Developing Countries Asked to Join Counter-Attack Against Tobacco WHO's Director-General, Or Halfdan Mahler, has challenged developing countries to join the counter-attack against the threat to health of tobacco now under way in the industrialised world. In a keynote address in Tokyo at the 6th World Conference on Smoking and Health, he also cha llenged leaders of societies to act to make "the 21st centu- ry free of tobacco-related diseases." About 2.5 million die each year from such diseases, from lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and heart dis- eases, or a death every 13 sec- onds. But the fact that 5.5 million smokers in Canada, 10 million in Britain, and 40 mil- lion in the United States have quit, indicates the "counter- attack against tobacco is accelerating." The warnings required by law on cigarette packages and advertisements, the warnings WHO Photo· H. Christoph Prime Targets Of Tobacco Hucksterism : Third World by health officia ls that passive smoking endangers health, along with the curbs on smok- ing in public spaces, public transportation, and work places are signs in the industrialised world that "public toleration of the habit is wearing thin," he sa id. Faced w ith increasing public opposition and decreasing numbers of male smokers, the tobacco industry is selling to youth, women and, especially, to the developing countries. Thus while the consumption of tobacco decreases by 1.1 per cent each year in the industri- alised world, it increases by 2.1 per cent each year in the developing world. 30 Even though tobacco-related diseases place an extra burden of il l-health on nations, many are "dazzled by what they see as the wealth offered by tobac- co." Yet, Mahler went on to say, "it is fool's gold, because economic gains are outstripped by economic losses-from pre- mature deaths, from medical bil ls caused by tobacco-related disease." He urged developing coun- tries to follow the example of the industrialised world. "A smoke-free society is the trend - the latest, the smartest - worthy of emulation, " he sa id . In addressing key sectors of society, WHO's Director-Genera l aimed these cha llenges at them: • Doctors: " My own profes- sion, and nurses everywhere: Set an example of non-tobacco use. • Entertainers, athletes, public persons: "You are role models for young people. Please help them choose health by avoid ing tobacco. " • Editors of women's ma- gazines: " Publish articles that protest women's new slavery to tobacco." • Editors of other publica- tions: "Use your communica- tion ski lls to spread the news that tobacco is out. " • Parliamentarians : " Pass legislation aimed at ensuring the right of people to live free from tobacco hazards . Vote for health." • Planners: "Devote your ge- nius to finding economic alter- natives to tobacco growing. " • Smokers: " Quit or cut dow n ; just as society fights al- cohol ism, let us f ight tobacco- ism. Just as we help drinkers, let us help smokers." • Unions : " Do not forget the battle to protect workers from that toxic substance, tobacco. " • Women's organizations: "Sound the alarm against sexist advertis ing aimed specif- ically at women." • Innovations in Medical Education A small but growing number of educational institutions in all parts of the world are turn- ing away from conventional ways of training personnel in an effort to meet health needs of today. So far numbering 20, they are part of the Netw ork of Dentists Also Asked to Fight AIDS wHo is asking dentists throughout the world, as well as the dental manufacturing industry, to join in the fight against AIDS, particularly in countries where the disease is a major health problem. Dentists ::;hould take precautions against infection when treating P()ti~nts, and should also of!pr >advice about preventing~lb)p .. 6s dentists are likely to .§ee more than 50 per cent pf,\nhabitants in any c2mmynity, there is a role for them in health education, WHO says. The risk of the virus being transmitted from patient to patient during oral care is considered small if instruments, particularly those that pierce the skin, are sterilised. The risk of a patient being infected by an oral health care worker is also considered slight. Theoretically, the virus could be transmitted from an AIDS victim to dental care personnel-through blood or mouth fluids of one entering a cut or scratch of the other - but until now no cases have been reported. Experts at a recently concluded m in Geneva pointed · out .: •. • That simple, cost-effective method steri lisation are available for developed instrument developing countries. • That gloves, masks and gowns should be worn to protect health workers. Such measures place a "barrier" between them and the AIDS virus, as well as other infectious disease, including hepatitis to which they are at even great risk . The representatives from industry came from Austria, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United "Kingdom. Also attending the meeting were experts from the Dental Disease Prevention ~ctivity of the US Centers Disease Control in Atlanta. • ...... ....... ... ... ... ...... ...... ..... . .......... . ••••••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• ••••••• • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ....... ....... ... ... ... ....... . .......................... . ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• • •••••••••••••••••••• ••• ••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• •••••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• • •••••• ••• ••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• ••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ... ... ....... ... ... ... ...... . ......................... . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .............. . ... ... ....... ........... ....... ... . ................... . ... ... ....... ........... ....... ... . .................. . ••• ••• ••••••• •••••••••• •••••• ••• • ••••••••••••••••• Editor: Peter Ozorio Community-Oriented Educa- tional Institutions for Health Sciences which has head- quarters in Maastricht, the Netherlands. For them, "community" is the watchword, and " problem- solving" the over-riding aim of health education . Less than 3 per cent of all medical schools have programmes that so ad- dress health issues, accord ing to WHO experts in medical education. These two WHO publications, just off the press, show w hat is being done to relate training to needs : - Innovative Schools for Health: A 106-page study, car- ried out by wHo and the Center for Educationa l Development in Chicago, of ten schools in these countries: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Nepal, the Nether- lands, Philippines, and the United States. (Price: Sw. fr. 7 7 from Distribution and Sales, WHO, Geneva). - Innovative Tracks at Estab- lished Institutions for the Edu- cation of Health Personnel. A 232-page report of the experi- ence of eight schools in re- forming education through the "track" system, that is through use of a curriculum distinct from, but running paral- lel to, the existing curricu lum. The schools are in China, Mexico, the Philippines, Thai- land, and the United States. (Price Sw. fr. 39). • Cervical Cancer : 11 Up-Age" Screening A Tough Choice Only a small fraction of wom- en at risk are screened for cer- vical cancer in the Third World, even though more than three- quarters of all patients are in developing countries. As a re- WORLD HEALTH, Jan./Feb. 1988 suit mortality from the disease is increasing. Screening is usually carried out in urban areas as part of family planning campaigns, so it mainly reaches young wom- en, those in their twenties, who are middle-class, and who are then re-screened every two to three years. Studies show, however, that it is the women in the poorest rural section who are at highest risk, and that more than 90 per cent of tumours occur in women over age 35. What developing countries are following, WHO experts sug- gest, is essentially an industri- alised world practice which for them is wasteful, is time con- suming and does not reduce overall mortality. These countries are there- fore asked to make the "tough choice" of first screening women at age 35, rather than at 20; and from then on to screen them every 5 to 10 years up to age 55, rather than every 2 to 3 years up to age 65. This "up-age" screening re- duces the number of times an individual is checked, but in- creases the number of women who can be screened in the higher risk ages and thus, the experts say, will have a "reas- onable chance of reducing overall mortality in a country." Of the estimated 460,000 new cases each year, about 72,000-16 per cent of the world's total-occur in India alone. Thus the country is car- rying out studies to determine if para-medical workers could be trained to detect the dis- ease visually, with the aid of an instrument called the speculum. • WHO Photo· J. Marshal! Rather than at age 20, screen from age 35 WORLD HEALTH, Jan./Feb. 1988 Newsbriefs • A US Centre for Pain Evaluation. The University of Wiscon- sin's medical school in Madison has been designated a collaborat- ing centre in symptom evaluation for WHO's "Freedom from Cancer Pain " programme. • Calendar. Of more than usual noteworthiness, the 77th World Congress of the International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine, from 24-28 May 7988 in Oubrovnik, Yugoslavia. Among items on the agenda: Fatigue and traffic safety, alco- hol, drugs and traffic safety, protection of car occupants and other road users. (For more information, write: 17th IAATM Congress, Institute of Public Health, Sarengradska 3, YU-4700, Zagreb). • Canada's Tobacco-Free Pages. Even though advertising from tobacco products represents about one million Canadian dollars in revenue each year, the Toronto Star has closed its pages to tobac- co advertising, the Canadian Cancer Society reports. it is the fourth Canadian daily to do so, all in Ontario province. The first was the Kingston Whig-Standard, the second the Brockville Recorder and Times, both smaller dailies. The third was the Toronto Globe & Mail, circ. 370,000, the first major daily. The Star's circulation is even larger- about 500,000 daily, and 800,000 over weekends. • Off the Press: "Mental Health Services in Pilot Study Areas, " published by WHO's regional office for Europe in Copenhagen and based on information from 27 centres in 76 countries. The 570- page report makes available for the first time "a detailed and reli- able description of the development of mental health services in Europe, " the authors say. (Price: Sw.fr 70 from