Saturday, February 25, 2006

Luiz Eduardo Robinson Achutti

Fotosite
Enviado por nosso filho:
Meus caros na volta das férias me esperava esta resenha sobre meu livro / trabalho de doutorado escrita por Fernando de Tacca - um dos pioneiros e principais figuras da Antropologia Visual brasileira como M. Guran.
Quero agradecer ao professor Fernando oferecendo o link da resenha para vocês como forma de dizer que me sinto valorizado e com ânimo para seguir trabalhando sem esquecer das pessoas exemplares.
http://fotosite.terra.com.br/novo_futuro/barme.php?http://fotosite.terra.com.br/novo_futuro/ler_coluna.php?id=265

Achutti.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Heartfile

http://www.heartfile.org/
Heartfile is a Pakistan based non-profit, health-sector NGO recognized worldwide for its pioneering contribution in the area of chronic disease prevention, control and health promotion.Scope of work within PakistanCatalyzing change within the health sector in Pakistan through technical and policy support. The organization's contributions to health policy, public health planning and health systems strengthening within Pakistan are well recognized and offer guidance to other developing countries. Initiatives include nation-wide health communication interventions, low-resource setting-sensitive demonstration projects, developing innovative models of public-private partnerships, a lead role in the National non-communicable disease prevention program and spearheading the recently launched Pakistan's Health Policy Forum.Global scope of work At a global level, within the realm of chronic diseases, the organization focuses on developing innovations in the health sector; contributes to knowledge in the areas of health policy and public health planning for low resource settings and forms the empirical basis for health systems' reforms in the area of integrated approach to chronic diseases. Heartfile actively participates in and plays a part in sustaining global partnerships for chronic disease prevention.

The New World of Global Health

The New World of Global Health
Jon Cohen
Science 13 January 2006: Vol. 311. no. 5758, pp. 162 – 167 - DOI: 10.1126/science.311.5758.162

Website: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/311/5758/162?
PDF file: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/311/5758/162.pdf

“…..An array of well-heeled new players has dramatically reshaped how wealthy countries tackle infectious diseases of the poor. But increasingly, these ambitious efforts are confronting their own limitations
A revolution is under way that is fundamentally altering the way the haves of the world assist the have-nots. Over the past 7 years, a cadre of deep-pocketed, impassioned players has committed more than $35 billion to fight the diseases of the world's poor. At the forefront of these efforts is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which since 1999 has pledged $6 billion--roughly the budget of the World Health Organization (WHO) during the same time--to battling HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other long-underfunded diseases.
Close on the foundation's heels are a half-dozen other massive new efforts, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, which has promised $4.8 billion to 128 countries, and the President's Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from the Bush Administration that has pledged $15 billion to help selected countries. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), with half of the $3 billion in its coffers supplied by the Gates Foundation, is helping 72 countries fortify the immune systems of their children. And thanks in part to a star-studded cast that is championing the cause--including the rocker Bono, matinee idols Angelina Jolie and Richard Gere, former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and economist-cum-firebrand Jeffrey Sachs--stories on global health now routinely grace the covers of news magazines.

But amid all the heartfelt praise, the organizations at the forefront of the global health movement are now undergoing both increasing outside scrutiny and internal soul-searching about what they are actually accomplishing…..”

World Youth 2006

http://www.prb.org/pdf06/WorldsYouth2006DataSheet.pdf
The World's Youth - 2006 Data Sheet
Lori Ashford, Donna Clifton, and Toshiko Kaneda
The Population Reference Bureau, 2006

Available online as PDF file [20p.] at: http://www.prb.org/pdf06/WorldsYouth2006DataSheet.pdf

The datasheet, which provides a comprehensive portrait of the well-being of youth (people ages 10-24) across the globe, shows that many of these young people are at great risk for health problems ranging from sexually transmitted infections to complications from smoking.

Just a minority of young people can correctly identify two ways to avoid getting HIV/AIDS, and adolescents are less likely than young adults worldwide to use contraceptives-including only 4 percent of women ages 15-19 in Burkina Faso and 14 percent in Vietnam. Meanwhile, youth in developing countries continue to use tobacco products at increasing rates: Approximately one in every five males ages 13 to 15 in southern Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia already smoke.

Youth 2006 Data Sheet contains indicators such as the current and projected size of youth populations as well as measurements of their educational enrollments, labor force participation, marriage and fertility, health behaviors, and use of health services. Some of its other findings include:

* More than one in every four persons in the world are youth.
* Nearly 70 percent of youth live in less developed countries.
* In these countries, the number of youth will continue to rise for another 30 years, while in more developed countries, both the proportion and number of youth are projected to fall, creating a different set of economic and social challenges.

