Tag: fund

  • UN releases US$15 million to help vulnerable countries battle the spread of the coronavirus

    UN releases US$15 million to help vulnerable countries battle the spread of the coronavirus

    UN Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock today released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.

    The announcement came as the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” – its top level of risk assessment. The WHO has said there is still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission is broken.

    The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning. There are now cases linked to Iran in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, along with cases linked to Italy in Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

    The UN funding has been released to the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It will fund essential activities including monitoring the spread of the virus, investigating cases, and the operation of national laboratories.

    The WHO has called for US$675 million to fund the fight against coronavirus. There is a window of opportunity to contain the spread of the virus if countries take robust measures to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts.

    Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock said: “We do not yet see evidence that the virus is spreading freely. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing it.

    “But swift and robust action must be taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts. We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk.

    “This grant from the UN’s Emergency Fund will help countries with fragile health systems boost their detection and response operations. It has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.”

    This is a critical juncture in the outbreak. The focus is on containing COVID-19 by strengthening surveillance, conducting thorough outbreak investigations to identify contacts and applying appropriate measures to prevent further spread.

    Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “The potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems is one of our biggest concerns. These funds will help support these countries get ready for detecting and isolating cases, protecting their health workers, and treating patients with dignity and appropriate care. This will help us save lives and push back the virus”

    UNICEF is leading on preventative actions in communities across the affected countries with risk communication, providing hygiene and medical kits to schools and health clinics and monitoring the impact of the outbreak to support continuity of care, education and social services.

    “At this pivotal moment, every effort must be made to push back against the outbreak,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “These crucial funds will support our global efforts to bolster weaker health systems and inform children, pregnant women and families about how to protect themselves.”

    Since it was launched in 2006, CERF has provided more than $6 billion to over 100 countries and helped hundreds of millions of people.

    UN releases US$15 million to help vulnerable countries battle the spread of the coronavirus
    Read More
    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/01-03-2020-un-releases-us-15-million-to-help-vulnerable-countries-battle-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus

    Views: 0

  • World experts and funders set priorities for COVID-19 research

    World experts and funders set priorities for COVID-19 research

    Leading health experts from around the world have been meeting at the World Health Organization’s Geneva headquarters to assess the current level of knowledge about the new COVID-19 disease, identify gaps and work together to accelerate and fund priority research needed to help stop this outbreak and prepare for any future outbreaks.

    The 2-day forum was convened in line with the WHO R&D Blueprint – a strategy for developing drugs and vaccines before epidemics, and accelerating research and development while they are occurring.

    “This outbreak is a test of solidarity — political, financial and scientific. We need to come together to fight a common enemy that does not respect borders, ensure that we have the resources necessary to bring this outbreak to an end and bring our best science to the forefront to find shared answers to shared problems. Research is an integral part of the outbreak response,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “I appreciate the positive response of the research community to join us at short notice and come up with concrete plans and commitment to work together.”

    The meeting, hosted in collaboration with GloPID-R (the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness) brought together major research funders and over 300 scientists and researchers from a large variety of disciplines. They discussed all aspects of the outbreak and ways to control it including:

    • the natural history of the virus, its transmission and diagnosis;
    • animal and environmental research on the origin of the virus, including management measures at the human-animal interface;
    • epidemiological studies;
    • clinical characterization and management of disease caused by the virus;
    • infection prevention and control, including best ways to protect health care workers;
    • research and development for candidate therapeutics and vaccines;
    • ethical considerations for research;
    • and integration of social sciences into the outbreak response.

    “This meeting allowed us to identify the urgent priorities for research. As a group of funders we will continue to mobilize, coordinate and align our funding to enable the research needed to tackle this crisis and stop the outbreak, in partnership with WHO,” said Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, chair of GloPID-R. “Equitable access – making sure we share data and reach those most in need,  in particular those in lower and middle-income countries, is fundamental to this work which must be guided by ethical considerations at all times.”  

    During the meeting, the more than 300 scientists and researchers participating both in person and virtually agreed on a set of global research priorities. They also outlined mechanisms for continuing scientific interactions and collaborations beyond the meeting which will be coordinated and facilitated by WHO. They worked with research funders to determine how necessary resources can be mobilized so that critical research can start immediately.

