WHO Moves for Health On January 17, 2002 the Executive Board of WHO approved a resolution on diet, physical activity and health. In effect, the Executive Board urges member states to collaborate with WHO in developing a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health for the prevention and control on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) based on evidence and best practices. Special emphasis should be given to integrated approaches. These approaches would promote health and reduce the common risks of NCDs that stem from poor diet and physical inactivity through essential public health action and integration of preventive measures in the functions of health services. Strategies would involve all sectors, including civil society and the food industry. WHO will identify and address major international issues that influence nutrition and physical activity, including advertising and mass communication, world trade agreements, food labelling, novel foods, urban planning and transportation - not a small task. The adoption of this resolution is follow-up to an informal consultation on diet and physical activity in prevention of NCDs convened in Geneva in September 2001, chaired by Phil James. WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has recently announced that the theme for World Health Day in May 2002 will be agita mundo, or move for health!
Contact information: www.who.org
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria Just as SCN News goes to press, The Global Fund has announced the first round of grants to be awarded in April, 2002. The Fund was set up last year to combat these three diseases that kill a daunting six million people every year. The Fund brings together private donors, NGOs, foundations, national governments and intergovernmental organizations. The Fund will finance plans developed through country partnerships in severely affected countries as well as in areas with growing epidemics. It will also support plans in countries that have demonstrated the highest level political commitment to eradicating these diseases. Its approach will be integrated, covering prevention, treatment and care and support. Proposals will be funded rapidly, with minimum red tape, but with enough safeguards to make sure funds are used responsibly and effectively. Some $1.9b has been pledged to the Fund so far. Although an earlier press release had indicated that one tenth of the Fund’s resources would be earmarked for nutrition security, SCN News has been unable to obtain any more information on the Fund’s interest in nutrition.
Contact information: www.globalfundatm.org
SCN NEWS has not covered issues of food safety in any depth in recent years. News from the first ever Global Forum on Food Safety, which just closed in Marrakesh, is a reminder that perhaps this is an oversight. The Global Forum on Food Safety was convened to seek ways to improve the safety of food worldwide at every step of the food production chain, from farmers, through processors and retailers, to consumers. Some 300 participants from 120 countries and organisations presented and discussed their successes and mistakes in fighting foodborne disease. The overall aim is to capture lessons learned and help countries improve their food safety strategies and systems, and ultimately reduce the large foodborne disease burden. According to FAO and WHO, more than two million people, principally children, die every year from diarrhea caused by consuming contaminated food and water. Even in industrialized countries, as much as one third of the population experiences foodborne disease every year. Dr. Brundtland, WHO Director General, noted that many countries are reporting significant increases in foodborne disease. The main hazards are well identified and there are proven, cost-effective measures that protect populations against them. Some countries have intensified efforts against certain pathogens, and have obtained good results in five to ten years. The first step is for a government to set food safety high on the political agenda. Food safety problems can have serious consequences on a country’s economy (Mad Cow disease cost the UK £3.4b between 1996-2000); they can hinder economic development. Food exports, an important source of foreign exchange and revenue, are refused if they do not meet the standards of importing countries resulting in the loss of jobs in the food and agricultural industries of developing countries. Productivity suffers because workers fall ill and international tourism cannot achieve its full potential.
Contact : www.foodsafetyforum.org/global
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Vacancy Announcement Refugee Nutrition Information System (RNIS) Coordinator Position available from 1 July 2002. This is a P-3, short term, 11-month professional post. The RNIS Coordinator works as part of the SCN Secretariat team, with special responsibility for emergency nutrition issues. She/he reports to the SCN Technical Secretary. Some field travel is required. The SCN Secretariat is hosted by the World Health Organization, located in Geneva. Terms of Reference are: 1. Research and write Refugee Nutrition Information System (RNIS) bulletins, published in hard copy quarterly by the SCN Secretariat, as well as electronic updates to the bulletins three to four times per year on rapidly emerging situations; research and write supplements on special topics. This work comprises compiling and interpreting data, managing a database, maintaining professional contact with survey data providers (NGOs, UN agencies, some bilateral organizations and others), assessing data quality; coordinating peer review of draft reports, keeping in touch with the readership and with donors to ensure that the RNIS remains relevant and current. The RNIS Coordinator also regularly reviews the dissemination of RNIS reports and helps to improve and extend outreach and circulation.Requirements: PhD in nutrition, or MSc and some field experience; excellent writing skills and a flair for networking; ability to work as part of a small, dynamic team. Keen interest in emergency nutrition and humanitarian issues. Applications should be sent by 30 April 2002 to: |
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Latest ACC/SCN Publications Nutrition: A Foundation for Development. 2002. This set of briefs is a result of the work of a number of individuals and reflects the international collaboration fostered by the ACC/SCN. The briefs are designed to facilitate dialogue between nutrition and development professionals. They are organized both as a complete packet of information and as stand-alone documents that make the case for integrating nutrition into the work of the development community. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS. Nutrition Policy Paper No. 20. October
2001. This Nutrition Policy Paper is based on the ACC/SCN Symposium on Nutrition and HIV/ AIDS held in Nairobi in April 2001, and is co-published with UNAIDS. The objective of the symposium was, firstly, to stimulate collaboration between the nutrition and HIV/AIDS communities. The second objective was to examine a broad range of nutrition issues that have a direct bearing on policies and programmes aimed at stemming the spread of HIV and mitigating the worst effects of AIDS. This report provides technical information, policy guidance and informal reflections. What Works? A Review of the Efficacy and Effectiveness of
Nutrition Improving nutrition in developing countries is both a humanitarian and an economic imperative. This publication, which is published in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, provides a systematic evaluation of what works and what does not with a review of the major nutrition problems in Asia, a review of supplementation and fortification efficacy and effectiveness trials, as well as an impact assessment of food-based approaches to improve maternal and child nutrition. It calls for a sensible level of investment in operations research and cost-effectiveness analysis to improve nutrition programming throughout the donor community and national budgets in developing countries. Download or order these publications on
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