Distribution and Sales, WHO, Geneva). • Red Square, a Public Space. Smoking is being banned in more and more public places throughout the world, but most of them are indoors. As this photo shows, Moscow's Red Square is an exception. There 's 6 no smoking in this open-air ~ public space. ~ The Soviet Union's anti- :> tobacco programme has been o given a new impetus by a recent 1' decision of the Ministry of "- Health to makes its offices smo- ~ ke-free. s • The NGO-WHO Newsletter, No. 1. This is the masthead of a Go IAJ:'HO newsletter recently published, rrJ whose purpose is to facilitate f'WSLETTER the work between 7 54 non- governmental organizations and WHO. "These groups, " WHO officials say, "are valuable partners in getting the health job done. " it is to be published twice a year. (For more information · Write Joan Gunby, WHO responsible officer for liaison with non-governmental groups.) • World Health Index 1975-1987. The last edition of the World Health Index ran from the start of the magazine, in 7958, to the end of 1983. Now we have up-dated it to the end of 1987, but at the same time we have omitted (as out-of-date) all the issues prior to 7975. All libraries and most teaching institutions on our mailing lists will receive copies of the Index for 7975-1987, which will exist in English and French only. For further copies, write to the Editor, World Health, wHo, 1271 Geneva 27, Switzerland. In the next issue Everybody is talking about it, but what do we know about it? AIDS, the Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome, has been described as "the new plague", against which one of the few weapons at present available is health education. WHO is charged with coordinating global action to combat AIDS, as th E? March issue of World Health explains.
Developing Countries Asked to Join Counter-Attack Against Tobacco WHO's Director-General, Or Halfdan Mahler, has challenged developing countries to join the counter-attack against the threat to health of tobacco now under way in the industrialised world. In a keynote address in Tokyo at the 6th World Conference on Smoking and Health, he also cha llenged leaders of societies to act to make "the 21st centu- ry free of tobacco-related diseases." About 2.5 million die each year from such diseases, from lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and heart dis- eases, or a death every 13 sec- onds. But the fact that 5.5 million smokers in Canada, 10 million in Britain, and 40 mil- lion in the United States have quit, indicates the "counter- attack against tobacco is accelerating." The warnings required by law on cigarette packages and advertisements, the warnings WHO Photo· H. Christoph Prime Targets Of Tobacco Hucksterism : Third World by health officia ls that passive smoking endangers health, along with the curbs on smok- ing in public spaces, public transportation, and work places are signs in the industrialised world that "public toleration of the habit is wearing thin," he sa id. Faced w ith increasing public opposition and decreasing numbers of male smokers, the tobacco industry is selling to youth, women and, especially, to the developing countries. Thus while the consumption of tobacco decreases by 1.1 per cent each year in the industri- alised world, it increases by 2.1 per cent each year in the developing world. 30 Even though tobacco-related diseases place an extra burden of il l-health on nations, many are "dazzled by what they see as the wealth offered by tobac- co." Yet, Mahler went on to say, "it is fool's gold, because economic gains are outstripped by economic losses-from pre- mature deaths, from medical bil ls caused by tobacco-related disease." He urged developing coun- tries to follow the example of the industrialised world. "A smoke-free society is the trend - the latest, the smartest - worthy of emulation, " he sa id . In addressing key sectors of society, WHO's Director-Genera l aimed these cha llenges at them: • Doctors: " My own profes- sion, and nurses everywhere: Set an example of non-tobacco use. • Entertainers, athletes, public persons: "You are role models for young people. Please help them choose health by avoid ing tobacco. " • Editors of women's ma- gazines: " Publish articles that protest women's new slavery to tobacco." • Editors of other publica- tions: "Use your communica- tion ski lls to spread the news that tobacco is out. " • Parliamentarians : " Pass legislation aimed at ensuring the right of people to live free from tobacco hazards . Vote for health." • Planners: "Devote your ge- nius to finding economic alter- natives to tobacco growing. " • Smokers: " Quit or cut dow n ; just as society fights al- cohol ism, let us f ight tobacco- ism. Just as we help drinkers, let us help smokers." • Unions : " Do not forget the battle to protect workers from that toxic substance, tobacco. " • Women's organizations: "Sound the alarm against sexist advertis ing aimed specif- ically at women." • Innovations in Medical Education A small but growing number of educational institutions in all parts of the world are turn- ing away from conventional ways of training personnel in an effort to meet health needs of today. So far numbering 20, they are part of the Netw ork of Dentists Also Asked to Fight AIDS wHo is asking dentists throughout the world, as well as the dental manufacturing industry, to join in the fight against AIDS, particularly in countries where the disease is a major health problem. Dentists ::;hould take precautions against infection when treating P()ti~nts, and should also of!pr >advice about preventing~lb)p .. 