This article predicts that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not be achieved by 2015. Progress is especially slow in fragile contexts, where institutions are weak and there is a risk of violent conflict. But a closer examination shows that the MDGs are inadequate measures of development progress, and as such they represent an international development paradigm that is tired and confused. The article proposes a more ‘useful’ way to consider human progress: consider a ‘developed society’ as one with a defined set of characteristics and create from these a vision for change. Building on work by others, the authors propose a generic vision consisting of six key characteristics: equal access to political voice, and the legitimate and accountable use of power; equal participation in a vibrant and sustainable economy; equal access to justice, and equality before the law; freedom from insecurity; the ability of people to maintain their mental and physical well-being, to have aspirations and make progress towards them; and the self-reinforcing presence of institutions and values that support and enable equitable progress and peace. While these characteristics provide a vision of human progress, they do not provide guidance on how to get there, the authors caution. The ‘how’ of implementation has to be defined at a local, rather than a global level, and should be informed by lessons from history.
Equity in Health
There are few moments in the history of AIDS that can call for celebration. The recent decision of the South African government to begin rolling-out antiretrovirals is certainly near the top of the list. But many persons might be tempted to celebrate more widely as December 1st, World AIDS Day, arrives this year, if only because AIDS has received such mainstream appeal that funds now appear to be travelling in all directions, and new programs are announced nearly everyday. Bill Clinton, once the designer of trade sanctions stopping countries like Thailand and Argentina from importing AIDS medicines, now announces generic drug price negotiations. Randall Tobias, a former executive at multi-national drug company Eli Lilly now claims to advance a $15 billion U.S. foreign AIDS budget. If there is anything we can be certain of, it is that AIDS now travels as a key cultural commodity in the most established institutions. But is this cause for celebration?
On World AIDS Day 2016 Mark Goldring Oxfam UK Executive Director reflected on what we have learnt from working to address the inequality challenges of the HIV epidemic. He focuses on 4 lessons. First, that inequality kills. Millions have died because they were too poor to pay the exorbitant prices of medicines and hospital fees. Investing in public health systems to offer free service as the point of use and in affordable medicines are essential to save lives and tackle inequality – both health and economic inequality. The second lesson is that inequality in accessing health services needs to be addressed, especially by overcoming impoverishing costs of care, with women bearing the brunt of this burden. ِِِِThe third less is that access to HIV treatment could not happen without securing adequate financing. The final lesson is that active citizenship – people’s involvement in decision making - is at the heart of the success in the response to HIV and in applying the lessons on addressing inequality.
This report gives an overview and analysis of the prevalence and impact of Alzheimer's disease, based on a systematic review identifying studies in 21 global burden of disease (GBD) world regions. The authors estimate 35.6 million people with dementia in 2010, with the numbers nearly doubling every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. In low- and middle-income countries, especially, there is a general lack of awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias as medical conditions. They are perceived as a normal part of ageing. This general lack of awareness has important consequences, such as a lack of training on dementia recognition and management at any level of the health service. The authors recommend that the World Health Organization (WHO) should declare dementia a world health priority. Low- and medium-income countries should create dementia strategies based first on enhancing primary healthcare and other community services. Collaborations should be created between governments, people with dementia, their carers and their Alzheimer associations, and other relevant non-governmental organisations and professional healthcare bodies.
Some African countries may face complete collapse as a reult of the economic impact of HIV/AIDS being far worse than was previously thought. The World Bank's newly-released "The Long-Run Economic Costs of AIDS," study has warned that HIV/AIDS could destroy an economy within a few generations. Shanta Devarajan, World Bank economist, said in a statement: "If nothing is done to avert the epidemic, countries like South Africa could suffer a 50 percent decline in their per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in about 90 years."
A draft technical background paper for the World Conference on the Social Determinants of Health October 2011 is being circulated for peer review. It covers the five themes of the Conference, selected to highlight key ways of successfully implementing policies on social determinants. These themes are closely inter-related, reflecting the need for action on social determinants to be undertaken across society: governance to tackle the root causes of health inequities by implementing action on social determinants of health; the role of the health sector, including public health programmes, in reducing health inequities; promoting participation by providing community leadership for action on social determinants; global action on social determinants, especially regarding aligning priorities and stakeholders; and monitoring progress in terms of measurement and analysis to inform policies on social determinants.
The World Development Report (WDR) 2006 explores the role of equity in development. Inequalities in incomes, in health and in educational outcomes have long been a stark fact of life in many developing countries. These are often accompanied by profound differences in influence, power and social status, whether at the level of individuals or groups. High inequalities matter for development and need to be addressed by domestic and international policies and institutions. The report will be published in September 2005 and a draft is now available.
This report focuses on two key aspects of disaster risk reduction: early warning and early action. Advances in science and technology, in forecasting techniques and the dissemination of information are major contributors to reducing mortality. However, the development of a more people-centred approach is also essential. The report gives a more comprehensive explanation about the different interventions in disaster management and risk reduction such as: an introduction to early warning systems for different hazards and early action; emphasising the link between early warnings and early actions; taking a people-centred approach by finding out how individuals and communities can understand the threats to their own survival and well-being, share that awareness with others and take actions to avoid or reduce disaster; and, in terms of food insecurity, knowing what actions should follow the early warning. A system of data collection to monitor peoples' access to food, in order to provide timely notice when a food crisis threatens and thus to elicit an appropriate response should be developed in order to mitigate the occurrence of the disaster.
According to this book, food production, access to clean water and health in Africa may be affected by climate change. In eastern Africa, rainfall is expected to increase in some parts of the region. In southern Africa, rains will be disrupted, bringing a notable drop in maize production. In contrast, growing seasons may lengthen in parts of Southern Africa, for example Mozambique, owing to a combination of increased temperature and higher rainfall. Yet net revenues from crops could shrink by up to 90% by 2100. There is likely to be a greater number of people living with water stress by 2055 as rainfall becomes more erratic or declines. The previously malaria-free highland areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi could experience modest incursions of malaria by the 2050s, with conditions for transmission becoming highly suitable by 2080s. Rift Valley fever epidemics could become more frequent and widespread as El Niño events increase. In southern Africa, more areas are likely to become more suitable for malaria, with a southward expansion of the transmission zone into Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The world "has still not grasped" the full "devastation" and threat of HIV/AIDS, which has killed 24 million people worldwide and is "still nowhere near its peak," Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said in December.