| | | Women's rights |  Thursday, 9 August is National Women's Day. As a woman who is very much in control of my own life, making my own decisions and earning my own money, it is sometimes difficult to realise that the vast majority of women are not so fortunate. This week saw the publication of a study that suggests that it is possible to prevent millions of women becoming ill and dying of cervical cancer. But haven't we known how to do this for decades? The answer is yes, but only in the developed world (or in wealthy sectors of the developed world). The annual PAP smear is not a reality for the majority of women in the developing world, where cervical cancer is still a major killer. So, the revelation that there is a simple, quick and cheap way of screening for cervical cancer using a single visualisation of the cervix is welcome news indeed. While far from ideal, this technique has been shown to prevent the illness and death that is associated with the disease among far too many women. All that now remains is for the technique to be universally introduced in the developing world and women to be educated to use it – in itself not a simple task – but one that is vitally important in a world where women too often bear the burden of poor health.
Dr Bridget Farham, editor: https://www.bizcommunity.com
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| | Headlines | Traditional post-circumcision sexual coercion puts Kenya's youth at risk
Sudan launches campaign to immunise millions of children against polio
Cholera outbreak in northern Tanzania, says government official
Marburg contracted from skinned monkey, says Ugandan official
Zimbabwe: "Overzealous" police impound food aid
Katrina's legacy lives on
Zambian government forges ahead with mass male circumcision plans
Visual inspection screens for cervical cancer in developing countries
Industry news: First South African black empowerment clinical research on its way
Hard-living, Harare-style
New heart attack test assessed
Schizophrenia improved by mental and physical exercise
Falling HIV rates not the whole story
Hard times raise levels of abuse in Swaziland
Your printer could be dangerous!
South Africa clamps down on botched circumcisions
Ugandan national task force formed to tackle Marburg fever alert
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Medical | | Sudan launches campaign to immunise millions of children against polio
Sudan has launched a three-day campaign in the north of the country to immunise an estimated five million children against polio after reports of cases in neighbouring Chad.
New unit to improve health care delivery
[Edwin Tshivhidzo] Gauteng's Health Department is to get a new Programme Management Unit (PMU), aimed at improving health care delivery in the province.
2007 International Academy of Cardiology Awards
Dr. Asher Kimchi, Founder and Chairman of the International Academy of Cardiology announced the winners of the 2007 IAC Awards at the 13th World Congress on Heart Disease held in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Kimchi, together with Co-Chairmen Dr. Jeffrey S. Borer and Dr. John A. Elefteriades, headed a committee of over 140 of the world's top cardiologists and scientists that reviewed nominees from nearly every country in the world. In addition to the IAC awards, the committee also named three faculty to received the Distinguished Faculty Award.
Zimbabwe: "Overzealous" police impound food aid
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) distributing food aid are being forced to negotiate with the Zimbabwean government after "sporadic" incidents in which security forces impounded relief destined for drought-stricken areas.
Katrina's legacy lives on
New analysis shows more than four in 10 adults in New Orleans report worse health care access post-Katrina.
Hard-living, Harare-style
The lifestyle normally associated with an urban society is fast disappearing from Zimbabwe's once bustling capital, Harare, where rural living standards now apply, bringing with them not only great deal of inconvenience, but also the risk of disease.
Your printer could be dangerous!
An accidental discovery led to a study that found laser printers can release dangerous particles into the air, especially when the toner cartridge is new, or when printing graphics and images.
A soft drink a day could kill you
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network confirms results of the latest scientific study showing aspartame in diet soft drinks can trigger serious adverse reactions like heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.
Industry news: First South African black empowerment clinical research on its way - Leigh Hopewell on behalf of ACRO
Joint partners, the South African Government and private enterprise last night announced the launch of the first ever locally owned, black empowered, full service clinical research organisation.
