Tag: Public Health Policy
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How Housing Structures Shape Dengue Transmission in Malaysia’s Rapidly Urbanizing Districts
Introduction: Why housing matters in dengue dynamics Dengue fever continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Malaysia, particularly in districts undergoing rapid urbanization. Beyond mosquito biology, the layout and quality of housing can influence where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed, rest, and bite. As cities expand, the way homes are built, organized, and serviced…
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Botswana’s Bold Move to Decongest Princess Marina and Modernize Public Health
Overview: A decisive reset for Botswana’s public health system In a bold bid to strengthen Botswana’s public health system, the government has unveiled a rapid, multi-pronged plan. The initiative centers on taking over Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH), reducing the burden on Princess Marina Hospital, and tackling enduring surgical backlogs. As pressures on the…
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Gauteng’s Silent Alarm: Deadly Terbufos Pesticide Sold for R10 as Child Deaths Rise
Breaking Silence Over a Hazardous Pesticide Gauteng parents in South Africa say they sleep with one eye open, fearing the next exposure that could sicken or take a child’s life. The pesticide at the center of their dread is terbufos, a highly toxic chemical commonly known by the nickname halephirimi, which translates to “the sun…
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Trump Policies vs. New Covid Long-Haul Science: Autism, Dormant Cancer, and Brain Aging
Introduction: Policy, Science, and the evolving landscape of long Covid The Covid-19 era reshaped public health policy in ways that continue to ripple through science and medicine. As researchers uncover new facets of long Covid, autism risk signals, dormant cancer cell activity, and brain aging, questions arise about how past policy decisions align with or…
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Long Covid Policy Gaps and Health Risk Trends in 2023–24
Introduction: Policy Shifts and Emerging Health Realities The debate over how federal policies intersect with evolving medical knowledge has intensified as scientists uncover new facets of covid’s long-term effects. In the wake of May 2023 statements that the national covid emergency had ended, researchers and clinicians continue to map risks associated with long covid, including…
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Government Moves to Enforce ID Checks in Sunbed Salons as Part of Cancer Prevention Plan
Introduction: A New Push to Tackle Under-18 Sunbed Use The government is considering tighter controls on sunbed access, with a proposal backed by Labour to require ID checks in sunbed salons. The step would aim to reduce illegal under-age use and, by extension, the broader cancer risk associated with UV exposure. If implemented, the policy…
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Government plan to force sunbed salons to check IDs
Overview Ministers are weighing a policy move that would require sunbed salons to verify customers’ ages before granting access. The plan is part of a broader Labour-led (or Labour-backed) cancer prevention strategy aimed at reducing risky tanning practices among under-18s and, more broadly, cutting future skin cancer risk. If enacted, the policy would tighten restrictions…
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Social prescribing shines in Western Pacific: WHO and The Lancet spotlight community-based health
A new spotlight on social prescribing from the Western Pacific The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO Western Pacific) and The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific have launched a pivotal series examining social prescribing and its potential to transform health and well-being across the region. The collaboration brings together public…
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Closing the Gap: Why Cervical Screening Uptake Is Lowest Among Women Aged 50 and Over
Why the 50+ Group Lags in Cervical Screening Public health data consistently show that women aged 50 and over have the lowest uptake of cervical screening. This trend matters because cervical cancer can be effectively prevented or caught early with regular screening. Understanding the reasons behind the gap helps health services tailor outreach, reduce barriers,…
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Not just a debate: Malaysia’s renewed push for an asbestos ban in construction
Unions, watchdogs unite for a full asbestos ban Several Malaysian groups are once again championing a complete ban on asbestos in the construction sector. A coalition including a major workers’ union and a consumer rights organization argues that the material, long used for its durability, poses serious health risks for workers and the public. They…