Category: Health

{THE world is on course to end deaths from malaria as recent stunning global progress against the disease can attest. This is the view of Mr Martin Edlund, who is the founding member and Chief Executive Officer of Malaria No More, an organization committed to ending deaths from malaria by engaging leaders, rallying the public and delivering lifesaving tools and health education to families across Tanzania and other parts of Africa.
}

“This was the year we recorded stunning global progress against malaria–an unprecedented 60 percent decline in the rate of deaths and 6.2 million lives saved between 2000 and 2015.

This was the year, as the Millennium Development Goals came to an end, that malaria stood out as key success story, helping to make powerful case that global goal-setting can be an effective way to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems, said Mr Edlund in an article published on CNN and other health journals this week.

“Until recently, if you asked for the most significant moment in the age-old fight against malaria, the answer would probably be 1897.

That’s when Dr. Ronald Ross (soon thereafter decorated with a Nobel Prize and knighthood) discovered that mosquitoes transmit malaria.

“But many decades from now, when the word ‘malaria’ evokes blank look or distant memory of killer that preyed on the poor and the young, historians will point to 2015,” he said, adding that this was the year, they will say, when the generation that would end the deadliest disease the world has ever known, realized the impossible could be accomplished.

He added that this same year, African leaders adopted a malaria elimination agenda for the continent. That success was followed by another historic action thousands of miles away: 18 heads of state in Asia-Pacific endorsed roadmap to eliminate malaria in their region by 2030.

This was also the year that Bill Gates and Ray Chambers, the United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria, released vision for eradication within generation.

Their report, called “Aspiration to Action: What Will it Take to End Malaria?” was the first ever “business plan” to spell out the tools, strategies and financing needed to end the disease for good.

Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, US President, Barack Obama called it a moral outrage that “many children are just one mosquito bite away from death,” and urged the world to act.

Reinvigorating the UK’s commitment to the malaria fight, Chancellor, George Osborne announced a 1 billion-pound fund aimed at eradicating malaria and other infectious diseases and declared the “ambition to see the end of this global disease in our lifetimes.”

Source:Daily News:[Notable global progress made against malaria->http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/45646-notable-global-progress-made-against-malaria]

{Working during pregnancy can have its challenges but knowing how to prep is key. Your body will be going through so many changes so being prepared will help you stay healthy and will allow you to still be productive at work. Here are some working while pregnant do’s and don’ts to think about.}

DO have a conversation with your boss and possibly your team if you manage one. You need to let them know that you will do your best at work but there may be times when you need to stop and to get a drink of water if you feel like you are running around too much. This may not apply to earlier months but at least it will prepare them for your second or third trimester when these little mini breaks might come in handy.

DON’T walk into nausea triggers. Obviously your hormones are raging and things that never bothered you before now do. So stay far away from the smells or things at work that bother you. Does the aroma from your co-workers daily meatloaf make you cringe? Or what about the spray mist that is on a timer in the women’s bathroom? The key is to not sit near that co-worker at lunch and if possible use another bathroom. Also, keep crackers on you at all times because they can help if you start to feel nausea.

DO eat the right foods. When you are pregnant your body is working hard to care for you and your baby or babies (twins) but napping for two hours at work isn’t feasible so you will need as much energy as possibly from your diet. You can still have your occasional guilty pleasure but make sure your daily diet is filled with fruits, green leafy veggies, protein and healthy snacks. Also drink tons of water because the last thing you want is to get dehydrated and pass out. Keep bottled water at your desk at work and in the car for the ride home.

DON’T over exert yourself at work or at home. If you can’t reach something high up or if something even looks like it’s too heavy then let a co-worker get it down for you. If your job requires you to sit at a desk all day make sure you get up a few times a day and walk around. If your job requires you to stand a lot, take sitting breaks or rest one foot on a foot rest and then rotate and do the other foot back and forth a few times. You do not want to strain while pregnant. You can still exercise but start with walking or light jogging a few times a week if your doctor says its ok. Getting plenty of sleep a night will help you perform better at work. The best way to rest is on your left side because it can maximize blood flow to your baby and ease swelling.

DO keep calm at work. High stress levels aren’t good for you or the baby. And it can also be very draining too. Doing things like making to do lists can help keep things organized. If you find yourself getting worked up just stop and go outside for a few minutes and take a few deep breaths and remember there is no person or situation worth jeopardizing your baby’s health.

