Spent the weekend volunteering at a charitable event with other photographers. (Can you spot super-cameraman 'PeTer the LeNS-Man' in this shot?)
Photo/Mary-Sanyu Osire - smartphone
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Out and about
Spent my day in the field with super-Cinematographer/Editor/Director private 19, developing a bi-lingual health promotion documentary. (He's silhouetted on the left.)
[ EMAIL: lahymn@yahoo.co.uk / CELL: +254 722 888 819 ]
[ EMAIL: lahymn@yahoo.co.uk / CELL: +254 722 888 819 ]
Photo/Mary-Sanyu Osire - smartphone
head, shoulders, knees & toes... (ears, scarves, thighs and a dictionary... )
Photo/Mary-Sanyu Osire - smartphone
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I listened to this discussion last night, on BBC radio. What are your views? ... Would you consider an over-the-counter HIV test? Experts at the Blood Products Advisory Committee in the USA have voted 17-0 in support of the test, suggesting it would benefit people who are HIV-positive and improve access to healthcare and social services.
Photo/GOOGLE images
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
EXTREME MAKEOVER: Ghana and migrant female sex workers
I am paid to re-write text, and make it more consumer-friendly. This is a sample of a recent piece:
MY EDITS:
Ghana, a mineral-rich country along Africa’s western sea coast, is endowed with a good education system and an efficient civil service. What is lacking, however, is a policy that targets mobile and migrant populations who are at high risk of contracting HIV.
After Ghana’s first case of HIV was reported in 1986, the disease spread slowly and steadily until 2003, when efforts by the government and humanitarian actors started to register success. Today, Ghana has the lowest HIV prevalence in West Africa.
But amongst mobile and migrant populations, the prevalence remains high.
Ghana has developed a national strategic plan with the aim of delivering much-needed HIV prevention, care, treatment and support services to 80 per cent of Ghana’s key affected mobile and migrant populations by 2015.
Statistics show that female sex workers, who are part of the population the government is targeting, are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. The national HIV prevalence in 2010 was estimated at 1.5 per cent. Among female sex workers, it was estimated to be as high as 25 per cent.
In response to this, the Internationl Organztion for Migratn (IOM) and partners are conducting research which will contribute to evidence-based HIV and AIDS programming for migrant female sex workers in Ghana. The study will be conducted along Tema-Paga, the country’s longest and most widely traveled transport corridor.
ORIGINAL PIECE:
Migration is a recognized social determinant of migrant’s health. “Migration Health” refers to the physical, mental and social well-being of migrants, mobile populations, their families, and communities affected by migration. Mobility itself is not a risk factor, but rather the person’s risky behaviour. The links between migration, population mobility and HIV are still not widely understood. IOM is increasingly focusing on “Spaces of Vulnerability” where migrant and mobile populations interact with local communities in environments conducive to multiple concurrent partnerships or higher-risk sexual behaviours. Ghana is experiencing a mixed HIV epidemic: a generalized low level epidemic and a high level epidemic among Most At -Risk Populations (MARPs). The national HIV prevalence in 2010 is estimated at 1.5%. Among Female Sex workers (FSW), the HIV prevalence may be as high as 25%. Two types of Female Sex workers are described in Ghana- roamers (mobile) and seaters. Roamers usually operate at night and are found in and around bars, night clubs, hotels, brothels, popular eating and drinking spots and along some streets and parks known to be pick-up spots. Seaters usually operate at home, are located in specific communities and have some structure and organization. Ghana has developed a National Strategic Plan for Most At Risk Population with the goal of reaching 80% of all identified MARPs by 2015 with a comprehensive package of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.With funds from UNAIDS, IOM is currently conducting a behavioral study on HIV Vulnerability among Female Sex Workers along the Tema–Paga Transport Corridor-the longest and most widely travelled corridor in Ghana. The findings of this study will contribute to evidence based programming for Most At-Risk Populations (MARPs) in Ghana. IOM has established partnership with an international and local NGO, Management Strategies for Africa (MSA) and West Africa Program to Combat AIDS and STI (WAPCAS) respectively.
END//
Region: Ghana, West Africa
Theme(s): Migration, Health, Female sex workers
The author is a health communications consultant. Follow her on Twitter [@msanyuosire] & keep tabs on tips she shares with health communications officers by "liking" her facebook page [Mary-Sanyu Osire].
MY EDITS:
Ghana, a mineral-rich country along Africa’s western sea coast, is endowed with a good education system and an efficient civil service. What is lacking, however, is a policy that targets mobile and migrant populations who are at high risk of contracting HIV.
After Ghana’s first case of HIV was reported in 1986, the disease spread slowly and steadily until 2003, when efforts by the government and humanitarian actors started to register success. Today, Ghana has the lowest HIV prevalence in West Africa.
But amongst mobile and migrant populations, the prevalence remains high.
Ghana has developed a national strategic plan with the aim of delivering much-needed HIV prevention, care, treatment and support services to 80 per cent of Ghana’s key affected mobile and migrant populations by 2015.
Statistics show that female sex workers, who are part of the population the government is targeting, are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. The national HIV prevalence in 2010 was estimated at 1.5 per cent. Among female sex workers, it was estimated to be as high as 25 per cent.
In response to this, the Internationl Organztion for Migratn (IOM) and partners are conducting research which will contribute to evidence-based HIV and AIDS programming for migrant female sex workers in Ghana. The study will be conducted along Tema-Paga, the country’s longest and most widely traveled transport corridor.
ORIGINAL PIECE:
Migration is a recognized social determinant of migrant’s health. “Migration Health” refers to the physical, mental and social well-being of migrants, mobile populations, their families, and communities affected by migration. Mobility itself is not a risk factor, but rather the person’s risky behaviour. The links between migration, population mobility and HIV are still not widely understood. IOM is increasingly focusing on “Spaces of Vulnerability” where migrant and mobile populations interact with local communities in environments conducive to multiple concurrent partnerships or higher-risk sexual behaviours. Ghana is experiencing a mixed HIV epidemic: a generalized low level epidemic and a high level epidemic among Most At -Risk Populations (MARPs). The national HIV prevalence in 2010 is estimated at 1.5%. Among Female Sex workers (FSW), the HIV prevalence may be as high as 25%. Two types of Female Sex workers are described in Ghana- roamers (mobile) and seaters. Roamers usually operate at night and are found in and around bars, night clubs, hotels, brothels, popular eating and drinking spots and along some streets and parks known to be pick-up spots. Seaters usually operate at home, are located in specific communities and have some structure and organization. Ghana has developed a National Strategic Plan for Most At Risk Population with the goal of reaching 80% of all identified MARPs by 2015 with a comprehensive package of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.With funds from UNAIDS, IOM is currently conducting a behavioral study on HIV Vulnerability among Female Sex Workers along the Tema–Paga Transport Corridor-the longest and most widely travelled corridor in Ghana. The findings of this study will contribute to evidence based programming for Most At-Risk Populations (MARPs) in Ghana. IOM has established partnership with an international and local NGO, Management Strategies for Africa (MSA) and West Africa Program to Combat AIDS and STI (WAPCAS) respectively.
END//
Region: Ghana, West Africa
Theme(s): Migration, Health, Female sex workers
The author is a health communications consultant. Follow her on Twitter [@msanyuosire] & keep tabs on tips she shares with health communications officers by "liking" her facebook page [Mary-Sanyu Osire].
EXTREME MAKEOVER: Reaching out to urban migrant communities
I am paid to re-write text, and make it more consumer-friendly. This is a sample of a recent piece:
MY EDITS:
Every year, more than 30,000 people make the perilous journey across Egypt’s lengthy desert border, in an effort to get to Israel. Unemployment, conflict, and harsh living conditions pull people to Egypt from as far away as Somalia.
Many of the migrants are undocumented. They live in squalid conditions on the outskirts of town, with little or no access to basic health care. A programme, designed the Internationl Organztion for Migratn (IOM) to cater for the migrants’ needs, has seen 82 migrant community health volunteers make 2,390 door-to-door visits between July and December 2011.
The programme, intended to strengthen links between service providers and vulnerable migrant communities in Egypt, benefited 263 men, women, and children from Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea.
ORIGINAL PIECE:
As a part of IOM–Cairo’s efforts to promote migrants’ health awareness, the Transit Migration Project has started a Community Health Volunteers (CHV) Training Program by which community members are trained to be focal points of information dissemination and referral points for members of their respective communities to IOM and other organizations and health care providers providing assistance to migrants. This program was also designed in response to an identified need to increase migrants’ access to health care. Indeed language barrier and miscommunication, lack of trust from the migrant communities towards government healthcare facilities, lack of knowledge regarding rights to access healthcare all contribute to inadequate access for many migrants to appropriate healthcare. The IOM Transit Migration Project has trained volunteers from the Sudanese, Somali and Eritrean communities in coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent. The training covered topics such as community mobilization; community needs assessment, first aid, and psychosocial support.. The volunteers also became acquainted with the symptoms and management of some diseases that are widely spread in the community including diabetes, T.B. and Anemia. HIV and AIDS awareness was part of the training to meet an urgent need for migrants focused health programs. Livelihoods and family well being were as well part on the training to enhance communities’ general well being. Since the beginning of the program volunteer CHVs were involved in over 25 awareness raising workshops addressing general health issues, such as management of diarrhea in children, anemia, and TB. The workshops were conducted in 4 migrant dense areas in Greater Cairo. Volunteers conducted more than 600 home visits to provide direct health-related assistance, out of which 90 cases were referred for direct assistance through IOM’s current direct assistance program. We hope this initiative will strengthen the links and communication between service providers and the migrant communities in Egypt and will assist in increasing access to appropriate health care to those most vulnerable.
