Advantages, disadvantages and risks of ready-to-use foods

Breastfeeding Briefs by T. Frank, ACFin South Sudan

Globally, about 50 million children less than 5 years are wasted (too thin) at any one time; of these, over 17 million are severely wasted. These children are at high risk of death or may suffer from diseases and complications that will greatly affect their future life. Much more common is stunting (failure to achieve normal growth in length or height): it affects more than 160 million children that may not reach their developmental potential, mainly in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. During the past decade or more the news media have focused on claims that the “solution” to reduce the mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases in the form of specific food products, often referred to as “ready-to-use foods.” These foods have a high nutrient density and a low water activity; thus, they do not support bacterial growth even without refrigeration. They need no cooking or other preparation and can be fed directly from their packaging with no need for training. The “ready-to-use therapeutic foods” (RUTF) are for use in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The introduction of RUTFs in the management of SAM has allowed health authorities to extend effective treatment beyond hospitals, i.e. in out-patient units or at home. As a consequence, the case fatality rates recorded in hospitals, usually less than 10%, can be achieved largely outside the hospital environment, thus greatly reducing cost and the burden on in-patient health care facilities, and allowing an increased coverage. This, however, is far from universal, and many cases, possibly the worst cases, are not yet reached by programmes. In addition, proof of the advantages of RUTFs over other products is weak. In addition, RUTFs have their downside. They are too expensive to be used for anything else besides treatment of SAM. Their provision depends often on short-term external funding for humanitarian or emergency programmes. They tend to be monopolized by a handful of manufacturers able to put in place strict quality control measures. Children treated with RUTFs require extra water; if clean water is not available, RUTF alone will not result in a healthy child. The product does not contribute to teaching the child to like the taste of the healthy local foods needed to avoid malnutrition in the future. Finally, they are only part of the solution: prevention and rehabilitation of SAM need much more than RUTFs. And SAM is only the tip of the malnutrition iceberg: 90% of malnutrition consists of forms other than SAM, and RUTFs are neither necessary nor appropriate in treating them.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Green Tea

By James Achanyi-Fontem

Green tea is one of three types of tea known for their health benefits. Historically, green tea has been very popular in eastern countries such as Japan, Thailand and India. While green tea may offer many advantages, such as a number of health benefits, it also has disadvantages as well. Green tea is contraindicated for some health conditions. When in doubt, always consult your doctor or health-care provider for recommendations before consuming green tea. Reduced Risk of Heart Disease According to Harvard Medical School’s Health Watch, green tea contains antioxidants that help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. It can promote arterial health as well. Green tea is also beneficial for blood pressure by reducing the risks of developing hypertension. Cancer Reduction The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that green tea has been studied in relation to different types of cancer. Bladder cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and esophageal cancer all appear in lower rates in individuals who drink green tea. The beverage may also increase survival rates for some cancers, such as bladder cancer. Polyphenols, powerful antioxidants contained in green tea, are thought to be responsible for the cancer reduction and survival rates. Caffeine Green tea contains caffeine, which may be unsuitable for individuals with a heart condition, including hypertension. You should also speak to your doctor prior to drinking green tea if you have any disorders involving your central nervous system or an anxiety disorder. Caffeine may worsen these conditions or interact with medications meant to control them. Pregnancy also requires that caffeine intake be limited, so consult your midwife or obstetrician about the safety of consuming green tea if you are pregnant.

