Stories about Health from October, 2012
Transcript of Catalan Journalists’ Video Against Their Libel Fine
Discover the transcript of some parts of the video that the editors of the Catalan magazine Cafè amb Llet uploaded to YouTube to comment on their recent libel sentence and fine.
Spain: Journalists Fined After Revealing Corruption in Catalonia
Marta Sibina and Albano Dante, editors of the citizen media magazine Cafè amb Llet, have been fined 10,000 euro for libel. They uploaded to YouTube a video strongly criticizing the lack of transparency in public healthcare financing in Catalonia, implicating Josep Maria Via, president of Barcelona MAR Health Park Consortium and healthcare advisor to Catalan President Artur Mas.
El Salvador's Tough Abortion Laws
Voices from El Salvador highlights several stories of Salvadoran women affected by the country's abortion ban, ” which includes cases of rape, incest, and when the health of the woman is at risk.” The issue is compounded by other women’s rights issue, including femicide (El Salvador has the highest rate in...
Sanctions in Iran: Who Stole My Medicine?
The lives of six million patients in Iran have been adversely affected due to shortages of medicine, as an immediate result of unprecedented sanctions. Patients with cancer and multiple sclerosis - who cannot afford interruptions or delays in treatments - are most affected.
India: Dengue Outbreak In Delhi Spreads Fear
Last week when India's veteran film director, scriptwriter and film producer Yash Chopra (80) died from Dengue fever, people became aware and panic spread in some parts of Delhi. Delhi has seen an increased number of dengue cases over the last one month with number of cases reported close to 1000 with several deaths.
Cameroon: Students and Researchers Evaluate the Welfare System
Welfare Systems are rapidly evolving in Sub-Saharan Africa, with some countries having implemented systems allowing evaluation of measures taken several decades ago. Students and researchers from Cameroon have closely examined social public policies and private sector initiatives in their country.
China: Basketball Grandma
To avoid medical spending and keep herself healthy, Zhu Shumei, a 76 old granny plays basketball every day for more than 20 years on a university campus in Jinhua, Zhejiang province. JIng Gao from Ministry of Tofu has translated the local feature story.
China: Breast Feeding
Sascha Matuszak blogs about his wife, Zhang Yushi's involvement in breast feeding campaign in China, including the organization of a flash mob breast feeding action in Chengdu.
Vietnam: Impact of Agent Orange
Aaron Joel Santos uploads photos which show the negative legacy of the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Haiti: Yéle Haiti Facing Allegations of Financial Impropriety
Various allegations of financial impropriety have been directed at musician and activist Wyclef Jean's charity Yéle Haiti. The allegations are centered on the millions that the defunct charitable organization received in donations after the Janury 2010 earthquake period that devastated the island.
Indonesia: Setback in the Fight Against Illegal Drugs?
Multibrand questions the sincerity of the Indonesian government in fighting illegal drugs after a drug trafficker was granted clemency by the president.
Zambia: YouTube Documentary on Negative Impact of Copper Mining
A documentary titled “Zambia: Good Copper, Bad Copper” about Zambian copper mining and its negative impact on society has emerged on YouTube and has so far attracted over 6,000 hits. After watching the documentary, one YouTube user wrote, "Cry our beloved country. Why should we remain poor when a coveted product is plenty and mined at the expense of the locals' health."
China: Drinking Deer Blood
Some Chinese believe that drinking deer blood can prolong life. ChinaSMACK translated a local report about the cruel business deer farm in China. [Warning: graphic]
Sierra Leone: Is Ami Musa the Saddest Pinterest Page in the World?
One blog, Lovelyish, considers a Pinterest campaign about a 13-year-old girl Ami Musa from Sierra Leone by UNICEF UK to raise awareness about children living in poverty in Africa "the saddest Pinterest page in the world." Another blogger, Tom Murphy, argues that Pinterest represents a bit of a brave new world for NGOs to reach newer audiences.
Trinidad & Tobago: Privatizing Healthcare
An ad in the newspaper has Trinidad & Tobago blogger, The Eternal Pantomime, wondering whether the government plans to privatize the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope.
Lesotho: Defence Force Top Brass Facing Court Charge
Commenting a post on lestimes.com about the the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) top brass facing a court charge after they allegedly ignored a High Court order to accept a junior soldier’s sick leave application, KOTOPE writes: The answer to all this mess is very simple, LESOTHO DOES NOT NEED ARMED...
Got a Question for Jimmy Carter?
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter is accepting questions on Facebook and Twitter (#CarterQA) as part of a commemoration of the Carter Center’s 30th anniversary of “waging peace and fighting disease worldwide”. President Carter will be answering by video on October 19, 2012.
Côte d'Ivoire: Employees of Health Institutions Strike after Four Months without Pay
S.B comments on the start of health workers’ indefinite strike in Abidjan. On Connection Ivorienne, he states [fr] that: From the total no-fees for healthcare initiated by the state of Côte d'Ivoire after the end of the post-electoral crisis to free selected healthcare services, employees of certain health institutions have yet...
First Doctor Account of the HIV epidemic in China
Yaxue Cao from Seeing Red in China translated Dr. Wang Shuping's account of the discovery the HIV epidemic in Henan province and how she was stopped by the profit-making blood stations and local official from disclosing the situation. Wang is the first doctor who discovered the HIV epidemic in China.
France, Africa: The Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms Grows Contentious
A two year scientific study studying the effects of genetically modified organisms on laboratory rats has been conducted by a team of French researchers. The researchers arrived at conclusions which have reawakened debate on the effects of GMOs.
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