Category: Health

What is hygiene?

Hygiene is any approach or action used to keep things healthy and clean. While this concept covers a wide scope, our focus here revolves around “a healthy body and a happy mind,” placing personal cleanliness at the forefront.

Personal hygiene involves the routine cleansing of the external aspects of our bodies.

This extends to dental hygiene, which isn’t solely about teeth but encompasses the mouth as a whole. In fact, oral care involves not only teeth but also the mouth itself.

To maintain a healthy mouth and a radiant smile, the American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice daily – once before breakfast and once before bedtime.

Dentists highly recommend toothpaste with fluoride content, as it effectively reduces acid production by bacteria, stemming from plaque, and prevents tooth decay.

Addressing body hygiene, it’s important to recognize that our skin, being the largest organ, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding our internal systems. Thus, proper skincare is paramount. This includes regular showers at least once a day to cleanse the skin from dirt and pollutants such as sweat.

Handwashing has taken on greater significance, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic has waned, the importance of frequent handwashing remains, as it remains a fundamental defense against the spread of germs and bacteria.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends handwashing in the following instances:

• Before, during, and after food preparation

• Before consuming food

• Before and after assisting someone vomiting or experiencing diarrhea

• Before and after treating a wound or cut

• After using the restroom

• After changing diapers or tending to a child’s restroom needs

• After sneezing, coughing, or blowing one’s nose

• After touching waste or contaminated surfaces/objects

• After interacting with pets or pet-related items, including food

Nail care is another essential aspect of personal hygiene. Neglected nails, especially when long and unkempt, can harbor dirt and germs, facilitating the spread of bacteria. Regular trimming of fingernails and toenails helps minimize the risk of spreading illnesses.

Maintaining good personal hygiene offers benefits beyond disease prevention; it bolsters self-confidence and self-esteem. While adhering to recommended sanitary practices can sometimes pose challenges in a tight-budget scenario, a few simple strategies can help you maintain cleanliness without breaking the bank.

Dental health plays a pivotal role, with a smile being deemed the finest cosmetic one can wear. Furthermore, regular smiling offers health advantages, including stress reduction, immune system enhancement, lowered blood pressure, and potentially increased lifespan. However, it’s important to acknowledge that bad breath can detract from even the most dazzling smile.

To ensure both a captivating smile and fresh breath, consider brushing your tongue, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, preventing prolonged dry mouth (even during fasting, ensure you stay hydrated), chewing gum after meals, and, if fluoride toothpaste isn’t affordable, substitutes like baking soda, sea or table salt, or diluted hydrogen peroxide can suffice.

For an odor-free body, thorough bathing using clean water and soap is crucial, with special attention to be paid to the ‘private areas’ where sweat accumulates most. “The human body boasts millions of sweat glands,” as reported by Medical News Today (MNT). When germs break down, body odor ensues.

To maintain short hair in the private area, consider shaving or waxing. Avoid wearing soiled clothing, especially those worn the previous day and not yet washed but have been subjected to sweat.

Always use deodorant. In case of financial constraints, alternatives such as lemon juice, baking soda, or alcohol can be excellent substitutes.

Nails also warrant attention as a frequent manicure is the key for well-kept finger nails. You can also get a personal manicure kit to use on days when you don’t have any money.

Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Daud Aweis Jama said the terrorists were eliminated in separate operations in HirShabelle and Southwest states on July 28-31.

Aweis told a weekly news conference that more than 100 militants were killed in the Galgaduud region in central Somalia, while over 60 others were eliminated during the military operations in El Dhun in the Southwest region.

“During the operations, the Somali national forces destroyed vehicles and other equipment belonging to the enemy,” the minister told journalists in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The government has been waging a formidable war against the al-Shabab militants since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came to power in May 2022.

The extremist group, however, still controls some parts of rural southern and central Somalia and continues to carry out high-profile attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere despite increased onslaught by government forces.

Olly Cann, the director of Communications at GAVI, said that a steady improvement in vaccine coverage has revitalized the war against vector-borne diseases in Africa including malaria, whooping cough, typhoid and cholera.

“African countries continue to make progress when it comes to protecting their populations against vaccine preventable diseases,” Cann said Tuesday during an online interview with Xinhua.

According to Cann, vaccine coverage for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) in the continent improved from 72 percent in 2021 to 73 percent in 2022, defying the strain on public health systems linked to the pandemic.

Cann said the improved vaccination coverage was pronounced in smaller countries like Niger, Rwanda and Tanzania while populous and geographically huge nations like Nigeria, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo sustained inoculation against infectious ailments.

The top five African countries that recorded significant progress in vaccinating against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough between 2021 to 2022 included Liberia, Rwanda, Mauritania, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.