50 Years of Living Successfully with Diabetes

By Stephen Ponder

March 1, 2016 marked my 50 year anniversary living with juvenile diabetes. Half a century ago, my parents wisely took a symptomatic 9 year old boy to see his pediatrician for what would ultimately develop into a 10 day hospital admission ushering in a new reality which has now existed five decades. Back then I didn’t expect to ever see this day. My parents privately didn’t believe I would be around too long. That was what we were led to believe at the time. We probably weren’t any different than other families. After all, the only point of reference back then was based on the prior four decades. Recall that insulin therapy had only been around 44 years when I was diagnosed. The ‘facts of life’ about living with diabetes were not very encouraging. People survived with diabetes, but faced a gauntlet of new challenges. Insulin was life sustaining, but it was not a cure. A new door was now opened to the world of diabetes complications. Early on, I learned to fear blindness and failing kidneys. I came to feel it was just my destiny. But as I later entered medical school and began to meet some new inspiring people, my perspective began to change. I began to better understand the nature of the problems I feared out of ignorance. Soon I started to realize that my fate largely rested in my own hands. I could now shape my destiny. Knowledge did evolve into power. Marriage, children and a busy career soon followed. It became clear that my life with diabetes was irrevocably different than what would have transpired in its absence. And as life’s experiences unfolded it became clear that I had begun to reclaim my life from the clutches of my earlier fears. I would be lying if I said I like having diabetes. I don’t. But I like my life with diabetes very much. Whether I like it or not, diabetes has shaped who I am and who I’ve been able to help over the past 35 years as a health care provider. In the natural world order, I should have died a half century ago. But this did not happen. Why? I assume I will find out when I meet my Creator. What I do know is that I have a purpose. Mark Twain said the two most important days in life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why. I do feel I now know why I am here. And that awareness is one of my greatest gifts from God. For all those reading this, my message to you is that a life lived well with diabetes (and many other chronic diseases), is very much within reach. Each day is a gift. Each family member or friend is a priceless treasure. We can all make a difference. With or without diabetes, life is a series of choices. Choose well. Embrace today and appreciate each sunrise. Now I’ve got to get ready for work and take out the trash. Have a splendid day everyone, I woke up today. Therefore I’ve won one more day over diabetes. Stephen Ponder Type 1 diabetes diagnosed March 1, 1956. Board Certified Pediatric Endocrinologist since 1990. CDE since 1989. Directs one of the largest children's residential diabetes camping programs in the world since 1989. Former Chair of the NCBDE. Author of the groundbreaking book "Sugar Surfing, Managing type 1 diabetes in a Modern World". International speaker, clinical researcher and community advocate. Directs a free clinic for homeless and uninsured children. Currently directs the Pediatric Residency Training Program at McLane Children's Hospital in Temple, Texas. Clinical Professor of Pediatrics with Texas A&M University School of Medicine.

27 Ways to Fight Food Waste

By Becky Striepe

Chances are you’ve seen lists of ways to fight food waste before. The list below, though, is based on hard data from a committee dedicated to ending food waste. ReFED is a committee that’s working to combat food waste on every front. They’ve looked at food waste from all angles and identified 27 ways that individuals, governments and businesses can fight food waste. When they talk about food waste, they’re talking about more than just the food itself. They also look at packaging waste and water waste associated with excess food. The group is made up of more than 30 businesses, nonprofits and leaders. In 2015, they conducted an economic study on food waste, which they called the Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste. Their mission is to fight food waste on a large scale by showing how it can financially benefit companies while doing good for people and the planet. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing that we throw away four billion tons of food per year. When you look at food waste by the numbers, it can feel like an insurmountable problem. ReFED’s mission is to “fill the gap between awareness and action” by looking at our food system as a whole. These are the 27 ways that we need to attack our food waste problem.

1. Consumer Education Campaigns – The more consumers—like you and I—know about food waste, the more we can do to waste less. Check out these seven ways that individuals can reduce food waste at home. 2. Standardized Date Labeling - One UK study found that extending “Sell By” dates by just one day would keep 50 million pounds of food out of landfills. 3. Packaging Adjustments - Companies need to choose packaging to minimize packaging waste and encourage consumers to eat the food before it goes bad. 4. Donation Matching Software – There is software out there already that connects excess food with people who need it. These apps help nonprofits, like food banks, recover edible excess food. 5. Standardized Donation Regulation – Local food safety regulations often stop nonprofits from recovering food waste. Standardizing these laws would make it a lot easier for these groups to do what they set out to do. 6. Value-Added Processing – This is all about turning donated food into something appealing. Ugly fruit can be turned into jam, for example. Ugly veggies are still appealing in a soup or stew. 7. Donation Liability Education - Grocery stores and restaurants often don’t donate excess food because they worry about getting sued. An education program could recover 95 million meals per year. 8. Donation Storage and Handling – Donated food needs to be stored properly, or it does spoil. Organizations like food banks and food hubs need more refrigeration and freezer space to handle the volume of excess food. 9. Spoilage Prevention Packaging – High tech packaging can extend food’s shelf life. For example, ethylene-absorbing pads help fruit stay fresh longer. They absorb ethylene, a gas that ripens the fruit. 10. Donation Transportation – Groups recovering food waste need better ways to get the food to people who need it, both in their communities and further away. 11. Waste Tracking and Analytics – One of the best ways to fight food waste is to keep up with where it’s happening. Analytics would help businesses, like grocery stores and restaurants, see where they’re wasting food, so they can address problems on the fly. 12. Trayless Dining – It turns out that cafeteria trays encourage people to take more food than they can eat. Ditching the trays means less over-serving and, therefore, less wasted food. 13. Smaller Plates – This is another step that both businesses and consumers can take. A smaller plate helps you waste less in the same way that it helps you eat less: you tend to load on a more reasonable amount of food. 14. Manufacturing Line Optimization – A lot of food waste is generated at the factory level. Making these processes more efficient would mean less spoilage on the factory floor. 15. Cold Chain Management – This is about keeping cold food cold by making fewer stops between farm and plate. 16. Donation Tax Incentives – This is like what Italy is trying to do with their new food waste law. Instead of punishing businesses who waste food, they will be giving big tax breaks to businesses who donate. They treat excess food like the valuable gift that it is. 17. Improved Inventory Management – Tracking products by remaining shelf life would enable stores to feature food that’s closer to its sell by date. 18. Produce Specifications – Grocers and farmers often don’t sell “ugly” produce. New specifications would get more edible produce on the shelf, even if that produce isn’t picture perfect. 19. Secondary Resellers – This is also not a totally new concept. There are food waste grocery stores now, but this concept is definitely one worth expanding on. 20. Home Composting – If you’re new to composting at home, it might seem overwhelming. Here are some great tips to help you get started. 21. Commercial Greywater – Companies can save a lot of money and reduce wasted water by using greywater in their sewage systems. 22. Centralized Anaerobic Digestion - Inedible food waste can actually be used to generate clean energy! 23. Centralized Composting – Like I mentioned in #20, composting at home can be overwhelming. Municipal composting, like they have in San Francisco makes it easy. Your trash goes in one bin, recyclables in another and food waste in a third bin. Some areas also have private centralized composting—companies that pick up or accept food and farm waste for composting. 24. Water Resources Recover Facility with Anaerobic Digestion - Think of this as a pipeline—sometimes a literal one—that takes food waste to anaerobic digestion facilities (see #22). 25. Animal Feed – Heat-treated food waste can be used as animal feed. You probably already know that animal agriculture is terribly inefficient. 26. Community Composting – This is basically centralized composting, but for a smaller area. It works best in urban areas, where populations are dense. 27. In-Vessel Composting – Smaller businesses can compost quickly on-site with special equipment and save on trash fees while generating dirt to use in their own landscaping. If you want to dive into even more detail, their website has an interactive graph where you can see the impacts of each action and get more information about them.

