Testing all women for the “Angelina Jolie gene”, even if not considered at risk, would prevent cancers, save lives and is cost effective, say doctors. The Hollywood actress had her breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes removed due to the high…
Category: Health
Menstrual stigna continues to claim lives in Nepal
In Nepal’s far western Achham, a remote arid region where farming villages dot the foothills of the Himalayas, government and aid workers have walked from door to door for nearly a decade to advocate against chauupadi, an ancient Hindu ritual…
Fate of the Rohingyas – Part Two
By Naimul Haq Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan 16 (IPS) – With discussions underway between Bangladesh and Myanmar about the repatriation of more than a half a million Rohingya refugees, many critical questions remain, including how many people would be allowed back,…
Thousands still dying at sea en route to Europe
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Jan 15 (IPS) – Amid concerns that 160 people may have drowned while attempting to cross the Mediterranean this week alone, the UN refugee agency have urged countries to offer more resettlement places.
Cold wave hits Rohingyas hard: Children worst victims
AKM Moinuddin & Tofail Ahmad, UNB Staff Writers Cox’s Bazar, Jan 14 – As a cold wave is sweeping several districts of the country causing sufferings to the poor and the elderly, Rohingyas, living in poorly-built shelters, are no exception…
Lactalis recalls tainted milk from 83 countries
Lactalis offers salmonella compensation, French govt says probe continues. A milk products sticker is seen on a building at the French dairy group Lactalis headquarters in Laval, western France, January 12, Reuters reported France welcomed dairy group Lactalis’ pledge to…
UN agencied to vaccinate half million Rohingya children from diphtheria
As part of an intensified response to the current diphtheria outbreak, United Nations agencies are working to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya refugee camps, temporary settlements and surrounding areas in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar. “All efforts are being made…
Most of mudslide-stricken US town Montecito told to vacate
Montecito, Jan 13 (AP/UNB) – Most residents of mudslide-ravaged Montecito were under orders to clear out Friday as the search for victims dragged on and crews labored to clean up massive debris and repair power, water and gas lines.
Humanitarian programme in Cox’s Bazar for Rohingyas
Report from BRAC • A total of 655,000 forcibly-displaced Myanmar nationals have entered Bangladesh since 25 August (Source: ISCG report, 31 December) • BRAC’s total coverage (based on sanitation) is 638,600 people with installation of 15,965 latrines (16 today). BRAC…
Penalty set for illegal human organ transplantation
Dhaka, Jan 9 – The Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday passed the “Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Bill, 2018” aimed at providing with better health services riding on the improvement in technology and medical science in the country.
People can avoid paralysis if they are conscious’
Savar, Dhaka – The Creator’s love is attained thru service to the paralyzed. Joys lie in service, said Valery A Taylor, the founder and coordinator of ‘Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP)’.
Marooned in Bangladesh, Rohingya face uncertain future
By Sohara Mehroze Shachi Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Jan 3 (IPS) – Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugee women from Myanmar are currently living in the cramped camps along Bangladesh Myanmar border. Victims of sexual and physical violence in the Rakhine…
Mouse study shows how alcohol may cause cancer
Alcohol damages the DNA of stem cells responsible for producing new blood, according to a mouse study which may explain the link between drinking and cancer, scientists said on Wednesday.
The plight of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim Refugees
By Fiona MacGregor Reprint Bangladesh, Jan 3 (IOM) – When a major upsurge in violence broke out in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state on August 25, it started an exodus that sent almost half a million of the mainly stateless Rohingya…
‘No mental hospital without licence’
Dhaka, Jan 3 – The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft of National Mental Health bill, 2017 keeping provisions of rigorous punishment for setting up and running mental hospitals without licences and provoking any mental patient to commit crime.
Sri Lanka 1st in South Asia in Global Food Security Index
Sri Lanka was ranked as first in the South Asian region in the recently published Global Food Security Index 2017, and 66th in the Global Index.
WASH practices provided in health care centers reduce death upto 25pc
Improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) related practices in health service providing outlets can reduce the risk of disease and death of infants and mothers by up to 25 per cent. Recently published 4th Health and Nutrition Sector Plan (HNSP)…
Agroecology, women’s empowerment must to end malnutrition
A briefing paper by ActionAid sets out key priorities on nutrition and ensuring the right to adequate food and nutrition for all. It cites that globally, one in three people are malnourished and if current trends continue, this number could…
Experts focus on latest innovations in stem cell research
Bangladesh Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Society organised its first international conference at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University here today focusing on the latest innovations and breakthroughs.
Sweden’s success in controlling antibiotic resistance
The Swedish strategic programme against antibiotic resistance (Strama) has played a key role in decreasing antibiotic use on all levels in Sweden over the past 20 years. Through a bottom-up multidisciplinary approach and intervention measures that include treatment guidelines, monitoring…
How will Argentina achieve universal access to water, sanitation?
Argentina set ambitious targets of providing universal access to water and 75 percent access to sewerage services for its citizens. How can the country move toward this goal?
Five floating hospital ships being designed to serve riverine districts
For the first time in the country, five fully dedicated floating hospital ships are being designed and constructed by naval architects and shipbuilding engineers exclusively from Bangladesh for marginal people. The floating hospital ships will be operated by Friendship, a…
Patuakhali clinic asked to pay surgery fault victim TK 9 Lakh
Dhaka – The High Court on Wednesday asked the owner of the Niramoy Private Clinic and fake physician Razan the Das of Patuakhali, who left gauze inside a woman’s abdomen, to pay the victim Tk 9 lakh as compensation.
Action needed now on antibiotic resistance
During this year’s World Antibiotics Awareness Week, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) released a press statement calling on the Malaysian government to give urgent attention to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is responsible for some 700,000…
Crop diversification has positive impact on nutrition intake
Crop diversification helps increase the intake of nutritious food by giving households more options to choose from food items in the country, said a study released on Tuesday in the city. Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA), an…
Crab shells mix found lethal against mosquitoes
Anna Valmero Manila – A spray consisting of a mix of chitosan, extracted from crushed crab shells, and silver nanoparticles can reduce mosquito populations and help control malaria and other diseases spread by the insect vector. Field studies of the…
100,000 medical consultations in 100 days
By International Organization for Migration Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Dec 11 (IOM) – If Morisha’s family had waited a matter of minutes before bringing her to the UN Migration Agency(IOM)’s health post in the Balukhali makeshift settlement, she would be dead. Full-term,…
1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child: UNICEF report
One in 3 internet users worldwide is a child while too little is done to protect them from the perils of the digital world and to increase their access to safe online content, UNICEF said in its annual flagship report…
Children to be careful in using mobile phone
The thought, spirit, idea and work pattern of human beings are changed with the technological advancement and excellence. The people become habituated and dependent on various types of device. The name of gadget on which the people have become extremely…
Gene therapy shows promise against blood-clotting disease
Dhaka, Dec 7 (AP/UNB) -Gene therapy has freed 10 men from nearly all symptoms of hemophilia for a year so far, in a study that fuels hopes that a one-time treatment can give long-lasting help and perhaps even cure the…