END//
Region: Egypt, Eritrea, North Africa
Theme(s): Migration, Health, Humanitarian assistance
The author is a health communications consultant. Follow her on Twitter [@msanyuosire] & keep tabs on tips she shares with health communications officers by "liking" her facebook page [Mary-Sanyu Osire].
MY EDITS:
Every year, more than 30,000 people make the perilous journey across Egypt’s lengthy desert border, in an effort to get to Israel. Unemployment, conflict, and harsh living conditions pull people to Egypt from as far away as Somalia.
Many of the migrants are undocumented. They live in squalid conditions on the outskirts of town, with little or no access to basic health care. A programme, designed the Internationl Organztion for Migratn (IOM) to cater for the migrants’ needs, has seen 82 migrant community health volunteers make 2,390 door-to-door visits between July and December 2011.
The programme, intended to strengthen links between service providers and vulnerable migrant communities in Egypt, benefited 263 men, women, and children from Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea.
ORIGINAL PIECE:
As a part of IOM–Cairo’s efforts to promote migrants’ health awareness, the Transit Migration Project has started a Community Health Volunteers (CHV) Training Program by which community members are trained to be focal points of information dissemination and referral points for members of their respective communities to IOM and other organizations and health care providers providing assistance to migrants. This program was also designed in response to an identified need to increase migrants’ access to health care. Indeed language barrier and miscommunication, lack of trust from the migrant communities towards government healthcare facilities, lack of knowledge regarding rights to access healthcare all contribute to inadequate access for many migrants to appropriate healthcare. The IOM Transit Migration Project has trained volunteers from the Sudanese, Somali and Eritrean communities in coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent. The training covered topics such as community mobilization; community needs assessment, first aid, and psychosocial support.. The volunteers also became acquainted with the symptoms and management of some diseases that are widely spread in the community including diabetes, T.B. and Anemia. HIV and AIDS awareness was part of the training to meet an urgent need for migrants focused health programs. Livelihoods and family well being were as well part on the training to enhance communities’ general well being. Since the beginning of the program volunteer CHVs were involved in over 25 awareness raising workshops addressing general health issues, such as management of diarrhea in children, anemia, and TB. The workshops were conducted in 4 migrant dense areas in Greater Cairo. Volunteers conducted more than 600 home visits to provide direct health-related assistance, out of which 90 cases were referred for direct assistance through IOM’s current direct assistance program. We hope this initiative will strengthen the links and communication between service providers and the migrant communities in Egypt and will assist in increasing access to appropriate health care to those most vulnerable.
END//
Region: Egypt, Eritrea, North Africa
Theme(s): Migration, Health, Humanitarian assistance
The author is a health communications consultant. Follow her on Twitter [@msanyuosire] & keep tabs on tips she shares with health communications officers by "liking" her facebook page [Mary-Sanyu Osire].
EXTREME MAKEOVER: Scabies at the border
I am paid to re-write text, and make it more consumer-friendly. This is a sample of a recent piece:
MY EDITS:
A tide of demonstrations swept across North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Libya was one of the most-affected countries. Many people lost their lives. Families were violently uprooted, and forced to travel hundreds of miles in blazing heat to neighbouring countries.
Thousands of Libyans streamed into temporary shelters in Salloum, the main border crossing point between Libya and Egypt. Camps were overcrowded, with no supply of running water. These conditions triggered a massive outbreak of scabies, a highly contagious skin disease.
1,400 men, women and children received emergency treatment from the Internationl Organztion for Migratn (IOM) and partners. IOM conducted health promotion sessions, fumigated the camp, and distributed new sets of blankets and mattresses to the migrants.
Furthermore, an emergency clinic supported by IOM provided basic health care to more than 45,000 migrants. Critically injured migrants who needed specialized treatment were transferred to public hospitals.