Cameroon Link IYCF Linkages

By James Achanyi-Fontem, CEO, Cameroon Link

IBFAN was founded in 1979. It is a network of 273 groups in 168 countries. Member groups include consumer organisations, health workers associations, parents’ Support groups and diverse organizations in the social media and justice movements. It has also individual members. For example, the group in Canada and United Kingdom have more than 1000 members each. Each group is autonomous and raises its own funds, with the assistance of IBFAN’s Regional office and Programme Coordinating Offices, in accordance with the Seven Principles of the Global Body (IBFAN). IBFAN Cameroon brings together some 46 independent organisations implanted in the 10 regions of Cameroon. The greatest number of associations are in the Littoral region. IBFAN Cameroon’s goal IBFAN Cameroon improves the wellbeing of women and children through contributing to the reduction of five morbidity and mortality rates and improving maternal health. Improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices that could prevent the deaths of 1.000.000 children under the age of 5 years every year and save more than 300 thousand from the life – long debilitating effects of stunning and severe malnutrition (WHO Sixty – third World Health Assembly WHA63.23, Agenda item 11.6). It should be noted that Improved IYCF can also contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’S) 2016 – 2030. IBFAN Cameroon does not use one single approach to achieve its goal but rather uses a variety of strategies and initiatives. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), adequate nutrition, beginning in early stages of life is crucial to ensure good physical and mental development and long-term health. The key recommendation is to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of the child’s life. The benefits of breastfeeding are well known, including providing the perfect nutrition and protection from life-threatening ailments, obesity and non-communicable diseases. However, more than half of the world’s new-borns are not breastfed within the first hour of birth. In Cameroon, this is rated at 92% Only 38% of infants are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life in Cameroon (WBti) . Several reports have highlighted the fact that sub-optimal breastfeeding has greatly contributed to malnutrition, which continues to be a major public health challenge especially in northern and eastern regions of Cameroon. In these regions, 20% of the children below 5 years of age are stunted. It is particularly noteworthy that Cameroon is faced with the double burden of under-nutrition and overweight in the Far North and East regions due to the presence of Boko Haram and refugees from neighbouring countries to Cameroon. In 2013, more than two-thirds of the 2.5 million under-weight and overweight children under 5 years of age resided in low and middle-income health districts of Cameroon. The IBFAN Cameroon agenda is piloted by the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Asso0ciations (FECABPA) coordinated by Cameroon Link and the Ministry of Public Health.

