Traditional Medicine, Biomedicine and Christianity in Modern Zambia

Africa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaori Sugishita
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
National Health ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
World Health ◽  
National Health Care ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The Government ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization has recognized ‘traditional medicine’ as ade factoand economical substitute for biomedicine in the developing world. Accordingly, the Zambian government aims to integrate ‘traditional healers’, locally known asng'anga, with their biomedical counterparts in a national health care system. Hence, on the one hand,ng'angaelaborate their practice into ‘herbalism’, which could meet scientific standards and fit into the scope of biomedicine. On the other hand, they continue to deal with affliction by positing the existence of occult agents, such as witchcraft and spirits, at the risk of being criticized for exploiting indigenous beliefs. As a result, manyng'angaassociate themselves with Christianity, the national religion of Zambia, which serves as an official domain of the occult where they take refuge from biomedical rationalization. However, conventional churches, the government and health authorities do not approve of the link between Christianity and traditional medicine; henceng'angaas traditional healers are marginalized in modern, Christian Zambia. Being thus dissociated from the national religion,ng'angaare officially confined to the periphery of national health care, where they submit to the primacy of biomedicine and the workings of state power.

scholarly journals THE WAY THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN UKRAINE LOOKS LIKE: INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES WITHIN NATIONAL REALITIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-691
Author(s):  
Borys O. Lohvynenko ◽  
Roman V. Myroniuk ◽  
Olexander P. Svitlychnyy ◽  
Aleksey Y. Prokopenko ◽  
Lidija I. Kalenichenko
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
World Health ◽  
National Health Care ◽  
National Health Care System ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Care System

Introduction: Nowadays there is the transformation of the national health care system in Ukraine, the ultimate goal of which is to create a modern, competitive model of medical care of citizens on the basis of forming packages of free medical services. However, the model adopted by Ukraine is in contradiction with national legislation in part of free medical aid guaranteed by the Art. 49 of the Constitution of Ukraine, and fragmentary considers positive international practices. The aim of the paper is to determine the mistakes of the reform of the Ukrainian health care system and to reveal the positive international practices of the organization of health care systems that can be implemented in Ukraine. Materials and methods: National and international legislation, official web resources of the executive authorities of Ukraine, statistics of the World Health Organization, materials of journalistic and scientific periodicals are the materials for the research of the health care system in Ukraine in comparison with international practices. Research methods are cross-sectoral, complex statistical, comparative, generalization, analysis and synthesis. In order to obtain the results, the authors have conducted a critical analysis of the current norms of the national Ukrainian legislation in the health care sector. Review: The authors of the article have studied the main disadvantages of the national health care system in accordance with the concept of reforming the medical sector. Positive international practices that can be implemented into Ukrainian system for the real improvement of medical human rights in Ukraine have been revealed. Conclusions: It has been proved that the ongoing reform of the health care system in Ukraine needs to be reviewed and optimized. It has been offered to consolidate a perspective model of the Ukrainian health care system, its principles and guarantees of immunity at the legislative level.

scholarly journals Influenza vaccination during pregnancy and influencing factors in Korea: A multicenter questionnaire study of pregnant women and obstetrics and gynecology doctors

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung Soo Kang ◽  
San Ha Lee ◽  
Woo Jeng Kim ◽  
Jeong Ha Wie ◽  
In Yang Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
World Health ◽  
Obstetrics And Gynecology ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The Government ◽  
Vaccine Information ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Maternal Influenza

