Media Collections - Off-air Television Broadcasts (Part 1) - Library ...

Colour recording system: PAL ; Region all.
'A co-production of the WGBH/Nova Science Unit and Vulcan Productions, Inc.'
Title from SBS website: Science - prescription for survival.
Copyright notice: Commonwealth of Australia. Copyright Regulations. 1969.
Warning.
[disc 1] pt. 1. Disease warriors ; pt. 2. Rise of the superbugs -- [disc. 2] pt.
3. Delivering the goods ; pt. 4. Deadly messengers -- [disc 3] pt. 5. Back to
the basics ; pt. 6. How safe are we?
Production credits vary for each episode.
Narrated by Brad Pitt.
A six-part documentary on the health threats which face the world today.
Retraces the past 150 years' breakthroughs made in public health, which increase
the average western life expectancy by 35 years. Shows conditions in over twenty
countries, examining why curable diseases still persist; the efforts to treat
them; and the dangers of new "superbugs." Enquiry into how the benefits of
public health have yet to reach many of the poorest nations in the developing
world. In the past two decades, infectious diseases which had nearly been
eradicated, such as tuberculosis, have resurged with a vengeance; while deadly
new diseases, such as AIDS, SARS and West Nile Virus have emerged. Microbial
resistance to many modern drugs is rising, threatening people everywhere. Today,
the latest epidemic is only a plane ride away.
Part One, Disease warriors, chronicles the groundbreaking work of early
researchers, such as, the English physician Edward Jenner, and the French
scientist Louis Pasteur. Part two, Rise of the superbugs, tells the story of the
discovery of the very first antibiotic, penicillin, and the subsequent
development of more "wonder drugs", which transformed modern medicine. Looks at
also the growing threat posed by new strains of germs, such as tuberculosis and
staph, which are resistant to the best antibiotics. Questions the effectiveness
of the present strongest medicines, and the ability to develop new drugs in time
to replace them.
Part three, Delivering the goods examines how at the beginning of the 21st
century, science can prevent, treat or cure most of the deadliest diseases known
to mankind. Yet, millions die needlessly every year because the benefits of
modern medicine and public health fail to reach them. Documents the innovative
health programs and health champions who, against all odds, are delivering the
goods to millions and inspiring a new vision for the future of global health.
Part four, Deadly messengers is the history of the plague and its devastating
consequences for Medieval Europe. It is also about the serious threat posed by
vector-borne diseases, with the mosquito, identified as the most dangerous
vector, which contines to threaten public health, today. Includes stories of
heroic scientists and health workers who battled against the mosquito; and
examines current efforts to control vector-borne diseases.
Part five, Back to basics, investigates the link between health and the
essential requirements which many people take for granted. It also examines how
an overabundance of nutrition - in the form of over-consumption - is causing an
epidemic of obesity, spreading across the globe. Part six, Prescription for
survival, examines the most serious threats facing mankind today, such as avian
flu; and the urgent need to strengthen global public health systems.
First released: [Boston] : WGBH Educational Foundation and Vulcan Productions,
Inc., c2005. Original released in series: Nova.
DVD.
Closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.
ERC DVD.
614.409 PRES.
disc 2 pt.3-4.
PRESCRIPTION FOR SURVIVAL [VIDEORECORDING] : A GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGE.
Off-air recording of tne SBS programme broadcast 12/02/06, 19/02/06, 26/02/06,
05/03/06, 12/03/06, 19/03/06. Copied under Part 5A of the Copyright Act 1968.
Colour recording system: PAL ; Region all.
'A co-production of the WGBH/Nova Science Unit and Vulcan Productions, Inc.'