Senate takes up treaty on human rights
Averting the so-called fiscal cliff isn’t the only order of business for Congress this week. The U.S. Senate is set to vote on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the coming days that would help assure the health and well-being of people living with disabilities.
PAHO elects new director, honors APHA
Health ministers from across the Americas are meeting this week in Washington, D.C., for the Pan American Sanitary Conference, where they elected a new director and awarded APHA a special recognition for its work in improving health in the region.
Foege awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Former APHA President and CDC Director Bill Foege today received the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation's highest civilian honor — during a White House ceremony. Public Health Newswire asked Foege about this achievement, his passion for public health and his advice for future leaders.
Sebelius touts health reform at WHO meeting
As the world’s health ministers gather this week in Geneva to talk about pressing global health challenges, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius can’t help but talk about health reform. On the international stage, the impact, gravity and inspirational nature of the measure take on a new meaning.
World health leaders meet in Geneva
“I believe the best days for health are ahead of us, not behind us,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in her address to the World Health Assembly.
Ethiopia plays host to 13th World Congress on Public Health
Public health is on the world stage this week during the 13th World Congress on Public Health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Through the theme, “Moving towards Global Health Equity: Opportunities and Threats,” the Congress is bringing together some 2,500 delegates representing more than 116 countries to focus on closing the gaps in global health inequities.
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Carters talk mental, global health at health journalism conference
Former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter discussed two of their life’s passions since leaving the White House — mental health and global health — in remarks before the Association of Health Care Journalists conference Thursday in Atlanta.
Healthy Aging Symposium focuses on maximizing the golden years
“Good health adds life to years.” That was the theme of April 7’s World Health Day, as well as today’s Healthy Aging Symposium hosted by the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, D.C.
Cuba reveals lessons for public health delegation
With longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality than the U.S., Cuba’s health system recently offered a visiting APHA delegation new perspective. Photo courtesy Patrick Johnson
Global campaign takes aim at health hazards of cookstoves
Inefficient cookstoves are linked to 2 million yearly deaths worldwide and pose a public health threat to the world’s poorest people, particularly low-income women and children. Read how global health advocates are working for solutions in a story from the March 2012 issue of The Nation's Health newspaper.
Global leaders approve political declaration at UN summit
The nation's first high-level meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations concluded this week with the approval of a political declaration that aims to curb the threat of the world's leading causes of death. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association and Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow in Public...
Global health leaders focus on “new challenge diseases”
International public health leaders and practitioners gathered last week at the 38th annual Global Health Council Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year’s theme was entitled “Securing a Healthier Future in a Changing World” with the focus on non-communicable diseases. According to the World Health Organization, the four main non-communicable diseases...
