Making the COVID-19 pandemic visible: Grass-roots mapping initiates in Rio de Janeiro

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana de Souza e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Mobile Platforms ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Digital Maps ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Government Data ◽  
Grass Roots Initiatives

During this past year, digital maps have been used around the world to spatially display COVID-19 cases and deaths. Some of these maps aggregate official government data, and others are built with user-generated content. Particularly in low-income communities, where residents do not have proper access to tests, user-generated maps help people understand the scope of the pandemic. Two examples of grass-roots initiatives that use maps to make the pandemic visible are Conexão Saúde and Painel Unificador de Favelas. Both emerged in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), one of the countries mostly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper describes the implementation of these initiatives, considering how networked grass-roots approaches can be effective in locally mapping a pandemic. The findings reveal that the interconnection among mobile platforms, community leaders and NGOs are critical socio-technical assemblages that help visualize a public health crisis that would otherwise remain invisible to the world.

Eating NAFTA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyshia Gálvez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The North ◽  
The World

In the two decades since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, Mexico has seen an epidemic of diet-related illness. While globalization has been associated with an increase in chronic disease around the world, in Mexico, the speed and scope of the rise has been called a public health emergency. The shift in Mexican foodways is happening at a moment when the country’s ancestral cuisine is now more popular and appreciated around the world than ever. What does it mean for their health and well-being when many Mexicans eat fewer tortillas and more instant noodles, while global elites demand tacos made with handmade corn tortillas? This book examines the transformation of the Mexican food system since NAFTA and how it has made it harder for people to eat as they once did. The book contextualizes NAFTA within Mexico’s approach to economic development since the Revolution, noticing the role envisioned for rural and low-income people in the path to modernization. Examination of anti-poverty and public health policies in Mexico reveal how it has become easier for people to consume processed foods and beverages, even when to do so can be harmful to health. The book critiques Mexico’s strategy for addressing the public health crisis generated by rising rates of chronic disease for blaming the dietary habits of those whose lives have been upended by the economic and political shifts of NAFTA.

scholarly journals Lessons earned and lessons learned: What should be done next to counter the COVID-19 infodemic?

European View ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-163
Author(s):  
Nad’a Kovalčíková ◽  
Ariane Tabatabai
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
The World ◽  
Information Manipulation ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

As governments and citizens around the world have struggled with the novel coronavirus, the information space has turned into a battleground. Authoritarian countries, including Russia, China and Iran, have spread disinformation on the causes of and responses to the pandemic. The over-abundance of information, also referred to as an ‘infodemic’, including manipulated information, has been both a cause and a result of the exacerbation of the public health crisis. It is further undermining trust in democratic institutions, the independent press, and facts and data, and exacerbating the rising tensions driven by economic, political and societal challenges. This article discusses the challenges democracies have faced and the measures they have adopted to counter information manipulation that impedes public health efforts. It draws seven lessons learned from the information war and offers a set of recommendations on tackling future infodemics related to public health.

scholarly journals Meaning-Making Through Creativity During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hansika Kapoor ◽  
James C. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Response ◽  
Abrupt Change ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
The World ◽  
Current Events ◽  
Personal Community

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an abrupt change in routines and livelihoods all around the world. This public health crisis amplified a number of systemic inequalities that led to populations needing to grapple with universally difficult truths. Yet some individuals, firms, and countries displayed resilient and creative responses in coping with pressing demands on healthcare and basic sanity. Past work has suggested that engaging in creative acts can be an adaptive response to a changing environment. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe how entities at the personal, community, and national levels cultivated and expressed creativity in an effort to make meaning during COVID-19. By overlaying the Four C model of creativity on such responses, we aim to (a) to connect mini, little, Pro, and Big creative behaviors with our attempts to make meaning of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and (b) to suggest how engaging in creative expression can be used to guard against the adverse consequences of this outbreak. Acknowledging that this time has been and continues to be distressing and filled with uncertainty, we propose some ways of making sense of current events by applying original thinking across domains. Further, we propose how engaging in creativity can serve to buffer against the negative effects of living through the pandemic.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Pandemic: a major public health crisis for the developed and developing world

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (03) ◽  
pp. 366-369
Author(s):  
Rooh Ullah ◽  
Muhammad Suleman Rana ◽  
Mehmood Qadir ◽  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Niaz Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Day By Day

Pandemic of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in China is now become global public health crisis. At present 87.64% of the world is infected by this deadly illness. The risk from this epidemic depends on the nature of the virus, including how well it transmits from person to person, and the complications resulting from this current illness. The novel coronavirus has killed thousands of people in China and other countries as well; its rate of mortality is increasing day by day. There is an urgent need to control the virus by developing vaccine or any other antiviral drugs to save the world from this deadly viral infection.

scholarly journals General recommendations and guidelines for remote assessment of toddlers and children

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn J King ◽  
Kathryn Garrisi ◽  
Lindsay Hillyer ◽  
Nadine Gaab
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Clinical Services ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Remote Assessment ◽  
To Receive

