The Cochrane Library has developed an interactive world map displaying all of the countries with access to the Library. When you click on a selected country, data is displayed such as rank, percentage of full text downloads and the country's most downloaded Cochrane Reviews. Canada ranks number four with 4.33 per cent of the Library's full text downloads.

Each year, men all over the world grow moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. This initiative, called Movember, encourages men to register at Movember.com and seek sponsorships for their moustache-growing efforts while photo-documenting their progress. Movember raises awareness for prostate cancer by encouraging public discussion of the often ignored men’s health issue.

The Lancet has published an article featuring Jimmy Volmink, Director of the South African Cochrane Centre, and his contributions to the development of evdience-based health care in South Africa. Volmink is Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University and is a recognized leader in his efforts to improve the country's health and social challenges.To read the article, click here.

Wrong-site surgery is a rare but possibly disastrous clinical error that can have substantial consequences for patients and health care providers. Cochrane researchers have undertaken the task of identifying and evaluating interventions which may reduce wrong-site surgery . . .

In May 2012, Cochrane Canada hosted its annual Symposium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Canadian Cochrane Centre provided stipends to consumers to give them the opportunity to attend the Symposium, and three of those consumers have written an in-depth article on their experience. Sheila Kerr, Colleen Maloney and Nadia Prestley are members of the Consumer Advisory Board for the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, an average of 880 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer in Canada.

In 2011, approximately 136.7 million babies were born worldwide, and only 32.6% of them were breastfed exclusively within the first 12 months. This year marks the 20th anniversary of World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August 2012), which is meant to protect, encourage and support the practice of breastfeeding. Numerous countries do not have an effective infant and young child feeding program in place, and World Breastfeeding Week aims to bring awareness to this fact, as breastfeeding is the optimal infant feeding practice in reducing malnutrition, as well as poverty.

As some Canadian cities prepare for more consecutive days of rising temperatures, it might be useful to know electric fans may not keep you cool or safe.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has recently highlighted a collection of Cochrane Reviews related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The Bill Silverman Prize, named after one of the founding members of American neonatal medicine, is an award presented annually at the Cochrane Colloquium. The aim of the award is to acknowledge the value of critisicm of The Cochrane Collaboration in terms of improving its work. The prize is given to an author of publication or presentation that evaluates Cochrane Reviews or other work of The Collaboration.Here is the eligibility criteria for publications: