Varner – Arkansas overcame a flurry of court challenges Thursday that derailed three other executions, putting to death an inmate for the first time in nearly a dozen years as part of a plan that would have been the country’s…
Category: Health
Heatlh: We realise its true value when it is impaired
Penang, 13 Apr (IPS/Martin Khor) — What’s the most precious thing in the world which unfortunately we take for granted and realise its true value when it is impaired? Good health, of course. That’s something many people must have reminded…
Sanitation is a human right
A high-level international meeting on sanitation should address barriers to realizing the human right to sanitation with privacy and dignity, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The United Nations and Sanitation and Water for All, a global…
“Digital drug” exposes children to serious health hazards
The phenomenon that witnesses children to be glued to digital devices appeared to have emerged as a severe health threat with experts of late preferring to call it “digital drug”. Four-year-old Raisul and six-year-old Rahiqul are siblings having a sister…
WHO lists antibiotic development priorities
The World Health Organization outlines critical-, high-, and medium-priority antibiotic development initiatives, calling on the public and private sectors to invest in additional R&D. By Tracy Vence Update: In an open letter published last week (March 6), members of the…
Sustainability train has already well and truly left the station
Climate change and risks to fossil fuel industry: sustainability train has left the station Dhaka – Commercial activity in fossil fuels is increasingly at odds with global actions to reduce the threat of climate change. Burning coal, oil, and natural…
Disease burden growing as vector insects adapt to climate change
There were surprised gasps when University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor John Agard told journalists at an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting in late November 2016 that mosquitoes were not only living longer, but were “breeding in…
“World class” medical research facility opens in Australia
A “world class” healthcare and medical research facility officially opened here on Tuesday at Sydney’s Randwick Hospitals Campus in Australia. The 10-storey Bright Building will bring together Prince of Wales Hospital’s Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the University of New South…
India eases medical visa rules for Bangladesh nationals
India has liberalised rules for medical visas for Bangladesh nationals in an effort to further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries. From now on, Bangladesh nationals visiting India for diagnosis will also be eligible for medical visas, said the…
Dairy-free diets warning over risk to bone health
Diets which cut out dairy food could be a “ticking time bomb” for young people’s bone health, a charity is warning. A National Osteoporosis Society survey found a fifth of under-25s are cutting out or reducing dairy in their diet.…
Singapore Eye Bank sets new record in local cornea donations
Singapore – Media OutReach – 17 April 2017 – Singapore Eye Bank (SEB) breaks yet another record in its 26 years of history in cornea donations. It achieved the highest number of local cornea donations in 2016 at 236 donations,…
Things people actually do for a good night’s rest
When the whole world is peacefully dozing off, do you find yourself wide awake, struggling to fall asleep? Tossing and turning on your bed, just randomly checking the fridge for late night munchies and scrolling through your social media must…
Trump signs law taking air at planned parenthood funding
President Trump signed legislation on Thursday aimed at cutting off federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other groups that perform abortions, a move cheered by conservatives who have clamored to impose curbs on reproductive rights. The measure nullifies a rule…
Thousands dead in Brazil yellow fever outbreak
A yellow fever outbreak is tearing through Brazil leaving thousands dead in its wake — thousands of monkeys, that is. The epidemic, the worst Brazil has seen in decades, has killed more than 200 people so far. But it’s also…
Reflections on World Health Day
By Martin Khor Penang, Apr 13 (IPS) – What’s the most precious thing in the world which unfortunately we take for granted and realise it true value when it is impaired? Good health, of course. That’s something many people must…
Fully AC Maitree Express launched
Dhaka – Bangladesh and India on Friday formally inaugurated fully air conditioned Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express in an effort to further ease communication between the two countries with smooth journey. Railways Minister Mujibul Haque and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh…
Move to repeal affordable care act threat to women’s health
Congressional efforts to draft a new version of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act may be just as threatening to women across the United States as the previous Republican-sponsored bill, Human Rights Watch said today, based on media…
HC Judges hear Oishee to assess her mental health
Dhaka – In a bid to assess the mental health of death row convict Oishee Rahman, two High Court judges heard her statement in the chamber on Monday.
Record low number of Australians smoking daily: data
Young Victorian males are still smoking at an alarming rate despite the overall rate of smoker dropping in the state, data has revealed. Statistics released by anti-smoking agency Quit Victoria on Monday showed that more Victorian men than women were…
Folk medicine, traditional medicine in Bangladesh
Heritage, folk medicine and traditional medical practices are closely related to each other. Preservation of heritage is about making sense of our past and developing a sense of identity. Traditional medicine (TM), a form of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), constitutes…
86 million people in South-East Asia affected by depression: WHO
Depression affects 86 million people in South-East Asia region, the WHO said on Thursday while lauding India for passing the Mental Healthcare Bill recently and asked nations to scale up mental health services quality. Noting that depression can lead to suicide,…
Insomnia may increase heart attack, stroke risk
Individuals who find it hard to fall asleep must wake up to the health problems that poor sleep poses. Researchers have found that suffering from insomnia may put people at increased risk of heart attack and stroke. “Sleep is important…
Smoking at 15 or before puts adverse impacts on health
A team of Canadian researchers has found that teenagers, who begin smoking pot as early as 15 or younger, may suffer long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, physical illnesses and respiratory diseases. The findings, published in the journal Health, show that…
Rid Pharma MD, wife allowed bail in toxic syrup case
A Dhaka court Sunday granted bail to Mizanur Rahman, Managing Director (MD) of Rid Pharmaceuticals Limited and his wife Sheuli Rahman, after the couple sought bail to the court in a case filed against them for the deaths of 28…
5 benefits of a stair climbing workout
If you have always given up the stairs in favour of taking the elevator at work, time to turn that habit around. Stairwell workouts are increasingly being looked as power-charged regimens. They have even resulted in skyscraper runs in the…
Saima Wazed WHO Champion for Autism
Dhaka, Apr 2 – Saima Wazed Hossain, a strong advocate for autism, has been designated as the Champion of World Health Organization South-East Asia Region to enhance commitment and generate awareness and action to address the sufferings of children with…
Autism in Bangladesh: Reducing discrimination thru innovation
By Saima Wazed Hossain Dhaka, Mar 30 (IPS) – Within the last 5 years, thanks to political support and national education, autism awareness in Bangladesh has grown immensely. Due to a lack of funds and resources, providing full comprehensive evidence…
High-fibre diet may check onset of diabetes
A diet rich in high-fibre foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, encourages the production of short-chain fatty acids that are beneficial for the immune system and may help protect against the onset of Type 1 diabetes, a…
New blood test identifies TB infections within hours
U.S. researchers said Monday they have successfully developed a blood test that can rapidly diagnose and quantitate the severity of active Tuberculosis (TB) cases, an important advance in the fight against the major global health threat. “In the current frontlines…
Menstrual hygiene project keeps girls in school
By Mahfuzur Rahman Dhaka, Mar (IPS) – Breaking taboos surrounding menstruation, a project to distribute sanitary napkins to girls in one district of Bangladesh has had a positive impact on school dropout rates – and should be replicated in other…