HPCSA news: Broaden the investigation into healthcare costs - Greer van Zyl
“Cast the net wider,” is the call from HPCSA Registrar, Adv. Boyce Mkhize in response to government's intention to investigate private healthcare costs.
Industry news: Medi-Clinic acquires Swiss hospital group - Magna Carta PR for Medi-Clinic Corporation Limit
Medi-Clinic Corporation Limited today has announced its intent to acquire Hirslanden AG, from funds advanced by the European private equity group, BC Partners Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Medi-Clinic Luxembourg S.à.r.l. (“Medi-Clinic Luxembourg”).
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Chronic diseases | | New heart attack test assessed
New research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research's Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme is investigating a new blood test for helping diagnose or rule out heart attacks.
Schizophrenia improved by mental and physical exercise
Scientists at Melbourne's Howard Florey Institute have shown that mental and physical exercise can improve behavioural deficits in schizophrenia and repair damaged chemical transmitter pathways in the brain.
New Parkinson's disease online resource now available
Consumers searching for information on Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological condition, now have a new online destination: the Parkinson's Disease Blog Network (www.parkinsonsblognetwork.com).
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Corporate Social Responsibility | | Pink pashmina sales sponsor breast cancer research
 A global pashmina retailer has partnered with the International Breast Cancer Research Foundation to make a donation for every purchase in support of the Pink Ribbon campaign. To support the campaign for fundraising in the fight against breast cancer, part of the sale value for any order containing a pink pashmina will be given directly to cancer research.
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Emergency medicine | | South Africa clamps down on botched circumcisions
By the time winter has ended, thousands of young South African boys will have gone through a month-long traditional rite of passage and become men.
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HIV/AIDS | | Traditional post-circumcision sexual coercion puts Kenya's youth at risk
Sexual peer pressure is forcing many newly circumcised young men in central Kenya to engage in sex before they are fully healed, negating the procedure's protective effects against HIV, according to the preliminary findings of an ongoing regional study.
Zambian government forges ahead with mass male circumcision plans
There is standing room only in Room 3 of the urology clinic at University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia's capital.
Possible HIV decline in South Africa
HIV prevalence in South Africa appears to have stabilised and may even be declining, according to the latest figures in the government's 2006 National HIV and Syphilis Survey.
Falling HIV rates not the whole story
Falling HIV rates tell a complex story, certainly not all the good news that the South African Minister of Health would have us believe.
Hard times raise levels of abuse in Swaziland
 Pamela moves lethargically down the queue of trucks waiting for customs clearance at the Lavumisa border post between southern Swaziland and South Africa; an unlikely place for a 13-year-old but, hungry and hopeless, she says selling herself for food to truckers is her only alternative.
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Infectious diseases | | SA blocks UK meat after foot and mouth outbreak
[Michael Appel] The South African government has confirmed that until further notice, no veterinary import permits will be issued for cloven-hoofed animals and products derived there-of originating from the United Kingdom.
Cholera outbreak in northern Tanzania, says government official
Ten people have died and 20 others were admitted to various health centres after an outbreak of cholera in the northern Tanzanian region of Mara over the past week, a senior health official said.
Marburg contracted from skinned monkey, says Ugandan official
The Marburg virus outbreak in western Uganda that was confirmed on 30 July could have been contracted from a Colobus monkey, which was caught and skinned by two people, health officials said.
Ugandan national task force formed to tackle Marburg fever alert
 Ugandan health officials on 1 August issued an alert after three suspected cases of Marburg haemorrhagic fever were reported in a remote district near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Obstetrics and Gynaecology | | Visual inspection screens for cervical cancer in developing countries
Visual screening of the cervix, using acetic acid, is an effective way of preventing cervical cancer in developing countries. This, according to a study from Tamil Nadu, India, published in The Lancet this week.
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| | News for medical professionals | | Sutent, CP-751, 871 and axitinib treatment in non-small cell lung cancer
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| Long-term antiretroviral therapy can normalise CD4 count
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