Mamlaka ya Hali ya Hewa na Wizara ya Afya wamekutana kujadiliana namna ya kukabiliana na mabadailiko ya tabia nchi.

WAZIRI wa Afya, Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia, Wazee na Watoto, Ummy Mwalimu ameziagiza hospitali zote za rufaa nchini ngazi ya Mikoa, Kanda na Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili kutoa matibabu bure kwa wagonjwa wa fistula.
Aliyasema hayo mjini Tanga kwenye Hospitali ya Rufaa ya Mkoa ya Bombo katika uzinduzi wa kambi ya matibabu ya wagonjwa wa fistula itakayodumu kwa kipindi cha wiki moja kuanzia juzi hadi Agosti 19, mwaka huu.
Alisema tatizo la fistula limekuwa likiongezeka kila siku na waathirika wengi ni akinamama wa vijijini na wale wa kipato cha chini ambao wanashindwa kupata huduma sahihi za afya ikiwemo kuchelewa kwenda kwenye vituo vya kutolea huduma za afya wakati wa kujifungua.
Takribani akinamama 2,500 hadi 3,000 hupata tatizo la ugonjwa wa fistula kila mwaka japo idadi hii ni ndogo sana kuliko hali halisi ilivyo kwa kuwa wagonjwa wengi hunyanyapaliwa na familia zao na jamii kwa ujumla.
“Serikali ya Awamu ya Tano imejikita zaidi katika kuwahudumia wanyonge, kwa mamlaka niliyopewa natoa msamaha wa kulipia matibabu ya fistula ili kuwapunguzia mateso wanawake hawa. Kwa kuwa wenye tatizo la fistula ni wanawake wa kipato cha chini na wa vijijini, naziagiza hospitali zote za rufaa za mikoa na kanda kutoa matibabu ya fistula bure kwa wagonjwa watakaofika kutaka huduma hiyo,” alisema Ummy.
Alisema ili kuhakikisha huduma hiyo inatolewa, ameziagiza hospitali hizo kuandaa kambi za matibabu ya fistula angalau mara moja kila mwaka na apatiwe taarifa.
Aidha, ameeleza kuwa akinamama wengi wenye tatizo la fistula wamekuwa wakishindwa kufanya shughuli za uchumi kama biashara ndogo ndogo kwa kuwa ugonjwa huu ni wa aibu ambao husababisha watu kunyanyapaliwa na jamii.
Pia alieleza hatua mbalimbali zilizochukuliwa na serikali katika kukabiliana na tatizo la ugonjwa huu ikiwa ni pamoja na uboreshaji wa miundombinu kwa ajili ya huduma za ujauzito na uzazi, mafunzo ya huduma za dharura za uzazi kwa watoa huduma za afya pamoja na usimamizi shirikishi, uimarishaji wa ubora wa huduma za ujauzito na uzazi, kuimarisha upatikanaji wa dawa na vifaa tiba kwa ajili ya ujauzito na uzazi, kuimarisha mifumo ya rufaa na kuhakikisha huduma za dharura za uzazi zinapatikana hasa maeneo ya vijijini na wataalamu waliobobea katika maeneo hayo.
Mganga Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Tanga, Dk Asha Mahita alisema Hospitali ya Bombo ina changamoto ya kuwa na miundombinu chakavu, uhaba wa vifaa tiba na watumishi kiasi ambacho wanashindwa kutoa huduma ya kutibu akinamama wenye tatizo la fistula kwa kuwa hawana wataalamu waliobobea katika maeneo hayo.