Programmes  Protection Of Women and Children’s Rights to health Protection of women and children’s right to health through maternity benefits and other efforts: IBFAN Cameroon advocates for national government to support the ILO Convention 183 of 2000 on Maternity Benefits and Recommendation 191 on the rights of all working women.  Public Awareness and Advocacy Public awareness and advocacy is intended to create a more visible, vocal and trusted Cameroon Network at both the 10 Regional and National levels.  Optimal Infant and Child Feeding prevention of MTCT Optimal infant and young child feeding and prevention of MTCT is intended to contribute to HIV- free child survival and the reduction of morbidity and mortality of infants and young children born to HIV+ mothers through quality counselling on infant feeding with the mothers.  The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Baby Friendly Community Initiative: intended to promote protect and support breast feeding and food based complementary feeding.  Infant Feeding in Emergencies Infant feeding in emergencies is intended to support government and international organisations through the enforcement of an Emergency Code Monitoring tool, designed to support the work of humanitarian agencies, Cameroon Link and IYCF advocates where it is deemed necessary.  Men and Youth involvement and Gender Awareness Men and youth involvement and Gender Awareness Groups in Cameroon create awareness of gender mainstreaming, support women and educate other men and youths in IYCF issues within the scope of WABA (Men’s Working Group) Agenda. Camlink Y4DA Initiative Goal “Develop and sustain young advocates to promote, protect and support optimal maternal, infant and young child health and nutrition” Although the need for community involvement in youth programs seems clear, only a few organizations have actually attempted to measure the added value of incorporating such participation into the promotion of nutrition of the youth and infants in such programs. Clearly, adolescence is a pivotal stage of the life cycle, and in turn, provides a unique opportunity to foster transition from childhood to adulthood. Ensuring that the nutritional needs of the adolescents are met is essential to this transition. Youth participation increases the impact of Youth Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS programs through ensuring greater relevance to the problems and issues faced by young people and increasing sustainability of interventions. The youth as part of many social domains have power to share with others about the benefits of good health and nutrition practices including promotion of breastfeeding in the communities as the number of teen mothers is on the increase in schools, universities, work places and youth organizations. There are a large number of youth groups and organizations in Cameroon that are valuable in the promotion of appropriate IYCF and also promote their general health and nutrition. Cameroon Link and FECABPA are leading organizations in the promotion of IYCF and its relationship with the Ministries of Health, Youth and Sports, to access health facilities and communities is well positioned to support, promote, and protect appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in the country. The creation of a programme for the youth to involve them in the promotion of its objectives was another way of spreading its scope to help in the improvement of the health of the infants and mothers especially the young parents. Camlink Y4DA is involved in farming activities for income generation purposes. Based on the above justification, the camlink Y4DA Initiative came as an answer to provide support to the scale up of interventions on appropriate IYCF and the general health and nutrition of youth in Cameroon that IBFAN Cameroon is already operating in. IBFAN Cameroon currently has 20 active Youth Groups in Cameroon like other African countries. The overall objective of the camlink Y4DA Network is to develop and sustain young advocates to promote, protect, and support optimal infant and young child feeding. The IAYN is mandated to participate in the affairs of IBFAN Africa through a coordinator or representative. The youth desks provided for under the Cameroon Link and FECABPA Offices are charged with the responsibility of coordinating and communicating issues affecting the youth and spearhead development and implementation of youth programs at the national level and as a liaison with the other regional bodies and initiatives within the health, social and nutrition fraternity on matters pertaining to the youth.

Cameroon Link Key Activity Areas Advocacy for and support for the establishment and strengthening of the youth groups for optimal maternal, infant and young child health and nutrition across the national network. Collaboration with already existing youth groups and also spearheading the establishment of more new groups both at the national and district health levels in the promotion of child and youth rights to better health and nutrition with an emphasis on the young parents. Scaling up of interventions that have been successful in the already implementing country regions will be a key highlight in efforts to grow the network. This is through communicating leadership opportunities and conducting trainings for youth; building partnerships with community agencies to develop common goal for youth involvement; engaging community agencies to provide leadership opportunities for youth within the network; and enhancing services for youth and families across child serving agencies through resource mobilization to provide training for youth advocates. Strengthening peer education in communities, schools and other institutions among the national network Peer education is considered one of many tools available to reach young people with information and also in developing their skills for behaviour change. The camlink Y4DA Network strives to develop and promote peer education programs that are in support for the rights of young people to scientifically accurate information about nutrition, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and where needed, access to youth-friendly services. Using current ITC technological advancements to come up with ideas and concepts that are relevant in today’s communication environment and needs of the young people. Participation in the development of interventions and programs that promote optimal nutrition and health among the youth in the national network Attainment of full growth especially among adolescent girls is very important. Pregnancy puts severe nutritional demands on a woman’s body, and among girls who become pregnant there are high risks of maternal mortality, pregnancy complications, and delivery of low birth weight infants. The National Youth Network is involved in development of programs that are directed towards education of youth on good nutrition and reproductive health practices. This also involves building partnerships with agencies in support for rights based programmes, youth empowerment and development programmes through entrepreneurship and investment projects that support and improve livelihoods of youth within communities.

