Blog Post #13: Health Care Price Increases

A growing number of U.S. employers are switching from classic single or family insurance plans to “per participant” coverage. This change has occurred partially in response to a part of the federal health care legislation which allows young adults to remain on their parents’ coverage until the age of 26. Prior to 2010, children were dropped from their parents’ plans at the age of 18, 21 or when they left college. Under the “per participate” plan, the amount an employee has drafted from each paycheck grows along with each person added to their plan, instead of having a set rate as with the previous family plan. Although the plan has been available, Craig Rosenberg (an Aon Hewitt benefits leader) says of company decisions to choose the “per participate” coverage, “It is a trend that is emerging and will gain more traction.” Although benefit analysts consider the estimated 1-3% increase to premium costs small, it is indeed another price rise in health care, that many employees are already struggling, or unable to pay.

Rising cost account for only one of many problems the global health care industry is suffering from. Although the United States spends more than other countries on its health care, costs are rising almost everywhere. This has led to budget deficits, tax increases, and benefit reductions. Even countries with greater government control (national health care systems) must deal with rationed health care or long waiting lists. Creating a successful health care system in any country must become a joint effort of government, employer, health care providers, and insurance companies alike.

Sources: http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/young-adults-coverage-may-cost-parents-even-more/

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9272

Blog13

This article talks about the inequality facing rural nations in the United States with rising rates of HIV/AIDS infections. Pastor Brenda Byrth is a pastor in the bible who is committed to educating and assisting her community and those infected with HIV/AIDs.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic does not just affect third world countries; this epidemic is affecting communities in our nation as well. Throughout the Southeastern United States, the HIV/AIDS rates are consistently higher than any other region in the United States, with rates about 9.2 per 100,000. Rural areas like those across the Bible-Belt are continuing to face increasing rates of HIV/AIDS infection and this is due to the same issues that are affecting third world countries with increasing rates of infection: lack of education, stigma, and lack of funding.

“The stigma starts with sex, says Dr. Leandro A. Mena, an expert on infectious diseases at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Many socially conservative residents of the Deep South have a hard time talking about sex with their children, never mind discussions about condoms with complete strangers.” If parents can’t begin to talk about sex with their children, the kids will begin to have sex without knowing how to protect themselves not just from having babies, but from becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Many schools in the south completely omit sex education and teach kids to practice abstinence which clearly isn’t working.

Pastor Byrth is one of the only people in her community to attempt to teach the children and anyone else that is willing to listen about sex education during her monthly HIV/AIDs awareness meetings and though her crowd is small, she is doing the best she can to reach her audience.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/28/health/hiv-aids-southeast-rural-south-carolina/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Mental Health Crisis

People around the world are put in Mental Health facilities. Many are treated inhumanely by the staff. Many suicides occur due to lack of access to a room at a hospital. Even though the hospital staff have been found to abuse their patients, hospitals are still over-crowded. Globally, many people suffer from mental illness and do not reiceve proper care. Also, many are held against their will. A new report by the NHS deems that there are 90 recommendations for improvement. The Mental Health Act that more than 1.25 million people use NHS mental health services per year.

Paul Farmer, MIND’s chief executive stated, “Our investigation found that far from receiving the instant 24-7 response we expect for physical health emergencies, people experiencing mental health emergencies can be faced with long waits, poor quality of care and in some cases no access to help at all.” This mental health crisis should be addressed quickly to prevent more people from suffering and dying. Mental health hospitals should staff people who are specially trained and caring. Mental health conditions are continuing to rise in the world, and without a proper place to go for treatment, many people will not get the treatment he or she needs.

Paul Burstow, minister in England said, “a light on the good, the bad and the unacceptable.” Far too many people are not getting the care they need. The health status of the people reflects the health of the country. RIght now, mental health facilities are not doing the job correctly. The amount of experience for doctors and nurses at these facilities need more regulations. No one should be hired to work with the mentally ill unless they have worked with them before. Also, regulations should be held to see ho the nurse and patient relationship goes day by day. Strict rules and regulations need to be enforced.

Far too many people have been abused and mistreated, when they are supposed to be cared for. Many people with mental illness do not have family or friends to help them and it is the responsibility of the state to care for them properly. Human beings should not be treated inhumanely, not matter what their condition is.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/21/mental-health-services-inhumane-report

Blog #13: 26 bodies found in Guadalajara, a sign of rising mafia violence

This past Thursday 26 dead men were found in Guadalajara Mexico as a sign of escalating mafia violence among drug cartels. The bodies were bound, gagged, and stuffed in three vehicles left near a prominent land mark in the city. Each one was shot in the head. The previous day another similar gruesome scene was found in Mexico’s Sinaloa state. “These barbaric acts show that the war between the criminals is getting even more brutal,” said Jorge Aristoteles Sandoval, Guadalajara’s mayor. Guadalajara has not been known as a drug-war battleground, but investigators believe it may be a push by the Zetas cartel into territory that has long been the domain of the Sinaloa Federation, which is the reigning criminal power along Mexico’s western coast. It is also believed that the Zetas may be budging into Guadalajara to fight for a bigger piece of Mexico’s billion-dollar drug trade.

