New web resource provides easy access to global health data

GlobalHealthFacts.org - a new and freely available website with the latest country and region-specific data on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other key health indicators - was launched today by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit, private operating foundation focused on health care issues.

GlobalHealthFacts.org is designed for ease of use and flexibility. The data are displayed in tables, charts, and color-coded maps and can be downloaded for custom analyses.

The website helps sort and present data to answer such questions as:

• Which nations have the greatest number of people living with HIV/AIDS?
• How many children orphaned by AIDS live in Uganda compared to Nigeria? 
• Where are the regional "hot spots" for new TB cases?
• Which countries in Asia have the largest number of malaria cases?
• Where are other diseases, like yellow fever, SARS, and avian flu occurring? 
• Which countries receive grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria?

The site provides access to detailed information on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, as well as data on demographic and economic indicators, other emerging health problems and program funding, and financing. New and updated data will be added regularly, and users can sign up for free email alerts with updates at www.GlobalHealthReporting.org/email. Organizations are encouraged to link to GlobalHealthFacts.org. Linking information, including an interactive map that other websites are free to use, can be found at http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/linktous.jsp.

"With increasing attention to global health issues, it’s essential that discussion of these issues be based on reliable facts and information," said Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew E. Altman. "With GlobalHealthFacts.org, we hope to make data on critical issues like AIDS, TB, and malaria more easily and broadly accessible."

GlobalHealthFacts.org is a companion site to GlobalHealthReporting.org, which provides news summaries, webcasts, background information, and tools for journalists on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. GlobalHealthReporting.org is also operated by Kaiser, with major support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.