Yellow fever epidemic declared in Congo with 1,000 suspected cases

Epidemic declared after 67 cases of the disease confirmed, including five deaths 

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits the Yellow Fever, Zika and Dengue viruses 



A yellow fever epidemiclll has been declared in three provinces of the Democratic Republic of 




Congo, including the capital Kinshasa. 




The epidemic was declared after 67 cases of the disease were confirmed, with another 1,000 




suspected cases being monitored. 




Health Minister Felix Kabange said seven of the proven cases were indigenous, while 58 were 




imported from Angola, where the outbreak began. 

Health news in pictures 



Health news in pictures 




A further two cases came from remote forested areas not linked to the current outbreak. Five 




people in total have died, Mr Kabange added. 




"I declare today a localised epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central 




and Kwango,- he told a news conference. 




Kinshasa represents the main concern for global healthcare officials, as it has a densely packed 




population of more than 12 million people and poor health infrastructure. 




Yellow fever is transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread the Zika and dengue viruses, 




although it is a much more serious disease. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that 




affects some patients. 




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the internet 




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Angola yellow fever outbreak spreads 




The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccines has already been depleted twice this year to 




immunise people in Angola, Uganda and Congo 




It currently stands at six million doses, but this may not be enough if there are simultaneous 




outbreaks in multiple highly populated areas. 




Almost 18 million doses have been distributed for emergency vaccination campaigns so far in 




the three African countries. 




World Health Organisation advisers have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of 




yellow fever vaccine in the event of a global shortage - enough to immunise temporarily but not 




to give lifelong immunity. 




Congo's outbreak, since January, comes at a time when political tensions linked to an upcoming 

presidential election and an economic crisis caused by a commodity slump are already putting a 



huge strain on the country's stability. 



President Joseph Kabila is facing opposition, which has sometimes turned violent, amid 



concerns that he will try to cling to power beyond the expiry of his mandate at the end of this 



year. 

 
Osborne, Samuel. "Yellow Fever Epidemic Declared in Congo with 1,000 Suspected Cases." Independent. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 June 2016.
 

The article is definitely a broad overview into the Congolese situation, not providing must detail and is rather objective. It does however, present a national outcry to the world for the dying population affected by this outbreak. It is interesting to note that the author connects the epidemic a simply a further strain on the current political, economic, and social issues. Its also interesting to note that its a UK news station that reports these incidents concerning its the Congolese government that truly needs to build awareness. This article is meant to enlighten and call for help from various nations as the World Health Organization doesn't seem to even have the funds to aid anymore. With little detail or personal relations and opinion this article serves mainly to make the public aware and cause them to further aid in this predicament.

SA firefighters leave Canada amid fiery wage dispute

JOHANNESBURG — Hundreds of South African fire-fighters left Canada on Monday following a 



strike over a wage dispute, the SA government said. 



The 301 fire-fighters downed tools while fighting a forest fire in Alberta, Canada to press their 



demand for higher pay. On Sunday, the SA government sent a mediation team to Canada to 
assist in resolving the wage dispute. 


team that we had dispatched to Canada, they have agreed to their demobilisation and to return 
"Following successful discussions, between the firefighters and the high-level Working on Fire 

back home to South Africa," said Minister for Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa, who was 

tasked by President Jacob Zuma to help resolve the dispute. 



The mediation regarding continuation of the fire suppression was no longer necessary owing to 



weather conditions in both Fort McMurray and Edmonton where it has been raining heavily, 

Therefore, the SA firefighters have been demobilised and are returning home, she said 
and therefore meaning that the number of international fire-fighters from other countries had 
to return home, Molewa said. 

us can only demoralise them despite their successful track-record. Upon their arrival at home, 
"We call upon the nation not to condemn the fire-fighters. Condemning them for disappointing
we will engage in the appropriate manner in which they should raise any legitimate concerns in 


establish an over-arching Memorandum of Understanding to set parameters for the two 
future, should they have any," the minister said. 

She said her ministry will continue to engage directly with the Canadian government to implementing agencies to work together in the future. 

agencies. Established in 2003, WOF has received international recognition for its role in supporting 
The firefighters were deployed to the Canadian province earlier this month to assist with 

wildfire suppression, as part of a resource sharing agreement with Canadian firefighting 
conservation and sustaining ecosystems and community upliftment through the provision of 

skills and increase their capacity to earn income, and to enter the formal workplace.
job opportunities and skills and training of participants. 

The organisation is part of the SA government's Expanded Public Works Programme which aims 
to create job opportunities for South Africans who cannot find work, enabling them to gain skills and increase

 their capacity to earn income, and to enter the formal workplace. 

Reuters. "SA FIREFIGHTERS LEAVE CANADA AMID FIERY WAGE DISPUTE." Eyewitness News. Reuters, 2016. Web. 13 June 2016

An interesting predicament for the Canadian society, 

one that has not often been a case especially in this wealthy nation.

 As hundreds of doctors go annully as soon as they finish their training in

South Africa to Canada to gain more money (and become etremely welathy there 

more often than not), it is very ironic that even firefighters (of a much lower income) 

have had the courage to not only protest but also leave. As people are very skeptical 

about the South African government at the moment, their assistance in this case may boost 

their overall face and perception. A slight bias is presented against the canadian side as 

there is no mention of their initial reponse or any say or reason for them not increasing 

the pay. As a South African publishing company there is obvious reason for this bias. This 

article serves to enlighten the south African population that they still do care and expose 

the Canadain government as well as serve as a reminder that coming to Canda for the wealth 

only is not always a valid enough reason.

Malawi sees surge in attacks on albinos; victims speak out

Mina Godfrey, 13, is seen in class at her school in this Tuesday, May, 24, 2016 photo in Machinga about 200 kilometres north east of Blantyre Malawi. Godfrey says she was placed first in her recent school exams and hopes one day to become a lawyer.But this comes after she survived been abuducted from her bed at night by her uncle. At least 18 Albino people have been killed in Malawi in a "steep upsurge in killings" since November 2014, and five others have been abducted and remain missing, a new Amnesty International report released Tuesday says. 



Edna Cedrick,26, holds her surviving albino son after his twin brother who had albinism was snatched from her arms in a violent struggle in this Tuesday, May, 24, 2016 photo in Machinga about 200 kilometres north east of Blantyre Malawi. Cedrick says she is haunted daily by images of the decapitated head of her 9 year old son.At least 18 Albino people have been killed in Malawi in a "steep upsurge in killings" since November 2014, and five others have been abducted and remain missing, a new Amnesty International report released Tuesday says. 







Razik Jaffalie carrys his two sons in this Monday, May, 23, 2016 photo in Machinga about 200 kilometres north east of Blantyre Malawi. Jaffalie gave up his work as a bicycle taxi operator to protect his 3 year old albino son,Cassim,left, in a country where there has been an increase in albinism attacks. At least 18 Albino people have been killed in Malawi in a "steep upsurge in killings" since November 2014, and five others have been abducted and remain missing, a new Amnesty International report released Tuesday June 7, 2016 says. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)



Mina Godfrey, 13, is seen in class at her school in this Tuesday, May, 24, 2016 photo in Machinga about 200 kilometres north east of Blantyre Malawi. Godfrey says she was placed first in her recent school exams and hopes one day to become a lawyer.But this comes after she survived been abuducted from her bed at night by her uncle. At least 18 Albino people have been killed in Malawi in a "steep upsurge in killings" since November 2014, and five others have been abducted and remain missing, a new Amnesty International report released Tuesday, June 7, 2016 says.







LILONGWE, Malawi (AP) — She is haunted daily by the image of the decapitated head of her 9-year-old son. Police asked Edna Cedrick to identify it after the boy, who had albinism, was snatched from her arms in a violent struggle.

The death in February was one in a recent surge in killings and abductions of people with albinism in this southern African country. They are targeted for their body parts, which are sold to be used in potions made by witch doctors who claim they bring wealth and good luck.

At least 18 albino people have been killed in Malawi in a "steep upsurge in killings" since November 2014, and five others have been abducted and remain missing, according to a new Amnesty International report released Tuesday. The toll is likely much higher because many killings in rural areas are never reported, according to the report. Malawi police also have recorded cases where the bodies of people with albinism have been illegally exhumed.

Malawian police say the growing violence comes after neighboring Tanzania imposed tough measures against such trade in January 2015.

Cedrick, the mother of the murdered boy, recounted his abduction to The Associated Press last month while holding the murdered boy's surviving twin brother, who also has albinism. In the middle of the night, she said, she woke to the sound of people kicking down the door of the house. Her husband was away.

"Before I could understand what was happening, they sliced the mosquito net and grabbed one of the twins," the 26-year-old said, tears in her eyes. "I held on to him by holding his waist, at the same time shielding the other with my back."

When they could not overpower her, one assailant hacked her in the forehead with a machete, she said. "This dazed me, and I lost hold of my son and he was gone. I shouted for help, but when my relatives rushed to our house, they were gone."

The boy's twin keeps asking where his brother is, she said. She lies, saying he will return.

On the same day of the interview, a deadly attack was carried out in another part of Malawi on 38 year-old Fletcher Masina, an albino father of four. When his body was found, the limbs were missing.

"The macabre trade is also fueled by a belief that bones of people with albinism contain gold," the rights group says, noting another mistaken belief is that sex with a person with albinism can cure HIV. The report also points out widespread discrimination against people with albinism, including by family members.

Activists in Malawi recently took to the streets to protest, marching to parliament to present a petition calling for strict penalties for people who attack or kill people with albinism. President Peter Mutharika has since established a committee to look into the issue, which he called disgusting.

"That anybody could think that you can be rich by using bones or something like that because some witch doctors have said so. ... That's stupidity," he told a political rally on June 1.

Police concede that a lack of security has caused persons with albinism, and their parents, to live in fear of attack.

"In rural areas where these attacks are rampant, we do not have enough police officers," the officer in charge in Machinga district, Isaac Maluwa, said.

When an AP crew in Machinga district stopped to talk to a man riding a bicycle and carrying a 3-year-old albino boy, he charged at the crew with a knife.

The man, 31-year-old Razik Jaffalie, later explained that he is in dire straits after giving up his work as a bicycle taxi operator to protect his son.

"My life has come to a standstill," Jaffalie said, then declared: "Anyone who will come to try to snatch my child from me will have to kill me first."

Amid the fears, there are stories of optimism. Mina Godfrey, a 13-year-old girl with albinism in Machinga district, said she placed first in her latest school exams and hopes to become a lawyer. But this comes after she survived being abducted from her bed at night by her uncle.

"I was deep in sleep when next thing I realized was that I was outside the house, naked, while heavy rains pouring down on me," she said. "When I screamed, my uncle grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and I choked."

She tried to flee but was tied to a bicycle that her attackers used to transport her.

"But when we went to the next stop, they untied me to negotiate with the buyer and started discussing before moving away a little bit, giving me an opportunity to run away again," she said. She escaped to a nearby house, where she squatted until the owner found her in the morning.

Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's director for southern Africa, concluded: "The time has come for the government of Malawi to stop burying its head in the sand and pretending that this problem will just go away."

GONDWE, GREGORY. "MALAWI SEES SURGE IN ATTACKS ON ALBINOS; VICTIMS SPEAK OUT." Daily Bee .com. 2016 Bonner County Daily Bee, 7 June 2016. Web. 7 June 2016.

 This truly is a shocking and horrifying new situation. Living in Malawi, I known the very common reality of witchcraft and how big a hold it still has on the Malawian nation (particularly the rural society). However this is definitely a new aspect to the horror stories I've heard associated with witchcraft in Malawi. The author is definitely out to expose the Malawi government for its lack of action as well as present horrors to produce awareness  of this new phenomenon to Malawi as country and the outside world, in hope they will pressure the authorities to act swiftly and effectively. Published by US based company it is interesting to note the US likes to step in on these areas where human rights are violated, even in a little nation like Malawi. Knowing that Malawi moves very slowly and all policies are most often enforced over extended periods of time I sincerely hope this new issue that has come to light will be dealt with right away. Not only is it breaching human rights and Malawi's well known safety, it is costing lives. Hopefully the publicity of such deeds will more swiftly bring an end to this horrific tendency.

