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

AFRICA: EBOLA & MALARIA

THE NEVER ENDING CASE OF EBOLA: DRC & UGANDA

Uploaded by BBC News BBC World on 2019-06-07.

Infected boy from the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is now being treated in Uganda with Ebola.

The Uganda Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Ebola on the border of the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Health Security is a major concern for African states but yet majority of African States don’t include Health Security concerns in their foreign policy objectives. The border between both countries need constant testing on site for anyone coming into the country.

During the MERS outbreak, Japan made travelers go through rigorous screenings before entry. In some cases, depending on the country, Japan simply did not allow entry. Proactive measures in health security might not be PC but such measures will save lives and the economy.

The cases of Ebola in the DRC this week show a decrease(54 cases) compared to the 88 cases reported two weeks ago.

ALGERIA

Source: ISS Africa

Algeria is currently between the process of revolution and the growing pains towards the democracy transition. However, Algeria is now the fourth African country to be declared “MALARIA FREE”. The other African countries declared Malaria free are: Lesotho, Mauritius and Seychelles. This is worth celebrating in the fog of war.

ASIA- PAKISTAN HAS A HIV PROBLEM…

This is so beyond tragic, enough money for weapons but none for medical professionals. Irony, so many young brilliant minds leave Pakistan to be doctors in global north countries. My former boss was of Pakistani decent, brilliant and a resume that screamed “Global Health Professional”. The tragedy here is the additional role of stigma.
Public health education is so necessary. It must be communicated in a manner which EVERYONE in the community is clear on the illness/disease. Lastly, countries such as Pakistan refuse to discuss topics such as HIV in open dialogue with the population. Pakistan now has the second growing number of HIV cases in Asia.

AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

“SAY NO TO THY SWINE”

Source: Bloomberg

The African Swine Fever is harmless to humans but fatal to pigs. It has been reported in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Cambodia, and North Korea. In China, there was a case of frozen pork dumplings getting pulled from the shelves

There are also stronger consequences in the market with pork stocks

Click below for a current update on the African Swine from FAO

Here is a bit on the transmission of the transmission of the African Swine Fever. It is old but very educational.

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/disease_asf.asp African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease is not harmful for people - but it does impact rural economies, their sources of income and culinary practices and, of course, a very large numbers of pigs.

“ASF was first documented in Kenya in 1921.

Honestly, it is the labeling of ASF as the Ebola of pigs that makes me cringe ....”

— Why is it called the African Swine Fever?

See you next PHW!

Mulday Mondays: Day Zero in Cape Town, South Africa

This is an oldie but goodie in explaining Water Security. 

CAPE TOWN 

In the beginning of the month, we touched on just how close Cape Town, SA was to Day Zero of having no water supply. The imbalance in distribution of water across the region including weak water policies have contributed to the water shortage in Cape Town. Other issues such as failing waste water plants and poor water system infrastructure to treat sewage that needed a major upgrade also made this situation worse. South Africa is the largest food producer for Southern Africa, the agriculture sector consumes about 60% of all water use in the country. This water shortage crisis in Cape Town will result to water stress towards neighboring countries that will also lead to Food, Water, and Energy security towards the entire region.

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS WITH A POINT SYSTEM

Cape Town has officially announced that each person in the city will be given an allowance of 25 liters a day (6 gallons) of water. Yet the public has heard no immediate solutions from the government on making sure this catastrophe does not repeat itself years later. Cape Town has failed to look at the other dangers that come with hygiene and water access.  

This is repeated so often in discussions with water access and challenges that face women in global south spaces, Menstrual Hygiene. The inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene for women brings more challenges than solutions and should never be gambled or minimized.

Put aside that poor menstrual hygiene leads to a host of health issues such as: UTI’s (ask any woman in your life just how great this feels), Constipation and a Range of infections.

What do you think school attendance will look like for girls attending school in the region compared to boys?

“Do you know that washing your hands can prevent over half of the water borne related illnesses? Granted the WATER IS CLEAN.
”

— Handwashing

Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. The Cape Town government has been reactive and not proactive even at this moment. While Citizens are being asked to sacrifice their health and wellness, the government is still not working on the real issues.

