Category: Health

GENEVA, July 27 (Xinhua) — Europe and the Americas have been affected the most by the monkeypox outbreak, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists here on Wednesday.

These two regions have reported 95 percent of the diagnosed cases, he said, warning against stigma and discrimination in monkeypox messaging.

Over 18,000 monkeypox cases have been reported to the WHO from 78 countries. More than 70 percent of these came from the European region and 25 percent from the Americas, he said.

He said that 98 percent of the reported cases have been among men who have sex with men, stressing that stigma and discrimination can be “as dangerous as any virus and can fuel the outbreak.”

“As we have seen with COVID-19 misinformation,” it can spread rapidly online, he said, “so we call on social media platforms, tech companies and news organizations to work with us to prevent and counter harmful information.”

Last Saturday, the WHO officially declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). A PHEIC is the highest level of alert that the United Nations (UN) health body can give.

The WHO has been urging countries to take the monkeypox outbreak seriously by taking the steps needed to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups. “The best way to do that is to reduce the risk of exposure and make safe choices,” he said.

“For men who have sex with men, this includes, for the moment, reducing your number of sexual partners, reconsidering sex with new partners, and exchanging contact details with any new partners to enable follow-up if needed.”

Meanwhile, Canada, the European Union and the U.S. have already approved the vaccine called MVA-BN (Modified Vaccinia Ankara — Bavarian Nordic) for use against monkeypox, and two other vaccines are also being assessed. However, due to the lack of data on the effectiveness and dosage of the vaccines, the WHO currently does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox. It also urges all countries that are administering such vaccines to collect and share critical data on their effectiveness.

These include Pyramid Eye Center which has introduced advanced eye care services in Rwanda to help people to get rid of glasses.

Located in Kicukiro District of Kigali City, the facility conducts cornea transplant to treat some of the eye problems, hence helping people to continue their work without disruptions.

We have caught up with Ophthalmologists at Pyramid Eye Center who shed light on cornea conditions, cornea transplant and related conditions that can be treated among others.

{{Cornea transplant}}

A cornea transplant (keratoplasty) is a surgical procedure to replace part of your cornea with corneal tissue from a donor. A cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped surface of one’s eye. It’s where light enters your eye and is a large part of your eye’s ability to see clearly.

A cornea transplant can restore vision, reduce pain, and improve the appearance of a damaged or diseased cornea.

Also, most cornea transplant procedures are successful but carries a small risk of complications, such as rejection of the donor cornea.

{{Why it’s done}}

A cornea transplant is most often used to restore vision to a person with a damaged cornea. A cornea transplant can also relieve pain or other signs and symptoms associated with cornea diseases.

{{Below are a number of conditions that can be treated with a cornea transplant: }}

-* A cornea that bulges outward (keratoconus)

-* Fuchs’ dystrophy, a hereditary condition

-* Thinning or tearing of the cornea

-* Cornea scarring, caused by infection or injury

-* Swelling of the cornea

-* Corneal ulcers not responding to medical treatment

-* Complications caused by previous eye surgery

{{Keratoconus}}

Keratoconus (ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus) occurs when your cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape.

A cone-shaped cornea causes blurred vision and may cause sensitivity to light and glare. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, though it often affects one eye more than the other. It generally begins to affect people between the ages of 10 and 25. The condition may progress slowly for 10 years or longer.

In the early stages of keratoconus, you might be able to correct vision problems with glasses or soft contact lenses. Later, you may have to be fitted with rigid, gas permeable contact lenses or other types of lenses, such as scleral lenses. If your condition progresses to an advanced stage, you may need a cornea transplant.

A new treatment called corneal collagen cross-linking may help to slow or stop keratoconus from progressing, possibly preventing the need for a future cornea transplant. This treatment may be offered in addition to the vision correction options above.

{{Symptoms}}

Signs and symptoms of keratoconus may change as the disease progresses.

{{They include:}}

-* Blurred or distorted vision

-* Increased sensitivity to bright light and glare, which can cause problems with night driving

-* A need for frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions

-* Sudden worsening or clouding of vision

{{When to see a doctor}}

See your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) if your eyesight is worsening rapidly, which might be caused by an irregular curvature of the eye (astigmatism).

He or she may also look for signs of keratoconus during routine eye exams.

Fortunately, it becomes easier when you have your family by your side to help you with everything. Alas, there are people who have no one to turn to, people who have lost their mothers and people who are not on good terms with their families.

“I wish I had my mom by my side at that time. There were so many things I did not know that I couldn’t ask anyone else,” said Rosalie, a mother of four whom I talked to.

