Stories about Health from December, 2011
Russia: AIDS Epidemic – “Shame Russia Shame”
International organizations are taking notice of Russia's AIDS epidemic and the hurdles the country faces in combating it. Recent international attention has been directed toward Russia's healthcare system, the stigma attached to those infected, and Russia's drug policies. Donna Welles reports.
China: Dairy Company's Website Hacked by Angry Netizens
The latest round of tainted milk scandals broke out last week in China. The country's biggest dairy producer, Mengniu Dairy Co., admitted that some of its milk products contained aflatoxin...
Singapore: Animal Lovers Rally to Save Stray Dogs
Animal-lovers in Singapore have been rallying to save the lives of stray dogs in Punggol, after authorities stepped up efforts to round up the strays, possibly for culling.
China: Top 10 Problems in 2011
Paul from ChinaSMACK translated Chinese Academy of Social Science's survey on the top 10 problems in 2011 as perceived by Chinese people.
China: Rich Chinese Couple Uses 2 Surrogate Mothers To Have 8 Babies
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a local news story and netizens’ comment about a rich Chinese couple in Guangdong using 2 surrogate mothers to have 8 babies.
Barbados: leptospirosis outbreak
A government press conference addressing a leptospirosis outbreak prompts Barbados Free Press to ask some questions: “Why must every new leptospirosis outbreak be a surprise? Why are Barbados governments incapable...
Brazil: Proposal for the Legalization of Abortion Approved in Conference
Journalist Maíra Kubik Mano comments on the approval of a proposal to legalize abortion in Brazil, during the Third National Conference on Women, in Brasília. She finalizes wondering “what the...
Japan: Life Decisions in the Face of Radiation Fear
The decision to move away differs from the more reactive evacuations that occurred this spring after the initial nuclear disasters. A blogger who decided to stay calls for a more logical understanding of the nuanced undercurrents of our emotional struggles.
Brazil: Bishop Points Out Rape as Women's Excuse for Abortion
Luis Soares, from the blog Pragmatismo Político (Political Pragmatism) quotes [pt] Bishop of Guarulhos, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, Luiz Gonzaga Bergonzini, who said that “women lie when...
Poland: Change to Drug Law, Change in Policy?
On December 9, an important change was introduced to Poland's drug policy: an amendment to the law on illegal drug possession came into force, which would allow prosecutors to abandon initiation of the criminal procedure against those in possesion of drugs. Anna Gotowska reports.
Brazil: Central Bus Station Reflects Precariousness of Human Rights
Emmanuel Rodrigues, writing for the Brazilian blog Eleições Hoje (Elections Today), comments on [pt] the precarious situation of homeless people and others who ramble around the central bus station of...
Egypt: Using Twitter for a Healthier Life
Can Twitter be used to save people's lives or improve their health? Tarek Amr looks at a Twitter account, ran by a couple in Egypt, aimed at increasing health awareness in society, often touching on taboo topics, such as sex education.
Haiti: Celebrity Visits Overshadow Real News
“I just don't get it. Why is it newsworthy that Kim Kardashian was in Haiti?”: Toussaint on Haiti “continue[s] to be baffled by the relative media silence around the effort...
Greece: “Giving Birth is Not a Privilege of the Rich!”
A newspaper has revealed some public hospitals in Greece have refused treatment to women in labour, because they did not have the money to pay hospital fees of 950 euro. Veroniki Krikoni reports.
Macedonia: Is Skopje Really the Most Polluted City in the World?
Unlike the authorities, social media users are reacting to the empirical information about high levels of pollution in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Filip Stojanovski reports.
Ukraine: Public Hospital Pioneers Social Media Usage
Founded in 1798, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Ukraine. It is also one of the first state medical institutions to use social media. Tetyana Bohdanova reports.
Philippines: Red Whistle Campaign against HIV/AIDS
The Red Whistle campaign aims to promote awareness about the rising cases of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines
Madagascar: Debating the Worth of Foreign Direct Investment
While Madagascar attempts to find a way out of a prolonged political crisis, Malagasy bloggers are discussing the value of foreign direct investments. Many Malagasy believe that Madagascar, like many other African countries is rich with natural resources but that the land has been plagued by poor governance and unfair trade deals.
Caribbean: Thoughts on World AIDS Day
December 1, was World AIDS Day. Bloggers from the Caribbean have weighed in with their own thoughts about and support for the ongoing battle against HIV and AIDS.
Zambia: How Netizens Observed World AIDS Day
Zambian netizens on various social media sites observed the World Aids Day, which falls on December 1, with a call for people to know their HIV status. Zambians, who say “if you are not infected, you are affected” know better about the effects of HIV/AIDS which has for the last 30 years claimed many lives in the country.
Mozambique: Reactions to an Everyday Urban Tragedy
Last week, Mozambican readers of the newspaper @Verdade reacted to the tragic and all-too-normal story of a man who was left to die near a Maputo marketplace after apparently suffering alcohol poisoning. Nearby police allegedly took over 24 hours to react. Residents in the vicinity said they were scared to intervene.
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