    The deliberations will form the basis of a research and innovation roadmap charting all the research needed and this will be used by researchers and funders to accelerate the research response.

    Note to editors

    GloPID-R is a global alliance of international research funding organizations investing in preparedness and response to epidemics.

    World experts and funders set priorities for COVID-19 research
    Read More
    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/12-02-2020-world-experts-and-funders-set-priorities-for-covid-19-research

    Views: 0

  • It’s time to consider propranolol as an anti-cancer drug, researchers say

    It’s time to consider propranolol as an anti-cancer drug, researchers say

    Propranolol, a beta-blocker commonly prescribed to treat irregular heart rates and other conditions, has significant anti-cancer properties, say researchers in a new clinical study published in ecancermedicalscience.

    The Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) project, an international collaboration between the Anticancer Fund, Belgium, and US based GlobalCures, says that existing and widely-used non-cancer drugs may represent a relatively untapped source of novel therapies for cancer.

    Historically, pharmaceutical companies devote little time to “repurposing” existing drugs. The ReDO project hopes to change that, raising awareness by publishing a series of articles in ecancer to share evidence for using these therapies in cancer medicine.

    Views: 0

  • Charity Auctions – Using a Cash Call

    [ad_1]

    Auctions are an excellent way to raise needed funds for worthy causes. They are also a valued social event for the people who enjoy attending them, whether they are directly involved with the cause or charity, or simply people from the community who like going to and participating in these events. Whatever the reason, you can bring a much more successful outcome to your live or silent auction through the use of a Cash Call, also called the Special Appeal, Fund-A-Need, Emotional Appeal, Bid for a Cause, or Bid for a Cure.

    The Cash Call is part of the evening’s agenda, which is separate from the live or silent auction, but which is aiming to raise money for the same cause. It is a very common event that attendees will often expect. The way it works is that someone from the organization that is doing the fund raising will make an impassioned appeal to the audience members for direct donations. When done correctly, a Cash Call can in fact, bring in as much or more money than your live or silent auction.

    Most professional auctioneers will be very familiar with the Cash Call, so they are an excellent resource to use to keep the energy levels up, and to keep referring back to this special appeal. While doing this, they can solicit further engagement from the audience members who may be actively bidding on items. Should an audience member not win an item, they may choose to donate the money they would’ve spent on it directly instead. Professional auctioneers are extremely adept at engaging the audience and keeping events moving along smoothly, and injecting fun, humor, and structure into your auction.

    So the next time you’re raising money for a worthy cause, be sure to include a Cash Call in addition to your live and silent auction events, and watch the tally grow.

    [ad_2]

    Source by Kevin Rutter

    Views: 0

  • How Did Don Vierra Become the World Renowned Consultant in Health Information System?

    [ad_1]

    For those in Health Informatics, the name “Vieira” might not sound strange. Immanuel Antonius, professionally known as Don Vieira, is a successful and independent consultant who has reached horizons beyond expectations. The 32-year old Technoprenuer has ticked off projects, which most consultants still consider as a dream.While he was brought up in Namibia, his expertise and skills were never limited to the boundaries. If Namibia is his primary home, his work stations or contracted duty stations have become the secondary residence where he used to spend most of his days.

    As far as his academic background is concerned, he holds an Honors’ degree in Computer Science, Advanced diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation, certifications on Health Information Systems (HIS) and A masters’ degree in Biometrics from the University of Paris – Est créteil in France.

    Like people dream of being associated with tech giants such as Facebook or Google, he achieved the milestone of serving for similar giants in the health sector. Some of his notable associations are with World Health Organization (WHO), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nations (UN), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), IntraHealth International, Global Fund, Population Service International (PSI), Jay Snow Inc. and the list goes on.

    Apart from his experience in healthcare informatics, language is one of those factors that contributed to his stature elevation. His understanding about seven languages, including English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, has helped him deal with people from different backgrounds.In other words, there has never been any force that stopped him from achieving his goals across the borders.

    With Ten (10) years of experience, he has built and supported several national systems such as the e-Health, Malaria, TB, PMTCT, Nutrition, VMMC and HIV- just to mention a few. He also trained more than 20,000 people including government officials, managers, nurses, doctors and technical people to bring significant changes in their methods of elevating the quality of life for the public.

