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The future of food
I met Ella, Singapore's first robotic barista, at Changi International Airport. Ella serves various drinks non-stop, from a classic latte to a Pandan Tea latte......»»
Stop motorcycle taxi expansion, Marcos urged
Various transport groups yesterday appealed to President Marcos to stop the expansion of motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila amid the impending decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board o authorize several companies as players in the pilot study......»»
Billions for commercial tuna industry, crumbs for fisherfolk
Months of investigation by Bulatlat revealed that the booming commercial tuna industry in General Santos City, dubbed the Philippines’ “tuna capital,” favors industrial scale commercial fishing fleets at the expense of the livelihood of thousands of ordinary fisherfolk. The post Billions for commercial tuna industry, crumbs for fisherfolk appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Celtics beats Pistons 129-102 for 8th straight win
Celtics beats Pistons 129-102 for 8th straight win.....»»
Blinken Arrives in South Korea to Attend Democracy Summit
Seoul, South Korea - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.Before arriving in Se.....»»
US State Secretary Blinken begins Middle East tour, marks his first stop in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], March 21 (ANI): US State Secretary Antony Blinken who began his Middle East tour arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking his first stop on this trip to discuss efforts to reach an "immediate ceasefire agreement" between Israel and Hamas, The New York Times reported. Blinken's visit to Jeddah came as US President Joe Biden's administration was hoping it could convince Saudi Arabia to establish.....»»
Positive earnings results boost share prices
The stock market ended a two-day bleeding after a slew of positive corporate earnings results buoyed investor sentiment......»»
Market ends 2-day slump, bounces above 6,800
The stock market ended a brief two-day bleeding as it made its way back to the 6,800 territory......»»
Meta quarterly profit jumps but it sees volatility in ad market
Meta on Wednesday reported that its quarterly profit more than doubled from last year's figure as it looks ahead at a volatile ad market and lawsuits accusing it of profiting from "children's pain." "Meta earnings looked pretty good," said independent tech analyst Rob Enderle. "They have clearly cut back on the bleeding surrounding their metaverse efforts and the company appears to be on a more even keel right now." The tech giant said it made a profit of $11.6 billion as ad revenue climbed 23 percent to $34 billion when compared to the same period a year earlier. "We had a good quarter for our community and business," said Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. The number of people using Facebook monthly rose slightly to 3.05 billion in a year-over-year comparison while monthly active users of Meta's "family" of apps was 3.96 billion a 7 percent increase from the same quarter in 2022, the company reported. Meta said it had trimmed costs, with layoffs and other belt-tightening measures started last year providing "greater efficiency." Meta had suffered a rough 2022 amid a souring economic climate and Apple's data privacy changes, which allowed users to block ad targeting, the pillar of Meta's business. Meta's vow of austerity on spending brought an unprecedented round of cost-cutting that saw the company lay off tens of thousands of workers since last November. Meta shares, which closed the formal trading day down, fell more than three percent further in after-hours trades to $289.50. Chief financial officer Susan Li said during an earnings call that Meta is seeing "volatility" in an ad market that started to soften when the conflict between Israel and Hamas began. "It's hard for us to attribute demand softness directly to any specific geopolitical event," Li said. "We have seen broader demand softness follow other regional conflicts in the past, such as in the Ukraine war, so this is something that we're continuing to monitor." Lawsuit peril Analyst Enderle maintained that Meta is at risk from lawsuits poised to damage its image and its wallet. Dozens of US states this week accused Meta of profiting "from children's pain," damaging their mental health and misleading people about the safety of its platforms. "In seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms," argued a joint lawsuit filed in federal court in California. The states accused Meta of exploiting young users by creating a business model designed to maximize time they spend on the platform despite harm to their health. In total more than 40 states are suing Meta, though some opted to file in local courts rather than join in the federal case. Meta said the states were singling it out unfairly instead of working with social media companies to develop universal standards for the whole industry. "This landmark lawsuit could herald a seismic shift in how social media platforms approach product features and user engagement," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Jeremy Goldman. "That said, even as tech stocks face uncertainty, Meta's consistent performance cements its leadership in the digital realm." Meanwhile, the European Union is seeking details on measures Meta has taken to stop