6s dentists are likely to .§ee more than 50 per cent pf,\nhabitants in any c2mmynity, there is a role for them in health education, WHO says. The risk of the virus being transmitted from patient to patient during oral care is considered small if instruments, particularly those that pierce the skin, are sterilised. The risk of a patient being infected by an oral health care worker is also considered slight. Theoretically, the virus could be transmitted from an AIDS victim to dental care personnel-through blood or mouth fluids of one entering a cut or scratch of the other - but until now no cases have been reported. Experts at a recently concluded m in Geneva pointed · out .: •. • That simple, cost-effective method steri lisation are available for developed instrument developing countries. • That gloves, masks and gowns should be worn to protect health workers. Such measures place a "barrier" between them and the AIDS virus, as well as other infectious disease, including hepatitis to which they are at even great risk . The representatives from industry came from Austria, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United "Kingdom. Also attending the meeting were experts from the Dental Disease Prevention ~ctivity of the US Centers Disease Control in Atlanta. • ...... ....... ... ... ... ...... ...... ..... . .......... . ••••••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• ••••••• • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ....... ....... ... ... ... ....... . .......................... . ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• • •••••••••••••••••••• ••• ••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• •••••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• • •••••• ••• ••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• ••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ... ... ....... ... ... ... ...... . ......................... . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .............. . ... ... ....... ........... ....... ... . ................... . ... ... ....... ........... ....... ... . .................. . ••• ••• ••••••• •••••••••• •••••• ••• • ••••••••••••••••• Editor: Peter Ozorio Community-Oriented Educa- tional Institutions for Health Sciences which has head- quarters in Maastricht, the Netherlands. For them, "community" is the watchword, and " problem- solving" the over-riding aim of health education . Less than 3 per cent of all medical schools have programmes that so ad- dress health issues, accord ing to WHO experts in medical education. These two WHO publications, just off the press, show w hat is being done to relate training to needs : - Innovative Schools for Health: A 106-page study, car- ried out by wHo and the Center for Educationa l Development in Chicago, of ten schools in these countries: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Nepal, the Nether- lands, Philippines, and the United States. (Price: Sw. fr. 7 7 from Distribution and Sales, WHO, Geneva). - Innovative Tracks at Estab- lished Institutions for the Edu- cation of Health Personnel. A 232-page report of the experi- ence of eight schools in re- forming education through the "track" system, that is through use of a curriculum distinct from, but running paral- lel to, the existing curricu lum. The schools are in China, Mexico, the Philippines, Thai- land, and the United States. (Price Sw. fr. 39). • Cervical Cancer : 11 Up-Age" Screening A Tough Choice Only a small fraction of wom- en at risk are screened for cer- vical cancer in the Third World, even though more than three- quarters of all patients are in developing countries. As a re- WORLD HEALTH, Jan./Feb. 1988 suit mortality from the disease is increasing. Screening is usually carried out in urban areas as part of family planning campaigns, so it mainly reaches young wom- en, those in their twenties, who are middle-class, and who are then re-screened every two to three years. Studies show, however, that it is the women in the poorest rural section who are at highest risk, and that more than 90 per cent of tumours occur in women over age 35. What developing countries are following, WHO experts sug- gest, is essentially an industri- alised world practice which for them is wasteful, is time con- suming and does not reduce overall mortality. These countries are there- fore asked to make the "tough choice" of first screening women at age 35, rather than at 20; and from then on to screen them every 5 to 10 years up to age 55, rather than every 2 to 3 years up to age 65. This "up-age" screening re- duces the number of times an individual is checked, but in- creases the number of women who can be screened in the higher risk ages and thus, the experts say, will have a "reas- onable chance of reducing overall mortality in a country." Of the estimated 460,000 new cases each year, about 72,000-16 per cent of the world's total-occur in India alone. Thus the country is car- rying out studies to determine if para-medical workers could be trained to detect the dis- ease