What We’re Reading 2/4/10

Feb 4th, 2010 10:56 AM UTC
By Robyn Mitchell

Politico: Protection for women a top foreign policy priority (Op-Ed, Sen. John Kerry)
A group of policymakers and NGO leaders, including Senator John Kerry and Executive Director of Amnesty International, Larry Cox, argue that women around the world should not have to accept abuse and extreme poverty. To combat this critical issue, a bipartisan coalition will introduce the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) today, which the article authors believe “supports the efforts of President Obama and Secretary Clinton to rightly put women at the very center of a broad global security agenda that factors in the great challenges of our decade and invests in the world’s peacemakers.” The article concludes with the powerful statement that the “IVAWA is the first step in making women a central focal point in U.S. foreign policy and allows the United States to join with them in their struggle to stop the violence.”

Reuters: New malaria vaccine shows promise in children
U.S. researchers said Wednesday that a new vaccine showed promise at protecting young children from malaria, offering a potential new weapon against a disease that kills at least one million people each year. Reuters reports that in a study of 100 West African children, the experimental vaccine produced immune responses similar to or even higher than those of adults infected by malaria all their lives. The vaccine, which uses an immune system booster called an adjuvant, targets the malaria parasite as it is actively infecting red blood cells and causing fever and illness, which researchers believe helps to prime the children’s immune system to develop a robust response.

AllAfrica.com: Continent Ripe for Citizen-Led Development Plan (Op-Ed)
Anti-corruption campaigner, John Githongo and ONE Executive Director, Jamie Drummond, argue that Africa can continue to achieve sustainable development by establishing a new citizens’ compact. According to the authors, this bottom-up approach would ensure that development is devolved and that the integrity of leaders and governance institutions firmly take centre stage. Githongo and Drummond lay out three measures for Africa, including budget transparency and private investments, which they believe “can increase the effects of much-needed new investments to boost education, agriculture and health and fight infectious diseases and climate change.”

Huffington Post: In Rebuilding Haiti, Fighting HIV/AIDS Must be a Top Priority (Op-Ed)
Executive Board Member of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, David Furnish, argues that the earthquake left nothing untouched in Haiti, including the significant progress that has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. According to Furnish, treatment and testing clinics were leveled, medical staff was tragically killed, and congested roads have made it difficult for what life-saving supplies remain to reach the people who need them. However, the author argues that the process of rebuilding Haiti is an opportunity to address the longstanding health and social challenges that have resulted in still-too-high infection rates. Said Furnish, “Without confronting these challenges, HIV/AIDS prevalence could increase to previous levels and compromise all other rebuilding and recovery efforts.”

The National Post (Canada): The unconscionable global toll of death during childbirth (Op-Ed)
Despite there being well-known solutions to some of the most catastrophic maternal health issues, Canadian Liberal MP and physician, Dr. Keith Martin argues that the area receives little attention and resources from international donors. Martin applauds the Canadian government’s recent announcement that maternal and child health will be on the agenda at this summer’s G8 Summit in Ontario, but emphasizes that “the summit cannot be just another milquetoast, feel-good document.” Rather, the doctor calls for leaders to announce a comprehensive International Action Plan to reduce childhood and maternal mortality, which includes strategic investments in access to primary care and funding to train skilled workers in countries with the greatest needs.

Ethiopian Review: World Bank, Microsoft Sign Agreement to Promote Development in Africa
Ethiopian Review reports that the World Bank and Microsoft have announced a new partnership that will seek to reinforce social and economic development in Africa by leveraging information and communication technology (ICT). Under the agreement, the World Bank and Microsoft will develop programs to support several of the World Bank’s core development priorities across Sub-Saharan Africa, including science and technology, developing the local software economy and local ICT skills, enhancing remittances technology, and building Sub-Saharan Africa’s disaster response capabilities. Said the World Bank Vice President for Africa, “Our goal is to help bring the region into today’s knowledge society and build its own internal resources to support the creation of competitive local economies.”

TAGS: What We're Reading