News and blog

2011 Small Grants Program: Applications Are Open!

World Pneumonia Day 2011 is coming on November 12^th and we want you to knock out pneumonia in a novel way! Have a great idea about how to celebrate World Pneumonia Day 2011 in your country? The 2011 Small Grants Program can help you make your idea come to life!

Starting August 5, 2011, we want your ideas for World Pneumonia Day events that tackle pneumonia where it has the biggest impact! Winning submissions will be eligible for grants of up to US$10,000 of funding, so start brainstorming today! We are looking for well-thought out, innovative and impactful ideas that will put a spotlight on pneumonia as a problem that can be solved. Ideas will be evaluated on not only how well they promote change but also how well they incorporate this year's World Pneumonia Day theme: "I am the face of pneumonia." This theme strives to connect the personal, human stories that illustrate pneumonia's direct impact. Find out more about the 2011 Small Grants Program and submit your application before the August 18^thdeadline.

UGANDA: Too many deaths in childbirth

IRIN KAMPALA/GULU, 4 August 2011 (IRIN) - Bribes, poorly trained medical staff and the lack of medical care for pregnant HIV-positive mothers are among the reasons for high rates of infant and maternal mortality in Uganda. NGOs want to see more government action. Read more....

The Next Billion: Measles Immunizations Reach Milestone

Peg Willingham, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation A significant milestone in the global effort to eliminate measles has been reached: the Measles Initiative has immunized its one billionth child. Read more....

Children’s health, nepal’s wealth: New vaccines to inoculate children against diseases

Manish Gautam, eKantipur.com In its comprehensive multi-year plan 2011-16 under the National Immunisation Programme, the government will introduce new vaccines in the country. It intends to bring in typhoid, MR, rotavirus and pneumonia vaccines. Read more....

Will vaccination ever rid the world of measles?

Thirty years ago a World Health Organisation team led by Frank Fenner and DA Henderson celebrated the eradication of smallpox. This year in Rome, celebrations were held for the eradication of rinderpest - that's a virus that infects cattle but shares a common ancestor with measles. That...

Rethinking progress: A new development paradigm and goals for critical global challenges

Dr Mukesh Kapila; Undersecretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies & Co-director of CIGI / IFRC project As the MDG 2015 deadline looms closer, could we not aspire to do more, do better and reach further, by shaping a new development model...

‘Vaccinate as many as you can, and the most vulnerable’

Seth Berkley is CEO, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), which gave a record $165 million to India to induct the pentavalent vaccine into the universal immunisation programme. Penta combines protection against DPT, Hepatitis B and, for the first time, Hib, the leading cause...

TN plans to give mothers cash for vaccines

Pushpa Narayan, The Times of India CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will soon pay mothers who get their newborns vaccinated as per the immunization schedule. Under the Muthulakshmi Reddy Scheme, each pregnant woman will get a smart card with her medical details. The health department will deposit...

UN’s message to mothers: breastfeeding can save your baby’s life

UN News Centre 1 August 2011 – The United Nations and its partners are promoting the use of all possible means of communication, including social networking, blogs and even flash mobs, to get the message out on the benefits of breastfeeding beyond clinics and delivery rooms...

New Initiatives Help India Achieve Improved Coverage and Quality of Immunization

Press Information Bureau, Government of India The Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that several new initiatives have helped India achieve improved coverage and quality of immunization. Shri Azad was addressing the High Level Ministerial Meeting of South East...