visually, with the aid of an instrument called the speculum. • WHO Photo· J. Marshal! Rather than at age 20, screen from age 35 WORLD HEALTH, Jan./Feb. 1988 Newsbriefs • A US Centre for Pain Evaluation. The University of Wiscon- sin's medical school in Madison has been designated a collaborat- ing centre in symptom evaluation for WHO's "Freedom from Cancer Pain " programme. • Calendar. Of more than usual noteworthiness, the 77th World Congress of the International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine, from 24-28 May 7988 in Oubrovnik, Yugoslavia. Among items on the agenda: Fatigue and traffic safety, alco- hol, drugs and traffic safety, protection of car occupants and other road users. (For more information, write: 17th IAATM Congress, Institute of Public Health, Sarengradska 3, YU-4700, Zagreb). • Canada's Tobacco-Free Pages. Even though advertising from tobacco products represents about one million Canadian dollars in revenue each year, the Toronto Star has closed its pages to tobac- co advertising, the Canadian Cancer Society reports. it is the fourth Canadian daily to do so, all in Ontario province. The first was the Kingston Whig-Standard, the second the Brockville Recorder and Times, both smaller dailies. The third was the Toronto Globe & Mail, circ. 370,000, the first major daily. The Star's circulation is even larger- about 500,000 daily, and 800,000 over weekends. • Off the Press: "Mental Health Services in Pilot Study Areas, " published by WHO's regional office for Europe in Copenhagen and based on information from 27 centres in 76 countries. The 570- page report makes available for the first time "a detailed and reli- able description of the development of mental health services in Europe, " the authors say. (Price: Sw.fr 70 from Distribution and Sales, WHO, Geneva). • Red Square, a Public Space. Smoking is being banned in more and more public places throughout the world, but most of them are indoors. As this photo shows, Moscow's Red Square is an exception. There 's 6 no smoking in this open-air ~ public space. ~ The Soviet Union's anti- :> tobacco programme has been o given a new impetus by a recent 1' decision of the Ministry of "- Health to makes its offices smo- ~ ke-free. s • The NGO-WHO Newsletter, No. 1. This is the masthead of a Go IAJ:'HO newsletter recently published, rrJ whose purpose is to facilitate f'WSLETTER the work between 7 54 non- governmental organizations and WHO. "These groups, " WHO officials say, "are valuable partners in getting the health job done. " it is to be published twice a year. (For more information · Write Joan Gunby, WHO responsible officer for liaison with non-governmental groups.) • World Health Index 1975-1987. The last edition of the World Health Index ran from the start of the magazine, in 7958, to the end of 1983. Now we have up-dated it to the end of 1987, but at the same time we have omitted (as out-of-date) all the issues prior to 7975. All libraries and most teaching institutions on our mailing lists will receive copies of the Index for 7975-1987, which will exist in English and French only. For further copies, write to the Editor, World Health, wHo, 1271 Geneva 27, Switzerland. In the next issue Everybody is talking about it, but what do we know about it? AIDS, the Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome, has been described as "the new plague", against which one of the few weapons at present available is health education. WHO is charged with coordinating global action to combat AIDS, as th E? March issue of World Health explains.
Developing Countries Asked to Join Counter-Attack Against Tobacco WHO's Director-General, Or Halfdan Mahler, has challenged developing countries to join the counter-attack against the threat to health of tobacco now under way in the industrialised world. In a keynote address in Tokyo at the 6th World Conference on Smoking and Health, he also cha llenged leaders of societies to act to make "the 21st centu- ry free of tobacco-related diseases." About 2.5 million die each year from such diseases, from lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and heart dis- eases, or a death every 13 sec- onds. But the fact that 5.5 million smokers in Canada, 10 million in Britain, and 40 mil- lion in the United States have quit, indicates the "counter- attack against tobacco is accelerating." The warnings required by law on cigarette packages and advertisements, the warnings WHO Photo· H. Christoph Prime Targets Of Tobacco Hucksterism : Third World by health officia ls that passive smoking endangers health, along with the curbs on smok- ing in public spaces, public transportation, and work places are signs in the industrialised world that "public toleration of the habit is wearing thin," he sa id. Faced w ith increasing public opposition and decreasing numbers of male smokers, the tobacco industry is selling to youth, women and, especially, to the developing countries. Thus while the consumption of tobacco decreases by 1.1 per cent each year in the industri- alised world, it increases by 2.1 per cent each year in the developing world. 