IGIHE

Category: Health

  • High family planning costs keeping women away

    {Mothers in Gicumbi district say they are getting frustrated over huge cash demands made by nurses to enable them access family planning services, forcing some to abandon the practice altogether. }

    Intensive family planning campaigns that started 1st August, 2015 across the country are meant to be offered at Rwf 300 for the mituelle de santé subscribers while those that are who are not insured are required to pay Rwf 1000.

    Some women seeking health care at Byumba health center in Gicumbi district who requested anonymity narrated to IGIHE how family planning payments affected citizens.

    “I have been practicing family planning for long. But some women abandoned the program immediately payments were introduced. I know cases of women who got pregnant over lacking financial means to pay for the service of family planning. Other people don’t understand the practice. It would be better if the government talked to them early about the need to pay for family planning,” said one resident.

    Another user of family planning services says; “In the past when we came to immunize our kids, we would also request nurses to give us family planning services to avoid pregnancies while our children are still young. However, the situation has changed. All women leave immediately after getting their kids immunized over requesting them to pay for family planning service. For instance I know some women in my locality that got pregnant while they had little kids. I was also uncomfortable with such payments required for family planning,” said another woman.

    Angelique Mukarukwaya, a nurse working at Byumba health center in charge of family planning services, said that people who didn’t understand why they have to pay for family planning services will get used with the situation over time.

    She stressed the need to conduct more awareness campaigns about the relevance of paying for the service.

    The ministry of health says payment for family planning services was launched to support some health centers which did not have adequate materials required for the same.

    “The amount of money they pay is not much. We need to undertake more mobilizations so that women can understand the reason why the payments are required,” said Nathan Mugume the Communications Director, ministry of health.

    Some women seeking health care at Byumba health center in Gicumbi district say that family planning payments affected citizens.

  • Find the food you should eat if you want to live longer

    {We all want to live longer and look younger. A major research from Harvard University have found the food you should eat regularly to live longer.}

    According to the researchers, people who eat nuts tend to live longer and suffer fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease.

    Harvard University researchers found that women at high risk of heart disease who had a tablespoon of peanut butter five or more days a week appeared to nearly halve their risk of suffering a heart attack compared with women who ate one serving or less per week, reports Daily Mail.

    The study also showed that adolescent girls who consumed just only or more servings of peanuts a week appeared to have significantly lower risk of developing lumpy breasts, which can be a marker for increased breast cancer risk.

    If you are worried eating nuts would make you fat, you really don’t need to worry about that because about 20 clinical trials have failed to prove nuts caused weight gain. This is because nuts boost metabolism helping you burn more of your own fat.

    So don’t forget to eat some nuts today.

  • A doctor just revealed the best time of the day to poo

    {When do you think is the best time of the day to poo? I bet many will come up with different answers to this question but a doctor has just revealed the best time of the day to poo.}

    According to Dr Kenneth Koch in a report by Women’s Health, the best time of the day to poo is in the morning and right after you wake up to be precise.

    So why do you have to poo right after you wake up? According to the doctor, it has to do with your small intestine and colon working overtime while you sleep so that it’s ready to send out all the unwanted stuff from your body.

    So to keep your insides happy and healthy, make sure you poo right after you wake up and do this every day too because according to Dr Koch, a morning poo is really only beneficial when you make it an everyday thing.

  • Huye Mituelle de Santé subscribers lament lack of drugs in hospitals

    {Subscribers to the Mituelle de Santé in Huye district say they do clamour for changes in the way the medical insurance scheme is being administered despite its being in the hands of Rwanda Social Security Board RSSB) which took over its management last year in July 2015. They say they still face similar challenges as they used to before. }

    Subscribers say they are still referred to buy prescribed drugs from pharmacies that are not operating under the scheme, straining their pockets in the process.

    Talking to IGIHE, some of the patients, subscribing for Mituelle de Santé found at University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) expressed their frustrations since they are required to buy much of the drugs in private pharmacies where they pay 100%.

    “When we get to the hospital, all else from diagnosis are carried out under the insurance arrangement; but then, drugs that are more expensive than other medical services are not catered for. It is very expensive,” said Christophe Nsengimana.

    “I am taking care of my sick child in this hospital. The prescribed drugs can only be found in private pharmacies. I have no cash and worried the situation will be. The hospital is complicating our lives,” said Laurence Nyandwi, another victim.

    Reverien Habitegeko, the head of Mituelle de Santé department at RSSB Huye district branch said that they are aware of the situation adding their responsibility is to pay hospitals and health centers so they can avail all services to the subscribers.

