News and notes
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Professor Jo Sibert, who recently retired as Professor of Child Health at Cardiff University in the UK, has been awarded the Sir James Spence medal by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The medal is presented with a volume of the collected writings of Sir James Spence for outstanding contributions to the advancement or clarification of pediatric knowledge. Those eligible are normally from the fields of clinical or social pediatrics, clinical science, epidemiology or family practice and working in the UK or the Commonwealth. Professor Sibert was also appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College.
FIRST STEPS IN STANDARDS REPRESENTATION: A GUIDE FOR CONSUMER ORGANISATIONS
A new manual from Consumers International provides guidance for consumer organisations who seek basic guidance on how to participate in national and international Standards making. Drafted by Chris Evans and Bruce Farquhar, it is written in straightforward language and contains case studies, practical tips and sources of information and help. The manual can be downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/go9fo.
DROWNING IS NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHINESE CHILDREN, SAYS THE WHO
At least 57 000 people in China perished by accidental drowning during 2004 according to the Ministry of Health, but the World Health Organization (WHO) says the actual number of fatalities could have been as high as 112 000, and ranks drowning as the number one cause of death among under 15s on the mainland. The problem was discussed during a 2-day conference in November which yielded “wide acknowledgement” of the need for improved quality and dissemination of data, according to a concluding statement issued in late January. Discrepancies between the WHO and the government estimates stem from different methods of counting. The Ministry of Health bases its figures on certified deaths at sentinel sites, but the WHO points out that such sites cover only 10% of the population, mainly across Central and Eastern China. Ministry of Health statistics do, however, suggest that drowning …
