Public Health Wednesdays (PHW): Africa & Asia Health Check

We will catch up more on Friday Ramblings. 

AFRICA

LIBERIA

Liberia and Central Africa Republic have issued health alerts on Monkey Pox outbreaks. Last year we discussed the zoonotic disease Monkey Pox, so if you need to catch up and learn more. 

PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE

Majority of African countries do a very poor job towards investments in health infrastructure. The consequences towards this lack of investment contributes to the exhausting inefficiency of countries providing overall public health services to the public.

There always seems to be an excuse for holding “leaders” accountable towards investing in their country’s public health.
International Non-Governmental Organizations that provide “aide” fuel this destructive attitude and ideology that African leaders ought not to be held accountable because of (Fill in the blank) towards their own public health. You often find such excuses come from those that hail from global north spaces that cannot even grasp the health security issues facing Africa.

It also comes from privileged people that hold roles in leadership within these African states that fear accountability. 

You cannot actively exploit “aide” that cripples your country while concurrently complain on former colonial masters exploiting your space.

At some point in time, African leaders must admit their failure towards building and investing towards their own public health.

COOL INVESTMENT FROM JAPAN 

Read here to understand the role of TICAD as a soft power tool from Japan towards Africa Public Health.

“Do you know by 2022, Africa will need $25billion-$30billion in healthcare investment? Hospitals, Clinics, HealthCare Assets, etc ”

SOUTH AFRICA: UPDATE ON LISTERIA

The cause of Listeria for our South African friends can blamed on bolony/polony.

Source of Listeria for our friends in South Africa

CHINA & BOTSWANA- PUBLIC HEALTH AS A SOFT POWER TOOL

Last year, we touched on Botswana as a country that had so much potential with branding and “soft tools” but the government chooses not to actively invest in such public diplomacy. 


Brush up on Botswana and those soft tools

We touched on 4 neglected pieces that could build a powerful brand for the country. It appears China will apply number 2 as a soft power tool.  

ASIA

JAPAN "Let's talk about Sex"

While Japan has no problem investing in the public health infrastructure of Africa, it is failing miserably in teaching the Japanese youth on sex education.

In discussing Sexual Health Education or (Reproductive Health Education), it is absolutely forbidden for teachers to mention the following: Intercourse, Birth Control and Abortion. 

Catch up more on the dilemma of talking about sex in Japan. 

THAILAND: SUPER GONORRHEA "THE CLAP"

“If you spread the Clap....is it called the applause?”

— Public Health Wednesdays bringing the humor in Sex

Public health officials say the world's first confirmed case of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea has been reported in the U.K. Health experts have expressed concern for some time about the rise of drug-resistant strains of the sexually transmitted infection (STI).

“Do you know that a person can contract Neisseria gonorrhoeae AKA gonorrhea outside of sexual contact (Vaginal, Oral, or Anal Intercourse)?

Skin to skin contact (with no sexual activity) can also pass the clap....”

Our Advice: Always use your umbrella no matter the enviroment. 

See you next PHW!

Public Health Wednesdays (PHW)- Africa & Asia Health Check

        Join us at Water & Cassva in observing Cervical Health Awareness Month

Actress Cote de Pablo talks about her own cervical cancer scare and shares advice for other women. Comments on this video are allowed in accordance with our comment policy: cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Tools/CommentPolicy.html This video can also be viewed at cdc.gov/wcms/videos/low-res/NCCDPHP/2015/cote_video_english_60_925629.mp4

This public service announcement encourages women to learn the symptoms of gynecologic cancer and pay attention to what their bodies are telling them. Comments on this video are allowed in accordance with our comment policy: cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Tools/CommentPolicy.html This video can also be viewed at cdc.gov/wcms/videos/low-res/NCCDPHP/2015/ayl_video_english_30_925657.mp4

Hello, World!

WHO WEEKLY REPORT-AFRICA

Zambia ended the year fighting Cholera. South Africa is still struggling with Listeriosis .

“ Botswana, Congo, Gabon, Eritrea, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Algeria ended 2017, with no PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES. ”

— WHO-AFRICA

RWANDA AND TANZANIA-DRONE TECHNOLOGY "UBER-ING BLOOD"

Both countries start 2018 with applying new technology towards healthcare access for all. Drone deliveries of blood to hospitals within the network are 45 minutes compared to the normal 4 hours. Zipline International has partnered with Tanzania to deliver 2,000 lifesaving deliveries to over 1,000 health facilities, that is about 10 million people.  

To know more about Zipline International

ASIA

MALAYSIA AND A CASE OF MERS-CoV

Malaysia started 2018 with the case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV).  A man returning from Saudi Arabia tested postive for the virus, he was reported to be in stable condition. 

“Sexual Health is part of Public Health. ”

— Water & Cassava

THAILAND- WHITE PENIS ENVY

The first read is comical but then it gets sad. I mean of all the needs in Thailand, A White Penis? Questions come to mind such as: What can a white penis do that a colored penis cannot carry out? Then you must go back to the space of Orientalism!

“What power does the white penis hold in global south spaces?”

— Water & Cassava asking our Asian Brothers, WTH?

It is troublesome that a Thai Penis does not feel as loved compared to a White Penis. But  that there is a technology to whiten the penis, I just kept saying......

does the asian penis speak?

Therefore, we need more Sex Therapist of Color from Asian spaces and African spaces as well. There is an obvious need to deconstruct the Asian Penis and this platform can only go so far into the Orientalism stereotypes that have historically hunted Asian men.

However behind this blog, is a by-product of the West. I can say, Asian men are often viewed through western media has either the Geek or Kung Fu hero. In addition, I am not so sure on just how this happened, but western media has desexualized Asian men.

