Synergy Online -- March 14, 2002

In this edition:
-UNICEF CALLS FOR GLOBAL COMMITMENT TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY
-REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS:  GORGAS MEMORIAL INSTITUTE RESEARCH AWARD
-POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN IN ZAMBIA
-TB EDUCATION AND TRAINING NETWORK CONDUCTING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
-GLOBAL PUSH TO SAVE 11 MILLION CHILDREN
-IDRC AND UNF JOIN FORCES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN POOR
COUNTRIES
-JOB OPPORTUNITY: MANAGER, POPULATION HEALTH REPORTS (CPHI)
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UNICEF CALLS FOR GLOBAL COMMITMENT TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY

Every minute a woman dies while pregnant or giving birth, the United
Nations Children's Fund reports.  UNICEF is calling for the world to do
more to prevent maternal mortality - one of the few measures of human
progress to remain virtually unchanged since 1990.  Maternal mortality
ratios vary widely between the developed and developing world,
demonstrating that with proper attention and investment, women's lives
can be preserved. While a woman who gives birth in a developing country
faces as high as a 1 in 13 chance of dying, in industrialized countries
that risk falls to 1 in 4,100. It is estimated that 515,000 women die
every year as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. More than 99 per
cent of these deaths occur in the developing world.  Women continue to
die during pregnancy and childbirth mainly because of low social status
and powerlessness, UNICEF said. This limits their access to basic
education and basic healthcare. Without basic education, women may
remain illiterate and dependent on others for health information.
Read more about this issue at:
http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr07iwd.htm
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REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS:  GORGAS MEMORIAL INSTITUTE RESEARCH AWARD

Applications for the Gorgas Memorial Institute Research Award are due by
August 1, 2002.  The award is issued in order to enhance and facilitate
the development of scientific linkages between Panama, nations of
Central America, tropical and sub-tropical South America and the
Caribbean Islands, and the United States.  The award supports short-term
travel for young research investigators from the regions for the
purposes of: (1) establishing collaborative biomedical research projects
focusing on tropical diseases of health importance to people living in
these areas, and (2) learning new techniques and approaches applicable
to the study of such diseases.  Full details can be found at:
http://www.astmh.org/funding/gorgas.html
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POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN IN ZAMBIA

Following confirmation of three cases of polio among Angolan refugees in
a Zambian border town, two United Nations agencies - UNICEF, the UN
Children's Fund, and the World Health Organization (WHO) - have joined a
major collaborative polio immunization exercise in Zambia's Western and
North-Western provinces.  Prior to the discovery of the three cases in
Mambolomoka village on the Angolan border, there had been no reported
cases of polio in Zambia since 1995. However, the nature and virulence
of the disease mean a high quality immunization campaign should be
undertaken whenever a wild case of polio is found, even if the case is
imported.  Children under five will be targeted for immunization in
their own homes by the Zambian Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and the
United States Government aid organization, USAID. Vitamin A supplements
will be also be provided, according to information provided by WHO and
UNICEF.
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TB EDUCATION AND TRAINING NETWORK CONDUCTING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

In conjuction with World TB Day on March 24, the TB Education and
Training Network (TB ETN) is currently conducting a membership drive.
Anyone who has an interest in TB education and training issues can
become a member. The Network was created in order to build, strengthen,
and maintain collaboration among the key agencies and organizations in
TB education and training.  It provides a mechanism for the sharing of
TB education and training resources to avoid duplication of effort.
The Network also continues to develop, improve, and maintain access to
TB training and education resources.  Members are provided with updated
information about TB courses and training initiatives and assisted with
the building of education and training skills.  For further information
or a registration form, please contact:

Maria Fraire, MPH, CHES
Health Education Specialist
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(T) 404-639-5317
(F) 404-639-8960
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb
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GLOBAL PUSH TO SAVE 11 MILLION CHILDREN

Almost 11 million children die every year from preventable and treatable
causes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). In a call for commitment to saving
children's lives, these organizations have convened a Global
Consultation on Child and Adolescent Health and Development, 12 -13
March, in Stockholm. During those two days, experts and political
leaders from around the world will draw up a strategy to reach the
poorest and the youngest. A special focus will be on how to save the
lives of the millions of newborn babies who die during the first weeks
of their lives. The Consultation will also focus on the critical needs
for adolescent health and development. Children who survive the early
years face additional dangers in adolescence. Every year, almost 1.5
million adolescents die from substance abuse, reproductive ill health,
suicide, injuries, and violence. Adolescents also account for
approximately 50 percent of all new HIV infections.  The Global
Consultation on Children and Adolescent Health and Development will
establish a consensus on the best strategies to combat the death toll of
children and adolescents. At the UN Special Session on Children, less
than two months away, countries will have the opportunity to commit to
these strategies.
http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr08stockholm.htm
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IDRC AND UNF JOIN FORCES TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN POOR
COUNTRIES

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in partnership with
the UN Foundation will be investing US $750,000 in research on the
interrelated issues of human health and ecosystems in developing
countries.  The funding will help countries of the South to address the
many challenges they face in the fields of health and the environment.
Groups of local specialists will be trained to find adapted solutions
that could be translated into policies for the benefit of people of
southern regions and their environment. The regions targeted include
West and North Africa, the Middle East, Central America and the
Caribbean. Specialists will also create a network enabling health
workers to share experiences.  According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), the poor quality of the environment in the countries
of the South is directly responsible for almost 25% of illnesses that
could be prevented easily, including respiratory infections, malaria and
diarrhea.  For more information, visit:
http://www.idrc.ca/media/health_0202_e.html
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JOB OPPORTUNITY: MANAGER, POPULATION HEALTH REPORTS (CPHI)

The Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI) is seeking a Manager to
co-ordinate knowledge exchange and public engagement strategies for CPHI
to stimulate debate and dialogue about the determinants of health.
Working with the CPHI Council and external expert groups, the Manager is
responsible for the production of regular independent population health
reports and other population health information products relevant to a
variety of audiences. The Manager will coordinate the compilation of
data, information, and evidence from various sources and its
transformation into information that is meaningful and useful to
different target audiences, utilizing appropriate dissemination
strategies.  The Manager will also be responsible for conducting media
interviews in both official languages to promote the findings and will
develop and deliver workshops and seminars. In addition, the Manager
will be responsible for hiring and orienting new staff and will
contribute to staff development by mentoring and providing effective
performance feedback.  For further details and contact information,
please see: http://www.cihi.ca/careers/ottawa.shtml
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