“There was also (a) significant improvement in countries dealing with entrenched fragility and conflict such as Chad, Niger and South Sudan,” Cann said, attributing the success to innovative partnerships and targeted investments.

He observed that improved access to malaria vaccine, which was introduced in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi in 2019, has revitalized the fight against the tropical disease which kills nearly half a million children below five years of age in the continent annually.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that Africa accounted for an estimated 95 percent of global malaria cases and 96 percent of deaths in 2021.

Cann hailed the recent announcement by the WHO and partners that 18 million malaria vaccine doses will be allocated to an additional nine African countries in the next two years. He stressed that up-scaling immunization coverage in Africa in a post-pandemic era hinged on innovative partnerships, sustained financing, political goodwill and fidelity to the principles of equity.

Cann believed that concerted efforts to tackle conflicts, climate crises and vaccine hesitancy will be key to boosting immunization against vector-borne diseases in Africa.

While acknowledging that climate change has fueled the spread of vector-borne diseases like cholera, yellow fever, malaria and meningitis, Cann said that the availability of vaccines will save lives besides strengthening the resilience of the continent’s public health systems.

The development has been confirmed through a statement released by the Ministry of Health.

Over the past seven years, a total of 67 Rwandan patients were transferred overseas for kidney transplants, incurring an estimated cost of approximately Rwf900 million.

By establishing a program to conduct these procedures domestically, Rwanda aims to not only save significant financial resources but also enhance the quality and efficiency of its healthcare system.

According to the Ministry of Health, this initiative is poised to provide a sustainable solution that meets the growing demand for specialized medical services within the country.

The newly launched kidney transplant program at KFH this week, will operate on a monthly basis, with the visiting surgical team collaborating closely with the local team for the next two years.

This collaborative effort aims to transfer knowledge, skills, and expertise to the local specialists, enabling them to independently manage and sustain the program in the long run. By empowering local medical professionals and nurturing their capabilities in complex care procedures such as kidney transplants, Rwanda is building a self-reliant healthcare system that can cater to the needs of its population effectively.

KFH operates subspecialty fellowship programmes through the University of Rwanda’s School of Medicine and Pharmacy.

These programs, focusing on nephrology and renal transplant surgery, aim to increase the number of health professionals trained in highly specialized areas. By investing in education and professional development, Rwanda is nurturing a pool of skilled medical experts who can contribute to the ongoing advancements in healthcare within the country.

King Faisal Hospital, a multi-specialist quaternary hospital, stands as a beacon of excellence in Rwanda and the region. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a highly skilled medical team, and a patient-centered approach, the hospital is dedicated to providing world-class medical services. With the successful implementation of the kidney transplant program, KFH further solidifies its position as a leading healthcare institution, capable of delivering specialized care that was previously only available abroad.

The leadership at King Faisal Hospital has extended its gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for its extensive support in the health sector, which has made this significant undertaking possible. By investing in the healthcare system and supporting initiatives like the kidney transplant program, the government demonstrates its commitment to improving the well-being of its citizens and providing them with accessible, high-quality healthcare services.

“As of May 16, 2023, a cumulative total of 1,017 suspected cholera cases, six laboratory confirmed deaths, 20 suspected cholera deaths and 288 laboratory confirmed cases were reported,” the Ministry of Health and Child Care said on Wednesday.

There were 51 people hospitalized for cholera as of May 15, while the national recovery rate stood at 92 percent.

According to the ministry, the capital city Harare is among the country’s 17 cholera hotspot districts, and most cases have been reported in the western high-density suburbs where some residents live under unhygienic conditions.

In terms of confirmed cases, Matabeleland South Province is the highest hit with 96, followed by Manicaland Province with 89, then Harare with 80, the government figures show.

Kaseya, who was appointed as the new head of the Africa CDC by the African Union (AU) Assembly in February this year, said in a statement that African countries are highly encouraged to strengthen vaccination programs to avoid losing the gains made by accelerating efforts.

African countries “need to make sure that none of our children are left behind from the full benefits of getting vaccinated,” said Kaseya, noting that over the last decades, vaccines have saved millions of lives, prevented serious illnesses and outbreaks, and reduced healthcare costs.

He, however, stressed a need to intensify these efforts.

According to Kaseya, many of the children who are missing out on routine immunization live across different settings, including urban areas, remote communities and populations in conflict settings. “The importance of strengthening routine immunization, reaching zero-dose children and achieving vaccine equity cannot be overemphasized.”

Kaseya said the African continent can register good healthcare outcomes if it can reach communities with routine as well as COVID-19 vaccines, integrating service provision and supplemental vaccination activities. And strengthening basic routine immunizations across the African continent will help protect individuals who are at higher risk, such as children, from contracting serious and sometimes deadly illnesses like measles, polio, and rubella.

