OF NOTE THIS WEEK

A World Bank pilot project in Zambia has shown that strategic improvements in the supply chain for lifesaving drugs can have an immediate and dramatic impact on child mortality. Scaled up nationwide, simple but smart steps such as hiring a district-level planner to ensure smooth delivery of drugs to rural public health centers could save as many as 27,000 children in Zambia between now and 2015, the Bank reports in a press release.

During the project, amoxicillin, an antibiotic used to cure opportunistic infections caused by HIV/AIDS, was available 335 days of the year -- or 92 percent of the time -- in the districts with the enhanced supply chain, while it was only available 230 days in other districts. The pilot also helped expand the availability of pediatric malaria drugs to 88 percent of public health centers in trial districts, nearly double the 51 percent availability rate in control districts.

NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DONORS

• A World Bank study in Zambia shows stronger supply chains for key drugs can reduce child mortality
• The World Bank approves a project to increase access to essential health care services for the underserved and the poor in Nepal, including expanding coverage and improving the effectiveness in the response to HIV/AIDS

OTHER NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Global Progress on Maternal Deaths Slowed by HIV (Aidsmap)
• WHO Issues Updated TB Treatment Guidelines; Experts Say Lack of Trials in TB/HIV Patients 'Striking' (Aidsmap)
• U.S. Senate Panel Calls on Uganda to Rebuff Anti-Gay Bill (Science Speaks)
• Uganda: Malaria Fight Gets Boost from Global Fund (Daily Monitor)
• Zambia: Government to Use Karate in HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaigns (Zambia Post)
• Zambia Hit by Worst Cholera Outbreak in Years (AP)
• Global Health Worker Shortage 'Jeopardizing' Development Goals (Guardian)

RECENT CGD HEALTH POLICY BLOGS

• Slender on Gender: Global Fund Round 8 and 9 Proposals By Christina Droggitis
• Making Sense of New Maternal Mortality Numbers: Four Take-Aways for Policy and Research Action By Nandini Oomman
• Squishy Findings on Aid Fungibility By David Roodman

HIV/AIDS MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICY IMPACT

• The HIV/AIDS Monitor has been tracking the policy changes among PEPFAR, the Global Fund and the World Bank MAP related to the recommendations that have come out of our research. Explore these changes using our interactive flash tool.