In this month’s Bulletin

In this month’s Bulletin 545Bull World Health Organ 2011;89:545 | doi:10.2471/BLT.11.000811 In editorials, Ala Din Alwan et al. (546) and Dermot Maher & Nathan Ford (547) discuss the growing importance of noncommunicable diseases and their expectations for the upcoming United Nations high-level meeting in New York. In an interview, director of the department of food safety at the World Health Organization, Maged Younes (554–555), talks about the recent E. coli outbreak in Germany. Achieving the 2015 target Philippe Glaziou et al. (573–582) predict global targets of halving tuberculosis deaths from 1990 to 2015 can be achieved. Engaging civil society Haileyesus Getahun & Mario Raviglione (616–618) discuss how civil society should play a greater role in tuberculosis prevention and care. Antibiotics for severe malnutrition Marzia Lazzerini & David Tickell (594–607) review the evidence for giving broad-spectrum antibiotics to children with severe acute malnutrition. Maternal depression and child growth Pamela J Surkan et al. (608–615) investigate the relationship between maternal mental health and childhood stunting and underweight. Bangladesh Health and development trends Md Mobarak Hossain Khan et al. (583–593) identify huge inequities between rich and poor populations. Cambodia Volunteers are the best weapon Yin Soeum & Gozde Zorlu (552–553) report on the challenges of preventing the spread of resistant malaria. Ethiopia Injectable contraceptives Ndola Prata et al. (556–564) show that community health workers can safely give injectable contraceptives. Gambia Gaps in surgical resources Adam Iddriss et al. (565–572) find a serious lack of physical and human resources to perform essential and emergency surgery. Nicaragua Challenges managing HIV Henry Espinoza et al. (619–620) discuss the need for better information systems and diagnostics for HIV. West Africa Vaccine success for the meningitis belt As this year’s meningitis season comes to a close, Felicity Thompson (550–551) reports on the new vaccine that is already having a big impact.