the spread of "illegal content and disinformation" in light of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The AI race The tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses as it seeks to gain lost ground in the AI race. "I'm proud of the work our teams have done to advance AI and mixed reality with the launch of Quest 3, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and our AI studio," Zuckerberg said in the earnings release. The second-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses made in a partnership with EssilorLuxottica have a starting price of $299. "Smart glasses are the ideal form factor for you to let AI assistants see what you're seeing and hear what you're hearing," Zuckerberg said. Meta has taken a more cautious approach than its rivals Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google to push out AI products, prioritizing small steps and making its in-house models available to developers and researchers. "The majority of the world's population will have their first experience of generative artificial intelligence with us," Meta chief technology officer Andrew "Boz" Bosworth told AFP in a recent interview. Meta recently unveiled AI-infused chatbots with personalities, along with tools for creating images or written content using spoken prompts. The post Meta quarterly profit jumps but it sees volatility in ad market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US experts carry out second pig-to-human heart transplant
A 58-year-old man this week became the world's second patient to receive a transplant of a genetically modified pig heart, the latest milestone in a growing field of medical research. Transplanting animal organs into humans, called xenotransplantation, could offer a solution to the chronic shortage of human organ donations. More than 100,000 Americans are currently on waiting lists for organ transplants. Both heart procedures were carried out by experts from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with the first patient dying two months after his transplant last year due to "a multitude of factors including his poor state of health" prior to the operation, the university said in a statement Friday. The latest operation took place on Wednesday, with patient Lawrence Faucette ineligible for a donated human heart due to pre-existing vascular disease and internal bleeding complications. Without the experimental transplant, the father of two and a Navy veteran was facing near-certain heart failure. "My only real hope left is to go with the pig heart, the xenotransplant," Faucette was quoted as saying prior to the procedure. "At least now I have hope, and I have a chance." Following the transplant, Faucette was breathing on his own and the new heart was functioning well "without any assistance from supportive devices," the university said. He was taking conventional anti-rejection drugs as well as receiving a new antibody therapy to prevent his body from damaging or rejecting the new organ. Xenotransplants are challenging because the patient's immune system will attack the foreign organ. Scientists are trying to circumvent the problem by using organs from genetically modified pigs. In the past few years, doctors have transplanted kidneys from genetically modified pigs into brain-dead patients. The NYU Langone Hospital Transplant Institute in New York announced this month that a pig kidney transplanted into a brain-dead patient had functioned for a record-breaking 61 days. Early xenotransplantation research focused on harvesting organs from primates -- for example, a baboon heart was transplanted into a newborn known as "Baby Fae" in 1984, but she survived only 20 days. Current efforts focus on pigs, which are thought to be ideal donors for humans because of their organ size, their rapid growth and large litter, and the fact they are already raised as a food source. The post US experts carry out second pig-to-human heart transplant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prickly hit
Some people fear injections, as being pierced with a needle is painful. Others, however, are fearless when it comes to being pricked. Imagine the surprise of doctors at a hospital in Mariscal Cáceres, Peru, when they found needles inside the stomach of a young patient brought there by his mother. The doctors at Hospital II-2 in Tarapoto immediately performed emergency surgery to remove eight needles from the tummy of the two-year-old son of Narly Olórtegui Pisco. The two-hour operation saved the boy’s life, and he was reported to be recovering. How the toddler was able to swallow eight needles one by one without injuring his throat was as shocking as learning that the needles were discards that had been used to inject farm animals. Pisco told Jam Press she was busy working and did not notice her son, whom she brought to work as there was no one to look after him, swallowing the needles. In the Philippines, another “needle” injury was recently reported in Iligan City. The victim, John Paul Diguelo, also had to be operated on to save his life. Diguelo and his brothers are divers who earn a living by spearfishing. He was injured while they were catching fish called “balo” one night. Diguelo’s brothers heard him scream, and when they turned a light on him, they saw a needlefish had embedded its sharp beak into his forehead, and he was bleeding. The brothers rushed Diguelo to the hospital with the slender fish’s beak still on his forehead. Surgeons had to slice some skin off Diguelo’s forehead to remove the fish, whose beak had penetrated one inch into his forehead but did not puncture his skull. Needlefish attacks are common in the Philippines, and other fishers had their own encounters with a “balo” in the past. The post Prickly hit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trapped US explorer nears rescue from deep Turkish cave
