Stories about Health from August, 2009
Israel: Advocating Breastfeeding in Public
A Mother in Israel weighs in on breastfeeding in public. “The idea that public breastfeeding should be prohibited because it makes people uncomfortable is as absurd as keeping pregnant women in the house because people might think about how they got that way.”
Online Campaigns To Combat Spread Of HIV/AIDS
To combat the spread of AIDS, many organizations and activists worldwide are engaged with innovative and localized campaigns and initiatives. Today we will discuss some of them who use ICT and citizen media to augment their cause.
Anguilla: The Fly
Corruption-free Anguilla says that a fly infestation at a particular garbage dump “results from a failure to deal with the garbage correctly”, adding: “The culprit is one of our biggest hotel developments.”
Myanmar: Cooking oil ban removed
According to The Irrawaddy News, seven brands of cooking oil that had been banned for health reasons in Myanmar are now on sale again in Yangon after government authorities recommended their sale in the market.
South Africa: Health Advisory for Highway Africa participants
For those of you traveling from abroad to South Africa for the Highway Africa conference, here’s a health advisory on the pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009, commonly known as swine flu, that we recommend you to read.
Barbados: Dialysis Crisis
As news breaks about a shortage of supplies at the hospital's dialysis unit, Barbados Free Press wonders “if politicians, civil servants and administrators in Barbados really get the fundamentals of their jobs.”
Japan: Robot nurse bear
Pink Tentacle featured a new machine – robot nurse bear which is designed to assist nurses by lifting patients in and out of their beds and wheelchairs.
China admits organ harvesting as main source of transplantation
C.A. Yeung highlights China Daily's recent report which admitted that executed prisoners had been the source of more than 65 percent organ transplantation performed in China. The blogger points out that the quoted statistics could be regarded as state secret.
Japan’s Medical System
In response to the New York Times’ blog Q&A about the health care systems of the world, Cruzon from Mutant frog blogs about his experience in Japan's medical system, which is full of flaws.
Laos: Expensive face masks
As A(H1N1) panic continues to grip the world, the cost of face masks continues to rise as well. Laos citizens are complaining.
Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity
The Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity is an organization in Cambodia working with survivors of acid attacks. Many victims of acid attacks in Cambodia are women.
China: The Death of the Internet Addict Youth
ESWN translated a Southern Metropolis Daily article about the death of a young man at an Internet addict healing camp. The article got the editor fired from his job.
Hong Kong: Poll on drug tests
Libertines Hong Kong has a very interesting post on the background of research institute, Hong Kong Research Association, which recently released a research founding that 70% of Hong Kong pupils support drug tests.
Ecuador: Continuing to Face the H1N1 Virus
With the number of deaths due to the H1N1 virus across the region reaching 1300, Ecuadorians provide their opinions on how the media is informing citizens, as well as a blogger's brush with the virus.
Hong Kong: School drug testing scheme
The Hong Kong government insisted to go ahead in implementing the school drug testing scheme despite a growing concern over its violation of children's rights.
Moroccan single moms situation ‘highlighted’
Elisabeth Hague, a Washington University graduate and Rabat-based blogger links to what she called an “interesting New York Times article“. The article,she explains on her blog, focuses upon the Moudawana (the reformed Family Law), but I was heartened to see that it views the issue through the lens of single...
Bloggers Reflect On HIV/AIDS Awareness In Arab World
While some bloggers in the Arab world report encountering ignorance about HIV/AIDS, others are impressed at the progress being made in destigmatising the disease.
Bahrain: Choosing A Natural Path
In Bahrain, Alia Almoayed describes the natural toiletries she uses – including a crystal deodorant: “Older members of my family, they tell me that everyone used it in the old days. In Bahrain they call it ‘shabba’. I wonder why people today would rather use the commercial toxic stuff instead.”
Haiti: H1N1 Vaccination
“The H1N1 virus is not as deadly as the common cold. The panic and fear being generated…stands to enrich the powerful pharmaceuticals who will make gianormous profits from any mandated vaccination”: The Haitian Blogger examines the issue.
Trinidad & Tobago: Counting the Cost
Trinidadian Rhea Mungal's photo blog entries question the ecological cost of the proposed aluminium smelter.
Cuba: Pills as Panacea?
“If I take my clue from what people are looking for to relieve their suffering, I would have to conclude that depression is on the rise”: Cuba's Generation Y explains.