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	New HIFA project to promote sharing of experience and expertise around the maintenance of essential health services during (and after) the pandemic Date: Sunday, November 8, 2020 HIFA has launched a series of thematic discussions to promote cross country learning on the maintenance of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, supported by the World Health Organization. We are holding a 4-week discussion in 4 languages, on the HIFA forums, starting 16 November 2020.
	HIFA Blog: Month in Review, July/August 2020 - “Simply getting people online will NOT solve the world's information problems” Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Quote of the month: “WHO's new public information video to combat the infodemic concludes with the message: 'Spend less time online'. This is a resounding recognition of the fact that simply getting people online will NOT solve the world's information problems. Far from it: connectivity gives fuel to misinformation.” Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator
	HIFA Blog: Month in Review, June 2020 - “A matter of life and death for people unable to access essential healthcare information during the COVID-19 pandemic” Date: Monday, July 6, 2020 Quote of the month: “Managing the digital divide better has become a matter of life and death for people unable to access essential healthcare information during the COVID-19 pandemic.” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
	HIFA Blog: Month in Review, May 2020 - More on Coronavirus and the cancer of misinformation Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Quote of the month: “I honestly don’t think that we are past the peak of fake information. As long as the population is not well informed they will continue to believe fake information.” Kenny Garmendia, HIFA member, Medical doctor at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
	Combating digital health inequality in the time of coronavirus Date: Friday, June 12, 2020 In April 2020 HIFA collaborated with the International Federation of Library Associations (special interest group Evidence for Global and Disaster Health and the Health & Biosciences Libraries section) to complement a webinar on Thursday 23 April, 2020, on the theme of Combating digital health inequality in the time of coronavirus. In the 2 weeks leading up to the webinar, HIFA hosted a thematic discussion on the theme of the webinar.
	New paper: Universal access to essential health information Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 The HIFA Steering Group is delighted to announce the publication in BMJ Global Health of our new paper (open access): Universal access to essential health information: accelerating progress towards universal health coverage and other SDG health targets authored by three HIFA steering group members (Geof Royston, Chris Zielinski and Neil Pakenham-Walsh). The paper highlights the following points:
	BMJ Global Health: HIFA members comment on 'Defining global health as public health somewhere else' Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020 Congratulations to HIFA members Sara Fischer, Poorva Patil, Chris Zielinski, Lori Baxter, Francisco Javier Bonilla-Escobar, Shabina Hussain, Claudia Lai, Sarah Walpole, Francis Ohanyido, David Flood, Ambrish Singh and Najeeb Al-Shorbaji - who have co-authored a piece in BMJ Global Health, based on recent HIFA discussions. Commentary: Is it about the ‘where’ or the ‘how’? Comment on Defining global health as public health somewhere else Summary points:
	HIFA Blog: Month in Review, Feb-Apr 2020 - Coronavirus and the cancer of misinformation Date: Friday, May 1, 2020 Quote of the month: “The cancer of misinformation continues to spread and metastasize... It is a pervasive and growing threat to global health, driven by increased connectivity and social media. It is not just coronavirus, it is a problem across all areas of health” (HIFA coordinator Neil Pakenham-Walsh, UK) “Antibiotics are effective in treating the new coronavirus”. “Herbal remedies and other drugs can help treat the new virus”. “New coronavirus only affects older people”.
	HIFA discussion to support IFLA webinar: Combating digital health inequality in the time of coronavirus Date: Monday, April 13, 2020 Coronavirus has highlighted as never before how being online is crucial to our lives. Those who most need support (including older and socially disadvantaged people) are least likely to be online. Community organisations, including libraries, have a crucial role in building digital inclusion and digital health literacy.
	HIFA's first systematic review: How primary healthcare workers obtain information for safe prescribing in LMICs Date: Friday, April 10, 2020 We are delighted to announce the publication in BMJ Global Health of our first systematic review: How primary healthcare workers obtain information during consultations to aid safe prescribing in low-income and lower middle-income countries.

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