insert_link Health / Medical How patterns of conversation could help identify early signs of autism in children fizkes/Shutterstock By Vittorio Tantucci, Lancaster University Autistic children – and adults – often communicate differently to neurotypical people. Key characteristics of autistic speech can include less eye contact, focusing on the details rather than the overall gist of a conversation, and favouring literal meaning: autistic people may find it more challenging to guess if something is being implied rather than said directly. These differences may make some communication […] todaySeptember 10, 2024 20
insert_link Health / Medical Is your desk job killing your back? Ancient Egyptian scribes had the same aches and pains, say researchers By Petra Brukner Havelková, National Museum (Národní muzeum) Prague and Veronika Dulíková, Charles University Thousands of years ago, during a period of Egyptian history known as the Old Kingdom (around 2649–2130 BC), it was rare for people to be able to read and write. From an estimated population of between 1 million and 1.5 million, only about 1% were literate and able to write in hieroglyphics. […] todaySeptember 10, 2024 54
insert_link Africa Kenya’s new social health insurance fund wants to improve care for mothers and babies: but it faces challenges By Boniface Oyugi, University of Kent Kenya has made strides in maternal and child health over the past decade. Preventable complications related to pregnancy still result in about 5,000 maternal deaths annually, however. I am a health economist and health policy specialist and co-author of a study of the Kenyan health system to evaluate the state of maternal care in the country. This is important because the […] todaySeptember 9, 2024 30
insert_link Health / Medical Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a major review of 28 years of research Keira Burton/Pexels By Sarah Loughran, University of Wollongong and Ken Karipidis, Monash University A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organization and is published today in the journal Environment International. Mobile phones are often held against the head during use. And they emit radio waves, […] todaySeptember 4, 2024 11
Africa Mpox could spread into conflict zones in east Africa – how to manage the response By Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Torrens University Australia and Hafte Kahsay Kebede, Torrens University Australia Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda are some of the east African countries that have reported cases of mpox – a viral infectious disease – in the latest outbreak which started in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2023. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by Africa […] todaySeptember 2, 2024 21
insert_link Africa Aluminium foil that can clean water: we’ve developed a coating which attracts and traps dangerous microbes John Fredricks/NurPhoto By Taufiq Ihsan, Universitas Andalas More than 2 billion people around the world do not have access to safe, uncontaminated drinking water. Around 418 million of them live in African countries. The problem is most acute in rural communities, where people’s primary water sources are rivers, lakes and hand-dug wells, which are often contaminated with harmful pathogens. This contamination is caused by inadequate sanitation facilities, open […] todaySeptember 2, 2024 23
insert_link Africa Mpox in the DRC: children are at high risk – health expert explains why By Nadia Adjoa Sam-Agudu, University of Minnesota The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that children, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk from the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reports confirm that children under five account for 39% of all cases in the country, and babies as young as two weeks are being diagnosed with this viral illness. Nadia […] todaySeptember 2, 2024 40
insert_link Health / Medical Health Ministry Updates On Results for Three Potential Mpox Cases This week, the Health Ministry announced that 18 patients across Namibia's public and private health facilities have been tested for Mpox. Of these, 15 cases returned negative results, while the outcomes for the remaining three are still pending. Executive Director Ben Nangombe provided the latest update: todayAugust 30, 2024 47
insert_link Africa Africa records nearly 1 million new cancer cases annually The CEO of the Cancer Association of Namibia, Rolf Hansen, is attending the 74th Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa in Congo Brazzaville. Hansen highlighted the urgent cancer crisis in the region, noting that over 900,000 new cancer cases and 586,000 cancer deaths occur annually in Africa. In response, the UICC community has welcomed the proposed framework as a crucial step forward. To maximize […] todayAugust 29, 2024 23