WHO publications

World Health • SOth Year, No. 6, Nove mber-December 1997 31 WHO publications Publications con be ordered from Distribution ond Soles, WHO, 121 1 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Stopping the spread al disease by vector control Vector is the word used to describe an insect or other creature that carries a disease from one person to another. Around the world, many common and dangerous diseases - such as malaria, filariasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, dengue and trypanosomiasis - are carried by vectors. Vector control aims to reduce the spread of disease by getting rid of, or avoiding, the vectors that carry it. Vector control: methods for use by individuals and communiffes is a new manual that gives practical information on how families and communities in both rural and urban areas can protect themselves from vector-borne diseases. Most of the methods are simple and cheap, do not require much training, and are safe both for the user and for the environment. The manual deals with all major disease vectors and pests - mosquitos, tsetse flies, triatomine bugs, bedbugs, fleas, lice, ticks, mites, cockroaches, houseflies, water fleas and freshwater snails. For each group of vectors there is information on biology, public health importance and control measures. Vector control : methods for use by individuals and communities {ISBN 92 4 154494 5) costs Sw.fr. 132 -/US $ I 18. 80 {Sw fr 92.40 in developing countries). Reducing health damage from • • po1son1ng Poisoning is believed to cause about half a million deaths every year. Exposure at work to agricultural and industrial chemicals, exposure to chemical contamination in the environment, and household accidents that involve common commercial and pharmaceutical products all contribute to the growing extent of poisoning worldwide. Although the size and circumstances of risk vary from country to country, massive expansion in the availability and use of chemicals in many spheres of human activity means that the risk of poisoning is hard to avoid. Many countries have set up poison control programmes and specialized centres for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of poisoning. Others are laying the foundations for such programmes. Guidelines for poison control is a new WHO manual that aims to help ensure the best use of resources in setting up poison control or making it more effective. The manual, which draws on the experience of established poison control centres throughout the world, deals with the clinical, analytical and information services that must be provided, the prevention of poisoning, the availability of antidotes, and the crucial elements of response to major emergencies involving toxic chemicals. Guidelines for poison control {ISBN 92 4 154487 2) costs Sw.fr. 35.-/US $31.50 {Sw.fr. 24.50 in developing countries) Making sure drugs are sale and effective Global expenditure on medical drugs is enormous. In some developing countries the proportion of the health budget spent on drugs is higher than 40%. With a proliferation of drugs on the market it is essential to make sure that they are relevant to priority health needs and that they are safe, effective and of acceptable quality. WHO has long been concerned to assist governments in regulating and controlling drugs. The recent publication of Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals: a compendium of guidelines and related materials represents part of this effort. The book brings together in one volume a collection of international recommendations aimed at assuring the quality of pharmaceuticals. The sets of recommendations have been published over a number of years in separate reports. They cover assessment of drugs, registration, distribution, basic tests, laboratory services, international trade, counterfeit products and personnel training, as well as recommendations relating to The international pharmacopoeia. Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals: a compendium of guidelines and related materials, Vol. 1 {ISBN 92 4 154504 6) costs Sw.fr. 50.-/US $45.00 (Sw. Fr. 35.- in developing countries). In the next issue Did you enjoy this issue? Why not take out o subscription to World Health ond enjoy reading about the world 's major health issues six limes a year. 1998 subscription prices are listed below. World Health Day 1998 , 7 April , w ill be devoted to Sa fe M other- hood . The January-February 1998 issue of World Health will mark thi s day by describ ing the many creati ve approaches adopted in differen t countr ies to ensu re that women rece ive the professional care req ui red fo r sa fety and happiness in pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. • W HO olso offers its popular ' Health Horizons' subscription, a combined subscription (ol a reduced role) lo World Health and the quarterly World Health Forum. Order form D World Health ( 1998 subscription) al Sw. fr . 30 - /US $25.00 D Health Horizons ( 1998 subscription) al Sw. fr. 90.- /US $72.00 D Payment enclosed D Please charge lo my credi t card D Visa D American Express D Eurocard/ M aslercard/ Access Card number _________ _ Expiry date ___ Date of order __ _ Signature __________ _ N ame _____ _____ _ Address __________ _ World Health Organization, Distribution ond Sales, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Printed in Greot Britoin by GreenShires Print Limited, Kettering, Northamptonshire, England.