High rates of infection and mortality from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the sudden closures of educational institutions in 191 countries, affecting over 91% of students around the world (Holmes, 2020). Schools, clinics, and research institutions around the world abruptly closed their doors to mitigate a growing public health crisis, postponing critical in-person and research services. With an uncertain date of return to typical in-person schooling or clinical visits, remote assessment offers the best opportunity for children to receive necessary educational and clinical services. Here we offer a practical guide to remote assessment for toddler through second grade age groups that can be applied to educational and clinical settings.

scholarly journals Rethinking Europe: the Lithuanian Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-119
Author(s):  
Violeta Motulaitė
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
Lisbon Treaty ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
European Unity ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Eu

The initiative of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CFE) stems out of the necessity to re-evaluate the European Union project after the Brexit, the wave of populism and nationalism and the changing geopolitical environment in the world, as well as to reflect upon the European unity ten years after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. As mentioned in this Franco – German initiative, it was meant to address all issues at stake and guide the future of Europe with a view to turning the EU more united and sovereign. It should have focused on policies and it should have identified the main reforms to be implemented as a matter of priority in each block of policies, setting out the types of changes to be made. The current public health crisis has redefined the problems and priorities of the EU. Some issues have become less topical, some have remained relevant and some have emerged as high priorities only now.

Recognizing a Public Health Crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Gordon Braxton
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Violent Men

There is an epidemic of violence in America, but boys are trained to sit on the sidelines. This chapter introduces the reader to key definitions, such as sexual violence, as well as key concepts, such as consent and rape culture. It provides the scope of the identified violence and situates sexual violence as a public health concern. The chapter further explains why boys and men should care about this violence even though they are trained to ignore it. Boys, after all, know survivors and are survivors themselves in many cases. Boys are also positioned to reach other boys who possess problematic attitudes and behaviors. All violent men were once boys learning the ways of the world. Taken altogether, this chapter inspires readers to hold overdue conversations with boys about how they can help.

A Study of Drugs and Substance Abuse among Adolescents of Slum Dwellers

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Mridula Sharma ◽  
Moni Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Slum Area ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Slum Dwellers ◽  
The World

Drugs and substance abuse and dependence has become a worldwide public health crisis. The abuse of drug is an international problem, which affects almost every country in the world, both developed and developing. The present study was carried out with the objective: To study the prevalence and patterns of drugs and substance abuse among adolescents, living in slum of Meerut. A survey was conducted on slum area of Nauchandi compound, Meerut District. Sample was collected from 110 boys of 12 to 16 years old. The survey was based on drug addiction habits. Results shows that 46.36 % adolescents of the slum area used substance like Gutkha, Tobacco, Smoking, Alcohol, Afeem, Ganja, Thinner and Marijuana. 54.91% admitted to using one time, 23.53% admitted rarely, 15.68% admitted occasionally and 5.88%   admitted that they have craving for drugs, so use frequently. The most common substances used were Gutkha 46.36%, tobacco 40.91%, smoking 37.27%, and alcohol 13.63%.  8.18% substance abusers used multiple substances. Synthetic narcotics and LSD were not used by any of the abusers. Our study revealed that prevalence of substance use among adolescents is high and cause significant problem in this population, therefore there is necessity of targeted interventions to reduce this huge burden.

Youth waves in transboundary water diplomacy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana Harrigan ◽  
◽  
Ellie McBurney
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Youth Empowerment ◽  
Transboundary Water ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
The World ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Water Diplomacy ◽  
Multiplier Effects ◽  
Grass Roots Initiatives

Young people, aged between 18 and 29, have an untapped potential to generate effective transboundary water diplomacy. Two thirds of the 263 transboundary water bodies around the world have no cooperative agreement, and climate change is expected to exacerbate pre-existing challenges. There are three key rationales for involving youth in transboundary governance: doing so is a form of climate justice; youth have a recognised ability to aid peacebuilding and conflict resolution; and there are a number of positive multiplier effects of youth empowerment as reflected by the Sustainable Development Goals. Case studies are presented to highlight these points. In the Nile Basin, youth have been involved in grass-roots initiatives, including a workshop on transboundary diplomacy by the Water Youth Network, and the Nile Project, where cultural connection across borders is achieved through music and a university scholars’ programme.

scholarly journals Where in the world can you find your ancestors?

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Larry Naukam
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
California State University ◽  
State University ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Geospatial Information ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
The World ◽  
Grass Roots Initiatives ◽  
Commercial Organizations

There is a rising awareness of the tools of Geospatial Information Systems on the part of both amateur and professional historians. Professionals (historians, political and social scientists, and even medical historians) are able to see and think about various trends in a more visual and useful way to them (think of seeing how various diseases spread and where and why), while amateurs seeking more information of their ancestors can also benefit by seeing migration patterns and places of origin, which could help them think about why their ancestors left a place to immigrate to a new country.Knowing who controlled what land and when can make the task of finding appropriate records, for any purpose, a bit easier. Also mentioned are grass roots initiatives, that is, not created by governments or commercial organizations, but by local genealogical and historical groups. This brief overview, done primarily from a layman's viewpoint, can engage the reader with an idea of how to get their work more appreciated and out "into the world". A study by a student at California State University at Fullerton mentions that such genealogy researchers tend to be generative (that is, concerned with passing information along to those following), and very aware of themselves and their ancestors in a time and place.Hopefully this will get more interaction between academics and people out in the world who can appreciate their work.

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