Tax Shift Marks Trump’s Latest Rejection of Conservative Orthodoxy

The likely Republican nominee now suggests he'd raise—rather than cut—taxes on high income earners.
 Follow Bloomberg Politics On Donald Trump made a break from conservative orthodoxy on Sunday when he backed away from proposing large tax cuts for wealthy Americans.
“On my plan they're going down. But by the time it's negotiated, they'll go up,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said on ABC's This Week. “I am willing to pay more,” he said. “And you know what? The wealthy are willing to pay more. We've had a very good run.”
The remarks depart from the tax plan[1] Trump unveiled in September, which proposed to lower the rate paid by the highest earners from 39.6 percent to 25 percent. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimated[2] the plan would cost $9.5 trillion over a decade and lavish the top 0.1 percent of income earners with a tax break of $1.3 million on average in 2017 alone—a 19-percent gain on after-tax income, or four times as much as middle-income households would get.
QuickTake How the U.S. Elects Its Presidents[3]
Trump on Sunday stuck to other aspects of his tax plan, saying he'd “make sure the middle class gets good tax breaks.” But for upper incomes, he said he expected that “the taxes for the rich will go up somewhat.” On NBC's Meet the Press, Trump described his plan as a “oor[4]” for negotiations with Congress. “The middle class has to be protected,” he said.
 Tax Shift Marks Trump’s Latest Rejection of Conservative Orthodoxy ­ Bloomberg Politics

