International Health News
In order to help combat the Zika virus and Dengue fever, health authorities in Brazil and Columbia are instigating mosquito-control campaigns which involves infecting mosquitoes with a bacteria known as Wolbachia. Successful trials carried out in Australia have proven that the bacteria limits the mosquito’s ability to spread the viruses and has been hailed as a ground-breaking solution to help tackle the impact of these diseases. The 18 million USD campaigns will be funded by the US and UK governments, the Wellcome Trust health charity and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.
According to experts, funding for global healthcare comes up short by some billions of dollars and puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. Following the conference for replenishing funds to help combat AIDS, TB and Malaria in Montreal, which has already raised 12.9 billion of the 13 billion USD it set out to achieve, health activists are warning that the conference set the bar too low and that bigger and more sustained commitments are needed to help tackle these global epidemics. With funding for global health dwindling in recent years, experts warn that without more consistent and solid donations, the progress made over the past decade in tackling these illnesses will soon be reversed.
Country updates
The Health Ministry in Azerbaijan has announced plans to introduce mandatory health insurance. The change comes as a result of the new ‘Public legal entities’ law, which gave various state institutions, including health care services, the status of being a public legal entity. The compulsory health insurance, which could take from three to five years to implement, is planned to cover 1,800 medical services from inspections, treatment and surgical procedures. The medical services which are currently provided by the state will continue to be free until the health insurance policy is fully implemented.
Health Advice
Pumpkins may make for perfect Halloween lanterns, but actually eating them has its benefits too. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of fibre and are full of phytoestrogens which help to lower blood pressure. Pumpkin is also incredibly rich in Vitamin A which promotes healthy vision, and helps maintain healthy skin, teeth and bones.