The prevalence of drug cartels is at an extreme high for Mexico, with no end in sight. The violence that occurred raises many questions that no one can answer for sure. It is uncertain why those 26 men were brutally murdered, but all that can be said is that this was a sign. The rampage of deaths and tragedy in Mexico has had a major impact on its people as well as the world. It is sad to say, but Mexico is becoming a place specifically known for its drug crisis. Safety is becoming less and less of an assurance for the people in the major drug-trafficking areas. How can Mexico put an end to these deadly drug cartels? It seems the answer to this question may be bleak, but if other nations band together then this war on drugs may have an end.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/19-bodies-found-in-mexicos-second-largest-city/2011/11/24/gIQAaIUwsN_story.html?tid=pm_world_pop

Blog #13 (Health/Disease)

“Anti-H.I.V. Trial in Africa Canceled Over Failure to Prevent Infection”  by Donald G. McNeil Jr.

-Amber Kocher

A trial in Africa that was trying to prevent HIV infections in women was cancelled due to failure.  This study was a trial of a microbicide gel that women used vaginally to protect them against the virus, but still allowed them to get pregnant.  This trial was the second one, and it succeeded what was reported as a successful first trial.  Researchers were disappointed in this trials failure because of the good results they had from the first one.  This gel was being developed so that women who feared rejection and violence from there partners (if asked to use a condom) could use it secretly.  The original study showed that it “protected 39% of the women who used it and that those who used it most regularly reduced their chances of infection by 54%”.  The second trial was cancelled because it showed that the drug was safe but it was not effective, and it ethically required the cancellation to prevent any further infections in the trial patients.  Data and answers for why the trial failed will not be clear until 2012 because the trial is still blind and the placebo and actual drug patients won’t be revealed until that time.

This failure of this trial is hard hitting because researchers and organizations are working on things like this to help solve social and health problems in places like Africa where the people don’t have access to proper health care and treatment.  HIV and AIDS is such a huge problem in the world, and its extremely concentrated in the continent of Africa, so this study failing is quite a setback.  The development of the microbicide gel is a good step in the right direction, and hopefully the research and the data will unveil what went wrong, and researchers will be able to perfect it and try again.  With cultures and practices being different, and condoms and birth control not always an option, developing something that these women can use safely and effectively is something that needs to continue to have attention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/health/research/anti-hiv-gel-trial-is-canceled-in-africa.html?ref=health

Turkey marks day for the end to violence against women with new charter

LaShonda Williams
Blog #13
November 27, 2011

Murder, rape, and domestic violence are some of many crimes that women in Turkey are experiencing everyday. In the past seven months 226 women were murdered 478 were raped and 722 were hospitalized due to domestic violence. On November 25 Turkey decided to take some form of action by ratifying the COE the Council of Europe to prevent violence against women. Many groups who were already fighting to end women’s violence took on many forms of celebration. Imams in Mosques decided instead of praying they gave speeches denouncing violence against women and called for respect for all women. They also, gave a sermon calling all women the source of existence for humanity. Other groups marched for the cause and there was also a group formed by men that aimed to stand behind this new reform. Although Turkey is not where it needs to be the COE is aiming to make it a nationwide policy that will hopefully lower the numbers of domestic violence by the year 2020. They believe every ministry should be involved and every prime minister should enforce these rules.

I feel that it was important for the parliament of Turkey to establish some kind of shield against all of the violence that women are enduring. There is no reason why there should be so much crime and hatred being targeted against women. There should have been laws implemented to solve this problem long before things elevated to the level that they have gotten too. Women should not be confined to the norms of old traditional beliefs. They should not feel subjected to only serving as a wife and mother. Any woman should be given the choice of freedom, education, and the will to establish their own way of living.

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-263882-turkey-marks-day-for-end-to-violence-against-women-with-new-charter.html

Blog 13 Ethnic Division in Jos, Nigeria Again

Recetly in the city of Jos, Nigeria 15 people were killed due to ethnic division. The violence took place after members of the murder of three Berom teens by the Fulani. A police officer and four children were killed. Over 20 buildings were burnt during the violence. As a result, the military was called in to take control. The city was placed on an 24 hour curfew. The groups have clashed because Fulanis are muslims and Beroms are christians living in the same area.

