In an editorial, R Bruce Aylward (466) explains why polio has been declared a public health emergency of international concern. Carole Presern et al. (467) draw attention to the factors that predict success – reported in the policy and practice section of this issue (533–544) – in meeting millennium development goals on maternal and child health. Gary Humphreys (470–471) reports on efforts to design high-tech low-cost toilets for 2.5 billion people currently lacking access to basic sanitation infrastructure. Suwit Wibulpolprasert (472–473) talks to Fiona Fleck about progress and setbacks in Thailand’s universal coverage scheme.
China
Informing rural health workers
Yaolong Chen et al. (474–481) use text messages as a way to get evidence acted upon.
South Africa
Does supply meet demand?
Kim Ward et al. (482–489) study the distribution of community pharmacies.
Gambia
S. pneumoniae vs C. trachomatis
Sarah E Burr et al. (490–498) study the indirect effects of trachoma control efforts.
Australia
Getting doctors where they are needed
Belinda G O'Sullivan et al. (512–519) describe a specialist outreach policy.
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda & Viet Nam
Meeting development goals
Shyama Kuruvilla et al. (533–544) untangle what works in making progress on maternal and child health.
Global
HIV services
Mariana Siapka et al. (499–511) explore the evidence for integrating service provision.
Paying attention to the details
Bryan Mercurio (520–525) dissects the options for making trade agreements less problematic for public health.
Surviving snakebite
José María Gutiérrez et al. (526–532) propose ways to make antivenoms more available.