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Following manifestations which took place on the 29^th of June 2017, by haemodialysis patients who blocked the entrance to the Yaounde General hospital on that day, the Minister of Public Health Andre Mama Fouda, has promised them that, a cargo plane and a ship are on their way to Cameroon with the necessary dialysis equipment.

Andre Mama Fouda explained that, the reason for the insufficient equipment is the irregularities that are in a majority of the Centres but that, everything is now under control as dozens of tons of kits are expected to arrive Cameroon in a week’s time.

The patients could not bear it any longer as some of them had even lost their lives as a result of this lack of resources. On the day of these public manifestations, the patients only allowed media men access to the hospital.

They made their minds known to anybody who could get them “we have begun fresh manifestations at the Yaounde General hospital. One of the worst things we are facing here is the shortage of water. A good number of us have been deprived of dialysis for over 9 days now, reason being that, the equipment is not sufficient. When we learned that the multipurpose sports complex had been renovated with billions of francs, we realised something was missing somewhere and that missing thing was the remedy to our situation.

In October we had 14 machines after the promise of the minister. He assured us of an improvement latest this past April. We are already in June but yet nothing to show for. We have already lost some of our friends, and we don’t want more of that” the patients revealed.

Statistics show that, at least two million people in Cameroon, are affected by this insufficiency.

Details: 03.Jul.2017; Hits: 2663

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Details: Health

According to the U.N. AIDS program (UNAIDS), Cameroon has the second highest HIV rate in West and Central Africa, after Nigeria. While an average of one in 25 people across the country are living with HIV, more than a third of sex workers are infected, meaning they hold the key to halting the spread of the virus which kills at least 30,000 Cameroonians a year, experts say. More than 5,000 clients of sex workers have been tested for HIV so far this year.

During six years of selling sex on the streets and in brothels across Cameroon's capital Yaounde, Rose has been abused, attacked and forced to have unprotected sex by her clients.

"There are some ferocious beasts amongst them," said the sex worker, a tall woman in her late thirties, wearing a short black dress and sporting a neck-length wig of straight dark hair. "Some men get violent... sometimes they attack you.

"We deal with it as Cameroonian women do. We are strong," Rose told the Thomson Reuters Foundation outside a brothel in Emombo, an area known for high rates of crime and prostitution.

Despite the frequent insults, threats and attacks, sex workers such as Rose are helping to save the lives of their clients from the Central African nation's biggest killer - HIV.

Sex workers are persuading these men to take free HIV tests in mobile clinics, set up inside or nearby brothels and run by teams of doctors, nurses, social workers and lab technicians, in a drive to tackle the prevalence of the virus which causes AIDS.

Thomson Reuters Foundation

Details: Rita Akana; 28.Jun.2017; Hits: 3664

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Details: Health

Cameroonian teen has regained full shape after doctors in the US carried out a series of life altering surgeries on his badly burnt body.

Jespa Awomah hails from the NW region of Cameroon, at the tender age of 10 months, his life changed when he fell into a fire pit in his family’s home. Jespa was rushed a local hospital where his wounds were treated. All what the clinic could provide was a few bandages. He returned home to survive his extensive wounds, which took the sight from his right eye, damaged his left eye, fused his forearm to his bicep, and twisted his fingers backwards toward his wrist. The fire also disfigured his ear. Hair no longer grew on the right side of his scalp. Jespa struggled with emotional and physical pains while growing up. In 2012, by then age 12,

Jespa Awomah was used to seeing children start to cry or run away when they would first see him. His condition was viewed, even by his family, as a curse or bad omen.

A chance encounter in 2012 with a woman named Rebecca Akumbu, who was delivering books for her sister Ruth Akumbu’s foundation, Plant a Seed Africa, eventually led Awomah to America and the specialists at Torrance Memorial. Those specialists, thanks to the Children’s Burn Foundation, have significantly improved his life.

Awomah approached Rebecca, asking if he could get some books and perhaps a scholarship to help cover his schooling. He wanted nothing else. Rebecca was so touched by the child’s humility and gentle spirit that she took a photo and sent it to her sister, who lives in Torrance and runs the nonprofit Plant a Seed Africa.

Ruth couldn’t believe her eyes.

“All he wanted was books for school. It was nothing,” said Ruth. “When my sister first sent me that picture, I thought it was a mistake. I called and she said, ‘no, that’s a real kid.’ I thought, oh my God, we’ve got to do something.”

I forwarded the post to Naiwei Hsu-Chang, RN, a unit lead in the Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU). She sent it on to Tanya Sorkin at the Children’s Burn Foundation (CBF).