Copies are free of charge to those working in developing countries and can be requested by sending an email to prborders@prb.org. Funding for the data sheet has been provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

UNESCO | Social and Human Sciences - Portal Home: UNESCO SHS

UNESCO | Social and Human Sciences - Portal Home: UNESCO SHS: "
SHS Themes
Ethics
Human Rights
Philosophy
Poverty Eradication
Prospective Studies
Social Transformations"

World Drug Report - UNODC

UNODC - World Drug Report: "he negative impacts of the illicit drug trade touch every society in the world. This year's World Drug Report estimates that 200 million people, or 5% of the global population age 15-64, have consumed illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months. The drug trade is pernicious and large. UNODC estimates its retail value at US$ 321bn. It impacts almost every level of human security from individual health, to safety and social welfare. Its consequences are especially devastating for countries with limited resources available to fight against it.

The World Drug Report 2005 provides one of the most comprehensive overviews of illicit drug trends at the international level. In addition, this year it presents the work of UNODC in two new areas of research. Both aim to provide tools to enrich our understanding of an immensely complex situation: an estimate of the financial value of the world drug market, and the preliminary steps towards the creation of an illicit drug index. The analysis of trends, some going back 10 years or more, is presented in Volume 1. Detailed statistics are presented in Volume 2. Taken together these volumes provide the most up to date view of today's illicit drug situation."

Transparência na Saúde

Zero Hora: "Transparência na saúde   16/02/2006
ALOYZIO ACHUTTI/ Membro da Academia Sul-Rio-Grandense de Medicina
Há poucos dias, a prestigiada agência Transparência Internacional lançou seu Relatório Global Contra a Corrupção 2006. Neste ano, foca o setor saúde e fala dos "seus mais de US$ 3 trilhões anualmente movimentados em todo o mundo, num labirinto complexo e opaco, constituindo-se em campo fértil para roubo, propina e extorsão". Diz também que "enquanto a maioria das pessoas empregadas no setor exerce suas funções com diligência e integridade, coexistem com muita rapinagem, distorções do mercado técnico e farmacêutico, e com questionáveis decisões políticas e desvios de fundos". "A corrupção na saúde corrói a confiança na comunidade médica e seu preço é pago não só em dinheiro, mas com sofrimento humano e vidas".

É pena que, atrás dos bons resultados e de sucessos memoráveis e atitudes heróicas, escondam-se aproveitadores inescrupulosos, lesando ainda mais aqueles mais necessitados e sem chance de encontrar alternativas.

Baixos salários e pobres investimentos em infra-estrutura e na adequação à demanda, especialmente na esfera governamental, são símbolos de desprestígio e pretexto para saídas escusas. Falta e desperdício de material e medicamentos, redução do tempo de trabalho, mau atendimento, propinas, cobranças por fora, superfaturamento, manipulação de informações administrativas e técnicas, e tantas outras mazelas de difícil controle comprometem a eficiência dos sistemas assistenciais em todo o mundo.

Se forem considerados em separado os assim chamados sistemas complementares, seguros privados, cooperativas ou outras modalidades de captação, que em nosso país giram um volume de recursos semelhante ao do SUS, pode-se encontrar uma gama semelhante de problemas. A intermediação por si só já desvia boa parte dos recursos, e a ganância pelo lucro, as estruturas criadas para a perpetuação no poder das esferas diretivas, bem como seus asseclas aspirantes de um dia lá chegar, consomem boa parte do dinheiro que os associados depositam com vista no retorno em serviços. Parte dos altos custos dos planos de saúde fogem literalmente pelo ladrão.

Os interesses da indústria farmacêutica e de equipamentos, os lobbies e as pressões, algumas delas travestidas de apoio ao desenvolvimento científico, tornam mais difícil distinguir o que realmente vem em benefício do paciente e o que serve para satisfazer interesses secundários.

Nossa profissão ficou progressivamente dependente deste sistema perverso e até certo ponto (ingenuamente) comprometida, já que é muito através da prescrição médica que as coisas acontecem, embora os salários e honorários profissionais sejam a menor rubrica, e têm diminuído per capita enquanto cresce o montante global.

A única saída está na transparência e na conscientização dos usuários de que assistência à saúde não é caridade, e que alguém (o próprio contribuinte) está pagando a conta, e que o abuso, tanto por parte do cliente quanto do sistema, não pode ser tolerado.

O relatório termina dizendo que saúde é uma importante indústria global, uma responsabilidade-chave e fonte de despesa orçamentária para governos e empresas, mas mais do que isto é um direito humano global. Embora não exista uma solução única e fácil, este é um apelo à ação de pesquisadores, governos, setor privado, mídia e aos cidadãos de todo o mundo.

