Nearly half of the world's population is at risk of malaria. In 2015, there were roughly 212 million malaria cases and an estimated 429,000 malaria deaths. Increased prevention and control measures have led to a 29% reduction in malaria mortality rates globally since 2010. Since 2000, malaria prevention has played an important role in reducing cases and death, primarily through the scale up of insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying of insecticides.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to remember and emphasize the importance that families and communities play in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. This year's theme for National Child Abuse Prevention month is "Building Community, Building Hope." According to the U.S Department of Health & Human Services website, "Strong, nurturing communities that are supportive of families can get involved and play a role in preventing child abuse and neglect and promoting child and family well-being." The U.S Department of Health & Human Services has developed a list of resources to help support providers in their work with parents, caregivers and children to prevent child abuse and neglect.
World Health Day, originally created to celebrate the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), is celebrated annually on April 7th. Each year the World Health Organization uses this day as an opportunity to draw attention to various global health issues. The theme for 2017 is Depression: let's talk.
The WHA Executive Board has unanimously decided to recommend the adoption of a resolution on sepsis to the World Health Assembly (WHA).
The WHA is the supreme decision-making body of the WHO. It meets in Geneva in May each year, and is attended by delegations from all 194 member states. Its main purpose is to determine the policies of the WHO.
In January of last year, OPENPediatrics released our video, The Iron Lung and Polio by Dr. Mark Rockoff. In this video, Dr. Rockoff talks about the history, development, and use of the iron lung in response to polio. The video featured a fully restored iron lung built from abandoned or discarded parts found at the Lakeville State Hospital in Massachusetts. Developed in the late 1920's, the iron lung was originally used to help patients breathe who had limited or no control over their respiratory muscles due to disease or illness.
The kidneys are complicated and amazing organs that do many essential tasks to keep us healthy. The main job of your kidneys is to remove toxins and excess water from your blood. Kidneys also help to control your blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep your bones healthy.
Join us today, March 8th, in celebrating Registered Dietician Nutritionist Day. This day, first celebrated in 2008 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, was created to celebrate registered dietitian nutritionists' (RDNs) dedication to helping people live healthy lifestyles. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day is part of a larger initiative called National Nutrition Month®, which takes place in March and aims to bring attention to the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and exercising habits. The theme for this year is "Put Your Best Foot Forward." This theme is meant to serve as a reminder to everyone that we all hold the tools to make better and healthier food choices.
Almost half a million emergency department visits for traumatic brain injury are made annually by children aged 0 to 14 years. This is one of the many reasons March has been named Brain Injury Awareness Month. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month by conducting an awareness campaign each year. The theme this year is: Not Alone.