Abstract Background Although the World Health Organization and health authorities in most countries recommend that pregnant women receive inactivated influenza virus vaccines, coverage remains low. This study aimed to investigate (1) the proportion of pregnant women who received an influenza vaccination and influencing factors and (2) the proportion of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) doctors who routinely recommend influenza vaccination to pregnant women and influencing factors. Methods Two separate, anonymized questionnaires were developed for physicians and pregnant and postpartum women and were distributed to multicenters and clinics in South Korea. The proportions of women who received influenza vaccination during pregnancy and OBGYN doctors who routinely recommend the influenza vaccine to pregnant women were analyzed. Independent influencing factors for both maternal influenza vaccination and OBGYN doctors’ routine recommendations to pregnant women were analyzed using log-binomial regression analysis. Results The proportion of self-reported influenza vaccination during pregnancy among 522 women was 63.2%. Pregnancy-related independent factors influencing maternal influenza vaccination were “(ever) received information about influenza vaccination during pregnancy” (OR 8.9, 95% CI 4.17–19.01), “received vaccine information about from OBGYN doctors” (OR 11.44, 95% CI 5.46–24.00), “information obtained from other sources” (OR 4.38, 95% CI 2.01–9.55), and “second/third trimester” (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.21–4.82).. Among 372 OBGYN doctors, 76.9% routinely recommended vaccination for pregnant women. Independent factors effecting routine recommendation were “working at a private clinic or hospital” (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.44–11.65), “awareness of KCDC guidelines” (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.11–8.73), and “awareness of the 2019 national free influenza vaccination program for pregnant women” (OR 4.88, 95% CI 2.34–10.17). OBGYN doctors most commonly chose ‘guidelines proposed by the government or public health (108, 46%) and academic committees (59, 25%), as a factor which expect to affect the future recommendation Conclusion This study showed that providing information about maternal influenza vaccination, especially by OBGYN doctors, is crucial for increasing vaccination coverage in pregnant women. Closer cooperation between the government and OBGYN academic societies to educate OBGYN doctors might enhance routine recommendations.

scholarly journals Policy makers’ perceptions and attitudes regarding incorporation of traditional healers into the national health care delivery system

Curationis ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Pinkoane
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Health Care Delivery ◽  
National Health ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Care Delivery System ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
National Health Care ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes

Based on mixed perceptions which were both negative and positive the policy makers have not been vocal about the process to incorporate traditional healers into the National Health Care Delivery System of South Africa. Negative views were related to the denial that traditional healing does provide a cure and the positive views were identified in the passing of policies from 1994. These policies passed initiated recognition of the existence of traditional healers, but failed to address the important aspect of incorporating the traditional healers into the National Health Care Delivery System. It is these mixed perceptions as well as lack of appropriate policy to facilitate incorporation of traditional healers that urged the researcher to explore the perceptions and attitudes of policy makers regarding this incorporation process, as well as their views on how it should be achieved.

scholarly journals Slavoj Žižek, Pandemic! COVID-19 Shakes the World

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. xlix-l
Author(s):  
Shehzad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Global Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Disaster Capitalism ◽  
Global Health Care ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

One of the major themes of the book is to recognize the seriousness of the situation and its possible outcomes. Žižek informs us that the only possible way to face the challenge is to realize that world leaders should unite and develop a global health care system presided over by the World Health organization. As it is obvious that almost every crisis creates opportunities of some kind Žižek seems to argue that in the current disaster there is potential for communism (though not the one of 20th century type but the one) based on human cooperation. As he says: “it should be a disaster communism as an antidote to the disaster capitalism.”

scholarly journals Pharmacy Practice Scenario and Job Satisfaction among Nepalese Pharmacists

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-188
Author(s):  
Dharma Prasad Khanal ◽  
Bishwo Raj Dhungana ◽  
Naresh Kadyat
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
National Health ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Pharmacy Education ◽  
Time Duration ◽  
National Health Care ◽  
The Government ◽  
Care System

Background:This is an effort just snapshot the pharmacy practice scenario in Nepal. Job satisfaction is a very important contributing factor for person’s productivity and motivation. Pharmacists are the key players of the health care system. The main objective find out the present scenario of pharmacy practice and job satisfaction of Nepalese pharmacists. We start our approach from the demographic information, choice and selection of the pharmacy education, study site, practicing site, duration of work, expected and real salary of practicing pharmacists. Methods:A practice scenario and job satisfaction related questionnaires were developed and pilot test was done with ten pharmacy practitioners who were practicing from more than ten years in Nepal for reliability. Minor modification on questionnaires was done after pilot testing. Ethical clearance was taken from the MMIHS –IRC. Results:Male pharmacists are dominating to female. The satisfaction level of Nepalese pharmacist was found to be 73.60%. Similarly, around 73.10% of pharmacists were satisfied with nature of work and 71.60% of pharmacists were satisfied with the time duration of work whereas nearly half of the pharmacists were unsatisfied with their income and pay scale. Conclusion: Till date pharmacist is not the permanent member of health care system in Nepal. 70 % pharmacists are highly productive stage of between ages 20-30 years. The inherent interest in the pharmacy profession found among Nepalese pharmacists is an optimistic and policy-makers could develop, modifying national health policy for the implementation of pharmaceutical service as an integral part of national health care system of the country for the benefit of the public health as a whole. The Government and other authorities have to consider for a universal, multifaceted measure of satisfaction not merely the salary benefits.

