In this month's Bulletin
WHO 60th anniversary commemorative volume
This month’s cover shows a classic public health poster on schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that still affects about 200 million people despite five decades of prevention and control programmes. In an editorial, Myra Taylor (738) introduces three papers on current schistosomiasis control efforts: Xun-Ya Hou et al. (788–795) evaluate different combinations of drugs used to treat acute schistosomiasis in China; Veronica L Tallo et al. (765–771) examine the factors that determine participation in a mass chemotherapy programme in the Philippines; and Seydou Touré et al. (780–787) report on praziquantel treatment for schoolchildren in Burkina Faso.
In an interview (747–748), Dr Halfdan Mahler, director-general of WHO from 1973 to 1988, reminisces about the Declaration of Alma-Ata and talks about his hopes for the revival of ‘health for all’. In a news feature, Fiona Fleck (745–746) reports on the origins of the landmark primary health care conference that took place 30 years ago in Soviet Kazakhstan.
France: adapting to changing times
Nira Datta (743–744) reports on the vital role that rural doctors continue to play in delivering primary health care.
India: home visits help babies survive
Abdullah H Baqui et al. (796–804) show that more babies survive when community workers make home visits soon after birth.
Mexico: paying more attention to adolescents
Research by G Borges et al. (757–764) reveals inadequate mental health services for adolescents in Mexico City.
Panama: poisoning by cough syrup
E Danielle Rentz et al. (749–756) investigate an outbreak of acute renal failure.
International recruitment of health workers
In an editorial, Manuel Dayrit et al. (739) describe the evolution of WHO’s code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel.
Chile: surgical treatment of morbid obesity
Claudia Bambs et al. (813–814) call for broader access to bariatric surgery in treating the rising numbers of morbidly obese people.
Angola: technology changes the answers
In an editorial, Karen Cheng (740) calls for careful use of technology when collecting responses in low-income settings.
Yemen: turning over a new leaf
Leen Al-Mugahed (741–742) reports on the social and health consequences of khat chewing.
Estimating the global extent of human herpesvirus 2 infections
Katharine J Looker et al. (805–812) estimate that more than 500 million people have been exposed to this virus (known formerly as herpes simplex type 2).
Poverty reduction stalled
Marco Palma-Solís et al. (772–779) examine countries’ lack of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty.