Spina Bifida Awareness Month 2013 is October. Spina bifida occurs when there is a fault in the development of a person’s spine spine (and spinal cord). This fault leaves a gap in their spine. Of course this means that there is a problem with the brain communicating with the rest of the body because the brain uses the spinal cord as the connection. Spina bifida is a fault in the development of the spine and spinal cord which leaves a gap in the spine. The spinal cord connects all parts … [Read more...]
Zambian AIDS Epidemic, World Pulse on Ground!
September 5, 2013 by
Dispatches from the Zambian AIDS Epidemic This July, World Pulse Managing Editor Corine Milano traveled to Zambia as an International Reporting Project Fellow to cover health issues from the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. With one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world—14.3% of the adult population—the Zambian people face an uphill battle. This series of interviews and firsthand accounts from World Pulse community members in Zambia reveals the strength of the country’s … [Read more...]
Thriving through Endomitriosis with Education
July 15, 2013 by
Although it used to be taught that endometriosis was a disease of white, affluent, childless, educated, older women, this is a myth! The disease can and does affect any female of reproductive age, regardless of race, socioeconomic or childbearing status. The disease has even been found, rarely, in a couple of men and girls prior to menses. What Is Endometriosis? The medical definition of endometriosis is the presence of tissue resembling - but not histologically identical to - the … [Read more...]
Counting 9.6 billion humans on earth by 2050
July 7, 2013 by
The current world population of 7.2 billion is projected to increase by 1 billion over the next 12 years and reach 9.6 billion by 2050, according to a report launched by DESA’s Population division in June. The report points out that growth will be mainly in developing countries, with more than half in Africa. Watch our interview with John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division, who gives us some insights about the last figures available. In our video interview, John Wilmoth is … [Read more...]
10 Baby Foods ‘not’ to make at home!
July 4, 2013 by
Making your own baby foods at home is neither as challenging nor as involved as it seems at first blush, and it allows you the opportunity to control each and every ingredient so that you know exactly what your baby is eating. In a world where genetically modified food and questionable agricultural practices make parents more concerned than ever about what they’re feeding their children, homemade baby food seems like the healthiest and most viable option. After all, the lack of transparency … [Read more...]
Helping a New Mom Feel Confident in Her Caregiving Skills
June 12, 2013 by
How to Help a New Mom Feel Confident in Her Caregiving Skills Working as a nanny is a rewarding and exciting career choice, but it’s not just the children under your care that will need some assistance from time to time. Becoming a new parent for the first time is overwhelming for many women, especially those who are reassured that the mysteries of parenting will magically reveal themselves upon childbirth and a “mother’s instincts” will kick in to make the process as effortless as breathing. … [Read more...]
Born into crisis: Unwanted pregnancies in Syria
May 31, 2013 by
ZA’ATARI CAMP, JORDAN, 29 May 2013 (IRIN) - When aid workers with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) speak to women inside Syria - many of them displaced from their homes and living in cramped collective shelters - they say they would rather do anything than get pregnant. “No one wants to be pregnant in the shelters… that’s universal wherever we go,” said Laila Baker, UNFPA representative in Syria. “There is no place to take care of the baby and it’s another mouth to feed.” In … [Read more...]
1st Annual International Day to End Obstretric Fistula, May 23
May 24, 2013 by
IMAGE The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula MAY 23 In December 2012, 167 countries from around the world co-sponsored a biannual resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that called on all Member States to support the activities of UNFPA and its partners in the Campaign to End Fistula. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Campaign to End Fistula, a collaborative initiative launched by UNFPA and its partners. Check out Friends of UNFPA’s new … [Read more...]
MEN, Step Up on Family Planning
May 15, 2013 by
A woman holds her baby in a village in southern Niger, where progress in women's access to family planning is being made. Our failure to give women in certain parts of the world the ability to decide the timing and number of their children is deeply damaging — not just for the women themselves but for societies, too. Lifting the obstacles is not something that can be tackled half-heartedly. Modern family planning programs were introduced widely in the developed world decades ago. Providing … [Read more...]
RAPE: Mali Sexual Assault Survivors – No Support, No Justice
May 7, 2013 by
Little support, no justice for Mali rape survivors GAO/BAMAKO, May 2013 (IRIN) - During the rebel takeover of northern Mali in April 2012, many women said they were subjected to rape or sexual assault. Since then, little or no support has come through for these women, say aid workers. Aminata Touré* was on her way to her uncle’s house in the city of Gao in June 2012 when she was stopped by two men on a motorbike. “I had no choice. They were armed and threatened to kill me,” she … [Read more...]