Policy Frameworks: The camlink Y4DA Network puts into effect the strategy and focus areas of the plan of action of the African Youth Charter. The camlink Y4DA Strategy has been based on the priorities set within the IBFAN Africa policies under the theme “Developing young advocates for breastfeeding promotion”. The objectives and targets are aligned to the IBFAN Africa Strategic Plan (IASP), and it is in line with the African Union Decade Plan of Action (DPoA), the African Youth Charter and World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond (WPAY). The camlink Y4DA Network operates within the framework of the Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding and works in the area of Nutrition; HIV and AIDS; Child Health; Reproductive Health as well as Health Promotion and Education. Focus of Camlink Y4DA Initiative and Strategy is to: Provide continuity in terms of strategic planning for the Cameroon Youth Network. Capture critical lessons in implementation to guide strategic focus and investments for youth in the medium and long term, and consolidated investment targeting youth socio-economic empowerment; Align the national network priorities with organizational, regional and country government policies and strategies in terms of health and nutrition for youth; Ensure rights-based approach to youth development through meaningful participation and representation; and Mainstream youth perspective in the efforts to achieve broad development goals and priorities Conclusion: Camlink Y4DA Initiative as implemented under the African programmes has become an avenue of fulfilment of the Organization’s objectives. Implementation of its activities both at health district and community levels is one way of strengthening efforts and upholding achievements so far reached by building the blocks for tomorrow’s breastfeeding promotion movement and concerted efforts and engagement of populations and organisations in support of this initiative will go a long way to ensure that SDGs, and other international initiatives are reached in Cameroon.  Monitoring and Evaluation Cameroon Link is part of the global monitoring alliance for maternal and child nutrition: World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi). Capacity Development Cameroon Link provides health district level or national training for Men, Women, Youth and Community Radio Stations, NGOs, CBOs, government health staff and other organisations involved in the area of maternal health and nutrition and child feeding. UNICEF's work on statistics and monitoring UNICEF has learned through experience that problems that go unmeasured often go unsolved. In collaboration with a wide range of partners, UNICEF gathers evidence on the situation of children and women around the world. It uses this knowledge to inform national and global decision-making with the objective of improving children’s well-being. Some recent facts:

