Access to new test for drug-resistant TB must be improved: WHO expert

A World Health Organization expert called for greater access to a new diagnostic tool for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the Western Pacific and southeast Asia.  The new diagnostic tool reduces the time needed to detect MDR-TB from eight weeks to two hours. Drug-resistant TB emerges when patients fail to follow treatment regimens, take substandard drugs [...]

UN Report: Efforts to boost maternal and child health falling short

From the UN Daily News: An annual assessment report released today by the United Nations shows that while significant declines have been recorded by many countries in reducing maternal and child mortality, greater progress must be made to meet the global targets contained in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). According to the MDG Report 2010, [...]

Progress in Health: a WHO report on health-related MDGs

The World Health Organization recently released a progress report towards the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals.  Highlights of progress (all goals and targets are measured in terms of progress since 1990) include: Fewer children are dying. Annual global deaths of children under five years of age fell to 8.8 million in 2008 – [...]

WHO report: drug resistant TB at record levels

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is now at record levels with Asia bearing the brunt of the epidemic, says the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) in a recent report. In some parts of the world, one in four people with TB becomes ill with a form of the disease that can no longer be treated with [...]

Counterfeit medicines in China

An interesting article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal about the production and dangers of counterfeit medicines, with a specific focus on China. China’s booming counterfeit medicine trade It was a cringe-worthy moment for China when 600 000 counterfeit antimalarial tablets were intercepted by the Nigerian government in June. Produced and shipped from China, they [...]

Malaria parasite’s resistance to top drug grows

Artemisinin, derived from the sweet wormwood shrub, is the best drug available but misuse and over-prescription have led to the parasite becoming resistant to it. Counterfeit antimalarial drugs have also been a major cause of deaths.

UN report on HIV transmission in Asia: more than 90% of HIV+ women in Asia were infected by husbands or long-term partners

A new UN report estimates that more than 90 per cent of the 1.7 million women living with HIV in Asia became infected from their husbands or partners while in long-term relationships.  A further 50 million women in Asia, who are either married or in long-term relationships with men who engage in high-risk sexual behaviours, [...]