Small Indian hill state aims to improve agricultural livelihoods with UN loan. 1 February 2012 – India is receiving a loan of nearly $90 million from the United Nations to improve agricultural livelihoods in the small north-western state of Uttarakhand, one of the poorest areas in the country. IFAD will provide a US$89.9 million loan to […]

South Sudan: UN relief chief stresses vast scale of humanitarian needs Displaced people in Gumuruk, 40 kilometres from Pibor town, South Sudan. Photo: IRIN/Hannah McNeish February 2012 – The United Nations relief chief today underlined the enormity of the humanitarian challenges facing South Sudan on the first day of her three-day visit to the fledgling country, […]

Refugee children in Tanzania learn art basics in UN-sponsored workshop Congolese refugees and local Tanzanian children learn about art techniques side by side. Photo: UNHCR/S.Starke 1 February 2012 – In a novel way to impart new skills to children while improving their social interaction, the United Nations refugee agency has sponsored an arts workshop for refugee […]

Kenyan court jails men who killed UN aid worker WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. Photo: WFP/Rein Skullerud 1 February 2012 – The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Josette Sheeran welcomed today the decision by the Kenyan High Court to sentence five men to 56 years in prison each for the murder of […]

Free Heart Screenings Feb. 13 at Strong Memorial Hospital University of Rochester Medical Center cardiologists will offer free blood pressure and oxygenation screenings, which are key indicators of heart disease, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13, at Strong Memorial Hospital Lobby. This is part of the Medical Center’s community outreach efforts to mark American […]

Health Reform, Preventive Services, and Religious Institutions Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans will cover women’s preventive services, including contraception, without charging a co-pay or deductible beginning in August, 2012.  This new law will save money for millions of Americans. But more importantly, it will ensure Americans nationwide get the high-quality […]

New UN initiative aims to harness power of social media to fight global hunger 1 February 2012 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a week-long campaign in which users of the popular online trivia game Freerice can recruit their friends to help bring food to the world’s most vulnerable populations. World Freerice […]

President Obama Talks About Ways to Help Homeowners Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan listens as President Barack Obama delivers remarks on housing and the Homeowners Bill of Rights at the James Lee Community Center in Falls Church, Va., Feb. 1, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Today, in Falls Church, Virginia, […]

Statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on African-American History Month Today, we celebrate the start of African-American History Month. African-Americans throughout history have made significant contributions to scientific health research, medicine, and public health. Two notable examples include Dr. William Augustus Hinton, the son of former slaves, who became the first black professor at Harvard Medical […]

White House Hangout: Startup America Ed. Note: This live event has concluded. Watch the video below or on YouTube and stay tuned for upcoming White House Hangouts. On Thursday, February 2nd at 5:30 p.m. EST, Gene Sperling, Steve Case and Aneesh Chopra are joining a conversation with Americans across the country in a special White House Hangout […]