In this month's Bulletin
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2010;88:161-161. doi: 10.2471/BLT.10.000310
Many papers in this issue address the special theme of communicable diseases in the South-East Asia region of the World Health Organization, which comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
In the lead editorial, Jai P Narain & R Bhatia (162) provide an overview of the challenges this region faces in dealing with communicable diseases. In a second editorial, Jacob Kumaresan & Nalini Sathiakumar (163) predict the impact that climate change will have on health in south-eastern Asia. A third editorial by Nani Nair et al. (164) discusses the challenges of tackling tuberculosis in this region.
In an interview, Prabhat Jha (171–172) tells why accurately counting the world’s dead is of great importance to public health. G Balakrish Nair & Jai P Narain (237–238) discuss the public health classic by De & Chatterje, published in 1953, that culminated in the discovery of the cholera toxin.
Asia: Eliminating neglected tropical diseases
Jai P Narain et al. (205–209) discuss the aim to eliminate leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis and yaws.
Asia: Is there enough money?
Indrani Gupta & Pradeep Guin (198–204) analyse whether funding for communicable diseases is adequate.
India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka & Thailand: Dengue control in Asian cities
Natarajan Arunachalam et al. (173–183) study the interplay of factors affecting breeding patterns of the dengue mosquito in six Asian cities.
Nepal: Reducing diarrhoea and pneumonia deaths
Madhu Ghimire et al. (216–221) describe how community-based programmes can reduce child deaths.
India: High hopes for cholera vaccine
Patralekha Chatterjee (165–166) reports on the trial of a new oral vaccine.
India: Antiretroviral therapy in an urban clinic
Surendra K Sharma et al. (222–226) consider how a high attrition rate could affect outcomes.
India: Global lessons in polio campaigns
Narendra K Arora et al. (232–234) call for local health workers to advise on campaign development.
India: Cholera reporting inadequate
S Kanungo et al. (184–190) find that notification of cholera cases is deficient.
Cambodia, India & Singapore: Good sanitation pays
Kathryn Senior (167–168) reports on a new approach to introduce toilets to communities.
Indonesia: Strengthening surveillance and response
I Nyoman Kandun et al. (210–215) describe the development of a field epidemiology training programme.
Republic of Korea: high-tech health care
Lee Ji-yoon (169–170) reports on how health care has improved significantly in the past 30 years.
Afghanistan: boost in family planning
Douglas Huber et al. (227–231) discuss how community health workers rapidly increased contraceptive use.
Ethiopia: khat chewing and road accidents
William Eckersley et al. (235–236) call for more research on the effects of the stimulant on drivers.
Reduction in maternal mortality
Buyanjargal Yadamsuren et al. (191–197) discuss reasons for a 47% reduction over seven years.