The shift adds to a list of conservative policy heresies[5] ranging from slashing legal, skilled immigration to rejecting free-trade agreements to refusing to commit to cutting safety-net programs like Social Security as Trump seeks to remake[6] the Republican Party in his image.
Still, the populist billionaire has been famously ckle when it comes to his proposals. In April he abruptly abandoned a three-week-old proposal to eliminate the national debt[7] during his presidency. And in March, he took three positions on abortion[8] in the span of three hours. During his interview on ABC on Sunday,  Trump also acknowledged softening his opposition to a higher minimum wage after saying U.S. wages were “too high” during a November debate. “I'm allowed to change. You need exibility,” he said.
‘Big Deal’
James Pethokoukis, a policy writer with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, described Trump's professed shift as “a big deal” for the Republican Party.
“Ronald Reagan's tax cuts were a generation ago. The economy boomed even with the Clinton tax increases and tanked after the Bush tax cuts. Whatever the accuracy of that causality, that sequence plus rising inequality has increased voter skepticism about tax cuts,” Pethokoukis said in an e-mail. “The public clearly sees the GOP as the ‘party of the rich,’ and it needs to re-establish trust with the middle and working class. Imagine a future Republican presidential primary where it isn't always 1980, where GOP candidates don't feel compelled to mimic Reagan and offer fantasy tax plans as the price of admission.”
Trump's latest stance on taxes comes less than a week after he eliminated his last two remaining Republican rivals with a crushing win in Indiana[9], to become the party's presumptive nominee.  If sustained, it would mark a departure from Republican candidates dating back to Reagan, who embraced across-the-board tax breaks, a litmustest plank for conservative activists and some major donors. Democrats, who defeated Mitt Romney in 2012 by painting him as a candidate interested in serving the rich at the expense of the middle class, have been gearing up to make a similar case against Trump in November.
“Trump offered a big tax cut in the primaries in what now looks like a transparent ruse to
 Tax Shift Marks Trump’s Latest Rejection of Conservative Orthodoxy ­ Bloomberg Politics
win over the supply-side wing of the party,” Pethokoukis said. “But seeing as those tax cuts aren't popular, he is shifting away from them.”
Norm Ornstein, a political scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, attributed Trump's tax shift to three factors. First, Ornstein argued, Trump has “no anchors” in conservative ideology and thus is “not wedded to that orthodoxy.” Second, he's sending a signal to House Speaker Paul Ryan about who's in charge, as Ryan withholds[10] his endorsement of Trump. “If you were playing by normal politics, the Speaker would have some leverage here. And Trump is basically telling him ‘No you don't,’” Ornstein said. Third, he said, the end of the Republican primary contest gives Trump “more freedom to say” what he wants to.
General-Election ‘Makeover’
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's campaign dismissed Trump's latest remarks on taxes on the wealthy.
“Don't believe Donald Trump's weak attempts at a general election ‘makeover’ for even a second,” Clinton spokeswoman Christina Reynolds said in an e-mailed statement. “Trump's economic plans take direct aim at working Americans—his proposal to cut trillions in taxes for the top one percent would almost certainly come at the expense of working and middle class families. Americans just can't afford Trump's economic plans.”
Polling indicates that proposing lower taxes on already very wealthy Americans is not a winning general-election strategy. According to Gallup tracking surveys[11] in April, six in 10 Americans believe upper-income people pay too little in taxes, while just 15 percent say they pay too much. A 2015 YouGov survey[12] found that by a 45 percent to 29 percent margin, Americans reject the trickle-down economics theory that reducing taxes on wealthy groups and individuals stimulates the economy and leads to shared prosperity. (Notably, Republicans agreed with that position by a margin of 50 percent to 30 percent.)
Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said of Trump's tax shift that ip-opping is “never great,” but “ipping to the more popular position is better than the opposite.”
“I'm one that believes the path to victory for Clinton requires a very different message the one we used against Romney in 2012,” Pfeiffer said in an e-mail. “Romney's tax cut Tax Shift Marks Trump’s Latest Rejection of Conservative Orthodoxy ­ Bloomberg Politics
was a problem because it reinforced what voters thought about him. Trump's tax cut plan is pretty far down his voluminous list of vulnerabilities.”
Ryan Rejection
Trump's shift on taxes could loom large on Thursday, when he's scheduled to meet with Ryan, the Republican Party's chief policy visionary and gatekeeper. Ryan said last week he's “just not ready” to support Trump, because “what Republicans want to see is that we have a standard bearer that bears our standards.” Trump's departures on the benets of free-trade deals, cutting entitlement spending and now upper-income tax cuts are a de facto rejection of the ideas that Ryan has fought for throughout his career.
From his time on the powerful House Ways and Means and Budget committees to his rise as speaker, Ryan has worked to build consensus around policies such as lowering taxes across the board, inking trade deals like the Trans-Pacic Partnership accord, permitting more high-skilled immigrants to the U.S., and cutting programs like Medicare and Social Security. These positions are shared by many Republican leaders, donors, and elites. But Trump has crafted a winning campaign[13] around a vastly different[14] agenda: an emphatic rejection of “horrible” trade deals like TPP and NAFTA, an immigration crackdown[15] with cutbacks to H-1B skilled guest worker visas, and a promise not to touch Social Security.
After vanquishing establishment-backed candidates including former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who styled himself after Reagan, Trump feels empowered. “I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan's agenda,” he said in a statement after Ryan rebuked him. And Sunday, Trump reminded his party that millions of Americans—more than 10.6 million so far—had voted for him.
“I have to say true to my principles also,” he said on ABC. “And I'm a conservative, but don't forget, this is called the Republican Party. It's not called the Conservative Party.”
Trump's runaway win in the primary race exposes the yawning gap between Republican leaders and many of their voters. The divisions are profound—a variety of conservative politicians, policy wonks, and opinion-makers say they'll refuse to support Trump—and raise questions about the extent to which the brash New Yorker's nomination will reshape the party beyond 2016.
“This is a going to be a very signicant ongoing struggle that is partly over ideology, and partly over power,” Ornstein said. “Who's going to control the party? There is an antileadership, populist, Trumpist wing that's not going away, even if he loses.



Kapur, Sahil. "Tax Shift Marks Trump's Latest Test of Conservative Orthodoxy." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 9 May 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.

1.

A interesting shift in the political campaign. This article goes out to all Trump supporters stating his drastic constant changes. This article is definitely biased, it utilizes countless examples of Trumps stark shifts or drastic personality to present his unreliability. Furthermore it highlights the gaps in the campaign of sides not even agreeing with themselves, it presents the huge gaps in social reform promises. This article further questions the voting polls already and presents information on possible huge alterations in voting polls due to these changes. Lastly it restates Trump's very strong personal opinion and reinforces that these changes will come into effect if he goes attain power, for example the immigration crackdown. As a complete outsider to the situation its hard to judge from a seemingly very biased view where one should stand but the harsh changes and even drastic speech towards counterparts makes it easier to put the reliability of this leader into question.

