes that while national averages and improvements over time are important indications of progress on a global level, reporting inequalities within countries shows how any progress in national averages is realized by population subgroups. Establishing goals and targets that specify a reduction in inequality encourages the orientation of policies, programmes and practices to promote health in disadvantaged subgroups. Without a dedicated focus on equity, efforts to improve health can risk perpetuating or intensifying within-country inequality, even as increases in national coverage are achieved.
State of the Health Equity Movement, 2011 Update
Bezold C, Birnbaum N, Masterson E and Schoomaker H: Institute for Alternative Futures, 2012
The 2011 Update identifies and discusses 159 different health equity activities and 79 sets of recommendations from local, state, national, and international reports. It notes that many of the recommendations focus on a wide range of areas, including early childhood investment, education, lifestyle, housing, transportation, the environment, employment and community and interagency collaboration. This breadth of topics reflects the growth in “Health in All Policies” thinking and analysis among community groups and governments at all levels, calling for each sector to contribute to the quality of the nation's health. The Update recommends actions to increase awareness of health inequities and the social determinants of health, as well as advocacy and leadership for health equity and social justice. A health equity-oriented approach should emphasise community empowerment, increasing collaborative partnerships with all sectors and the need to coordinate and utilise research and outcome evaluations more effectively.
State of the world’s indigenous peoples
United Nations: 2009
This publication covers a number of areas relevant to indigenous people around the world. Chapter 5 deals specifically with health. It points out that the commitment of United Nations Member States to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is an important step forward in improving the health of millions of people who live in poverty around the world. However, by failing to ground the goals in an approach that upholds indigenous peoples’ individual and collective rights, the MDGs fall short in addressing the health disparities that persist between indigenous peoples and other poor, marginalised groups. By advancing the dominant paradigms of health and development rather than an approach based on individual and collective human rights, the MDGs also promote projects that are potentially detrimental to indigenous peoples, and which violate their rights to their collective land, territories and natural resources. Moreover, because the cultures and worldviews of indigenous peoples are not taken into account in the formulation of the MDGs, the goals do not consider the indigenous concept of health, which extends beyond the physical and mental well-being of an individual to the spiritual balance and well-being of the community as a whole. To improve the health situation of indigenous peoples, this report notes that there must thus be a fundamental shift in the concept of health so that it incorporates the cultures and world views of indigenous peoples as central to the design and management of state health systems.
State of the World’s Mothers Report
Save the Children Fund , 2007
The report includes a Mothers’ Index, which identifies the best and worst countries to be a mother and child-based on a comprehensive look at child and maternal well-being in 140 countries. To succeed in saving the lives of children under 5, Save the Children recommends that countries: ensure the well-being of mothers; invest in basic, low-cost solutions to save children’s lives; make health care available to the poorest and most vulnerable mothers and children; increase funding and improve strategies to provide basic, effective, lifesaving services to those who most need it.