• 16,000 children die every day, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. • The births of nearly 230 million children under age 5 worldwide (about one in three) have never been officially recorded, depriving them of their right to a name and nationality. • 2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, including 946 million who are forced to resort to open defecation for lack of other options. • Out of an estimated 35 million people living with HIV, over 2 million are 10 to 19 years old, and 56 per cent of them are girls. • Globally, about one third of women aged 20 to 24 were child brides. • Every 10 minutes, somewhere in the world, an adolescent girl dies as a result of violence. • Nearly half of all deaths in children under age 5 are attributable to undernutrition. This translates into the unnecessary loss of about 3 million young lives a year. Supporting data collection UNICEF supports countries in collecting data related to children and women through Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), an international household survey programme. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, four rounds of MICS have been completed (in 1995-1996, 2000-2001, 2005-2006, 2009-2012) and a fifth is now under way (2013-2015). By 2015, over 280 surveys are expected to have been implemented in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries. Each round of surveys builds upon the last and offers new indicators to monitor trends and current priorities. The MICS programme is designed to collect statistically sound, internationally comparable data on more than 100 indicators used by countries to assess the situation of children and women in the areas of education, health, gender equality, rights and protection. It also provides data required to monitor progress towards national and international goals and commitments aimed at promoting the welfare of children. As part of the MICS global programme, UNICEF provides technical support and training through a series of regional workshops covering questionnaire content, sampling and survey implementation, data processing, data quality and analysis, report writing, data archiving and dissemination and further analysis. Under the fourth round of MICS, close to 700 UNICEF staff and experts from developing countries were trained worldwide. Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys generate data on more than 20 indicators used to measure progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), making the programme one of the largest single sources of data for MDG monitoring. The data generated in the fifth round of MICS (along with other nationally representative household surveys) is critically important in the final assessment of the MDGs, which was launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in September 2015. The MICS programme has pioneered the development and implementation of new measurement tools in areas such as early childhood development, female genital mutilation/cutting, child discipline, hand washing, post-natal health care and low birthweight. MICS findings have been used extensively as a basis for policy decisions and programme interventions, and for the purpose of influencing public opinion on the situation of children and women around the world. Leading data analysis Compiling data UNICEF maintains a series of global databases for tracking the situation of children and women globally. The databases include only statistically sound and nationally representative data from household surveys and other sources. They are updated annually through a process that draws on a wealth of data maintained by UNICEF’s network of 140 country offices. Developing new methodologies UNICEF plays an active – often leadership – role in a number of inter-agency monitoring groups on specific topics. Together with its inter-agency partners, UNICEF helps devise new methodologies, indicators and monitoring tools, build statistical capacity at the country level, develop joint estimates, and harmonize monitoring work across partners. UNICEF has also led the development of new indicators and methodologies for gathering relevant data on a number of priority issues, including education, child labour, child disability, child mortality, maternal mortality, water and sanitation, low birthweight, antenatal care, pneumonia, malaria, iodine deficiency disorder, female genital mutilation/cutting, and vitamin A deficiency. Assessing progress towards international goals UNICEF has undertaken extensive work on the development of indicators for national and international development goals and targets related to the well-being of children and women. These successful efforts include monitoring progress towards the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs, the World Fit for Children Declaration and Plan of Action, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS and the African Summit on Malaria. UNICEF is spearheading the development of child survival indicators currently used in the Countdown to 2015 initiative. Analysing data for evidence-based programming UNICEF’s work in the area of data analysis highlights trends and emphasizes patterns found within the data. It also suggests how these data can be used strategically to inform programmatic efforts. Where possible, data are disaggregated by gender, age, residence, household income, education, and other key social and demographic variables to help uncover possible risk factors and inequities. UNICEF also promotes the advancement of research through the development of joint projects and collaboration with academic institutions and other agencies working at the national and international level. Building capacity Through its MICS programme, UNICEF provides in-country technical assistance and leadership to local researchers and organizations, thereby contributing to the improvement of national monitoring systems for children and women. UNICEF also conducts regional workshops on specialized topics in conjunction with government counterparts to enhance their capacity to understand, interpret, analyse, disseminate and use statistics. These workshops cover several objectives ranging from supporting further analysis of malaria data for improved programme monitoring and management and for policy formulation and harmonizing the methodologies used to derive estimates on access to water and sanitation to improving coverage estimates related to HIV and to child and maternal mortality. UNICEF maintains a series of global databases on key indicators found at data.unicef.org Enhancing data dissemination Researchers, programme managers and legislators worldwide count on UNICEF data to assess the situation of women and children and to plan and implement related policies and programmes. The media, both locally and internationally, also rely on such data to inform and substantiate their coverage of children and women and the issues that affect their lives. Publications UNICEF data are used for a variety of planning and monitoring purposes. They appear in UNICEF flagship publications such as The State of the World’s Children and Committing to Child Survival: A promise renewed and in a number of sector-specific reports. These include Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation; Malaria and Children; and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change. MICS dissemination tools Tools produced to disseminate MICS data at the country and regional levels include printed materials, presentations, web links and those focusing on the media.

