By the time the teenage boy was standing in front of Bernice Bornmai, feverish and delirious, it was already too late. It wasn’t just the malaria that was killing the 17-year-old, it was the time he’d wasted taking fake medicine. The antimalarials did nothing to stop the disease marching through the young Ghanaian’s body; his organs were already shutting down. … Read More
Digital health today: starring roles for telemedicine
Telemedicine tech is improving the lives of patients and healthcare providers—especially where needs are most acute Digital health innovation offers a unique opportunity to improve healthcare delivery in places where resources are scarce. In communities around the world with limited medical infrastructure, digital technologies can significantly improve access, efficiency and decision-making, making life better for patients and healthcare workers alike. … Read More
Strengthening Community Health Worker Programs
The Community Health Academy’s first leadership course brings together learners from 155 countries to advance community health programs worldwide Studies how that training high-performing community health workers (CHWs) can save more than three million lives annually, when integrated into the primary health care system. Unfortunately, many community health worker programs are plagued by ineffective training and support, and fail … Read More
Saving lives in times of trouble—Aid for AIDS interventions in Venezuela
Daniel Mora-Brito, Senior Manager and Focal Point to the Global Fund Board Private Sector Delegation (PSD) Since its founding in 1996, the New York-based international NGO Aid for AIDS has become a beacon of hope for thousands of people around the globe. Jesús Aguais, its founder and Executive Director, is a force of nature whose dedication to save the lives of … Read More
Innovations in Global Health: The Business Case for Safe Drinking Water
The role of business in addressing the problem Lack of access to clean drinking water is a huge, global problem. The UN reports that more than 500,000 people die every year from contaminated drinking water. Addressing caloric and micronutrient deficiency diseases also requires reducing or eliminating severe diarrhea caused by waterborne pathogens. 663 million people lack access to an improved … Read More
New Device Tests Blood at a Fraction of the Time and Cost of a Lab
A new device named “Lab on Chip” has been developed in Canada and can test blood samples on the spot for measles and rubella. Researchers are hopeful that the device will soon be able to test for a wide range of infectious diseases. Taking advantage of the technology known as microfluidics, the device is able to move a drop of … Read More
Partner Spotlight: Documentary Minutes to Die Reveals Global Snakebite Crisis
“No person should be condemned to a life of poverty simply because they were unfortunate enough to have been bitten by a snake,” says Dr. David Williams, a scientist featured in the documentary film Minutes to Die. Yet that’s happening to many people across Sub-Saharan Africa, India, and other tropical and sub-tropical regions, where the cost of antivenom treatment can … Read More
Innovations in Global Health: Primary Mobile Med International Helps Open 3,000 Medical Clinics Across Ghana
Primary Mobile Med International Helps Open 3,000 Medical Clinics Across Ghana In regions where health infrastructure is subpar, one efficient substitute to building hospitals is to implement mobile medical clinics (MMCs). These mobile clinics offer patients a way to access medical care when hospitals or health services are not easily accessible or available. Compared to building traditional brick-and-mortar hospitals, it … Read More
Innovations in Global Health: Greenmash: Utilizing Data to Better Fight Disease
NGOs in low resource countries face numerous challenges in launching, monitoring and evaluating programs. Often data collection and data quality issues affect everything from accurately identifying community needs to creating appropriate response strategies. Once programs are launched, there is little to no visibility into the program, making timely monitoring and adjustments impossible. When the final program data is collected and … Read More
Innovations in Global Health: Strengthening public health supply chains through private sector integration: Lessons from Senegal
By Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, Executive Director, Merck for Mothers Fatou Binetou Badji, a midwife and head nurse at a Senegalese medical center, recalls a time when she had to have tough conversations with patients who would come in to her facility, only to find out their preferred contraceptive method was not available. “It was very difficult when a patient already … Read More