WHO’s mobile program to manage diabetes
For sufferers of diabetes, managing their condition is an ongoing and complicated task. Fast, reliable, and clear information is perhaps just as important as medication. In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) partnered with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to design “Be He@lthy, Be Mobile,” a program that sends tips on diet, exercise, and signs of diabetes-related complications to participants via text message.
In Senegal, the first adopter of the program in 2014, the program is very well received and growing. In 2017, 100,000 new participants registered for the service. “These messages really help me manage my condition,” says Mariama, a patient and regular user of the service.
Douglas Bettcher, director of the Department for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, indicated that the key to the success of the program is its ease of incorporation and emphasis on modifying patient behaviors. He states: “By providing information in a format which is simple and action-oriented, it is easier for subscribers to incorporate the information into their daily routines and make positive changes in their diet, exercise and habits.” Since the program launched, it has also been adopted by users India and Egypt. Read the full story.
IFLA’s new conceptual model for bibliographic information
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Committee on Standards has released the publication, IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM): A Conceptual Model for Bibliographic Information. The new conceptual reference model consolidates three models: functional requirements for bibliographic records (FRBR), functional requirements for authority data (FRAD), and functional requirements for subject authority data (FRSAD), which were each developed independently using separate definitions, relationships, and attributes. The new model was designed to resolve inconsistencies between the former models and to better align with linked data environments. Read the full story.
NDLI international libraries
The National Library of India (NDLI) plans to go global in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur thanks to funding from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, as announced at an international United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) workshop. NDLI plans to partner with the world’s top digital libraries to make its resources more widely accessible. Collaboration has already begun with the Europeana Foundation, an organization that is leading an initiative for a digital cultural platform in Europe. Other groups that have expressed interest in collaborating on the project include the Tainacan Project in Brazil, the National Library of the Netherlands, the National Library of South Africa, and the National Library of Nepal. “While procuring international content is one aspect, being inclusive and open is also important. The information should be made available in all forms, be it data, technology, or content,” said Professor P. P. Das, a representative of NDLI. NDLI’s digital collection currently includes over 12 million resources in over 100 languages from more than 150 sources. Read the full story.
World AIDS Day around the world
On Friday December 1, 2017, World AIDS Day was commemorated by leaders and communities around the globe. Currently, 36.8 million people are afflicted with either HIV or AIDS. World AIDS Day promotes unity in the fight against the disease as well as support for those affected, while commemorating those who have died from the illness.
In the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and fiancé Meghan Markle attended a World AIDS Day charity event to show their support. The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, showed his support by undergoing HIV testing. Testing was also promoted in Kenya via free testing booths at the University of Nairobi. In Mexico City and Shanghai, prominent landmarks were illuminated in red to raise awareness of AIDS. In India, artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created and displayed the longest red ribbon in the world to mark the occasion. Read the full story.