Did the White House just allow a massive climate change windfall? | FP Passport

Did the White House just allow a massive climate change windfall? | FP Passport

Malaria and urbanization in developing countries

I had a chance to talk with Dr. Omumbo from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI)about the urbanization and malaria outbreak in developing countries.

She identified several determinants to malaria spread in an urban area:

1. Slum condition Infrastructure cannot catch up with the population inflow from a rural areas, which leads to deterioration of urban environment such as creating a slum. Thus, people at slum would face the poor sanitation condition, which leads to vulnerability to the risk of being infected by malaria. Specifically, dirty water conditions in slum is serious.

2. Demographic movement. Rural people, who is more infected by malaria, come to an urban area, which leads to the spread of malaria in an urban.

3. Urban expansion. Urban will expand to its surrounding area, whose land use is more prone to vector emergence. For example, a suburban area has a lot of rice field, where more mosquito can live.

'Epidemic of Oral Disease' Is Found in Poor

"The disparities were particularly great among children. The study found that more than a third of all poor youngsters ages 2 to 9 had untreated cavities, compared with 17 percent of children who are not poor.And even children with health insurance often lack proper care; a recent study, cited in the surgeon general's report, found that among children covered by Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor, fewer than 1 in 5 had a preventive dental visit during the previous year."

''We have had a tendency to separate oral health from the rest of the body,'' said Dr. David Satcher, the surgeon general, in an interview after releasing the study."

National Public Health Week, April 6-12, 2009

Promote Public Health in Your Workplace Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Almost every day, Americans spend just as much time, if not more, in their workplaces than they do in their communities or at home. Therefore, promoting health and safety in the workplace is an essential part of public health’s role in building the foundation for a healthy America. From worksite wellness programs aimed at helping workers adopt healthy behaviors to safety regulations aimed at keeping them safe on the job, public health works in a variety of ways to address health where we work. Today, think about how public health provides the foundation for the health and well-being of people in Your Workplace. What can you do to help create a healthier environment at work? Make a special effort to share our Healthiest Nation in One Generation viral video with your co-workers today. And don’t forget to add your organization’s name to the list of those who have committed to make a difference. Here are some other things you can do to promote public health in your workplace: Start a workplace wellness program. Well-constructed workplace wellness programs can reduce costs to the employer and improve employee health and morale. Form a committee and start making changes today! Stress the importance of healthy food options. Find yourself tempted by the high-calorie, low-nutrient foods in the vending machine when late afternoon hunger sets in? Get rid of the temptation! Organize your co-workers to advocate for healthy food choices. Start a walking group with your colleagues. Workers who are sedentary throughout the workday would have to spend most of their evenings in motion to meet the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Incorporate more physical activity in your day by forming a walking group to keep each other motivated. In This Issue What’s Happening Today NPHW Blog Series Public Health in the News Take Action Today! Resources What’s Happening Today Along with continued efforts to spread the word about the Healthiest Nation in One Generation campaign and video, here are some of the NPHW events taking place across the nation: Building the Foundation for a Healthy America: Media Power and Responsibility, College Park, Maryland "Unnatural Causes-Place Matters" Movie Screening, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania National Start Walking Day Event, Louisville, Kentucky Health Fair: Pathways to a Healthier You, Topeka, Kansas Want to know what is happening in your community? Visit the NPHW Event Calendar for a complete list of submitted events that are taking place around the nation. You can also get the word out about any NPHW events that you’re organizing. NPHW Blog Series Today’s blog entry will explore the impact of where we work on our health. Visit www.nphw.blogspot.com to check it out. Public Health in the News Here are some recent stories on NPHW from around the nation, as well as a selection of stories from the NPHW Twitter: Schwarzenegger, stars lobby for U.S. health reform (Reuters, 4/7) Living happier, healthier lives (Ventura County Star, 4/7) Poll: Majority Would Pay Higher Taxes For Universal Health Care (CBS News, 4/6) Prevention best 'cure' for many health problems (Daily Citizen, 4/6) Take Action Today! Help build awareness of public health's critical role in ensuring a healthy America! Send a letter to your members of Congress each day of NPHW that focuses on the different settings through which our health is impacted. Wednesday: Your Workplace - Supporting healthy employees and healthy businesses Urge your legislators to recognize the importance of public health as the foundation of our health system and to work to prioritize public health in the health reform debate. NPHW Resources NPHW Toolkit NPHW Brochure Download logos Get Facts Click here for more…

The Lost Tribes of New York City on Vimeo

The Lost Tribes of New York City on Vimeo: "Urban Anthropologists, Andy and Carolyn London interview some of New York City's more overlooked citizens."

The Lost Tribes of New York City from Carolyn London on Vimeo.

Oral health behaviour among 11-13 year olds in slums

Oral health behaviour among 11-13 year olds in slums

This is an interesting (if technical) article on findings of a study that looked at oral health and oral health behaviors of children living in slum areas. These are contrasted against findings for children living in rural areas and it is revealed that the children in the slums have poorer oral health and less effective oral health behaviors.

One topic that I found interesting from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s information on senior oral health is copied below.  It was extremely hard to find any outreach materials geared towards aging populations online.  I wonder if this has something to do with limited internet access among the elderly?

“If you have arthritis or limited use of your hands, try adapting the toothbrush for easy use. Insert the handle into a rubber ball or sponge hair curler; or glue the toothbrush handle into a bicycle grip. Toothbrush handles can be lengthened with a piece of wood or plastic such as a ruler, ice cream bar stick or tongue depressor.

For people who have dexterity problems and cannot use a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush may be easier to use and increase effectiveness. Numerous studies confirm that electric brushes are excellent plaque removing devices and are extremely effective in stimulating gums. Dental floss holders are also available.”

