London School Of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine Audio News - Lshtm Podcast

ATLANTA—A new map showing the distribution of the eye infection trachoma promises to help overcome this leading cause of blindness, according to a report at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia (November 3-7, 2010). Jennifer Smith of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine talks about the map and discusses the practical steps that can be taken to overcome trachoma.

The survey of dengue fever — being conducted in Sri Lanka by the Ministry of Health with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine — provides much-needed data for fighting the disease, according to dengue pioneer Duane Gubler, from Duke-University NUS Medical School in Singapore, speaking at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia (November 3-7, 2010). He explains how an accurate survey of the disease makes it possible to probe the changing nature of the mosquito-borne dengue virus, develop effective treatments, help plan for the elimination of vectors, and develop a vaccine.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: Malaria Drug Resistance: Hopes, Fears and Facts The battle to stay ahead of malaria drug resistance is far from over, according to experts speaking at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia (November 3-7, 2010). After chairing a session on drug resistance Rachel Hallett of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine summarised progress made in research from Burkina Faso, Zambia, the United States, Australia, London, and Tanzania.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: The Energy Glut: Why Fossil Fuels Are Bad For You And For The Planet Obesity is an environmental problem with fossil fuel energy use at its heart, according to Professor Ian Roberts of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who discusses data from his new book: ‘The Energy Glut’, co-written by his colleague Dr Phil Edwards. He explains why we get fatter while the planet gets hotter if we choose to travel by car instead of walking, cycling or using public transport.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: Dengue Surveillance Among Children In Sri Lanka: Essential Data To Guide Policy Surveillance of dengue infection among children in Sri Lanka is providing practical assistance to the global effort to combat this neglected — but nevertheless costly and potentially fatal — disease, according to research presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia (November 3-7, 2010). Hasitha Tissera from the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discusses the progress they’ve made in understanding this mosquito-borne viral disease, and urges greater international efforts to provide a vaccine and better treatments.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News Hygiene, Sanitation, Water Supply: Forgotten Foundations of Health Diarrhoeal diseases killing millions of babies around the world each year could be prevented by providing good toilets, lavatories or latrines: especially when designed with full participation of local communities so that they are suitable and get used. That’s according to Sandy Cairncross, Professor of Environmental Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine — co-author of a series of articles just published in the on-line journal: Public Library of Science – Medicine. He discusses the importance of good sanitation and water supplies.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: So You Want To Be An Expert In Global Health? How do you know if you are the right kind of person to specialise in Global Health following on from your degree or other professional qualification? According to experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine your background could be from any of a number of key skills: including science and medicine, but also business, economics, mathematics, diplomacy, politics, history, psychology and almost any key skill needed to help develop low and middle income countries. After taking part in a symposium on careers in Global Health Andy Haines, Brian Greenwood, Peter Godfrey-Faussett, Martin McKee, Clare Gilbert, Ian Roberts and Sharon Huttly — all key members of the London School staff — talked about their experience and gave their views on what it takes to become one of the key professionals now needed to help meet the challenge of fulfilling global development needs.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: World Celebrates Global Handwashing Day: How To Avoid Poo, Excrement, Faeces Val Curtis of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine explains how we can save millions of live by washing our hands after going to the toilet, and especially before eating food. She was talking at a party for primary school children held in London’s Science Museum to celebrate Global Handwashing Day, where Grace Mukasa chief executive of AMREF (African Medical And Research Foundation) and perfume expert Kate Williams from the Seven Scent company add their comments on how best to help children learn the habit of washing their hands.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News: New Director Defines London School's Global Health Agenda Professor Peter Piot, incoming Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has announced clear objectives for tackling the world's health challenges and delivering good health for all. From his perspective as a key leader in the global fight against AIDS and former Director of UNAIDS, research scientist working in several African countries, co-discoverer of the Ebola virus, and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, he talks about the importance to him of joining the London School.