30 Even though tobacco-related diseases place an extra burden of il l-health on nations, many are "dazzled by what they see as the wealth offered by tobac- co." Yet, Mahler went on to say, "it is fool's gold, because economic gains are outstripped by economic losses-from pre- mature deaths, from medical bil ls caused by tobacco-related disease." He urged developing coun- tries to follow the example of the industrialised world. "A smoke-free society is the trend - the latest, the smartest - worthy of emulation, " he sa id . In addressing key sectors of society, WHO's Director-Genera l aimed these cha llenges at them: • Doctors: " My own profes- sion, and nurses everywhere: Set an example of non-tobacco use. • Entertainers, athletes, public persons: "You are role models for young people. Please help them choose health by avoid ing tobacco. " • Editors of women's ma- gazines: " Publish articles that protest women's new slavery to tobacco." • Editors of other publica- tions: "Use your communica- tion ski lls to spread the news that tobacco is out. " • Parliamentarians : " Pass legislation aimed at ensuring the right of people to live free from tobacco hazards . Vote for health." • Planners: "Devote your ge- nius to finding economic alter- natives to tobacco growing. " • Smokers: " Quit or cut dow n ; just as society fights al- cohol ism, let us f ight tobacco- ism. Just as we help drinkers, let us help smokers." • Unions : " Do not forget the battle to protect workers from that toxic substance, tobacco. " • Women's organizations: "Sound the alarm against sexist advertis ing aimed specif- ically at women." • Innovations in Medical Education A small but growing number of educational institutions in all parts of the world are turn- ing away from conventional ways of training personnel in an effort to meet health needs of today. So far numbering 20, they are part of the Netw ork of Dentists Also Asked to Fight AIDS wHo is asking dentists throughout the world, as well as the dental manufacturing industry, to join in the fight against AIDS, particularly in countries where the disease is a major health problem. Dentists ::;hould take precautions against infection when treating P()ti~nts, and should also of!pr >advice about preventing~lb)p .. 6s dentists are likely to .§ee more than 50 per cent pf,\nhabitants in any c2mmynity, there is a role for them in health education, WHO says. The risk of the virus being transmitted from patient to patient during oral care is considered small if instruments, particularly those that pierce the skin, are sterilised. The risk of a patient being infected by an oral health care worker is also considered slight. Theoretically, the virus could be transmitted from an AIDS victim to dental care personnel-through blood or mouth fluids of one entering a cut or scratch of the other - but until now no cases have been reported. Experts at a recently concluded m in Geneva pointed · out .: •. • That simple, cost-effective method steri lisation are available for developed instrument developing countries. • That gloves, masks and gowns should be worn to protect health workers. Such measures place a "barrier" between them and the AIDS virus, as well as other infectious disease, including hepatitis to which they are at even great risk . The representatives from industry came from Austria, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United "Kingdom. Also attending the meeting were experts from the Dental Disease Prevention ~ctivity of the US Centers Disease Control in Atlanta. • ...... ....... ... ... ... ...... ...... ..... . .......... . ••••••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• ••••••• • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ....... ....... ... ... ... ....... . .......................... . ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• • •••••••••••••••••••• ••• ••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• •••••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• • •••••• ••• ••• ••••••• ••• ••• ••• ••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ... ... ....... ... ... ... ...... . ......................... . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .............. . ... ... ....... ........... ....... ... . ................... . ... ... ....... ........... ....... ... . .................. . ••• ••• ••••••• •••••••••• •••••• ••• • ••••••••••••••••• Editor: Peter Ozorio Community-Oriented Educa- tional Institutions for Health Sciences which has head- quarters in Maastricht, the Netherlands. For them, "community" is the watchword, and " problem- solving" the over-riding aim of health education . Less than 3 per cent of all medical schools have programmes that so ad- dress health issues, accord ing to WHO experts in medical education. These two WHO publications, just off the press, show w hat is being done to relate training to needs : - Innovative Schools for Health: A 106-page study, car- ried out by wHo and the Center for Educationa l Development in Chicago, of ten schools in these countries: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Nepal, the Nether- lands, Philippines, and the United States. (Price: Sw. fr. 7 7 from Distribution and Sales, WHO, Geneva). - Innovative Tracks at Estab- lished Institutions for the Edu- cation of Health Personnel. A 232-page report of the experi- ence of eight schools in re- forming education through the "track" system, that is through use of a curriculum distinct from, but running paral- lel to, the existing curricu