“There are many controversies when it comes to taking care of children, some tell you this, others tell you that at the end you just end up confused,” she continued

She emphasized that a woman goes through different phases of motherhood and that it would help a lot if you have a trusted person by your side to help you along the way.

“Looking for someone to confide in is crucial, young mothers need someone who will hold their hands because the journey will not be easy, feeling comfortable and asking him or her everything. You can also read books on the subject but I think it’s best to have someone,” she said

One of the many challenges first time moms deal with that is not occasionally addressed is postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood and fatigue.

As an issue that is not really highlighted in our society or cringed upon. It is important that first time moms get to know that this exists and that it does not make you a bad mother or person.

The symptoms might include insomnia, loss of appetite, intense irritability and difficulty bonding with the baby. It does not last for long but it surely exists and should be talked about.

Ingabire, a mother of two encountered the seriousness of this sort of depression. She said it may come because of new adjustments to motherhood that sometimes overwhelms the mother.

“Staying up all night and all day is very tiring. You also have to perform other duties and responsibilities, taking care of a baby is hard work and sometimes it lasts for months. That’s when the depression sinks in,” she said

She says that sometimes the stress can be too much and too overwhelming that feeling guilty is often what most mothers do.

“Being a mother is not a fun activity, yes it has its perks but there are a lot of responsibilities that you have to be prepared for and you have to carry these responsibilities for a long time,” she said

She continued “Naturally being depressed is not a forbidden thing, it is something that happens and most mothers feel guilty because they feel they are failing their children.”

She pointed out that finding yourself again can be key to healing from the guilt and postpartum depression.

“I think finding yourself helps a lot, when someone becomes a mother they are utterly consumed by their babies that they sometimes forget to take care of themselves,” she said

“Be you, allow yourself to do the things that you love, give yourself some time to relax and be calm. Above carrying out your responsibilities, do not forget that you are human after all,” she added.

It is advised that women who suffer from PPD, seek a counselor, therapist, a trusted friend or find refuge and help from their partners, Postpartum depression exists and young mothers should not be shamed because of it.

Many people still consider mental illness as a light subject and an issue affecting a small percentage of our population.

Most of us walk the streets, go to work or school, enjoy shows without really knowing that we are walking around with depression while others don’t even know they have mental health problems.

Many people endure and hide pain while others make fateful decision to take their lives. Losing someone you love is a great pain to deal with and it becomes much more painful when you lose them by suicide.

In such circumstances, the bereaved family and friends are left with guilt and resentment amidst worries that they did not help the deceased to overcome depression. Here below are things that can help you get through the situation and cope with associated grief.

{{Understanding your grief }}

IGIHE has spoken to a psychologist and lecturer at the University of Rwanda, Dr. Jeanne Marie Ntete who defined suicide as an unexpected situation that no one is ready to deal with where it is hard to accept the reality.

He explained that there are stages of grief people go through after losing and mourning loved ones and advised on how to cope with trauma emanating from losing a loved by suicide.

{{The first stage is denial.}} Denial attempts to slow this process down, helps to survive the loss pretending that it didn’t exist and take us through it one step at a time other than the potential risk of feeling overwhelmed by our emotions.

{{After denial, comes anger.}} It can often be manifested or expressed in puzzling ways to people around us. We may be angry with the loved one who left us in sorrow or be angry with God for taking him/her.

{{The third stage is bargaining.}} In the bargaining stage of grief, you attempt to postpone your sadness by imagining “what if” scenarios. You may also feel a sense of guilt or responsibility, leading you to bargain for ways to prevent more emotional pain or future losses.

{{Depression is also a feeling that you may encounter after loss.}} In this stage, we begin to realize and feel the extent of death or loss. Common signs of depression in this stage include sleeping troubles, poor appetite, fatigue, lack of energy, and crying spells.

We may also have self-pity and feel lonely, isolated, empty, lost and anxious.

The last stage of grief identified by Kübler-Ross is acceptance. Not in the sense that “it’s okay my husband died” rather, “my husband died, but I’m going to be okay.” In this stage, your emotions may begin to stabilize.

People can experience these aspects of grief at different times. What is crucial is understanding your emotions and letting them out without hiding anything.

Dr. Ntete has said people struggling to cope with the suicide yet they have not yet reached acceptance should seek professional help.

“When you have been struggling for a long time, usually after six months, it is considered as pathology. You need professional help,” he said.

In this case, doctors listen to you and provide necessary assistance as much as they can.

You can read more about the stages of grief in a book titled ‘Death and dying’ by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross a swiss-american psychiatrist. She talks about the five stages of grief and how you should understand them to better understand yourself and your emotions.

