London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News - LSHTM Podcast
174 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 10 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsThe London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and media podcasting company Audio Medica are proud to present the launch of Audio News, a new series of podcasts focusing on key areas of global health policy.
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Episodes
Malaria vaccine prevents one third of malaria cases at 12 months
November 20, 2013 14:03 - 5 minutes - 1.98 MBATLANTA—Efficacy of the RTS,S malaria vaccine for children — vaccinated between six and 12 weeks age — checked-in at around 30 per cent in preliminary findings from Africa released at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference by Dr John Lusingu of Tanzania’s National Institute of Medical Research. He told Sarah Maxwell that although this figure is lower than was hoped the data mean that a third of all cases of malaria are prevented among vaccinated children. Professor S...
Dengue vaccine is safe and effective — but not against all virus serotypes
December 11, 2012 14:05 - 3 minutes - 1.4 MBATLANTA—Results from the first large study of a vaccine for dengue fever — in 4000 Thai children — show that it is safe to use and effective — raising immunity to three out of the four "serotypes" of this mosquito-borne virus. Although these findings — announced at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual meeting — show that complete protection — against all four virus types — is still not possible, Professor Jeremy Farrar of Oxford University's Unit in Ho Chi Minh city to...
Schistosomiasis: water, sanitation and hygiene together with donated praziquantel make elimination possible
November 27, 2012 14:04 - 5 minutes - 1.75 MBATLANTA—Schistosomiasis — also known as bilharzia — could be eliminated from Africa and elsewhere by using two actions together: making simple improvements in water-supply sanitation and hygiene and treating infected children with free praziquantel — recently made available by the manufacturers. At the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual conference Alan Fenwick, Professor of Tropical Parasitology at Imperial College in London, chaired a symposium reviewing the latest evid...
Beyond Legs and Arms For Afghanistan: Disability A Resource Not A Liability
September 25, 2012 11:41 - 6 minutes - 2.08 MBLONDON—A man with no legs and only one arm and a boy crippled by polio have been instrumental in steering a Red Cross team’s work in Afghanistan. The ICRC’s head of Orthopaedics in Kabul, Alberto Cairo, was invited by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to talk about his experience of 22 years’ work with disabled and war-wounded people. Together with Carl Blanchet of the London School’s International Centre for Evidence on Disability he explained to Peter Goodwin why we should ...
Laboratory gets tough with fake malaria medicines
September 25, 2012 11:40 - 4 minutes - 1.68 MBLONDON—A case report in The Lancet has highlighted the threat of fake drugs for malaria — the subject of intensive research at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Dr Harparkash Kaur told Peter Goodwin what her laboratory is doing about the global threat of counterfeit drugs, and what happened in the recent case of the patient with malaria in Spain who had been taking anti-malarial drugs purchased in Equatorial Guinea.
Ethnic lifestyle and diet differences have a big impact on health
September 24, 2012 11:40 - 5 minutes - 1.77 MBLONDON—The health impact of diet and physical activity may play a part in the marked ethnic differences in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the UK according to research reported at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. In the Pemberton Lecture at the 2012 Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine Professor Peter Whincup of St George’s London University also said that social class has a big effect on health — but not in the same way in all ethnic groups. He explained ...
Patient power improves health systems and saves cost
September 24, 2012 11:39 - 5 minutes - 1.87 MBLONDON—People are now routinely using the internet to find out about health conditions and to share their own experiences with others with similar diagnoses. This is a radical change in how people experience illness. Health professionals and policy makers have much to learn from patients experience websites such as www.healthtalkonline.org about what is important to patients. This was the clear message in the Cochrane Lecture given at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine by Dr Sue...
Rio Conference on Sustainable Development: “Health Should Be Top Priority”
July 29, 2012 11:39 - 4 minutes - 1.57 MBRIO DE JANEIRO and LONDON—A call for action on global health has been made in an article published by The Lancet medical journal about the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro. Issues which degrade the planet also degrade human health, according to Professor Sir Andy Haines, OBE, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He talks with Peter Goodwin about the positive actions to be made to help both the planet and public health.