“In accelerating the big catch-up, the call to action is to put a stronger focus on reaching the most vulnerable communities with integrated approaches that deliver multiple services,” he said.

The Africa CDC chief also stressed that such interventions will eventually ensure the protection of the African populace, strengthen health systems, and lead to the path to health and prosperity.

“It is important that we ensure access to essential health services and build resilient health systems that can adequately protect the African population from vaccine-preventable diseases,” Kaseya said.

He further underscored the COVID-19 pandemic’s unprecedented pressure on vaccine supply chains, primary healthcare systems, health workforces, and national budgets in Africa.

Over the past seven years, Rwanda has significantly reduced the burden of malaria, with the infection rate dropping from 409 cases per 1000 people in 2016 to just 76 cases per 1000 people in 2022. Malaria deaths also fell by more than 89% over the same period.

This achievement has been possible thanks to efforts by the government, in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, to expand and decentralize malaria control initiatives to the community level through a range of measures from public education to prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Community health workers have been integral to the country’s efforts to combat the disease. Partnering with WHO, the country has trained 30 000 community health workers to provide comprehensive malaria treatment at home, saving hundreds of lives in the process. In 2022, 55% of all recorded cases were diagnosed and treated by community health workers, compared with 15% in 2016.

Esther Urimubenshi, a 50-year-old farmer from the Bugesera district of Rwanda’s Eastern Province, used to dread the rainy season, when the constant threat of malaria loomed over her family.

In 2016, Esther fell ill with malaria three times in just two months, despite taking medication. “The fever, chills, and weakness left me bedridden and unable to care of my family or tend to my crops. It was in a dark time,” she says.

But Esther’s fortunes have changed. Theoneste Nezehose, a community health worker in Esther’s area, has for the past 12 years dedicated efforts to support Esther and her community to combat malaria.

Theoneste educated Esther and her family on the importance of good practices to avert malaria transmission and on other prevention measures including the removal of mosquito breeding sites and the proper use of mosquito nets. It has now been more than two years since Esther had malaria.

“Malaria was constantly haunting us, but Theoneste has been our beacon of light,” she says.

In addition to disseminating critical information on malaria prevention, community health workers like Theoneste provide early diagnosis and treatment, distribute insecticide-treated bed nets and conduct indoor residual spraying to help prevent transmission. They also monitor and report all cases to the nearest health facility.

“I receive supplies and training support from Mayange Health Centre, seven kilometres from here. I send weekly updates and they help with referral cases,” says Theoneste. “Being able to make a difference in the lives of people like Esther and other fellow community members is a privilege I cherish every day.”

“Community health workers are the unsung heroes of the fight against malaria in the country,” says Dr Emmanuel Hakizimana, acting head of the malaria division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the Ministry of Health’s implementing wing.

“Thanks to them, we have been able to bring malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment into the heart of the community, which has also reduced the strain on health facilities.”

This approach of community case management has worked in tandem with other interventions. This includes the distribution of more than 6 million bed nets, with one net for every two household members. A ratio of at least one net for every two household members is considered typically sufficient to achieve universal coverage in a population. In addition, indoor residual spraying has been scaled up from three to 12 districts which usually represent the highest burden of malaria cases.

The country has also increased access to health services for all through its Community Based Health Insurance scheme, helping to ensure that people receive free, prompt malaria treatment.

WHO has been a key partner in the country’s fight against malaria. The Organization has supported community health worker trainings the development of technical guidelines as well as the development and implementation of a national strategic plan for 2020‒2024, with the primary goal of reducing malaria morbidity and mortality by at least 50% compared with the 2019 levels.

“Community health workers are the backbone of community health programmes and contribute immensely to managing diseases like malaria,” says Dr Jules Mugabo Semahore, Head of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO Rwanda.

“They play a crucial role in reaching remote and underserved communities with life-saving interventions. WHO continues to partner with the Ministry of Health to capacitate this cornerstone of the fight against malaria.”

The diagnosis and treatment of malaria was decentralized to improve the prompt treatment of malaria cases and target all age groups, says Dr Hakizimana.

He adds that in the coming years, the country plans to tackle the primary challenges to Rwanda’s malaria control programme. This includes the effective management of forms malaria transmission that can persist after achieving full universal coverage with nets and indoor residual spraying, for example, when mosquitoes feed on people who are active or outdoors, or feed on livestock. The country will enhance operational research and digitalize data on malaria cases at village and household levels, addressing the lack of aggregated data this level.

The programme intends to sustain the capacity of community health workers like Theoneste. He is proud of his ongoing contribution towards this fight. “What keeps me going is seeing first-hand the difference that my work makes in my community,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling.”