{{Remember your loved one’s life was about more than suicide}}

Your memories should not be tainted by suicide. It is a common perception that we often consider suicide as a horrific act in our society but you should remember the person as they were not the painful act committed.

Hold on to the memories, whatever you have of them left, texts, gifts, pictures and videos among others and go through them every once in a while with gratitude.

{{Take care of yourself }}

Losing someone can seriously affect your mental health. It is in your best interest to take care of yourself mentally and physically.

{{Look forward }}

With time, there comes acceptance. You let go of the grief or whatever resentment there is, stop wondering why and understand it is time to move on.

Moving on is not forgetting about the person, moving on is accepting reality and allowing yourself to be free from the pain and horrible memories.

When a person faces such a situation and they cannot properly move on because of the trauma, it is a probability that they may also commit suicide.

Dr. Ntete has revealed that it is possible for a grieving person to commit suicide because of depression if he/she receives no special attention.

He stressed that it is important to stay close to those people to help them overcome sorrow.

A person facing such problems can seek professional help and allow those around you to help. If you are struggling with mental health, bear in mind that there are always people willing to help out. The Rwandan suicide hotline is 8015.

Scientists at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia tested venom from more than 300 honeybees and bumblebees against two types of aggressive, hard to treat breast cancer: triple negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) enriched.

They found that a compound in the venom called melittin could destroy breast cancer cells within an hour, without causing harm to other cells. They also found that when used in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs, the melittin helped formed pores in the cancer cell membrane which could potentially allow therapies to better penetrate the cells.

While the tests for this study were only done in a lab setting, the researchers believe the compound can be synthetically reproduced as a treatment for breast cancer.

Dr. Marilena Tauro, a breast cancer researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center, says while the discovery is impressive, more research would need to be done before it could become a viable therapy. “The good news is this study has shown that melittin can disrupt signaling pathways in breast cancer cells that are responsible for growth and spread of the disease,” she said. “However, there have been many studies where compounds have proved successful at killing cancer cells in the lab or animal models, but it has taken many years for those discoveries make it to patients, if at all.”

Tauro added that approximately half of all current drugs are derived from natural products, which demonstrates the potential of using bee venom for drug discovery.

“Nature is a great supplier of active elements and chemical synthesis has made it possible to provide many drugs of natural origin in the dosage required for therapeutic use, despite the often very limited supply from their original sources,” she said.

When the first Covid-19 vaccines landed in the Rwandan capital Kigali on March 3rd, the country was ready.

Within an hour, the vaccines reached the health ministry’s central warehouse, where vehicles from the country’s 47 district hospitals were waiting with fridges on board. In a deployment that had already been tested and tweaked, the trucks fanned out across Rwanda’s green hills and valleys, and army helicopters lifted off to deliver the vaccines to the most remote pockets.

“It was all about preparation. Our experience of preparing for outbreaks of contagious diseases in the past has helped us develop detailed crisis plans, which we were able to put into effect as soon as Covid-19 was identified,” says Dr Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda’s Minister of Health.

“Planning the logistical elements of our vaccine rollout, similarly, was set in motion shortly after a state of emergency was declared.”

On a continent where fewer than 5 per cent of people are fully vaccinated, Rwanda’s vaccine rollout stands out as a success, not just in Africa but by any global comparison. In a Covid Performance Index compiled by the Lowy Institute, Rwanda ranked 7th in the world.

It’s not a competition, Dr Ngamije insists. “We are all part of the same fight to defeat this pandemic, and given the interconnectedness of our continent, we are not safe until everyone in Africa is safe.”

Nevertheless, Rwanda’s experience could provide lessons for other African nations, both in their response to Covid-19 and to future pandemics.

“One of the important things is that our vaccine programme was not born in the time of Covid. From the central planning, the warehousing, logistics and transport to the communities – the whole supply chain – the foundations were already there,” says Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Center, which coordinates the rollout.

“We just had to strengthen them because not only were Covid vaccines coming in big numbers, we also had other vaccination programmes for children that were continuing,” he explains.

As well as preparing regular refrigerators used for other vaccines, Rwanda also purchased ultra-low temperature freezers able to store the Pfizer vaccine at -70 degrees Celsius, becoming the first African country to use Pfizer’s doses that require ultra-cold storage.

Without the resources to front up funds to make large pre-orders, many African countries had to stand by last year as the world’s richest countries reserved doses to vaccinate their populations against Covid-19 several times over.

