Sunday, February 26, 2012

News and Events - 27 Feb 2012

Twitching mystery patients show signs of recovery

25.02.2012 5:57:10

Doctors for several New Yorkers suffering from a mystery disorder that led them to develop tic-like symptoms say many are improving.

Medicare covers yoga for heart disease

25.02.2012 20:06:48

Frank Korona lives near the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border with his wife Kathy, in a house that he built with his own hands, on the same property where he grew up.

DHR Human Resource Development Scheme for Fellowship/ Training Programme by ICMR

24.02.2012 4:55:06

DHR Human Resource Development Scheme for Fellowship/ Training Programme

The DHR is a newly-created department in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for the purpose of promoting health research in the Country as improved health care with early diagnosis of the disease is also dependent on promotion of health research. The DHR is launching a scheme of “Human Resource Development for Health Research” with the following components:

1. Development of Researchers an Critical and High Focused Areas

2. Programme to promote medical research as a career among young scientists and medical students

3. Creation of a national initiative in partnership with relevant stakeholders to attract and retain the young to a career in health research

4. Schemes for focused programme on Human Resource Development in Medical Colleges

5. Programme to establish an online teaching facility and web portal on health research for students, faculty and other researchers.

Applications are invited from faculty/ researchers working in the medical colleges/ research institutions for the following fellowships training in Indian/ Foreign Institutes.

I.
Long term fellowship training in foreign institutes in identified areas

II.
Long term fellowship training in Indian Institutes in identified areas

III.
Specially designed short term orientation training in Indian Institutes in identified areas

The applications of eligible candidates in the prescribed form may be submitted to the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by 29th February, 2012. The cover letter of the application must clearly mention the training for which it is applied for. Incomplete Applications & application sent in incorrect format are likely to be rejected straightaway. 15 copies of the application may be sent to:
Dr. Ashoo Grover
Department of Health Research
Indian Council of Medical Research, Room No.311, IInd Floor
V. Ramanlingaswami Bhawan
Ansari Nagar
New

Delhi
– 110029
Mob.: 9818966565
Email :
grovera@icmr.org.in

Deadline : 29.02.12

View Original Notification

http://www.biotecnika.org/content/february-2012/dhr-human-resource-development-scheme-fellowship-training-programme-icmr#comments

Texas taking health care away from 130,000 poor women to punish Planned Parenthood

rss@dailykos.com (Joan McCarter

24.02.2012 22:26:38

Rick Perry (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's
imagined war with the federal government unfortunately has real casualties—poor women (as usual . In this instance, the
Texas government has decide to write Planned Parenthood out of the state's Women's Health Program, a Medicaid-waiver program providing basic health and family planning services to low-income and uninsured women who would not otherwise be eligible for Medicaid unless pregnant.

The Department of Health and Human Services warned the state that this rule would not meet requirements for funding, because it violates the Social Security Act. They informed the state that some $40 million in funding would be pulled if Planned Parenthood, which provides 44 percent of the program’s services, was blacklisted. putting $40 million in federal funding at risk.

The rule, signed by Commissioner Tom Suehs on Thursday, takes effect March 14. Unless some last-minute agreement is brokered, the program, which receives $9 in federal funds for every $1 in state funds, will be either phased out or cut off by the end of March. At least 130,000 poor Texas women will lose access to cancer screenings, well-woman exams and contraception.

“No one’s politics should interfere with a woman’s access to health care," said Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast President and CEO Peter J. Durkin. "It is shameful that Governor Perry and Commissioner Suehs continue to politicize lifesaving breast cancer screenings and birth control access for low-income women."

Perry, of course, is couching this as fighting back against the overreaching Obama administration, with his spokeswoman justifying cutting these women off of basic health services by putting it on the White House and saying, "This boils down to the rule of law—which the state of Texas respects and the Obama administration does not." The state of Texas apparently doesn't believe in the Constitution's
Supremacy Clause.

And the
GOP establishment is worried about their image because they think the presidential debates are starting to make them look bad. Are they paying any attention to the actual policies Republicans in office are creating?

Kimora Lee Simmons' Amazing Weight Loss: All the Details!

25.02.2012 23:12:52

Kimora Lee Simmons has conquered the battle of the bulge.

At QVC's "Buzz on the Red Carpet" cocktail party in Beverly Hills, Calif, on Thursday, the 36-year-old mother-of-three explained how she slimmed down after giving birth to son Kenzo (with husband Djimon Hounsou in May 2009.

PHOTOS: Amazing star slimdowns

"I'm on the fabulosity diet, so I'm kind of perfecting it now. It's a little workout, a good diet," Simmons told
Us Weekly. "I try to cut out a little bit of the sweets and the junk, but I love that, so it's a little hard."

The former Baby Phat creative director said it's hard to avoid her favorite foods, including "chocolate, candy, chips and pizza," but she tries to instill healthy eating habits in daughters Ming, 12, and Aoki, 11.

PHOTOS: Celebs' favorite healthy snacks

"My family is very healthy. We try to be very healthy with complex carbs, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables," she told Us. "we try to eat organic, not a lot of dairy, so they're into the rice milk and the almond milk and a lot of legumes. They're really healthy kids."

The ex-model added that despite her more svelte figure, she still feels "voluptuous" and "sexy."

VIDEO: Kimora Lee Simmons offers sage relationship advice

"I'm a mom first and I'm a business woman [second]," Simmons said. "I want girls to understand the difference between this and fantasy. ... It took me an hour to get ready, and I want girls to know, 'Take it easy! You're beautiful.' Size 2 is really unreal."

MORE ON WONDERWALL:

Body Issues, Baby Photos and More Quotable Celebs

Celebs Who Have Slimmed Down

Twitterview: Kimora Lee

Men's Health - March 2012 (South Africa

26.02.2012 9:15:17

Men's Health - March 2012 (South Africa
English | PDF | 172 pages | 42 Mb

Men's Health is the South African male's guide to healthy living. It is committed to improving every facet of a man's lifestyle ï¿½ a better body and looks, a stimulated brain, good food, hip fashion, sex, relationships and stress. Men's Health is a must for men and their partners ï¿½ itï¿½s authoritative, inspiring, entertaining and dynamic. Itï¿½s nowhere close to being ordinary. The focus is on finding unique, exciting stories and interpreting todayï¿½s issues cleverly and creatively.

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, Fifth Edition

26.02.2012 10:08:28

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, Fifth Edition
Publisher: But terw orth | 2011 | ISBN: 0080970702 | 624 pages | PDF | 50,1 MB

Medical Social Worker

24.02.2012 3:00:00

PRN; working various hours primarily day shift but may include some evenings.
Must be a Social Worker licensed in the State of Ohio and have a Bachelor of Science; Masters preferred. One year of professional experience working in a healthcare setting (OB experience preferred .

Job Summary

Works with patient, family, significant others, health care team and community resources to develop and implement plans of care to assure continuty of care. This includes assessing, planning and supporting patients as they cope with social, emotional, economic and environmental problems. The main goals are to help patients maintain their independence and to live as normal a life as possible in the community. They will work jointly with the health care team on social matters that may affect present and future health.

Reviews the medical records and interviews patients for discharge planning needs. Developes the plan, updates the plan as needed and implements the plan - this may include but not limited to making arrangements for financial help, basic need items, parenting information, housing assistance, legal assistance,Home Health Care, ECF transferes, Psyciatric transfers, VA transfers.

Completes psychosocial assessements through medical records review and patient and family interview. Provides phychosocial support, advise & counseling

Knowlledgable of general pyschiatric disorders, addiction disorders, grief stages, child , partner and adult abuse issues and the associated referral and support services

Assists with crisis intervention in all areas of the hospita. This may include hospital staff, patients, families and/or community members.

Knowledable of obstetric and neonatal phychosocial issues and realted family support services.

Able to assist with legal and emotional aspects of infant adoptions

Able to assit families with end of life issues including advanced directives or end of life decisions such as hospice or pallative care.

Spring Swing: Blue Jays aim for top, to heck with expanded playoffs

26.02.2012 22:08:14

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays are my last stop on the Grapefruit League tour. 'Duk will take it from here starting Monday with a visit to Lakeland and the Detroit Tigers.

Meanwhile, the Jays would seem to be a big benefactor from expanded playoffs (which Bud Selig tells us are still coming this season . In 2011, the Jays finished .500 and 10 games behind the wild-card spot. Overtaking the Yankees, Red Sox
and
Rays for a spot in the playoffs seems pretty fanciful. But a bigger playoffs means the Jays might only have to jump ahead of one. In a given season, it's very do-able. So adding another wild card is good, right?

Thanks, but no thanks (for the moment , says left-hander Ricky Romero.

"I think that, when you come into camp, you're worried about winning the division," Romero said. "Obviously it could be good that they've added that — so be it — but we're not thinking about a wild card spot. We're thinking about a division title. We understand that we play in a tough division, but this team's capable of doing some special things."

Romero is entering his fourth major league season, having compiled a 3.60 ERA and 493 strikeouts over 93 starts and 613 innings. He was an AL All-Star in 2011, but he was a rookie during Roy Halladay's final season in Toronto, so he's seen the Jays transformation under new GM Alex Anthopoulos from the inside. And he likes where the team is headed.

"People can assume whatever they want. People are always going to make their decisions, and that's fine with us," Romero said. "We know we're not 'The Pick,' or the easy pick for analysts, but that's fine. This team is young, has a lot to prove and everyone's healthy. You see a different determination in everyone's eyes."

* * *

He won't be able to qualify for AL Rookie of the Year, but Canadian son Brett Lawrie ought to have one of the biggest impacts of any player entering his first full season. At age 21, Lawrie hit .293/.373/.580 with 21 extra-base hits in 171 plate appearances. Anybody putting up those numbers over a full season would be an MVP candidate. That would give the Jays two MVP candidates (the other being Bautista and a much better shot at the playoffs.

* * *

Jumping from 81 wins to say, 90, will require improvement of the pitching staff after Romero. They Jays and right-hander Brandon Morrow just agreed to a contract extension. Morrow's 4.72 ERA misleads a little; with 203 strikeouts in 179 innings, he actually pitched much better than that. It's after Morrow the Jays are questionable.

Henderson Alvarez did well in 10 starts as a 21-year-old, and Kyle Drabek was terrible in 14 starts. But both are talented and could show significant improvement with more experience. Drabek, compensation for Halladay, was so bad that the Jays will start to worry if he doesn't show some improvement this season.

All right, more to come from the Jays, including video with Colby Rasmus — speaking of guys who need to improve or else the Jays will start worrying. And watch out for mascots out of context!

* * *

Spring Training has arrived!

Follow Dave on Twitter —

@AnswerDave —

and engage

The Stew on Facebook for your fill of Grapefruit and Cactus!

For Dummies Rare Ebooks Collection - Medical and Health Related

26.02.2012 12:53:24

For Dummies Rare Ebooks Collection - Medical and Health Related
English | PDF | Ebook Collection | All In One | 208 MB

Here is a collection of health and medical related Dummies series ebooks.

Health Tip: Exercising During Pregnancy

23.02.2012 11:00:00

(HealthDay News -- Exercise is a great way to manage the aches and pains of pregnancy, and help prepare your body for the birth of your child. The Nemours Foundation, noting you should first get your doctor's approval, says the potential benefits...

Forests: the fire next time | Editorial

25.02.2012 2:48:53

The combination of a predicted increase in heatwaves and the carbon stored in the world's soils is reason for alarm

Forest fires are a fact of life, and in some regions an important part of the natural ecosystem, but that does not make them welcome. Wildfire sears an astonishing 350 to 400 million hectares each year: this is an area of land greater than the surface of India. The economic costs of bushfires are prodigious – one sustained blaze in Texas in 2011 did damage estimated at $5bn – but the human costs, too, are cruel. A team led by
Tasmanian and Canadian scientists has just made a careful estimate of the contribution of dioxins, soot and other tiny airborne particles from blazing scrub and foliage to global mortality; they have established an annual estimate of around 340,000 extra deaths per year from respiratory and other diseases, chiefly in sub-Saharan Africa and south-east Asia.

According to the World Health Organisation, the smoky stoves and open fires that the world's poorest people use to cook their meagre suppers account for up to 2 million extra deaths a year, so by comparison the wildfire component is modest – but it is likely to rise, and go on rising. That is because it is predicted that
global warming will increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and droughts in decades to come. In the climate change scenario, yesterday's extremes will become normal summer events, and tomorrow's heatwaves will set new records. In temperate and arid regions, forests and other ground cover will become increasingly dry, and increasingly at risk from fire, started either deliberately or by accident, or sparked by electrical storm. Heatwaves are bad enough – they dramatically affect crop yields – but there are deeper reasons for alarm.