{Pathologists Lancet Group, the largest private medical laboratory service provider in East Africa, has commenced its services in Rwanda following licensing that was granted in December, 2015 by the Ministry of Health.}

Lancet has set up an ultra modern international facility in the capital Kigali, located at Remera- Kisimenti suburb in the new building Umuyenzi Plaza. The new laboratory is now up and running, further extending Lancet’s footprint in East Africa. Lancet already has over 40 branches in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

According to Group CEO of Pathologists Lancet East Africa Dr Ahmed Kalebi, the new facility will save residents of Rwanda the need to travel abroad for quality routine, specialized and esoteric medical laboratory tests.

“The new facility avails specialized laboratory tests that were unavailable in Rwanda before. Therefore enhance accessibility and affordability for better healthcare in the country,” said Dr Kalebi.
“Our aim is to enhance access to quality medical laboratory services which is at the heart of quality healthcare. The facility will conduct many of the specialized tests on site while rare specialized tests and esoteric tests will be seamlessly referred to the Group’s reference laboratory in Nairobi and Johannesburg at no extra cost to the clients in Rwanda thus saving them costs, time and ensuring quality and quick turn-around time”, he added

The new facility in Rwanda is linked through Information technology with Lancet’s main branches in Nairobi and South Africa for technical and specialized support.

{{Services provided }}

Services available in the new facility include; Hematology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Serology, Histopathology/Cytopathology, Immunohistochemistry, Virology, and Cytogenetics among others.

Pathologists Lancet serves as a referral facility for major public and private hospitals and health facilities where they conduct specialized tests including specialized chemistry tests, cancer diagnostics and referral pathology consultation.

According to the World Health Organization, medical laboratory services are crucial to healthcare provision since they enable doctors to diagnose diseases correctly and deliver the right treatments.

Pathologists Lancet Kenya is the regional holding company being part of the Lancet Laboratories Group originally from South Africa, and in turn, it has its own regional subsidiaries in Uganda, Tanzania and now Rwanda. It is slated that more facilities will open in the region, namely South Sudan in 2016.

Lancet offers more than 4000 routine and specialized medical laboratory tests, many of which were previously unavailable in the region before, including sophisticated molecular tests, paternity tests, and allergy tests, tissue typing and even veterinary tests for animals in partnership with IDEXX Laboratories.

The Rwanda operations is spearheaded by a team of young Rwandese professionals including senior technical officers and contracted pathologists working closely with their counterparts in Kenya and the rest of the Lancet Group.

Lancet laboratories Rwanda will officially launch its services in February 2016.

{Imagine waking up in the morning, healthy with no symptoms and being on the verge on dying before the day runs out? This sounds scary, right?}

In no particular order, below are 10 deadliest diseases in the world that could get you killed in 24 hours:

{{1. DENGUE FEVER}}

Dengue fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person. The more severe form of dengue is dengue haemorrhagic fever.

{{2. NECROTIZING FASCIITIS}}

It is a very serious bacterial skin infection that can kill sufferers within a short period of time. Necrotizing fasciitis is most commonly caused by an infection with group A Streptococcus, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” You can contract this infection from even a tiny cut. You can get necrotizing fasciitis when bacteria enter a wound, such as from an insect bite, a burn, or a cut. The bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis can be passed from person to person through close contact, such as touching the wound of the infected person.
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3. EBOLA}}

Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. It is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

{{4. MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE}}

Meningococcal disease, also referred to as cerebrospinal meningitis is a contagious bacterial disease caused by the meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis). Meningococcal disease spreads by person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets of infected people. Meningococcal disease is more common among infants, adolescents and young adults. The most common infection is meningitis, which is an inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Meningococci can also cause other problems, including a serious bloodstream infection called sepsis.
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5. BUBONIC PLAGUE }}

Bubonic Plague is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is transmitted to humans from infected rats by the oriental rat flea. Symptoms include fever, headache, Muscle pain, seizures and Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo that is commonly found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the infection (bite or scratch); pain may start before the swelling appears.

{{6. ENTEROVIRUS D68}}

Enterovirus D68 was first discovered in 1962 in California. Infants, children and teenagers are at greater risk of enterovirsuses because their immune systems are less likely to have been exposed to the infections. Enterovirus D68 is spread via sufferers’ saliva, and other respiratory secretions, when a person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms of Enterovirus D68 can vary, from the mild, including a fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and muscle aches to the more severe.
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7. CHOLERA}}

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera that can kill within hours if left untreated. Cholera is caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Cholera is an extremely virulent disease. It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours. Living in or traveling to areas where there is cholera raises the risk of getting it. Around 80 per cent of cases can be treated successfully with oral rehydration salts.
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8. MRSA}}

MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium that is resistant to many antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a type of staph bacteria that’s become resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections. Anyone can catch MRSA through direct contact with an infected wound. Studies reveal about one in three people carry staph in their nose, usually without any symptoms or illness. Symptoms of MRSA infections include a bump that appears on the skin, which is red, swollen, painful, warm to touch, full of pus and often accompanied by a fever.

{{9. CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE}}

Cerebrovascular disease refers to a group of conditions that affect the circulation of blood to the brain, causing limited or no blood flow to affected areas of the brain. A cerebrovascular accident is also known, more widely as a stroke. The most common symptom of a stroke is a sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, most often affecting one side of the body. The effects of a stroke depend on which part of the brain is injured and how severely it’s affected. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not using tobacco products are the keys to prevention.
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10. CHAGAS DISEASE}}

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Chagas disease can infect anyone, but is diagnosed most often in children. Left untreated, Chagas disease later can cause serious heart and digestive problems. Chagas disease is curable if treatment is initiated soon after infection. Chagas disease is named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, a Brazilian doctor who discovered the disease in 1909. The parasite is typically found in Latin America, where it is transmitted to humans via the faeces of triatomine bugs, known as ‘kissing bugs’.

Source:Elcrema:[10 DEADLIEST DISEASES IN THE WORLD…THESE DISEASES CAN GET YOU KILLED IN 24 HOURS->http://www.elcrema.com/2015/12/27/10-deadliest-diseases-in-the-world-these-diseases-can-get-you-killed-in-24-hours/3/]

{With the average age of first-time mothers on the rise (it has increased from 24.5 to 28.1 since 1980 in the UK), researchers have made a shocking discovery about women waiting till their 40s to start a family.}

A London School of Economics research found women who wait till their 40s to have a baby are more likely to give birth to overweight and less intelligent babies.

According to the study published in the journal Biodemography and Social Biology, children born to mothers in their 30s are more likely to be the smartest in their class.

The researchers also found children born to women aged 23-29 are less likely to be as clever as children born to women aged 30-39.

The researchers analysed 18,000 births in the UK.

The study author, Alice Goisis, in a report by The Times said that first-time mothers in their 30s are, for example, likely to be more educated, have higher income, more likely to be in stable relationships, have healthier lifestyles, seek prenatal care earlier and have planned pregnancies.

Source:Elcrema:[CHILDREN BORN TO WOMEN IN THEIR 40s RISK BEING LESS INTELLIGENT->http://www.elcrema.com/2015/12/19/children-born-to-women-in-their-40s-risk-being-less-intelligent/]

{{1. Almonds}}

Almonds are rich in alpha-tocopherol vitamin E which helps prevent free-radical damage after heavy workout. Reducing the damage caused by the free radicals will ensure your muscles recover from a workout and grow fast.

{{2. Eggs}}

Protein helps you build muscles and the proteins in egg do this even faster. Ensure you consume the yolk in eggs because it doesn’t just contain the protein you need but it also contains vitamin B12 which is necessary for fat breakdown.
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3. Olive oil}}

Olive oil is also needed for muscle building because it prevents muscle breakdown by lowering levels of a sinister cellular protein called tumor necrosis factor-a which is linked with muscle wasting and weakness.

{{4. Beef}}

Beef is another food that should be added to your diet. Beef is rich in zinc and iron which are crucial muscle-building nutrients.
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5. Salmon}}

Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acid which helps your muscles to recover after workout. Salmon is also rich in protein which is also needed for muscle building.

{{6. Yoghurt}}

Yoghurt is rich in protein and carbohydrates which is needed for exercise recovery and muscle growth.

{{7. Water}}

Water is also needed for muscle building because muscle is approximately 80% water. Not being properly hydrated can impair your exercise performance.

Source:Elcrema:[7 FOODS THAT WOULD HELP YOU BUILD MUSCLES->http://www.elcrema.com/2015/12/17/7-foods-that-would-help-you-build-muscles/2/]

{Most of us tend to prefer drinking cold water to warm water. Drinking warm water has lots of benefits and physicians recommend you drink warm water in the morning.}

Below are 5 reasons why drinking warm water is good for you
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1. DRINKING WARM WATER IMPROVES BOWEL MOVEMENT}}

Drinking warm water in the morning on an empty stomach is good for you as it helps improve bowel movements as well as aid constipation.