A US explorer trapped for more than a week deep in a Turkish cave with internal bleeding could be pulled to safety as early as Monday night, rescuers said. Mark Dickey, 40, developed stomach problems on September 2 while exploring the depths of the Morca Cave, a remote complex of narrow underground tunnels in southern Turkey's Taurus Mountains. The Morca Cave is Turkey's third-deepest, according to the county's caving federation. Its lowest point is 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) below ground. Dickey fell ill at a depth of 1,120 meters (695 feet), sparking what organizers said was one of the largest and most complicated underground rescue operations ever mounted. An international team of rescuers, fellow explorers and medics is now trying to bring Dickey to a base camp 180 meters below the surface. He has been strapped to a stretcher, which sometimes needed to be lifted vertically by rope through particularly narrow passageways. "The rescue operation will continue from minus 180 meters after Mark has rested at the camp here for a while," the Turkish Caving Federation said. "If everything goes well, the aim is to rescue Mark completely by tonight or tomorrow." Officials said Dickey's health was improving thanks to emergency treatment by medics who raced to reach him underground. "He is in good health in general. He continues to be fed with liquids," Cenk Yildiz, the head of the local branch of Turkey's emergency response service, told reporters late on Sunday. "We have resolved his stomach bleeding issues with plasma and serum support." In a video recorded on Wednesday, Dickey thanked the Turkish government for its help. "The quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I needed, in my opinion saved my life," Dickey said. The post Trapped US explorer nears rescue from deep Turkish cave appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
3 Popes: JP2, Benedict, Francis
Author’s Note. My perspective in this article is as a Catholic. Readers are warned that the Catholic Church is as human as it is divine. The human frailty and errors among Popes and Cardinals should not scandalize the faithful into leaving the Church, join the growing non-Catholic sects, led by the Born Again movement, and deepen the crisis. Rather, we should pray for the human Church to have the grace to reform itself. Note also that the term “Conservative” and “Liberal” are used as generic terms and do not necessarily apply to certain individuals. There is a vast rainbow of theological positions among Popes and Cardinals. St. Pope John Paul II or “JP2” (1978-2005) was a staunch Liberal. When Vatican journalists exposed the “Vatican mafia,” dominated by Conservatives, who embezzled Vatican Bank funds on a massive scale, JP2 shrewdly chose Conservative Cardinal Ratzinger (future Pope Benedict XVI) to contain his fellow Conservatives. Ratzinger partly succeeded, for which he was labeled the “German Shepherd,” but the Conservatives had been too big and powerful in the last few centuries to be easily extinguished totally. When JP2’s Parkinson’s disease worsened, Ratzinger advised him to resign. Instead, JP2 formed a commission to handle the Vatican mafia problem. The commission also gave him the same advice — resign. So it was a dead-end in the effort to weed out the mafia. When Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013), he still could not control his fellow Conservatives, especially the powerful Roman Curia, the central government of the Catholic Church. The corrupt Cardinals were the modern-day Pharisees who were causing a Church crisis, which was prophesied by Our Lady of Fatima. Benedict was forced to resign because he was helpless in handling the Vatican Bank scandals and the growing pedophile epidemic, two raging Church issues. In the latter, there were growing cases of pedophile prelates, from priests to cardinals, who were simply transferred to other dioceses to cover up their crimes, where they continued their evil ways. Thus, the pedophile epidemic spread even more. The cases were swept under the rug, until a massive avalanche of court cases, especially in Europe and America, was bleeding the Vatican coffers dry. Pope Benedict, before resigning, wanted the next Pope to solve the problems that he failed to solve. He chose Cardinal Bergoglio (future Pope Francis). But Bergoglio was a staunch Liberal and Benedict a staunch Conservative. Their theological perspectives were like oil and water. In spite of this, in despair, Benedict campaigned for Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis (2013-present). Benedict knew Bergoglio would easily win because he was a close runner-up in the last Papal conclave (election) where he was elected Pope. In spite of their differences, Benedict and the future Francis became intimate friends as they forged a strategy to contain the growing Church crisis. The movie “Two Popes” accurately featured the drama of their violent debates and gentle friendship. When the Liberal Bergoglio became Pope Francis, he