Massive drive to sensitise Uttar Pradesh villagers against AIDSOctober 16th, 2009 GORAKHPUR - The Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, a voluntary organization, has started a massive AIDS and HIV awareness campaign in the Sardarganj and Campierganj areas of Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh. The programme is aimed at residents who are unaware about HIV or AIDS, even as the disease spread in these parts is rampant.
African cardinals denounce 'cultural imperialism' in aid, trade and health careOctober 14th, 2009 African cardinals denounce "cultural imperialism"VATICAN CITY — African cardinals denounced the "cultural imperialism" of wealthy countries in their aid, trade and health care policies for Africa, saying Wednesday that the West's promotion of abortion rights and condoms is destroying the continent's moral fabric. African prelates attending the three-week meeting on the role of the Catholic Church in Africa said their countries needed economic development partnerships that are based on trust and fairness, not ones that exploit Africa's natural resources and put conditions on aid.
Senate committee approves US health reform billOctober 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A key Senate panel Tuesday approved a major overhaul of US health care coverage, moving President Barack Obama's top domestic priority one step closer to fruition. The Senate Finance Committee's 14-9 vote, which was largely along party lines, comes after months of fierce disputes between lawmakers and interest groups and paves the way for the entire Senate to consider the reform plans in the coming weeks.
Global report: abortions decline but unsafe procedures kill many women in developing worldOctober 13th, 2009 Report: Unsafe abortions kill 70,000 annuallyNEW YORK — Increased contraceptive use has led to fewer abortions worldwide, but deaths from unsafe abortion remain a severe problem, killing 70,000 women a year, a research institute reported Tuesday in a major global survey. More than half the deaths, about 38,000, are in sub-Saharan Africa, which was singled out as the region with by far the lowest rates of contraceptive use and the highest rates of unintended pregnancies.
Abortions worldwide decline, study showsOctober 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The number of abortions worldwide has declined in recent years as access to contraception has increased, according to a report released Tuesday by a US think tank that studies sexual and reproductive health. Abortions declined to 41.6 million in 2003 from 45.5 million in 1995 - a drop to 29 per 1,000 women from 35, the report by the Guttmacher Institute said.
UBS analyst boosts price target for Amgen stock, citing osteoporosis drug, stable businessOctober 12th, 2009 UBS analyst boosts Amgen price targetNEW YORK — A UBS analyst on Monday boosted his price target on Amgen Inc., saying the launch of the company's osteoporosis drug denosumab should drive the stock's value. UBS analyst Maged Shenouda boosted his outlook to "Buy" from "Neutral" and now expects shares to reach $70 apiece over the next 12 months, up from prior expectations of $63 apiece.
US senate panel rejects public health insurance optionSeptember 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a major setback to President Barack Obama's plans to overhaul America's health care system, a Senate panel has rejected an amendment to include a government-run public health insurance option. The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday rejected two Democratic amendments that would have created a government-run "public option" with the panel's chairman bowing to staunch Republican opposition that he said would prevent final passage of a bill containing such a provision.
Amnesty urges Dominican Republic not to ban abortionSeptember 15th, 2009 LONDON - Amnesty International (AI) has warned that the proposed changes to the Dominican Republic's constitution could lead to a ban on abortions that would put "the lives of women and girls at risk". The text of Article 30 would establish the inviolability of life from conception to death, wording that would almost certainly lead to a total prohibition on abortion, AI said in a statement.
Spanish eatery claims to be world's first with menu of measures to fight swine fluSeptember 13th, 2009 Spain eatery has plan to beat swine fluALCOBENDAS, Spain — A pocket of Spanish suburbia hardly seems the spot for a new swine flu battlefront, but an eatery in a shopping mall outside Madrid claims to be the world's first restaurant with a specific plan to protect against the disease. Food servers at Silk&Soya have their temperature taken before starting their shifts, menus are washed after each use, and tables in the dining room are set a bit further apart than usual.
Obama asks supporters to knock on doors, talk to neighbors, make calls to help health overhaulSeptember 12th, 2009 Obama says US closer than ever to health reformMINNEAPOLIS — President Barack Obama is urging people to find common ground on health care for everyone in the U.S. Obama spoke at a rally Saturday in Minneapolis to make his push for a health care overhaul.
Ted Kennedy speaks from the grave with letter to ObamaSeptember 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Edward Kennedy, who for decades championed health care reform in the US Senate until his death last month, has spoken out one last time on the issue that was closest to his heart. In a speech Wednesday to a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama revealed that Kennedy wrote him a final letter in May - after being informed that his brain cancer was terminal - and instructed it to be delivered only after his death.
Obama says part of his health reform plan comes from former presidential opponent John McCainSeptember 9th, 2009 Obama credits McCain on health coverage planWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is including a proposal from his Republican rival last year as part of his health care reform plan. In his Wednesday night speech to Congress, Obama said he wants to help Americans who can't get insurance because they have pre-existing medical conditions.
Spain to begin clinical trials of swine flu vaccineSeptember 8th, 2009 MADRID - Spain will shortly begin the clinical trials for swine flu vaccine on 400 children ranging in age from 6 months to 17 years, Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez has said. The Spanish Medications Agency will authorise the undertaking of the clinical trials - which will be done at its facilities - on the children, who have already been selected and who are participating in the trials voluntarily.
Swine flu prompts calls for `kissing strike' in SpainSeptember 2nd, 2009 MADRID - H1N1 influenza is prompting tough health measures around the globe, but could it go as far as forcing a "kissing strike" in traditionally affectionate Spain?
The health authorities are recommending that Spaniards no longer greet each other with the usual kiss on both cheeks. But many people say kissing is so important they are willing to risk catching the disease, popularly known as swine flu.
Obama's health care reform less popular than Bill Clinton's '94 proposalAugust 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Americans are more sceptical about President Barack Obama's health care reform than they were about Bill Clinton's health care proposals in 1994, a survey conducted by a Republican polling firm has found. Thirty seven percent of Americans are opposed to the Obama plan compared with 25 percent who favor it, a poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies shows.
