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Global health briefs May 2013

May / June 2013 | Volume 12, Issue 3

Preparing for a global rise in chronic disease

With noncommunicable diseases set to rise around the globe, scientist should study the related research questions, according to a series of policy briefs, "Addressing the Gaps in Policy and Research for Noncommunicable Diseases," published by Johns Hopkins University.

• Download the full report Addressing the Gaps in Policy and Research for Noncommunicable Diseases [PDF, 1M, 28 pages] from the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations website.

World Bank offers online policy resources

The World Bank has released an online policy resources toolkit that can facilitate private sector contributions to important developing country health goals.

• Access the online Private Health Policy Toolkit from the Investment Climate Advisory Services of the World Bank Group.

WHO kit improves vital statistics data

The WHO is offering materials to help countries produce reliable statistics. Titled "Strengthening registration and vital statistics for births, deaths and causes of death," the kit was developed by numerous technical partners and institutions.

• Download the full 250-page report Strengthening civil registration and vital statistics for births, deaths and causes of death: resource kit from the WHO's Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS).

WHO suggests how to cut health inequities

The WHO has compiled expert policy briefs on how to further health equity around the world. "Closing the Health Equity Gap" covers such topics as working toward universal health coverage, ways to measure inequities and cross-government actions helpful in urban settings.

• Download the full report Closing the Health Equity Gap [PFD, 4M, 62 pages] from the WHO's Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

UN report notes South's rise

Prospects of people in the South have improved at an unprecedented pace, according to the UN's 2013 Human Development Report. The report notes inequality in health and education declined, even as income inequalities rose. Mothers' education was found to raise child survival more than household income levels.

• View and download the 2013 Human Development Report: the Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World and related materials from the United Nations (UN) Human Development Report Office

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