Health care in South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 70-75
Author(s):  
Elena Frolova
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
World Health ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

Every person who is at least somewhat familiar with the history of medicine knows the name of Christiaan Barnard, cardiac surgeon who performed the first successful heart transplant. This happened on December 3, 1967 at a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. A man suffering from an incurable heart disease had a healthy organ transplant from a 25-yearold girl who died in a car accident. The patient lived for two weeks and died from complicated bilateral pneumonia, however, this case marked the beginning of a new era in transplantology giving hope of saving hundreds of patients. What do we know about health care of the Republic of South Africa, one of the most developed countries on the African continent? How much does the present situation allow the government to be classified as a world leader in healthcare? Unfortunately, according to the World Health Organization newsletter, South Africa at the present stage tops the sad ranking of countries by the number of HIV-infected and AIDS patients — about 7 million out of the 58 million people are infected with a dangerous virus. Unlike developed countries, where the main cause of death is pathology of the cardiovascular system, strokes and malignant neoplasms, three quarters of patients in the Republic of South Africa die due to infectious processes. Speaking about the heterogeneity of medicine, we were almost for the first time confronted with the fact that health services can be divided not only into health care for the «rich and poor», but also for the «white and black».

scholarly journals Benefits of Mainstreaming Herbal Medicine in the Philippine Healthcare System

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia C. Maramba-Lazarte
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Organization