was the first Jesuit Pope of history. The Jesuits have been the epitome of radical reforms ever since the days of the Counter Reformation (1517), a response to Luther’s Reformation, the largest splinter of the Church ever. The Jesuits led the era of counter-reforms to restore the Church. Upon ascending to St. Peter’s chair, the Liberal Pope Francis quickly suppressed the Conservatives in a deadly Blitzkrieg, especially in the Roman Curia, within six short months, shocking the Vatican media. Francis did it quickly but not totally, and he paid a dear price for it. The Conservatives exacted deep vengeance that led to the accusations of Papal “heresy” and “blasphemy’.” An eye for an eye. This was the “apostasy” (civil war) that Our Lady of Fatima also prophesied. That Satan works within the Vatican to cause havoc is a theological fact and a matter of history. Some Church historians point out that the Inquisition was the prime example of the work of the devil, where thousands were randomly beheaded without trial. Do not fret about the Church crisis. God is on top of that situation. We need only to pray for everyone, on both sides of the civil war, and God will take care of everything in His time in His way. Avoid joining the theological debates which tend to confuse. It is better to remain neutral in such complex theological issues. Let the Conservatives and Liberals fight it out. Faith has two aspects — the intellectual and the spiritual, the mind and the heart. On the mind level, it is easy to be confused (dogma, canon law, etc.). You have to prove or disprove. But on the heart level, everything becomes crystal clear, because it is simply a matter of faith. “Praise to you, Oh Father, for what you have hidden from the wise, you have revealed to little children” Luke 10:21. The post 3 Popes: JP2, Benedict, Francis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Guatemala declares dengue health emergency
Guatemala on Thursday declared a national health emergency in the face of a dengue outbreak that has killed 22 and infected thousands so far this year. Health Minister Francisco Coma announced the measure that would remain in effect for three months and would entail widespread fumigation to eradicate mosquitos that carry the disease. According to health ministry data, more than 12,200 cases of dengue have been reported so far this year, more than double the number in the corresponding period of 2022. There have been 22 deaths. Civil protection official Walter Monroy said that with the approach of the rainy season, there will be more standing water for mosquitos to breed in. "The importance of this intervention and this interagency coordination is to prevent current cases from increasing," he said of the state of emergency. Guatemala recorded its highest-ever number of yearly cases in 2019, with more than 50,000. Dengue is a disease endemic to tropical areas that causes high fevers, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and, in the most serious cases, bleeding that can lead to death. The World Health Organization said in April that dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito-borne viruses are spreading faster and further due to climate change. The post Guatemala declares dengue health emergency appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What is anemia?
Our body needs oxygen to survive, and our blood helps oxygen get to all parts of the body. When you don’t have enough of a component of the blood called red blood cells or hemoglobin, this is called anemia, a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Some patients only find out they have anemia when they have routine tests done on an annual examination, in preparation for surgery or before donating blood. [caption id="attachment_178293" align="aligncenter" width="630"] ANEMIA is the lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. | photograph courtesy of 1MG[/caption] There are a few different reasons for having anemia. A common reason is not having enough iron. This is called iron deficiency anemia and can happen when: You have lost a large amount of blood. This can happen slowly over time or all of a sudden. It is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia. Menstrual periods and pregnancy are common reasons. Bleeding can also come from tumors in the intestines or colon which bleed slowly and in small amounts, so it is not noticeable in your bowel movements. Your body cannot absorb enough iron from food. This can happen in conditions like celiac disease or after surgery of your stomach or intestines. Some medications can also interfere with iron absorption. You do not get enough iron in your food. This can happen if infants or those on restrictive diets do not get enough iron from food or supplements. Vegetarians who eliminate meat can develop iron deficiency anemia. Other causes of anemia are: Deficiency in vitamins like B12 and folate Inherited causes — Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia Aplastic anemia — A rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells Hemolytic anemia — Where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced Chronic kidney disease — This can affect how red blood cells are made. Patients with anemia sometimes do not have any symptoms when the anemia is mild or when they have had it for a long time as a chronic illness. Those who do have symptoms might have the following: Fatigue and weakness Irritability Pale skin