    The director of CHUB, Dr. Augustin Sendegeya said that they are aware of the case but urged hospitals to stock their pharmacies.

    CHUB patients during the celebration of International Day of Patients

  • Study shows Zika might cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome

    {Researchers say evidence links Zika virus to spike in cases of severe neurological disorder characterised by paralysis.}

    A new study has given first evidence that the Zika virus may be the cause for a spike in cases of a severe neurological disorder called the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

    The study , published by the medical journal Lancet, showed 42 patients developed symptoms of GBS, which causes the immune system to attack parts of the nervous system.

    The neurological symptoms include acute motor axonal neuropathy, which is characterised by severe paralysis. It also caused respiratory problems in about one-third of the patients who needed medical assistance to breathe properly, the report said.

    However, none of the patient-subjects died.

    “This is the first study providing evidence for Zika virus infection causing Guillain-Barré syndrome. Because Zika virus is spreading rapidly across the Americas, at risk countries need to prepare for adequate intensive care beds capacity to manage patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome,” the study said.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) described Zika, which is spread by mosquitoes, as a public health emergency of global concern in February.

    READ MORE: Zika virus facts you need to know

    There are also suspicions that the virus could be linked to Brazil’s rise in cases of microcephaly – a condition of underdeveloped brains in newborns.

    However, the Colombian government has questioned the link, saying it has not seen any evidence for it after more than 3,000 pregnant women in the country contracted Zika.

    But Colombia’s health officials have said that at least three people of who died from Zika had symptoms of GBS.

    GBS is lethal in about five percent of cases, and another five percent suffer lasting disabilities. More than a quarter of patients require intensive care.

    With 1.5 million cases of Zika infection already recorded in Brazil, and tens of thousands in neighbouring countries, researchers warn that an outbreak of Guillain-Barré could strain healthcare facilities, especially outside of big cities.

    “In areas that will be hit by the Zika epidemic, we need to think about reinforcing intensive care capacity,” said Arnaud Fontanet, a co-author of the study and a professor at the Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit of the Institut Pasteur in Paris.

  • Indians living in Rwanda donate blood

    {Indians living in Rwanda yesterday donated blood to patients in critical conditions to contribute to their recovery.}

    The act of donating blood was organized by Rwanda Malayalee, an association of Indians living in Rwanda supporting the wellbeing of humanity in various forms.

    Talking to IGIHE, Anil Raj, the president of Rwanda Malayalee said that they have mobilized and organized for blood donation to make a contribution to the health sector in Rwanda for they consider Rwanda as their second home.

    “Rwanda is for us the second home. When someone welcomes you warmly, why can’t you involve in acts helpful to the community you live in?” he quipped.

    An official from Rwanda Biomedical Center, Clarisse Utamuliza, said that Indians act of donating blood demonstrates how they are fond of the nation adding that it should be an exemplar for other foreigners living in Rwanda.

    RBC says that 65,825 individuals donated blood in 2015 even though the number of patients in need of blood donations was higher. Operated patient of cancer and mothers giving birth take the highest percentage of donated blood units.

    One of Indians donating blood

  • African Countries urged to increase domestic financing towards immunisation

    {The World Health Organistion has urged African Countries to increase domestic financing if they are to achieve universal immunisation coverage.}

    The call was made by the WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti while officiating the opening ceremony of the 2-day Ministerial Conference on immunisation in Africa at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    “We need African governments to renew their commitment and reaffirm that universal immunisation coverage is a cornerstone of health and development,” Dr Moeti said.

    She said that leaders at all levels should address persistent barriers to vaccine delivery and health systems most especially in marginalised populations.

    “Most national budgets remain inadequate and countries can put immunisation on a long term sustainability by increasing domestic investment in health and immunisation,” she added.
    The just released immunisation report indicates that only 15 countries in Africa fund more than 50 per cent of their national Immunisation expenditure

    While delivering the keynote address, former Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete, citing a new report on imminadition said that one in five children in Africa do not receive basic lifesaving vaccines.

    “In other words, when children don’t get their immunistion, they are less likely to celebrate their fifth birthday and if they survive thay are less likely to grow into optimal productivity for a brighter future,” said Mr Kikwete who is currently a GAVI ambassador on immunisation.

    The host, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said that the conference should empower governments to demonstrate commitments to expanding access of vaccines across Africa.
    “Africa is celebrating 18 months without reporting a case of polio and we are looking towards its elimination in 2018,” Mr Desalegn said in his address to the delegates.

