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- The M Word (Monkey Pox & Marbug Virus)

    MONKEY POX

Monkey Pox

Monkey Pox does not come from this guy or any of his 260 relatives. Monkey Pox comes from rodents. 

The United States and Monkey Pox

In 2003, local residents in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin had cases of Monkey Pox. Here is the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(MMWR) for that incident. 

The United States banned six rodents to fight the infectious monkey pox in 2003

Monkey Pox Reported Cases in Africa

Small outbreaks of monkey pox have occurred in Sierra Leone, Congo, and Central African Republic. Nigeria has reported multiples cases of monkey pox throughout the country. The country of Cameroon's primate population experienced a monkey pox epidemic. Fatality rates are quite low and occur with younger populations and are rare. 

What is Nigeria doing about the outbreak?

How do you contract Monkey Pox? 

The monkey pox virus is transmitted to people from various wild animals but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.

Symptoms  

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion

Outbreaks can be controlled with a host of options

To understand more on the Monkey Pox
 

MARBUG VIRUS -UGANDA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

A severe, highly fatal virus called Marburg has infected and killed three people in Uganda. While that's a small number of infections, any cases of Marburg are cause for concern given the virus' high fatality rates and similarities to the deadly Ebola virus. Here's what you should know.

WHO Report on the Marbug Virus

How is Uganda handling an outbreak?

They are doing well, they have one more mandatory cycle to complete and it should be declared under control. 

There are still reported cases of the Dengue Fever in Burkina Faso though reported cases are dropping. Madagascar is taking control of the plague, far from over but relief is on the way. 

See you next PHW-Public Health Wednesday