lum. The schools are in China, Mexico, the Philippines, Thai- land, and the United States. (Price Sw. fr. 39). • Cervical Cancer : 11 Up-Age" Screening A Tough Choice Only a small fraction of wom- en at risk are screened for cer- vical cancer in the Third World, even though more than three- quarters of all patients are in developing countries. As a re- WORLD HEALTH, Jan./Feb. 1988 suit mortality from the disease is increasing. Screening is usually carried out in urban areas as part of family planning campaigns, so it mainly reaches young wom- en, those in their twenties, who are middle-class, and who are then re-screened every two to three years. Studies show, however, that it is the women in the poorest rural section who are at highest risk, and that more than 90 per cent of tumours occur in women over age 35. What developing countries are following, WHO experts sug- gest, is essentially an industri- alised world practice which for them is wasteful, is time con- suming and does not reduce overall mortality. These countries are there- fore asked to make the "tough choice" of first screening women at age 35, rather than at 20; and from then on to screen them every 5 to 10 years up to age 55, rather than every 2 to 3 years up to age 65. This "up-age" screening re- duces the number of times an individual is checked, but in- creases the number of women who can be screened in the higher risk ages and thus, the experts say, will have a "reas- onable chance of reducing overall mortality in a country." Of the estimated 460,000 new cases each year, about 72,000-16 per cent of the world's total-occur in India alone. Thus the country is car- rying out studies to determine if para-medical workers could be trained to detect the dis- ease visually, with the aid of an instrument called the speculum. • WHO Photo· J. Marshal! Rather than at age 20, screen from age 35 WORLD HEALTH, Jan./Feb. 1988 Newsbriefs • A US Centre for Pain Evaluation. The University of Wiscon- sin's medical school in Madison has been designated a collaborat- ing centre in symptom evaluation for WHO's "Freedom from Cancer Pain " programme. • Calendar. Of more than usual noteworthiness, the 77th World Congress of the International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine, from 24-28 May 7988 in Oubrovnik, Yugoslavia. Among items on the agenda: Fatigue and traffic safety, alco- hol, drugs and traffic safety, protection of car occupants and other road users. (For more information, write: 17th IAATM Congress, Institute of Public Health, Sarengradska 3, YU-4700, Zagreb). • Canada's Tobacco-Free Pages. Even though advertising from tobacco products represents about one million Canadian dollars in revenue each year, the Toronto Star has closed its pages to tobac- co advertising, the Canadian Cancer Society reports. it is the fourth Canadian daily to do so, all in Ontario province. The first was the Kingston Whig-Standard, the second the Brockville Recorder and Times, both smaller dailies. The third was the Toronto Globe & Mail, circ. 370,000, the first major daily. The Star's circulation is even larger- about 500,000 daily, and 800,000 over weekends. • Off the Press: "Mental Health Services in Pilot Study Areas, " published by WHO's regional office for Europe in Copenhagen and based on information from 27 centres in 76 countries. The 570- page report makes available for the first time "a detailed and reli- able description of the development of mental health services in Europe, " the authors say. (Price: Sw.fr 70 from Distribution and Sales, WHO, Geneva). • Red Square, a Public Space. Smoking is being banned in more and more public places throughout the world, but most of them are indoors. As this photo shows, Moscow's Red Square is an exception. There 's 6 no smoking in this open-air ~ public space. ~ The Soviet Union's anti- :> tobacco programme has been o given a new impetus by a recent 1' decision of the Ministry of "- Health to makes its offices smo- ~ ke-free. s • The NGO-WHO Newsletter, No. 1. This is the masthead of a Go IAJ:'HO newsletter recently published, rrJ whose purpose is to facilitate f'WSLETTER the work between 7 54 non- governmental organizations and WHO. "These groups, " WHO officials say, "are valuable partners in getting the health job done. " it is to be published twice a year. (For more information · Write Joan Gunby, WHO responsible officer for liaison with non-governmental groups.) • World Health Index 1975-1987. The last edition of the World Health Index ran from the start of the magazine, in 7958, to the end of 1983. Now we have up-dated it to the end of 1987, but at the same time we have omitted (as out-of-date) all the issues prior to 7975. All libraries and most teaching institutions on our mailing lists will receive copies of the Index for 7975-1987, which will exist in English and French only. For further copies, write to the Editor, World Health, wHo, 1271 Geneva 27, Switzerland. In the next issue Everybody is talking about it, but what do we know about it? AIDS, the Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome, has been described as "the new plague", against which one of the few weapons at present available is health education. WHO is charged with coordinating global action to combat AIDS, as th E? March issue of World Health explains.