Young Conflict Survivors Launch Network For Children Caught In War
The following statement was issued on November 20, 2008 by the newly formed Network of Former Children Affected by War (NYPAW) following the launch of the network at the United Nations by three of the six founders (*). See their bios below.

UnitedHealth Group To Provide Immediate Resources For Those Affected By The Southern California Wildfires
Due to the recent event of ongoing wildfires in Southern California, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and its family of companies, including UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, OptumHealth and Prescription Solutions, are taking the following immediate actions to help those affected by the fires. Effective Nov. 16, 2008, through Nov.

Togo Begins Distributing No-Cost Antiretrovirals, Government Says
The government of Togo on Monday announced that it has begun distributing no-cost antiretroviral drugs through the network of the Central Supply of Essential and Generic Medicines, Reuters reports.

United Nations World Food Programme Operational Update - Eastern Congo
The United Nations World Food Programme is stepping up food distributions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with plans to reach nearly 100,000 displaced people around the city of Goma and in territory further north, which is controlled by rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. WFP, on Tuesday, started distributions of a 20-day ration to over 56,000 people in the three camps of Mugunga 1, Mugunga 2 and Bulengo, which are situated around Goma.

90 Million African Children Still Exposed To Malaria, Despite Net Usage Increase
The use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) to protect children from malaria has risen six-fold in the past seven years, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust. Despite this success, however, 90 million children still do not have access to this simple protective tool, and remain at risk from the life-threatening disease. Malaria kills nearly a million people in Africa every year.

VCA Animal Hospitals Offering Free Boarding For Pets Affected By Southern California Fires
VCA Animal Hospitals announced today that local Southern California VCA facilities are again offering free boarding for companion animals whose families have been evacuated or displaced as a result of the current firestorms. Conveniently located VCA animal hospitals will provide a safe environment for pets that have been affected by the fires through November 30, 2008 on a space available basis.

UN Agencies Join Forces To Bring Weather Insurance To Rural Poor People
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched a joint initiative with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to help provide poor rural farmers with financial protection following natural hazard events.

WHO And Health Partners Lead Massive Cholera Response In Eastern DRC
The World Health Organization (WHO) and health partners have launched an intensive operation to prevent and control the increase in the number of cholera cases, which have tripled in some areas to 150 a week, amid the recent escalation of violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Zimbabwe - World Food Programme Feeds 2 Million In October But Forced To Cut Rations In November
WFP distributed 29,000 tons of food to around 2 million vulnerable people across Zimbabwe in October - the first month of large-scale distributions. The 2 million beneficiaries breakdown as follows: Around 1.4 million - beneficiaries living in rural areas worst affected by this year's disastrous harvest received life-saving relief rations during October under WFP's vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme.

100,000 Saved From Dying Of Tuberculosis
Asma Elsony led the tuberculosis programme in Sudan at the same time as she took her doctoral degree under the supervision of Professor Gunnar Bjune of the Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo in Norway. During her doctoral degree studies she became President of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease as the first African and the first President from south of the globe.

Commonwealth Foundation Moves To Improve Conditions For Migration Of Health Workers
Inter-governmental organisation, the Commonwealth Foundation, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Medical Association, stands to improve the state of Commonwealth healthcare by strengthening the local professional workforce, when it hosts the first of its regional symposiums looking at issues around the migration of health workers in New Delhi, India on 17 to 18 November 2008.

Insufficient Support For London's Disabled Asylum Seekers
Research released today by the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR) at City University London and Refugee Support/Metropolitan Support Trust (MST) has found that disabled refugees and asylum seekers in London are not receiving enough support from mainstream disability organisations, a number of whom are unclear about the rights and entitlements of these groups.

World Food Programme Operational Update - Eastern Congo
On Tuesday, a WFP mission was able to deliver nearly a ton of BP-5 high-energy biscuits to Medecins sans Frontieres in Rutshuru town. The biscuits are a vital tool in combating the advance of malnutrition amongst young children. The mission was the first time WFP has been able to reach Rutshuru since fighting closed in last week.

Collecting Health Data In Areas With No Power Supply
Information scientists at the University of Oslo have refused to become disheartened by illiteracy and the lack of power supply in rural Africa. They have produced a health information system that enables the authorities and the World Health Organization to improve health services in a number of African countries. Price tag: 35 million Euro.

Lilly Makes Insulin Donation To International Diabetes Federation's Life For A Child Program
Eli Lilly and Company today announced it intends to donate more than 800,000 vials of insulin to the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program, providing free life-saving medicine to as many as 24,000 children who currently have no access to diabetes treatment. The initial focus of the donations will be to help children with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa.