WHO is alarmed by skin-disease spread in Afghanistan
Tens of thousands of Afghans — predominantly women and children — have contracted the disfiguring skin disease cutaneous leishmaniasis and the number of cases is increasing, the World Health Organization says. The disease, transmitted by the bite of sand flies, threatens the health of 13 million Afghans.
DR Congo troops are accused of rape, murder
Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo are committing “rapes, killings and lootings” in the same villages whose inhabitants already have been victimized by rebels, Margot Wallstrom, special representative for sexual violence in conflict, told the UN Security Council on Thursday. She called on the Congolese government to investigate the attacks and arrest the perpetrators.
WHO urges more focus on tropical diseases
Seventeen tropical disease — including leprosy, Chagas and dengue fever — affect 1 billion people around the world, but are largely neglected by governments and pharmaceutical companies, according to a report from the World Health Organization. The prevalence of the diseases among impoverished populations creates little incentive for the private sector to invest heavily in developing treatments despite the fact that some of the diseases could be eradicated as early as 2015.
UN is concerned over rise in sexual violence
Incidents of sexual violence are increasing around the world despite concentrated awareness campaigns by the United Nations and others, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women warns. More than one-third of women around the world have faced sexual, physical or emotional abuse — most at the hands of a partner or family member, according to UN figures.
Polio campaigners fear loss of confidence
The battle to eradicate polio has hovered close to victory for two decades, raising concerns within the health community that failure remains possible and the struggle could erode confidence in the world’s ability to tackle other diseases. Vaccination programs have helped cut the number of polio cases by 99% since 1988 and the disease remains endemic in just four countries, but campaigners fear donor fatigue is taking hold and may spill over into efforts to battle malaria, HIV/AIDS and measles.
UN head backs ban on child marriage
Developing countries must ban marriage to children because it often results in injuries during childbirth that are expensive to treat, as well as chronic conditions that cause young wives to be ostracized from their communities, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday. A UN report says it would cost some $750 million over the next five years to treat new and existing cases of obstetric fistula, a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labor that particularly affects girls giving birth in adolescence.
Aid effort is floundering in quake-stricken Haiti
The humanitarian response in Haiti “appears paralyzed” nine months after a devastating earthquake, as more than a million people still live among some 1,300 poorly managed camps, according to Refugees International. Life in the camps is marred by sexual violence and gang activity, the Washington-based nonprofit said in a report.
MWomen to promote cell phones for women’s development
Seventeen global cell phone operators have signed up to support mWomen, a new initiative being championed by Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The project aims to give 150 million women around the world access to cell phones as a means to promote security, more available health care and economic development.
