Weekly News Roundup
News, Events and Observations about Health Markets in the Developing World
Program News
Living Goods has unveiled a video with ladies singing a little tune about diarrhea prevention. As a network of franchised community health promoters, Living Goods provides health education and goes door-to-door selling essential health products at prices affordable to the poor. Check out their video here.
A new graph from Operation ASHA shows the growth in the number TB treatment clinics it opened since its inception. Operation ASHA is a program that has created a unique paradigm in TB treatment, taking DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy – Short Course) therapy to the doorsteps of disadvantaged slum-dwellers in India and Cambodia. Keep up the great work!
General News
A recently published article in the Daily Observer details the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s 3-year campaign to sensitize private pharmacies about malaria in slum communities. 46% of the population in Liberia seek medical treatment from pharmacies and are not treated appropriately due to failure in administering malaria tests and prescribing the correct medicines. This pilot project provides free training to private sector providers about proper diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Pharmacies that have undergone training will be regularly supplied with malaria medicines and testing kits for a period of three years. They will be responsible for monitoring and collecting data about the tests and medicines administered. Click here to read more about the project.
A new study published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization proposes greater health sector involvement in the design, implementation and evaluation of cash transfer schemes. Cash transfers (CTs) are attracting increasing interest as effective and acceptable means of improving the welfare of disadvantaged households in low- and middle-income countries. They give households regular, predictable amounts of money in the form of pensions, child benefits or regular household grants. Although they have significant health benefits, they have rarely been considered an integral part of the health policy portfolio. The study articulates that based on sufficient experience with CT schemes the health sector should advocate for their inclusion in national and local social policy frameworks and should seek more substantive engagement in their design, implementation and evaluation.
Opportunities and Events
CHMI is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for organizations interested in acting as a CHMI country or regional hub and carrying out CHMI activities in low- and middle- income countries. Funding will go toward organizations that can inform and connect programs working to improve the quality, affordability, and accessibility of health care for the poor. The deadline to submit an EOI is August 10, 2012 at 12:00 EST. For more information, read our blog post here or contact Alex Robinson at arobinson@resultsfordevelopment.org.
Participate in the next Global Giving Open Challenge in September to earn a permanent spot on the GlobalGiving website. Nomination forms and Due Diligence documents must be submitted by August 1, 2012.
SHOPS (Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector) will host a satellite session titled, “We’re in it Together,” at the upcoming international AIDS conference. It will feature private sector specialists from four African countries who will discuss their experiences with engaging the private sector in their countries’ national HIV programs. The session will be held on July 25, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 pm EST in Mini-Room 3 at the Washington Convention Center.
The Private Sector Working Group (PWSG) is a community of practice that seeks to bring together experts working in the field of private sector health. Members meet quarterly to discuss health market innovations and listen to technical presentations on private sector programs or research. Through an online portal hosted on the SHOPS website, members are able to contribute to existing discussions, network through personal messages, and share working and published documents. To join the PSWG, please send your request including full name, name of organization, position title, and why you are interested in the PSWG to PSWG@abtassoc.com.
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