15 Common Cancer Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

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The American Cancer Society estimates that so far in 2014, approximately 1.6 million new cases of cancer have been diagnosed in the US and nearly 600 thousand people have lost their lives to the disease. A late detection from overlooking symptoms can give the disease time to spread and become an irreversible burden. The symptoms are deceptive in the fact that they can be seemingly normal happenings. The following symptoms are inherently mundane things that you should pay attention to and consider looking into with a physician if they persist. 1. Bleeding In Between Periods (women only) A bit of spotting in the gap of time where you aren’t normally having a period can be caused by a change in hormone levels, cervix inflammation, stress and blood thinners. It’s good to have a physician check for the likeliness of endometrial cancer in the uterus if the spotting happens more than once. 2. Bloating (women only) About one in every ten people in the US experience bloating on a regular basis, and women are particularly susceptible to it. It’s a common ailment of dietary trends, indigestion, premenstrual syndrome and pregnancy, but a persistent bloating may be subject to concern. If your bloating lasts longer than two weeks or is paired with bleeding and weight loss, check with your doctor for your risk of ovarian cancer. You can find more details in my article about 8 early warning signs of ovarian cancer you shouldn’t ignore. 3. Changes in Your Testicles (men only) If you notice a lump, swelling, pain or discomfort, with or without swelling or any other change in your testicle, go to see your doctor as it may indicate testicular cancer which can grow quite fast. Some doctors recommend that men ages 15 to 55 perform a monthly self-examination to identify any changes. 4. Problems When You Pee (men only) Having an enlarged prostate gland is common among men as they get older and can cause some problems when peeing, such as the urge to pee more often, especially at night or trouble starting to pee or having a weak stream. But these can also be symptoms of prostate cancer. Visit your doctor to check the cause of the problem. 5. Breast changes Breast cancer is one of the most common form of the disease in the world that affects both men and women. There are several evident signs that the American Cancer Society claim should be analyzed closely by a specialist, such as change in breast structure, appearance of lumps or changes in the skin or nipple. It is important to remember that these signs aren’t definitive proof of existing breast cancer. They can sometimes indicate smaller hormonal or health factors, so visiting an expert can clear any ambiguity. But there are also sneakier breast cancer indicators that many people overlook which you can read in my article about 5 unconventional signs of breast cancer. 6. Blood in Urine or Faeces Healthy digestion is important for a healthy life. If you’re uncomfortable during digestion and notice any redness in feces or urine, you should immediately seek medical attention. This is typically an indicator of onset colon or kidney cancer. Find more information in my article about 10 warning signs of bowel (colorectal) cancer. 7. Mole Changes Skin cancer is the most common form in the United States, with about one in every five Americans developing it sometime in their life. Women have been notably susceptible to several types of skin cancer, including the deadly melanoma. One of the most common indicators of onset skin cancer is the change in or appearance of moles. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using the ABDCE method of evaluating moles: asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolving. You can find more details in my article about warning signs of melanoma. 8. Sudden Weight Loss Without Effort We know this symptom seems like a godsend to some, considering the rising desire to become a skinny nation. But if you experience significant weight loss without any change in diet or physical exertion, you should be more concerned than relieved. There are again many different explanations for this, but a person shouldn’t rule out the possibility of pancreatic, lung or stomach cancer. 9. Ongoing Unexplained Pain Pain can be a result of numerous conditions, but ongoing pain which is unexplained and lasts a month or longer can signal bone, brain, or other cancers. Ask your doctor about any suspicious prolonged and unexplained pain. 10. Unusual and Persistent Fatigue It’s completely normal to feel worn down in a busy millennial society. But what about when you haven’t really done much with your day, and you still experience a persistent tiredness? If you have a reasonable diet and sleep routine and still experiences tiredness, you should consider the root of the problem and discuss it with a physician. 11. Difficulty Swallowing Now and then people experience a swelling or dryness of the throat that makes it difficult to swallow, otherwise known as dysphagia. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience to some, it is also sometimes caused by cancer in the mouth, throat or esophagus. If you have trouble ingesting foods or liquids, especially if it’s a regular occurrence, you should be evaluated by a medical professional. 12. Coughing This is probably one of the most mundane and diverse symptoms on the list. There are a ton of different reasons that people cough, and more often than not they are trivial and temporary in nature. It’s when the cough persists over the course of weeks that someone should voice concern. If you find yourself in pain or short of breath during the cough it could be serious. If you cough up blood, it is serious. Smokers should pay particular attention to coughing, as it’s the most typical sign of lung cancer. 13. Heartburn For avid coffee drinkers and connoisseurs of spicy food, heartburn may be an all too familiar struggle. Other people struggle with acid reflux because of biological dispositions. But if you’ve tried to alleviate your heartburn with an altered routine and saw no results, you should locate the root of the problem. Heartburn can be an indicator of cancer in the ovaries, heart and esophagus. Studies show that persistent heartburn may actually raise your odds of throat cancer, so immediate attention is required. 14. Fever Exhibiting a high temperature is a regular part of nearly everybody’s life at some point. Like many of the symptoms listed above, there could be multiple explanations for discomfort brought on by a fever. It’s when the fever refuses to go away or happens in severe conditions that you should voice concern. There are many different types of cancers that are foreshadowed with longstanding fever. 15. Changes in Lymph Nodes The lymphatic system plays an important role in fighting infections and absorbing excess fluids, fats, and toxic waste material from your entire body. Some areas where lymph nodes commonly swell are in the neck, groin, and underarms. While common infections can cause lymph swelling, some cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, can also cause this symptom. Always see a Doctor before you get Worried. This list may seem a bit scary, but there’s no need to worry right off the bat. Each of these symptoms can be tied to far less serious ailments than cancer, so don’t stress yourself out until you’ve been thoroughly evaluated by a professional. With a disease so serious it helps to take the extra precautions when you feel skeptical of an above-mentioned symptom.