Most of the potential natural fuel in the world is not on the surface, but bunkered in the soil below. The dead and decaying foliage of 10,000 years is now stored as peat, and peat burns. In 1997 a fire in the
rainforests of Indonesia set alight to the metres of peat below the roots, and this smouldered for months. By the time the fire was extinguished it had released greenhouse gases equal to between 20% and 40% of total worldwide emissions that year from factory chimneys and motor exhausts.

Accidental rainforest fires are rare events, but there are huge stores of peat under the forests of the north, and these are increasingly at risk. In 2007, 1,000 square kilometres of tundra caught fire in Alaska: such fires, once established, can smoulder through the winter under a blanket of snow, and then flare up again in the spring. Since the carbon stored in the world's soils is far greater than the burden locked away in the trees above ground, any such blaze could only fuel yet more global warming, making the world an increasingly dangerous place. The smoke signals are ominous.

guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our
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Thousands seek diabetes knowledge at Sandy event

26.02.2012 6:19:26

Thousands seek diabetes knowledge at Sandy event

By Brandon Loomis

The Salt Lake Tribune

Published Feb 25, 2012 09:19PM MDT

Sandy • Some people go decades after a diabetes diagnosis without really knowing what to do about it — victims of insufficient health insurance, bad advice or mixed messages. That’s why educational events like Saturday’s 2012 Diabetes Expo at the South Towne Expo Center continue to be big draws for people eager to improve their health, said Dawn Higley, a nurse and certified diabetes educator who volunteered at the American Diabetes Association event. The expo drew an estimated 5,000 people. “So...

Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

BlogHer Conference Update - - February 24, 2012

25.02.2012 20:00:00

Wow, we've made a lot of announcements this week and we have plenty of reminders too! So let's just jump right in...

Announcements:

BlogHer '12 Preliminary Agenda and Room of Your Own -- it's official the preliminary agenda and Room of Your Own (ROYO process is posted and ready for you to view!
Read
Polly's post, check out the preliminary agenda and find out how you can submit an idea and watch it become a ROYO.

And then,
Voices of the Year (VOTY -- another big announcement for BlogHer '12! The most anticipated event of every annual conference, VOTY is an evening keynote where bloggers are recognized for their amazing words, images, videos, and art. This year is no different! Nominate that amazing writer, yes it can be
YOU
, and welcome her or him to the main stage on Friday, August 3. All of the details can be found in
Shannon's post.

This announcement doesn't have any fun acronyms, it's just a simple and short notification --
registration for onsite childcare is open! Again, we are partnering with KiddieCorp to provide parents a safe and fun location for the little one's while you are enjoying the conference. You can find all the details here in
my post.

But wait, there is more!

We continue to accept nominations for our
International Activists Scholarship for BlogHer '12. If you or someone you know is a woman blogger, living outside the United States and blogging to raise awareness, consciousness, or funding to change their community, region, nation, or the world, then please
nominate yourself or such a blogger to win one of the three scholarships available this year. As with any of our programs, we encourage women to nominate themselves. Stand up and ask for the attention you deserve! Or by all means, call our attention to someone whose work deserves trumpeting.

Reminders:

Last week Elisa announced
HealthMinder Day -- another adjunct event before BlogHer '12.
HealthMinder Day is designed to be a day of inspiration, education, and connection. Specifically, it is a full, multi-track adjunct day happening Thursday, August 2nd, before BlogHer '12. The day will focus on expert information and looking at the latest tools, services, sources, and products for taking care of yourself and your loved ones. And for sharing with your online communities.
Note: HealthMinder Day requires separate registration and is not included in the price of admission to the annual event on Friday and Saturday.

Speaking of registration...
early bird pricing for BlogHer '12 ends on February 29 at 9 p.m. pacific time.
Register today and save $100 off the full price conference pass.

You thought I was finished with BlogHer '12 conference updates -- NOPE! This one is a big one..

When
booking a room at the Hilton New York it is important to know the following:

It's best to register with
this link
Our room rates are only good August 1-5; dates before and after will not enjoy the discounted room rate
If you need to book a room before or after August 1 - 5, it is best to call in and make sure you enjoy the BlogHer rate on most of the dates -- use code BLOG and dial 1-800-HILTONS
If you are looking for a roomie to share expenses we have you covered. Visit our
roommate forum and post your needs/wants; remember no one is perfect :-

Hold up -- there is more...

BlogHerEntrepreneurs is around the corner and we still have a spot for you! This is our second annual event designed for women who want to start something, whether their goal is to strike out on their own with a brilliant idea, or to bring an entrepreneurial approach to innovation within a company. We have an impressive line up of
mentors and speakers with more to come! Check out the
agenda and
register today. Note: we also have a room block at the nearby Hilton offering a
great room rate for our attendees.

And last but not least (for sure! --
BlogHer Food '12 in Seattle. Ah, Seattle, food, fresh air and fabulous
food
, oops, I mean friends. We have announced our
agenda, are inviting speakers and are preparing our evening activities all of which are sure to please your palate. There is still time to
register and
book your hotel room at the host hotel, The Fairmont.

Phew! That was a lot of fun and exciting news!

Until next time...

Lori Luna
vp, event operations

Sign up for our conference newsletter here.

BlogHer Food '12 Community Forum

FIRST PIC: Gerard Butler Resurfaces in Malibu After 3-Week Rehab Stint

26.02.2012 1:48:42

Gerard Butler is back in fighting form.

The Scottish actor, 42, was spotted eating lunch solo while reading a script at Coogies restaurant in Malibu, Calif. Friday. Earlier that day, Butler's rep confirmed to
Us Weekly that he had recently finished a three-week stint at the Betty Ford Center and "returned home in good health."

PHOTOS: Stars who've gone to rehab

Butler was reportedly being treated for a prescription pill addiction, according to
TMZ. The Scottish actor first took painkillers in 2006 while filming 300, "and the problem became exacerbated while filming Of Men and Mavericks when Butler was badly hurt on December 18 during a surfing accident."

PHOTOS: Gerard and more stars hit the waves

According to
TMZ, Butler had also "developed issues" relating to cocaine, though they were not the focus of his treatment. The Bounty Hunter actor has also been open about his past problems with alcohol, telling The Red Bulletin: "I used to drink until I couldn't remember anything. I was just mad for it and on a death wish. It was madness."

PHOTOS: Celebrity health scares

Butler appeared to be in good spirits Saturday, as an eyewitness spotted the actor bulking up with a personal trainer at Equinox in West Hollywood.

Get more Us! Follow us on
Twitter,
Friend us on Facebook,
Subscribe to Us Weekly

Health Highlights: Feb. 23, 2012

24.02.2012 10:00:00

Title: Health Highlights: Feb. 23, 2012

Category: Health News

Created: 2/23/2012 2:05:00 PM

Last Editorial Review: 2/24/2012

Consultant Ophthalmology Job - Pharmaceutical / Medical Company

The Consultant Ophthalmology is responsible for patients with medical problems generally considered to fall his/her specialty. The Consultant will maintains compliance with the Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Company, Ministry of Health standards for the Department, He/She will also plans, directs, administers and supervises activities of the patients.

Job Details

Date Posted:	2012-02-26
Job Location:	Al Kuwait, Kuwait
Job Role:	Healthcare/Medical
Company Industry:	Medical/Hospital
Joining Date:	2012-02-28

Preferred Candidate

Career Level:	Executive/Director
Degree:	Bachelor's degree / higher diploma

Apply Now -
Jobs in Kuwait -
Healthcare/Medical Jobs in Kuwait -
Search All Jobs

Homeland Security Manual Lists Government Key Words For Monitoring Social Media, News

26.02.2012 8:51:25

Ever complain on Facebook that you were feeling "sick?" Told your friends to "watch" a certain TV show? Left a comment on a media website about government "pork?" If you did any of those things, or tweeted about your recent vacation in "Mexico" or a shopping trip to "Target," the Department of Homeland Security may have noticed. In the latest revelation of how the federal government is monitoring social media and online news outlets, the Electronic Privacy Information Center has posted online a 2011 Department of Homeland Security manual that includes hundreds of key words (such as those above and search terms used to detect possible terrorism, unfolding natural disasters and public health threats. The center, a privacy watchdog group, filed a Freedom of Information Act request and then sued to obtain the release of the documents. The 39-page "Analyst's Desktop Binder" used by the department's National Operations Center includes no-brainer words like ""attack," "epidemic" and "Al Qaeda" (with various spellings . But the list also includes words that can be interpreted as either menacing or innocent depending on the context, such as "exercise," "drill," "wave," "initiative," "relief" and "organization."

Friday, February 24, 2012

News and Events - 25 Feb 2012

Toxic Chemical Being Sold as a Health-Conscious Sweetener

22.02.2012 5:03:45

The Pulse of Natural Health

A weekly e-newsletter edited by Deborah Ray and Craig R. Smith and published by the Alliance for Natural Health USA. Stay informed on what is hot in Washington and about decisions affecting natural health and your health freedom.

Subscribe! (It's Free!

February 21, 2012

Toxic Chemical Being Sold as a Health-Conscious Sweetener

Splenda Essentials pretend to be health-supporting, when in fact they seem to have more in common with pesticides than with sugar.

Toxic Chemical Being Sold as a Health-Conscious Sweetener

February 21, 2012

Print This Post

Splenda Essentials pretend to be health-supporting, when in fact they seem to have more in common with pesticides than with sugar.

Sucralose, sold under the brand name Splenda, is simply chlorinated sugar; in chemical terms, it is a chlorocarbon. The idea behind this is that the body would no longer recognize it as sugar. But, as Johns Hopkins-trained physician and biochemist James Bowen, MD, points out, chlorine is “nature’s Doberman attack dog—a highly excitable, ferocious atomic element employed as a biocide in bleach, disinfectants, insecticide, WWI poison gas and hydrochloric acid.” Common chlorocarbons include chlordane and DDT, a product so harmful that it is now banned for agricultural use the world over.

Now Splenda is selling a product called Splenda Essentials. Different formulations contain B vitamins, antioxidants (vitamins C and E , or fiber. The marketing and advertising appear to be targeting health-conscious people who are interested in vitamins and nutrition—despite the fact that Splenda is highly toxic and has no place in a healthy diet.

Splenda’s advertising says the addition of B1, B5, and B6 “help support a healthy metabolism.” The antioxidant product “contains vitamin C and E, like those found in fruits and vegetables,” while the fiber product is touted as containing “one gram of healthy fiber.” It is worth noting that the regular Splenda product already contains fiber—the powdery dextrose and/or maltodextrin that forms the carrier for the sweetener—but only between 0.5 and 1.0 grams of it. For the fiber product, they bumped it up an even 1.0 grams. Whoopee.

For the vitamins, Splenda has added 20% of the recommended daily allowance; for the fiber, they’ve added 0.03% of the RDA. But let’s compare those amounts with the recommendations from the late scientist, researcher, and physician Dr. Emanuel Cheraskin of the International Academy of Science:

	B1	B5	B6	C	E	Fiber
RDA	1.2 mg	5 mg	15 mg	85 mg	15 mg (22.35 IU	32 mg
Amount per packet	0.24 mg	1 mg	3 mg	17 mg	4.5 IU	1 mg
Cheraskin	25 mg	100–200 mg	25 mg	1,000 mg	450 IU

With the minute amounts of nutrients per packet, one would need to be consuming unconscionable numbers of packets to make any impact at all on one’s health—that is, provided one weren’t also consuming the sucralose itself! As we noted last year, Splenda alters the microflora in the intestine and “exerts numerous adverse effects,” according to a Duke University study, including an increase in body weight (not quite what a “diet aid” is supposed to do! and an elevation of liver enzymes, which hurts the bioavailability of nutrients.

In “The Lethal Science of Splenda, a Poisonous Chlorocarbon,” Dr. Bowen says that “any chlorocarbons not directly excreted from the body intact can cause immense damage to the processes of human metabolism and, eventually, our internal organs. The liver is a detoxification organ which deals with ingested poisons. Chlorocarbons damage the hepatocytes, the liver’s metabolic cells, and destroy them.”

Dr. Bowen notes that the high solvency of chlorocarbons like Splenda attacks the human nervous system and can produce cancer, birth defects, and immune system destruction. In test animals, Splenda produced swollen livers (as do all chlorocarbon poisons , calcified their kidneys, shrunk their thymus glands (the biological seat of immunity and produced liver inflammation.

Our colleagues at ANH-Europe point out other adverse effects in animals as a result of sucralose ingestion: DNA damage in gastrointestinal organs, increase in the number of normal cells in the surface tissue of the kidney, hemorrhagic degeneration of the adrenal cortex (which regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism, salt, and water balance , incidence of cataracts, marked gastrointestinal disturbance, and deaths in pregnant rabbits and aborted rabbit fetuses. Splenda’s adverse effects in humans include headaches and migraines and a long list of consumer-reported side effects including skin rashes/flushing, panic-like agitation, dizziness and numbness, diarrhea, swelling, muscle aches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues, and stomach pain.