One of the largest emergency vaccination campaigns ever attempted in Africa will start in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo this week as WHO and partners work to curb a yellow fever outbreak that has killed more than 400 people and sickened thousands more. Working with Ministries of Health in the 2 countries, WHO is coordinating 56 global partners to vaccinate more than 14 million people against yellow fever in more than 8000 locations. The yellow fever outbreak has found its way to dense, urban areas and hard-to-reach border regions, making planning for the vaccination campaign especially complex. Emergency yellow fever vaccination campaigns have already reached more than 13 million people in Angola and more than 3 million in Democratic Republic of the Congo. These campaigns have been crucial to stopping the spread of the outbreak. Some areas are still considered at high risk and so preventive vaccination campaigns are planned for the capital city of Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of the Congo and along the country’s border with Angola, which spans 2646 km. The preventive vaccination campaign aims to build protection in the population perceived to be at high risk of getting infected and prevent potential spread and expansion of the current outbreak. Kinshasa has more than 10 million people, with only 2 million already vaccinated against yellow fever. With local transmission of the virus and low immunity in the population, there is a potential risk that the deadly outbreak could spread to other urban areas. Protecting as many people as possible With limited supplies of the vaccine, and a 6-month minimum manufacturing process, WHO has been working with the Ministries of Health to plan the mass vaccination campaign that uses one-fifth of the standard vaccine dose as a short-term emergency measure to reach as many people as possible. This method, known as fractional dosing, was recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), after it reviewed existing evidence that demonstrated lower doses would protect people safely and effectively against the disease for at least 12 months, and likely much longer. The fractional dose will not entitle people to travel internationally, but it will protect them from yellow fever during this outbreak and will help stop it from spreading further. ″Protecting as many people as possible is at the heart of this strategy. With a limited supply we need to use these vaccines very carefully,″ says William Perea, Coordinator for the Control of Epidemic Diseases Unit at WHO. Nuts and bolts of the mass vaccination campaign WHO and partners including Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and UNICEF have been working closely together through the complex planning and logistics needed for the campaign. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has already enabled these countries to access almost 19 million doses of the vaccine since January and is providing strong support to the upcoming campaigns as well. Other partners providing expertise and support include Save the Children and the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Usually, planning a mass vaccination campaign can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months. This emergency campaign, however, must take place as soon as possible to end transmission before the rainy season starts in September. “In order to vaccinate roughly 8 million people in Kinshasa within a short period, each team will need to vaccinate hundreds of people per day,” says Perea. Approximately 17.3 million syringes and 41 000 health workers and volunteers are needed for the campaign. More than 500 vehicles will be used to transport the teams and supplies, which will be dispersed across more than 8000 vaccination sites in Kinshasa and along the Angola-Democratic Republic of the Congo border. Essential supplies by the numbers The fractional dose campaign in Kinshasa hinged on the availability of vaccines donated by the Brazilian government and manufactured by The Immunobiological Technology Institute (Bio-Manguinhos). The campaign also required the purchase and shipment of 10 million specialized 0.1ml syringes, to ensure the right amount is used for every vaccination. "The quantity of the syringes needed was not available on the open market, so we made a special order to manufacture these syringes," says Guillaume Queyras, responsible for Operations Support and Logistics at WHO. "Supply of the syringes usually takes more than 2 months. Given this emergency situation, manufacturers worked with us to speed up production and deliver the syringes on time in the country". The 17.3 million vaccine syringes – equivalent to 700 cubic metres or 17 40-foot shipping containers – were air freighted to Democratic Republic of the Congo. After the vaccines and syringes arrived in the country, the freight had to be cleared through customs, a procedure that normally takes weeks. WHO worked closely with the Government of Democratic Republic of the Congo to fast-track this process. Cool vaccines From the manufacturer to the person being immunized, the vaccine must be stored and transported at the right temperature – between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius – to maintain their potency. With lack of reliable electricity supply and fuel to run generators in large parts of the country, refrigeration is a big challenge. For this campaign alone, 115 000 ice packs are needed to keep vaccines cold and usable. Training WHO has developed guidance and materials that is being used to train thousands of health workers and volunteers before the campaign starts. Health workers in Kinshasa need specific training on how to vaccinate people using the fractional dose. Engaging communities In the weeks leading up to the campaign, communities have been informed about the importance of getting vaccinated. WHO, UNICEF and partners have developed guidance and resources to help country teams, community health workers and volunteers engage communities to participate in the campaigns. Teams on the ground are using local languages and trusted communication channels to reach and engage people. They have been meeting with religious and political leaders, delivering presentations and flyers at markets, health centres, churches and schools to ensure that people understand the campaign and how to protect themselves. Media announcements have also been made in local languages across print, radio and television channels to ensure maximum participation in this important campaign that aims to end this yellow fever outbreak.

SIKU mbili baada ya gazeti la HABARI LEO kuchapisha habari kuhusu ugonjwa wa homa ya ini (Hepatitis B), kuwa hatari kutokana na kutokuwa na tiba, Serikali imeeleza sababu zilizochangia ugonjwa huo kugeuka kuwa tishio.
Katika toleo la juzi, gazeti hili lilieleza kuwa ugonjwa wa homa ya ini ni hatari kwa vile, unaua idadi kubwa ya watu kimya kimya, ambapo kati ya watu 100, watu wanane wanaweza kuwa na maambukizi sugu ya ugonjwa huo.

