Stories about Health from July, 2009
China: Sulfur mining in Big Tree County
Asia Society released an old documentary about pollution problems caused by sulfur mining in Da Shu Xian, or Big Tree County, in Sichuan province. The documentary was produced in 1992.
Jamaica: Doping Athletes?
Girl With a Purpose reports on five Jamaican track and field athletes “who have been found with traces of a banned substance in their urine.”
Bangladesh: Adulteration And Death Of Children
Unheard Voice comments on the death of a number of children in Bangladesh due to Diethylene glycol (DEG) poisoning after intake of a fever drug and the inaction of the authorities: “Our governments, under media pressure and public outcry, successively have bothered to resort to short term damage control and...
DRC: Rape Epidemic Fuels Fistula Cases
Ongoing fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to take its toll on women's health. One consequence is more cases of a health condition called fistula, which is being caused by brutal rapes.
China: “Internet addiction disorder” is a joke
Alice Liu from DANWEI translated an article written by Chang Ping, who pointed out that the government's stopping of electro-shock treatment does not mean that they won't reissue Internet addiction as a disease － they are just changing the standards for treatment.
Trinidad & Tobago: Anti-People?
“The Prime Minister is on record for saying that despite what the people think he will proceed with the [aluminium smelter]. Despite what people think. And the environmentalists, those crazy people who want to sustain the environment longer so that we can sustain ourselves…are ‘anti-people'?” Trinidadian blogger Taran Rampersad takes...
China: Suspension of Electroshock for “Net Addiction”
The Chinese Ministry of Health recently announced that electroshock treatment for "internet addiction" should be suspended. The controversial electroshock therapies have recently been used by some Chinese clinics to cure symptoms of "addiction" to the internet in young people.
Russia: One Day in the Life of Doctor Liza
LJ user drugoi documents (text in Russian+photos, some of them graphic) one day in the life of Elizaveta Glinka (LJ user doctor_liza), who heads a volunteer effort to help Moscow's homeless, poor and drug addicts by providing them with food, clothing and medical aid, and who is also the founder...
Africa: Bloggers Discuss HIV/AIDS among gay African men
Sub-Saharan has reported high rates of HIV among gay men in Africa. Let's listen to views of LGBT African bloggers writing about the issue.
Russia: Medvedev and Sick Babies in Gelendzhik
LJ user baxus writes a letter (RUS) to president Medvedev, in which he describes how his infant son and many other kids got sick in Gelendzhik, a Russian Black Sea resort town, and what an ordeal it was to move around the area on the day of Medvedev's visit, due...
Barbados: Where's the Culture?
Barbados Underground suggests that when it comes to Crop Over, “culture issues have taken a backseat in recent years at the expense of running the festival as a business”.
Peru: Economic Impact of Canceling Events Due to H1N1 Virus
In order to slow down the spread of the H1N1 virus, the Peruvian government is considering canceling events in which a large number of people congregate such as the upcoming military parade. Caviar de Cianuro [es] examines the economic impact such a move would have, especially on walking vendors who...
Ukraine: Canadians helping out with AIDS prevention
The Natashas draws attention to a Canadian effort to help developing a model HIV/AIDS prevention program in Ukraine in partnership with UNICEF.
Kuwait: Swine Flu and Health Officials
From Kuwait, Dilli O Milli [ar] is surprised with the way officials are dealing with announcements related to H1N1 or Swine Flu. “We are handing our lives to people who are not up to the responsibility,” she writes about health officials.
Bahrain: Swine Flu Awareness
Bahraini blogger Khalid [ar] blames Bahraini health authorities for not handling the H1N1 or Swine flu virus properly and creating public awareness about the disease. He goes on to provide information about it.
Peru: Informing the Public About H1N1 Virus
El Blog de Que Tal Raza [es] writes about the recent deaths due to the H1N1 virus in Peru and hopes that the Health Ministry finds the right balance between informing the public about prevention measures without adding panic to the population.
Jamaica: Emmy Nomination
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reports that “LIVEHOPELOVE.COM, a website about living with AIDS in Jamaica, has been nominated in the United States for a prestigious Emmy award.”
Turkey: Tick Encounter
“Did you know that for a couple of years now, there has been an invasion of infectious ticks in Turkey? They carry a disease that causes death after a couple of days of being bitten who’s origins have been traced back to Africa” writes Ignore Me If You Can as...
Zambia: Discrimination case postponed until October
HIV discrimination case in Zambia has been moved to October: “This morning we learned that the judge in the case has decided to attend an international conference and thus has chosen to postpone the case until October. This decision to postpone for an international conference comes amid a battle between...
Zambia: HIV Discrimination case round 2
Latest update about the HIV discrimination case in Zambia: “After an almost eight week delay, we expect to start the trial of 2 former employees of the Zambian Air Force who were allegedly tested for HIV without their consent and dismissed because of their status. The trial is expected to...
Paraguay: As the H1N1 Virus Spreads
Even though the Paraguayan Health Department claims that "everything is under control" in regards to the H1N1 virus, many Paraguayans wonder whether this is actually true as the number of cases continue to increase. With some measures in place and the closure of schools, the streets of the capital city remain eerily deserted.
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