Dang Mosquito

My legs are covered in mosquito bites and I'm pissed off about it! I want to go on a rant about red itchy splotchy legs and chemical filled repellents, but I can't. Because after every complaint a little voice in my head says, "Jeanna - at least Malaria isn't a worry." & the little voice is right, I'm lucky. 

Kinigi, Rwanda 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

Over half the world's population is at risk for Malaria.
There are over 250 million cases per year, 1 million resulting in death.
Every 45 seconds a child dies of Malaria.
Symptoms of Malaria include (are not limited to) fever, shaking, respiratory distress, and vomiting.
Malaria is both treatable and preventable.

For more information on transmission, symptoms, risks, treatment, elimination, prevention and more I suggest reading the WHO Malaria Fact Sheet.

OR better yet if you want to do something about Malaria prevention (& ultimate elimination) go to http://www.nothingbutnets.net/ & consider donating a 10 dollar mosquito net or organizing a fundraising team!

Ban Lifted

Admittedly, I'm running out of things to celebrate in terms of my blogging adventure - so here's something else to celebrate -

I FINALLY HAVE GOOD NEWS (even if it is a few months late...) January 4, 2010 marked the end of  the HIV travel and immigration ban!

For decades individuals applying for a travel visa to the US had to disclose their HIV status and until now,  it was a valid reason for denying entrance. Prior to this ban, HIV testing was also a  requirement to all individuals before becoming a permeant resident. These rules disproportionally affected LGBT and third world populations, and their entrance into the US. NO LONGER.

Finally, HIV has been taken off the "communicable diseases of public health significance" list. Which makes sense as you should all know by now that HIV cannot be passed on through saliva, touching, protected sex, sneezing, etc.

Small steps, people. Small steps. For more information about the ban's end visit Immigration Equality's website.

tb

Once again, it's a World Day - today's topic, TB (tuberculosis). 

Here are some interesting facts about TB in Minnesota...

Did you know: 

1. TB is actually still one of the most deadly diseases in the world today (killing nearly 2 million per year). Crazy huh? I guess most people forget about it, because with proper medical care and/or prevention it can be cured.
2. In 2008 there were 2 TB outbreaks in MN.
3. The MN Department of Health gives free TB treatment to any resident who needs it. 
4. For every person affected by TB, dozens more have the TB infection - of those, 1/10 will develop TB. 

How can all this be stopped? 1. Early diagnostics, 2. Complete Treatment (it's a long process,  we're talking - a year or more), 3. More screening/treatment for individuals who live or work in at-risk areas (new immigrants/refugees, primary care settings, etc.), 4. Awareness

If you think you might have TB or be carrying the infection: get tested! It's not too bad, I got the skin test before interning with Lutheran Services. I was a little freaked out by the skin injection (it looks like a tiny white dot on your forearm), but after 72 hours - I had no swelling or irritation, meaning 1. no TB avec moi, 2. it just hadn't been in my body long enough. Should you get a skin test + irritation, fear not, many people have false positive results, and a simple lung screening can confirm or deny the results. 

More information about World TB Day can be found at these web sites: 

CDC/DTBE, Minnesota Department of Health, Stop TB Partnership

Dr. Give Me the News

I realize this is a high tension subject for many: healthcare.
& to be 'sensitive' I've been keeping most of my (liberal) opinions to myself, but this article just makes too much sense to not pass it on.

Health Reform Bill Summary: The Top 18 Immediate Effects

Many Thanks and credit to Steven Athay for finding and sharing this article! 

AHHH in AHHH out.

Around Christmas time I said to myself, "Jeanna, take up yoga."
At the time motivation was high. I cut out positions from magazines, scavenged the house for a mat, and went to it.

Then I fell.
Surprise, surprise I lost my balance (and the ability to touch my toes). I'm not sure what toppled over what, but I landed in a blushing mess on my bedroom floor. Needless to say, motivation died. Instantly.

But lately, I've been a victim of the January blues. As I keep searching for natural pick me up remedies, I have yet to find information that doesn't mention yoga. So in attempts to avoid another embarrassing episode (and more importantly a broken bone or ripped muscle) I decided to choose watch over read. Welcome to my life (for two weeks) "The Original Yoga: Featuring Tracey Rich and Ganga White". This morning I watched/tried the first chapter and had a really good time with it... although I'm sure the gracefulness will take a little time.

According to the American Yoga Association the practice is up to 5,000 years old (most likely started in the Indus Valley)! What I found most impressive was the way in which yoga has survived for so long, "The tradition of Yoga has always been passed on individually from teacher to student through oral teaching and practical demonstration. The formal techniques that are now known as Yoga are, therefore, based on the collective experiences of many individuals over many thousands of years." Neat-o.

Now, I just have to hope that my first half an hour of yoga has given me enough spiritual well-being and motivation to continue on.

Something to DO today: STOP & take a few deep breaths.

Lia Lee

While I'm on my health and culture kick... book suggestion time!

I'm currently reading,

"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures" by Anne Fadiman.

It's wonderful.
A mix of beautifully constructed sentences, colorful stories, and interesting facts; it tells the true story of Lia Lee a young Hmong child living with epilepsy.
Only 78 pages in and already my thoughts of refugees, Hmong culture, American medicine, natural remedies, cultural sensitivity, parenting, and faith have been re-evaluated.

Something(s) to love today: intercultural communication & foreign language courses.

A Spoonful of Sugar

Tomorrow I'm going to the Doctor. I'm not overly excited about this, but I am thankful. I'm thankful for the option of buying (some) medications over the counter- that work. For knowledgeable, respectful, and rule-abiding medical staff. I'm thankful that at 22 years old, I have a basic, common sense understanding of my body. This thankfulness, is new. & completely due to experiences in Cairo.

Once again, thankfully I can say that I had no need for urgent medical care while in Egypt, but I did have my run in's with flaws in the system. Including but not limited to: an over the counter cough medicine that knocked out it's takers for 3+ days; paramedics that were not trained to set broken arms or stitch cuts; a friend whose doctor answered his cell phone during surgery.

I also found myself explaining to many of my friends how their body works. Things I've known since high school like: the effects of high cholesterol, the reason for menstrual cramps, the ways that our body is linked (one friend was convinced his ears hurt because of cell phone use, but had nothing to do with his rotting teeth), the importance of hydration, negatives in extreme dieting, and the benefits of taking the stairs! I was also the drug dealer ... ibuprofen, nasal decongestants, and anti-diarrhea pills. Egypt has no laws on drug testing so my meds from America were magical.

So what's the issue? Health wise- it's a mixture of vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, contaminated water (outside of large cities), extreme pollution, and lack of basic health education. In terms of medical care - it's understaffed hospitals, a majority of people who are unable to pay for care, and a lack of modern equipment.

Interesting facts:
In Egypt, most vaccines and other shots can be bought over the counter, and people inject themselves.
Many Egyptians are learning more about their bodies and health from American TV shows such as Dr. Oz and The Doctors translated in Arabic.

One benefit of all this is the popularity of natural remedies. One simple, fabulous, Khalda concoction got me out of a few rough days: Hot Lemon Water. Simply - boil water, once hot- squeeze in the juice from one half a lemon, add a few spoonfuls of sugar, wa-la... instant fever reducer, stomach ache healer, and cold eraser.

Something(s) to love today: your mother, your doctor, and your body.