Publications about NGOs and IGOs

Lancet: issue on health equity

08 Nov 2008 | The 8 November issue of The Lancet (vol. 372, no. 9650, pp. 1607+) focuses in particular on the global movement to address the social determinants of health that is gathering pace. The Lancet contributes to this campaign by publishing evidence that can help to reduce health inequalities within and between countries [registration required.] The issue was timed to coincide with the Commission on Social Determinants of Health conference in London (see http://www.csdhconference.org/).

Global Burden of Disease 2004 (update)

27 Oct 2008 | This update report from the WHO details the top 10 causes of death and provides estimates for over 130 disease and injury causes, providing a comprehensive picture of the global and regional state of health. It compares deaths, diseases, and injuries by region, age, sex and country income for the year 2004 and projects deaths and burden of disease by cause and region to the year 2030. The report provides policy-makers with useful information to guide strategies and cost-effective interventions aimed at improving health.

World Health Report 2008

14 Oct 2008 | The 2008 World Health Report, 'Primary Health Care – Now More Than Ever’, suggests the steering of health systems towards better performance through a return to primary health care, a holistic approach to health formally launched 30 years ago at the Alma-Ata International Conference on Primary Health Care.

Beyond 'Smoking kills' | 4.8 MB

07 Oct 2008 | This report, subtitled 'Protecting children, reducing inequalities', is published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), in collaboration with the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and endorsed by over 100 health and welfare organisations. It calls on the UK government to introduce a comprehensive tobacco control strategy which could help a further 4.5 million smokers to quit by 2015 by: a) requiring plain packaging for all tobacco products (research in the report shows that young people are between 3 and 4 times less likely to pick a plain pack as a branded one if they were trying smoking for the first time); b) prohibiting the display of tobacco products in shops; c) clamping down on smuggling; and d) giving smokers access to safer non-tobacco alternatives to smoking

Closing the gap in a generation

28 Aug 2008 | This link is to the final report of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 'Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health'. The document is downloadable from this page (10MB), or sections can be downloaded separately. It is the culmination of a three-year investigation by an eminent group of policy makers, academics, former heads of state and former ministers of health.

World Health Statistics 2008

20 May 2008 | This link is to the WHO's most recent (4th edition) health statistics, including 10 highlights in health statistics and an expanded set of over 70 key health indicators. It includes, for the first time, trend data where the statistics are available and of acceptable quality.

WHO: Implementing global strategy | 91.1 kB

18 Apr 2008 | This document, 'Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy - Report by the Secretariat', includes in an annex a 'Draft action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases'. It sets out objectives, actions, a time frame and performance indicators for Member States, the Secretariat and international partners in order to guide their work on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases between 2008 and 2013 at global and regional levels.

Sydney Resolution | 39.4 kB

27 Feb 2008 | This is a global call to action, delivered at the OxHA Summit '08 in Sydney. it aims to inspire corporations, governments, financial institutions, donor agencies and others to build a healthy future. it was informed and shaped by collaboration online prior to the Summit, and then discussed and finalised at the Summit.

MPOWER report on tobacco control

07 Feb 2008 | This WHO 'Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008 - The MPOWER package' presents 'the first comprehensive worldwide analysis of tobacco use and control efforts. It provides countries with a roadmap to reverse the devastating global tobacco epidemic that could kill up to one billion people by the end of this century'. The report outlines a set of six tobacco control measures (the MPOWER package) that reflect and build on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The tide might be turning

07 Nov 2007 | This article in Bulletin von Medicus Mundi Schweiz (no. 106, November 2007) by Derek Yach and Stig Pramming of OxHA, highlights significant recent developments that suggest the tide might be turning in favour of sustainable support for chronic disease prevention and control.

Model for global health governance | 72.3 kB

11 Jul 2007 | Article by Lawrence Gostin in JAMA 298(2), pp. 225+, 'Meeting the Survival Needs of the World’s Least Healthy People: A Proposed Model for Global Health Governance'. Such a model would 'would represent a historical shift in global health, with broadly imagined global governance. The initial framework would establish the key modalities, with a strategy for subsequent protocols on each of the most important governance parameters.'

Chronic diseases in Africa | 985.8 kB

30 Jun 2007 | Presentation by Dr Louazani, 'The burden of chronic diseases in the African region', given at the WDF Diabetes Summit Africa in June 2007.

Health and economic challenge of diabetes | 7.4 MB

30 Jun 2007 | Presentation by Dr. Paul Zimmet, 'The Global Health And Economic Challenge Posed By Diabetes & Associated Disorders', at the WDF Diabetes Summit Africa in June 2007.

WHO Global Strategy presentation | 2.2 MB

30 Jun 2007 | Presentation given by Boureima Sambo on behalf of Dr Timothy Armstrong, 'Prevention of chronic diseases – WHO Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health', at the WDF Diabetes Summit Africa in June 2007.

Reducing salt intake in populations | 490.8 kB

01 Apr 2007 | This report of a WHO Forum and Technical Meeting held in October 2006 provides a potential roadmap for governments to initiate effective public-health action in developing countries to reduce population salt intake.

WHO: Top 10 causes of death | 317.0 kB

01 Feb 2007 | This factsheet was published by WHO in February 2007, and provides statistics on leading causes of death in 2002 by income group, and also gives projections for the expected leading causes of death in 2005. Stroke and/or coronary disease are the leading causes of death in all three categories - high-, middle- and low-income countries.

Physical activity and health in Europe | 1.0 MB

30 Nov 2006 | Subtitled 'Evidence for action', this report by WHO Europe is a companion to 'Promoting physical activity and active living in urban environments: the role of local governments'. It details why physical activity is important to health, the factors that influence physical activity, and what can be done to increase it. Short case studies are provided throughout, and there are extensive references.

European Charter on Obesity | 136.9 kB

18 Nov 2006 | This document was adopted in November 2006 by the member states of the WHO European Region, at the European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity in Istanbul. The goal of the Charter is: 'Visible progress, especially relating to children and adolescents, should be achievable in most countries in the next 4-5 years and it should be possible to reverse the trend by 2015 at the latest'. Reaching this goal requires specific, targeted action across many sectors

Turning a new leaf | 936.2 kB

13 Jul 2006 | 'Turning a new leaf: women, tobacco and the future' is a report by the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and the International Network of Women Against Tobacco, which details the many adverse effects of tobacco on the health and wellbeing of women and girls.

WHO report on Marketing to Children | 495.5 kB

07 May 2006 | Marketing of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children is a report by a WHO Forum and Technical Meeting held in Oslo in May 2006. It includes an update on the regulatory environment around this issue, and some country studies.