Blog 2--International Health: Sudan Tells Red Cross to Halt Work

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Summary: Two days ago the Sudan Government felt that the Red Cross is not doing humanitarian work to the government’s level of efficiency. So, they have halted the organization's work until the matter is resolved. The Red Cross organization has been helping fight diseases in Sudan since 1978 and has over 700 workers in the area dedicated to the cause. In 2013, they had helped over 1.5 million people in the area, and the more conflicting zones in the surrounding areas (such as Darfur). However, In 2009 the Sudan had expelled 13 foreign aid organizations for working in the impoverished areas, such as eastern Sudan. The man in charge of the Red Cross Organization in the area says that the group still remains committed to the people of the Sudan, and that he hopes the situation gets resolved soon so that they can help the people in most need of their help.

Analysis: The Red Cross has been helping people all over the world since the early 1800s. They are an organization that helps in the contribution of time, blood, and money towards saving lives and helping those in need. When reaching the more conflicting areas of Darfur and eastern Sudan the Red Cross is trying it’s full force efforts to make a difference, but this situation with the Sudan Government has put their efforts on the back burner. They’ve been in Sudan since 1978 and had little to no problems at all, but now this situation has lead to a conflict over the level of the organizations humanitarian efforts. The government has stopped all efforts of the organization until the situation is resolved. This leaves the very people they were trying to help still in need of lifesaving treatment and help. This situation has put the President of the Red Cross organization in a very awkward position, and has lead to a discussion of the initial problem that the government officials pointed out and talk of what the Red Cross’s purpose is in Sudan. All hopes remain on these officials to let this organization get back on it’s feet and help the people in these conflicting areas have much needed help. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/world/africa/sudan-orders-red-cross-to-halt-its-humanitarian-operations.html?ref=africa&_r=0 

Blog # 1: Evolution of the Avian Flu, Lindsey Swan, 2/6/2014, 5:11pm

Summary:

Just this week, February 4, 2014, flu experts have confirmed that the Avian flu has reached a record of 300 cases in China. The first human case of this strain of the flu was last March, however the war on the influenza has been going on since 2003 when the lethal strain of the flu jumped from birds to people. This once rare and mild disease is getting worse and experts say that one strain is passing right by the next.“H7N9 is blowing right by H5N1,” said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “I’m really worried about that.” An even newer strain has killed two Chinese women one at the age of 78 and the other at the age of 55, and both had contact with live poultry. The strain that killed them is known as H10N8, and has been confirmed in only these two women so far. The two most lethal strains of the flu, which is H10N8 and H7N9, are very difficult to detect because it doesn't make chickens sick and the way these spread in people is still unknown.

Analysis:

This issue of the flu has escalated in China but the disease could be spread to the entire planet. It began as a mild disease and that has now been discovered to be lethal. The situation has evolved to the point of world endangerment. Since the more lethal strains seem to be harder to identify and can be easily spread from person to person it poses a very real threat to our world. There are professionals who are keeping track of the flu outbreak, and the research of the disease is ongoing!

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/health/cases-of-new-deadly-bird-flu-surge-in-china-experts-say.html?_r=0

Topic: Global Health Concerns--China: Out break of the Avian Flu

 This semester I will be doing my current events on global health, along with the different outbreaks and concerns that are happening right now. One of the ones that I've been reading about recently was the out break of the "bird" flu in China. This is interesting to me, because I am a pre-nursing student and I care about my community and it's safety against disease and illness. This should be a good start to a very informative and important topic that we should all be aware of.

Blog 4 Morning-After Pill

In todays “New York Times” newspaper, under World Briefing, it is an article about how the morning after pill is now allowed for victims of rape in the hospitals that are run by the Germany’s Roman Catholic Church. After facing strong criticism about turning down two rape victims because staff members were concerned about emergency contraception. The bishops of the church made a statement Thursday saying, “They had not been aware that various forms of emergency contraception were available.” After talking to medical experts the bishops of the church agreed that administering drugs that no way aborted a fertilized egg was a good justified in cases of rape The bishops will tell the hospital that are run through the church that, “women who have been the victims of rape are provided human, medical, psychological, and pastoral support which includes the morning after pill. I am happy that the churches decide to allow these rape victims to get help with this troubling and horrible situation they have been put into. It makes me happy when churches allow for morning after pill and abortions for rape victims. Rape is already a hard thing to deal with and having a baby would not make it any better. 

Chelsie Lee

Feb 22, 2013 4:47pm