The INFO Project Blog

So… first I promised to post some pictures from yesterday.  Here are some:

Panel from Monday presentation “Linking Sexual and Reproductive Health”  (L to R) Feliclity Daly, Interact Worldwide, Suni Nanda, International AIDS Alliance, India, Malcolm McNeil, DFID, Fiona Petit, International Community of Women Living with AIDS

Part of Panel from “Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of People Living with HIV”, Sunday August 4

Rose Wilcher, Family Health International, “Contraception - the best kept secret in HIV prevention”,  panel discussion “Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of People Living with HIV”, Sunday August 4, 2008

I first attended a fabulous lecture entitled “Responding to the  HIV Epidemic among Men Who Have Sex with Men”.  During this session, our friends at PSI discussed an excellent program they are currently supporting in Togo designed to create community among MSM, provide HIV prevention education and appropriate referral of services.

Following, I was fortunate to hear former President Bill Clinton speak about his foundation.  Bill Clinton compared AIDS to a dragon stating that “AIDS is a very big dragon… we cannot end until the dragon is slain.” The title of President Clinton’s talk was “HIV and Health Systems Reform: Achieving Universal Access.”  He gave examples of his work and emphasized that successful HIV interventions will naturally positively influence health systems of countries.  In Malawi, there is limited lab capability so the Clinton Foundation recruited lab workers and focused on increasing lab capacity, which in turn strengthened the health system.  In Zambia, with the advent of ART, there has been an increased demand for health services, but workers were in short supply.  So, the foundation has worked with the government to increase the supply and train workers, which again strengthened the health system while providing access to treatment. Read the rest of this entry »

Population Reports authors want to hear from you. Which important research findings have not yet had an effect on family planning practice? Vote now!

At the 2008 Science Blogging conference in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Dr. Hemai Parthasarathy is leading a discussion of the flawed but enormously exciting concept-in-practice that is Open Science.

Four laptops in a row are open in my row–facts being checked, backgrounds googled–and Hemai’s presentation is becoming a conversation. Participants add lessons learned (in italics).

Hemai: This is my first “un-conference”. I’m a scientist. Used to talking to scientists. Studied neuroscience at MIT.

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According to an article published on the BBC today , the brain drain in Africa is happening faster than previously thought. A new study by the Center for Global Development in Washington says the loss of doctors and nurses follows political conflict and economic stagnation.

Several countries, like Angola and Mozambique, have more doctors working in a single foreign country than at home.
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