At the dawn of the 21st century, the health of the world is at a critical crossroads. Malaria, tuberculosis, and other diseases virtually eliminated from developed countries routinely claim millions of lives in developiong nations. More that 40 new or emergent diseases like Ebola fever, SARS, West Nile virus, and avian flu have appeared within the last 30 years. Strains of "superbugs" resistant to our best drugs mystify modern medicine, while HIV/AIDS still lacks a vaccine and continues to ravage the world.\Yet the problems of global health are not without solutions. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, a "golden era" in medicine spurred the greatest health revolution in human history. Powerful vaccines and antibiotics, clean water and sanitaiton, proper nutrition and a strong public health infrastructure protected whole populations from infectious disease and increased average life expectancy, especially in developed countries. But the benefits of this revolution have not reached everyone. Infectious diseases that are curable still persist, and deadly new killers are on the rise. In a globalized world, communicable diseases can travel anywhere in a matter of hours.\Why has it taken so long to avert a health crisis that has been preventable for decades? What will it take to get the benefits of medical science and the strategies of disease prevention to all the world's people? Filmed in over 20 countries and narrated by Brad Pitt, this video looks closely at the most critical health threats facing the world today. This six-part documentary series presents the compelling stories and real-life drama of those who are proving that solutions are indeed possible - and that lives can be saved right now, the world over.

CIRC # 279A, CIRC # 279B, CIRC # 279C. Originally produced as 6 episodes of the television miniseries Rx for survival in 2005. Special feature (disc 2, 25 min.): interview with Jimmy Carter about global health issues, conducted by David Brancaccio (originally broadcast as an episode of the television program NOW on Nov. 4, 2005). DVD-ROM features (PDF files): teacher guides for each episode; 6 activities for exploring global health issues; 3 dispatches from experts in the field. Companion to the book: Rx for survival, why we must rise to the global health challenge / by Philip Hilts.

Disc 1: Disease warriors (55 min.) -- Prologue -- India's war on polio -- The first vaccines -- The smallpox campaign -- Search for an AIDS vaccine -- Polio spreads, resistance grows -- Success on the horizon -- Disc 1: Rise of the superbugs (57 min.) -- Prologue -- Stephen's struggle for life -- The miracle of penicillin -- Tuberculosis stalks Peru -- Ryan fights a superbug -- New antibiotics are needed -- A gamble pays off -- Disc 2: Delivering the goods (55 min.) -- Prologue -- Riders for health -- Thailand's AIDS warrior -- Doctors without borders -- Bangladesh transformed -- Disc 2: Deadly messengers (57 min.) -- Prologue -- What's killing the birds? -- West Nile moves west -- California under seige -- The tragedy of malaria -- Success in Togo -- Preparedness pays off -- Disc 3: Back to the basics (55 min.) -- Prologue -- The Vitamin A detective -- Unmasking pellagra -- Simple drops save lives -- The power of clean water -- The obesity paradox -- Nepal is a model -- Disc 3: How safe are we? (56 min.) -- Prologue -- Botswana's AIDS struggle -- Test case for the world -- New nemeses, old lessons -- When avian flu kills -- Vaccine dilemma -- International committment is key.