Cold hands and feet Shortness of breath Dizziness or lightheadedness Irregular heartbeat Headaches Difficulty concentrating Abnormal cravings that make them want to eat ice or substances like clay (a condition termed as “pica”) “Restless legs syndrome,” where the legs feel like they need to keep moving, especially at night. Unexplained or easy bruising Anemia is diagnosed with a blood test called a complete blood count or CBC. Depending on the CBC results and your other symptoms, your doctor will order other tests to determine the underlying cause of your anemia. The treatment for anemia will depend on its type and severity. These include: Blood transfusion in severe cases Dietary changes to increase iron or vitamin intake Iron or vitamin supplements as prescribed by your doctor Treatment of other medical conditions contributing to anemia Anemia is a manageable condition but it requires attention and care. While some types of anemia are not preventable, you can reduce your risk by eating a balanced diet with iron, vitamins and minerals and having regular medical check-ups. [caption id="attachment_178294" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MEDICATIONS can interfere with iron absorption. | photograph courtesy of unsplash/ kateryna-hliznitsova[/caption] If you suspect you have anemia, seek prompt medical advice and only take supplements upon the advice of your doctor. With proper diagnosis and treatment, individuals with anemia can lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives. The post What is anemia? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IBC-13 gets zero budget anew as retired employees wait benefits for over a decade
IBC-13 received zero funding in the proposed budget for 2024 and has been a bleeding government asset for years due to financial woes and management issues. .....»»
New York riot erupts as influencer touts game console giveaway
A New York gathering called by a popular online influencer drew an unexpectedly large crowd on Friday and degenerated into violence that left people injured, prompting a massive police turnout, authorities said. It all started with a posting on Instagram from 21-year-old Kai Cenat, calling on fans to meet him in lower Manhattan for a live-streamed event where he would hand out gifts including PlayStation 5 game consoles. Thousands of young people -- at least 2,000 according to US media -- gathered very quickly on Union Square and surrounding streets in the hopes of seeing Cenat, who has millions of followers on Twitch, YouTube, Instagram and other social media. As the streets heaved, young men started throwing objects from a nearby construction site, targeting people in the crowd and the police, who were rapidly deployed in large numbers. Television footage and news photographs showed rioters surrounding and blocking vehicles, with young men kicking and smashing some of the cars. "People were bleeding from their heads, from their faces ... people were suffering out here," said New York City Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey at a press briefing "There were a lot of people, it was uncontrolled... a lot of young people got hurt." In the end, it took a thousand police officers to disperse the impromptu gathering. Several people were arrested, Maddrey said. Cenat was taken in for questioning, but had not been formally detained. The post New York riot erupts as influencer touts game console giveaway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Six white US police officers admit torturing Black men
Six white Mississippi police officers tortured two innocent Black men using a sex toy, Tasers and a sword in an hours-long attack that ended with one man shot through the mouth and neck, the US Department of Justice said Thursday. The brutal assault, and its subsequent cover-up in which the men left one victim bleeding as they hid evidence of their crimes, is the latest race-tinged stain on US policing. "The defendants in this case tortured and inflicted unspeakable harm on their victims, egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect, and shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers," said Attorney General Merrick Garland. Five now-former members of Mississippi's Rankin County Sheriff's Department and one former member of the Richland Police Department pleaded guilty Thursday to multiple charges including civil rights conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law and obstruction of justice. All six acknowledged that while responding to a report of suspicious activity on January 24 this year, they kicked in a door at a house and began a sustained and unprovoked attack on two Black men there. They handcuffed the men and racially abused them, warning them to "stay out of Rankin County," the DoJ said. "The defendants punched and kicked the men, tased them 17 times, forced them to ingest liquids, and assaulted them with a dildo," a press release said. They also hit one man multiple times with a metal sword and a wooden kitchen implement, the DoJ said. Deputy Hunter Elward, 31, removed a bullet from the chamber of his gun and forced his weapon into one man's mouth before pulling the trigger. "Elward racked the slide, intending to dry-fire a second time. When Elward pulled the trigger, the gun discharged. The bullet lacerated (the victim's) tongue, broke his jaw and exited out of his neck," the DoJ said. As their critically injured victim lay bleeding, the