One in 20 hospital deaths are preventable: British Medical Journal research
July 11, 2012 11:38 - 4 minutes - 1.53 MBLONDON—One in twenty deaths in English hospitals could be prevented according to research published in the British Medical Journal Quality and Safety. Dr Helen Hogan of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and her colleagues studied the causes of preventable deaths in English hospitals during the year 2009 and estimate that 12 000 preventable deaths occur each year. She discussed the findings and their implications with Sarah Maxwell.
Family planning: central role in global development – Lancet series
July 10, 2012 11:38 - 5 minutes - 1.87 MBLONDON—Family planning is a key priority for fulfilling global development goals, according to researchers writing in a special series of The Lancet medical journal coinciding with the London Summit on Family Planning. Peter Goodwin hears from one of the Lancet authors, John Cleland, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s Professor of Medical Demography, about the impact family planning has on saving mothers, infants — and the planet.
Preparing for a healthy Olympics: lessons from the Hajj
May 23, 2012 11:37 - 1 minute - 586 KBThe experience of pilgrims going to Mecca can help prepare London to host a healthy Olympic Games, according to Dr Ahmad Moolla the London medic and researcher who organised a special expert panel discussion on Mass Gatherings Medicine at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He gave Sarah Maxwell his views on what the experts had to say and how London 2012 is benefiting.
Shake Hands At the Olympic Games, And Don’t Worry About Infection!
May 22, 2012 11:37 - 2 minutes - 707 KBVisitors and resident Londoners are at very low risk of getting ill during the 2012 Olympic Games. This is the conclusion of Dr Val Curtis Director of the Hygiene Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who summed up evidence on London 2012’s health-system preparedness at an expert panel discussion on mass gatherings medicine.
Mass Gatherings Medicine: London’s 2012 Olympics Action Plan
May 21, 2012 11:36 - 3 minutes - 1.18 MBLONDON—Top medical experts met at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine for an “expert panel discussion” on mass gatherings medicine — which assessed the state of knowledge about managing the health of millions of people in London during the Olympic Games. Professor David Heyman, who chaired the meeting, gave Sarah Maxwell his assessment of the main issues.
London 2012: No Health Hazard ……Come And Enjoy!
May 20, 2012 11:36 - 1 minute - 668 KBLONDON—Britain’s Health Protection Agency has been planning to make sure everybody enjoys good health in London during the Olympic Games. At a discussion forum held at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine the Agency’s London Regional Director, Dr Brian McCloskey — also head of the World Health Organisation’s Collaborating Centre on Mass Gatherings — reassured reporter Sarah Maxwell that public health organisation during the Games is excellent.
“The Games Will Be Healthy”—London’s Olympic Medical Chief Assures Scientists
May 19, 2012 11:35 - 2 minutes - 743 KBLONDON—The British Olympic team’s former doctor Richard Budgett — now chief medical officer for the 2012 Games — explained to an expert panel discussion on Mass Gatherings Medicine, held at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, how every medical need of 10 000 athletes, 10 million ticket holders and untold numbers of staff, volunteers and ordinary Londoners is being taken care of to ensure a healthy London 2012.
Dual Preventive Therapy Can Save Babies’ Lives In Sub-Saharan Africa
May 10, 2012 11:35 - 4 minutes - 1.43 MBLONDON—Double-action preventive therapy for pregnant women could prevent the large numbers of stillbirths and neonatal deaths presently being caused by malaria and sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections in sub-Saharan Africa according to a research report from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Matthew Chico, an epidemiologist and Research Fellow at the London School, told Peter Goodwin about the hopes...
Flu Pandemic Preparedness: Research Identifies Effective Measures For Saving Lives
April 06, 2012 11:34 - 4 minutes - 1.59 MBBANGKOK—Research on influenza pandemic preparedness is helping to explain how best to save lives in each country when disease breaks out. Professor Richard Coker with his colleagues at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s unit in Bangkok has found that there are a variety of practical ways of preparing. He told Peter Goodwin that the most important point is to conduct research in your country to identify the measures which can help if ‘flu breaks out, and distinguish these from ...