Splenda has replaced aspartame as the number one artificial sweetener in foods and beverages; aspartame’s popularity declined after the public learned that that it is both a neurotoxin and an underlying cause of chronic illness. As Dr. Bowen warns, “We should not be fooled again into accepting the safety of a toxic chemical on the blessing of the FDA and saturation advertising. In terms of potential long-term human toxicity we should regard sucralose with its chemical cousin DDT, the insecticide now outlawed because of its horrendous long term toxicities at even minute trace levels in human, avian, and mammalian tissues.”

ANH-USA is filing a citizen petition with the Federal Trade Commission regarding Splenda’s deceptive advertising. Splenda’s online marketing includes a series of YouTube videos called Splenda Health Essentials, which features an ADA-certified Registered Dietitian giving people health advice—though we might call it “natural health lite”—including prominent endorsements of Splenda Essentials. Their marketing clearly targets health-conscious people interested in nutrition and trying to pass off a toxic chemical as healthy.

Editors
Deborah A. Ray, MT (ASCP
Craig R. Smith

The Pulse of Natural Health. This newsletter is copyrighted material (© 2012 by Alliance for Natural Health USA but we hope you will forward, copy, or reprint it without prior authorization. Just remember to note the source and date, and please link to original content on the ANH-USA website.

The information in The Pulse of Natural Health is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Readers are advised to consult a qualified professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being.

hands Become an ANH-USA Member - Donate to ANH-USA!

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Deborah Ray

ANH-USA Vice President Deborah Ray has been bringing quality health information to radio listeners since 1982 and has been consistently named among the top 100 most important talk radio hosts in America by Talkers Magazine. Visit her blog on the ANH-USA website.

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The Pulse of Natural Health © 2012

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10 Times Serving Size Matters Most

24.02.2012 23:03:12

Learn the right dose to reap the most health benefits!

By:

Tiffany Tse

Thanks to the nutrients in cocoa beans, pure dark chocolate is full of natural antioxidants. But that certainly doesn’t mean you can enjoy as much of this sweet treat as you’d like!

“Snap off a one-inch square for yourself to enjoy each night after dinner,” says Amie Valpone, author of The Healthy Apple blog and publisher of online gluten-free magazine Easy Eats. “Too much may constipate you and leave you wired before bedtime. Also, try unsweetened chocolate so you don’t have sugar highs and lows.”

Although coconut oil is a saturated fat, the thick, pasty substance is touted for its many advantages, like helping maintain cholesterol levels or achieve glowing skin and hair. In fact, studies suggest replacing margarine with coconut oil, using it to cook, or adding a spoonful to blended smoothies.

“Coconut oil has a delicious taste and is great when added to recipes for a flavorful punch, but it’s not calorie-free,” Valpone says. She recommends using only 2 tablespoons a day or less if possible, as even that small amount will pack on about 30 grams of fat.

Any excuse to knock back a glass of Merlot is a welcome one, especially since studies show that the antioxidant compound in red wine, resveratrol, can help combat heart disease. But in this case, too much of a good thing is detrimental to your overall health; heavy consumption of alcohol leads to obesity, liver disease, and an increased risk of cancer, among other things. The rule is to drink in moderation.

“Enjoy a few glasses of wine during the week,” Valpone says. “Three glasses a week is okay, but watch the sugar content and extra calories if you're watching your intake.”

Catechins, the potent antioxidants found in green tea, make this brew a well-known disease-fighter. But you won’t reap the tea’s powerful benefits unless you’re drinking quite a few cups a day.

“It’s safe to say you can have three to four cups a day, although some studies show more can help fight against certain cancers,” Valpone says.

That said, you may want to limit your intake, as one cup too many loads your body with caffeine.

As part of a healthy diet, nuts make a wholesome treat, particularly because they contain unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. But incorporate the caloric snacks into your diet with caution, as you only need a small daily amount to harness their nutritive properties.

“I like to recommend a half cup of almonds a day or 10 to 15 nuts throughout the day enjoyed alone, ground into cookies and pasta dishes for a creamy texture, tossed into salads, or added to smoothies,” Valpone says.

Olive oil is often celebrated for its benefits, closely tied to its monounsaturated fatty acid content and antioxidant properties. And while using olive oil to cook is recommended, it’s important to watch your intake.

“Although it’s a good fat, [olive oil] comes with 14 grams of fat per tablespoon,” Valpone says. “Use 2 tablespoons per day: one in your omelet and one in your stir-fry, then use vinegar or chicken broth for the remainder.”

A cup of Joe is a staple in many morning routines, but that’s probably where you should stop each day. Though studies show that java’s anti-cancer properties put coffee drinkers at a lower risk for colon, breast, and rectal cancers, don’t use that as an excuse to chug away.

“Too much coffee can lead to jitters and shakes, as we all know the caffeine can do crazy things,” Valpone says. “I’d say one cup a day is fair, but try green or black tea instead since they're less acidic. Three cups of coffee a day is too much!”

Fatty, oily fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and trout are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, the good kind of fats that slow down plaque buildup in your arteries. But they’re called fatty fish for a reason and, despite their plethora of health benefits, are still high in calories. In addition, the high levels of mercury in certain fish like tuna are a good reason to curb your weekly intake. “Two servings a week is a great way to get omega-3s,” Valpone says.

Smooth, creamy avocado is another example of a healthy fat. When you add avocado to your diet, your body absorbs more lycopene and beta-carotene, two powerful antioxidants.

“These healthy fats pack incredible flavor and pair perfectly on salads, with eggs, or atop poached fish and chicken,” Valpone says.

Again, however, too much avocado is unhealthy. “If this is your only source of fat, stick with one per day, but if you are already eating nuts and oils, try one-fourth or half an avocado per day,” Valpone recommends.

Antioxidant-rich garlic possesses plenty of anti-cancer benefits, but you don’t need to drown your food in it to reap the reweards. “A clove a day or three cloves a week is a great start, as many people aren’t fans of garlic,” Valphone says. “If you are, toss roasted garlic into your omelets, salads, stir-fries, and protein dishes.”

If you’re eating bucketfuls of pungent garlic, however, be prepared for the possibility of stomach disorders, diarrhea, and allergic reactions.

12 Surprising Sources of Antioxidants

Use Your Slow Cooker to Lose Weight

Is Fruit Really a "Free" Diet Food?

20 Creative Ways to Enjoy Green Tea

Before you pour a glass of wine with dinner every night, you might want to take a closer look at the science behind the heart-healthy sales pitch. Red wine—among other things—has earned a reputation as an antioxidant powerhouse that can help ward of disease and signs of aging. While studies show this is true, do you know exactly how much wine test subjects were sipping? And more importantly, will you completely cancel out the benefits if you go overboard?

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the : Public Health Advisor

24.02.2012 19:27:51

Organisation:

International Medical Corps

Country:

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the

Closing date:

23 Mar 2012

BACKGROUND
The International Medical Corps UK office was established in 2002 in order to develop the European and UN donor based grant portfolio and represent International Medical Corps at operational and technical fora. The office has a current staffing of eighteen staff and a growing portfolio of humanitarian, transition and development programs in Africa, Asia and Middle East. International Medical Corps UK is now seeking a Public Health Advisor to be based in the London office. This is a new position which will report to the Director of Operations and have a technical accountability line to the Director of Health Policy and Practice who is based in the Washington DC office.

The Public Health Advisor will provide technical advisory support to the International Medical Corps health programme portfolio in partnership with HQ and country programme staff. Currently, the health technical team, which consists of both US and global roving positions, addresses the broader social determinants of health inclusive of: reproductive health, gender based violence, mental health, water and sanitation and monitoring and evaluation. This position is intended to complement the specialist operational expertise by ensuring effective design, implementation and monitoring of quality public health programs based on best practice in response to the major health burdens affecting targeted countries/ populations.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Development
- Support the development of health assessments, design, planning, implementation and monitoring of

programmes to ensure consistently high quality of results;
- Develop the health systems portfolio of work through analysis of current programme work and
identification of new opportunities for support to selected country health sectors in line with
prospective funding opportunities;
- Provide technical input into funding proposals, reports and external communications for International
Medical Corps global;
- Further develop and implement guidelines, protocols and standard setting for health interventions,
including roll-out at field level in order to achieve the highest quality of programme interventions;
- Support development of management/accountability mechanisms to ensure coherence between
global, regional and national health policies and strategies and International Medical Corps work;

Capacity Building and mentorship
- Support health personnel recruitment (short-listing and interviewing of public health candidates in
collaboration with Director of Health Policy & Practice;
- Support the response to health related requests and enquiries from country programmes by
undertaking relevant research and capacity building of team members during field visits, remote
support and through distance learning modalities;
- Contribute to the ongoing development of International Medical Corps global health strategy and the
measurement of progress towards the full achievement of the strategy through facilitation of dialogue
with field teams and HQ desk teams.
- Design and deliver in-house training courses for International Medical Corps non-health staff on
specific public health interventions;

Representation and Reporting
- Participate in and support the representation of International Medical Corps UK at relevant technical
coordination, donor meetings and UK based health institutions, as well as sharing evidence and best
practice through formal and informal channels;
- Participate in networking on technical issues with other UK and Europe based health NGOs with a v
view to identifying and facilitating partnership opportunities.
- Develop quarterly workplans and reports to share within International Medical Corps UK programme
office and with the global technical team.
- Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed above are representative of
the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all inclusive;

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Advanced degree in Public Health or similar;
- At least 7 years?¦ experience implementing International Health field programs covering a range of
humanitarian, transition and development programs.
- Demonstrated experience in health programming at HQ level;
- Good knowledge of European donors (DFID, EU etc , including regulations, policies and requirements
specific to the health sector;
- Experience in programme development including proposal writing and use of standard tools (eg,
logframes, SWOT etc ?E Fluency in spoken and written English language necessary with preferred
proficiency in spoken and written French;
- Excellent communication skills with an ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of
stakeholders;
- Ability to travel up to 40% of time.

How to apply:

Send your C.V and a cover letter/email marked for the attention of 'Recruitment', quoting ref: PHA-2012 to: recruitment@internationalmedicalcorps.org.uk or by post to: International Medical Corps UK, 1st Floor, 254-258 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7EB.

For further enquiries, ask to speak to Martin Mongalla at +44 (0 20 7253 0001.

Please only apply if you have the appropriate visa to work in the UK.

http://reliefweb.int/node/478915#comments

Burundi: Technical Specialist (MH/RHCS , ICS-11, Burundi (Re-advertisement

24.02.2012 18:43:51

Organisation:

UN Population Fund

Country:

Burundi

Closing date:

23 Mar 2012

VACANCY NO.: Job ID 1940

CLOSING DATE: 23 March 2012 (5.00 p.m. New York time

POST TITLE: Technical Specialist (MH/RHCS

CATEGORY: ICS-11 (equivalent to P-4

POST NUMBER: New

DUTY STATION: Bujumbura, Burundi

POST TYPE: Non-Rotational

DURATION: One year (renewable 1/

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Burundi Country Office, ARO

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Burundi is one the African Countries where maternal morbidity and mortality is a major health concern. According to results of the last DHS and Census, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR was estimated at 866 deaths per 100000 births. In addition, the health system is registering a weak contraceptive prevalence rate (18% and the presence of a skilled attendant at birth is estimated at 60 percent of the deliveries. The HIV prevalence rate remains high (3,58% with a feminization of the infection (4,02% .

Burundi has suffered repeated waves of intense conflict since independence. Thirteen years of ethnically fuelled civil war have weakened the country’s health care system, including the service provision of reproductive health care system, care for victims of sexual violence and HIV/Aids prevention. Also, as a stream 2 country implementing the RHCS Global Program, the CO will be strongly involved into interventions aiming to strengthen the national health system, the health procurement system through advocacy and Policy Dialogue, technical support including monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, management, coordination partnerships development and knowledge sharing on RHCS.

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:

The Technical Specialist post is located in the UNFPA Burundi office in Bujumburae. S/he reports to the Representative, who provides overall direction and supervision, and works in close collaboration with the Johannesburg sub-regional office and the Technical Division. The technical Specialist is part of a team and works in an integrated manner with the programme and operation staff. S/he will ensure technical and programmatic support, in accordance with the principles of result based management and good governance to reinforce the quality of the maternal health programme.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Technical Specialist will have the responsibility for health system strengthening and financing for the promotion, design, monitoring and evaluation, equitable access of RH commodity for all sectors, including supply management system. She/he will provide technical advice and support to RH/FP planners, policy makers, programme managers and service providers on national policies and programmes in the field of Reproductive Health. This will include conducting relevant research, analysis and training to improve knowledge sharing. The incumbent will contribute to an enhancement of national capacity to mobilize and obtain social and political support for national policies and programmes in the field of Reproductive Health.

