Action for Global Health

Action for Global Healthhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.euODA intermediate targets should include healthhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/oda_intermediate_targets_should_include_healthThe European Commission today adopted its annual review of development cooperation and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and urged Member States to adopt measures to ensure Aid commitments are kept. The Lancet article - A Systematic Analysis of Progress Towards Millennium Development Goal 5http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/the_lancet_article_a_systematic_analysis_of_progress_towards_millennium_development_goal_5This The Lancet's article (published online 12 April 2010) presents a systematic analysis of progress made regarding Millennium Development Goal 5 - a goal the most off-track of all the MDGs. As maternal mortality remains a major challenge to health systems worldwide, reliable information about the rates and trends in maternal mortality is essential for resource mobilisation, planning and assessment of progress towards MDG 5. The article features comparative data on levels and trends in maternal health collected from 181 countries and embracing the period 1980 - 2008.Commission Global Health Communication Places MDGs at the heart of the Right to Healthhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/commission_global_health_communication_places_mdgs_at_the_heart_of_the_right_to_healthThe European Commission today signaled a new more coherent EU approach to health across the world as it adopted a Communication on Global Health. By applying the principles the EU uses to govern its own health policy to Global Health the Commission has today signaled a strong commitment to ensuring the Right to Health for all.The Robin Hood Tax campaign is launched in Brusselshttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/the_robin_hood_tax_campaign_is_launched_in_brusselsOn March 25th, merry men and women, accompanied by angry bankers and confused Heads of State gathered on Place Luxembourg outside the European Parliament for a launch of the Brussels’ campaign on a financial transaction tax (FTT). Two Action for Global Health Brussels partners – The Stop AIDS Alliance (SAA) and the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) – support and participate in the campaign. Oxfam’s EU Millennium Development Goals Hearinghttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/oxfam_s_eu_millennium_development_goals_hearingOn Tuesday 23 March, Oxfam International organised an EU Millennium Development Goals hearing in the European Parliament with a focus on health and education. Action for Global Health Brussels partners attended the hearing. The hearing was hosted by Michael Cashman, MEP rapporteur on the MDGs. International Women's Day: EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Developmenthttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/international_women_s_day_eu_action_plan_on_gender_equality_and_women_s_empowerment_in_developmentBrussels, 8 March 2010 - Press Release - Today, on the occasion of International Women's Day and of the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the European Commission services have outlined an EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development for the period 2010 - 2015. This Action Plan aims to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Developmewnt Goals (MDGs), in articular on gender equality and maternal health, as well as to contribute to attaining other international development goals related to gender equality. The Action Plan suggests actions in areas, such as the organisation of regular political meetings to assess progress on the issue, the setting up of gender databases and analysis and a stronger involvement of civil society.Lancement de la campagne «Non-assistance à mère en danger»http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/lancement_de_la_campagne_non_assistance_a_mere_en_dangerL’absence de soins tue 500 000 femmes enceintes par an dans le mondeVendredi le 12 mars, Action for Global Health, Oxfam France, Médecins du Monde et Avocats pour la Santé dans le Monde lancent la campagne « Non-assistance à mère en danger » lors d’une conférence de presse, en présence des représentants des quatre associations et de Dorothy Ngoma, directrice de l’organisation nationale des infirmiers et sages-femmes du Malawi. International Women's Day to mind the MDG 5 - Maternal Healthhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/international_women_s_day_to_mind_the_mdg_5_maternal_healthSince 1911, 8th of March is an International Women's Day - a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Every year - for the last 99 years - women issues are put in the limelight with hope to bring a change. Much has been achieved but continuous efforts are still needed. It's the day to think about women's health and gender equality. It's to think about women and girls, sexual and reproductive health and rights, mothers and pregnant women, both in developed and developing countries. It's to mind the Millennium Development Goal number 5 to improve maternal health, since it's the furthests and thoughest to be achieved by 2015. EU Strategy to 2020 re-affirms the MDGs http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/eu_strategy_to_2020_re_affirms_the_mdgsA proposal for the 10 year strategy for the economic devlopment of the EU to 2020 has been adopted by the European Commission. It includes a reiteration to the MDGs and the need for greater finance to achieve them as well as providing policy space for the EU to develop an FTT / CTL. The strategy will be discussed by EU leaders at the Spring Council on 25 March and then completley adopted at the June European Council. The IMF and the human resources for health crisis in developing countries - reporthttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/the_imf_and_the_human_resources_for_health_crisis_in_developing_countries_reportAction for Global Health in the UK, together with the Stop AIDS Campaign, has