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WHO publications highly commended in BMA Medical Book Competition

In this year's British Medical Association (BMA) Medical Book Competition, two WHO publications were highly commended in the Public Health category. Prizes were given to Helminth control in school-age children and the World report on violence and health during an awards ceremony at the BMA in London on 5 November 2003.

Helminth control in school-age children is a guide for planners and programme managers in health and education sectors who are charged with implementing community-based programmes aimed at controlling soil-transmitted helminth and schistosome infections in school-age children. Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth cause more than 150 000 deaths each year.

"An excellent practical guide for students in tropical health and health care workers in the field. It provides an excellent toolkit to aid setting up and sustaining a control programme for a significant public health problem in developing countries," the competition judges said of the book.

The World report on violence and health is the first comprehensive review of the problem of violence on a global scale — what it is, who it affects and what can be done about it. It aims to show that violence — the cause of over 1.6 million deaths every year – is preventable. "It is well written, easy to read, and authentic. Moreover, it has a practical approach to problems and also gives recommendations for practical solutions. Its global approach makes it applicable to each and every country," said the competition judges. For a review of the World report on violence and health, see the Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2002;80:915.

The annual competition, founded in 1996, awards prizes across several categories including popular medicine, clinical practice and patient information. For further information about the competition and award winners, visit the BMA website at www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/LIB2003WinnersBookCompetition.