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Celebrates Distance Learning
March 30, 2012 11:34 - 5 minutes - 1.78 MBLONDON—Another year of distance learning has been celebrated by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Audio News hears from the School’s Dean of Studies Sharon Huttly about the continuing and increasing success of the programme in which students in more than a hundred countries outnumber those studying for postgraduate awards at the School’s London campus. Distance learners Priscilla Mulenga, Clarissa Moreira, Kamljit Kaur, Lloyd Mulenga, Mohammed Limbada, Ingeborg Oie and Adeola ...
Trachoma Diagnostic Testing: Saves Unnecessary Treatment To Prevent Blindness Trachoma Diagnostic Testing: Saves Unnecessary Treatment To Prevent Blindness Trachoma Diagnostic Testing: Saves Unnecessary Treatment To Prevent Blindness
March 30, 2012 11:33 - 3 minutes - 1.1 MBPHILADELPHIA—Instead of mass treatment of whole populations in areas affected by trachoma it is more cost-effective in many situations to check first which children are infected and treat only these. This is according to research from The Gambia conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and discussed in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. But whether to go for mass treatment or diagnosis depends on costs: and these a...
New Health Partnership Tackles Congenital Syphilis
March 30, 2012 11:33 - 3 minutes - 1.3 MBLONDON—The hazard of passing lethal syphilis infection from mother to unborn child is being targeted by a new partnership combining the efforts of several key health organisations: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The World Health Organisation, Save the Children, the United States Centers for Disease Control and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Professor Rosanna Peeling explained to Peter Goodwin how the new group could reduce stillbirths and deaths in early life from m...
Locating Asymptomatic Malaria In Africa — New Methods Raise Hopes For Elimination
March 30, 2012 11:32 - 4 minutes - 1.45 MBPHILADELPHIA— Scientists in Zambia have reported significant progress in tracking asymptomatic malaria infection — a pre-requisite for eliminating the disease — to the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene annual conference in Philadelphia. Gillian Stresman from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine explained to Peter Goodwin that the research involved analysing patterns of infection from blood tests among people who have no malaria symptoms and checking on other malaria ...
Reactive Cholera Immunisation Could Save Lives
March 30, 2012 11:32 - 3 minutes - 1.22 MBPHILADELPHIA—Vaccinating populations after an outbreak of cholera has already begun could be a powerful way of controlling the growth of an epidemic according to scientists reporting to the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene here. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine MSc graduate Rita Reyburn — who’s been researching epidemics in Zimbabwe, Zanzibar and Calcutta with the International Vaccine Institute of Korea and working with Lorenz von Seidlein from the Menzies School...
Boiling Water: No Guarantee For Safe Drinking
March 30, 2012 11:31 - 4 minutes - 1.68 MBPHILADELPHIA—Boiling water may not be the best policy for making it safe to drink, according to scientists who reported their research findings from Zambia to the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual conference. Rebecca Psutka of the University of Otago in New Zealand, who works with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, explained to Peter Goodwin that the problem is not the boiling but the storage of drinking water after it’s been sterilised.
Parasite Transmission Hotspots Are Key To Eliminating Malaria
March 30, 2012 11:29 - 5 minutes - 1.93 MBPHILADEPHIA—A way of making malaria control more effective was proposed at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual conference in Philadelphia, namely: to target the most concentrated areas of infection — known as malaria hot-spots. Jacklin Mosha from Tanzania, and Teun Bousema from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discussed the evidence for using this strategy with Peter Goodwin.
Oestrogen Gene Predicts Breast Cancer Risk In Young Women
March 19, 2012 12:28 - 4 minutes - 1.63 MBLONDON—Scientists in Britain have found that an altered gene affects oestrogen in young women and is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer before the menopause. The research could lead to a better understanding of how to prevent the disease in young women and design drugs acting on the hormonal triggers of breast cancer. Professor Isabel Dos Santos Silva of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine explained to Peter Goodwin why the findings are important.
