Health

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media type="youtube" key="mYjZbZThOcA&hl=en&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" height="355" width="425"  1. Get prepared for the summer and fundrasing!!!
 * This week:**

1. HIV/AIDS 2. Diseases (malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhea) 3. Maternal Health 4. Health Care Accessability =The problem:  =
 * Focus Problems:**

** HIV/AIDS: ** AIDS is rapidly spreading through W. Africa because of the lack of education of infected people. We need to come up with a way to stop the spread of AIDS, either by donating money to try to create a cure or more efective treatment, or educate the infected men, women, and children on how AIDS is spread and ways that it can be stopped. Diseases: Diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis are taking a toll on the West African people due to a lack of education, a lack of healthcare facilities, and a lack of supplies to treat the diseases. Diarrhea is also an issue for West Africa. It has many causes, but for the most part it is caused by a lack of clean drinking water. Maternal Health : Few women are getting maternal care before the birth. They need trained health-care professionals and to recieve information about their situations. Health Care Accessability : Health care accessability is not at its full potential in W. Africa. [|//http://allafrica.com/stories/200804180323.html////]  -   West African governments have been asked to put 15% of money towards revamping health sector -  Funding of the health sector would help raise the status of the people, and put these countries on the path towards Millennium Development Goals -  Provision of health services were increased -  Training and retraining health service providers increased
 * West African Health**

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=60749//  -   Malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhea are 3 biggest killers -  These problems come from malnutrition (50% of population suffers from in a year) -  According to UN there are only 3 doctors per 100,000 people in Niger -  In Nigeria, government passed a law that would make health care free for pregnant women and children (under 5)- this is not working yet -  Doctors are short of medicines, expertise, and general staff -  Government spending $5 dollars per person on health care (according to World Health Organization (WHO)- in Niger      [|//http://allafrica.com/stories/200801170957.html//] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">  -   WHO has confirmed outbreaks of deadly bacteria in3 W African countries that may be the start of the worst meningitis epidemic in Africa (since a decade)   -   Vaccines cannot be given until it is known which form of bacterium is spreading   -   Meningitis is infection of the thin lining around the brain and spinal cord -  Even when meningitis is diagnosed early and therapy is done, between 5-10% of patients die (usually within 24-48 hours of first symptoms) -     <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Survivors are left with brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7377707.stm (special thanks to Lydia M.)

-Maternal health issues: traditional methods vs. hospitals

-Lack of education: stillborn baby is born, mother believes the cause is due to a curse, not b/c her water broke and she didn't go to the hospital

-Affordability: hospitals are not always in the financial budget -->Fundraising opportunity!

-Midwife competition hinders traditional birth attendents from bringing them to the hospital (other midwives might try to help the woman in labor, and then demand money for their assistance.

__Specific Areas of Research:__

= **HIV/AIDS** (Bronte) = - AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome - problem is stated above - AIDS is a virus, not a bacteria (there is no cure) - there is no cure for this infection, but there are treatments (antiretroviral therapies) that can help prolong the lifespan of an infected person - HIV/AIDS attacks the immune system and makes it so that the smallest cold is a life-threatening disease <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- A person first is infected with HIV and then, the last stage of HIV is AIDS. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- After developing AIDS a person lives aproximately 3 years (it used to be only 11 months, but as treatments have progressed the lifespan has done the same) -<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream (bodily fluids such as semen, blood, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculatory fluid, and breast milk <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- Transmitted by having sex (oral, vaginal, anal); using contaminated needles; exchanges between a mother and baby during pregnancy, breast feeding, and childbirth; and direct exposure to any of the above fluid   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- 3 main ways (sex, direct contact with the above mentioned fluids, and mother to child)   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- HIV does not live long outside of the body, so one cannot obtain it by touching another person (touching such as shaking a hand, a hug…) - AIDS affects almost every organ in the body - the only way to know if you are infected is to be tested (symptoms often do not show up for a couple of years) - AIDS increases the risk of developing cancer <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- HIV is a retrovirus (a virus begins with an RNA genome that turns into a DNA replica and continues to replicate) that infects organs of the immune system <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- HIV attacks the white blood cells in the body that are needed for the immune system - AIDS d  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">evelops from acute HIV to symptomatic HIV and then to AIDS <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- must stop the pandemic <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- don’t have sex with someone that has AIDS (since not all people know if they do have AIDS, abstinence would be key) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- don’t share anything that could transfer blood (toothbrushes, needles, razors…) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- use caution with procedures that involve needles (tattooing, piercing…) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- do not allow people that are exposed, could be exposed, or have been exposed to HIV/AIDS to donate blood (people such as doctors/nurses that are exposed to AIDS) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- avoid IV drug use <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- What is being done: Global Fund supports national governments in developing countries to distribute antiretroviral therapies to AIDS sufferers - some governments are spending money on healthcare for individuals (citizens) - What needs to be done: These infected men, women, and children NEED TO BE EDUCATED and need to learn how to deal with the virus and ways that they can reduce the risk of passing it on

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> =<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> Maternal Health (Caroline)  =

Problem: - Over half a million women die in childbirth each year. - In some parts of West Africa, the maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world. ·  Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000) (Low Estimate-High Estimate): http://www.who.int/reproductive_indicators/countrydata.asp?page=214 Causes/Maternal Problems: - Hemorrhaging - extreme bleeding - Unprofessional Abortions – can cause punctured uterus or infected wound - Eclampsis - characterized by seizures or coma; experienced in late stages of pregnancy that leads to brain and kidney damage - Sepsis - bloodstream infection caused by an infected uterus or excess pieces of placenta - Obstructed Labor – difficulty of delivering a baby due to position, etc; usually need a caesarean section - Anemia- condition of not having enough red blood cells/red blood cells not carrying oxygen or iron. The fetus needs the blood; causes poor growth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. What Can/Needs To Be Done: o  Need trained healthcare professionals in the field of childbirth (nurse, midwife, doctor) to attend childbirth o  Need checkups during the antenatal period (Extremely important) o  Need education to inform mother of process of pregnancy and birth o  Important Pre Birth Medical Needs: Tetanus immunization, prevention and treatment of malaria, treatment of STI’s, and Management of Anemia o  Need good nutrition o  Need clean birthing site Links for More Information on Maternal Health: http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site/pp.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=186385 http://www.gendercide.org/case_maternal.html http://www.childinfo.org/areas/maternalmortality/
 * Benin- 850 (490-1200) || Liberia- 760 (190-1400)   ||
 * Burkina Faso – 1000 (630-1500) ||  Mali- 1,200 (680-1700)   ||
 * Côte d'Ivoire – 690 (170-1300)  ||  Mauritania- 1000 (630-1500)   ||
 * Cape Verde – 150 (37-280)  ||  Niger- 1,600 (420-3100)   ||
 * Gambia – 540 (140-1000)  ||  Nigeria- 800 (210-1500)   ||
 * Ghana- 540 (140-1000)  ||  Senegal- 690 (180-1300)   ||
 * Guinea – 740 (420-1100)  ||  Sierra Leone- 2,000 (510-3800)   ||
 * Guinea-Bissau - 1,100 (280-2100)  ||  Togo- 570 (340-810)   ||

= Diseases (Malaria, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea) (Danielle) = =  = <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">**What is Malaria?** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It was once thought that the disease came from fetid marshes, hence the name mal aria (bad air). In 1880, scientists discovered the real cause of malaria: a one-cell parasite called plasmodium. Later they discovered that the parasite is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, which requires blood to nurture her eggs. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Malaria Worldwide <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• 300-500 million people contract malaria annually <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• One million people die each year from malaria <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• Every 30 seconds someone dies from malaria <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Malaria in Africa <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• 1 in 5 childhood deaths are caused by malaria <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• Malaria is responsible for a 1.3% growth penalty per year in some African countries, due to loss in productivity <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">• Malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion in lost GDP every year <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">What are the signs and symptoms of malaria? [|Symptoms of malaria] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Infection with one type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Treatment: <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Malaria can be a severe, potentially fatal disease (especially when caused by Plasmodium falciparum ) and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">In endemic areas, the World Health Organization recommends that treatment be started within 24 hours after the first symptoms appear. Treatment of patients with [|uncomplicated malaria] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> can be conducted on an ambulatory basis (without hospitalization) but patients with  [|severe malaria] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> should be hospitalized if possible. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">In areas where malaria is not endemic, all patients with malaria (uncomplicated or severe) should be kept under clinical observation if possible. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Patients who have severe P. falciparum malaria or who cannot take oral medications should be given the treatment by continuous intravenous infusion. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">In some countries (but not the United States) some antimalarial drugs are found in suppository form. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Several antimalarial drugs are available for treatment by continuous intravenous infusion.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">**What is tuberculosis?** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease usually affecting the lungs (pulmonary TB). Other parts of the body can also be affected, for example lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, joints, etc. (extrapulmonary TB). Approximately 1,300 cases are reported each year in New York State. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Who gets tuberculosis? <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Tuberculosis can affect anyone of any age. People with weakened immune systems are at increased risk. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">How is tuberculosis spread? <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Tuberculosis is spread through the air when a person with untreated pulmonary TB coughs or sneezes. Prolonged exposure to a person with untreated TB usually is necessary for infection to occur. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">What are the symptoms of tuberculosis? <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">The symptoms of TB include a low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and a persistent cough. Some people may not have obvious symptoms. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">What is the treatment for tuberculosis? <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">People with latent TB infection should be evaluated for a course of preventive therapy, which usually includes taking antituberculosis medication for several months. People with active TB disease must complete a course of treatment for six months or more. Initial treatment includes at least four anti-TB drugs, and medications may be altered based on laboratory test results. The exact medication plan must be determined by a physician. Directly observed therapy (DOT) programs are recommended for all TB patients to help them complete their therapy.

DIARRHEA HAS MANY CAUSES, HOWEVER ITS MAIN CAUSE IS LACK OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

=<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> Healthcare Acessability (Jaya)  = <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">[|http://www.africanstudies.org/asa_papercalltheme2005.html</span] (Link does not work...I'm trying to fix it)

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">- <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> Why healthcare accessiblity in not at its full potential: -Lack of healthcare systems in rural areas -Lack of practical clinical expertise -Leading to the widespread HIV epidemic -What West Africa needs: -More well-trained doctors/nurses/healthworkers in the at risk countries

--> URGENCY, AFFORDABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">at risk = places at high risk for AIDS
 * The 3 aspects for building up West Africa's "immune system":

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"> =<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">**Fundraising Ideas:** = 1. Dance- (all entrance money and donations will be put towards Free the Children) 2. Make GPS students aware of the problems (assembly presentation) and give them option of donating money (send e-mail school/parents) 3. Call families, friends, and other people to ask for donations 4. Live Band/Concert (at GPS) 5. Contact Riverbend (before party) 6. Big local chattanooga concert with local bands 7. Call radio stations

=**Cool Videos**=

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">Links:[|http://www.oambassadors.org/global</span] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">[|http://www.childinfo.org/eddb/index.htmhttp://www.oambassadors.org/students/high-school-area/millennium-development-goals/health</span] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif">

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CzRw2IAJIM -- Togo Child Health Campaign