There are several problems that continue to plague the Philippine health care system. The cost of branded drugs in the Philippines is 22 times more than international reference prices while generic drugs are 4 times more.1 Despite price reductions due to legislations such as the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008, as well as the Generics Act of 1988, those in the lower-income brackets still cannot afford maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes as well as antibiotics.2 Access to medicines and care from physicians and other healthcare professionals is especially challenging for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas wherein the people are physically or economically inaccessible. Filipino traditional medicine, of which herbal medicine plays a large role has been around for centuries and is wellaccepted in the rural areas. Validating the use of these traditional medicinal plants through research is essential in order to have an evidence-based practice of herbal medicine. The main areas of research can be defined as (1) herbal medicine quality and standardization, (2) preclinical pharmacological assessments and action mechanisms, and (3) clinical efficacy and safety assessments.3 These types of researches aimed at developing safe and efficacious, as well as low-cost Philippine herbal medicines, may well be a long-term solution to the obstacles to a healthy population cited above. Our Philippine medicinal plants are a valuable but often underappreciated resource with innumerable applications for non-communicable and communicable disease indications. Limited research in this field had long been ongoing in the Philippines. Support for this movement came with the passage of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 which affirmed the commitment of the government towards the support and development of traditional medicine including herbal medicine.4 Another boost was the endorsement of the Department of Health of the Sampung Halamang Gamot in the 1990s.5 The World Health Organization has advocated the integration of Traditional Medicine within national health care systems and has urged governments to develop and implement national traditional medicine policies and programs especially with Universal Health Coverage.6 It was the National Integrated Research Program of the Philippines (NIRPROMP) who was at the forefront of this field and conducted the initial studies of these Ten Medicinal Plants.7 Many of them have been developed into modern formulations. These include Lagundi (Vitex negundo) tablet and syrup for cough and asthma, Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) tablet as a diuretic and treatment of urolithiasis, Tsaang gubat (Ehretia microphylla) tablet for gastrointestinal and biliary colic, Akapulco (Senna alata) lotion for cutaneous fungal infections, Yerba Buena (Mentha villosa) tablet as an analgesic, Ulasimang bato (Peperomia pellucida) tablet for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia. Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) tablet was also developed as a glucose-lowering agent, but it is presently undergoing researches on the reformulated tablet.8 Several of the articles in this issue present evidence for the use of some of the mentioned medicinal plants. The NIRPROMP was the forerunner and is still an integral part of the Institute of Herbal Medicine. Lagundi and Sambong have been integrated into the clinical practice of physicians in the Philippines, even by specialists. They have both been scientific and commercial successes.9 Their production has contributed to the revenue and growth of the Philippine Pharmaceutical Industry, as well as improved the economic status of farmers cultivating these crops. Developing more herbal medicines needed for primary health care would decrease our dependence on the importation of medicines, and increase the accessibility of drugs even in geographically isolated areas. Bringing back the herbal medicine gardens to the barangays in the rural communities will also assist in empowering the population. The integration of herbal medicines into mainstream clinical practice will only be possible if the researches performed, both non-clinical and clinical, are as robust as those for synthetic medicine.     Cecilia C. Maramba-Lazarte, MD Director Institute of Herbal Medicine National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila     REFERENCES 1. Paris J. Pharma Companies Offer to Cut Drug Prices [Internet] Rappler. 2019 25 October [cited 2020 Jan 15]. Available from https://www. rappler.com/nation/243372-pharmaceutical-companies-offer-cut-drug-prices. 2. Clarete RL, Llanto GM. 2017. Access to medicines in the Philippines: Overcoming the barriers [Internet]. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. 2017 [cited 2020 Jan 14]. Available from http://hdl.handle.net/11540/7967. 3. Zhang AL, Xue CC, Fong HH. Integration of Herbal Medicine into Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Current Status and Issues. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, eds. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. 4. Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, Republic Act No. 8423, Approved: December 9, 1997. 5. World Health Organization. Report of the Working Group on Herbal Medicines Meeting, March 1997. 6. World Health Organization. WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2014-2023. 7. Eusebio JE, Umali BE. Inventory, documentation and status of medicinal plants research in Philippines. In: Batugal PA, Kanniah J, Young LS, Oliver JT, editors. Medicinal plants research in Asia, Volume 1: The framework and project workplans. Selangor DE, Malaysia: International Plant Genetic Resource Institute-Regional office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), Serdang; 2004. 8. Purificacion J, Maramba N. Research Proposal Phase 1 Clinical Trial: Safety and Efficacy of Lyophilized Momordica charantia (Ampalaya) leaf tablet among Normal Volunteer Subjects (2018 version). 9. From Herbal Folklore to Modern Medicine [Internet]. World Intellectual Property Organization. 2013 [cited 2020 Jan 14]. Available from https://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=3661.

scholarly journals The impact of second-hand smoke on nitrogen oxides concentrations in a small interior

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Braun ◽  
Doris Klingelhöfer ◽  
Ruth Müller ◽  
David A. Groneberg
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Test Chamber ◽  
World Health ◽  
Second Hand Smoke ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The One ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

AbstractNitrogen oxides (NOx), especially nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are among the most hazardous forms of air pollution. Tobacco smoke is a main indoor source of NOx, but little information is available about their concentrations in second-hand smoke (SHS), particularly in small indoors. This study presents data of NOx and its main components nitric oxide (NO) and NO2 in SHS emitted by ten different cigarette brands measured in a closed test chamber with a volume of 2.88 m3, similar to the volume of vehicle cabins. The results show substantial increases in NOx concentrations when smoking only one cigarette. The NO2 mean concentrations ranged between 105 and 293 µg/m3, the NO2 peak concentrations between 126 and 357 µg/m3. That means the one-hour mean guideline of 200 µg/m3 for NO2 of the World Health Organization was exceeded up to 47%, respectively 79%. The measured NO2 values show positive correlations with the values for tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide stated by the cigarette manufacturers. This study provides NO2 concentrations in SHS at health hazard levels. These data give rise to the necessity of health authorities’ measures to inform about and caution against NOx exposure by smoking in indoor rooms.

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