Central United States Earthquake Consortium And CDC To Host Post-Earthquake Public Health And Medical Issues Course In Arkansas
On February 4, 2009, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is presenting a one-day class titled "Disaster Medicine 101: Post-Earthquake Public Health and Medical Issues in the New Madrid Seismic Zone" at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Auditorium. The class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude around 4:00 p.m.

"Top Ten" Humanitarian Crises Reveal Growing Insecurity, Neglected Health Needs
Massive forced civilian displacements, violence, and unmet medical needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, and Pakistan, along with neglected medical emergencies in Myanmar and Zimbabwe, are some of the worst humanitarian and medical emergencies in the world, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported in its annual list of the "Top Ten" humanitarian crises.

PAHO, IDB And Sabin Refine Fight Against Neglected Diseases In Latin America And Caribbean
With more than 210 million poor people bearing the burden of neglected diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and partner agencies are setting up a trust fund to control and eliminate these "forgotten" diseases.

Doctors Without Borders Releases 11th Annual "Top Ten" List
Massive forced civilian displacements, violence, and unmet medical needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, and Pakistan, along with neglected medical emergencies in Myanmar and Zimbabwe, are some of the worst humanitarian and medical emergencies in the world, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports in its annual list of the "Top Ten" humanitarian crises.

Zimbabwe: Chaos In New Cholera Outbreak, Reports Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
A second cholera outbreak has hit Chegutu, a town 100 km west of Harare, where more than 100 people have died since the first cases appeared on November 24. MSF arrived in Chegutu, which has a population of 55,000, on December 12 after being told that day of the cholera emergency there. The scene MSF found at the town's small government cholera treatment center (CTC) was grim.

Sierra Leone AIDS Director Praises AHF For "One Million Tests/World AIDS Day 2008" Campaign
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is proud to announce that it has received a "Letter of Appreciation" from the government of Sierra Leone expressing gratitude for AHF's partnership in the recent "One Million Tests/World AIDS Day 2008" campaign.

Cholera In Zimbabwe - Update By World Health Organization
As of 25 December 2008, a total of 26 497 cases, including 1 518 deaths, have been reported by the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe. Cases are now being reported from all 10 of the country's provinces. Harare, particularly Budiriro suburb in the south west, accounts for the majority of cases, followed by Beitbridge in Matabeleland South and Mudzi in Mashonaland East. The current outbreak is the largest ever recorded in Zimbabwe and is not yet under control.

Inside Zimbabwe's Cholera Epidemic
I am feeling a little uncomfortable," says the middle-aged man lying in the dirt behind the main hospital in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. His name is Henry. He is so dehydrated his cheeks look collapsed and his eyes protrude from his closely cropped skull.

Map Of Natural Hazard Mortality In The United States Revealed
A map of natural hazard mortality in the United States has been produced. The map, featured in BioMed Central's open access International Journal of Health Geographics, gives a county-level representation of the likelihood of dying as the result of natural events such as floods, earthquakes or extreme weather. Susan Cutter and Kevin Borden, from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, used nationwide data going back to 1970 to create their map.

The American Red Cross Helps Build New Community For Tsunami Survivors In The Maldives
Four years after the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami displaced millions of people, the American Red Cross is relocating families who lost their homes to a newly built community in the Maldives. In the aftermath of the tsunami, 3,600 people were left homeless on the island of Kandolhudhoo and sent to temporary camps on five neighboring islands.

Advocates Urge Obama To Increase Global Health Spending, Others Call For Freeze On Foreign Aid
While more than 100 global health and development organizations have signed on to several policy papers urging President-elect Barack Obama's administration to increase spending for HIV/AIDS, global health and development assistance, one dozen House Republicans argue that the current economic downturn necessitates a freeze on foreign aid, CQ Today reports. One letter, submitted by the

WFP Calls For Rescue Package For The World's Hungry
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has urged countries to step up and allocate to urgent hunger needs a fraction of what is proposed for financial rescue packages to address the global economic downturn.

Norway Contributes $159 Million To UNICEF Under New Cooperation Programme
The Government of Norway renewed its commitment to children today, signing an agreement to provide an additional financial contribution to UNICEF programmes for children, with a particular focus on girls, approximately $159 million for the 2008-2009 period - an increase of $9 million over previous years. The donation comes as an addition to Norway's contribution to UNICEF regular resources in 2008, amounting to $74 million. Hilde F.

U.S. Government Should Double Global Health Spending By 2012, IOM Report Says
President-elect Barack Obama's administration and Congress should double annual U.S. international health aid to $15 billion by 2012, and Obama should appoint a senior official to work with a White House committee for coordinating such aid with other areas of foreign affairs, according to a National Institute of Medicine report released Monday,

Red Cross Shelters Hundreds As Severe Weather Hits Northeast
The American Red Cross sheltered hundreds of people over the weekend who were affected by ice storms in the Northeast. Working with local partners, Red Cross chapters opened shelters in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. "Unfortunately, ice storms are par for the course during the New England winter.