released a report on the impact of International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies on the human resources for health crisis in developing countries.German government agrees to keep international commitment after pressure from civil societyhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/german_government_agrees_to_keep_international_commitment_after_pressure_from_civil_society After much pressure from civil society organizations, the German government agreed to include in the budget for 2010 the amount of funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria it had pledged for this year in 2007. AfGH supports it! - The Robin Hood Tax Campaign Launched.http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/afgh_supports_it_the_robin_hood_tax_campaign_launchedAction for Global Health welcomes launch of a long anticipated Robin Hood Tax campaign. A tiny tax on bankers that would raise billions - every year - to tackle poverty and climate change. The campaign for a "Robin Hood Tax," launched on Wednesday February 9, is backed by many other well-known charities, as well as aid agencies, unions, green groups, financiers and economists and features actor Bill Nighy in its promotional film.AFGH Presents at the first Global Health Debate in Councilhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/afgh_presents_at_the_first_global_health_debate_in_councilAFGH was invited by the Spanish Presidency of the Council to give a presentation outlining what AFGH view priorities for Global Health. The presentation was one of two given to the working group, the other being from the Assistant Director-General of the WHO - Susanne Weber-Mosdorf. The presentations were then used as the basis for the first debate the council working group has had on the topic under the Spanish presidency of the Council. Their discussions are due to lead to Council Conclusions on the topic being adopted at the May development meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.Action for Global Health Conference - Delivering the right to health with the health MDGshttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/action_for_global_health_conference_delivering_the_right_to_health_with_the_health_mdgs Action for Global Health organises a Cross Europe Conference on “Delivering the Right to health with the health MDGs” taking place in the European Parliament, Brussels, on March 2nd. The event will look at what the EU needs to do to ensure progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the realization of the right to health. Civil Society Organisations’ Comments on the Proposed Joint Platform for Health Systems Strengtheninghttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/civil_society_organisations_comments_on_the_proposed_joint_platform_for_health_systems_strengtheningWhat will happen to the current health aid architecture? The need to strengthen health systems and the agenda of aid effectiveness arise challenges in the coordination of global health initiatives. Civil Society organizations have something to say about a possible platform WB, GAVI and the FM to strengthen health systems.MSF intervention on MDGs at World Health Assembly Executive Board meetinghttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/msf_intervention_on_mdgs_at_world_health_assembly_executive_board_meetingAt the Executive Board meeting of the World Health Assembly - the governing body of the WHO - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) called to highlight the need for Member States to make additional pledges to increase funding for health-related MDGs, ahead of the forthcoming MDG plenary and Global Fund replenishment conferences. MSF urged WHO to play a leading role in ensuring that health needs are addressed in ongoing discussions on innovative finance mechanisms such as financial transaction taxes. AfGH Spain delivers the Letter on Global Health to the Spanish State Secretary for EUhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/afgh_spain_delivers_the_letter_on_global_health_to_the_spanish_state_secretary_for_euAfGH Spain, together with other Spanish NGO's networks, delivers the Letter on Global Health addressing the three next EU Presidencies and signed by more than 450 international NGO's to the Spanish State Secretary for the EU, Mr Diego López Garrido. Last Friday, 15th January, taking the opportunity of the launch of the Spanish EU Presidency Agenda in Madrid, AfGH Spain delivered the Letter "Making progress on global health in the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Presidency of the European Union: civil society recommendations" to Mr Lopez Garrido, State Secretary of Spain for EU. Jeleva Resigns Threatening Delay in Commission Approvalhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/jeleva_resigns_threatening_delay_in_commission_approvalThe Bulgarian nominee for the Commission, Rumiana Jeleva, has resigned potentially delaying the approval of the European Commission by the European Parliament. The new Bulgarian nominee to the Commission has been named as Ms Kristalina Georgieva, currently Vice-President of the World Bank.AfGH country partner Plan Haiti responds to Haiti earthquake disasterhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/afgh_country_partner_plan_haiti_responds_to_haiti_earthquake_disasterAfGH partner Plan staff reported widespread panic when the 7.0 magnitude quake and 2 strong aftershocks struck. It is the most powerful earthquake to have hit the island of Hispaniola in 200 years.European Court of Auditors critical of EU Aid Policyhttp://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/news/european_court_of_auditors_critical_of_eu_aid_policyThe aid implemented by the European Commission through United Nations organisations amounted to over 1 billion euro in 2008. The European Court of Auditors has examined whether decisions to channel aid through the UN have been the result of a transparent and objective selection process and whether monitoring arrangements provide adequate information on the achievement of objectives and the robustness of financial procedures.