Toddler rescued 4 days after Kenya building collapse

Toddler rescued 4 days after Kenya building collapse 

 Kenyan rescuers pulled an 18-month-old toddler alive from the rubble of a 

six-storey building on Tuesday, four days after the block collapsed killing 23 people, 

police said. 

"Good news!" Kenya Red Cross said. "A child aged about one and half years rescued alive 

at 0400 hours (0100 GMT) and referred to Kenyatta National Hospital." 

Seven killed in Kenya building collapse, rescuers search for survivorslll 

The Red Cross said the little girl was found "in a bucket wrapped in a blanket" and was 

dehydrated but without visible physical injuries. 

She had been there for 80 hours since the building, which was home to 150 families 

crammed into single rooms, collapsed on Friday night. 

Nairobi police chief Japheth Koome called it a "miracle" and said the emergency services 

were continuing their rescue efforts. 

Police said the death toll from the tragedy rose to 23 on Tuesday after two more bodies 

were found. 

Located in the poor, tightly-packed Huruma neighbourhood, the building had been slated 

for demolition after being declared structurally unsound 

But an evacuation order for the structure, which was built near a river just two years ago, 

was ignored. 

Five people are to appear in court on Tuesday to face manslaughter charges over the 

incident. 

Kenya torches world's biggest ivory bonfire to save elephantsPl 

Several buildings have collapsed in recent years in Nairobi and Other Kenyan cities, where 

a property boom has seen buildings shoot up at speed, often with scant regard for 

building regulations. 

The deaths in Huruma bring to at least 30 the number of people who have died in Nairobi 

since the weekend in accidents linked to floods caused by torrential rains. 

AFP. "Toddler Rescued 4 Days after Kenya Building Collapse." The Tribune Express. Express, 3 May 2016. Web. 3 May 2016.

Death in itself is such a hard concept, difficult to grasp and even harder to accept. Death by the error of another leads to an extremely difficult situation where forgiveness is closest to impossible. This article highlights and points out the Kenyan authority and supervision of infrastructure to need serious improvements. The atrocities mentioned in this article highlight to the rest of the world Kenya's lack of precaution and seriously doubts their security. Its interesting to note that the paper that publishes this article, The Tribune Express is actually a Pakistani paper, a nation very familiar with death by this method.They, however, understand the importance of propagating such stories to keep the public settled and highlight the ways they are helping, sharing their success stories. The article not only expresses remorse for the individuals that died in the collapse but furthermore in Nairobi with all the recent floods. Although this article doesn't seem to have personal bias it does mention the rising toll of individuals to the floods highlighting the suffering but simultaneously offering hope by presenting this story. As the tolls continue to rise this is a huge statement of hope to a discouraged nation.

