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WHO gives poorer nations access to health journals
In January of this year, 43 new countries were added
to the list of eligible participants in the Health InterNetwork
Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), giving them
online access to 2,200 high-quality medical journals.
The 43 countries, which all have gross national products
per capita of between US$1,000-$3,000, join the 69 low-income
countries (GNP/capita below US$1,000), whose hospitals,
medical schools and research institutions already access
the package for free.
Countries eligible under this second stage will have
to pay an annual fee of US$1,000, which the 28 participating
publishers are donating to fund the training of librarians
and researchers to make the best use of the information
available.
Access to the journals is granted through admission
to a portal maintained by the World Health Organization.
"It is an enormous challenge for researchers and
health professionals to keep up-to-date - even more
so when access to information is limited by cost,"
says Dr. Michael Scholtz, responsible for the Health
InterNetwork Initiative. "By having access to current
and high quality journals, developing country scientists
have a much better chance of getting published internationally".
The total value of the publication package offered
is in excess of US$750,000, but Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland,
WHO Director-General explains its true value. "The
knowledge gap between rich and poor must be overcome
if we are to reduce poverty. The information made available
through HINARI will help developing countries in improving
skills, developing research, and by extension, to save
lives."
"In HINARI lies the seed of a knowledge revolution,"
says Brundtland.
"Tuning in" to space junk
Aged satellites, which once broadcast television pictures,
may be used to supply European motorists with a digital
radio service.
European Space Agency (ESA) engineers are proposing
a technique to enable digital satellite radio service
for European drivers - without the need to launch a
single new satellite into orbit.
The satellites, orbiting 35,000 km away in space, remain
forever, but their useful life span is usually only
15 years, upon which time they drift out of correct
orbit and are left useless for TV broadcast purposes.
It is believed that prudent use of the satellites'
shrinking fuel loads could prolong their useful existence
by five years and allow for an inexpensive creation
of a digital radio network for Europe that is comparable
or even superior to current US services.
"This service would include music and voice data,"
said ESA engineer Rolv Midthassel from the Technology
Projects Division of the Telecommunications Department.
"Plus additional data could be displayed on-screen
such as information on songs, traffic and weather forecasts,
and other services dedicated to car drivers."
Test broadcasts have already been made by ESA, who
are now working on an affordable car antenna that will
be able to track the satellites.
EUR 8 million humanitarian aid package for Angola
After almost 40 years of conflict, the possibility for
lasting peace has finally come to Angola and with it
continued support from the European Commission.
The latest funding decision gives priority to areas
of the country that have become newly accessible since
April last year, and focuses mainly on emergency health
and nutrition, emergency relief and protection and logistics.
The Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) will
channel the funds through partner organizations and
international agencies operating in the country. In
the area of health and nutrition, ECHO will provide
support through primary health facilities, giving special
attention to maternal and child health.
Poul Nielson, the Commissioner responsible for Development
and Humanitarian Aid, said, "As I saw for myself
on my recent visit, the peace process in Angola has
opened a window of opportunity for reconstruction and
reconciliation. Although the fighting has ended, it
is clear that the Commission will continue to have a
humanitarian role in Angola for some time to come."
Since 1993, the Commission has provided more than €143
million in humanitarian aid for those caught in the
Angolan crisis.
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