Stories about Health from May, 2011
Philippines: Online campaign to defeat Reproductive Health measure
The Catholic Church has turned to cyberspace in its bid to defeat the proposed Reproductive Health bill now pending in Philippine Congress.
Peru: Growing Debate Regarding Genetically Modified Farming
The official signing of Decree 003, which permits the import of genetically modified seeds into the country, continues to generate debate between those in favor of the widespread use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and those who fear it would be harmful to the country's biodiversity and the health of its people.
China: Old Woman Performed Self-surgery
Jacky Huang from China Hush translates a local news story about an old woman self-performed a surgery by slitting her belly because she was unable to pay for hospital fee.
Lebanon: Bras for a cause!
Bras for a Cause is the first lingerie design contest of its kind in the Middle East. Launched on May 19th, the initiative aims to raise awareness and support women who are battling or have been treated for breast cancer. Selected designs (including some mastectomy bras designed specifically to enable...
South Korea: Social Media Controversy Surrounds Sports Broadcaster's Death
The suicide on May 23, 2011, of national television channel MBC sports announcer, Song Ji-seon in South Korea has sparked considerable controversy regarding social media in the country. South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, but this latest case has opened a new debate on the public health issue.
Cuba: Prisoner & Dissident Deaths
Uncommon Sense links to a report which alleges that the death of a prisoner was at the hands of prison guards, while Babalu links to new medical reports of the late Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, noting that “the report from the most recent beating…mentions the bruises found on his body;...
Bahamas: Fish Market Hazard
Weblog Bahamas‘ Sidney Sweeting acknowledges that “hindsight is always better than foresight” as he blogs about a fish market that he considers “a ticking time bomb”.
Japan: Aiding the Aid Workers
After more than two months from the earthquake around 110,000 people are still living in evacuation centers. Along with victims of the disaster, some of the volunteers, doctors and aid workers helping them are beginning to suffer from emotional stress and fatigue.
Chad: How Communities Are Rebuilding Lives
Paul O'Brien discusses his trip to Chad and how communities are rebuilding their lives: “The biggest challenge facing mothers in Chad is to feed their children and keep them healthy. The country has one of the highest rates of child deaths in the world. In the villages in which Concern...
Malaysia: Tweets on the Acid Splasher
More than 20 cases of acid attacks have been reported already in Malaysia since March. Many residents are scared to walk in the streets. Netizens were quick to spread information about the 'acid splashing' cases but some reports turned out to be false.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Women & HIV
Abeni writes a thoughtful post about HIV awareness, saying: “The judgmental stances do very little to help the issues at stake which is HIV transmission/infection. The reality is that women are the ones most affected by this disease and the onus is on them to protect themselves.”
Macedonia: Report on Sexual & Health Rights of Marginalized Communities
The Coalition for Protection and Promotion of Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities has recently published [mk] its annual Report on sexual and health rights of marginalized communities in the Republic of Macedonia for 2010, available for download as a single e-book with Macedonian and English text documenting over...
Lebanon: Home Delivery Shisha
“In Beirut, you just pick up the telephone and order a shisha, or so I discovered!” writes Mich in a post detailing the booming business of delivering shishas (hubble bubble smoking pipes) to homes in Lebanon.
Singapore: Cancer treatment subsidy
Deborah Choo, writing for The Online Citizen, features the story of a cancer patient who found out that cancer treatments are not being subsidized by the Singapore government.
Haiti: Taking Responsibility for Cholera
Stanley Lucas thinks that “this [UN] mission needs to be held accountable for its actions, including the cholera, and should be more responsibly managed – or it needs to be closed.”
Italy: How technology can help manage emergencies
In a crisis, how can Web 2.0 be of use to social movements and what practical help can it offer to facilitate collective action? In reality, there is no shortage of platforms which, established on a voluntary basis, using free software, harness the internet and mobile phones to gather and share information, sourced...
Dominican Republic: “Son” Singer Passes Away
Repeating Islands reports that “Santiago Cerón, the Dominican Republic’s first internationally known salsa singer, died Tuesday in New York City at the age of 70 from a heart attack.”
Cuba: The Healer
“In Cuba there are several amazing healers”: Iván's File Cabinet blogs about “the best and most famous” of them all.
Mali: First Edition of “HIV-Aids Foot” Soccer Event
The first edition of the “Sida Foot” (HIV-Aids Foot) event will take place in Bamako from June 17 to June 19, 2011, and will be attended by soccer stars. The blog xibar.net writes [fr], “this festival has a special meaning because the year 2011 coincides with 30 years since the...
Sub-Saharan Africa: Fighting Malaria, 2011 Report
On the occasion of World Malaria Day, April 25, 2011, the blog santelog.com reports: “Although funds to combat malaria have increased significantly since 2003, current levels of funding have reached US$1.6 billion annually, approximately only 25% of the estimated amount required to reach the goals of the RBM [Roll Back...
Armenia: Childbirth
Motherhood, Repatriation and other fictions, a blog by an ethnic Armenian from the Diaspora turned activist in Armenia, comments on the quality of healthcare in the former Soviet republic. Although conditions are improving, the blog notes, petty corruption and the quality of nursing remain serious problems for expectant mothers.
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