Health As International Politics : Combating Communicable Diseases in the Baltic Sea Region

Sub-Saharan Africa is a region devastated by HIV/AIDS. The extent of the epidemic is only now becoming clear, as increasing numbers of people with HIV are becoming ill. In the absence of massively expanded prevention, treatment and care efforts, the AIDS death toll on the continent is set to escalate rapidly. Despite progress being achieved in localized settings, the alarming statistics reflect the continuing failure of advanced countries to mount a response that matches the scale and severity of the African HIV/AIDS crisis. Over and above the colossal personal suffering, the dire social and economic consequences for fragile nation-states are already being felt, not only in health but in education, industry, agriculture, transport, human resources and economies in general. Countries already crippled by drought, poverty, debt, forced migration and civil war must now contend with massive deterioration in child survival rates and life expectancy, the erosion of the economic family base, massive and insupportable demands on health and public services, chronic labour shortages and volatile national security. Through a critical and detailed exploration of specific case studies, this invaluable volume brings together an unparalleled array of international contributors to redefine the political and economic contours of this calamitous epidemic. It examines the impact of the shortfalls in the'Global Fund'allocation, the slow pace of administrative processing of aid and the weaknesses of institutional responses to the crisis from African countries and their partners in the global health community. It is essential reading for all concerned with public health, epidemiology, HIV/AIDS research, globalization, development, Africa and indeed our shared future. Features include: ” Unique assessments of HIV/AIDS and its impact on democracy and governance in African states ” Wide-ranging regional and country studies by the foremost thinkers in their fields ” Multi-disciplinary contributions from areas including: Politics, Sociology, Public Health and Development Studies ” Compelling and convincing evidence, thematic in approach ” Innovative and culturally specific insights for long-term planning, care and support Through A Critical And Detailed Exploration Of Specific Case Studies, This Volume Brings Together An Array Of International Contributors To Redefine The Political And Economic Contours Of This Calamitous Epidemic. It Examines The Impact Of The Shortfalls In The 'global Fund' Allocation, The Slow Pace Of Administrative Processing Of Aid And The Weaknesses Of Institutional Responses To The Crisis From African Countries And Their Partners In The Global Health Community. It Is Essential Reading For All Concerned With Public Health, Epidemiology, Hiv/aids Research, Globalization, Development, Africa And Indeed Our Shared Future.--jacket. Responding To Aids In Crisis Situations / Alan Whiteside -- Legitimate Actors? The Future Roles For Ngos Against Hiv/aids In Sub-saharan Africa / Douglas Webb -- Confronting Aids With Debt: Africa's Silent Crisis / Nana K. Poku -- Aids-related Famine In Africa: Questioning Assumptions And Developing Frameworks / Alex De Waal -- Cultural Hazards Facing Young People In The Era Of Hiv/aids: Specificity And Change / Carolyn Baylies -- Hiv/aids: The Nigerian Response / Morenike Folayan -- Hiv/aids And South Africa's National Security / Robert L. Ostergard, Jr. And Matthew R. Tubin -- What People Really Believe About Hiv/aids In Southern Africa / Alan Whiteside ... [et Al.] -- The Hiv/aids Pandemic In Botswana: Implications For The African Miracle / Ian Taylor -- Uganda And The Challenge Of Hiv/aids / Daniel Low-beer And Rand Stoneburner -- The Impact Of Hiv/aids On Democracy In Southern Africa: What Do We Know, What Need To Know, And Why? -- Robert Mattes And Ryann Manning -- Conclusion / Alan Whiteside And Nana K. Poku. Edited By Nana K. Poku And Alan Whiteside. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The general assumption throughout history has been that a growing population is beneficial for societies. By the mid-1960s, however, the United States and other developed countries became convinced that population control was an absolute necessity, especially in the developing world. This study explains why population control is no longer the focus of global population policy and why reproductive rights and health have become the major focus. The book highlights the role that the US and other developed countries play in affecting global population policy, looking in particular at the stance of the George W. Bush administration since taking office. It also studies the influence of the UN as an international forum and explores how civil society questioned the ethics of population control. Global Population Policy will appeal to a wide audience, including readers in the fields of women's studies, development politics and international relations."--BOOK JACKET The general assumption throughout history has been that a growing population is beneficial for societies. By the mid-1960s, however, the United States and other developed countries became convinced that population control was an absolute necessity, especially in the developing world. This absorbing study explains why population control is no longer the focus of global population policy and why reproductive rights and health have become the major focus. The book highlights the role that the US and other developed countries play in affecting global population policy, looking in particular at the stance of the George W. Bush administration since taking office. It also studies the influence of the UN as an international forum and explores how civil society questioned the ethics of population control. Global Population Policy will appeal to a wide audience, including readers in the fields of women's studies, development politics and international relations. "This perceptive book highlights the need for cooperation between major organizations - whether intergovernmental, commercial or nongovernmental - to ensure developing countries have access to affordable medicines and vaccines, in spite of their different mandates and interests. Yves Beigbeder reviews specific areas of international public health issues and programmes from the vantage point of one particular intergovernmental organization - the World Health Organization. He includes studies on the value and risks of public-private partnerships, the access of poor populations to essential drugs and the fight against malaria and tuberculosis and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Further chapters focus on polio eradication, onchocerciasis control, alliances for vaccines and immunization, the promotion of breastfeeding, and the struggle against the tobacco industry."--BOOK JACKET

the Acceptance By The United Nations And The World Health Organization Of Profit-seeking Entities As Partners Along With The Governments They Serve And The Non-governmental Organizations That They Share Goals And Values With, Raises Questions About The Extent And Limits Of The Permissible Interaction With Those Entities In Formulating And Making Decisions, Says Beigbeder (webster U., Geneva, Switzerland). She Reviews Specific International Public Health Issues And Programs From The Perspective Of The Who, And Surveys Its Interaction And That Of Other Intergovernmental Organizations With Profit-seeking Enterprises, Business-issued Foundations, And International Ngos As Monitors, Critics, And Advocates. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, Or

"In recent years, health has become a pressing issue in international politics - a development which has been reflected in the growth of academic literature on the subject. The emergence of new (and re-emergence of old) infectious diseases since the early 1990s has attracted scholarly interest from various fields of investigation. At the same time, in a European context, the dramatic rise in tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in some former East Bloc countries has been a cause of particular concern. This timely work provides a detailed account of how the states around the Baltic Sea have met the challenge of communicable diseases and used health issues as an instrument in their foreign policy more widely."--Provided by publisher.