15 Best & Worst Foods to Eat When You’re Sick

By camlinknews

Being sick is never fun. While reducing stress and getting plenty of sleep can help you get through a nasty bout of seasonal sickness, food can play an important role, too. Of course, some foods are better than others. Here are some of the best and worst foods you can eat when you’re feeling under the weather. BEST FOODS Bone Broth. Chicken soup has been a longtime remedy for any sickness — and for good reason. Broth, slow-cooked bone broth in particular, is very dense in nutrients, including magnesium, phosphorus, and other difficult to obtain trace minerals. Your body will have a harder time fighting off illness if it is suffering a deficiency, and drinking warm broth is comforting for the soul. Hot Tea. Not only is green tea chock full of antioxidants, but it also has anti-viral and antibacterial properties — yet another reason to stock green tea in your pantry. If caffeine isn’t your thing, chamomile tea elevates phenols, which are antioxidants that have been shown to possess antibacterial powers. Raw honey. Honey is sometimes thought to be as effective (or more) in suppressing coughs as over-the-counter meds. A 2010 study found that children with upper respiratory infections experienced greater relief from a 2.5 ml serving of honey before bed than from over-the-counter cough suppressants. If you have some spare change, try New Zealand’s own manuka honey, which is touted as being one of the most medicinal honeys in the world. Citrus. Grapefruit, oranges, and lemons are bursting with nutrients, including vitamin C, which is a well-documented ally if you’re fighting off the sniffles. Eat them whole, spritz some into your water, or make homemade juice if you’re feeling up to it. Popsicles are also great for numbing a sore throat. Ask someone to make you some homemade orange juice pops for a tasty, health-boosting remedy. Don’t waste your money on Vitamin C supplements, though — the body can’t use more than 200 milligrams a day. Apple cider vinegar. Does ACV have no end to its glory? It is a potent anti-viral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. It also helps to reduce acidity in the body by acting as an alkalizing agent. A tonic consisting of a tablespoon or two of raw ACV, raw honey, and lots of water could have you feeling a little bit less foggy in no time. Spicy foods. If you just have a head cold, eating something spicy might be the way to clear out your sinuses. When consuming spicy foods, your body will naturally loosen the mucus and phlegm that is clogging your body, and you might be able to breathe a little better. Spicy foods include chili pepper, horseradish, and wasabi. Take note: if you have a stomach illness, spicy foods may only aggravate your symptoms. Garlic. As an antimicrobial and antibiotic, garlic is known to boost immunity. It also increases enzymes that help to detoxify the blood. Studies have shown that garlic can not only help ward off colds but also reduce the duration and severity of illness. Load up a homemade bone broth and sip throughout the day. Elderberries. A 2009 study showed that elderberry extracts were able to block the H1N1 virus’s ability to infect host cells. That means it is a potent anti-viral. Okay, so maybe you don’t have an elderberry tonic stored in the back of your fridge, but if you find it or decide to make some, know that elderberries are great virus-fighters. Some even claim it can reduce the duration of colds and upper-respiratory infections. Ginger. This well-documented root helps with nausea. But, instead of reaching for a regular ginger ale loaded with high fructose corn syrup, try a natural ginger beer or ginger tea. These will have a higher potency of ginger and won’t cause further inflammation caused by unwelcome sugars. Bananas. Aside from their high vitamin content and energizing sugars, bananas are quite gentle on the stomach. If you’re suffering from a digestive-related illness, know bananas are a safe bet — along with rice, applesauce, and toast. Oregano. Anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory, oil of oregano is extremely powerful and has been shown to fight viruses. It inhibits the growth of unwelcome pathogens, and has myriad other health uses to warrant it a spot in your medicine cabinet. Add a few drops to water or cook with the whole herb. Just exercise caution, as it is very potent.

WORST FOODS In general, you should avoid any foods that cause inflammation, like white flour, refined sugar, and artificial sweeteners. Here are a few examples: Highly acidic foods. When your body is trying to bring itself back into balance, you don’t want to keep pumping in acidity and inflammation. Stay clear of any foods to which you may be sensitive — like dairy and gluten — and opt for eating less red meat and dairy, which can be heavy and acidic to the body. Sugary foods. Sugar is acidic to the body. Avoid refined sugars and artificial sweeteners, which cause inflammation. Instead, opt for honey and maple syrup, which are full of beneficial minerals, or eat whole fruits, which balance the sugar intake with fiber. Fatty foods. Fried chicken is not going to make you feel any better. Foods high in grease and fat often leave your stomach unsettled and can produce further inflammation. Adding to your bodily inflammation while your sick just isn’t a smart idea, so steer clear of all fast food burgers when you are fighting off a cold. Dairy. While there isn’t a general consensus on this, most believe that dairy encourages the development of mucus. It’s probably not something you’re craving when you have a stomach bug either. If you’re searching for something cold to soothe your throat, opt for natural popsicles before hunkering down with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough. (On the other hand, fermented dairy, like yogurt and kefir, may be beneficial in small amounts, due to the high levels of probiotics.) The earlier you recognize an incoming illness, the better. Eating the proper foods can help you get out of bed and out into the world in no time. Remember, your food is medicine. What foods do you use to remedy the flu and seasonal sicknesses?