Ilielezwa pia kuwa maambukizi ya ugonjwa huo ni makubwa mara 10 zaidi ya maambukizi ya virusi vya Ukimwi na kwamba asilimia kubwa ya wagonjwa, huugundua wakati ugonjwa uko kwenye hatua za mwisho na hivyo kusababisha mgonjwa kupoteza maisha.

Hayo yalibainishwa na Daktari Bingwa wa Magonjwa ya Mfumo wa Chakula na Ini, ambaye pia ni Mkuu wa Kitengo cha Magonjwa ya Tumbo na Ini, Idara ya Tiba katika Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili (MNH), Dk John Rwegasha katika mahojiano maalumu na gazeti hili juzi.
Hata hivyo jana akizungumzia ugonjwa huo na hatua zinazochukuliwa na serikali, Waziri wa Afya, Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia, Wazee na Watoto, Ummy Mwalimu alisema ugonjwa huo umekuwa tishio kwa vile haujapewa kipaumbele cha kutosha.

Mwalimu alisema maambukizi ya ugonjwa huo kwa hapa nchini yanaongezeka na kwamba pamoja na kuongezeka huko nchi haikuwa na takwimu sahihi zinazoonesha ukubwa wa tatizo.

Alisema baada ya kuona ukubwa wake, hivi sasa wizara imeanza mchakato wa kufanya marejeo ya Sera ya Afya ya Mwaka 2007 ili kuingiza ugonjwa huo kwenye magonjwa ya vipaumbele.
“Ni kweli ugonjwa huu ni hatari na kasi ya maambukizi hivi sasa inaongezeka, ingawa hatuna takwimu sahihi tulizozifanya wenyewe kwa kuwa hatukuupa kipaumbele ugonjwa huu kwa siku za nyuma, ila sasa tumeona ukubwa wa tatizo na tumeanza kuchukua hatua,” alisema Ummy.
Waziri huyo alibainisha kuwa serikali ilitilia mkazo zaidi kwenye chanjo kwa watoa huduma walio kwenye sekta ya afya tena kwa wale wanaohusika zaidi au moja kwa moja na wagonjwa na kuongeza kuwa kutokana na ukubwa wa tatizo kuna haja sasa ya kuangalia upya sera ya afya.
Alisema baada ya kufanya mapito ya sera hiyo wataangalia jinsi ya kujikita zaidi kwenye kinga ili kuzuia kuenea kwa ugonjwa huo, ambao idadi kubwa ya wananchi hawana uelewa wa ugonjwa huo na athari zake, hadi pale mgonjwa anapougua.
Juzi akizungumzia dalili za homa ya ini, kwa aina zote mbili yaani B na C, Dk Rwegasha alisema mtu mwenye ugonjwa huo ni vigumu kumtambua hadi pale vipimo vya damu vitakapofanywa na kwamba kwa hapa nchini, hakuna mazoea ya kupima ugonjwa huo, hadi pale dalili zinapokuwa zimeanza kuonekana kwenye mwili wa mtu.
Dalili za ugonjwa huo kwa mujibu wa Dk Rwegasha ni pamoja na homa, tumbo kuuma upande wa juu kulia, kichwa mafua, macho kuwa na njano na wakati mwingine hata mkojo kuwa njano na pia wakati mwingine mtu aliyeathirika na ugonjwa huo hana dalili.
Alisema ugonjwa huo ni hatari na wakati mwingine zaidi ya Ukimwi kwa sababu ni ugonjwa unaoua watu wengi kimya kimya, na mtu anapogundua kuwa ameathirika na tatizo hilo, huwa ni kwenye hatua za mwisho na hivyo mgonjwa hupoteza maisha.

- Everyone, everywhere needs safe food, free from microbes, viruses and chemicals. But globalization means the food you are eating today may have come from the other side of the world. This video tells how we all have a role to make food safe - from farm to plate.

July 2016 -- Yaws is an infectious disease closely linked to poverty. The good news? We have a cure that works, and we are working for a world free of yaws by 2020.

yellllow fever in angola

• Providing laboratory support including access toSPECIFICreagents;
• Strengthening national surveillance systems for yellow fever;
• Deploying more than 160 experts to affected countries;
• Providing technical guidance for clinical care, training and social mobilization;
• Strengthening compliance with the International Health Regulations to prevent international spread of yellow fever.

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
  
• After touching garbage