POLICY, ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

• Provide technical assistance to develop the MDG5 component of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF , the UNFPA Country Programme and annual work plans.
• Support national implementing partners in advocacy activities for inclusion of RH/RHCS in SWAPs, PRSPs and health sector reforms
• Assist and advise the country office in financial resource mobilization for MNH
• Advice the country office and national counterparts on integrated approaches to improve reproductive health, in particular to (i Maternal Health, (ii Family planning (including Condom programming
• Reinforce and advise staff and national partners on effective supply chain management, including information management, forecasting, distribution and information systems.
• Provide technical assistance to national counterparts in the costing and effective implementation of the national reproductive health action plan.
• Assist and advice the country to address the urgent need for skilled health workers, particularly midwives
• Assist and advise the country to eliminate obstetric fistula
• Assist and advise the country to address the financial barriers to access, especially for the poorest
• Provide technical assistance to strengthen the national health information system, and monitoring and evaluation.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

• Maintain and foster partnerships with UN agencies and other partners in the technical area of RH, and RHCS for advancement of knowledge. Carry out joint assessments and projects, formulate recommendations on potential critical maternal health issues and provide advice in respect to MDG targets
• Provide technical assistance to national partners to scale-up quality health services to ensure universal access to reproductive health, including family planning, skilled attendance at delivery, emergency obstetric and newborn care
• Identify, develop and/or adapt training materials and manuals in substantive areas
• Strengthen the capacity of national institutions in the areas of needs assessments, resource mobilisation and monitoring and evaluation

EVIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION

? Analysis and synthesis trends and research in the area of RHCS and Maternal Health in Cote d’Ivoire to produce technical knowledge
? Advocate for the incorporation of evaluation results and lessons learned in the updating of strategies and approaches in order to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA operations
? Contribute to the successful execution of impact evaluations. Provide support in developing a prioritized operational research agenda for UNFPA
? Promote UNFPA’s comparative substantive role and specific contribution in the changing development agenda

TECHNICAL REPRESENTATION

? Represent UNFPA on substantive issues and support advocacy for RH, and RHCS in international, governmental, U.N., and other policy and technical meetings and seminars
? Collaborate with UN agencies, academia, professional societies, and act as focal point for inter-agency working groups in the substantive area
? Act as the CO’s focal point for RHCS and Maternal Health. Carry out other duties as may be required by UNFPA Representative.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

? Values/Guiding principles;
? Performance management;
? Developing people/Coaching and Mentoring & Fostering Innovation and Empowerment;
? Working in Teams;
? Self-management/Emotional Intelligence;
? Communication;
? Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making;
? Analytical and Strategic Thinking and Results Orientation/Commitement ot Excellence
? Knowledge Sharing/Continuing Learning

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

? Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise
? Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/Building strategic alliances and partnerships
? Job knowledge/Technical expertise

QUALIFICATIONS:

? Advanced university degree in any of the following - public health, medicine, social sciences, pharmacy, business or other related fields. The degree must be directly related to the substantive area identified in the job description of the post. A course in logistics, essential drugs, health system strengthening and financing and MIS is a plus.
? 7 years of increasing responsibilities in managing RH or health programmes with direct experience relating to supply management systems, of which at least five years national and/or international experience in advising on RH commodities, health systems and supply management.
? Extensive knowledge of supply management: forecasting, warehousing, distribution, transportation and logistics information systems.
? General knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of integrated RH/MH care.
? Familiarity with UN development programmes and working procedures, especially UNFPA policies and programming procedures, an asset.
? Fluency in French. Good command of oral and written English is required.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender quality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

1/ No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5

How to apply:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc.
Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a stateless persons; (b newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.

*This is a project-funded post.

http://reliefweb.int/node/478898#comments

Dedication of the Duke Cancer Center Ushers in New Era of Patient Care

23.02.2012 3:00:00

A major achievement in patient-centered cancer care was celebrated today with the dedication of the new Duke Cancer Center, a seven-story state-of-the-art facility that will be the hub for Duke's preeminent cancer care, clinical research, and education.

"Duke has been recognized as one of the world's leaders in cancer care and research for more than 40 years, and the Duke Cancer Center will accelerate our ability to provide best-in-class care to patients requiring the most advanced cancer treatments," said Victor J. Dzau, MD, chancellor for health affairs and chief executive officer for Duke University Health System.

"Patients will now have access to many of the country's leading cancer specialists and care teams in an environment specifically designed to ensure patient comfort and convenience."

The demand for Duke cancer services is growing rapidly with more than 600 patients a day currently seeking care at Duke's cancer clinics. Statewide, the number of new cancer cases is expected to rise by 16.5 percent over the next five years, and higher growth rates are expected in the greater Triangle. New cancer cases are compounded by the successes of cancer treatments, which enable people to live longer as cancer survivors.

To meet that increasing need, Duke broke ground on the 267,000 square-foot cancer center in November 2009. Construction was completed ahead of schedule and costs came in under the original budget of $235 million; the center will open for patient visits on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012.

With soaring architecture that evokes the famed Duke Chapel on the nearby university campus, the new cancer center was designed with the input of both providers and patients. The goal was to assure patient convenience and comfort while also creating an efficient and effective work environment for care teams.

Patients will benefit from having physicians, nurses, clinical trials team members, pharmacists, counselors, social workers, and dietitians all working side-by-side to provide comprehensive care.

Patient amenities include:

123 clinical exam rooms, 73 stations where patients can receive chemotherapy infusions, plus three new linear accelerators for radiation treatments
A rooftop terrace garden in which some patients will be able to receive infusion treatments outdoors
A patient resource center, featuring educational materials, computer kiosks, and a skills lab for patient and family consultation
A boutique with private spaces for self-image consultations, including assistance with selecting hairpieces, hats, turbans, and postsurgical garments
A quiet room offering a calming space for personal reflection, meditation, and relaxation
A cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, a healthy menu featuring fruits and vegetables from local farmers, and occasional cooking demonstrations
A specialty pharmacy so patients can fill prescriptions on site

The new building serves as the clinical home for the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI , a unique organization Dzau established in November, 2010, to fully integrate clinical services, medical research, training and education. One of the nation's eight original National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, the DCI provides unprecedented opportunities for teamwork among Duke scientists and clinicians.

"As we strive to fight and ultimately vanquish cancer, we also work every day to bring comfort and assurance to those patients and their loved ones stricken by this disease. An environment that kindles hope is crucial to this effort," said institute director Michael Kastan, MD, PhD.

As the new nexus of clinical care, research, and education, the new Duke Cancer Center is linked to the existing hospital and clinics as well as to the state-of-the-art Duke Medicine Pavilion, an inpatient and operating facility that is projected to open in mid-2013. Outdoor spaces, walking paths, and a healing garden complete the carefully planned patient-centric campus.

"This building is an inspiration to us all, and we will work to treat every cancer patient who walks through these doors with our continued best efforts, our uncompromising optimism and hope, and our unyielding expectations to succeed," said Joseph Moore, MD, professor of hematology and oncology.

Duke Cancer Center at a Glance

Number of floors: 7

Size: 267,000 square feet

Original estimated cost: $235 million

Construction initiated: November 2009

Date completed: February 2012

Clinical Components

123 exam rooms
73 infusion stations
Radiation oncology
Radiology services
Mammography suite
Three new linear accelerators

Patient and Family Amenities

A boutique
Outdoor garden terrace with patient infusion area
Specialty retail pharmacy
Resource center
Cafe
Quiet room

Demand

More than 600 cancer patients are currently seen daily in Duke clinics
New cancer cases in North Carolina are projected to grow by 16.5 percent in five years
The Triangle's population is forecast to increase from 2.16 million in 2010 to 2.41 million in 2015, a rise of 11.5 percent

Sustainability Features

Meets LEED Silver criteria
Green roof space
Sustainable building materials
Energy efficient mechanical systems

12 Surprising Sources of Antioxidants

24.02.2012 21:18:54

Move over blueberries, pomegranates, and Merlot! There's a new set of superfoods to try.

By:

Mike Roussell, PhD.

While pistachios are best known for their healthy fats, they also contain a class of antioxidants call flavonoids that have strong anti-inflammatory properties.

You know what else is great about pistachios? You get to eat twice as many per ounce than any other nut. Enjoy them as a healthy snack or try them on your chicken with this healthy dinner recipe.

Mushrooms are a great low-calorie food (only 15 calories per cup that also contain Vitamin D. Even though they're not deep red, purple, or blue (the colors we often associate with antioxidant-rich foods , mushrooms contain high levels of a unique antioxidant called ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is a powerful antioxidant that some scientists say may be used to treat cancer and AIDs in the future. Ergothioneine is also the reason why mushroom extract is used in many skincare products.

Choose oyster mushrooms: They contain the highest levels of ergothioneine. This simple recipe for grilled oyster mushrooms is the perfect compliment to steak.

A cup of Joe in the morning delivers more than a shot of caffeine—it's packed with antioxidants too. Coffee contains an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which may be responsible for its ability to prevent the oxidation of your bad cholesterol (oxidation makes your bad cholesterol worse .

Remember that coffee itself is calorie free, and it only starts to negatively impact your health and waistline when you add sweetened syrups, sugar, and gobs of whipped cream.

Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are best known for their high levels of the omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid (ALA . One tablespoon of flaxseed oil contains more than 6 grams of ALA, while 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds have 3 grams.

Nutritionally speaking, flax is much more than just a dose of ALA. It also contain antioxidants called lignans. Two tablespoons of flaxseed meal contains up to 300 mg of lignans while 1 tablespoon of the oil has 30 mg. Research shows that lignans help fight inflammation by lowering C-reactive protein (a blood marker of general inflammation , and they might also help lower cholesterol levels.

When you think of antioxidants, you probably don't picture grains. The processing and refinement of grains strips them of their nutritional merit, but if you eat grains in their unrefined form, you’re in for an added health punch. Barley contains the antioxidant ferulic acid (if you can get your hands on black barley that's even better .

Ferulic acid was shown in animals to decrease the negative effects on the brain following a stroke. Barley is a great replacement for rice or quinoa in your diet. This easy barley salad packs an added protein punch with the addition of edamame beans.

Green tea gets all the PR buzz, but black tea packs an equal health punch in its own way. Although green tea contains high levels of EGCG, an antioxidant that when combined with caffeine can help you lose weight, black tea contains high levels of the antioxidant gallic acid, which may help fight cancer by preventing its spread from one organ to another.

Black tea requires a slightly different preparation than green tea. For the perfect black tea brew, bring the water to a full boil and then steep for three to five minutes.

Acai berries, red wine, and pomegranates are all known for their high levels of the antioxidants called anthocyanins. That is what gives these foods their deep red color. So maybe it's not so surprising that red and purple cabbage is another great source of the same powerful antioxidant.

Anthocyanins can help improve the health and youthfulness of your blood vessels, warding off heart disease. And if your dose of anthocyanins comes from cabbage, you'll get the added benefit of glucosinolates, another antioxidant that may help cells fight against cancer.

One cup of red cabbage contains less than 30 calories and has 2 grams of stay-full fiber. Try this quick and easy recipe for fennel and red cabbage slaw that's free of any thick and calorie-dense dressing.

Several spices and herbs are well known for their high antioxidant content. Cinnamon contains antioxidants that help control blood sugar, while turmeric's brand of antioxidants fight inflammation.

Rosemary is no different—it just flies under the radar. Research suggest that an antioxidant in rosemary called carnosol may play a role in warding off Alzheimer’s disease while also acting as the driving nutrient behind rosemary oil’s effects on improving memory.

To make a simple, brain-boosting marinade, soak chicken in three tablespoons of fresh chopped rosemary, ? cup of balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt. It makes for one unforgettable meal.

When eggs make headlines, it usually has to do with their cholesterol content, not their antioxidants. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two antioxidants found in the yolk of eggs (another reason to eat the whole egg that may help prevent age-related vision problems. At only 70 calories and 6 grams of protein a piece, you can easily account for whole eggs in your healthy diet.

Check out these 20 quick and easy ways to cook eggs to get your daily dose of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Avocados are known for their high levels of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats (1/2 an avocado contains 8 grams . But here’s an insider tip: Foods that are high in unsaturated fats are usually high in antioxidants too. Mother Nature puts the antioxidants there to prevent the fats from oxidizing. Avocados are no exception, as they contain a group of antioxidants called polyphenols.

