Confusion over Philippines birth policy
Varied implementation of a Department of Health (DOH) policy advocating health facility-based delivery under the care of a skilled birth attendant (SBA) has health officials and advocates worried that the policy may be doing more harm than good. Full report

More Reports

Evacuation volunteers fan out in Bangladesh

 DHAKA, 16 May 2013 (IRIN) - Some 50,000 volunteers in coastal communities across southern Bangladesh are out and about warning people to move to higher ground ahead of Cyclone Mahasen. Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated so far. full report

Landmine casualties rising in Kachin, Myanmar

 LAIZA, 15 May 2013 (IRIN) - Former rebel fighter Lahpai Hkam has been in pain every day since a landmine destroyed his lower right leg during a battle with government soldiers 18 months ago in Myanmar’s northern Kachin State. full report

Rohingya evacuation under way in Myanmar

 BANGKOK, 14 May 2013 (IRIN) - The government of Myanmar has launched a large-scale effort to relocate to higher ground tens of thousands of Rohingya internally displaced persons (IDPs) ahead of Cyclone Mahasen, says the UN. full report

Bangladesh, Myanmar brace for Cyclone Mahasen

 BANGKOK, 13 May 2013 (IRIN) - Bangladesh and Myanmar are bracing for Cyclone Mahasen, a storm which could affect millions in the region, the UN has warned. full report

Marshalling smartphones, gravediggers to fight dengue in Pakistan

 LAHORE, 10 May 2013 (IRIN) - On the frontline in the fight against dengue fever in Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city, the authorities have a sharp eye for spare car tyres. full report

Beating wild weather in Sri Lanka

 COLOMBO, 9 May 2013 (IRIN) - Planners in Sri Lanka should do more to mitigate the effects of extreme weather in order to help those most likely to be affected, experts say. full report