Stories about Health from December, 2009
Caribbean: 2009 Regional Roundup
As Global Voices celebrates its fifth anniversary, the occasion has given us all an opportunity to reflect on why we do what we do and how our work makes a difference. As my colleague Jillian York so succinctly put it, “We spread stories. We spread words.” We manage to do...
Azerbaijan: Standing in line
Newly returned to Baku, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines posts its observations on queuing in Azerbaijan. The blogger is not impressed and in a previous post also laments the state of the medical system in the country.
Trinidad & Tobago: 500
Trinidadian bloggers comment on the country's record murder rate – Jumbie's Watch: “The message is clear. We’re screwed.” B.C. Pires: “Not even when Mr Manning and Mr Panday achieve Trinidad's most vulgar historic event – the creation of an executive presidency by back-room trickery – will Trinidadians put their feet...
Cuba: Show of Support
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports on “the arrests over the past several days of numerous activists attempting…to show their support for political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who has been on a hunger strike…to demand that his human rights be respected.”
Palestine: Swine Flu Arrives In Gaza
The H1N1 influenza virus reached the Gaza Strip much later than it did other places, a fact attributed to the blockade imposed upon its population by both Israel and Egypt. In this post, bloggers in Gaza report on the fears and reactions of the population regarding swine flu – and on the rocketing sales of the spice believed to prevent it.
South Africa: Remembering Busi
Sokari remembers Busi, a survivor of rape, HIV and diabetes: “Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007.”
Kazakhstan: Another Mass Infection Scandal
KZBlog reports that 150 children suffering from leukemia were infected with hepatitis C. This is not the first case when children get infected during blood transfusions in Kazakhstan.
Turkmenistan: TB is a serious problem
Annasoltan writes that drug resistant tuberculosis is a serious problem in Turkmenistan. Yet, the government is doing little to find the solution – even more so, its actions often aggravate the situation.
Pakistan: Negligence in Medicare
Sana Saleem at Mystified Justice discusses about the recent cases of negligence in medical service in Pakistan and urges everyone to be more vigilant.
South Africa: Truth without venom is impossible when it comes to Manto
Truth without venom is impossible when it comes to South Africa's former Minister of Health: “To be honest, I did not wish to reflect on the life of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, as I have been taught that it is not proper to speak ill of the dead. But as the crocodile...
South Africa: Controversial Health Minister Dies and Twitter Goes Wild
South Africa's former Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang passed away recently. Manto was not a stranger to controversy with dodgy views on managing HIV-AIDS using beetroot, garlic, lemons and African potatoes. She never ceased to be a favourite topic in the mainstream media and indeed the blogosphere and twittersphere.
China: Grassroots wisdom website
Husunzi from China Study Group introduced a Chinese website on grassroots wisdom.
Trinidad & Tobago: Poor Packaging
Trinidad and Tobago's This Beach Called Life is livid that a brand of silicone is being sold in bottles best known for packaging a popular children's soft drink: “I have no idea if the OHS Act in Trinidad and Tobago covers household chemicals and food but Act or no Act,...
Namibia: First step victory in forced sterilisation case
The forced sterilisation case in Namibia has achieved its first victory: “The High Court today agreed with the Legal Assistance Centre that the Public Service Act does not apply to the forced sterilisation cases, in which the LAC is representing several women suing the Government of Namibia for damages.”
Indonesia: Mall Suicides
Metro Mad is intrigued with some Indonesians choosing shopping malls to commit suicide.
China: Development's Toll on Laborers
A second wave of pneumoconiosis cases has been reported among drilling and blasting workers in the southern city of Shenzhen. An article in Beijing Youth Daily reports 119 suspected pneumoconiosis cases among migrant workers from Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province who had engaged in drilling and blasting work in Shenzhen, Guangdong. This...
Africa: Obesity in Africa
Bunmi writes about obesity in Africa: “In response to my uninformed comment to a recent report about the increasing obesity rates among Africa's urban poor–up 35% in the last decade–Ãœber fabulous and wise Nneoma :-), who blogs at pyoo wata, schools me to the facts.”
Egypt: Majd Al Assad Dies
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia comments on the death of Majd Al Assad, the younger brother of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
Botswana: Christmas party at Nata village
Photos from the annual Christmas party at Nata village in Botswana: “The festivity kicked off with an early morning breakfast. Soon after breakfast the students were treated to a game of truth or false regarding health related issues, with an answer behind every question.”
It's time to change the symbol of good health
In India, we've always believed that kids from well-to-do homes should look it by being chubby and plump. That was the sign of good health. Arundhuti Thapar at Just a Thought points out the fallacy in this thinking and writes that we need to fight obesity early and take more...
Russia: Drug Abuse; HIV/AIDS
At OpenDemocracy.net, Elizabeth Rigbey writes about drug abuse and harm reduction efforts in Russia. Sean's Russia Blog writes about HIV/AIDS in Russia. Scenes from the Sidewalk links to a documentary on children and HIV/AIDS in Russia.
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