    Vieira has developed strong professional relationships with several organisations in Kenya, Uganda, Mocambique, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Germany, India, DRC, Zambia and the United States.Most of them used to admire his determination and skills for giving the best in every area.

    If he is assigned to a work, there is no force that can stop him from transforming a novice into an expert. Below are three of some of the notable milestones that gave a kick start to his career:

    1. A Discrete Choice Experiment for pharmacists- he worked with Dr. Peter Rockers, an assistant professor in the Department of Global Health at the Boston University School of Public Health, to bring visible changes in the health informatics. At the time of experiment, Dr. Peter Rockers was at Harvard Medical School.

    2. Vieira wore the big shoe when he took over the position of HIS Technical Advisor from Jim Sitzer, who went to become the Director in Public Health for the Umatilla County Health Department, Oregon in the US.

    3. During Vieira’s venture as a Technical Advisor for JSI, he developed a web-based master facility (MFL) for Namibia. It consists of a map indicating the location of all public health facilities in the country.The list aims to assist public locate services provided by the nearest health facilities, on the other hand, it also aims to guide the ministry of health in planning and equity in resource allocation and distribution. The MFL was built based on WHO guidelines

    Due to internet connectivity issues in most rural áreas, the Health Extension Workers were forced to use paper registers to collect patients’ information. This led to poor data quality since paper would torn or get lost. With an urge to find an appropriate solution, he created a mobile app that has the capability to store data without internet connectivity.

    Over the past few years, Vieira has won few accolades and gained international recognition for his consultancy expertise.His efforts have also managed to attract new audiences including influential decision makers from government authorities to NGOs. His passion for innovation and Technopreneurshipis what that has always made him different from others.

    For his next project, he promised to create what most government bodies and NGOs have failed to implement- “The Situation Room” that will bring new changes to the health sector.

    [ad_2]

    Source by Anusha Saeed

    Views: 0

  • A Review of the Protege Financial Multi-Level Marketing Program

    [ad_1]

    The company Protege Financial first registered their domain name in June 2006, although this is the first time I’ve heard of this company. They are based out of Valencia, CA. I’m very familiar with that area of Orange County being a Southern California native myself. The main reason this company exists is to provide their clients with investment vehicles that will not go away despite the bad economy.

    The partners that make up this company are Michelle Seward, Scott Foulk and Mark Francovich which claim to have 4 decades of investment and financial know how behind them. The owners also state they launched Protege Financial because they really care about their clients and set this company up with an MLM Compensation Plan to help spread the word across the United States. Apparently they officially just launched July 4th 2009.

    Apparently these 3 partners have already helped thousands of clients. When I visited their website they do have their actual office address, phone and fax number prominently visible on their website, so it appears they are not hiding. One of the main products they offer their clients are “Tax Free Income” vehicles that people can use to help hedge the low wages they could experience when they retire.

    When I visit the Protege Financial website, I don’t see any credential logos like CFP (Certified Financial Planner) or BBB (Better Business Bureau) or anything like that nor any Internet Trust Logos. I’m not a professional Website Designer and I could throw this website up within one night easy. The company that designed their site is based out of Idaho. Also I couldn’t find details on how much reps get paid for referrals or the MLM Compensation Structure.

    In addition, the website just had those generic type paid videos which appear to be a standard voiceover. I’ve heard the same voice on many other voiceovers used for other companies so they don’t sound original or sound like they come from the owners. And no pictures of the owners on the website, not even with their bio statements.

    This being the end of August 2009 and the fact that they launched launched July 4th 2009, I assume this site would have been completed by now. Add this to the fact that it is an investment company to be honest almost terrifies me. Money is hard to come by these days, and on the occasion when I am able to save a grand or so I like to put it in a Mutual Fund setup by my bank which is a major bank in the US.

    Protege Financial does offer a free consultation. When you get to the website, all you need to do is fill out a form and someone will end up calling you back. And if you live in or are visiting Southern California, they have Career Opportunity Meetings every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00pm (as of the time of this writing) Pacific Time.