For a double dose of antioxidants, enjoy your guacamole with salsa. Research shows this combination leads to a greater absorption of carotenoids (vitamin A-like antioxidants from the tomatoes in salsa.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the anti-cancer effects of broccoli. The driving force behind broccoli's anti-cancer mechanisms comes from a group of antioxidants called isothiocyanates. Broccoli contains two of the most potent isothiocyanates - sulforaphane and erucin. Broccoli is also low calorie (30 calories per cup and fibrous (2.5 grams per cup , which makes it a filling weight loss food.

Here is a simple broccoli salad recipe that you can easily make in bulk and eat throughout the week.

Another unlikely antioxidant powerhouse, artichokes contain antioxidants that might help prevent cancer. Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that artichokes scored higher than raspberries, strawberries, and cherries in total antioxidant capacity per serving. One cup of cooked artichoke hearts delivers 7 grams of fiber for less than 50 calories.

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Antioxidants are one of the most popular nutrition buzzwords. And for good reasons: They fight signs of aging, inflammation, and they can even help with weight loss. But when it comes to antioxidants, certain foods—blueberries, pomegranates, and spices like cinnamon and turmeric—get all the glory.

'Illegal abortions for wrong sex babies'

NHS Choices

24.02.2012 13:14:00

There have been several reports in the media suggesting that some doctors in British clinics are agreeing to abortions solely because of the foetus’ gender. The allegations stem from an undercover investigation by The Daily Telegraph, which said it had secretly filmed three doctors offering to arrange terminations after being told the reason the women did not want to go ahead with the pregnancy was the sex of the foetus. The paper has posted edited highlights of the secret filming online.

Abortion for non-medical purposes, for example, because of the foetus’ gender alone, is illegal in Britain. The Abortion Act 1967 covers England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.

What is the basis for these current reports?

In a report this week, the Telegraph said it carried out an investigation into the possible abortion of a foetus on the grounds of its unwanted gender after concerns were raised that the procedure was becoming increasingly common “for cultural and social reasons”.

Acting on specific information, undercover reporters accompanied four pregnant women of different ethnic backgrounds to nine abortion clinics in different parts of the country. In three instances, it said, doctors were recorded offering to arrange terminations after being told the woman did not want to go ahead with the pregnant because of the sex of the foetus.

Are abortions legally available “on demand” in Britain?

No. It's a common misconception that a woman "has the right to choose" an abortion or that she can have an abortion carried out "on demand".

Nevertheless, there are some 200,000 abortions carried out in Britain each year and a third of British women will have had an abortion by the time they reach the age of 45.

What does the law actually say on abortion?

The 1967 Abortion Act governs abortion in England, Wales and Scotland. Under the Act, termination of a pregnancy under 24 weeks is legally justified if two doctors “decide in good faith” that one or more of the following grounds are fulfilled:

Continuing with the pregnancy would be a greater risk to the woman's life than ending the pregnancy.
Continuing with the pregnancy would involve a greater risk of injury to the woman's physical or mental health than ending the pregnancy.
Continuing with the pregnancy would be more of a risk to the physical or mental health of any of the woman's existing children than ending the pregnancy.
There is a real risk that the child, if born, would have a serious physical or mental disability.

In 1990, the Act was amended to include "the selective reduction of a multiple pregnancy" as a permissible reason for abortion.

In the case of an emergency where there is risk of serious injury or a threat to the mother’s life, only one doctor needs to agree to an abortion.

The Act also allows abortion past the 24-week point in circumstances where it is likely to cause "grave, permanent injury" (physical or mental to the pregnant woman.

The vast majority (over 95% of the 200,000 induced abortions carried out in Britain each year are clinically justified on mental injury grounds: which are that to continue the pregnancy would cause a greater mental injury than having it terminated.

Does the law say anything about abortion on the grounds of gender?

No. But agreeing to an abortion on the grounds of the foetus’ gender alone, without a medical reason to support it, would not be viewed as fulfilling the medical criteria required by law.

Would there ever be any legal justification for an abortion on the grounds of gender?

If a foetus was found to have a genetic, sex-linked disorder that would cause serious disability, this might fulfil the legal, medical criteria for terminating the pregnancy. Sex-linked disorders are inherited through one of the X or Y chromosomes.

It may also be possible that a foetus could be aborted because of its gender if the gender issue could be shown to risk "injury" to the mother's mental health. The predicted injury would have to be deemed greater than any caused by the termination.

On what grounds are most abortions allowed?

According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of the 200,000 abortions carried out each year in Britain, 98% were carried out because the mother was less than 24 weeks pregnant and the continuation of the pregnancy would involve a greater risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Of these, the vast majority are justified on grounds of mental, rather than physical, injury.

What happens next?

The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, has told the Telegraph that the Department of Health (DH would be speaking to the police about the allegations to investigate whether criminal offences have been committed. He said the DH would furthermore ask the General Medical Council to investigate individual clinicians. The DH has also asked the Care Quality Commission (the NHS regulator to inspect the named clinics urgently. The DH chief medical officer has written to all clinics licensed to carry out abortions to remind them of the requirements of the Abortion Act.

Two of the doctors filmed have reportedly been suspended.

Who can I talk to about whether to continue my pregnancy?

If you are pregnant and don’t know what to do, a good starting point is to consult the fpa (Family Planning Association guide to your options.

Links To The Headlines

Abortion investigation: Doctor admits procedure tantamount to 'female infanticide'. Daily Telegraph, February 23 2012

Abortion investigation: Available on demand – an abortion if it’s a boy you wanted. Daily Telegraph, February 23 2012

Abortion investigation: Doctor secretly filmed offering to terminate a foetus because of its gender. Daily Telegraph, February 22 2012

Doctors suspended in the furore over abortion by gender. Daily Mail, February 24 2012

Gender-based abortion claims probed by Department of Health. BBC News, February 24 2012

Clinics granting sex-selection abortions to be investigated by health officials. Guardian, February 24 2012

The key to good care for cancer survivors

Admin

23.02.2012 20:43:00

By Lewis Foxhall, MD

Every cancer patient wants to successfully complete active treatment . Thanks to improved treatments and use of cancer screening programs (which can find cancer early, when it's most treatable , this goal is being reached more frequently than ever.

But to get the most out of treatment there is more you can do. A proactive approach to care for cancer survivors has developed over the last few years. This includes traditional follow up looking for any signs the original cancer has come back. It also includes active management of any lingering side effects of treatment, testing for new cancers, and addressing psychological and social problems that may develop or persist after treatment. This approach is intended to give you the greatest benefit from your treatment so you can live longer, and better.

Good communication matters

The key to successful care of cancer survivors is effective communication. Communication between you and your health care team, as well as between you and your family and caregivers is critically important to making sure you're getting good, complete care.

A vital part of this communication is a clear understanding about who is responsible for each part of your long-term care. Your treating oncologists are usually quite comfortable with the traditional follow- up tests to see if the cancer has returned, and oncologists are also familiar with various symptoms that may mean the cancer has returned.

However, some surveys show that patients feel their primary care physician may be better at managing cancer screening and prevention as well as mental health issues. The primary care physicians interviewed say they do feel like they can manage follow up for all the needs of stable cancer survivors.

But a lack of communication can occur if oncologists and primary care physicians do not share information about your care, and confusion may develop about who is responsible for the different parts of the your care.

Summary of care and care plan

A solution to this problem is the cancer survivor summary of care and the care plan proposed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM . This will soon become a required component of every cancer patient's medical record. This document serves several purposes:

It can be best used as a reminder for you and your clinicians to talk with each other; everyone involved in your care needs to understand the treatments you received and any side effects that need to be managed.
It should help you be clear on any future tests that you may need to look for a recurrence of your cancer. These may include CT scans or blood tests, for instance, depending on your specific cancer and situation. You and your care team should discuss the specific tests you need and how often you should have them.
Your care plan should also include a schedule for tests to look for new cancers (screening . People who have been successfully treated for some cancers may have a greater chance of having another cancer, so understanding your risk and following screening recommendations is crucial. This is an area where there may be confusion as to who is responsible for keeping track of these tests, so it is particularly important to discuss this with the health care team members.

The American Cancer Society has links to some survivorship care plans here.

Take care of your emotional health

You should also have an open discussion about all mental health needs or other problems you, your family, and your caregivers face that might affect your quality of life. Common problems include stress, depression and anxiety.

You and your caregivers may find these problems difficult to discuss, but bringing them to the attention of the oncologist or primary care clinician is important to finding a solution. These can often be managed through counseling or medications that are usually well tolerated and effective.

At times, more challenging psychological problems may develop, and you may find it helpful to talk with a psychiatrist or psychologist. Social workers may be very helpful in addressing issues such as difficulties returning to work, or financial and insurance problems.

Attend to your overall health, too

Getting the most from the difficult treatments you experienced also means taking care of yourself in other ways. Healthy living -- including not using tobacco products, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet and limiting alcohol -- can make a big difference. In fact, while study results vary, studies in some cancers show a possible association with reduced recurrence in those patients who live a healthier lifestyle.

If you have other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, these should be treated to reduce your risk of heart disease. More people die of heart disease than cancer. Being vaccinated for influenza (flu , pneumonia, and other conditions are also very effective in reducing your risk of these conditions. Ask you oncologist or primary care clinician which vaccines you should receive and be sure one of your health team members takes responsibility for reminding you about them.

As a cancer survivor you have finished treatment, but you can still do a lot to protect yourself and get the most out of the treatment you received. These actions will also help you maintain the best possible quality of life.

In short, you should talk with your health care team about a care plan that includes the following:

1. Summary of your cancer treatments

2. Your plan to screen for early signs of relapse or for early detection of other cancers

3. How to talk about and address any emotional or social problems

4. How to maintain a healthy lifestyle and plan for general preventive measures

Dr. Foxhall serves on the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society and is vice president for health policy and is an associate professor, department of clinical cancer prevention, for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/News/ExpertVoices/post/2012/02/23/The-key-to-good-care-for-cancer-survivors.aspx#comment

Can Too Little H2O Impact Your Mood?

23.02.2012 20:51:02

Stay hydrated get happy

By:

Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

Water and Health: Can Staying Hydrated Keep You Happy?

It’s been a perpetual debate—do you really need 8 glasses of water a day? Many experts say no, that this recommendation is outdated, but I disagree. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM , women ages 19 and over need 2.7 liters of total fluid per day (over 11 cups and men need 3.7 liters (over 15 cups .

More allied health professions join national registration

23.02.2012 23:57:08

Occupational therapists, Chinese medicine practitioners, medical radiation practitioners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners are the latest health professionals to join Australia’s national registration and accreditation scheme this year.

Health professionals in the four areas are being warned they need to submit their applications for registration by March 30 in order for them to be approved for registration to practise before July 1.

They join 530,000 health practitioners spanning 10 professions including chiropractic, dental, medical, nursing and midwifery, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology now regulated under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

OTs include those with a position that involves clinical occupational therapy contact or a role that involves directing, supervising or advising other health professionals about the health care of patients.

Chinese medicine practitioners include acupuncturists, Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, oriental medicine practitioners and Chinese herbal dispensers.

Those already registered with the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria need not apply as they will transition into the national scheme.

Medical radiation practitioners include diagnostic radiographers, medical imaging technologists, radiographers, nuclear medicine scientists, nuclear medicine technologists and radiation therapists.

AHPRA statistics show one in 44 Australians – or one in every 20 working Australians – is a registered health practitioner.

The organisation has issued more than 850,000 certificates of registration to health practitioners across Australia.

Some exemptions apply for the four new health professions to join national registration.

For registration inquiries phone 1300 419 495 or access registration forms online at www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au , www.chinesemedicineboard.gov.au, www.medicalradiationpracticeboard.gov.au or www.atsihealthpracticeboard.gov.au

5 DIY Health Checks that Could Save Your Life

22.02.2012 23:01:14

No one is too busy for these easy but vital tests.

By:

Ysolt Usigan

Your first trip to the toilet in the morning can detect a lot more than pregnancy or a urinary tract infection. More than 70 markers in your urine can determine how your entire body is functioning and are key to preventing degenerative diseases, unknown gluten intolerance, low antioxidant levels that make you vulnerable to oxidative stress, and more, says Nancy Guberti, certified nutritionist and healthy lifestyle coach.

For instance, “accumulation of specific organic acids in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block,” Guberti says. The abnormality could mean that you’re vitamin deficient.

Unexplained weight gain and weight loss can also signal a major issue with your health, says Dr. Julie Chen, an integrative physician and health expert. Don't ignore them. If you unexpectedly gain a lot of weight, this can signify hypothyroidism, adrenal disorders like Cushing's syndrome, fluid retention as in congestive heart failure or renal disease, and pregnancy.

If you unexpectedly lose a lot of weight, this can signify cancer, hyperthyroidism, autoimmune diseases, chronic diseases, and depression.

