New Health Hope for India's Urban Poor
The continued urban boom across Asia and the Pacific offers a host of exciting new opportunities for the region but it also presents huge challenges― not least in the critical field of health.
Asia Pacific Post-2015 Priorities, MDG8 and Global Partnerships
Any contemporary story on development in Asia-Pacific begins with reflection on massive gains achieved in the fight against poverty. The incidence of people living on less than $1.25 a day fell from 54.5% in 1990 to 20.7% in 2010, with the number of extreme poor declining from 1.48 billion to 733 million. This precipitous decline in poverty incidence has been accompanied by tremendous gains in access to health and education.
Eradicating Absolute Poverty by 2030 - Are We Aiming Too Low?
The Post-2015 development agenda is leaning toward a goal of eradicating absolute poverty by 2030. The World Bank’s recently approved corporate strategy has the same goal. I believe, however, that this target is absolutely meaningless for our region, Asia and the Pacific.
Population Dynamics, Health and Social Protection – Opportunities for Sustainable Development
The world population clock is ticking. According to the Population Reference Bureau’s “2013 World Population Data Sheet”, on average, 271 people are born worldwide every minute and 106 people die. On 31 October 2011 the world welcomed its 7 billionth citizen and by 2050 it is estimated the number will have grown to 9.6 billion.
Universal Health Coverage – The Holy Grail for Equitable Health Outcomes?
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, describes Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as ‘the most powerful concept that public health has to offer’.
(Not) Talking “HIV/AIDS” in the Philippines
Many of the Filipinos, I have gotten to know over the last 8 years, say that their love lives are strongly influenced by their passionate, emotional culture and Catholic up-bringing.
Why Universal Health Coverage Needs Better Measurements
The issue of universal health coverage (UHC) is a hot topic these days. The WHO director general Margaret Chan calls it: “the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer”.
Social Protection Demystified: Are We Covered? Worker’s Worth in Fast-Changing Asia
In an often harsh and unpredictable world, social protection schemes provide an essential buffer against extreme events like job losses, as well as support during times of ill health or in old age, but in Developing Asia coverage levels are falling well short of the region’s vast needs.
Gender Equality Means Food Security for Asia and the Pacific
Does gender equality REALLY have the potential to cut hunger and increase food security in the region?
Cambodia’s Rural Women Beating Poverty with Partnerships
Tep Roeung’s husband abandoned her and their 3 young children in 1999. She was just 21 years old. Uneducated and with few skills, Roeung farmed a small rice field in rural Siem Reap province to support her family.