    The Uganda delegation at the Conference is led by the State Minister for Primary Health Care Sarah Opendi. Also in attendance is State Minister for planning David Bahati, State Minister for Education Chrysostom Miyingo, Director General Health Services Dr Jane Aceng, UNEPI Manager Dr Henry Luzze and Mufti Ramadan Mubaje.

  • Zika ‘may have been sexually-transmitted’ in 14 cases

    {Health officials investigating possible sexual transmission of 14 new cases of disease usually spread by mosquitoes.}

    US health officials are investigating whether 14 new Zika virus infections may been transmitted through sex, raising questions about the role of sex in spreading a disease that has been linked to birth defects in Brazil.

    Several of the cases involved pregnant women, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Tuesday.

    In two of the suspected cases, the infection has been confirmed in women whose only known risk factor was sexual contact with an ill male partner who had recently traveled to an area where the virus was present, the CDC said.

    Most experts had believed that sexual transmission of the illness was rare, but the new alert suggests sexual transmission of Zika may be more of a factor than previously thought.

    Dr. Peter Hotez, endowed chairman of Tropical Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital, told Al Jazeera that it was a significant development for a virus mostly transmitted by mosquitos.

    “These are all men in the early stages of infection, meaning that they have the ability to transmit the virus in the first two weeks of it to their wives or partners,” Hotez said.

    “This is a rare event, but transmission through sex is possible in certain circumstances … However, we should still focus on Zika spreading through mosquitos.”

    {{No spread through women}}

    All of the newly-reported cases of sexual transmission have been in the US. There have been no reports of women transmitting Zika to male sex partners.

    In a recent study, British researchers reported evidence of Zika in the semen of a 68-year-old as long as 62 days after he was infected.

    Zika infection generally causes mild symptoms, but it may be linked to thousands of cases of birth defects in Brazil known as microcephaly, which is marked by undersized heads and underdeveloped brains.

    There is no cure or treatment for Zika infection.

    For pregnant women, the CDC recommended that if a male partner has traveled to an area of active Zika transmission that couples use a condom correctly and consistently for the duration of the pregnancy, or that they abstain from sex entirely.

    Source: Al Jazeera:[Zika ‘may have been sexually-transmitted’ in 14 cases->http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/zika-sexually-transmitted-14-cases-160224041845550.html]

  • South Africa Confirms First Zika Virus Case

    South Africa Confirms First Zika Virus Case

    {Around 1.5 million people in Brazil have been infected in eight months and countries in South and Central America have seen cases.}

    A Colombian man has become South Africa’s first recorded case of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

    The businessman was found to have the disease during a visit to Johannesburg, according to South Africa’s health minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

    He said the man “presented with fever and a rash approximately four days after arrival in South Africa but is now fully recovered”.

    Zika has caused international alarm, with the World Health Organisation declaring it a global public health emergency earlier this month.

    The virus originated in Africa but until 2007 there had been only 20 or so known human cases.

    In May 2015, a case was diagnosed in Brazil and, since then, it has spread rapidly.

    It is associated with neurological disorders microcephaly in babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis.

    :: Zika Virus – The Cause Of The Outbreak

    Around 1.5 million people in Brazil have been infected in just eight months and 14 countries across South and Central America, including Barbados and Mexico, have reported locally-acquired cases.

    A woman who returned to Texas from El Salvador recently gave birth to a baby affected by the virus and there is concern that native mosquitos across the southern United States could spread the virus.

    For most people the virus poses little long-term risk.

    But because there is no treatment or vaccine – and the consequences for unborn babies so great – health authorities in Colombia and El Salvador have advised women not to become pregnant.

    Scientists are not sure why the virus is spreading so rapidly, but climate change has been suggested.

    Source:Sky News:[South Africa Confirms First Zika Virus Case->http://news.sky.com/story/1645381/south-africa-confirms-first-zika-virus-case]

  • This food you consume daily damages your brain

    This food you consume daily damages your brain

    {This food you consume daily has been found to trigger changes to the hippocampus which is the area of the brain important for memory.}

    I know you must be wondering the food I am talking about.

    A team of researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia found sugar is as damaging to the brain as extreme stress or abuse.

    Research associate, Jayanthi Maniam and professor of pharmacology, Margaret Morris observed that the changes caused by sugar found in region of the brain that controls emotional behaviour and cognitive function were more extensive than those caused by extreme early life stress.

    It’s important to note that taking sugar or exposure to early life stress reduced the expression of genes critical for brain development and growth.

    The researchers pointed out that changes noted in the brain are of great concern given the high consumption of sugary drinks, particularly among young people.