Many people don’t realize the importance of a dental checkup. Dr. Lucy Slutsky, a general dentist based in West Orange, NJ, points out, “Oral hygiene and checkups are vital because dental problems can often be a sign of other health-related problems tied to the heart, lungs, digestive system, or other parts of the body.”

Dental checkups can also give dentists the opportunity to check for early signs of oral cancer.

You should be in the habit of checking your skin at least once a month to look for changing moles or non-healing lesions, says Dr. Tim Abou-Sayed, board-certified plastic surgeon. “Remember that the only ‘good tan’ is one you are born with that comes naturally; when you get that tan from sunning yourself at the beach, you are actually damaging your skin with the sun’s radiation,” Abou-Sayed adds.

“A melanoma, which can be fatal, may begin as something so seemingly innocent as a slightly darkened mole, so a simple self-exam of the skin can alert you that you need to go to a dermatologist for a full screening.”

Dr. Glenn Kolansky, board-certified dermatologist in Red Bank, NJ, suggests you use a mirror for the back or hard to reach places, or have a significant other assist you. "It is also important to realize that a skin exam is only good on the date it is performed. Growths can change a day, a week, or a month later," he says.

Don’t forget to also check your surroundings—it indicate health issues and even save your life. “To live a healthier lifestyle, it is extremely important to maintain a ‘healthy home’ and be aware of toxins and other irritants that can exist in your living space and make you feel unhealthy,” says Caroline Blazovsky, national healthy home expert and certified mold remediator.

“If you notice headaches, congestion, respiratory irritation, asthma, or allergies, you should have your home tested for mold, allergens, and chemicals. Molds, for example, can produce spores, mycotoxins, and MVOCs (chemicals produced by mold , which can give you an array of symptoms and cause you to feel unwell.”

Blazovsky suggests to monitor such conditions every few years to every year to see if your home is within safe limits. You can even try a mold test kit of your own like EXAMINAIR.

The choice between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown on birth control couldn't be more clear

rss@dailykos.com (Laura Clawson

24.02.2012 19:03:10

Elizabeth Warren on the campaign trail in New Bedford, MA (Elizabeth Warren/Facebook

In dueling Boston Globe op-eds on President Obama's birth control rule, Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown continue to lay out the stark choice Massachusetts voters will face come November. Elizabeth Warren continues to cut straight through to the extremist core of the Blunt amendment:

Washington is so out of touch with what’s happening to families across this country that the Senate is about to vote on an amendment that would allow any insurance company or any employer to claim a vague “moral conviction’’ as an excuse to deny you health care coverage. Here’s the really astonishing news: Senator Scott Brown is not only voting for this amendment, he is fighting to get it passed. [...]

It is shocking that in 2012, Brown and his Republican colleagues would try to pass a law to threaten women’s access to birth control and other health care. Women all across this Commonwealth should have the right to use birth control if they want to. Giving corporate CEOs and insurance companies the power to dictate what health care women can and cannot get is just wrong. Those decisions should be up to women and their doctors.

Warren points out that President Obama's measure includes a significant exemption for religious institutions, and that the head of the Catholic Health Association is fully satisfied with the accommodation—so under no reasonable standard is this about religious freedom.

Scott Brown, of course, tries to keep us in the dark about what the Blunt amendment actually does, because that's the only way to sell it. So if you listen to Brown, this is about "religious hospitals and charities." But the Blunt amendment isn't about religious hospitals and charities. It's about all employers. Brown calls that fact "a red herring."

But perhaps even more appalling than referring to an accurate characterization of what the bill he supports would do as "a red herring" is that Brown tries to wrap himself in the mantle of Ted Kennedy:

The legislation borrows language directly from Senator Kennedy, who in 1995 sponsored a bill that that provided an exemption to health care workers and facilities so they would not be required to provide “an item or service under a certified health plan’’ they found objectionable based on “religious belief or moral conviction.’’

It's true! The words in quotation marks are included in both bills. But Kennedy's bill (PDF said "A health professional or a health facility may not be required to provide an item or service under a certified health plan if the professional or facility objects to doing so on the basis of a religious belief or moral conviction." The Blunt amendment (PDF exempts health plans from required "coverage of specific items or services" because:

‘‘providing coverage (or, in the case of a sponsor of a group health plan, paying for coverage of such specific items or services is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan; or

‘‘(ii such coverage (in the case of individual coverage is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of the purchaser or beneficiary of the coverage.

Scott Brown is saying that this is in the spirit of Ted Kennedy because it takes language he applied to a narrowly delineated set of people and applies it to anyone with any involvement whatsoever in providing a health care plan, allowing anyone along the way to remove specific items or services from what is provided to the person ultimately covered by the plan, regardless of what that person wants or needs. I'm not going to follow his dubious lead by claiming to channel Kennedy, but as a person who can read, and has read the relevant sections of both bills, I can say that they do two very, very different things—and that you could equally say that a bill to completely repeal the Affordable Care Act "borrows language directly" from the Affordable Care Act because it, too, uses the words "a," "and," and "the."

Please, contribute $5 to Elizabeth Warren on Orange to Blue.

Seven states sue government over contraceptives mandate

24.02.2012 3:54:08

Seven states on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the federal government requirement that religious employers offer health insurance coverage that includes contraceptives and other birth control services.

Ironman champ: Train your brain

22.02.2012 0:41:37

Sporting success rests with having the mental fortitude necessary to overcome our fears, pain, and discomfort, Chrissie Wellington says.

House calls on the high seas

24.02.2012 2:41:31

In the last two years, Dr. Benjamin LaBrot and his team of volunteers have traveled on "The Southern Wind," a 76-foot-long refurbished ship, to treat nearly 13,000 patients in Haiti, Honduras and Panama.

Faking a good night's sleep

23.02.2012 17:19:32

Sometimes a less-than-stellar night's sleep is inevitable, but here are a few easy ways to feel full of energy anyway.

Former NBA player recounts struggle with drug addiction

24.02.2012 21:09:35

In the 14 years he lived as a drug addict, former NBA player Chris Herren had no shortage of moments that could have been his "rock bottom."

South Sudan (Republic of : Human Resources/Administration Officer

24.02.2012 19:39:47

Organisation:

IMA World Health

Country:

South Sudan (Republic of

Closing date:

31 Mar 2012

IMA World Health (IMA is a nonprofit organization providing healthcare services and supplies to vulnerable and marginalized people. Since its founding in 1960, IMA has evolved into a strong public health organization specializing in health systems strengthening, disease mitigation, and capacity building in partnership with its Member agencies, local and international organizations, governments, foundations, and the private sector. With a focus on creating sustainable long-term solutions and empowering community and health care professionals for improved service delivery, IMA is a faith-based organization (FBO that harnesses the significant role that FBOs play in the health sector in developing countries. IMA is the largest ecumenical, international health organization based in the US. IMA has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the 20 most efficient Top 200 Charities as well as received Charity Navigator’s highest rating for efficiency for the past five consecutive years.

In coordination with the Country Director and the HQ Human Resources Department, the HR/Admin Officer will be responsible for monitoring and organizing employee administration activities for the IMA Republic of South Sudan Staff. Provide day to day organizational guidance for all policies, procedures and documentation requirements for all of IMA South Sudan staff, to support smooth organizational functioning and effective program activities. The HR/Admin Officer will serve as the designated expert regarding the labor laws of the RoSS. This position will be responsible for supervising the Office Manager and ensuring that the daily operations of the office and guest houses run smoothly.

How to apply:

FT position with excellent benefits. EOE. Please apply online through the Careers Page of our website: www.imaworldhealth.org by March 31, 2012.

http://reliefweb.int/node/478921#comments

Virginia Proposal Mandating Ultrasound Before Abortion Debated

24.02.2012 0:35:00

Watch Video | Listen to the Audio

JUDY WOODRUFF: Now to the heated battle over reproductive and abortion rights.

It's a debate that has been playing out heavily in many states over the past year. Virginia is the latest, as national attention has focused on a proposed law.

A furor gripped Virginia's state legislature in recent days, as Republicans pushed to mandate ultrasound testing, which would be internal, for many women seeking abortions. On Monday, more than 1,000 people, mostly women, held a silent protest against the bill outside the state capitol in Richmond.

JON STEWART, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart": Oh, man, transvaginal ultrasound?

JUDY WOODRUFF: And the proposal quickly drew the attention of national television, including "The Daily Show."

With criticism rising, Virginia's Republican governor, Bob McDonnell, mentioned as a potential vice presidential nominee, yesterday announced he'd changed his mind.

He issued a statement that read -- quote -- "Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state."

Instead, McDonnell said, the bill should -- quote -- "explicitly state that no woman in Virginia will have to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound involuntarily."

Within hours, Virginia's House of Delegates did just that, passing a version that requires the more traditional external abdominal ultrasound, but makes the transvaginal test optional.

KATHY BYRON (R : The amendment, I believe, enhances the bill. It's still consistently pro-life.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Democratic opponents said even the amended legislation calls for a pointless procedure.

JENNIFER MCCLELLAN (D : What you have done is mandated, for any abortion done early in a pregnancy, an ultrasound that will be utterly useless.

JUDY WOODRUFF: According to the Guttmacher Institute, which studies reproductive health issues, Texas is the only state that effectively enforces a transvaginal ultrasound before abortions. Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida require an ultrasound, but leave it to the physician to determine the type.

MAN: You're killing a baby.

WOMAN: Are you proud of your position?

MAN: Yes, I am.

JUDY WOODRUFF: But the battle in Virginia highlights nationwide efforts to roll back access to abortions and related services. Last year, 24 states imposed new curbs on abortion services. They included bans, waiting periods and clinic regulations. Many states also cut funding to family planning services and providers.

The next state to enter the fray may be Pennsylvania, where lawmakers may require ultrasounds at least 24 hours before an abortion. A vote is expected some time in April.

For more on the battle over these questions in Virginia and nationally, we turn to Charmaine Yoest. She's president of Americans United for Life, which backs the proposed Virginia law. And Nancy Keenan, she's president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, which opposes it.

And we thank you both for being here.

NANCY KEENAN, National Abortion Rights Action League: Thank you.

CHARMAINE YOEST, Americans United For Life: Thank you.

JUDY WOODRUFF: What has made this Virginia legislation such a flash point, Nancy Keenan?

NANCY KEENAN: I think, look, they've overreached in Virginia.

And we saw that the other day when over 1,000 and more people showed up to express their disappointment. And I think this is a place where a state law is requiring a woman to undergo a procedure she didn't ask for, nor that her doctor recommended, and that these are politicians that are practicing medicine without a license.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Was it an overreach, Charmaine Yoest?

CHARMAINE YOEST: Absolutely not. And it is very political, and it's because it's an election season and it's because Virginia is a swing state in this election.

And so the pro-abortion forces are trying very hard to pursue a disinformation campaign about this law. This is a protective law that is working to protect women's health to ensure that they get the gold standard of medical care prior to an abortion.

JUDY WOODRUFF: So you're saying it's about medical care.

You're saying it's what, it's about what?

NANCY KEENAN: It's about a forced procedure.

I think -- you know, they talk about it being informed consent. It is neither. This is not about information, nor is it about consent. Women are going to be forced, against their will, to undergo a procedure, again, that she didn't ask for, it's not medically necessary, nor did the doctor recommend.

And I think this is where politicians don't belong, in that place between a woman and her doctor in this decision.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Charmaine Yoest, are you saying that the procedure wouldn't have been required? Is that what your argument here is?

CHARMAINE YOEST: I just don't even know how Nancy can say this in good conscience in terms of protecting women's health.

Look, the chairman of the Americans United For Life's board is an OB-GYN. Our attorneys have been working on this bill, and so I can tell you exactly what it's all about. Ultrasounds are the gold standard for protecting women's health. You need to have an ultrasound prior to an abortion in order to determine the gestational age of the baby. You need to know where the baby is located.

There's a host of just standard medical practice for ensuring that the woman is safe. One thing, Judy, that many people may not know is that the FDA has noted that at least two women have died after being given chemical abortions after having an ectopic pregnancy. So this protects a woman's life. This is a very, serious situation.

JUDY WOODRUFF: So what I'm hearing is that it's important for the well-being of the woman to have this ultrasound?

NANCY KEENAN: Well, let me tell you, this is about women and a decision that is with her doctor.

These are politicians who think they know the situation of every woman in this country, whether it's in Virginia or across this country, that they know the situation, they know what's going on in her life, they know what's going on with her medical situation.

And, again, these are politicians that are wanting to mandate, mandate a procedure that she didn't ask for. . .

CHARMAINE YOEST: No.

NANCY KEENAN: . . . nor did the doctor say was necessary.

JUDY WOODRUFF: In fact, Gov. McDonnell of Virginia said in his statement it would mandate an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent.

