Recommended Readings, April 24, 2009

(photo credit: half alive)

This week saw a lot of new commissions and initiatives starting up. We'll see how many of them actually last and/or do something useful.

First up, a major new alliance has formed to look at causes of stillbirth and preterm pregnancy. They're going to have a conference in May, and do a major review of published and unpublished literature on the topic. Honestly, it seems like an odd initiative to me. Stillbirth and premature birth are both effects that can come from a huge range of causes. They can't be pinned down to just one infection or disease. I am not sure what focusing on one particular cluster of effects will yield. On the other hand, maybe the broad literature review will turn up some major theme that no one had noticed.

Next, we now have a Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Smart Global Health Policy. It is co-chaired by Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE, and Admiral William J. Fallon, former Commander of both the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command. (Fallon, as you may recall, way the very sane and engaged CENTCOM commander who torpedoed his career with a fawning Esquire profile.) Apparently, it is going to develop a comprehensive strategy for spending the $10 billion allocated every year for global health aid. The idea of a high-level commission looking at big issues, like whether we focus too much on Africa and HIV, is kind of exciting. But only time will tell what kind of analysis they give us and whether anyone listens to their recommendations.

Finally, African's first ladies went to LA for a gala in support of US doctors for Africa and an African First Ladies Health Summit. They were asked to become champions for maternal health. They were urged to visit the facilities where women give birth, and advocate for safe birth for every woman. In a speech at the summit, Sarah Brown called for putting women and girls at the center of health system strengthening. Jill Sheffield called for optimism and progress:

Here's the good news - we know what to do about maternal mortality. We know from twenty years of research what the major causes and what the solutions are. And we also know the costs of NOT investing in those solutions. The best news: nearly all mothers' deaths from pregnancy worldwide are needless. And they are preventable. And they are preventable at a very affordable cost. No woman should die in the process of giving life to another human being.

As you know, actually implementing things that we already know to work is dear to my heart as well. I think that the African First Ladies Health Summit could be a genius publicity effort for US Doctors for Africa (who I had certainly never heard of before) or a lead to genuine and effective advocacy by first ladies for better maternal care. Either way I have no real objections.