I am now a weekly contributor to the Change.org Global Health blog. Here is a link to my first post, “Can a piece of cloth keep girls in school?“
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 CDC/Mary Hilpertshauser
Pardon me for blogging about a topic like handwashing outside of the established global health calendar. I just could not wait until the next Global Handwashing Day (Oct 15 if you were wondering). Diarrhea is a leading cause of death for children under the age of five in developing countries — second only to pneumonia. This 2009 UNICEF report puts it bluntly: diarrhea “kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.” Oral rehydration salts and zinc tablets save lives, but prevention is key to averting 1.5 million under five deaths per year. A whopping 88 percent of all diarrheal deaths worldwide can be linked to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Resources + Environment + Behavior = Health. Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective prevention tools, but habits are hard to change — everywhere, including U.S. hospitals. The Mayo Clinic recommends 20 seconds of vigorous washing (or two rounds of “Happy Birthday” according to the CDC — and who doesn’t love to sing this classic?). Add on time for rinsing and drying and you approach 2 minutes. Just do the math for health care workers who see 30 patients a day. What a time suck! But behavior change is only part of the story. For too many people in this world, access to clean water and soap is limited. If only there was a device that slashed handwashing times and eliminated the need for soap and water…
 Phil Wilson/NY Times
So predictable, I know. Anne Eisenberg at the New York Times reports on a developing technology that uses electric current to create a plasma (gas) that can inactivate a variety of microorganisms.
The cost? Less than $100 (probably). Dr. Gregor Morfill at the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (think international space station, not aliens) has reportedly developed some very Earthly protypes, including “portable, battery-operated model the size of a large electric toothbrush.” We’re going to need a new Wellbee poster. Kate at Wronging Rights points to an AP report that the Cambodian government has complained to Google about the representation of its border with Thailand in Google Earth, calling it “devoid of truth and reality, and professionally irresponsible, if not pretentious.” Good luck Cambodia. Google still has not responded to my message about the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Too busy with gigabit WiFi I guess (awesome!). Here is a geotagged image of the Kenya/Tanzania border marker. The border looks a little off in Google’s map, eh?
In addition to a fresh new layout and cleaner interface, the site is built on a custom database that makes it more efficient, especially for searching Council publications. This should mean good things for users looking to get to the right information — fast. Updates will be made over time as people have an opportunity to provide feedback.
Great work!
Great data visualizations can tell a story that, for some, may be lost in tables and text. The New York Times seems to get this. They have a first rate graphics operation. Here is a wonderful graphic of the President’s 2011 budget proposal. The big blocks for national defense, social security, medicare, and income security really show the nation’s priorities/obligations. You’ve got to visit the site to get the full effect.
Explore the New York Times graphic. |
I am an Associate in the Poverty, Gender and Youth Program at the Population Council and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Global Public Health in the New York University Master's Program in Global Public Health. 
 
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Copyright © 2010 Eric P. Green - All Rights Reserved |
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