Today’s Health News
Mufulira typhoid cases reach over 2,200
Times, 11 January, 2012, p2
Typhoid cases in Mufulira have reached 2, 227 with health authorities calling for increased efforts to prevent new infections in Mupambe Township. Ministry of Health spokesperson, Reuben Mbewe, said in an interview yesterday that by Monday, Mupambe had continued to record new infections of typhoid. “As by January 8, we had a total of 131 admissions with 50 cases that were still under treatment and a total of 91 discharges,” Dr Mbewe said.
Save the Children, cage the rapists
Times, 11 January, 2012, p2
Domestic violence or, to borrow the parlance currently in vogue, Gender Based Violence (GBV), has assumed frightening proportions in Zambia and this has ruined the lives of countless victims, many of whom endure the pain in silence. Child defilers are on the rampage, rape cases are on the upswing on a daily basis and many wives are being battered to death by their abusive husbands. The statistics paint a very grim and grotesque picture about the Zambian society as a whole. It is quite clear the country needs to do more to reverse the trend.
Nigeria : World malaria report 2011
11 January 2012
The year 2011 has come and gone. It is in the interest of forging ahead that we should review some achievements, challenges and landmarks as we are ushered into 2012. This article is about Malaria and 2011 which is captured in a detailed report by World Health Organization (WHO) titled ‘World Malaria Report 2011′. It summarizes information received from 106 malaria-endemic countries and other sources and updates the analyses presented in the 2010 report. It highlights continued progress made towards meeting the international targets for malaria control set for 2010 and 2015. Internationally agreed targets and goals for malaria control. The year 2010 was the date set to achieve universal coverage for all populations at risk of malaria using locally appropriate interventions for prevention and case management, and to reduce the malaria burden by at least 50% compared to the levels in the year 2000. In the light of progress made by 2010, the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) targets were updated in June 2011. The targets are now to reduce global malaria deaths to near zero by end-2015; (ii) reduce global malaria cases by 75% from 2000 levels by end-2015; and (iii) eliminate malaria by end-2015 in 10 new countries since 2008, including in the WHO European Region. These targets will be met by: achieving and sustaining universal access to, and utilization of, preventive measures; achieving universal access to case management in the public and private sectors and in the community (including appropriate referral); and accelerating the development of surveillance systems. Impact of malaria control: A growing number of countries have recorded decreases in the number of confirmed cases of malaria and/ or reported admissions and deaths since 2000. Global control efforts have resulted in a reduction in the incidence of malaria and malaria specific mortality rates.
Gambia : Journalists briefed on HIV/Aids high level meeting
11 January 2012
The Association of Health Journalists (AOHJ) in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Saturday organised a one-day media briefing on the follow-up to the High Level Meeting on the Universal Access on Aids, which was held at the UN headquarters in New York, from the 8th-10th June 2011. The one-day forum brought together media practitioners, both from the print and electronic and was held at the Girl Guides Conference Hall, along MDI Road in Kanifing. It also accorded the participants the opportunity to interact and discuss the role of the media in the Aids response and how to reduce the prevalence of stigma and discrimination in the society. Addressing the participants, Nuha Ceesay, UNAIDS Country officer, spoke among other things on the significance of the High Level Meeting and the role of the media by ensuring these objectives are achieved. He however added that the High Level Meeting came at a crucial moment, when the global AIDS response deadline for achieving key goals and targets are unanimously set by the member states in order to reverse the pandemic, including the goal to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support which expired at the end of 2010 and were reviewed. This, he added, resulted in the adoption of Resolution 65/277. He explained that the global leaders also adopted the new UNDAIDS strategy-getting to zero and called on all concerned parties to ensure the implementation of robust programmes that would lead to zero new infections, zero AIDS related deaths and zero stigma and discrimination. He further went on to outline that symbolically, 2011 also marked 30 years since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. “The High Level Meeting therefore provided the platform where delegates took stock of three decades of the response of HIV/AIDS at country, regional and global levels and as well agreed on concrete actions for the next five years, that is until 2015,” he stated.
Nigeria : Perspectives on the Anids model in Anambra
12 January 2012
When the Peter Obi administration assumed office in the year 2006, its programme of action was tagged Anambra Integrated Development Strategy [ANIDS]. It is a novel initiative; a multi-sectoral model predicated on the internationally-acclaimed Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] of Eradication of Extreme Poverty & Hunger, Gender Equality & Women Empowerment, Reduction of Child Mortality, Boost to Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnership in Development. Even as noble as the intents were, the governor’s critics scoffed at how he imagined he could effect development in all sectors simultaneously in Anambra State – a State without oil resources; a State literally under the steel grips of brigands who had held the apparatuses of governance hostage. Many of his admirers also wondered if he was not going too far in blending dreams with reality. But most people did not take Almighty God into consideration; that He selects leaders and empowers those who revere Him to make positive impact on their societies. Now in its second term and six years in office, the Obi administration has made tremendous impact on the polity, economy and social status of the State with its ANIDS model. Across board, there are impressive and evidence-based outcomes with testimonies from the people whose lives these projects have touched. First are heavy investments to enable institutional structures. These include instilling transparency in the management of public affairs; boosting confidence and efficiency in the three arms of governance [Executive, Legislature & Judiciary and their apparatuses]; strengthening the infrastructural base of the State, most extensive road network in the country today with over 500 kilometres of urban and rural roads majority of them with dual drainages; water schemes; waste and emergency management, generating Master Plans for three major cities [Awka, the State Capital, Onitsha and Nnewi]; housing development; concrete support for primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare and educational services, and many others.
Angola : Over 20 HIV/Aids cases recorded in Kibala
12 January 2012
Kibala
At least 27 people were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Kibala Municipality, throughout the year 2010, says the responsible of the counselling and testing centre of the mentioned illness, Verónica Manuel Cassule. Among these people are 12 pregnant women and a child. Awareness campaigns will continue near to the communities meant to stimulate voluntary tests.
Additional materials in the Dziwani Knowledge Centre for health
REPSSI
Mainstreaming psychosocial care and support through child participation
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 52p.
The document is a guide with a view of enhancing child participation in various interventions meant to address their needs. Particular emphasis is put on the benefits of their participation. These include increase in skills and confidence as well as bringing creativity, energy and fun to development programmes.
REPSSI
Mainstreaming psychosocial care and support within food and nutrition programmes
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 50p.
Tailored for practitioners working with children and families affected by HIV and AIDS, conflict and poverty, the key messages in the book mainly focus on the nutritional programmes and how these build children’s dignity, confidence and general well being. The book also highlights how linkages with other organisations can help in referrals for further assistance of these children.
Smith, Tricia
Understanding HIV basics
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 13p.
The manual is a third in a series called Body Maps: Bringing mind, body and community together for wellbeing. Provides information from HIV and AIDS basic terminologies to CD4 count, ART, drug classes drug resistance and adherence.
REPSSI
Psychosocial care and support for young children and infants in the time of HIV and AIDS: A resource for programming
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2007, 78p.
Key messages in this publication include role of family care, specialised mental health services, natural resilience in children and cost-effective interventions for addressing psychosocial wellbeing in children.
REPSSI
Tracking your health: A guide to creating a tracing book
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 23p.
Strives to mainstream psychosocial support into health services, in this case HIV treatment provided by clinics, hospitals and home based care. The document uses the tracing book as a tool to better understand individual health. The tracing book is like a journal and one can enter things that are important in their lives. This can be used to help children better understand HIV. The use of words is not necessary as symbols take on the illustration. Parents may also use the tracing book to encourage their older children get tested for HIV but also as an important piece of information in the event of illness.
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