men set about planting evidence to justify their actions. "Remarkably, the victim survived the shooting even though these defendants left him lying on the floor gushing blood for a considerable amount of time... because they were too busy developing a false story to try and cover up their misconduct," prosecutor Kristen Clarke told reporters. "The actions of these defendants not only caused significant physical, emotional and psychological harm to the victims, but also caused harm to the entire community, who feel they cannot trust the police officers who are supposed to serve them and leaving other police officers to try to mend the communal wounds inflicted by these defendants," said Clarke. "This trauma is magnified because the misconduct was fueled by racial bias and hatred." Elward, Brett McAlpin, 52, Christian Dedmon, 28, Jeffrey Middleton, 46, Daniel Opdyke, 27 and Joshua Hartfield, 31, pleaded guilty to all charges against them. Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke also pleaded guilty to three other felony charges stemming from another episode of brutality against a white man in December. All six are due to be sentenced November 14. Horrifying episodes of police abuses against minorities in the United States burst into the public consciousness with unwelcome frequency, with victims like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor symbols of what critics say is wrong with the US model of law enforcement. The post Six white US police officers admit torturing Black men appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cervical cancer: Understanding a fatal female disease
Health and beauty retailer Watsons encourages the public to stay protected against cervical cancer. In the Philippines, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino women, especially those aged 15 to 44 years old. About 7,897 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer yearly and from that number, 4,052 of them succumb to the disease. What’s more, cervical cancer also puts women at higher risk of miscarriage and infertility. Certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are the main cause of cervical cancer. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection. Sexually active people, even with just one partner, can get HPV. This can be passed on even when they have no signs or symptoms of the infection. Fortunately, HPV is a vaccine-preventable disease. Symptoms Cervical cancer starts in the cervix which connects the vagina, the birth canal to the upper part of the uterus. Commonly known as the womb, the uterus is where a baby grows during pregnancy. Anyone with a cervix is at risk for cervical cancer, and the risk grows with age as this occurs most often n people aged over 30. Unfortunately, cervical cancer may not show signs and symptoms in its early stages. More often than not, it’s already in the advanced stage when there’s bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is abnormal for you, including bleeding after sex. If you start noticing any of these signs, immediately see your doctor. The symptoms may be caused by something else, but the only way to know you have cervical cancer is to see your doctor. Prevention Schedule your regular screening tests with your doctor. The Pap test, commonly known as Pap smear, looks for precancerous cells. You can also have a regular HPV test since it looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes. But the greatest preventive measure against cervical cancer is the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine not only protects you against the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer but also the types of HPV that cause vaginal and vulvar cancers. This vaccination is recommended for preteens aged 11 to 12 years old but can be given at age nine, with your family doctor’s go signal. If you missed the HPV vaccine in your preteen years, you can still get it until 26 years of age. Although it’s not recommended for everyone older than 26, you can still talk to your doctor about it and get vaccinated until 45 years old. Cancer is a life-altering disease that everyone wishes to avoid. To ensure that the women in our lives live long and happy lives, we must encourage them to prioritize their health and choose to be protected against all preventable diseases. As every Filipino’s health partner, Watsons makes it easier for you to have a good quality of life. You can easily schedule your HPV vaccination through the Watsons Health Hub or visit any of the 1000+ Watsons stores nationwide and ask their pharmacists. On your vaccination day, a free doctor’s assessment is included in their service. Stay Protected Through Watson’s network, they’re able to provide different products and services to ensure overall health and wellness through accessible and affordable means. From 15 June to 15 July, Watsons Hub in SM North Edsa The Grand will offer free teleconsultation services to Watsons Pharmacy customers. In partnership with The Medical City, the teleconsultation can provide patients with enhanced remote care through in-depth, physical examinations, such as checking the heart rate, lung sounds, throat exam, ear exam and taking temperature. After getting your diagnosis, you can buy the doctor’s prescription at the Watsons Pharmacy beside the clinic. The post Cervical cancer: Understanding a fatal female disease appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egypt clinic helps women reclaim bodies scarred by genital mutilation
