This issue of Directions in Global Health showcases PATH’s global presence. It highlights work related to influenza in Africa, HIV and AIDS in Eastern Europe,  Japanese encephalitis in Asia, gender-based violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, and diagnostic technologies in North America. The back cover features a map and summary information on PATH’s work around the world.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Directions in Global Health

This article, published in Human Vaccines (Human Vaccines 5:8, 1-7; August 2009), details a collaborative effort between PATH, Arecor, and the University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy that has resulted in a new formulation for recombinant hepatitis B vaccine that demonstrates improved stability at elevated temperatures. The formulation exhibited 9-week stability at 55°C and was also shown to be stable at both 37°C and 45°C for at least six months. This new vaccine formulation has the potential to be stored at room temperature for part of its shelf life and will help ensure the potency of the vaccine in areas where the cold chain is insufficient.

Author: Jezek J, Chen D, Watson L, et al.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Produced by project Optimize and the vaccine technologies team at PATH, this report: (1) summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the intradermal route for vaccine administration and the devices being developed for this purpose; (2) determines whether intradermal delivery broadly holds promise for vaccine applications for low- and middle-income countries in the future; and (3) begins to prioritize vaccine targets and device strategies that best fit the public health needs in these countries and likely merit further investigation. The document is available as one large file or as four smaller files for easier downloading.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Medical abortion—an approach that uses medication rather than surgical intervention to end a pregnancy—may be one way to help women get the safe services they need. Until recently, the two medications most widely approved for safe and effective medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol) were packaged and licensed separately. They are now licensed and packaged together as one product: Medabon®. This information package helps health care providers, program managers, policymakers, the media, and women understand the new product.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Project Optimize, a collaboration between the World Health Organization and PATH, has been given a unique mandate to think far into the future: to put technological and scientific advances to work, helping define the ideal characteristics and specifications for health products; and to create a vaccine supply chain that is flexible and robust enough to handle an increasingly large and costly portfolio of vaccines. This brochure provides an overview of Optimize's areas of focus and activities.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

In an effort to support community interventions and health service utilization, APHIA II Western produces the Community Health Volunteers Update to help reinforce HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, tuberculosis, diarrhea, maternal and child health, and malaria messages passed through community outreach activities and health facilities; stimulate public discussions; reinforce behavior change; and promote use of health services.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Africa

Part of series: APHIA II Western Community Health Volunteers Update

This issue of Outlook discusses the emerging chronic disease burden in developing countries with a focus on cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and the risk factor of obesity. The newsletter addresses relationships between chronic diseases and reproductive health, such as hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy, and contraceptive choice for women with cardiovascular conditions and risk factors.

Author: Drake JK

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Outlook

This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the Infant & Young Child Nutrition Project.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Global

This film in the BBC World’s Kill or Cure? series uncovers the challenges of preventing and treating cervical cancer in Africa and highlights exciting new opportunities for dramatically reducing the toll of disease. The BBC crew follows Sarah Nyombi—Ugandan member of parliament, trained midwife, and women's health advocate—as she explores the landscape of cervical cancer. The film is available in two versions: 25 minutes and 12 minutes.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Kill or Cure? videos

This fact sheet describes how the START-UP project is working with private-sector partners to develop two new tests that detect infection with the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer. Designed for use in low-resource settings, these screening tools are an innovative answer to the challenge of early detection of the precursors of cervical cancer.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Global

Sure Start is an initiative intended to catalyze sustainable improvements in maternal and newborn health through effective community action in selected districts of Uttar Pradesh and urban sites of Maharashtra, India. The Sure Start project has been designed to complement and support the Government of India’s commitment to improving maternal and newborn health. This fact sheet gives an overall picture and progress of the project to date.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Asia

Part of series: Sure Start publications

This document provides the overall framework and specific operational procedures for Ukraine’s health sector response to an influenza pandemic. Its prime objectives are to reduce the health impact of a pandemic and minimize disruption to health and other essential services while maintaining business continuity and reducing the disruption to society.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Global

This document is part of a series of project briefs discussing the activities, research findings, and field experiences of PATH’s Safe Water Project. The project briefs are available in two formats: one for onscreen viewing and one for booklet-style printing.

Author: Kols A

Publication date: June 2009

Region: Asia

Part of series: Safe water briefs

This case study highlights PATH's work with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and the Naandi Foundation to introduce rice fortified with iron-enriched grains into the government of India's Mid-day Meal Scheme in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The fortified rice was served daily for one school year to 60,000 children under the government-sponsored Mid-day Meal Scheme. A peer-reviewed study found that school children in India between the ages of 5 and 12 years who ate fortified rice had a significant increase in iron stores.

Publication date: June 2009

Region: Global

This table was developed under the Making Medical Injections Safer project, which PATH partners on in the areas of health care waste management (HCWM) and procurement technical assistance. The table provides brief summaries and contact information on many of the organizations that are actively engaged in HCWM throughout the developing world. It is intended to be a resource for country programs and governments seeking funding to support HCWM activities at the country level.

Publication date: June 2009

Region: Global

This document is intended to start discussions around quantifying the need for safe injection equipment and the amount of infectious sharps waste produced by testing and treatment programs for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The analysis was developed to support advocacy efforts to integrate injection safety as an essential element of all health care programs.

Publication date: June 2009

Region: Global

This four-page organizational brochure gives a quick overview of why PATH is dedicated to improving health for everyone.

Publication date: June 2009

Region: Global

PATH's 2008 annual report centers on the theme of solutions, illustrating how our programs translate the world's knowledge, skill, and capacity into solutions that truly meet the needs of the communities we serve. The report includes stories from the field and information about PATH's finances, locations, partners, and supporters.

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Annual reports

Target specifications for an anemia diagnostic were determined by surveying personnel in nutritional programs, and methods and analytes were derived from a literature review. Presented at: Second International Micronutrient Forum, Bejing, China.

Author: Crudder C, Metzler M, Garrett D, Boyle DS, Levin C

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

This document describes PATH’s approach to maximizing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of technologies through private-sector collaboration. A condensed version can be found here.

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global