- January is cervical health awareness month in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) joins the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) in recognizing January as Cervical Health Awareness Month (Source: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphNews/Reader.aspx?id=56BC8126-F0B0-4A97-9096-D34F6CFF85B9 ).
Politics and Policies:
- The West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C has been launched with the goal of saving up to $100 billion in cumulative health care costs within ten years (Source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/23/4207614/dc-based-west-health-policy-center.html ).
- The 130th executive board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a resolution moved by India that focuses on the global burden of mental disorders. It also focuses on need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level. This resolution was supported by the United States of America and Switzerland (Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2825793.ece ).
- India is planning to soon ban the blood tests to diagnose tuberculosis. The experts not only pointed on their accuracy but also on the effectiveness as compared to the standard culture test provided free by the Indian government. The WHO expert group observed a highly variable sensitivity of these tests ranging from as low as 0 to 100% (Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Soon-ban-on-blood-tests-to-detect-TB/articleshow/11607679.cms ).
Programs
- To increase the healthcare access, Community Health Center Inc., has launched on Friday an internal telemedicine program. It will provide specialized access to the patients suffering from hepatitis C and HIV (Source: http://www.ctmirror.org/node/15138 ).
- The health ministry in Zimbabwe has announced that it will soon begin HIV/AIDS door to door testing campaigns which will help people living in remote locations that cannot go to clinic for testing (Source: http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/zimbabwe-to-begin-hivaids-door-to-door-testing-campaign.html ).
- Immunization with rotavirus vaccine launched in Zambia. This year it will be administered to new born babies less than 24 weeks in Luska District of Zambia (Source: http://www.times.co.zm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4409:new-diarrhoea-vaccine-unveiled-for-babies&catid=36:local-news&Itemid=27 ).
- A $12.2 million vaccination program being introduced by British charity Absolute Return for Kids to protect African children (Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/9029771/Charity-linked-to-Duke-of-Cambridge-saving-lives-of-African-children.html ).
Research
- The results published in Science by Carnegie Mellon biologists indicate the presence of Magnesium in neutralizing deadly Shiga toxin. This toxin is produced by Shigella and some strains of E.coli. It can cause symptoms from intestinal disease to kidney failure (Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnegie-mellon-university-study-reveals-potential-of-manganese-in-neutralizing-deadly-shiga-toxin-137700868.html ).
- According to a study published in The Lancet medical Journal, the oral HIV tests were 2% less accurate than blood based specimens. This study has raised questions on whether self-testing should be allowed in South Africa using noninvasive and pain free tests for HIV (Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/specialreports/hivaids/2012/01/24/oral-hiv-test-results-found-to-be-less-reliable ).
- A study shows that older women could now skip osteoporosis screening tests if intial bone scan shows no big problem. (Source: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/jan/23/many-women-can-skip-frequent-bone-scans/ ).
- Journal of the American Medical Association says putting children in foster care is in some cases more ethical than obesity surgery (Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46076745/ns/technology_and_science-science/ ).
- Gilenya (Multiple –Sclerosis Drug) is under review after the death of a patient receiving its first dose. Some other reports have indicated heart problems cause by receiving this medicine (Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240640.php ).
- Hepatitis vaccination programs in US and Spain not reaching the target populations according to a research published in online edition of Infection (Source: http://www.aidsmap.com/Studies-from-US-and-Spain-show-that-hepatitis-vaccination-programmes-not-reaching-target-populations/page/2224722/ ).
- Research shows that a man having unprotected oral sex with female having Human Papilloma virus (HPV causes cervical cancer in women) has greater chances of developing head and neck cancer (Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-22/science/30652195_1_head-and-neck-neck-cancer-hpv-infection ).
- A group of scientists from India, Tanzania and Thailand are doing research to find the ideal variety of bitter gourd that could beat diabetes (Source: http://thecitizen.co.tz/business/-/19062-india-tanzania-scientists-undertake-anti-diabetes-properties-study ).
- According to a research study, aspirin can help to prevent development of cervical cancer in HIV infected women (Source: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120119/Aspirin-may-benefit-HIV-infected-women-at-risk-of-cervical-cancer.aspx ).
- The Na-GST-1 antigen, a candidate for the first human hookworm vaccine developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) has entered phase 1 human trail in Brail (Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240586.php ).
- Cells found that can help to prevent cancer (Source: http://topnews.net.nz/content/220958-scientists-found-cells-can-help-prevent-spread-cancer ).
Diseases & Disasters
- A warning has been issued by the Australian medical authorities against the spread of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV). This virus is known to cause Australian encephalitis or swelling of brain (Source: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/286415/20120124/health-alert-dangerous-mosquito-borne-virus-causing.htm ).
- Death of 36 people over the last month due to malaria and whooping cough in Sudan’s Jonlei State’s Duk County has been reported by Sudan Tribune newspaper (Source: http://www.sudantribune.com/Malaria-and-whooping-coughs-kill,41362 ).
- Diabetes epidemic in India. A cross-sectional study, Sanofi-Aventis India SITE study (Screening India’s Twin Epidemic) done during 2009-10 conducted in 800 medical centers in India revealed that 60% of the patients suffered from diabetes, hypertension or both and 70% of them had uncontrolled diabetes (Source: http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/01/21/7423/the-diabetes-epidemic-in-india–/ ).
- About 25 people in Lahore (Pakistan) died of taking bad heart drugs (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/pakistan-heart-drugs-death_n_1223061.html ).
- Respiratory tuberculosis cases increase in Azerbaijan (Source: http://www.news.az/articles/society/53248 ).
IH CONNECT 