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UPDATE

May 4, 2006

WW1 malaria prevention posterAccording to a recent article in the Washington Post,  it looks as if the US Gov't will be funding and supporting the insecticide, DDT, once again.

Apparently, DDT, was the insecticide credited with eliminating malaria in the Western world years ago and was outlawed in the United States in 1972 and is still banned in most countries because of environmental concerns and unsubstantiated fears it can harm humans.  (link to article in Health News section

  I was doing some research on the history of DDT + malaria on the web when I came across this ridiculous malaria prevention poster. It was intended to target US troops in WW2.

You can get more up-to-date information on malaria prevention and other information with some of the links provided on the right hand side.... also check out the WHO media centre - all kinds of useful resources provided.

Thanks again to those of you who are writing in and contributing. It makes my job a lot easier, and it makes it more unique and interesting for everyone reading these updates... keep 'em coming. 

Colin LloydListserv Moderator, South Africa
 

1. Contributions:
 

>> Listserv member emails

 

+ Kenya: new malaria drug

Sent in by: Beatrice Kemunto, print journalist, Nairobi, Kenya

"The ministry of Health in Kenya has announced that a new malaria drug will available to Kenyans this month.


The treatment will be a combination of drugs that are not sulphur based.
The Artemisin Combination Therapy (ACT) will replace sulphur based drugs like Fansidar and Metackelfin that have developed resistance.


The minister of Heath, Hon. Charity Ngilu, says that the drug is expected to cure malaria and therefore have a positive impact on the burden of high malaria morbidity and mortality among the vulnerable groups.


She also says the government of Kenya will make the drugs available in all public facilities including missions and local authorities free of charge starting this month.

+ Sickle cell disease: update from Uganda

Sent in by: Pius Sawa Murefu, Radio Reporter, News anchor Feature producer and presenter, Kampala, Uganda

"i am indeed grateful with the efforts being done to address the plight of sickle cell disease in Uganda. Just to keep the readers updated, I have compiled this report."

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Seventy five percent of Children with Sickle Cell Disease are dead before their fifth birthday: succumbing to malaria and malnutrition.

 

This, according to the chairman of the sickle cell association, Ruth Mukiibi,  who says most patients live in slum areas where families can not afford good, nutritional food. She also says explains that their bushy, rural, environment provides a fertile breeding ground for malaria carrying mosquitos.

 

The country's only Sickle Cell clinic have now registered 7000 patients - an additional 2000 more from last year.

 

Doctor Jacob Ntende, the only dedicated medical practitioner at the clinic, says they also do not even have access to pain killers. In addition, they are also facing a blood shortage.

 

The Ugandan Government has still not acted and they are still doing nothing about this situation.

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Original report: contribute.html

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+ Update from Cameroon

Sent in by: GUY MARTIAL YOUMENI, radio journalist, Yaounde, Cameroon

"Mardi 25 avril 2006 le Cameroun à procedé au lancement officiel du TPI ceci etait le point dechute d'une semaine d'activité de lutte contre le paludisme.

 

Qui a étè marquée par de nombreux programme notament le recyclage des enseignants des écoles publique et privées d'infoirmiers sur les nouvelles strategies de lutte contre le paludisme.Le comité national de rool back malaria a profite pour tenir deux réunions.

Il y a eu aussi une reunion de sensibilisation des vendeurs en pharmacies sur les nouvelles strategies de lutte contre le paludisme, une conference tres riche sur le thème, Traitement du paludisme au Cameroun en 2006".

 

Les organisateurs n'ont oublier aucun secteur c'est ainsi qu'on a procedé au recyclage des clus santé des établissements secondaires de Yaoundé sur l'imprégnation des moustiquaires.C'est sur une note satisfaissante que cette semaine a pris fin tout en esperant que ce qui a étè apris ne restera pas lettre morte."

>> Non-member emails

Sent in by: Simon Dyson, PhD, Reader in Applied Social Sciences, Unit for the Social Study of Thalassaemia & Sickle Cell, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

Just to let you know that my book covering sickle cell, thalassaemia, screening and racism is now available: Screening policies for sickle cell and thalassaemia have only recently been formalized in the UK. This book asks what types of ethnicity information are relevant for health professionals to ask as part of this screening and why. Through extensive use of interview material, the book draws upon the experiences of sickle cell and thalassaemia counsellors who have been at the forefront of understanding in this area.

http://www.intl.elsevierhealth.com/catalogue/title.cfm?ISBN=0443102325

 

2. Health news:

+ Nigeria: Lambo Launches New Anti-Malaria Policy

Regional Head, (West Africa), Novartis Pharma Services, Mr. Jerry Ogbonna has advocated for reduction in the prices of Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACTs) just as Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo announced that the 2.5 million doses of Coartem (Artemether + Lumefantrine) brand of ACTs procured by Federal government as first line treatment for malaria have been distributed to 18 states in the country.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200605020172.html

+ PanAfrica: African Leaders to Take Bold Steps Against Disease

A summit is underway in the Nigerian capital that will see African leaders going beyond merely making commitments to combat HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. According to the AU, in spite of the progress made in combating HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria since the Abuja declarations of 2000/1, evaluation reports on the prevalence of the three diseases indicate that they remain the three major causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa, and constitute serious challenges to socio-economic development and human security.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200605020390.html

+ Radio training program encourages HIV/AIDS coverage

The organizers of a recent course in Nigeria hope that better news coverage will help young people understand the importance of getting tested for HIV and AIDS. The course, organized by Internews Nigeria’s Local Voices Project, took place recently in Abuja. Participants visited a local hospital and a youth center, where they were able to discuss HIV testing with young people.

http://www.internews.org/news/2006/20060424_nigeria.html

+ U.S. Takes New View on DDT in Africa

U.S. government officials are enthusiastically endorsing and funding the use of DDT in sub-Saharan Africa after years of resisting calls from scientists who said the insecticide would be the best weapon for fighting malaria, despite lingering objections by some environmentalists.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060503-122415-3878r.htm

Latest Health headlines

3. Resources:

The Net for Journalists: A Practical Guide to the Internet for Journalists in Developing Countries

This training handbook has been designed for print and broadcast journalists and journalism students in developing countries around the world, to help gain practical skills in using the internet for day-to-day journalistic assignments. It provides a step-by-step guide to understanding and utilising the many and varied aspects of the internet...

http://www.comminit.com/materials/ma2006/materials-2750.html

Getting It Right in Prime Time: Tools and Strategies for Media Interaction

According to the article, scientists are increasingly faced with the challenge of communicating with a public that may have little understanding of their work. The article proposes that when the popular media seek answers and information for the public, a communications strategy that uses the concept of message development and delivers timely and accurate information is very effective...

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1546.html

3. Opportunities:

Kenya: Resident Journalism Advisor HIV/AIDS Reporting

Internews Network is currently seeking a Resident Advisor to lead our Local Voices health reporting project in Kenya; Local Voices is designed to support professional television and radio broadcasters in creating high-quality, locally relevant coverage of HIV/AIDS issues for their audiences. Essential duties and responsibilities of the position include the following:

http://www.internews.org/about/emp_open/overseas/job_0132o.html

 

 
 

 
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