World Leaders Commit to Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health

A decade ago, anti-poverty goals were adopted, and now ways of implementation are being reviewed to push the “Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.” It’s the project that Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg calls as the key to lasting safety and future security – an effort to save lives from unnecessary deaths of women and children.

World leaders have shown considerable interest in the project, suggesting ways on how to make the project successful and reassuring fulfillment of commitments. U.S. Pres. Barack Obama said, “We will keep our promises and honor our commitments.” In the face of crisis in the global economy, he believes that even the poorest countries can advance the prosperity and security of people far beyond borders.

Just what are these commitments? Governments and nonprofit agencies committed to provide $40 billion dollars that would finance ways of saving 16 million lives of women and children in the next 5 years. On the other hand, deep concerns arose about getting budget as the world struggles with bad economy. Presently, there is an estimated 8 million deaths among children less than 5 years of age, and about 350, 000 women who die during pregnancy and childbirth. Mostly are among the 1 billion people living in less than $1.25 per day.



UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made emphasis on cutting extreme poverty by half through universal primary education as well as by halting and reversing HIV/AIDS pandemic. He said with certainty that the 21st century must be and will be different. Ban’s optimism is shared with by Josette Sheeran, executive director of the U.N.’s World Food Program. She said that the most powerful intervention hunger and poverty is to ensure women have access to food so they can build a future for their children, for themselves, and for their villages. Further, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Rwandan Pres. Paul Kagame, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, as well as Tanzanian PM Mizengo Pinda spoke of ways to tackle maternal and mortality, including childbirth assistance training among midwives and other health care workers, inexpensive vaccine for diseases causing needless deaths among small children.

While there can be access to food and basic health needs, we know that governmental and societal disease could block implementation. As a result, many of those in need are still not able to receive what they most necessitate. Former Chilean Pres. Michelle Bachelet saw solution in making women’s issues a human rights issue, putting emphasis on women’s equality and reduction of deaths among women in pregnancy and childbirth. She said huge commitment to work harder is needed to make big advances on the goals.

In developed countries, the needed information in caring for pregnant women and children are readily available. Even in some third world countries, local health care workers are capable of educating the public. In many lands, vaccines that would protect children from diseases are being administered. Sadly, not all people have access to these valuable information and basic health needs.

Witnessing needless deaths of women and children are unwanted scenes enveloping tales of the less fortunate people. Needless because their deaths are preventable, and the world has the solutions almost 100 years already. However, millions of women and children still die unnecessarily. If you are a health care worker able to see this unfortunate reality, you may as well dedicate sometime of your profession extending them help. But we neither have to be in Cherokee scrubs or Landau scrubs to be able to help, nor should we simply let the government do their job. In our own simple ways, we can directly offer our help by means of providing awareness and financial aid.

How Safe is Genetically Modified Foods

Prince Charles of England once argued that transferring genes between utterly unrelated species “takes us into the realms that belong to God, and to God alone.” Sincere students of the Bible don’t, however, see that God disapproves of the selective breeding of plants and animals to sustain life of the booming population. Optimistic proponents of biotechnology say genetic engineering is a new green revolution. So despite ethical issues among scientists in lab coats and different views of the public, genetically modified or GM foods continue to feed humanity today.

At this very moment, in the United States, the GM food industry is awaiting yet another turning point in this venture as the Food and Drug Administration or FDA considers approving genetically modified Atlantic salmon for human consumption. This AquAdvantage salmon is the Atlantic salmon that was given antifreeze gene from the ocean pout and Chinook salmon’s growth hormone, speeding its growth twice as faster as the traditional Atlantic salmon. The genes inserted allowed AquAdvantage Salmon to grow speedily even during the cold months, which the Atlantic salmon lacks, allowing only 18 months until harvest instead of three years.

In a briefing, the FDA staff wrote, “Food from AquAdvantage Salmon… is as safe as food from other Atlantic salmon.” We have found no biologically relevant difference between food from AquaBounty Salmon and conventional Atlantic salmon. (Aquabounty is the company behind AquAdvantage salmon.) But because critical information is held behind closed doors, independent scientists, consumer groups, and environmental organizations are concerned about pending FDA decision, safety, and long term effect of future GM salmon fish farms to the wild salmon population.