A Big 'Woo-Hoo' For Europe On #WorldMalariaDay: No New Cases In 2015

Wouldn't it be great if we could get rid of malaria altogether?
We've got a long way to go. Last year, there were about 214 million cases and 438,000 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.
But just in time for World Malaria Day, there is some good news on the malaria front.
Europe has reported no new cases of the disease[1] transmitted on the continent in 2015. It's an accomplishment worthy of celebration, says Dr. Joel Breman[2], an expert in infectious diseases, tropical medicine and epidemiology at the National Institutes of Health.
"We can start with the big woo-hoo, hip-hip hooray," Breman says. "This is a marvelous and noteworthy accomplishment."
Of course, there is a "but" or two. There remains much work to be done, for one thing, even in Europe, where it will take three consecutive years without internal transmission before the continent can be ofcially certied as malaria-free.
And in this case, "malaria-free" doesn't actually mean free of malaria. Thousands of new cases continue to arrive in Europe every year with travelers, immigrants and refugees.
Wiping out the disease in places like Africa and Southeast Asia will be far more difcult due to lack of infrastructure, political stability and reliable health care.
Still, Europe's achievement holds lessons for the developing world, where malaria could be eliminated with the right combination of money, commitment, collaboration, mosquito-control — and constant vigilance.
Breman says. "I think we can do it [everywhere], but it will take a longer time frame."
Malaria was once widespread in Europe. Before 1955, when the World Health Organization began its rst global malaria-eradication campaign, the disease was rampant and mortality rates were high, particularly in southern European countries like Italy, Greece, Portugal and in the former Soviet Union. Around the turn of the 19th century, according to one study[3], Italy alone had two million cases (out of a population of 30 million), and as many as 20,000 Italians died from malaria each year.
4/25/2016 What's Different About Malaria On #WorldMalariaDay 2016? Europe Has A Big 'Woo­Hoo' To Celebrate : Goats and Soda : NPR
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/25/475585040/a­big­woo­hoo­for­europe­on­worldmalariaday­no­new­cases­in­2015 3/5
The insecticide DDT made a huge difference, as did targeted efforts to detect and treat the disease, says Elkhan Gasimov[4], technical ofcer of vector-borne and parasitic diseases at WHO in Copenhagen. By 1975, cases had become so sporadic that Europe was considered malaria-free.
That didn't last long, in part because the medical community stopped worrying about it.
"Everyone considered that Europe was free, and the vigilance of the system went down," Gasimov says. "People stopped expecting malaria cases."
In the 1990s, malaria came roaring back. Resistance to insecticides and drugs played a role. In the Soviet Union, political, economic and social unrest also made drugs and other supplies scarce. Funding for insecticides dried up. And communication between countries broke down. Many countries lost their ability treat new cases.
Across all of the southern European region, including the ex-Soviet countries, more than 90,000 cases were reported in 1995. And without an established tracking program in the region at the time, Breman suspects, many more cases were likely undiagnosed or unreported.
Yet again, European countries committed resources to control the disease. And yet again, their efforts started to work. By 2005, there were just 5,000 cases left in about 10 European countries.
That's when the really intensive work began. Case by case, health ofcials swooped in to identify sources of infection, obliterate mosquito breeding grounds and treat illnesses immediately. "You can't miss one case," Gasimov says, "and eliminate malaria."
In 2013, Europe recorded just 37 internally transmitted cases of malaria – in Greece, Tajikistan and Turkey. In 2015, the WHO announced the European Region was entirely free of internally spread cases of the disease.
Other countries that have wrestled the upper hand from malaria include Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius and the United States, which ofcially eliminated the disease in 1951 (though here, too, new cases arrive every year with people traveling from elsewhere).
Europe's roller-coaster history emphasizes that relentless nature of the global war
4/25/2016 What's Different About Malaria On #WorldMalariaDay 2016? Europe Has A Big 'Woo­Hoo' To Celebrate : Goats and Soda : NPR
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/25/475585040/a­big­woo­hoo­for­europe­on­worldmalariaday­no­new­cases­in­2015 4/5
1. http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2016/04/fromover-90-000-cases-to-zero-in-two-decades-the-european-region-is-malaria-free 2. http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/alumni/survey/dr_joel_breman.html 3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3340992/ 4. https://www.researchgate.net/prole/Elkhan_Gasimov 5. http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/povertymatters/2014/nov/03/eliminating-malaria-bill-gates-vaccines
against malaria.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," Breman says. "You can't let up."
Community involvement is another important lesson that the developing world could learn from what Europe went through, Gasimov says. In Kyrgyzstan, plays in schools and local theaters helped people understand what malaria is and how it spreads, so they were more accepting of elimination efforts and more motivated to take steps to protect themselves.
Cooperation across borders will also be necessary. Because people frequently travel back and forth between Georgia and Azerbaijan, Gasimov says, both countries had to work together and at the same time to keep outbreaks from taking turns cropping up on either side of the border. A viable vaccine would help, too.
Above all, it' s going to take money to get rid of malaria everywhere – money for surveillance, money for treatment, money for education, money for research, and money for mosquito control. It's also going to take money to keep up the hard work, even as efforts seem to be taking hold. By some estimates[5], the cost for worldwide eradication could be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
"The key issue is for us to maintain this malaria-free status," Gasimov says. "What we need for that is vigilance. The system should always be ready. We cannot say, 'Oh it's clear, let's forget about it.' We cannot forget malaria."

