Stories about Health from June, 2009
Sri Lanka: No To Beef
Sri Lankan blog Scourge comments on a poster that advocates how cruel it is to slaughter a cow and for that we should refrain from eating beef: “how you can be so concerned about cows and not at all concerned about a human life!”
Russia: Lingering high mortality rates
Streetwise Professor writes about the prevalent high mortality rates among the Russian population, based on figures from the Lancet published by Reuters, with interesting comments by Sublime Oblivion.
Myanmar: 1st H1N1 Case Confirmed
Myanmar on Saturday confirmed its first case of swine flu, with state media reporting that a 13-year-old girl had tested positive for the virus on her return from Singapore.
Kenya: The politics of Mass Male Circumcision
HIV Kenya discusses the politics of “Mass Male Circumcision“: It seems like a short time since the issue of mass male circumcision (MMC) became a political football and it is not even the latest issue to have that status any more. But articles about it still appear every now and...
Jamaica, Barbados: Updates on H1N1
Yardflex.com says 19 Jamaicans have been infected with the H1N1 virus, while Barbados Underground cautions that Swine Flu can't be blamed for everything.
Trinidad & Tobago: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Trinidad and Tobago-based blogger Attillah Springer addresses the judge whose ruling caused construction on the proposed Alutrint aluminium smelter to come to a halt: “This victory is for denuded hills and depleted fish stocks. This victory is for every unsolved crime, every unkept campaign promise. What you have done has...
Philippines: A(H1N1) panic continues to grow
Asia’s first A(H1N1)-related death is a Filipina from Metro Manila. This was confirmed by health authorities who also warned that 25 percent of the country’s 90 million population could be affected by the dreaded influenza virus. More schools have suspended their classes to protect the health and safety of their students.
Philippines, Hong Kong: Swine flu and racial profiling
After being tagged as superbug carriers, Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are now accused of spreading A(H1N1) virus in the city. Kape’t Yosi believes this is racial profiling.
Bahrain: Making Changes
This week two Bahraini bloggers announced their intention to make some changes in their life: Flymenian has a new routine, and Mahmood wants to lose weight.
Trinidad & Tobago: H1N1
This Beach Called Life: “Swine Flu, A(H1N1), has now hit Trinidad and Tobago with the number of cases increasing daily causing facemaks to become as popular as condoms at Carnival.”
Palestine: Water Contamination In Gaza
In Gaza reports on the problem of access to water and the contamination of existing water resources in the Gaza Strip due to the destruction of infrastructure during Israel's attacks earlier this year.
Egypt: Between the Swine Flu and Approaching Plague
Terror and panic have gripped many Egyptians after the first case of H1N1 influenza, or Swine Flu, was detected in the country. The panic had actually started before the virus hit, prompting the Egyptian government to cull pigs. Bloggers are also voicing their concerns about the spread of the deadly plague in a neighbouring Libyan town.
Trinidad & Tobago: Smelter & Democracy
As a legal ruling causes construction on the proposed Alutrint aluminium smelter to come to a halt, This Beach Called Life comments: “This case is destined to go to the Privy Council and if the EMA (Government) should lose then the reputation of the EMA would be damaged beyond repair...
Mexico: Water Shortages Affecting Nearly 2 Million Residents
Nearly two millions of citizens have been affected by the recent reduction of the water service in the Valley of Mexico. The Cutzamala System, which manages 20% of the drinking water for the valley, is not working at full capacity and cannot supply its own region, several districts, and municipalities from the Federal District and the State of Mexico. Water supply shortage will affect people every weekend for an indefinite amount of time.
Bahrain: Equipped For Swine Flu?
Bahraini blogger Emoodz asks why a student returning from the US who was feeling unwell was sent home from the doctor with some painkillers – then was later discovered to have swine flu.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Outsiders
“We are all begging to be let in. For our voices to be heard. For our opinions to matter. And the father of the nation builds a big tall wall around what is for him and those who support him. Like a club bouncer he gets to say who gets...
Barbados: Tourism and H1N1
Barbados Free Press is torn: should Barbados admit a cruise ship at the risk of increasing the incidence of the H1N1 virus – or go for the tourism dollars?
Paraguay: Governmental Response to Arrival of H1N1 Virus
New cases of the AH1N1 virus have been confirmed in Paraguay. The total people infected rose to 25, however, there have not been any deaths linked to the virus. Bloggers reflect on the steps that the government is taking in regards to providing information from the public, and detection at the airport.
Cambodia: Health education
Keo Kounila and Hay Phirum write about the many challenges confronting Cambodia’s medical education.
Trinidad & Tobago: Smelter Protest
Rights Action Group T&T republishes a letter to the editor regarding an “imbalanced” news report claiming that an injured baby died as a result of the smelter protests, while This Beach Called Life concocts an imaginary conversation about the protest action between the Prime Minister and Attorney General.
Zimbabwe: Faces of the crisis and a cry for help
The CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation organization has published Time 2 Act, an online video in which people in Zimbabwe present the various ways in which the crisis the country is going through is decimating the population and the quality of life of the survivors. In the following 3 part video, citizens discuss how the mega devaluation the currency is going through affects their ability to eat and clothe themselves, speak about violence and plead for help from mediators such as the South African Development Community.
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