Safety of Antimalarial Drugs in Africa — Vigilance Needed
January 22, 2012 15:11 - 5 minutes - 1.96 MBPHILADELPHIA—Pharmaco-vigilance was being urged here — as a key part of the strategy to improve malaria control in Africa and elsewhere — in a special session devoted to malaria drug safety at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene annual conference. With the battle against malaria slowly being won in Africa, the safety of anti-malarial drugs is of paramount importance now they are being used more widely than ever. Session chair Professor David Schellenberg of the London Schoo...
Schistosomiasis In sub-Saharan Africa: The Under Fives Need Praziquantel
January 22, 2012 15:11 - 6 minutes - 2.18 MBPHILADELPHIA—Scientists in the UK and Uganda have now completed a three year study showing that young children are at continued risk of intestinal schistosomiasis — also known as bilharzia — between the ages of 6-months and five years. In fact, these children should be treated routinely with the anthelminthic praziquantel, just as in older children and adults, for it is proven both safe and efficacious. The Schistosomiasis In Mothers and Infants (SIMI) study was conducted by the Liverpool Sch...
Malaria Resistance Genes: Implications For Spread Of Artemisinin Resistance
January 22, 2012 15:10 - 7 minutes - 2.44 MBPHILADELPHIA—Research findings on gene changes enabling malaria parasites to resist anti-malarial drugs were discussed at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene meeting in Philadelphia. This has come in the midst of worries about the slow rise in resistance to the most modern group of drugs — artemisinin combinations — in Cambodia and Thailand. Professor David Conway of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gave Peter Goodwin some of the details.
Rapid Diagnostic Tests For Malaria Guide Treatment And Save Lives
January 03, 2012 12:48 - 3 minutes - 1.31 MBPHILADELPHIA—The recently-introduced rapid diagnostic test kits for malaria are saving lives — and not just among patients with malaria. In research for the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, scientists in Tanzania have found that patients whose fevers are not caused by malaria benefit from potentially life-saving treatments sooner if the cause is recognised by doing an actual test rather than just assuming all fever is malaria. Dr Florida Muro from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medica...
Global Health Lab: Welfare State, Sustainable In An Ageing Population?
December 21, 2011 15:39 - 9 minutes - 3.39 MBLONDON—The ‘Welfare State’ can be sustained globally — even in the rapidly ageing societies of low- and middle-income countries. Social protection should not be delayed until a country is rich, and should be a state obligation. These views came out of the Global Health Lab symposium entitled: “Is the welfare state sustainable with an ageing society?” hosted by Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Dr Richard Horton, Editor of the Lancet. The experts pr...
PopART: All-Out War On AIDS In Africa
December 17, 2011 15:38 - 9 minutes - 3.22 MBLONDON—A massive new study of HIV/AIDS could help turn the tide of the epidemic globally. The PopART study — of 24 communities in Zambia and South Africa — is testing a powerful combination of approaches to HIV in the community: universal testing, immediate treatment for patients and a range of preventive measures. The $37 million research trial is jointly funded by the Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator, the National Institutes of Health, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Profes...
How Mosquitoes Resist Repellents: New Arthropod Research Service On Display
December 15, 2011 15:38 - 5 minutes - 2.07 MBPHILADELPHIA—How populations of mosquitoes become insensitive to insect repellents has been researched by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, in collaboration with Rothamsted Research, and discussed at the American Society of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine conference in Philadelphia. This was one of the many activities of Dr James Logan, who also runs a new service made available by the London School called: the Arthropod Control Product Test Centre, or ARCTEC. Dr Log...
Research Finds HIV/AIDS Discordant Couples Face Stigma
December 03, 2011 15:37 - 6 minutes - 2.15 MBLONDON—The extent to which people infected with HIV are marginalised has been highlighted by a report from the Sigma Research Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine looking at black African people living in England in relationships where one partner had diagnosed HIV while the other did not. Dr Adam Bourne described the stigma and fear they face and told Peter Goodwin what needs to be done to improve this.
New Insecticides Promise To Beat Mosquito Resistance In Africa
November 30, 2011 15:37 - 4 minutes - 1.5 MBMOSHI, TANZANIA—New insecticides to control mosquitoes — being tested in Tanzania — promise to overcome the biggest threat to malaria control in Africa: resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. Dr Richard Oxborough from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine explained to Sarah Maxwell how his group’s research evaluating new insecticides for mosquito nets and spraying inside houses, at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania, is bringing hope for sustainable control...
New Research Institute Combats Infectious Diseases Globally
November 28, 2011 15:37 - 5 minutes - 1.88 MBLONDON —A new weapon in the global battle against infectious disease was recently unveiled in London. The Bloomsbury Institute for Pathogen Research has been launched as a collaboration between two big university research groups to combat pathogens — infectious agents including bacteria, viruses and parasites. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine brings expertise in parasitic and bacterial diseases, while University College London contributes long experience and excellent faciliti...
Global Handwashing Day: Faecal Bacteria Found On Mobile Phones
October 24, 2011 03:57 - 4 minutes - 1.71 MBLONDON—Scientists in London have found that a significant proportion of mobile phones in Britain are contaminated with faecal bacteria. This news was announced on Global Handwashing Day 2011 by Dr Val Curtis, Director of the Hygiene Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She talks to Peter Goodwin about the significance of the finding they’ve made — jointly with Queen Mary College — and the importance of washing hands with soap and water after going to the lavatory.
‘Good health at low cost’ 25 years on — What makes a successful health system? The Bangladesh Miracle
October 24, 2011 03:57 - 7 minutes - 2.59 MBLONDON—In the new book: Good Health At Low Cost, the achievements of Bangladesh are discussed as an example of how the health of most people can improve despite adverse circumstances. Professor Carine Ronsmans of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who has lived in Bangladesh and visits frequently, explained to Peter Goodwin why she thinks it is a good example.
Market Forces Have Benefited English National Health Service
October 24, 2011 03:56 - 6 minutes - 2.15 MBLONDON—The National Health Service in England has benefited from being made subject to market forces since 2002 — and it continues to serve as a good example of how ‘health for all’ can be achieved. This is according to a book published by the King’s Fund entitled: “Understanding New Labour’s Market Reforms of the English NHS” looking at the effects of a change of policy allowing competitive market practices. The book’s co-editor, Professor Nicholas Mays of the London School of Hygiene and Tr...
Non Communicable Diseases: Crisis For Low And Middle Income Countries
October 24, 2011 03:56 - 6 minutes - 2.24 MBLONDON—Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases pose a looming threat to low- and middle-income countries just as in the rich world according to experts meeting in London. At the Global Health Lab symposium in London Martin McKee and Erica Richardson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with Richard Horton Editor of The Lancet told Peter Goodwin about the importance of the issues raised by the experts contributing to the session: Allison Bea...
Good Health At Low Cost
October 24, 2011 03:55 - 15 minutes - 5.26 MBLONDON—Why do some low and middle income countries manage to achieve good health outcomes while others fail? What factors drive improvements in the health system and in access to primary health care? How can we act on the social determinants of health in cash-strapped economies? Low and middle-income countries can achieve good health, without having to spend large amounts of money: they simply need to apply identifiable techniques and to have particular philosophies. This is the message emerg...
The Challenges of Urban Sanitation: News from World Water Week
October 24, 2011 03:54 - 8 minutes - 2.8 MBSTOCKHOLM—The severe lack of sanitation in urban areas worldwide was explored at “World Water Week” — the annual conference just held in Stockholm for policy-makers and researchers specialising in water and sanitation. On his return from Stockholm, Guy Collender, of the SHARE research consortium, which is led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, discussed the consortium’s conference sessions on the challenges and solutions related to urban sanitation, and small-scale finance.