As the article has repeatedly stated Europe is to be praised for its achievement and its vital working together that has brought the continent to where it is now. Living in Malawi, a highly affected malaria range I've experienced this perilous disease countless times first hand. I am a witness to the millions of lives it still consumes in Malawi and neighboring nations. Indeed it truly is a call for celebration that Europe has eradicated this disease (at least seemingly for the moment). As the rest of the world reads about his achievement they should in turn see what they ca do to make this a reality for many more millions. As Europe knows the success and remembers very clearly all the processes, steps, and hardships to get there, shouldn't they be the first to try their best to share this success? As one who witnesses the millions still dying due to this disease daily, its hard not to be skeptic of Europe and the West for celebrating when so many continue to perish. The example of the awareness through plays, and entertainment is a witness to the fact that not only does this require money but it requires dedication of the population itself. All the money in the world won't make the mosquitoes go away unless the people of these nations decide to truly do everything in their power, bare all the unease to see an end to this disease. Although this is a great celebration for Europe, it should be more than that. A reminder to countries suffering under this disease that it can be beat and that they must choose to do something about it to win, and the west to share their strategy and be willing to walk each step with them.

Sohn, Emily. "A Big 'Woo-Hoo' For Europe On #WorldMalariaDay: No New Cases In 2015." NPR. NPRGoatsandSoda, 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

South African Human Rights Commission slams human rights in the country

According to the commission, many groups, including women, children, prisoners, 

indigenous persons, non-nationals and protesters are suffering. 


The South African Human Rights Commission had some tough words for the country on 

Monday. 

They say that the country's commitment to human rights was a concern. According to 

the commission, many groups, including women, children, prisoners, indigenous 

persons, non-nationals and protesters are suffering. 

"South Africa's commitment to upholding its obligations under international law is 

dubious," the commission said. 

"Just last year, the South African government overrode a decision Of a High Court, as well 

as a request of Justice Cuno Tarfussor, a judge of the International Criminal Court, to 

arrest Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir. 

"These occurrences are worrying for a human rights institution seeking to promote the 

domestic harmonization Of international laws and standards in South Africa." 

Of particular concern for the commision was high levels Of violence against women and 

LGBTI persons, urging the government to "adopt an integrated plan to address gender 

based violence in all its manifestations" 

In a statement sent to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the media, the 

commission noted that racism was widespread across the country and said that it was 

very concerned about a high level of xenophobic attitudes towards non-nationals, 

migrants and asylum seekers. The commission said that black women living in poverty 

are particularly affected by these factors. 

The rights Of indigenous persons, such as the Khoisan, are also an issue. The statement 

said: "Indigenous persons, such as the Khoisan, have been historically under-represented 

in South Africa's Parliament." 

Also on the list is the treatment of South Africa's prisoners. CNN recently had an inside 

look at one of South Africa's most notorious prisons(21, Pollsmoor, and revealed 

shocking conditions of overcrowding which resulted in poor hygiene. But the commission 

was equally concerned about "instances Of torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading 

treatment", as well as "issues regarding the treatment of persons deprived of their 

liberty". It added: "The SAHRC also notes with concern the high numbers Of investigated 

or unknown deaths which occur at the hands of law enforcement authorities."

Racism is not a new concept to South Africa. Although this author almost supposes and makes it out to be a new subject and issue in South Africa, it has in fact severely affected South Africa since its initiation. Its interesting to note this article is published by a South African News Agency as there seems to be a bias towards the South African population and system. The author quite readily criticizes the system and behavior of the majority. However as a South African Agency publishing on issue in their own country they may in fact even only publish part of the statistics to make it look better or worse, according to their goal. As a South African citizen, its easy to have a bias whenever anyone criticizes against the South African people and knowing the system and country well one can testify to some of the article's claims to be true. This news goes out to the population of South Africa to make them aware of the way others in their country are being treated and how the world sees their negative reaction to outsiders. This article does articulate well the some of the major issues in current day South Africa and makes the local population as well as the rest of the world aware of areas that need attention and alteration.

Haden, Alexis. "South African Human Rights Commission Slams Human Rights in the Country." The South African.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.