    I noticed a testimonials section on the Protege Financial website. It had 7 testimonials with just two initials under each name. Finally the company offers a free eBook just by filling out your Name, Email, City and State. This eBook is supposed to educate you on the basic types of Investment Vehicles that are out there.

    I’m not accusing this company of being a scam. They could very well be experienced financial planners with little experience on establishing credibility on the internet with trust logos, pictures of themselves, write-ups of successful reps in their company, etc.. But this is even more important in Network Marketing. I would be extremely cautious here. If anyone has had any experiences, good or bad with this company, we would like to hear about them and you can post your comments on our blog.

    [ad_2]

    Source by Brian Garvin

    Views: 0

  • Rolling Cash 5 – The Real Way to Pick 5-39

    [ad_1]

    Rolling Cash 5 is a lottery game in the state of Ohio. It replaced the old Buckeye 5 in October of 2004. The difference between the two is the range of numbers to choose from. Rolling Cash 5 allows you to choose 5 numbers from 1 to 39.

    This game gives you an odd of 1 to 575,757 of winning, giving you more likelihood of winning than any other lottery game. Although winning the jackpot will not make you an instant millionaire, it is decent enough to give you a fortune. The jackpot starts at $100,000 which automatically rolls over to the next draw when not won. The jackpot prize is divided among winners with a liability limit of $1,000,000.

    Just like any lottery games, this is randomly drawn. However, careful analysis of previously drawn combination and simple logic will increase your probability of winning in this game of chance. Think of it this way, you are more likely to win if you bet on a pattern that occurs majority of the time.

    The analysis can cover the number of times in which a particular number or pair of numbers appeared in a winning combination for the last 12 months. With the data you have gathered, you can create your own combination to bet on. But before going through with the combination, you can cross check it with the data you have. This way, you will be able to determine the chances of having your numbers drawn.

    Logical betting, on the other hand, dictates that you have a good mix of high-low and odd-even numbers. This will increase your chances of winning by 64 to 67 percent. You also need to consider number group strategies. Sway away from multiples (2 4 6 8 10), single number group (all single digits, 20’s, etc) or same last digits (3 13 23 33). Their probability of being drawn is less than 1%.

    It is also important to take note of number sum advice. This is where you add up all your chosen numbers and making sure that the sum is between 75 and 125. A sum falling between these ranges is 70% more likely to be drawn. You can also take note of the frequency of each number being skipped. You can play those numbers as their absence increases the likelihood of it appearing on the next game; while numbers with repeated hits are likely to appear every other draw 51% of the time.

    Ohio’s Rolling Cash 5 costs only $1 per wager that allows you to bet on your own or computer-selected combination. And the state of Ohio uses the earnings to fund various public services, from education to hunger centers. Knowing how to bet on Rolling Cash 5 not only helps various causes but also saves you money. With a little diligence and simple logic, you will avoid unnecessary losses brought by thoughtless betting. The game may be as random as any other game of chance, but there are always recognizable patterns that can help you increase your chances.

    [ad_2]

    Source by Chris S Malcolm

    Views: 0

  • Top 5 Frugal Living Ideas to Save Money for Emergencies

    Top 5 Frugal Living Ideas to Save Money for Emergencies

    [ad_1]

    Are you looking for ways to live frugally and save money? Frugal living means being resourceful and not spending more than required. In short, it implies that you are a careful spender and stay content living with less to save money for emergencies!

    Benefits of Frugal Living

    Practicing frugal living cannot only save you a lot of money but also help you in many other things, including:

    • Fast debt repayment
    • No paycheck to paycheck living
    • Safe early retirement
    • Fulfillment of dream vacation goals

    Tips for Frugal Living

    Here is a list of frugal living tips that will help you do away with some of the less significant things in life to save money for emergencies:

    1. Budget Your Finances: Having an effective budget is crucial if you want to achieve financial freedom. Know where your money is going and restrict where you are spending unnecessarily. Moreover, you cannot decrease your spending if you are clueless about your income and expenses! Therefore, creating a budget will reveal everything you need to know to cut back from your costs significantly!
    2. Learn to Appreciate Frugal Living: Being frugal helps you to take a look at your spending habits and reevaluate them. Previously you might have bought something that you thought you needed, but in reality, it’s not of any benefit and value at all to you. When you start to get rid of these unnecessary and expensive spending, you can learn to appreciate a more modest way of living.
    3. Quit Expensive and Unhealthy Habits: You should consider quitting expensive and unhealthy habits such as consumption of fast food, drinking excessive alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and more. These habits can be okay when done in moderation, but indulging too much in these unhealthy activities can be harmful.
    4. Save Money for Emergencies: According to a Bankrate report, 26% of Americans have no emergency fund at all. Everyone should have an emergency fund because it’s one of the best ways to prepare for any future financial crisis. Having an emergency fund can help you manage tough situations like loss of a job or an unexpected expense.
    5. Avoid Debt Wherever Possible: One of the great tips for frugal living is to avert any debt, which can be accomplished by purposely maintaining an emergency fund. Another tip is to utilize materials without owning them, like borrowing them from friends or using trading services. Make sure to think through your options to avoid piling up credit card debt for unnecessary purchases.

    Conclusion

    The above tips can help you begin your own frugal living journey. However, the first step towards your frugal living journey is to become debt-free. Also, securing a cash cushion accessible during emergencies will help get you to financial freedom.

    [ad_2]

    Source by R. Williams

    Views: 0

  • Is My Doctor Filing for Divorce Because He/She Is Cheating on Me?

    Is My Doctor Filing for Divorce Because He/She Is Cheating on Me?

    [ad_1]

    After 35 + years, my doctor is divorcing me! The mistress seems to be… concierge medicine. Yes, the “honeymoon period” has worn off, and we, as consumers have been expecting our doctors to accept our insurance till “death do us part.” Well, malpractice insurance has gone through the roof, the paperwork has become overwhelming, and reimbursement rates have diminished to practically nothing in some cases, causing a few stresses in this marriage. In fact, it has been reported that 1-in-10 doctors who own private practices, will start direct pay or concierge medicine in the next one to three years.

    Even though Congress effectively avoided the 27 percent slash in Medicare payments during the fiscal-cliff negotiations, the damage was already done. Doctors know this is not a “permanent fix,” and that is cause for the “wondering medical eye.” For example, under ObamaCare, doctor payments from the Medicare health insurance program are dropping at an alarming rate in order to help fund the Affordable Care Act over the next ten years. Doctors need to know there is more stability in a “good thing.”

    So are doctors giving up on their long time patients all together? An AMA survey revealed that one in five physicians plan on restricting the number of Medicare patients in their practice, but will you or your loved one be one of the lucky ones? How will you keep your doctor from straying to that “medical relationship-wrecker,” Concierge?

    Spice up your doctor/patient relationship! No, no, get your head out of the gutter; sending in strippers and showing your “physical assets” is NOT what I am talking about (plus that novelty will wear off, and these distractions can lead to bad patient care), but keep it genuine and simple, like my grandmother did!

    Remember that you know your doctor best (you have been their patient for years), so work with that base! Here are some successful tips from my grandmother who will be celebrating her golden anniversary with her doctor:

    1. Say “thank you” to your doctor – you might be surprised by how many patients DON’T utter a word of appreciation.

    2. Have a heart-to-heart with your doctor – let your doctor know you want to keep them through reimbursement cuts, etc, and Obamacare or not, you will be loyal… no cheating on them with another specialist without them knowing, or slipping some herbal remedies without consulting with them, etc.

    3. Negotiate an affordable rate – if your doctor is dropping your insurance, ask them what a reasonable cash rate would be and work out a payment plan.

    4. Show an interest in your doctor – knowing your doctor’s anniversary, asking them about their kids or favorite sports team, etc. My grandmother knit a blanket in her doctor’s favorite sport’s team colors for the holidays one year and he LOVED it.

    5. Bake an apple strudel. OK, my grandmother bakes the best apple strudel and her doctor looks forward to that freshly backed strudel whenever she comes into his office.

    By following these simple tips, Grandma has been able to keep her relationship with her doctor not only alive, but fun. So keep your doctor from straying, engage him/her by following grandma’s lead, and you might be happier with the outcome.

    [ad_2]

    Source by Michelle Katz

    Views: 0