The IOM medical unit donated USD $25,000 worth of medical supplies to Egypt’s Ministry of Health.
ORIGINAL PIECE:
More than 1,000 migrants at Salloum border crossing between Libya and Egypt have been treated for scabies infection by a team of IOM specialists, in collaboration with the Egyptian port authorities, including the Ministry of Health and Population, and UNHCR.
Migrants and refugees who fled Libya and are currently at Salloum transit centre waiting for onward transport, started complaining of skin infections, allergy and rashes early September.
Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite. It is transmitted by close personal contact with an infected individual, and spreads rapidly. It causes skin rashes and severe, relentless itching. Small children and babies are particularly prone to scabies infections.
Upon detecting the infection, the organization dispatched a team of 11 health volunteers, including a medical doctor as team leader, to reinforce the health team which was already in place.
In all, 400 persons were found to be infected with scabies but as a precautionary measure, all migrants and refugees, numbering 1,400 were given treatment.
IOM procured treatment medicine and supplies from its Cairo base. They were shipped to Salloum, where the IOM health team treated the infection. The treatment was repeated for four days to ensure that the infection was totally eradicated. At the same time, IOM supported complementary measures carried out by partners such as fumigating and spraying the area and the surroundings, isolating migrant’s clothes and exposing them to the sun for three days, and replacing blankets and mattresses.
Indeed, the health team also assisted with the burning of blankets and mattresses which were suspected to harbour the scabies mite, and replaced them with new ones donated by the UNHCR. Afterwards, the IOM team provided education to the migrants on how to prevent the recurrence of the scabies infections.
END//
Region: Libya, North Africa
Theme(s): Migration, Health, Humanitarian assistance
The author is a health communications consultant. Follow her on Twitter [@msanyuosire] & keep tabs on tips she shares with health communications officers by "liking" her facebook page [Mary-Sanyu Osire].
MY EDITS:
A tide of demonstrations swept across North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Libya was one of the most-affected countries. Many people lost their lives. Families were violently uprooted, and forced to travel hundreds of miles in blazing heat to neighbouring countries.
Thousands of Libyans streamed into temporary shelters in Salloum, the main border crossing point between Libya and Egypt. Camps were overcrowded, with no supply of running water. These conditions triggered a massive outbreak of scabies, a highly contagious skin disease.
1,400 men, women and children received emergency treatment from the Internationl Organztion for Migratn (IOM) and partners. IOM conducted health promotion sessions, fumigated the camp, and distributed new sets of blankets and mattresses to the migrants.
Furthermore, an emergency clinic supported by IOM provided basic health care to more than 45,000 migrants. Critically injured migrants who needed specialized treatment were transferred to public hospitals.
The IOM medical unit donated USD $25,000 worth of medical supplies to Egypt’s Ministry of Health.
ORIGINAL PIECE:
More than 1,000 migrants at Salloum border crossing between Libya and Egypt have been treated for scabies infection by a team of IOM specialists, in collaboration with the Egyptian port authorities, including the Ministry of Health and Population, and UNHCR.
Migrants and refugees who fled Libya and are currently at Salloum transit centre waiting for onward transport, started complaining of skin infections, allergy and rashes early September.
Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite. It is transmitted by close personal contact with an infected individual, and spreads rapidly. It causes skin rashes and severe, relentless itching. Small children and babies are particularly prone to scabies infections.
Upon detecting the infection, the organization dispatched a team of 11 health volunteers, including a medical doctor as team leader, to reinforce the health team which was already in place.
In all, 400 persons were found to be infected with scabies but as a precautionary measure, all migrants and refugees, numbering 1,400 were given treatment.
IOM procured treatment medicine and supplies from its Cairo base. They were shipped to Salloum, where the IOM health team treated the infection. The treatment was repeated for four days to ensure that the infection was totally eradicated. At the same time, IOM supported complementary measures carried out by partners such as fumigating and spraying the area and the surroundings, isolating migrant’s clothes and exposing them to the sun for three days, and replacing blankets and mattresses.
Indeed, the health team also assisted with the burning of blankets and mattresses which were suspected to harbour the scabies mite, and replaced them with new ones donated by the UNHCR. Afterwards, the IOM team provided education to the migrants on how to prevent the recurrence of the scabies infections.
END//
Region: Libya, North Africa
Theme(s): Migration, Health, Humanitarian assistance
The author is a health communications consultant. Follow her on Twitter [@msanyuosire] & keep tabs on tips she shares with health communications officers by "liking" her facebook page [Mary-Sanyu Osire].
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