The city recommends people take no more than 2 showers a week

The city also encourages using the ocean for washing. However, if people cannot flush often, care to guess how quickly Open Defecation might be an issue?

How much water do you use daily? Try this Water Calculator out!

                         TOURISM TAKES A HIT

It is reported that numbers of tourists are cancelling their trips to Cape Town. You can imagine tourists might not be okay with one flush a day, personal hygiene in the ocean or showering twice a week.
 

   CAPITALIST SEES ONLY SOLUTIONS 

RAINBOW GASTRONOMY WITH NO WATER

Cape Town Food Designers, are making the best of no water in Cape Town, by making sure to use only salt tolerant vegetables. This is the type of unique ingenuity expected from Chefs of the “Rainbow Cuisine”. Rainbow Cuisine is the term used to describe South African Gastronomy. This ingenuity makes South African chefs, cooks, and food designers important players in the overall narrative of African Gastronomy. This is also a tool that can be used for their niche Gastrodiplomacy in interacting with other countries that are experiencing similar water shortage issues.

DRY BATH-BATHING WITH NO WATER BY MR. MARISHANE

If you had to walk a mile for a jug of water every day, as millions of people do, it's unlikely you'd use that precious water to bathe. Young entrepreneur Ludwick Marishane tells the amazing, funny story of how he invented a cheap, clean and convenient solution: DryBath, the world's first bath-substituting lotion.

Want to know more about his products?

See you next  Mulday

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

AFRICA WHO REPORT

Botulism in Nigeria

Lassa fever in Benin

Lassa fever in Nigeria

Suspected Rift Valley fever in South Sudan

Cholera in Angola

Suspected Rift Valley fever in The Gambia 

We have reported on Lassa Fever for the last few weeks within different regions in Africa. It seems no matter the country, public health education and engagement with the community is lost in the conversation. At some point, poor infrastructure must be addressed and scrutinized in the same manner that NGOs are expected to solve these issues. I was told these words of wisdom as a young one, that I shall pass down to you 

“WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU TOUCH ANY PART OF YOUR BODY

WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU TOUCH ANYTHING

.... WASH YOUR HANDS....”

— On your way to the Doctor, Chapter 1:1

Oh, another little piece of information, you can contract Lassa Fever sexually. I only explain this piece because throughout my experience in public health, there was always someone that wanted to minimize the meaning of sexual contact. If you have Oral, Vaginal, or Anal sex, you can contract Lassa Fever. You will be surprised, just how this little piece of information is not mentioned as it ought to be.

It reminds me of working for a health department that had one lead in a division that did not want certain spaces to know that Zika could be contracted sexually. #Dobrownlivesmatter? It was at that moment, I understood white privilege in public health spaces can be very dangerous.

There is privilege in saying things such as “Those people and my personal favorite, them”.

You can imagine, I decided we will always go the educated route and inform everyone. During my undergraduate years, my classmate told me after a heated discussion on public health policy...

.

“I will not trust a mut#er$%^&*@ that cannot birth us to educate us on my health. GTFOH
It was such a raw honest moment, I was asked if I was okay?

I simply stuttered .. am straight. I was not straight or okay. I was in shock and needed some raw juice from Whole Foods”

— Benefits of attending a Historical Black University, nobody cares about your OMG moment

While my classmate had a valid point, this spaces are filled with folks that look like her. Yet the addiction to International Aide and lack of investment in health infrasttucture will almost see Lassa Fever till Mid 2018, I predict. 

LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX IN UGANDA: SEX WORKERS

Never up for discussion, unless you have plans to back up the plans. 

Sexual Health is Public Health. Sexual Health Education and Awareness towards Africans is always this nauseating push and pull of Eurocentric Religion, Colonialism, and addiction to Western Aide.

“Gayatri Spivak asked, Can the Subaltern Speak? I often wonder, Do black penises and vaginas have their own separate narratives? It seems Africans can only come together with permission granted by Americans and that is also for a host of other issues.”

— Behind Water & Cassava

The investment monies given to African countries from Asian partners like Japan, China, and India to invest in infrastructure must also consider public health infrastructure. Sex workers are part of the society, you are not going to Jesus or Mohammed it away. The options needed are opportunities to work with the women and their daughters but most importantly, Uganda needs and upgrade in the condom factory sector. Uganda needs to take a page from Southeast Asian nations that manufacture their own condoms and now sell their brands throughout Asia.