UK Study Shows More Deaths Avoided When Health System Funding Increased
October 24, 2011 03:54 - 6 minutes - 2.17 MBLONDON— A strong relationship between the amount of funding available for Britain’s National Health Service and the survival and quality of life of the population has been reported in a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine looking at mortality and the NHS. Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine discusses the implications for health system planners in the UK and globally.
Bed-Nets To Prevent Malaria: Latest Research Evidence
October 24, 2011 03:53 - 5 minutes - 1.94 MBLONDON—The importance of continuing to use insecticide treated bed-nets in malaria-affected regions has been emphasised by a leading expert commenting on new research from Senegal (published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases) about the effectiveness of the nets, insecticide resistance among mosquitos, and levels of immunity to malaria in the population. Professor David Schellenberg from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discussed the latest data with Peter Goodwin.
Low Cost Screening Could Halve Stillbirths Due To Syphilis
July 20, 2011 10:23 - 7 minutes - 2.71 MBLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: Low Cost Screening Could Halve Stillbirths Due To Syphilis LONDON—Scientists from London and Switzerland have reported in The Lancet medical journal that a simple ante-natal screening test for syphilis and immediate treatment could halve the number of stillbirths caused by this infection — at very low cost. David Mabey, Professor of Communicable Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine — who wrote the accompan...
The New Decade Of Vaccines: Avoiding Public Distrust
July 14, 2011 12:10 - 2 minutes - 1.01 MBLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: The New Decade Of Vaccines: Avoiding Public Distrust “Public trust and public confidence in vaccines are vital to keeping immunisation rates up and keeping the value of vaccines real,” according to Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine who took part in: “The New Decade of Vaccines” a scientific meeting reflecting a series of articles about vaccination in The Lancet medical journal. She explains the impo...
Txt2Stop: Text Messaging Doubled Smoking Quit Rates
July 07, 2011 14:35 - 4 minutes - 1.65 MBSmokers were twice as likely to succeed when they tried to stop smoking if they received supportive text messages while they were trying — that was in a randomised controlled trial with 5 000 volunteer quitters undertaken by scientists in London and Auckland. Dr Caroline Free of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told Peter Goodwin about her group’s txt2stop study.
Vaccination and Global Health: USA Honours British Scientist
June 21, 2011 16:37 - 11 minutes - 4.11 MBATLANTA—Just before the successful Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) talks took place in London a British scientist was honoured by the United States in Atlanta, Georgia. Professor Brian Greenwood gave the Shepard Lecture on the subject of: Vaccination and Global Health to the Centers for Disease Control. He tells Audio News about the state of the art of vaccination for a range of diseases and the possibility, potentially, of saving millions of lives in the near future.
GAVI Talks: New Funding Mechanisms Make Vaccines Affordable
June 21, 2011 16:36 - 4 minutes - 1.41 MBLONDON—Part of the success of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) talks held in London may have been the availability of new ways of funding vaccines to guarantee their affordability in low and middle-income countries. Dr James Hargreaves of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine tells Sarah Maxwell about “push” and “pull” techniques his group has been looking at to get the biggest “bang for the buck” in vaccine provision for the developing world.
Complexity And Lack Of Independence — Hazards For Humanitarian Organisations Intervening In Disasters
June 21, 2011 16:36 - 7 minutes - 2.7 MBLONDON—Complexity is a big hazard for a humanitarian organisation wanting to intervene in a disaster — whether natural or man-made. So is any lack of political independence. That’s according to a new book “Many Reasons To Intervene” that compares British with French Non-Governmental Organisations — or NGOs. Karl Blanchet of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Editor of the book, explains that British NGOs have a completely different culture from their French counterparts. The ...
Microscope to Telescope: New Research Network for Health Systems and Infection
June 15, 2011 16:35 - 5 minutes - 2 MBLONDON—A new global network of scientists has been set up with the goal of helping all countries control infectious diseases. Instead of focussing on specific illnesses the Research Network For Health Systems And Infection — based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine — concentrates specifically on improving health-care delivery systems. Mr Greg Reilly and Professor Anne Mills of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine join Professor David Heymann, Chair of the UK Healt...