New York Times—What a Little Vitamin A Could Do (opinion)
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes about the importance of Vitamin A in the fight against global poverty and disease. While Americans pretty much take vitamin A for granted, many of the world’s poorest people lack it—and as a result, it is estimated that more than half-a-million children die or go blind each year. There’s a simple fix: vitamin A capsules that cost about 2 cents each, Kristof writes.

The Guardian—The IMF is hurting poor countries (opinion)
A columnist in The Guardian writes critically of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He says, “The IMF already has $215 billion on hand, plus more than $100 billion in gold reserves… it is clear the IMF is trying to get hundreds of billions of dollars more than it is likely to need. And it has at least ten times the money that the poor countries – whose needs are pocket change compared to IMF resources – will ever be allowed to borrow.”

Wall Street Journal—The U.S. Should Lead On Congo (opinion)
Cindy McCain writes in the Wall Street Journal about the desperation in eastern Congo, and the efforts by the World Food Programme to feed the hungry and help deliver medicine and agricultural tools on behalf of other aid groups there. She urges the United States to continue and strengthen its commitment to the World Food Programme, writing, “I hope that my country chooses to save lives in the Congo by continuing to support the World Food Programme as it strives to provide more aid to the orphans, the sick, and those torn from their homes.

Bloomberg News—Global Warming May Exceed Infections as Health Threat
A new report claims that global warming is the biggest public health threat of the 21st century, eclipsing infectious diseases, water shortages and poverty. The phenomenon will be felt first in the developing world, further burdening a population already in crisis from food shortages, said the report from University College London that was published today in a leading medical journal. A warmer planet will flood cities, leading to mass migration of coastal-dwelling residents and spread diseases like malaria, the report claims.

Financial Times—US backs new approach to Doha negotiations
Ron Kirk, the new U.S. trade representative, on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a successful and speedy conclusion to the Doha global trade talks, but said this might require a change in the negotiating approach. Kirk’s comments will reassure developing countries, which make up the great majority of the WTO’s 153 members, that the US does not intend to push labor and environment issues on to the Doha agenda despite suggestions to the contrary during last year’s presidential election campaign, the Financial Times writes.

Reuters—WHO sees chemicals risk for poor country healthcare
Growing use of chemicals in poor countries as they develop their economies is putting increasing strain on their healthcare systems and medical workers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday. A new report highlights several incidents such as an outbreak of sodium bromide poisoning in Angola in March 2008 affecting 467 people, the death of 18 Senegalese children in February this year when a district of Dakar was contaminated by lead from recycled batteries, and eight deaths and about 85,000 health-related consultations from the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast in 2006.

-Steve Wilson