CHARMAINE YOEST: Well, Nancy's misrepresenting what the bill would do.

And, again, our attorneys worked on this bill, so I can tell you it didn't mandate and doesn't at this point mandate what kind of sonogram. It simply mandates that the standard of care is followed. So it does leave it up to the doctor to decide what kind of sonogram is needed in that situation to -- for him to get the information that he needs to ensure that the woman's health is protected.

JUDY WOODRUFF: So are you saying the governor is incorrect in his statement?

CHARMAINE YOEST: I'm saying that what the bill does is mandate a sonogram, and the doctor decides. It's based on a standard of care. If you call Planned Parenthood in Virginia, they always do a sonogram before an abortion, because that's the gold standard.

NANCY KEENAN: So then why do you need the state law? Then why are you -- why are these folks that are advancing this kind of legislation requiring a woman, requiring -- there's no informed consent here. There's no decision. She is mandated by the law to have a procedure.

CHARMAINE YOEST: I would love to answer that question.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Very quickly, because I want to broaden this out and ask about the moves that are taking place nationally.

Did you want to comment just briefly?

CHARMAINE YOEST: Well, when you think about nationally, we see women who die from -- and think about Kermit Gosnell and the house of horrors in Philadelphia, with abortion clinics that are horribly. . .

JUDY WOODRUFF: I'm not familiar with. . .

CHARMAINE YOEST: He's on trial now for women who died in his abortion clinic.

Some of these abortion clinics are very, very dangerous places for women. And we need to protect their health by ensuring that a standard of care is followed. And sonograms are the gold standard.

JUDY WOODRUFF: I want to ask you, Nancy Keenan, about moves, as we reported, in, what, 24 states to discourage abortion through one requirement or another. What concerns you and your organization and others who agree with you about this?

NANCY KEENAN: We have seen twice as many anti-choice pieces of legislation passed in 2011 than we did in 2010.

I think that these are folks that ran for office, whether it was a state legislature or here in Congress, ran on jobs and the economy, and now are absolutely attacking women's health and particularly reproductive health.

The hypocrisy here. At the same time that they want to mandate women to undergo an ultrasound, they are also trying to defund family planning, access to birth control. There's a hypocrisy here.

JUDY WOODRUFF: So are you saying there's a coordinated effort nationwide to do this?

NANCY KEENAN: Absolutely. Absolutely. There's a strategy to defund women having access to birth control and family planning, at the same time making all of these barriers so women can't access a legal, a legal procedure in this country.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Is that what's taking place?

CHARMAINE YOEST: The problem is, is that the abortion lobby is afraid that a woman having access to a sonogram might be dissuaded by having the full information about her baby's development and about the abortion procedure.

JUDY WOODRUFF: But across the board nationally, with these other requirements that have been proposed or enacted, longer waiting time, we mentioned some of the other ways. . .

CHARMAINE YOEST: We saw 28 pieces of AUL-based legislation passed this last year, and there has been a dramatic increase. . .

JUDY WOODRUFF: And how much of that is coordinated across the country?

CHARMAINE YOEST: Well, there was a huge influx of pro-life legislators who were elected by the people. So they're responding to their constituents who want to see greater protections across the board.

We're talking about parental consent, informed consent, things that people, the vast majority of the American people do support.

NANCY KEENAN: This is so out of touch with America's priorities and values.

Americans are saying, look, we elected you to fix the economy and jobs. And these folks have shown up, again, attacking health care for women, and that the priorities and values -- people say, stay out of the business between a doctor, a woman, her family. Stay out of this relationship and the decisions we make with regard to our health care that is based on the freedom and privacy in this country.

JUDY WOODRUFF: What is the goal of these state-by-state efforts, Charmaine Yoest? Is it to get as close as possible to practically overturn Roe vs. Wade? What would you say is the goal?

CHARMAINE YOEST: I think it's responding to the fact that the majority of the American people say that they're pro-life. And there's a huge consensus in this country on commonsense regulations on abortion like sonograms.

Sonogram laws are -- in 22 states have passed because the American people think this is commonsense things that we can all agree on no matter what your opinion on abortion is. Informed consent, parental consent, these are things that the American people do agree on.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Nancy Keenan, if this is the result of individuals elected to the state legislature and they're doing what they believe, it's the political process, right?

NANCY KEENAN: It is. And elections matter.

And I think you're going to see that as we head into 2012, whether it's the presidential and the difference in having somebody like President Obama, who believes in the freedom and privacy and -- of a woman's right to choose and/or these legislators at the state level who also have an agenda here, to put barriers in front of women, to deny them, to deny them the privacy of their doctor relationship in choosing a legal abortion in this country. And it's wrong.

CHARMAINE YOEST: I can't understand why, when you see situations where women have died at the hands of abortionists in this country, that you wouldn't be behind ensuring that they get the highest standard of medical care, when you know that that's been a problem across the country.

NANCY KEENAN: Judy, this is not about medical care. This is about harassment, coercion and intimidating women, intimidating, when you force a procedure and then force them to sign a waiver that says they will listen to the heartbeat, to force them to have to look at a sonogram.

This is not about protecting women. This is about a forced medical procedure. And it's wrong.

CHARMAINE YOEST: I don't think you should be afraid for women to have informed consent and to know everything they need to know before a medical procedure.

JUDY WOODRUFF: We are going to leave it there.

We thank you both very much for being here, Nancy Keenan, Charmaine Yoest.

NANCY KEENAN: Thank you.

CHARMAINE YOEST: Thank you.

THE POWERFUL WITCH CRAFT WICCA SPELLS+27836217755

23.02.2012 9:11:12

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Bird Flu More Common Than Previously Believed

2012-02-24 12:17:18

It was assumed that H5N1 bird flu is a rare disease that kills roughly 59 percent of the people it infects, but a new US study published in the journal Science suggests it may be more common and less deadly than previously believed.

The research could help alleviate concerns of a worldwide flu pandemic that could kill millions and millions of people, sparked by the recent lab creation of a mutant bird flu strain that can pass easily between animals.

The World Health Organization (WHO reported 586 human cases of bird flu since 2003, with 346 of those individuals dying -- 58.6 percent. But researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine believe those estimates are misleading.

Virologists at Mount Sinai said they had found signs of infection in 1-2 percent of blood samples they had screened from more than 12,000 people in Asia, Europe and Africa, but most people did not seek or need treatment. And none of the screened persons died from their infections.

Their findings, which used data from 20 previously published studies, suggest that many more people have been infected with H5N1 than the 586 officially confirmed by the WHO; and if so, the fatality rate could be exponentially lower than the global health agency‘s report.

“The World Health Organization criteria that are currently being used for confirmation of H5N1 infections are good for the identification of very severe cases, but they do not pick up the cases that are mild or asymptomatic” because such patients are unlikely to seek medical treatment, said postdoctoral researcher Taia Wang, who led the study.

While there is no true scientific consensus about the actual fatalities stemming from H5N1, flu experts have speculated in the past that the WHO’s surveillance methods are flawed and misses an unknown number of cases.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl acknowledged today that the agency’s criteria for confirming bird flu cases may underreport mild cases. But he said it was more likely that officials were missing cases of bird flu deaths.

Peter Palese, chairman of the department of microbiology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and one of the study leaders, said the WHO’s mortality rate may be misleading because the agency only reports cases of people who are sick enough to go to the hospital and are lab-tested for the virus.

To be counted by the WHO, a person must have an acute illness and fever within a week and test positive for exposure to the H5 protein that gives the virus part of its name. Anyone sick enough to do that is more likely to die to begin with, noted Palese.

And in countries where avian flu is present, access to healthcare and hospitals is spotty at best, he added. Basically, there could be a lot more people out there who get the virus and either don’t show symptoms or don’t feel bad enough to see a doctor.

In the study, Palese, Wang and colleagues found that in each of the 20 previous studies on bird flu, infection ranged from 0 to 11.7 percent, though the higher figure came from people living in close quarters with those who were infected. The overall infection rate across the study was 1.2 percent.

The big question is how that translates to the rest of the population. Even a two percent infection rate is a lot of people in a group of millions. But if the WHO is only counting those who go to the hospital, those who have the most severe symptoms of the disease, it is likely that the number of people with the virus is higher, and the death rate would be much lower, the researchers speculate.

But even so, that doesn’t mean that H5N1 is benign. But it does mean that until someone studies whole populations and checks how many people with the virus show fewer severe symptoms, it is difficult to say exactly how dangerous bird flu is.

“We suggest that further investigation, on a large scale and by a standardized approach, is warranted to better estimate the total number of H5N1 infections that have occurred in humans,” the authors wrote.

But not everyone was enthused with the study findings.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, which studies threats of bioterrorism, says there are flaws in the methods used.

For instance, one of the studies included in the analysis looked at the 1997 bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong, which, Osterholm said, raises the number of people who were seropositive. “The virus was a bit different,” he noted.

In a press release from the American Society of Microbiology, Osterholm said in Hong Kong, the virus was H1N1, which is also influenza but genetically different from H5N1.

“Palese’s paper just confuses the issue because of the Hong Kong experience,” Osterholm told LiveScience, adding that only more recent studies, of a virus more similar to that plaguing humans today, should be used. In fact, doing so would reveal that 0.5 percent of the participants were seropositive.

Osterholm published a study today in the journal mBio showing that the virus might be even more deadly than the current mortality rate shows. Taking an average of the studies Palese used is therefore misleading, according to Osterholm. “If you put your head in the freezer and your feet in the oven, of course the average temperature will be just right,” he said.

“You could reduce the seriousness of this virus twenty-fold and it would still exceed that of the 1918 Spanish flu,” said Osterholm.

The 1918 H1N1 flu outbreak had a fatality rate of about 2 percent. But it killed as many as 50 million people worldwide because it spread easily between people.

Flu experts have been studying H5N1 to see if it has the potential to become more contagious in people, and researchers in the Netherlands and the United States have created strains in the lab that can pass easily between lab ferrets, which react to influenza much the same as humans do.

In December, however, fears of an H5N1 pandemic led a US government insecurity advisory panel to seek restrictions on the publication of that research. That request angered scientists who said they needed to share their findings in order to develop vaccines and prepare for a possible worldwide pandemic. But the panel, of which Osterholm is a member, said the data could be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands.

The issue is still under debate and researchers said they will delay publication of their findings while the matter is sorted out. An international group of experts meeting at WHO headquarters in Geneva last week decided that the studies should eventually be published, but further risk assessment is needed before that can happen.

---

On the Net:

Occupational Health News Roundup

22.02.2012 22:42:30

Earlier today, US Attorney Booth Goodwin charged Upper Big Branch mine superintendent Gary May with "conspiring to impede the Mine Safety and Health Administration's enforcement efforts" at that mine. Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia was the site of numerous health and safety violations leading up to the April 5, 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners. The Charleston Gazette's Ken Ward Jr. has the details on the charges against May:

May, 43, of Bloomingrose, is accused of taking part in a scheme to provide advance warning of government inspections and then conceal violations before federal agents could make it into working sections of the sprawling Raleigh County mine.

Also, May is alleged to have ordered an unnamed person to falsify mine examination records by omitting a hazardous condition required to be reported and then repaired.

Prosecutors further allege that May, after learning that federal Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors were about to sample the level of coal dust in the mine, "surreptitiously redirected" additional fresh air to the area to conceal actual working conditions in the mine.

Goodwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby also allege that May "caused and ordered" the disabling of a methane monitor on a continuous mining machine at Upper Big Branch less than two months before the deadly blast.

"Mine safety and health laws were routinely violated at UBB, in part because of a belief that following those laws would decrease coal production," prosecutors said in their court filing.

Ward notes that the charges were brought in the form of an "information" rather than a grand jury indictment, which may indicate that May is expected to reach a plea deal involving cooperation with prosecutors. For more on May's role at Upper Big Branch and the importance of the criminal charges against him, check out Ward's Coal Tattoo blog.

Let's hope May's apparent cooperation with prosecutors will help officials learn more about the practices at Upper Big Branch that led to the deaths of 29 workers. The independent team headed by J. Davitt McAteer that investigated the disaster at the request of then-West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin learned a great deal from interviewing people involved with the mine, but several mine officials invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and declined to be interviewed by investigators after being subpoenaed by the state. Celeste served on the investigation team, and pointed me toward the investigation report appendix listing the names of those who refused to be interviewed. Gary May's name is on that list.

In other news:

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Toddlers Eating Healthy: Healthy Eating for Kids

23.02.2012 7:37:23

Basic steps and expert advice on toddlers eating healthy with recipe and eating plan for healthy eating aimed at children and kids eating healthy with a healthy eating recipe and family meals.