Touched by his story, the Torrance Memorial BICU staff wanted to take Jespa’s case but knew the cost of his extensive surgeries and rehabilitation would be in the seven figures. CBF offered to sponsor his treatment. Nearly two years later, an agreement was forged to fund Jespa’s medical care at Torrance Memorial at a deeply discounted rate. Ruth agreed to host Jespa in her home, and Rebecca decided to travel to the United States with him to be his caretaker. The pieces were slowly falling into place for Torrance Memorial to take on its first international burn case.

In October 2015, 16-year-old Jespa arrived in Los Angeles to receive his first real medical care. That week, he also ate his first meal at McDonald’s. Soon after his arrival, Jespa met with Vimal Murthy, MD, medical director of the Torrance Memorial Burn Center, and Matthew Reiss, MD, burn and reconstructive plastic surgeon, to get a firsthand assessment of his injuries. Jespa arrived carrying a rag to wipe his functional left eye that constantly teared up due to his injuries. Ruth shared that since Jespa’s arrival, she also noticed he slept with that eye open because his injured eyelid wouldn’t close.

The meeting boosted Dr. Reiss’ optimism. He concluded that through surgery, he could likely release and extend Jespa’s right arm, rebuild both of his eyelids and possibly restore some function in his right hand. He would also extend his scalp to even out his hairline. As final cosmetic touches, Dr. Reiss recommended that Jespa receive a prosthetic right eye and skin tattooing to even out his scarred complexion.

“My biggest hope for Jespa is that at the end of his treatment, he will be able to shake hands with me using his right hand,” Dr. Reiss said.

With the prospect of a miracle within a week of his arrival, Jespa’s serious demeanor trans- formed. Before his new friends and the medical team, he used his limited English vocabulary, smiled broadly and repeated, “I’m happy, so happy. Thank you.”

In December 2015, Dr. Reiss made good on his promise. After carefully unwrapping bandages post-surgery, before assembled media, Jespa shrieked in obvious pain. But at the sight of his new hand, his tears quickly melted into another smile. Jespa held up his right hand and stared in amazement. He kept saying, “I have a hand. I have a hand. My prayers have been answered.” Dr. Reiss slowly reached to give Jespa’s new hand a gentle first shake.

Dr. Reiss explained that those who meet Jespa can’t help but be moved by his spirit. “When he sees what we’ve been able to do— watching his excitement and happiness about it—it’s priceless,” Dr. Reiss says.

During the next 12 months, Jespa would bravely undergo eight painful surgeries, always waking with a smile. Ocularist Sarah Haddad, B.C.O., B.A.D.O., provided the finishing touches to make him appear more symmetrical—the gift of a prosthetic right eye.

Today Jespa, who once struggled in school, is now an A student at Arena High School, an alternative school in El Segundo. In March, he received the “Every Student Succeeds” Award from the El Segundo School District. This is an award presented to students who have achieved something above and beyond what is expected and have struggled and prevailed. He has also been selected as a finalist for this award among students from the entire state of California.

His Southern California experience has included camp with other young burn survivors, a surfing lesson (he even stood up on the board), frequent strand rides on his bike from El Segundo to Palos Verdes, and piano lessons. Dr. Murthy also arranged for him to attend a UCLA football game (Murthy’s alma mater) at the Rose Bowl, and a meeting and hoops session with members of the Los Angeles Lakers. Now at 17, Jespa has grown from 5 feet, 2 inches to nearly 6 feet, in just a year and half. He once believed this journey might involve removal of his right arm, but he can now bend it and use his fingers. He is setting his sights on becoming a doctor or a pilot and helping his brothers and sisters back home, along with others in his situation.

“The doctors brought back my joy,” Jespa says. “My favorite thing about the United States is that people I meet don’t see a disabled person, who can’t do something. They see the possibilities.”

Rebecca will be Jespa’s legal guardian until he is 18. He will do one more “catch-up” year of high school next year. During this time, he’ll continue to live with Ruth, while she works to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in business admin- istration at California State University East Bay, through an online program. Rebecca is working toward passing the Bar in California so she can again practice law.

Although the journey hasn’t been easy, Ruth and Rebecca, single without children of their own, say they have no regrets and have become wiser from the experience.

“There are many things we would definitely do differently. But we went into this with all heart,” Ruth says. “We essentially became instant parents to a teenager and have watched him turn into a man, emotionally and physically.”

She continues, “Now we just want to see him become independent and be able to survive on his own. We want to get him through high school and we’re hoping he will go to college. If we see him have a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts), I will feel mission accomplished.”

Dr. Reiss recommends additional surgeries to further restore the shape of Jespa’s nose, ear and hand. Ruth and Rebecca have set up a GoFundMe account (www.GoFundMe.com/2K2G3MYK) to raise money to pay for his med- ical care and living expenses.

“This has been a huge leap of faith. We just pray and hope everything works out. We were very humbled after we set up the GoFundMe account that we were able to raise more than half of what we needed,” Ruth says. “It says so much about people that they are generous enough to help someone they don’t know. It just blew my mind. It’s so amazing and we’re so grateful.”

