SHARE:

 Like News from PATH on Facebook Tweet about News from PATH

VIEW ONLINE | FORWARD | SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE

 
 
News from PATH: Updates and resources for global health colleagues
 

A world without malaria

PATH tackles malaria from all angles.

PATH is tackling malaria from all angles, and our sights are set on banishing the parasite altogether. New content on our website describes how we’re pioneering a method in Zambia to eliminate malaria village by village, building tools to more swiftly develop a malaria vaccine, and creating a new synthetic drug to ensure a stable supply of the best treatment.

Visit our blog to read PATH president and CEO Steve Davis’ thoughts on a world without malaria and view a video about our comprehensive approach.

-

 

LEADERSHIP UPDATE

Amie Batson will join PATH next April as our chief strategy officer, a newly created position. Batson is currently the senior deputy assistant administrator for global health at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

-

 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Meningitis vaccine reaches 100 millionth person. This week the groundbreaking MenAfriVac™ vaccine hit a milestone in Nigeria, one of ten countries where people are receiving lifesaving protection against deadly meningitis A. The vaccine, developed by PATH and the World Health Organization (WHO) and introduced two years ago in Africa's meningitis belt, provides widespread protection against epidemic meningitis. It already has eliminated the disease in Burkina Faso.

MenAfriVac breaks “cold chain” barrier. The meningitis A vaccine is now approved for transport and storage outside the cold chain of proper refrigeration for up to four days, making it more possible to reach rural communities with potent vaccine.

RTS,S reduces malaria in African infants. Results from an ongoing phase 3 trial of the RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate in seven African countries show it reduced malaria episodes by one-third among infants ages 6 to 12 weeks. Last year, our researchers observed a 50 percent reduction in the number of episodes of malaria in children ages 5 to 17 months. The final set of trial data will be available in 2014.

Project will expand malaria diagnosis and treatment. PATH and our partners are leading a five-year global effort to improve services for malaria and other life-threatening diseases. The partnership, funded by USAID and the President’s Malaria Initiative, supports countries to scale up diagnostic testing and case management, enhance laboratory services, and improve health workers’ capacity to manage childhood illnesses.

Cervical cancer test poised for commercial market. The careHPV™ test, developed by QIAGEN in partnership with PATH, will be available for sale in China beginning next month. The DNA test is designed to quickly screen women for human papillomavirus (HPV)—the leading cause of cervical cancer—and enable health workers to provide treatment, if needed, during the same trip to the clinic.

Anti-diarrheal medication heads to phase 2 trial. An investigational new drug designed to reduce fluid loss and more quickly relieve diarrhea symptoms will proceed to the next phase of clinical trials in cholera patients in Bangladesh early next year. PATH's drug development program intends for the first-in-class synthetic drug to be used with oral rehydration therapy and to encourage wider adoption of and compliance with treatment.

PATH and Starbucks target clean water in Tanzanian coffee-growing communities. In a new collaboration with the Starbucks Foundation, PATH is working to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene systems in southwest Tanzania’s Mbeya district and reduce potentially fatal waterborne disease.

Fortified rice could become part of Cambodia food aid programs. PATH and partners are developing and testing a new version of our nutrient-enhanced Ultra Rice® fortification technology and exploring its inclusion in daily school meals for Cambodian children.

Malawi introduces rotavirus vaccine. The nation is the seventh African country to introduce the vaccine, which provides children the best available protection against severe and fatal rotavirus diarrhea. PATH supported the vaccine launch through our work with the GAVI Alliance’s Accelerated Vaccine Introduction initiative.

Poo Haiku calls attention to diarrheal disease. The three winning “pooets” in PATH’s second Poo Haiku contest sounded off on the ongoing global quest to control diarrhea, one of the leading causes of child deaths.

Why does the world need female condoms? Enter the Female Condoms Are ____ contest and tell us what they mean to you and your community. Submit a short film by March 1 for a chance at a cash prize and a screening at the Women Deliver 2013 conference.

-

 

NEW RESOURCES

  Perspectives magazine

 

Perspectives magazine features the top findings from our five-year project to improve access to safe water.

The Making Malaria History website is our platform for the global malaria community to share research results, timely data and resources for advocates, and evidence and field tools used in malaria-endemic countries.

An infographic makes the case for controlling pneumonia and diarrhea simultaneously to achieve the greatest impact in improving children’s health.

The 2010–2011 annual report from OneWorld Health, PATH’s drug development program, describes progress in advancing new treatments for malaria, diarrheal disease, and other neglected diseases.

A publication co-authored by PATH examines efforts by public- and private-sector partners to improve family planning access, equity, and sustainability in six countries.

Two documents about PATH’s work with HPV vaccines offer lessons learned from a pilot program in Vietnam and share practical experience in conducting formative research for planning an HPV vaccination program.

A fact sheet summarizes our work in Cambodia to integrate prevention and treatment options for diarrheal disease.

A fact sheet describes our work to improve the quality of and access to medical abortion services in Vietnam.

A brief explains how project Optimize—a partnership between PATH and WHO—helped Vietnam introduce new software to track its vaccine stock.

A new Pinterest account shares resources for advocating for improved child health.

View more resources in our online publications catalog.

-

 

ADVOCACY AND POLICY NOTES

Core group of medicines could save 70,000 women’s lives, advocates say. At a roundtable discussion, PATH staff and colleagues from other organizations emphasized to US policymakers the need to reach more women with essential medicines for protection during pregnancy and childbirth. The discussion followed the launch of PATH’s policy report on maternal health supplies. Read more on the Wilson Center’s New Security Beat blog.

Kenya expands community access to key diarrhea medicine. As a result of advocacy by PATH and our partners, Kenya reclassified zinc from a prescription medicine to an over-the-counter treatment, allowing caregivers to quickly access the micronutrient to treat children with diarrheal disease.

-

MenAfriVac is a trademark of Serum Institute of India Ltd. Ultra Rice is a registered US trademark of Bon Dente International, Inc.

-

December 2012

 

IN THIS ISSUE

 

ON OUR BLOG

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Dr. Kent Campbell, head of our Malaria Control Program, is honored by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene for his lifetime achievement in the fight against malaria.

Seattle Magazine names PATH CEO Steve Davis “one to watch” among Seattle’s most influential people in 2012.

 

 

IN THE NEWS

Yes, we can eliminate malaria, writes Dr. Kent Campbell on CNN.

The Washington Post reports on interim study results of the RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate.

Steve Davis writes on the ONE blog and Impatient Optimists about the 100 millionth dose of meningitis vaccine.

 

 

DONOR CORNER

 

OTHER PATH LINKS

Interact with PATH on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Learn about PATH’s work in action.

View employment opportunities at PATH and follow our jobs stream on Twitter.

Email us with your postal address to subscribe to PATH’s print newsletter, Directions in Global Health.

Sign up for PATH’s other e-newsletters.

 

Photo: PATH/Laura Newman.

 

 
PATH - A catalyst for global health

Mail: PO Box 900922 | Seattle, WA 98109 USA
Street: 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200 | Seattle, WA 98121 USA
Tel: 206.285.3500 | Fax: 206.285.6619
www.path.org | info@path.org