Stories about Health from September, 2009
Nepal: Maternal Health Care Challenges
Last week, two high profile visits brought maternal health care challenges in Nepal into media spotlight. But it will take more than high profile celebrity visits to bring relief to Nepalese mothers who suffer because of deep seated prejudice and lack of awareness.
Lebanon: “We’re Here, We’re Queer, We’re Online”
Bekhsoos is a newly relaunched online magazine "covering topics related to (homo)sexuality in the Arab world". It was founded by the Lebanese group Meem, a support community for lesbians, bisexuals, queers, questioning women, and transgender persons.
Cambodia: Professional training for dentists
Details Are Sketchy criticizes a sub-decree by the Cambodian government which encourages dentists to undergo professional training but does not include a penalty for those who refuse to do so.
Bhutan: Drug Abuse – Sign Of Changing Times
Dipika wonders why there is a boom in newspaper reports about drugs in Bhutan. “A change in attitude, perhaps, on how we look at drug abuse, or rather, how the young generation looks at drug abuse,” comments the blogger.
Morocco: A Dangerous Flu
At least five Moroccan independent journalists will appear before a judge later this month in Rabat, after having published articles challenging the official announcement about King Mohammed VI's health. It is believed the monarch has contracted "a viral, benign disease." Bloggers have been debating this issue, mostly denouncing the attacks on journalists.
Japan: Worries about spread of HIV and AIDS
There are some alarming statistics about the spread of HIV and AIDS in Japan. While the rest of the developed world UNAIDS reported that the cases of infection are decreasing, Japan seems to be the only such country [ja] where the number of HIV positives and AIDS infected people is...
India: Lisa Ray's Blog On Living With Cancer
Santosh informs that Bollywood celebrity Lisa Ray has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and has started to blog about her battle with the disease.
Myanmar: New policy requires HIV groups to register
Myanmar's Ministry of Health is now requiring HIV advocacy groups to register if the latter want to operate in the country. Some are worried that this new policy could be used to “control” or undermine the independence of volunteer groups in Myanmar.
Trinidad & Tobago: Budget Comments
“It really didn't say much and didn't seem attached to a reality where citizens of the country exist”: KnowProSE.com posts some general impressions of Trinidad and Tobago's 2009-2010 Budget, while kid5rivers says of the TT$7.7 billion shortfall: “Such shortfalls…are really debts to be repaid by future generations…”
Uzbekistan: Decay of the Uzbek hospitals
Neweurasia provides a photo-post about the disastrous decay of a once-famous hospital for tuberculosis patients in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan: Mystery of the missing opium crop
Nick Fielding tries to understand why and how, according to the Afghan Opium Survey from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime report, the bottom is starting to fall out of the Afghan opium market with opium cultivation down 22%, production down by 10% and prices at a ten-year low.
Yemen: Healthcare under the Spotlight
From Yemen, Omar Barsawad complains about the state of government hospitals and asks: “Hadhramout and Yemen as a whole, simply do not have the facilities to handle such kinds of ‘complications’. I have been wondering: if Egypt or Jordan can, why can't Yemen?”
Libya: Meeting the Dentist at Midnight
“Everything gets turned upside down during Ramadan. Tonight I had a dentist appointment at midnight,” complains Khadija Teri, from Libya.
Morocco: Child Labor Under the Spotlight
A young girl is suffering in a hospital, bruised and beaten. Sent to work as a domestic servant at the age of 10, Zineb Chtit knew no other life than the one she had, working for affluent employers who beat her and refused her food.
Brunei: Holiday allowances for doctors
Brunei Doctors Mess Club lists the holiday allowances and other benefits which are due for Brunei doctors.
Brunei: Disaster preparedness
Brunei Doctors Mess Club asks if the country is prepared to answer disaster calls.
A Guide to Blogging about Life with HIV/AIDS
In recognition of the hundreds of HIV-positive bloggers chronicling their lives worldwide, a group of online activists affiliated with Rising Voices have created a new guide to blogging about HIV/AIDS.
Syria: Blogger Calls for a Campaign Against Masturbation
Fadl, a Syrian blogger, takes advantage of the Muslim holy month Ramadan to call for a campaign against masturbation[ar].
Philippines: Living with HIV
Blogs are increasingly being used in the Philippines to narrate the personal struggles of young Filipinos who tested positive with HIV. This promotes conversation among young people and it helps spread awareness about the reality of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Global Voices + Conversations for a Better World
A new blog sponsored by the UNFPA called Conversations for a Better World has commissioned Global Voices bloggers to help them highlight online conversations about population and development around the world.
Jamaica, U.S.A., Canada: Health Care
Jamaican diaspora blogger Pamela Mordecai examines U.S. President Obama's health care plan and says of the controversial abortion issue: “If we truly want women not to have abortions, what we must do is create a social, economic, and moral context that will encourage them to keep their babies.”
About our Health coverage