Yemen: A Medical Coordinator (M/F - Yemen

24.02.2012 18:31:45

Organisation:

Medecins du Monde

Country:

Yemen

Closing date:

31 Mar 2012

Medecins du Monde (MdM is an international humanitarian whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care.

The goal of MdM in Yemen is to offer care to the population affected by the conflict in the North on two sites, Harradh and Saada. MDM-F is present in Yemen since December 2006 and has implemented a Primary Health Care project in Beni Kays district (Hajjah governorate and a School health and first aid program in Sa’ada governorate, in addition to emergency health programs. Currently, we are providing primary health care services, curative and preventive, in Sa’ada governorate (10 sites , through mobile clinics and, when possible, support to health facilities. The project is funded by ECHO.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To supervise, organise and coordinate the mission’s medical part in order to guarantee the medical activity’s pertinence and the contract of objectives’ respect.

In the mission’s medical part:

? He/she supervises, organises and implements the mission’s medical activities.

? He/she is in charge of the programme’s medical part continuous assessment; he/she supervises and organises its implementation.

? He/she takes part in the definition of safety rules, organises their implementation in the medical activities and he controls the respect of this rules by the team.

? In terms of management: s/he manages the national and expatriate (if any medical team and s/he organises its activity at the operational level.

? He/she is in charge and guarantor for the respect of protocols and for the respect of ethics in medical terms.

? Together with the field teams, se/she takes part in drafting and/or reviewing the next project’s phase and medical narrative reports (final and intermediary , in the respect of donors’ requirements.

? He/she is in charge of the mission’s medical budget, in collaboration with the administrator.

? In terms of relation with the authorities and local partners, in the medical field: He/she takes part in the negotiation and in the development of agreements and contracts; s/he supervises and organises their application and keeps regular contacts.

? He/she is in charge of the exchange of medical technical information with the head office.

More specifically:

Planning

? He/she makes the analysis and the assessment of the medical context, of problems, needs, actors’ responses and gaps.

? He/she coordinates and organises the medical activities planning’s implementation

? He/she makes sure that the planning’s steps are respected and that his/her team is implied in the implementation.

Assessment

? He/she coordinates and organises the implementation of the continuous assessment of medical activities: data collection and their analysis.

? Together with the field teams, he/she drafts regular assessment reports and passes them on to the general coordinator, in respect of the schedule and of the defined specifications.

? He/she proposes readjustments of the program’s medical contents and passes them on.

? He/she takes part in the preparation and in the realisation of external assessments.

? He/she supervises and organises the integration of the assessments’ results into the program’s progress.

? He/she analyses the medical context (presence, local rules, national medical protocols, connections and stakes and Medecins du Monde’s positioning and proposes intervention methods in collaboration with the general coordinator.

Safety

? He/she defines, with the general coordinator, the organisation of work and positions in his/her field of activities.

? He/she makes a follow-up and a regular update of safety conditions and passes the information to the general coordinator.

? He/she adapts his/her planning to safety rules.

? He/she guarantees that the medical material necessary to the medical safety is at the teams’ disposal.

Management

? He/she defines the organisation of work and positions in the field of medical activities.

? He/she manages the medical assistant (daily planning, recruitment, supervision, evaluation, training…

? He/she technically supervises the medical team (daily management to be done by field co / team leader / and administration for the administrative issues

? He/She defines MDM medical staff description post

? He/She participates to the recruitment and evaluation of the medical staff.

? He/She trains the medical staff.

Activities implementation

? He/she supervises, organises and follows the medical activities’ implementation.

? He/she agrees and follows up the supplying in medical material and medicines, in collaboration with the person in charge of logistics.

? He/she is in charge of medical monitoring of the activities: design of tools, supervision of data collection, analysis.

? He/she ensures the medical quality of the projects. This includes supervising the trainings (curriculums, trainers’ selection… , the consultations, staff reports…

? He/she respects and makes sure that the association’s positioning is respected in the framework of the activities.

Relations with other actors

? He/she drafts or reviews the narrative medical part of intermediary or final reports and passes it on to the general coordinator.

? He/she attends the meetings with donors on the mission’s medical part.

Location: based in Sana'a with regular field visits

Career and Education:

Doctor, Nurse or Midwife

Experience of work in a Muslim country is appreciable

Strong management skills

Experience in a similar position compulsory

Knowledge of public health issues compulsory

Project cycle knowledge compulsory (assessment / context analysis / health problem definition, logframe design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation

Reporting and proposal writing skills

Experience in outbreak management and emergency response an asset

Experience in negotiations with local authorities, partners and staff in difficult contexts is compulsory

Ability to train national staff

Languages:
Fluent English (oral and written mandatory

French and/or Arabic an asset

Contract: 12 months
Starting: ASAP
Contract : EMPLOYEE (French contract Short term contract

How to apply:

How to apply:
Please send your CV and cover letter via our website: http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/postes/vacancies/puestos-abiertos/Interna...
MdM reserves the right to close any vacancy before the end of the advertised deadline. Thank you for your understanding.

http://reliefweb.int/node/478896#comments

What do patients think of doctors?

25.02.2011 23:14:00

Improving doctor-patient relations on Prezi

Above is an animated presentation about PatientView's latest report (optimised for Internet Explorer only . Please click on the forward arrow. The Prezi may take 30 seconds to load, so please be patient. Once loaded, to view in fullscreen, click on 'More'.

A global survey of 2,500 patient groups

The report looks at virtually every aspect of doctor-patient relationships (including the role that pharma can play in improving those relationships : · Improvements in access to health professionals requested by patients; · Improving the patient information provided by health professionals; · How patients would like doctor-patient communication improved; · Access and choice during diagnosis and treatment—improvements needed by patients (including a question about the desirable goals of treatment ; · How health professionals can gain patient trust; · How health professionals can respect patients’ valuable time; · How health professionals can be made more accountable (both inside and outside the consulting room ; · How health professionals might improve their prevention practices; · What single action do patients want from government and payers to improve doctor-patient relationships?; · Which pharma companies have a positive record on helping to improve doctor-patient relationships, and why?; · Why pharma can have a negative impact on doctor-patient relationships.

The report contains thousands of quotations (arranged by country and by disease from the 2,500 respondent patient groups.

Doctor-patient relations analysed for the following 12 countries and 12 disease areas: Australia [number of completed responses = 60]; Canada [138]; Eastern Europe [105]; France [80]; Germany [100]; Italy [110]; the Netherlands [30]; New Zealand [55]; Spain [80]; Sweden [56]; the UK [566]; and the USA [292].Cancer [160]; diabetes [55]; gastro-intestinal [40]; heart and circulatory conditions [70]; HIV/AIDS [72]; mental health [170]; multiple sclerosis [35]; neurological [195]; Parkinson’s disease [30]; rare diseases [70]; respiratory [35]; and rheumatological conditions [55].

Companies mentioned at least once by respondents: Abbott / Abbott Diagnostic / Abbott Italia / Actelion Pharmeuticals France / Alcon / Allergan / Amgen / Arthotec / Astellas / AstraZeneca / Baxter / Baxter Healthcare / Bayer / Bayer Schering / Berlin Chemie / Betapharm / Beximco Pharmaceutical Ltd/Bangladesh / Biogen Idec / Boehringer Ingelheim / Bristol Myers Squibb / Celgene / Centocor / Clinuvel / CT Arzneimittel / CT Medicines / Cyberonics Europe / Da Vinci Robotic Surgery System / Desitin / Efalex / Eli Lilly / Esparma / Ferring Pharmaceuticals / Gilead / GSK / Ipsen / Janssen Cilag / Janssen Ortho / Juvela / LEM (Les Entreprise du Médicament / Leo Pharma / Lifescan Italia / London Drug Co in BC / Lundbeck / Medel / Medtronic / Menarini/ Merck / Merck Serono / MSD / Novartis / Novartis Oncology /Novo Nordisk / Nycomed / Ortho McNeil / Permamed / Pfizer / Pharmacy Guild of Australia / Q-pharma / Roche / Roche Diagnostics / Sanofi Aventis / Schering Plough / Servier / Solvay / St Jude / Storz / Stryker / Takeda / Talecris Biotherapeutics/ Temmler / Teva / Teva / Tibotec / UCB Pharma/ Vifor / Worwag Pharma

Profiling patient groups: The report concludes with a 109-page listing of the profiles of the respondent patient groups from around the world that wished to be named as survey participants.

To find out more about this report: Please email Alexandra Wyke or Clive Nead on: info@patient-view.com

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Kenya: Financial Management Technical Advisor - Health Sector

24.02.2012 20:21:02

Organisation:

Management Sciences for Health

Country:

Kenya

Closing date:

26 Mar 2012

Overall Responsibilities:

The Financial Management Technical Advisor will be responsible for providing technical assistance in financial management to partners and clients such as large Government of Kenya (GoK hospitals, Faith-based Organizations (FBOs working in the health sector, and Departments/Divisions in the Ministries of Health (MOH . S/he will be responsible for transfer of essential skills, including appropriate costing of services, budgeting, and management of funds to strengthen the operational and financial capacity of clients and partners in order to improve the financial management and sustainability of client organizations. S/he will design and implement targeted capacity building and technical assistance based on the project’s needs.

Specific Responsibilities:

Collaboratively develop a menu of innovative and scalable interventions for promoting the clients and partners’ capacity and practices to effectively manage their financial operations for improved sustainability and functioning.
Transfer essential financial and management skills to partners and clients, including hospitals participating in the hospital reforms, FBOs, departments and divisions linked to the MOH.
Participate in delivering periodic learning programs to target units and facilities as well as to other clients at the regional and national levels, as required.
Mobilize short-term technical expertise in finance, accounting, planning, budgeting, and auditing as requested to meet the needs of the project.
Represent the project in communications with USAID, the MOH, and other partners as assigned by the Project Director and Deputy Director.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field. Certified Public Accountant background is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated capabilities in health sector financing, accounting, planning, budgeting, and auditing. At least 3 years’ experience working effectively in capacity building in the aforementioned areas with local organizations.
• Demonstrated successful experience working as an advisor to Ministries of Health, Finance or any Government agency in developing countries, preferably Kenya.
• Knowledge of USAID program management, applicable regulations and requirements, and institutional capacity building.
• Demonstrated capability in multi-tasking and working simultaneously with multiple teams. Able to prioritize and manage a complex portfolio, collaborating with many types of stakeholders.
• At least 5 years’ experience working with public and private counterparts in Kenya.
• Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills in English and Swahili.
• Strong computer skills (word processing, excel spreadsheets and accounting programs .
• Previous experience working with the Kenyan Government a plus. Knowledge of public health strongly preferred.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

How to apply:

To apply for this position, please submit a resume to https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/4649/job. For more information about MSH, please visit our web site at www.msh.org. If you cannot apply online or have difficulty doing so, please email an explanation of your problem to iRecruiterproblem@msh.org.

http://reliefweb.int/node/478935#comments

Moms Strut Their Stuff on the Runways at Fashion Week

24.02.2012 20:17:45

Celebrities, social media superstars, and top bloggers -- who just happen to be moms -- strutted their way down the runway at the first ever Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show! fashion show held at Lincoln Center on the last day of New York's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The show, the brainchild of Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein, aka "The Moms" of NBC New York's Moms and The City, was developed with partners Mom-entum (a division of Big Fuel and Getting Gorgeous (founded by top bloggers Audrey McClellan and Vera Sweeney to show that personal style doesn't end with gestation. The show was hosted by supermodel and mom of two Iman, and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Director of Fashion for Lincoln Center.

The show featured the "Model Moms" walking the runway to classic and current hits spun by DJ Fulano, a Gap-wearing, eight-year-old prodigy who shuttles between spinning gigs in London and New York, in over 40 looks from designers like Tory Burch, Vera Wang, David Meister, Chris Benz and Rachel Roy and retailers like Marshalls/TJ Maxx and Bloomingdale's. The looks, which were styled by Alana Kelen, were fashion forward without being over the top (which can often happen during Fashion Week .

The diversity of the models was a refreshing break. The show was definitely diverse in terms of ethnicity -- but also in terms of size, which was a refreshing break from the constant barge of minus-0 models during fashion week (the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA had to actually write rules that basically required Fashion Week models to eat . The very svelte Jaime Harlock rocked a slinky (and very short one shoulder silk dress by Ramy Brook, while the curvy Amy Oztan worked the h*ll out of her Bloomingdale's dress (accented with IMAN platinum collection bag . Strut even had diversity in terms of the "momdom" spectrum; several pregnant moms (one at 37 weeks!! walked the runway (in 4-inch platform shoes by Carlos Santana, god bless them wearing clothing from high-end maternity brands like A Pea in the Pod.

For more information on the show, head to thefashionablemomshow.com.

Watch live streaming video from babycenter at livestream.com