Asian Media has also fueled this complex of whiteness in their spaces as well. Hallyu to Bollywood, we have a colored problem and we need to talk.
 

FRANTZ FANON NEEDS YOU TO KNOW

Post Colonial Theorist, Psychiatrist Frantz Fanon.

Frantz Fanon spoke of this penis issue and complexes in White Society. Brother Frantz expressed that white men see not a black man but a black penis. There is nothing more to the Black man just a penis. I am afraid with our Asian brothers, there is no penis. Penis is only visible if it is white. 

Seriously love your sexual organs as they are, good grief we need to decolonize our beds as well!

To read more about Brother Frantz and the Black Penis in Society "Black Skin, White Masks"

To read more on this article on Whitening of the penis in Thailand. 

To learn more on Asian Sexuality and Narratives from an Academic lens, check out The Intersections Journal: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific.
 

To learn more on Black Sexual Narratives from an Academic lens, check out the Journal of Black Sexuality and Relationships.

See you next PHW!

Cassava Tuesdays: The Curious Case of The Republic of Botswana

President Ian Khama (He is living next year)

Map of Botswana

Capital: Gaborone
Languages Spoken: English, Tswana
Religion: Majority Christian
Prime Minister: Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi

Bostwana Currency: Pula

“Bostwana is one of the 32 African countries that Baobab Trees call home. They can live for up to 5,000 years, reach up to 30 metres high and their trunks can hold up to 120,000 litres of water”

— Water & Cassava

Baobab Tree

Botswana Map and Flag colors

Botswana is home to 2.25 million people and is considered one of the safest countries in Africa with a stable democracy. It continues to rate low in global corruption scales. Botswana is a active member of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, Southern African Development Community (SADC), World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Baobab Fruit

“Botswana has a huge Metal Rock subculture. ”

— Water & Cassava : The more you know

There is something about Botswana that is just, yadi.. yadah. What is Yadi Yadah? I will let Seinfield & Co explain

“In 2013, Botswana started actively building on a National Brand Identity .........”

— Water & Cassava

BRANDING & BOTSWANA

ASSET #1: ATTRACTIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH & INVESTMENT

Botswana in 2013 started actively building on a national identity. The goal was to position itself as an economic force to be reckoned with, among neighboring giants such as Angola and South Africa. This brings us to asset #2.....

ASSET #2: TREAT YOUR POWERFUL NEIGHBOR WITH TLC  

Our friends in Botswana realize, when your neighbor is a middle power state that wheels regional and global diplomacy, you will need to be a very dear friend. As luck would have it, they both are home to the Tswana population. This mutual background and “power” allows South Africa to enjoy very lenient policies with Botswana:

    *No foreign exchange controls

    * Double Tax Avoidance agreement

ASSET #3: TOURISM SECTOR

Botswana's tourism sector continues to thrive amidst the country's stringent conservation policies and its growing elephant population. Our reporter Njanji Chauke and cameraman Sicelo Hlanula went on a river Safari at the Chobe National Park - home to Africa's largest elephant population For more news, visit: http://www.sabc.co.za/news

ASSET #4: REGIONAL PLAY- THE SPECIAL CASE OF CHOPPIES

Botswana's biggest supermarket is set to receive a boost. Choppies wants to widen its presence on the continent -- and increase the number of its stores to 250. It's eyeing southern and East Africa as potential markets. CGTN's Maria Galang has more.

....SOMETHING IS MISSING... 

Botswana looks great on paper but something just does not add up....

IMPROVEMENT #1: LEAVE THE DIAMONDS ALONE

Our theme for this section, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and that guy

suggestions: AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

IMPROVEMENT #2: MAY YOUR CURSE BE YOUR BLESSING

“The World Bank approved a $145.5 million loan to the Republic of Botswana for the Emergency Water Security and Efficiency Project. This will help Botswana cope with increased water stress, arising from a number of factors including chronic drought”

— World Bank, March 1 2017

“Adolescents and young adults constitute a large population that has been largely neglected and left behind by the national HIV response. HIV and AIDS services targeting adolescents and young adults are inadequate and often perceived by the beneficiaries as “unfriendly”. HIV testing and counselling uptake among adolescents has remained unacceptably slow;”

— UNAIDS

SUGGESTION: OPEN THE HEALTH SECTOR & EDUCATION FOR INVESTMENT

IMPROVEMENT #3: GO GREEN!!

Why can't the country send all the coal elsewhere?? Oh I will guess here, China!!! Though this blogger stays in Asia and could really appreciate cleaner air....Tswana people send away!!! In return, invest in solar panels. 

IMPROVEMENT #4: AIR BOTSWANA NEEDS HELP

As we have discussed earlier, the proper branding of a country needs a respected airline. The airline must be safe, attractive and must go to two locations first: Your neighbors and your business partners.  The airline needs a major makeover including getting out of the red fiscally. 

WE FOUND THE MISSING PIECE... 

Read this article below to understand just why it seems forced, like this piece I wrote

This snapshot of Botswana is frustrating because it is a country with so much opportunity. We brought up Botswana to show that a country can “ideally” look one way in theory (positively) but without a cohesive message it is just as bad as the other country. This circumstance is not unique to Botswana as majority of African countries underestimate the importance of Branding and Soft power.

Branding is not advertising, it is an ongoing process and government must be front and center of the brand. Citizens, Business Community, Non-profit organizations must all be part of the branding process. The committee must have a shared understanding of just what the country’s makeup is about be it culture, religion, tradition, location, nature, history (good and terrible). The brand of the country must speak to all the citizens and be fluent in all the positive elements that make up the entire nation.

Until next Cassava Tuesday