Monday, February 13, 2006

2005 State of the Future

2005 State of the Future
Internationally acclaimed resource for policy board rooms, strategists on global change, and those who need a heads up on what's next. It provides a series of executive summaries in print and details in a CD of the global prospects for humanity and strategies for today.
New Insights into 15 Global Challenges
Future Ethical Issues and Values
Global and National State of the Future Index
Military Nanotech Assesment
Sustainable Development and Quality of Life Indexes
600+ Annotated Scenario Sets
It is produced by the Millennium Project, which collects, feeds back, and assesses insights from creative and knowledgeable people on emerging crises, opportunities, strategic priorities, and the feasibility of actions. Nearly 2,000 futurists, business planners, scientists, scholars, and decisionmakers who work for international organizations, governments, private corporations, NGOs, and universities in more than 50 countries have contributed to this five-year cumulative research. Your feedback is welcome to improve the next State of the Future.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Desigualdade, Política e Poder

Zero Hora: "Desigualdade, política e poder
ALOYZIO ACHUTTI/ Membro da Academia Sul-Rio-Grandense de Medicina

Estas são palavras-chave de uma conferência promovida pelo Banco Mundial, enfatizando o tema do relatório anual de 2006: Eqüidade e Desenvolvimento. Nosso país, apesar de constar entre as maiores economias mundiais, vem mantendo um dos maiores recordes na distribuição desigual das riquezas geradas no desempenho desta mesma economia.

A manutenção deste quadro é um atestado eloqüente de nossa incompetência ou improbidade política, o que não surpreende face a tudo o que a mídia nos tem revelado ultimamente das entranhas de nossos três poderes. Polis e cidadania contém a mesma idéia original e se referem à população, que deveria se beneficiar dos melhores resultados na gestão dos recursos disponíveis, à semelhança de um bom negócio em nível individual da economia. A mesma ambição humana que promove o desenvolvimento, leva à concentração de poder, que favorece a concentração de riquezas, na contramão da eqüidade.

Mais uma vez estamos frente a um equilübrio instável, característica de toda a natureza, desafio para nossa inteligência, engenho e sensibilidade. Os desequilíbrios seja onde forem - entre os indivíduos, entre nós e o meio ambiente, dentro de nós mesmos - sempre se constituem num risco e acarretam danos, alguns irreversíveis.

Com poder é possível manter por algum tempo uma instabilidade incômoda que termina forçando o retorno ao ponto inicial. A manutenção da desigualdade é muito cara, e a falta de participação, cooperação e harmonia termina comprometendo o desempenho final do todo. A entropia, a violência e a corrupção encontram terreno fértil contribuindo para a auto-eliminação dos incompetentes. A concentração de poder econômico e político, gerando desigualdade, cria uma ilusão de segurança e consome com a autocrítica, o que também termina funcionando como mecanismo de retroalimentação, acelerando o processo de reequilíbrio.

Parece uma utopia, mas é preciso acreditar para sobreviver em busca de qualidade de vida: a informação pode levar ao controle social, temperando o poder e ajudando a orientar a política. Numa sociedade que se quer livre, cada cidadão dispõe de uma fração do poder político. Embora, para fins operacionais, esta fração precise ser confiada aos nossos representantes na máquina do Estado, este capital precisa ser vigiado e bem administrado como fazemos com outros nossos valores e investimentos.

Diversidade e desigualdade são próprias da natureza, mas as anomalias e os desvios extremos são um atestado do mau desempenho e da insalubridade social, necessitando de prevenção e tratamento. "

Monday, February 06, 2006

Autoimmune Disease

The Lancet: "Despite its emergence only in the 1950s, autoimmune aetiology now applies to, or is suspected in, a long list of chronic diseases�multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, and Crohn's disease being prominent examples.
The idea of disease as a self-destructive process has been a part of disease theory since the beginning of the 20th century. Possibly the first definition of autoimmune disease was provided by Paul Ehrlich in 1904 when he coined the term "horror autotoxicus". However, for many decades, Ehrlich's dictum was wrongly understood to mean that autoantibodies could not exist. It was only in the 1940s, and notably in the 1950s, that evidence accumulated on the existence of specific antibodies against specific bodily tissues. Germinal was the work of Ernst Witebsky and Noel Rose, which revealed the existence of antithyroid antibodies in rabbits. Shortly afterwards, in 1956, British scientists showed that these antibodies were indeed manifest in people with chronic thyroiditis. Within a few years, a whole series of diseases was shown to have similar autoimmunological components, thus giving birth to this new nosological category.
Also in the early 1950s, Peter Medawar, in London, UK, introduced the idea of self-tolerance�ie, a mechanism preventing the immune system from attacking its host tissues. He further argued that self-tolerance was not the result of inherently inborn genetic differences, but was an adaptive process taking place during embryonic development. In 1957, this idea was elaborated by the Australian immunologist, Macfarlane Burnet. His "clonal selection theory" contended that the immune system was made of numerous "immunologically competent" clones of cells (lymphocytes) circulating around the body in a constant surveillance for harmful invaders. Autoimmune disease must then be the result of the appearance of a “forbidden clone”. Burnet's theoretical framework served until the 1990s, when it was supplanted by an understanding that autoimmune processes were part of the normal physiology of an individual, and autoimmune components (antibodies, T cells) were permanent parts of the immune repertoire, even in the absence of a pathological condition. Answers now focus less on the autospecificity of immune components, than on the regulation mechanisms that seem able to control the pathogenicity of these components."
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