{{2. DRINKING WARM WATER IMPROVES BLOOD CIRCULATION}}

Drinking warm water flushes out toxins circulating throughout the body and also improves blood circulation. Drinking warm water ensures your muscles are relaxed.

{{3. DRINKING WARM WATER HELPS DIGESTION}}

Drinking warm water helps break down food faster which makes it easier for the food to be digested. During or after a meal, drinking warm water is preferable to drinking cold water because cold water during or after meals can actually harden the oil in the food you consumed. Hardening the oil in the food you consumed can create a fat deposit in the intestine.

{{4. DRINKING WARM WATER ALLEVIATES PAIN}}

You should drink warm water because drinking warm water can help alleviate pain from headache to menstruation. Drinking warm water during your menses is recommended as it has a calming effect on your abdominal muscles.

{{5. DRINKING WARM WATER HELPS WITH WEIGHT LOSS}}

Drinking warm water first thing in the morning helps with weight loss by increasing body temperature which also increases your metabolic rate. So drink warm water in the morning to burn even more calories.

SOURCE:ELCREMA:[5 REASONS WHY DRINKING WARM WATER IS GOOD FOR YOU->http://www.elcrema.com/2015/12/16/5-reasons-why-drinking-warm-water-is-good-for-you/2/]

{Canadian scientists have found that breastfeeding cuts a woman’s risk of getting diabetes by a quarter.
}

The researchers also found that breastfeeding also reduces a baby’s chance of developing diabetes in adulthood by almost a fifth.

The researchers believe breastfeeding helps protect a woman from diabetes by using up excess fats and sugar in a mother’s body.

Professor Gary Shen of the University of Manitoba analysed the records of 334,553 babies born over a 24-year period in that region, Daily Mail reports.

Women who breastfed their babies are 23 per cent less likely to develop diabetes while babies who were breastfed are 18 per cent less likely to develop diabetes when compared to children who have been given formula milk.

Babies who are given breast milk are far less likely to become obese.

Diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or does not properly react to it.

The study was presented at the World Diabetes Congress in Vancouver.
SOURCE:ELCREMA:[BREASTFEEDING REDUCES A WOMAN’S RISK OF DIABETES->http://www.elcrema.com/2015/12/04/breastfeeding-reduces-a-womans-risk-of-diabetes/]

{How much do you think you know about fertility? Every knowledge about fertility is really important and useful if you desire to have kids.}

Below are 6 facts about fertility you may not know

1. WOMEN ARE BORN WITH ALL THE EGGS THEY NEED IN THEIR LIFETIME

Many probably don’t know this. Women are born with all the eggs they need in their lifetime and at birth women have about two million eggs in their ovaries. Doctors believe that the number of eggs you have at birth determine the length of time you will remain fertile. Smoking cigarettes can accelerate egg cell death.

2. MOST WOMEN WOULD BE INFERTILE BY AGE 44

Most women would be infertile by age 44 even if they are still ovulating regularly. The chances of a woman conceiving after age 43 are very low.

3. BEING OVERWEIGHT OR UNDERWEIGHT LOWERS FERTILITY

Studies have found that being overweight or underweight reduces a woman’s chances of conceiving. Being overweight or underweight has been clearly linked with a longer time to conception as well as problems during pregnancy.

4. HAVING FATHERED A PREGNANCY IN THE PAST DOESN’T GUARANTEE YOU HAVE A FERTILE SPERM

Many men would believe they are fertile just because they have gotten a girl pregnant in the past. It’s important you obtain a semen analysis to be certain your sperm is healthy because sperm count can change quite a bit with time.

5. ADEQUATE VITAMIN MAY IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF CONCEPTION

According to a study from the University of South California, women who are undergoing fertility treatment but had low vitamin D levels might have lower rates of conception.

6. MEDITERRANEAN DIET MAY HELP PROMOTE FERTILITY

Even though scientists are not convinced a particular diet or food helps promote fertility, a study has found that a Mediterranean diet with olive oil, fish and legumes may help promote fertility.

SOURCE:ELCREMA:[6 FACTS ABOUT FERTILITY YOU MAY NOT KNOW->http://www.elcrema.com/2015/12/02/6-facts-about-fertility-you-may-not-know/2/]