This is a global social problem because, this is a reacurring issue in Jos. This isn't the first time a large number of people and children have been killed in the city. The government no longer has control over the people within the city. Past reports suggested that the government had an answer for the violence and division but now the police and young children are being killed. The government needs to take complete control back over the city before more people are killed. They should find a way to handle the tension between the Fulanis and the Beroms to take control.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Africa/15-killed-in-ethnic-violence-in-Nigeria/Article1-773719.aspx

Blog 13: The rubber gloves are on: marchers to fight for women's rights amid cuts

A protest occurred last Saturday in response to the UK government cuts that will directly effect women's equality. The Fawcett Society, an organization that campaigns women's rights encouraged women to dress in 1950's attire for the protest. The organization and other protestors marched down where the Prime Minister David Cameron's office is with the slogan of not letting austerity “turn back time” for women's rights. The Fawcett Society active chief executive Anna Bird believes that the progress was being made for women's rights, but now there is potential for those rights to be non existent. With specific cuts being made to programs such as Surestart and other benefits, it is expected that women will be most effected. Women are predicted to lose their jobs disproportionately to males, saying that "350,000 of the 500,000 people who will lose their jobs as a result of public sector cuts will be women". Many women who participated were affected by the budget cuts and lost their jobs. Bird says that now is the time to make this issue a priority to resolve for the sake of women's equality.

It is important to bring this issue into government because of the drastic number of women it will affect. The cuts are infringing on women's right because it s not allowing women the fair opportunity for economic stability. Women are already dealing with glass ceiling and the pay gap, and these cuts would increase the struggle for women to attain equality and independence. Dave Prentice, the general secretary of unison said, "This is a tripple whammy for women who are being hit hard by unemployment, the rising cost of living as well as cuts to benefits and services to young people. The concern is that these cuts that are directed towards women will cease the progression and set women back to earlier times when there were more restraints on what was socially acceptable for women. Like the movement in the 60s, there are many women and others who believe that there needs to be more opportunities for women in society, and many are willing to stand up for the justice that is deserved.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/18/fawcett-march-womens-rights-amid-cuts

Blog 13 UK net migration hits record high

            Recent data in the United Kingdom has shown that their attempt to bring the number of migrants to below 100,000 was not realized with the official figure last year to be 252,000, which is the largest amount ever in a calendar year. One of the factors of the overall migration in the United Kingdom that the Office of National Statistics reported is that now more than ever the number of UK citizens who emigrate is at an all time low since 1998. In March of this year alone there were 591,000 people who came into the UK. Another issue that can be seen from the data is the low percentages of the deportation of “failed asylum seekers”, as well as individuals who were in the country illegally. While the figure of overall migration has decreased from March 2010 to 2011, it is unclear if this decrease will continue over time. Also, the number of student and work visas has decreased according to Damian Green, the immigration minister. He believes this shows the new government policies are beginning to have an affect on migration. Sir Andrew Green from Migrationwatch UK stated that “it is absolutely vital to get this down less than 40,000 if we are to keep our population below 70 million.”

             The attempts to decrease the net migration in the UK are clearly proving to be more difficult than anticipated. The affects of UK citizens staying in the country as well as people immigrating into the UK will have an affect on the government as well as the economy, as they will seek to find jobs and be competing with other UK citizens along with migrants. However, they can provide a positive boost to the economy through the buying and selling of goods in the UK.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/24/uk-net-migration-record-high?INTCMP=SRCH

Blog Post 13 : Global Health Fund sees Fundrasing Constraints

This week’s article concerns an important issue of not one, but three global diseases that kills a vast majority of people per year. These three diseases include AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has announced that they will have to stop grants until 2014 due to the global financial crisis. Since the creation the article mentions that it has provided $15 billion for programs. With money becoming harder to come by the fund has even said to only be able to keep funding current AIDS programs. It appears that not only the lack world’s finance has contributed to the halt in funding put mismanagement of money as well as fraud and misspending has contributed to the funds downturn.

The GFATM, which just got its start in 2002, already gets most of their funds from contributions of developed countries and so far have provided 600 programs in 150 countries and the amount of money that has been raised is near 21.7 billion therefore needless to say this international financing organization has been a huge help for poor countries who need the help to keep their people safe. The diseases that they fight against kill about 5.4 million people per year worldwide. The organization has provided nets and treatment for both tuberculosis and AIDS even though there is not yet a cure; they provide them with the doctors and medicines that enable them to live longer.  With the U.S being the biggest contributor combined with our depressing economy money is becoming harder to give away. The global financial crisis has also made the fund come up short.  This program was going a long way and but now with all the corruption that always seems to take over groups along with the financial problems it seems that such a good project will come to an end.  Hopefully it will only be until 2014 like predicted. 

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/global-health-fund-sees-fundraising-constraints-halts-new-programs-due-to-funding-woes/2011/11/24/gIQAOiHZrN_story.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Global_Fund_to_Fight_AIDS,_Tuberculosis_and_Malaria

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=163977&sectioncode=26