Also for information on NY state, I found that before 2001, NY did not have a comprehensive plan for oral health.  Recently, the CDC reported that a plan was adopted statewide in 2005. 

House Dust Yields Clue to Asthma - Roaches

House Dust Yields Clue to Asthma - Roaches - NYTimes.com:

"...“For inner-city children,” said the lead researcher, Dr. Daniel G. Remick, a professor of pathology, “the major cause of asthma is not dust mites, not dog dander, not outdoor air pollen. It’s allergies to cockroaches.” [...]"

BBC NEWS | Health | Cancer risk 'not changing habits'

BBC NEWS | Health | Cancer risk 'not changing habits': "Cancer risk 'not changing habits'"

Looks like we need a new technique to inspire behavior change...

Healthiest Nation in One Generation

This is an amazing video message from the American Public Health Association.

Wikibooks

Wikibooks: "Wikibooks is a Wikimedia community for creating a free library of educational textbooks that anyone can edit."

Developing nations leading development?

This article suggests that, with this most recent G20 summit, we have just entered a world in which the United States is no longer the necessary partner in any major economic dealings.

"The presence of the world's top “developing” countries – notably China, India and Brazil – was not tokenism or ornament, as it has largely been at past summits. Those countries are now contributors, rather than recipients, of finance; without China's $50-billion commitment yesterday, the trade-finance package would not have worked.
But something important changed yesterday. It is no longer a case of Washington bailing out the world, with the help of a small group of wealthy European nations and sometimes Canada.
Yesterday, to an important degree, the world bailed out the United States. Mr. Brown compared it to the Marshall Plan, in which the U.S. government injected hundreds of millions into the European and Japanese economies after the war in exchange for Washington holding decisive power in most international bodies.
Yesterday, 65 years after Bretton Woods, the favour was returned."

Developing nations face malnutrition threat | Katine | guardian.co.uk

Developing nations face malnutrition threat | Katine | guardian.co.uk:

"Hellen Apale knows how important it is that her children get a good diet. She knows that at eight months pregnant, she needs to be eating well and eating regularly for the health of her unborn baby. The problem is she has no food.

'We had a really bad harvest, there was a drought which came early last year and it has affected everyone,' she says, gesturing to the scrubby field outside her home, where cassava plants wilt in the brown cracked earth. 'It's not how it used to be when we could easily grow enough to feed everybody. Children are falling sick easily, sometimes we can only feed the family one meal a day.' [...]"

Do protests ever work?

Do protests ever work? | FP Passport:

"...I would add that, at least in democratic societies, protests that demand accountability or consistency from 'the system' tend to be more effective than one that seek to overturn it. The U.S. civil rights movement was able to gain widespread support because its arguments were largely rooted in the constitution and christianity.

Recent examples of effective protests would be the unbelievably effective demonstrations in Pakistan that led to the reinstatement of chief justice Iftikhar Chaudry or the pro-Thaksin demonstrators who have Thailand's government on the brink of capitulation. Strangely, it also seems to be the case that demonstrations in partially free or inconsistently democratic societies tend to be the most effective."

Reversing Bush policy, US seeks seat on UN Human Rights council

Reversing Bush policy, US seeks seat on UN Human Rights council | csmonitor.com:

"President Obama is taking another step down the road of engaging America's adversaries with the decision to seek a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a group President Bush had shunned.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced in a statement Tuesday the reversal of Bush's policy of remaining outside the council as a way of protesting its makeup and work. 'With others, we will engage in the work of improving the UN human rights system,' Secretary Clinton said, with the goal of 'advancing the vision of the UN declaration on Human Rights.'"

international policy and relations also affect slums

For today's blog, I found 2 articles on Haiti in the NY Times that describe both the challenges in maintaining foreign aid flows amidst the economic and financial crisis due to a variety of issues, like donor fatigue, and the opportunities that the Haitian population has for economic growth.

Haiti’s Woes Are Top Test for Aid Effort by NEIL MacFARQUHAR

Haiti's Big Chance by BAN KI-MOON

I was sitting in at a meeting on the economic crisis last week at the UN, and one proposition made was for all countries to allocate 1% of their stimulus funding as foreign development aid. It was promising that nations voiced their continued commitments to assistance, echoing expert testimonies that millions will be thrust into extreme poverty as a result of the crisis. For countries that heavily depend on foreign aid, such as Haiti, this may be promising news. However, I think we usually ignore the other ways in which urban populations in the developing world (such as those living in slums) can reap benefits from the crisis. The restructuring of our global economy is already underway and now opportunities exist. Both articles touched on this issue. Much can be done at the international and regional level to effect change for poor urban populations, as the second article shows how changes in US trade legislation may benefit Haitians. Instead of attacking the issue of slums at the local level, analyzing ways in which governments, the private sector and other actors can work with the poor to improve living conditions, perhaps we should also look at international policy in a broader sense to see how foreign policy and trade relations among nations can actually act to hinder slum improvements or create more opportunities. Creating new policies that benefit poor populations may lay the groundwork for development from the bottom up.

Dental Double Standards

Intersting article on ethical issues surrounding dental care and going to war! Check it Out!

"Melanie Hanson, said she could not afford a root canal to save a painful abscessed tooth. When she raised enough money to have it pulled, the dentist refused on ethical grounds, saying the tooth could be saved."

"Among the nation's reservists, a common reason for not being sent to Iraq has been poor teeth"

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/28/business/28dental.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=oral%20health%20care&st=cse

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Earth population 'exceeds limits'

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Earth population 'exceeds limits': "Nina Fedoroff told the BBC One Planet programme that humans had exceeded the Earth's 'limits of sustainability'".

I like how this article is saying that the problem of sustainability is a current problem, not just an issue of the future.