Global health news briefs - October 2021
September/October 2021 Volume 20 Number 5
HHS requests input on new strategic plan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
of which NIH is a part, has released a new draft
strategic plan open for comment until Nov. 7. One
goal addresses global health and calls for improved
capabilities to prevent and respond to threats,
protect populations from disease, promote healthy
behaviors and mitigate climate change.
HHS establishes climate change office
HHS has announced it is forming an Office of
Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE),
tasked with the mission of protecting vulnerable
communities that disproportionately bear the
brunt of pollution and climate-driven disasters,
at the expense of public health. OCCHE’s interim
director is the NIH’s Dr. John Balbus.
NIH launches stigma research toolkit
NIH has developed a stigma and discrimination
research toolkit that contains information about
theories, models, frameworks, measures, methods
and interventions that can be applied to reduce
the impact of stigma and discrimination. Hosted
by the National Institute of Mental Health, partners
include the National Institute on Drug Abuse and
Fogarty.
WHO recommends malaria vaccine for kids
The WHO is calling for widespread use of a
groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children
in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with
moderate to high malaria transmission. The WHO
said the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine should be provided in
a schedule of 4 doses in children 5 months of age
and older.
PMI releases plan to end malaria faster
The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has
announced its new five-year strategy to end
malaria faster. PMI said it will work with partners
to maximize program efficiency by addressing
five focus areas: reach the unreached, strengthen
community health systems, keep malaria services
resilient, invest locally, and innovate and lead.
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