The Lancet, The London International Development Centre and The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Meet To Discuss Goals Beyond 2015. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — the internationally agreed targets for reducing hunger around the world and promoting health and education — are in need of revision beyond their target date of 2015, it emerged from a symposium held at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The meeting was held jointly by the London International Development Centre (LIDC) and the medical journal: The Lancet to launch a commission of experts to formulate future development policy. Jeff Waage, Director of the LIDC, Andrew Dorward, Professor of Development Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and Ricardo Uauy, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Chile in Santiago and The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, discuss their opinions about the policy directions which need to be followed.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Audio News Pioneers Of Medicine? Take A Walk Around The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Ros Stanwell Smith invites you to walk around the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Keppel Street, in the part of London's West End known as Bloomsbury. She points out the names of famous heroes of public health inscribed on the School building, as well as discussing some who have different links with the School. History professor at the School, Virginia Berridge adds her thoughts about some of the significant personalities responsible for improving health for all in Britain and all around the world.

Without better lavatories and safe water we will fail to meet the Millennium Development Goals, according to a new report published by the charity WaterAid from researchers in Zambia, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Uganda, East Timor, the USA and Great Britain. The authors say that millions of lives are being lost because of governments’ and aid agencies’ “blind-spots” – leading to sanitation being ignored. International expert on sanitation, Sandy Cairncross Professor of Environmental Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, discusses the report with Peter Goodwin.

Lower outdoor temperatures were associated with greater numbers of patients being admitted to British hospitals with heart attacks – according to research published in the British Medical Journal gathered from records of 84 000 patients admitted with heart attacks between 2003 and 2006. Krishnan Bhaskaran of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discusses his group’s finding of an increase of up to 200 heart attacks per day for every one degree Celsius reduction of temperature.

A global atlas of worm infections has been launched by scientists working in London and Nairobi. Simon Brooker of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine tells Peter Goodwin about “This Wormy World”, a new on-line atlas that makes it easier for health workers to plan campaigns – such as programmes for de-worming school children – to reduce the burden of worm infections in areas most affected.

Tim Nicholson of the Campaign for Greener Healthcare talks about the aims of the 10:10 Campaign conducted by organisations volunteering to reduce carbon emissions by at least 10 per cent in a 12 month period; Fiona Godlee Editor in Chief of the British Medical Journal discusses her publication’s involvement with raising awareness of climate change issues over the years and how they’ve achieved success so far as a 10:10 Campaign member; Paul Wilkinson of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine discusses the practical ways in which the School is rising to the challenge of meeting the first 12-month target and then going on to cut emissions in half by the year 2020 and 90% by 2040.

The “London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Got Talent” competition has generated a glittering array of ideas for promoting public health. It’s been funded from the Gates Award made to the School in 2009. The organiser, Professor Hazel Dockrell discusses some of the winning entries and explains how the School’s global network of students and alumni have been able to work together to create the original projects submitted to the competition.

Scientists in London have made important progress in the global battle against leprosy. This ancient disease – still a scourge today – can be avoided, treated, or cured if psychological and educational barriers can be overcome. That’s according Diana Lockwood who recently gave her inaugural lecture as Professor of Tropical Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The lecture was entitled: “Leprosy: Puzzles, Perils and Prejudices in the 21st Century”. Diana Lockwood talks with Anna Lacey.

When young mothers die, their children up to the age of ten have a very high risk of dying too. This has been found from research in an area of Bangladesh where around 150,000 births were monitored and followed up between 1982 and 2005. Three out of four children died before reaching 10 years of age among those whose mothers had died, compared with one in ten dying by age ten with a mother still living. Professor Carine Ronsmans discusses her study – published in The Lancet medical journal – which also found that losing a father made no difference to the child’s chances of survival. Carine Ronsmans talks with Peter Goodwin.

Tens of thousands of injury victims could be saved each year from bleeding to death, according to research just released in the medical journal: The Lancet. Scientist studying 20 000 patients taking part in the CRASH-2 trial in 274 hospitals in 40 countries have found that a simple, cheap, drug – normally used to stem the flow of blood during surgery – could save as many as 100 000 lives each year among the more than half a million victims of injury around the world. Scientists Ian Roberts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Tim Coats from Leicester University, gave a press briefing in London – together with anaesthetist Jorge Mejia from Colombia and the Director of the World Health Organisation’s Department for Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability, Etienne Krug – to discuss the importance of the CRASH-2 findings in terms of saving lives at low cost around the world. Ian Roberts tells Peter Goodwin more about why these findings are important for emergency medicine around the

British children of Indian ethnic origin have fewer mental health problems than the white children they grow up with, according to new research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Anna Goodman tells Peter Goodwin more about why these findings might be important for increasing well-being among children of all ethnic groups.