Much of the discussion surrounding President Barack Obama's proposed fee on financial institutions to help cut the U.S. deficit overlooks how similar revenue-generating ideas could close the glaring gaps in the global fight against several health emergencies. Even though the past decade has seen a dramatic increase in efforts and funds dedicated to global health programs -- governments and private sources contributed upwards of $22 billion in 2007 -- huge shortfalls exist.

Dear Minister Thomas (and Ambassador Goosby), You know, I guess after decades of being an empire, the British can't give up easily. On 9th March, DfiD is hosting a high-level meeting in London, with the heads of UNAIDS, the Global Fund, PEPFAR, and African ministers to decide the fate of AIDS in Africa. It's clearly a framing meeting, to decide what the "new" message is that will come out at the next G-8 and G-20 meetings, and that message to millions of people with AIDS in Africa is:
1) you're not invited to these discussions--you don't count enough to be part of the decision-making about your own lives--we know what's best for you;
2) AIDS treatment is dead. "While we want a strong focus on prevention, we need to see UA clearly guiding the prevention focus.

Pleased to see that the recent posts about the UN ESC Rights Committee are becoming more than just words. The comments and ideas are transforming into a campaign for reform of the UN - where it goes I don't know but it's good, so good to see people taking the initiative and not just talking talking blogging blogging. I am ready for action to help this campaign advance.

With the debate over health-care reform in the United States stretching into its second year, Americans are focusing intently on domestic rather than global health issues. But, since taking office, President Barack Obama has introduced a new vision of how to help other countries combat disease and health-care inequality.

THE UN High Commissioner for Refugees has attacked as "discriminatory" Australia's policy of screening asylum-seekers for HIV. The regional office of the UN agency wants Australia to scrap its health requirement for refugees. "The present operation of the health requirement is discriminatory in effect and endangers a number of human rights norms," it says in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into Australia's treatment of disabled migrants.

With AIDS growing among seniors, decline in brain function a serious concern, researchers say. Premature aging is striking the brains of people infected with the virus that causes AIDS, new research suggests. It's not clear if the virus or the drugs that treat it -- or both -- are contributing to the aging. But one thing is clear: The blood flow in HIV patients is about the same as in those of uninfected people who are 15 to 20 years older. "The graying of the AIDS patient community makes this infection's effects on the brain a significant source of concern," study author Dr. Beau Ances, an assistant professor of neurology at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a university news release.

EU to probe pharma over “false pandemic”
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to hold an emergency debate and inquiry this month into the “influence” exerted by drugmakers on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global H1N1 flu campaign.

The UN committee on economic social cultural rights appears to have no experience, much less any expertise, on issues relating to the right to health, according to my study of all 18 members CVs which are online. Over the last few decades, health activists have made a major impact on turning the right to health into treatment and care for millions in need, and improved the way governments have responded to both pandemics and neglected diseases. Health activists must be involved in UN Rights Committee, and have the possibility of representation through NGO seats on this mechanism. We must advocate strongly for our place at the table.

The forthcoming elections for the UN's Committee on Economic Social Cultural Rights are a spotlight on both the lack of fair representation in this part of the UN family, and on the inability of the UN to adopt best practices from other 'family members'. Most of this committee's members are too connected with their governments to be fair and just in their review of human rights issues. The Committee should welcome the participation of civil society organisations by allocating two representative places for NGO delegates, elected through an open and transparent process. One place could be from 'northern' NGOs and the other from the 'Global South'.