Rwanda, like most African nations, has received supplies from the vaccine-sharing facility COVAX. But when those supplies dried up in April – as vaccines were diverted to combat India’s massive infection wave – Rwanda cut deals directly with manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZenca to secure 4 million doses, says Health Minister Dr Ngamije.

Once on the tarmac, the shots reached people’s arms within hours. After the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, the administration of President Paul Kagame prides itself on efficiency and technological expertise.

“We have a saying here that we don’t store vaccines in fridges or warehouses, we store vaccines in people’s arms,” says Dr Nsanzimana.

Known as The Land of a Thousand Hills for its lush, mountainous terrain, Rwanda deployed “helicopters from day one and we had purchased vehicles for each of the district hospitals, so they could transport vaccines overland to the health centres,” he says.

First in line were the elderly and most vulnerable, followed by jabs for those most exposed to infection – key workers, moto-taxi drivers and hospitality staff. Next came a mass campaign across the capital city.

“Kigali has been the most significant hub for transmission,” says Dr Ngamije. “By vaccinating over 90 per cent of adults in the city, we can reduce transmissions and protect the entire nation.”

On a continent where misinformation and hesitancy around the Covid-19 vaccine is rife, again Rwanda has trodden its own path.

Building on trust built over years of routine vaccinations for children, Rwanda mobilised everyone from heads of households and village elders to district and provincial leaders to disseminate accurate information on the Covid jab, says Dr Ndoungou Salla Ba, the World Health Organisation’s Representative in Rwanda.

Radio and TV channels hosted interviews and answered questions about the vaccine in local languages and daily updates are posted on social media.

“Our top leaders, the president himself, religious leaders, teachers, scientists and celebrities have also come forward to take the vaccine in public,” says Dr Nsanzimana of the RBC. “So in Rwanda we have not had the issue of vaccine hesitancy. Actually, it’s more about the pressure on us to bring in more vaccines.”

Rwanda’s target now is to vaccinate at least a third of its population by the end of the year, rising to 60 per cent next year. And it is laying the foundations for a longer term solution by positioning itself as Africa’s vaccine manufacturing centre.

“We hope that before long, and with support from the international community, we can become a hub for the home-grown vaccines that Africa needs in order to be self-sufficient in the fight against future pandemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases,” says Dr Ngamije.

The country is in talks to establish the first mRNA vaccine plant in Africa, with Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa on the shortlist for U.S. drugmaker Moderna’s planned factory.

“When the Rwandan government commits, it makes it happen,” concludes WHO’s Dr Salla. And the government is really committed to ending this pandemic.”

Obesity is normally attributed to excessive consumption of fats even though it might be inherited.

Dr. Ahmed Bendari Farag, a general surgeon and specialist in body contouring at Baho International Hospital has said that people often consume excessive diet because of distended stomach.

He explained that some of solutions include physical exercises, reduced food quantities or consult medical doctors to place an intragastric balloon into the stomach or reduce it by gastric bypass.

“When someone seeking our advice is overweight or obese, we advise him or her to opt for gastric ballon to help them limit the quantity of dietary intake,” he said.

“This simple process can be done in ten minutes and recommend dietary intake. If our tips are respected, it positively impacts patients of whom 80 % using the technique lose weight in four or five months,” added Dr. Farag.

He explained that the technique doesn’t have side effects expect vomiting or feeling unwell in the first three days. During this time, the patient is recommended to drink enough water or reduce sugar intake.

“If the patient failed to comply with these guidelines, we use the second technique by conducting Laparoscopic surgery to reduce the stomach,” revealed Dr. Farag.

“A patient undergoing such surgery can return home the same day or resume work in the next two days. It doesn’t take long,” he said.

Dr. Farag underscored that such technique is also useful for patient suffering from Diabetes.

Anyone feeling obese is advised to seek doctor’s advice or contact 0788949046 for assistance.

“Rwanda Biomedical Center informs the public that effective 9th August 2021, the price of a rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19 in private clinics shall not exceed Rwf5, 000. The list of accredited private clinics that can conduct COVID-19 tests will be communicated soon,” reads the statement released by RBC.

Many people have been opting for ‘Antigen Covid-19 rapid test’ but there were concerns that the cost is relatively high.

The reduction of COVID-19 rapid test is meant to increase the number of people going for medical check-ups.

Speaking to the media recently, Dr. Nsanzimana explained that Covid-19 test is likely to be integrated among packages of health services covered by Mutuelle de Santé but it has not yet been confirmed.

There are currently two primary types of COVID-19 tests. The first is the “Antigen Covid-19 rapid test” of which results are released between 15 and 30 minutes at a cost of Rwf10,000 while the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test which provides results after 24 hours costs Rwf 47, 200.