SciDev.Net

A new data kit for mobile phones allows users to quickly collect, analyse and transmit a wide variety of data in infrastructure-poor areas.

A round up of articles about delays in shipping donated vaccine, how to define a pandemic, new antivirals, and more.

Despite campaigning in Bangladesh, under-fives are still failing to receive zinc treatment for diarrhoeal disease, a survey says.

Scientists must lobby policymakers and politicians to ensure that vital research on maternal and child health saves lives, say the authors of a report.

Deaths from diarrhoea in over-five-year-olds far exceed established estimates, according to a new study.

Millions of children are missing out on the fruits of an explosion in vaccine development because they are too difficult to reach.

Complementary medicine has saved the Peruvian government US$8 million in the last ten years, says a study.

Glasses with adjustable lenses could put millions of people with poor eyesight back in control of their lives.

A round-up of articles about Africa's inability to cope with swine flu, human behaviour's affect on virus spread, vaccine progress, and more.

The WHO has begun an accreditation scheme for laboratories to ensure that diagnosis on the continent improves.

Experts say that flu vaccination could cut pneumonia deaths in the developing world and stimulate the vaccine industry.

A new US$49 million initiative aims to strengthen health research capacity across Africa — and will put African researchers in charge.

The huge burden of chronic diseases in developing countries could be cut by an alliance of agencies teaming up for research.

Many global health programmes erroneously claim to strengthen national health systems, a study has found.

Poor countries need to improve their surveillance and research capacity to reduce the damage climate change will do to health, says a report.

A top UK medical journal has criticised the Gates Foundation for prioritising high-risk research and distorting the global health agenda.

Vaccine production is likely to be confined to a handful of developed countries whose order books will be full, say critics.

Swine flu in Africa will be hard to detect against a background of many other diseases with similar symptoms, says an expert.

A project connecting African hospitals and universities with their Indian counterparts via satellite will be expanded this year.

Rural health workers will get advice via mobile phones as part of a project in Ghana — just one of a growing 'health hotlines' movement.