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IHF NEWSLETTER
WORLD
The Global Forum came to the following conclusions:
➜ The exercise of political commitment and power is the
necessary pre-requisite to ensure the implementation of
the health research agenda in support of the MDGs.
➜ To provide the resources necessary for essential research
within developing countries, governments of these
countries to spend at least 2% of their national health
budgets on health research, as recommended by the
1990 Commission on Health Research for Development.
These funds should be used locally for health research
and research capacity strengthening. Also in line with the
Commission’s recommendation, donors are urged to
allocate 5% of their funding for the health sector to
health research and research capacity strengthening in
developing countries. Monitoring the use of funds is a
vital complementary activity.
➜ Civil society, NGOs and communities must be involved
in the governance, definition, generation and conduct of
health research; in the application of the knowledge and
technologies it provides; in monitoring progress and in
maintaining the public debate about resources and
priorities.
➜ Innovative research should be supported by the public
and private sectors and by academic institutions. Priority
should be given to research and development to create
technologies and products directed to meeting
developing country needs and to ensuring their delivery.
The private sector and governments should more
intensively explore avenues to ensure sustainable and
equitable access to products, services and treatment.
The not-for-profit private sector should continue its
contributions to health and health research.
➜ Research is needed into the roles of both intellectual
property systems and public-private partnerships in
creating health products and widening equitable access
to them.
Forum 9 will take place between 12–16 September 2005
in Mumbai, India and will look at issues of poverty, equity
and health research.
For a full statement see: www.globalforumhealth.org
ASIA-PACIFIC
Devastating tsunami strikes southeast Asia
A POWERFUL TSUNAMI caused by an underwater
earthquake struck the shores of many southeast Asian and
African countries on the 26 December 2004, in particular,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and India.
Urgent action is now needed to address the emerging
public health needs of those affected. Between three and
five million people in the region are unable to access the
basic requirements they need to stay alive – clean water,
adequate shelter, food, sanitation and health care.
To address the immediate public health needs and respond
to this major catastrophe, WHO estimates that it will need
US$40 million.While information is still scarce after the
tsunami, WHO and its United Nations and nongovernmental
organisation partners are completing preliminary assessments
of the human consequences of this disaster.
At the time of going to press, estimates put the number of
dead at more than 80,000, with as many as 300,000 people
injured, many need urgent medical or surgical treatment.
Countless other survivors are at risk of infectious diseases
or aggravating existing health conditions. In Indonesia, for
example, on the coast of Aceh, only one hospital remains
operational. In Sri Lanka, much of the public health
infrastructure in coastal areas is reportedly damaged and
functional units are overwhelmed.
WHO is helping local and national authorities respond to
the human crisis and enable survivors to stay alive; to help
the international community focus its aid so that it can be
used quickly and well; and to ensure that health services are
re-established as soon as possible.
From for more information see: www.who.int
Moves underway to strengthen nursing in the South Pacific
EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY to establish a network of
nursing leaders in the South Pacific to ensure a more
effective response to health challenges affecting countries in
the region.
A South Pacific Forum was convened from 15–19
November 2004 in Raratonga, Cook Islands, during which
South Pacific Government chief nurses addressed a number
of issues, including the establishment of a network to
strengthen nursing leadership.
Other areas covered included the migration overseas of
nurses and midwives and the resulting shortage of staff; the
threat of emerging diseases such as severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS); rising rates of noncommunicable
diseases; the need for health systems reforms and building
health leadership capacity and health service delivery,
particularly in rural and remote areas, due to poor
equipment, lack of essential drugs and trained competent
personnel.
The South Pacific Forum, ‘Challenges and Actions for
Nursing and Nurses in the South Pacific,’ convenes every
two years to enable nurses to share their interests,
achievements and concerns, update their clinical
knowledge, and make recommendations for united action
over the next two years.
For more information contact: Kathleen Fritsch, WHO
Regional Adviser in Nursing, at fritsch@wpro.who.int
08 | 12 World | WORLD Hospitals hospitals and Health and health Services services | Vol. 40 No. 4