Intissar was only 10 years old when she was forced to undergo genital mutilation, but 30 years later, one clinic is offering help for some of the millions of Egyptian women affected by the still-rampant practice. Intissar, a journalist who like other women cited here spoke under a pseudonym to protect her identity, recalls having spent 30 years "completely deprived of pleasure, without any connection to my body". Her story closely resembles that of millions of Egyptian women and girls who have gone through female genital mutilation (FGM) at a young age, despite state-sponsored efforts seeking to curtail the practice. But for three years, one clinic has sought to change the reality of many of these women. In 2020, surgeons Reham Awwad and Amr Seifeldin became the first to offer clitoral reconstruction surgery in Egypt through their clinic, Restore FGM. Surgery is "the last resort", Awwad told AFP in her Cairo clinic. A common first step in the clinic's treatment is psychosexual counseling coupled with plasma injections, which Awwad said "can reduce the need for surgery by 50 percent". The plasma injections allow for the regeneration of damaged tissue without subjecting women to new, invasive procedures. Nourhan, also using a pseudonym, described chronic pain and a severed sense of pleasure in the two decades since she underwent genital mutilation at 11. Now in her 30s, the suffering has given way to "completely new sensations", Nourhan told AFP eight months after going under the knife again for reconstruction surgery. But more than the physical effects, Nourhan said she finally felt "in charge of my body again". Holiday peak Intissar recounted the day that her grandmother took her -- with the consent of her parents, a doctor and a principal -- to perform the harmful practice. When she cried, her grandmother "would tell me this was for my own good, that I was better this way", she told AFP. Under the grandmother's care, she spent her summer vacation recovering. Now aged 40, the prospect of undergoing reconstructive surgery offers her renewed hope. Lobna Darwish, gender officer at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, urged "prevention campaigns in schools right before the holidays", citing seasonal peaks of FGM during those periods to allow time for recovery after the procedure. In Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country with a largely conservative society, 86 percent of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM, according to the latest official figures from 2021. Most commonly, they are subjected to the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, which according to the World Health Organization can cause pain, bleeding, infections, painful sexual intercourse and complications during childbirth. The practice -- misguidedly meant to reduce libido and preserve women's chastity -- has been illegal in Egypt since 2008, and is regularly condemned by both Muslim and Christian religious authorities. Yet it remains widespread, not only in Egypt but in multiple other African countries and beyond, often cutting across social classes. Egypt marks its national day for the elimination of FGM on June 14, and every year, government-sponsored TV advertisements list its dangers. While experts say the awareness campaigns have largely scared off parents from what they were told was a dangerous procedure performed by suspect midwives in rural backrooms, a rebranding has kept FGM alive. Parents began opting for what seemed like a safer option, with official figures now showing three-quarters of procedures in Egypt are done by doctors. Intissar, who has studied the practice, said it was being promoted for its "aesthetic" value. When Nourhan and her then eight-year-old sister were recovering, she recalled how the women in their family praised not just the religious and moral virtues of FGM, but how "it was better and cleaner". In reality, Intissar said, FGM aims "to disconnect women from their bodies and their pleasure". Self-discovery Egypt has regularly toughened penalties on both doctors and parents over FGM, but both Darwish and Awwad described an uphill battle against ignorance. "We need proper sex education in schools, and to raise awareness of the dedicated hotline" created in 2017, Darwish said. Awwad noted that "at no point... do doctors learn about reconstructive surgery". And women are scarcely given the chance to get to know their own bodies. At every first consultation, the surgeon gives her patients a mirror so they can look at their genitals -- often for the first time. Intissar was shocked and furious. "Up until that point, I thought they had only removed a small piece of skin. But then I found out they had taken the entire labia and part of the clitoris," she said, recalling how right then she had decided to reclaim her agency. But the decision takes time and money. Nourhan fundraised for a year to be able to afford the surgery, which costs 40,000 Egyptian pounds (around $1,300) -- 10 times the country's average monthly salary. "Authorities need to... offer reconstructive surgery in public hospitals," she argued. In the meantime, Nourhan managed another personal victory: banding together with her mother to save her two nieces from undergoing FGM. The post Egypt clinic helps women reclaim bodies scarred by genital mutilation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»