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....”
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”
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.”
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. ”
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