Asthma deaths to increase in the next 10 years - WHO

 Moses Wasamu, Kenya
(First published in The Star, Kenya on 27th May 2013): Asthma deaths will increase by almost 20 per cent in the next 10 years if urgent action is not taken, the World Health Organisation says. At the moment, WHO says over 80 per cent of asthma deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries. Sharlene (not her real name), a Nairobi resident, understands the challenges associated with asthma only too well. She was diagnosed with asthma in childhood. Due to her condition, she cannot participate in vigorous activities like sports that require a lot of energy, or carry heavy loads.

We need new strategies to fight malaria, experts say

Moses Wasamu, Kenya
(First published in The Star, Kenya on 15th April 2013): Malaria control strategies must keep up with the rapidly changing patterns of malaria infection in low transmission settings, the authors of a new review published in The Lancet say. Sir Richard Feachem, director of the Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco, USA, and senior author of the study, says the malaria control strategies implemented over the last decade have been highly successful in reducing malaria worldwide. “However, these strategies must evolve to respond effectively to the changing patterns of infection in low transmission areas,” he says.

Research findings underscore need for additional HIV prevention options for women

Moses Wasamu, Kenya
Results of recent research findings underscore the need to accelerate development of additional HIV prevention options for women in the area of HIV prevention. The HIV prevention trial was done among women in Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and its results released at a scientific conference in the US early March. At the same time, the results from a large-scale HIV prevention trial among African women known as VOICE (Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic), provide an urgent reminder that products must meet the needs of the people using them.

Lung diseases a major killer of women

Female MDR-TB Ward
KS Roy Hospital, Kolkata
Photo credit: CNS

Moses Wasamu, Kenya
(First published in The Star, Kenya on 8th March 2013): The International Women’s Day is marked all over the world to celebrate the positive developments that have taken place among women. Annually on March 8, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. However, despite the positive developments that have been experienced, women still face many challenges in life. The unfortunate fact is that globally, women's health is worse than that of men. Lung disease is one of the top three causes of death among women worldwide. The World Health Organisation says the leading risk factor is tobacco use, and the sad fact is that it is on the rise among women.