Weekly News Roundup
News, Events and Observations about Health Markets in the Developing World
Program News
APOPO recently tweeted that more than 2,500 new cases of TB have been detected by their rats, potentially preventing 25,000 new cases transmitted by undiagnosed patients!
Cola-Life, which uses Coca-Cola’s supply chain to help distribute medicines and other essential goods, has just released a new image of latest branding on anti-diarrheal kits. Check it out here!
Congratulations to VisionSpring, a non-profit that provides affordable eyeglasses to poor customers across the globe, that celebrated its one millionth pair of eyeglasses provided to an individual in need! The 10-year old organization operates in 18 countries with offices in New York, India and El Salvador. Click here to read more.
Operation ASHA has moved one step deeper into mobile healthcare delivery by opening its first "floating center" in Cambodia. A counselor will travel from village to village by boat carrying anti-TB drugs and other supplies, hence the name “floating center.” With nearly a quarter of population living on or near water in Cambodia, this center is set to test the mettle of the mobile model. Read the article online here.
General News
A new study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal found that a third of malaria drugs used around the world are of poor quality or counterfeit. These faulty drugs will impede progress made in the fight against malaria. Fake drugs are ineffective as they contain no malaria-fighting agents while pills without enough of the active ingredient to kill all malaria parasites are harmful because they increase drug resistance. CHMI has identified a number of programs that can help fight counterfeit medicine, such as mPedigree, Sproxil and PharmaSecure's Unique Identification Mobile Verification.
Opportunities
The African Development Bank (AfDB) seeks African ICT health solutions! Apply by May 30th. Click here to learn more.
DFID’s Strategic Impact Evaluation Fund has launched its first call for proposals. The deadline to submit proposals is June 4th, 2012, and you can read more here.