The lack of self-reliance in Uganda by Uganda in addition to the codependency relationship with the United States is going to cost Uganda a lot.

The current U.S Administration decision to reinforce the global gag rule “Mexico City Policy” means Uganda sex workers have no access to condoms. Do you know in Uganda, sex workers wash and dry their condoms to reuse them?
 

We touched on African Medical Liberties last year, but at the end of this 

Now you can easily argue why is an immediate issue for the United States to help Uganda? 

MEANWHILE IN ASIA

SOUTH KOREA: THE BIRD FLU & THE OLYMPICS

Since late December, South Korea has confirmed cases of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) but it is becoming troubling with the Olympics around the corner. The earlier cases were found in a duck farm. Last year, the country slaughtered more than 30 million birds to contain the worst predicted outbreak of avian flu in the country’s history. No human cases have been reported since last year. 

“The virus has spread mainly in North and South Jeolla Province with nine highly pathogenic cases since mid-November, but the first outbreak in Gyeonggi Province prompted stronger quarantine measures as the area is close to Gangwon Province, the host of the PyeongChang Olympics, which runs from Feb. 9-25. ”

— Korea Herald, January 2018

SINGAPORE: ZIKA 

Singapore is on a CDC Level 2 Alert - Practice Enhanced Precautions.  This means the mosquitoes are infected with Zika.  The most vulnerable population with Zika are moms to be. Please look at the infographic below for any questions. 

World Health Organization

You can also contract Zika through any sexual contact. 

See you next PHW

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

ASIA

JAPAN HAS A FUGU PROBLEM

This is the Fugu Fish, very few chefs can prepare this fish without killing you. It is also known as a Blowfish.

Food & Poison 

A grocer at Gamagori, Japan accidentally sold some of the poisonous parts and the city is now on high alert. Fugu is a winter delicacy and a very expensive one. A blow fish will take you back $100-$200. I have never tried but I must admit it is very tempting as I enjoy sushi. I never try it because... Well mortality is a blow.
 

AFRICA

What's new?

Chikungunya in Kenya

Cholera in Malawi and Zambia

Suspected Rift Valley fever in South Sudan (Viral Haemorrhagic Fever)

NAMIBIA-HEPATITIS E

DO YOU KNOW YOU ABC'S?

Namibia has reported over 200 cases of Hepatitis E and the numbers are at risk of increasing

 

UGANDA-CRIMEAN-CONGO FEVER

January 5th....

January 14th

Yesterday NTV reported that one person with symptoms of the deadly Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever had been placed under isolation at Kiwoko Hospital in Nakaseke District. Documents obtained from Kiwoko Hospital indeed showed that the young boy was exhibiting symptoms of the deadly disease.

FAKE MEDICINE IN AFRICA 

World Health Organization (WHO) report counterfeit medicine is responsible for about 100,000 deaths a year in Africa. A 2016 report from Sanofi pharmaceutical discovered that counterfeit medicines laboratories that target the African market are in China, Indonesia, Ukraine, and Poland. 

The need for such counterfeit medicine in global south spaces or developing countries in Africa, is a direct result of countries that do not reimbursed their governments for medical expenses. 

Accountability goes back to African countries that lack their definitions of just what counterfeit medicine is, more African actors are needed in the pharmaceutical industries not just as consumers but as manufacturers, better regulations, and enforceable policies on legal enforcement for the sellers and manufacturers. 

A Chinese policeman walks across a pile of fake medicines seized in Beijing. The rapid growth of Internet commerce has led to an explosion of counterfeit drugs sold around the world, with China believed to be the biggest source of fake medicines in the world.
Source: AFP/GETTY

“Substandard also called “out of specification”, these are authorized medical products that fail to meet either their quality standards or specifications, or both.

Unregistered/unlicensed medical products that have not undergone evaluation and/or approval by the National or Regional Regulatory Authority for the market in which they are marketed/distributed or used, subject to permitted conditions under national or regional regulation and legislation.

Falsified medical products that deliberately/fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source.””

— WHO (Substandard and falsified medical products)AKACounterfit Drugs

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!