PAHO News -- May 29, 2003

PAHO News is also available on the Web!
http://www.csih.org/synergy/synergy.html

In this issue:
-10th CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: May 30 IS THE
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION!
-PAHO 2004 TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
-WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TOBACCO CONTROL TREATY, ELECTS NEW
DIRECTOR
-NEW RESEARCH TO DEVELOP DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR DEADLY INFECTIOUS DISEASES
-MEASLES PROGRAM IN THE AMERICAS CITED AS EXAMPLE FOR WORLD
-VACCINATION WEEK IN THE AMERICAS: JUNE 1-8, 2003
-CALL FOR PROPOSALS: HEALTH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND SCALING-UP PRIORITY
SERVICES
-HANSEN'S DISEASE IN BRAZIL
-PAHO PUBLICATION: BUILDING BETTER HEALTH
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10th CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: MAY 30 IS THE DEADLINE
FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION!

The deadline for submitting abstracts for the 10th Canadian Conference
on International Health is May 30! The theme for this year's conference
is: "The Right to Health: Influencing the Global Agenda.  How Research,
Advocacy and Action Can Shape Our Future."  For more information or to
download a copy of the Call for Abstracts, visit the conference website:
http://www.csih.org/what/conferences2003.html
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PAHO 2004 TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

Young health professionals in the Americas (35 years old or less), who
have leadership skills as well as an intense interest in the
international dimensions of health, are invited to apply for the Pan
American Health Organization's 18th Training Program in International
Health (TPIH-2004). The training process will involve participants in a
work-study format at PAHO in Washington, D.C., for a period of 11 months
starting February 2, 2004.

Canadian candidates are invited to request their application form and a
complete information package via email to the following address:
[log in to unmask] The duly completed application, with all requested
documents, must be sent by mail to: María Victoria Palacio, CSIH-PAHO
Liaison Assistant, Canadian Society for International Health, One
Nicholas Street, Suite 1105, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7B7. The deadline for
receipt of applications is July 31, 2003.

Completing the application form requires time, knowledge and energy. For
more information, contact: Hélène Thibault at [log in to unmask]  or
María Victoria Palacio at [log in to unmask]
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WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TOBACCO CONTROL TREATY, ELECTS NEW DIRECTOR

The 192 members of the World Health Organization have approved an
international treaty aimed at curbing tobacco-related deaths and
disease, and elected Korean physician and tuberculosis expert Dr.
Jong-Wook Lee as the new Director General.

Countries that ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
will be required to restrict tobacco advertising, sponsorship and
promotion, set up new labelling and clean indoor air controls, and clamp
down on tobacco smuggling.

The new Director of WHO, Dr Jong-Wook Lee, received his Medical Doctor
degree from Seoul National University and a master's degree in Public
Health from the University of Hawaii. He has worked at WHO for 19 years
in technical, managerial and policy positions. After heading the WHO
Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunizations and serving as a Senior
Policy Advisor, in 2000 he was named director of the Stop TB program.
For the full press release, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030521.htm
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NEW RESEARCH TO DEVELOP DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR DEADLY INFECTIOUS DISEASES

New diagnostic tests for deadly diseases may be developed as the result
of an initiative announced last week at the World Health Assembly by the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization's
tropical disease research program. The Gates Foundation has committed up
to US$30 million over the next five years for the initiative, which will
be run by a new group, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
(FIND), in collaboration with the WHO's tropical disease research
program, the diagnostics industry and other organizations.  These
collaborators will apply recent biotechnology innovations to develop
affordable diagnostic tests for TB and other diseases of the developing
world. The initial focus will be on developing diagnostics for
tuberculosis, speeding up the development and evaluation of new tests to
detect the disease, including drug resistant forms. For the press
release, visit: http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030522.htm
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MEASLES PROGRAM IN THE AMERICAS CITED AS EXAMPLE FOR WORLD

At the World Health Assembly, WHO officials here cited the Americas as
an example for the world because of its success in eliminating the
deadly childhood disease. There have been no cases of measles reported
in the region since November of last year, but there are thousands of
cases in some European countries and an estimated 745,000 children die
from measles worldwide every year. The strategy to cut measles deaths
recommended by WHO and UNICEF is to vaccinate infants at 9 months in
routine immunization programs and use supplementary immunization
programs every three to four years to ensure that every child is
protected. For the full press release, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030522b.htm
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VACCINATION WEEK IN THE AMERICAS: JUNE 1-8, 2003

The first "Vaccination Week in the Americas" takes place the first week
of June. During the week, there will be an unprecedented effort to reach
children who have not been vaccinated in indigenous communities,
marginal urban areas, remote areas and frontier zones. All countries in
South America, plus Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Bahamas
are set to participate in the campaign, called "An Act of Love."  For
more information, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030522a.htm
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CALL FOR PROPOSALS: HEALTH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND SCALING-UP PRIORITY
SERVICES

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research has announced its
third call for Research for Policy Grants. The topic for this round is
Health Systems Development and Scaling-Up Priority Services. Research
proposals should aim to improve health in low- and middle-income
countries through applying quantitative and/or qualitative methods to
the understanding and explanation of critical issues in the scaling-up
and integration within national health systems of priority health
services and disease control programs.  The deadline for submissions is
June 30, 2003.  For more information, visit:
http://www.alliance-hpsr.org
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HANSEN'S DISEASE IN BRAZIL

In the next few years, one of the greatest challenges PAHO will face in
Brazil will be the elimination of Hansen's disease. To learn more about
PAHO's activities in Brazil related to this disease, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/AD/DPC/CD/lep-activ.htm
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PAHO PUBLICATION: BUILDING BETTER HEALTH

PAHO has published "Building Better Health: A Handbook of Behavioral
Change."  The handbook blends tried-and-true disease prevention
practices and behavioral science principles into a hands-on manual for
health workers, community health promoters, nurses and family
physicians.  Many others, such as social workers and teachers, can also
learn how to promote health and prevent disease.  For more information,
visit: http://publications.paho.org/english/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=690
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