While regulating agencies can’t keep up with the advancements of genetically engineered plants, critics of unintended irreversible results in the future would grow in much larger scale as regards genetically engineered animals. The concern is that immense since the decision of FDA will create a chain reaction that could boost industry of genetically engineered hogs, cows, and others.


Potential dangers of genetically altered salmon are yet to be discovered. Meanwhile, researchers warn about the potential dangers of foods from gm plants like corns, potatoes, apples, beet, beans, grains, and other crops. People eating such foods can be at risk of allergic reactions, increased toxicity, and resistance to antibiotics. Further, the development of GM crops can also affect the environment, possibly developing superweeds, demise of safe pesticides, and can harm other organisms that are dependent on plants.

Diabetes Risk May Be Reduced with Higher Green Leafy Vegetables Consumption

To combat diabetes, sufferers don’t only need medications prescribed by physicians; their battle begins with healthy diet. Expert nutritionists have long been promoting more fruit and veggies intake, and they’ve just found another reason to push on their advocacy. Researchers from Leicester University that diet rich in green leafy vegetables may reduce the risk of developing diabetes, particularly spinach and kale.

The research team, lead by Melanie Davies, professor of diabetic medicine at the University of Leicester, UK, found that a daily dose of 106g of veggies reduced the risk of diabetes by 14%. Although, not yet very clear how green leafy vegetables exactly affect diabetes risk, the researchers believe it was due to the high content of antioxidants, vitamin c, and high levels of magnesium in them.

While this study still needs further proof, it will be best if people take good care of their health with proper diet and regular exercise. Diet must be high in fiber, grains and legumes, nuts, onions as well as garlic because they all work in maintaining blood glucose levels. Meanwhile, foods with trans fats, deep-fried food, and red meat must be avoided. To see how your blood sugar is doing, check with your physician. Those experts in medical scrub tops and pants will also provide you with information on how to manage your blood sugar levels.

A call for help to the International community – PAKISTAN IN DIRE NEED

Is it time to criticize, or is it time to extend love to the disaster-stricken Pakistanis?

About one-quarter of the entire Pakistan is covered with flood caused by the monsoon rains that are just halfway through. 71 districts were hit, vanishing 720,000 dwellings and killing 1,500 Pakistanis. 20 million homeless victims were forced to huddle in sludgy camps and overcrowded public buildings. Others are spending nights under no cover, sleeping beside their sheep, cows and goats.

There’s no need to set foot to the Pakistani soil to see the real situation. News videos are telling the whole story. The country is indeed going through floods that the world had never seen in recent memory. The disaster is said to be worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Pakistan quake combined. Pakistanis are in dire need of help from the international community.

UN Chief Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in his visit to the Pakistan, seeing the real state of the victims, called for help. He encouraged the international community to send strong and urgent aid to bring relief on the ground. (Ban photo from CNN)

It is estimated that the country would need $460 million aid in order to resolve problems resulting from the floods. As of now, pledges reached $200 to $300 million, but are nowhere near enough based on what is seen. As the rains continue, better days are unlikely expected to come soon. Subsequently, the number of victims will rise, and the needs for aid will increase as well.
Sadly, present help coming from locally and from some international groups is barely felt. Speculations seem to tell this is due to the reputation and perception that the Pakistani government is corrupt, and that the 15,000 death toll is relatively low compared to other disasters. However, holding back aid could mean death of many victims due to unsanitary and aggravated conditions.

The most common problem is cholera, a treatable but fatal disease without the necessary medicine as well as clean food and water supplies. In the coming weeks, the country will need people in lab coats for closer medical aid as well. As of now, Pakistan has no means of resolving even this particular problem. As noted by Ban, the courage, resilience and vibrancy of Pakistanis will need international aid to be able to pull them altogether across this disaster.

At the wake of such heart-wrenching situation, may more people show love to fellowmen than criticize the country for anything it has caused against international peace. Your efforts could mean better condition, not just for the flood victims, but also for solidarity between nations.