Details: Rita Akana; 27.Jun.2017; Hits: 3290

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Details: Health

Brazzaville, 21 June 2017 – For the first time, WHO’s Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is convening a meeting of global leaders and thinkers to explore Africa’s healthcare priorities and challenges and find new ways to achieve better health for all. The Africa Health Forum will take place in Kigali, Rwanda on 27 and 28 June 2017.

Organised under the theme: “Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa”, the event will provide a platform to forge new partnerships for delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a mechanism for improving access to quality, affordable healthcare for all, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said that the Forum provides a unique opportunity for its partners. “Health is at the heart of the SDGs, and is critical for better quality of life. WHO AFRO is committed to working with countries and partners to attain the highest possible level of health for Africa’s people. This forum will help pave the way to attain UHC across the continent. We are convinced that together, we can do more to save lives and achieve a prosperous and sustainable future for all.”

Experts from a wide range of backgrounds will speak at the WHO Africa Health Forum, including academics, government representatives, the private sector and youth organisations.

Themes to be covered at the two-day event will include:

Health financing;
Health security;
Health research, innovation and data;
UHC and the private sector in Africa;
Old enemies such as HIV and the rise of new threats such as non-communicable diseases.

There will also be special sessions on e-health in Africa and the health of young people in the healthcare debate.

To register to attend the event, please visit africahealthforum.afro.who.int

Details: Rita Akana; 21.Jun.2017; Hits: 2790

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Details: Health

JOHANNESBURG — Among the people socializing in a tavern in Alexandra township in Johannesburg is Karabo Sathekge, who asked that VOA not give her real name. She is a slight, attractive 19-year-old in a veil of an orange dress, defying the winter chill.

Sathekge often meets one of her partners here. He is more than twice her age.

Sathekge explains that sex with older men is sometimes "rough," and always without a condom.

South Africa has almost 7 million people living with HIV and manages the globe's largest antiretroviral program, keeping about 4 million people alive with the drugs. At the South African National AIDS Conference in Durban this week, specialists voiced their concern about the spiking rates of infections among young women, a trend reflected throughout the continent.

"What does it tell you about the lack of knowledge about HIV, 20, 30 years into the HIV epidemic?" said Mark Heywood, the director of the Section 27 social justice movement. "We have seen, shockingly, a decline in knowledge of HIV amongst young people. It is like we have taken our foot off the accelerator, in certain respects."

Heywood says more than 200 young women, ages 15 to 24, are infected with HIV each day in South Africa.

Details: Rita Akana; 18.Jun.2017; Hits: 2318

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Details: Health

The Nkululu neighbourhood has witnessed a one of a kind incident on Tuesday when two kids 3 and 6 years old died mysteriously. The cause of death is unknown but it is highly suspected that the yogurt they consumed which was given by a neighbor was the root cause of their untimely death.

A neighbor whose name we got as Carole quoted that “these children were very healthy and showed no sign of sickness this morning but we are surprised to see that the cold hands of death could so sudden take away the lives of these innocent kids”

The neighbor in question who gave them the yogurt is currently in custody and the forces of law and order are investigating the veracity of the claims while the corps of the two kids have been taken to the Nkululu district hospital mortuary.

Details: Ivo Nsame; 01.Jun.2017; Hits: 2749

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Flourish Doctor Article Count: 3

Meet Your Coach Dr. Joyce Akwe ... With a master's in public health and a medical doctor specialized in internal medicine with a focus on hospital medicine.

Dr. Joyce Akwe is the Chief of Hospital Medicine at the Atlanta VA Health Care System (Atlanta VAHCS), an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Faculty with Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta GA.

After Medical school Dr. Akwe worked for the World Health Organization and then decided to go back to clinical medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency and chief resident year at Morehouse School of Medicine. After that, she joined the Atlanta Veterans VAHCS Hospital Medicine team and has been caring for our nation’s Veterans since then.

Dr. Akwe has built her career in service and leadership at the Atlanta VA HealthCare System, but her influence has extended beyond your work at the Atlanta VA, Emory University, and Morehouse School of Medicine. She has mentored multiple young physicians and continuous to do so. She has previously been recognized by the Chapter for her community service (2010), teaching (as recipient of the 2014 J Willis Hurst Outstanding Bedside Teaching Award), and for your inspirational leadership to younger physicians (as recipient of the 2018 Mark Silverman Award). The Walter J. Moore Leadership Award is another laudable milestone in your car

Dr. Akwe teaches medical students, interns and residents. She particularly enjoys bedside teaching and Quality improvement in Health care which is aimed at improving patient care. Dr. Akwe received the distinguished physician award from Emory University School of medicine and the Nanette Wenger Award for leadership. She has published multiple papers on health care topics.