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Thursday, October 14, 2004
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Secretary Thompson visits Haiti, assesses humanitarian situation

October 5, 2004 -- HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson over the weekend visited Haiti to assess the humanitarian situation there in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne. The storm is estimated to have killed over 1,900 Haitians and left over 300,000 more homeless.

While in Haiti, Secretary Thompson met with interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and announced a donation of $235,000 worth of supplies to restock Gonaives' hospital. Last week, President Bush asked Congress for $50 million for storm-hit Caribbean countries, about half planned for Haiti. Full story
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President Bush speaks at the UN General Assembly

September 21, 2004 -- President George W. Bush, speaking today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, lauded international efforts to fight AIDS and human trafficking, and called for evengreater cooperation among member countries.

"AIDS is the greatest health crisis of our time, and our unprecedented commitment will bring new hope to those who have walked too long in the shadow of death," said President Bush.
Full story


HHS orders avian flu vaccine doses as preventive measure

September 21, 2004 -- HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today the awarding of a contract to Aventis Pasteur Inc. to manufacture and store 2 million doses of avian influenza H5N1 vaccine, an important initial acquisition to better prepare the nation for an influenza pandemic.

The vaccine that is being made is designed to match the H5N1 influenza virus that has killed 29 people in Thailand and Vietnam this year. If a pandemic of avian influenza virus H5N1 occurred in humans, the new vaccine would be used to protect laboratory workers, public health personnel, and, if needed, the general public.
Full story


Four nations move against trafficking in response to U.S. report

September 14, 2004 -- Bangladesh, Ecuador, Guyana and Sierra Leone have acted rapidly over the last few months to reduce human trafficking in their borders. In so doing, they have avoided U.S.-imposed sanctions, according to a White House announcement September 10.

The United States issued a warning of sorts in June when it released its annual survey of human trafficking activities worldwide. These four nations were cast in the lowest ranking, reflecting their inaction in lawmaking and law enforcement to control human trafficking through their borders.
Full story


Other recent headlines:

09/07/04 - US joins int'l public-private partnership
08/20/04 - Tobias asks countries to step up AIDS funding
08/17/04 - U.S. fights vector-borne disease in South Asia
08/03/04 - Secretary launches Afghan family health book
07/16/04 - U.S. clarifies AIDS policy in Bangkok meeting
07/01/04 - Secretary Thompson visits Russia
06/28/04 - U.S. Campaign protects thousands from HIV
06/23/04 - President announces new AIDS initiatives
06/17/04 - Carbonell speaks at aging conference


Feature Archives

 

Photograph of Secretary Thompson attending a briefing in Haiti
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson looks at notes and listens during a briefing from UN and Haitian officials at a makeshift UN peacekeeping headquarters and clinic at the State University of Haiti Law School in Gonaives, Haiti, on Oct. 3, 2004 .Photo by Daniel Morel


On October 3, 2004, Secretary Thompson visited Haiti to assess the humanitarian situation following the devastation caused by Hurricane Jeanne.

In August , Secretary Thompson launched the Afghan Family Health Book, an interactive tool designed to provide illiterate Afghans with basic health information.

In September, Dr. Ed Thompson of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delivered remarks on behalf of HHS at the inaugural meeting of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .

OGHA Deputy Director for Policy Mary Lou Valdez was recently awarded the 2004 National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives Foreign Affairs Service Award.

To combat the terrible crime of human trafficking, the Administration of Children and Families within HHS administers the Rescue and Restore Campaign.
The United States has devoted unprecedented resources to the global fight against AIDS. The HHS Global AIDS Web contains information and links that outline the U.S. response to the global AIDS epidemic.

WHO International Health Regulations

The purpose of the International Health Regulations is to ensure the maximum security against the international spread of diseases with minimum interference with world traffic. The U.S. government has offered comments on the WHO's draft proposal for revising the IHR.

read full storyWHO International Health Regulations website
read full storyIHR Working Paper for regional consulations


FDA draft items for industry: HIV drugs   
read full storyFDA draft guidance for industry


Conference on Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) Drug Products
read full storyConference information
read full storyJoint statement on principles for FDC products
read full storyView April 22 draft Principles Document


Do You Know?
If current trends persist, how many current smokers alive today will eventually die prematurely by tobacco?
1. 50 million
2. 100 million
3. 250 million
4. 500 million
Check Answer
 

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