#Zimbabwe Senior Doctors Association

[sytechzim]

Health Workers Scoff At Government Trivial Offer

Health Workers Scoff At Government Trivial Offer

Health Workers Scoff At Government Trivial Offer Zimbabwean health workers yesterday scoffed at the government’s offer saying their employer was focusing on trivialities. The government has offered non-monetary incentives such as personnel accommodation, transport, vehicle loans, provision of food and WiFi facilities to reduce brain drain withinside the health sector. Speaking at a post-Cabinet…

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Doctors’ Strike Leaves Some Zimbabweans ‘Gathering Here in Pain’ 

A month into a strike by doctors in the country’s public hospitals, Rudo Mbofana can’t find relief from her constant back pain — or her frustration.

The Harare resident said she had been referred to Parirenyatwa General Hospital, the capital’s largest medical center, “but there is no help. We are just gathering here in pain, in shame and in agony.”

An untold number of Zimbabweans have been turned away from public medical facilities since Sept. 3, when just more than 500 junior doctors, paid less than $200 a month, went on strike, demanding better wages as well as equipment and supplies for treating patients.

Hundreds of senior doctors with the same complaints joined the strike Thursday, further diminishing treatment options in the southern African country of 14 million.

Government offer rejected

On Friday, labor groups representing the doctors rejected the government’s offer of a 60% salary increase. It would have been paid in Zimbabwe’s devalued currency and not the U.S. dollars that the doctors sought.

“They’re asking the government to match their salaries with what they were earning” before the country’s economic collapse, explained Dr. Fortune Nyamande, spokesman for the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights. His group does not represent labor nor is it involved in negotiations, but Nyamande was apprised of Friday’s developments.

The government has threatened to withhold the pay of striking doctors. Dr. Paulinus Sikosana, chairman of its Health Services Board, said it won’t pay someone who won’t work.

The World Health Organization’s representative to Zimbabwe, Dr. Alex Gasasira, encouraged negotiations between the striking doctors and the government.

“We hear that many patients are being turned away, some of them with very serious conditions,” Gasasira said in a phone interview. “So we are concerned that the most vulnerable people … would not be able to access the services that they would require.”

FILE - A group of Zimbabwean doctors sing as they protest at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, Sept. 15, 2019.

An ailing health system

The strike has paralyzed the public health system.

“We know that something terrible is happening. We are hearing of pregnant women dying, victims of road traffic accidents dying,” Nyamande said, adding that he doubts the accuracy of government statistics on health and mortality.

Zimbabweans such as Mbofana gauge the health system based on personal experience.

Her back hurts and her prospects are poor. Turned away from public health care, “I was advised to go and seek treatment from private clinics or surgeons,” Mbofana said. “But how do I raise the money?”

Patients admitted into public hospitals before the strike have no guarantee of quality care, either, given gaps in staffing and shortages of medical equipment, such as diagnostic tools, surgical gloves and pain medicine.

A woman who identified herself only as Kukuwe said her sister’s health is worsening while at Parirenyatwa.

“No doctors are coming to see patients,” Kukuwe said. “The patients are stranded and are not receiving help because there are no doctors to write prescriptions.”

Doctor in care

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa delivers his state of the nation address at the opening session of parliament in Harare, Oct. 1, 2019.

Senior doctors last month had joined their junior counterparts in demonstrating for the release of Peter Magombeyi, who had led the strike as acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association. He allegedly had been abducted from his home Sept. 14, resurfacing several days later outside of Harare, dazed and in pain. He initially told VOA in a phone interview that he remembered “being electrocuted at some point.”

The group Human Rights Watch says it has confirmed at least 50 abductions of activists and government critics so far this year.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration and Zimbabwe police have denied any involvement in Magombeyi’s disappearance.

Zimbabwe police had blocked Magombeyi from leaving a Harare private hospital but ultimately heeded a high court’s order to allow the doctor to seek care in South Africa. He reportedly is being treated at an undisclosed medical facility there.

Rutendo Mawere reported for VOA’s English to Africa Service from Harare. Gibbs Dube of VOA’s Zimbabwe Service reported from Washington.  

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[politicoscope]

Abdalla Hamdok Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/abdalla-hamdok-biography-and-profile/

Abdalla Hamdok Biography and Profile

Abdalla Hamdok, born 1956 in south-central Kordofan province. Studied at a Sudanese military academy and later in Egypt and Jordan. Appointed Inspector General of the army in February by President Bashir. Named as head of TMC after removal of Mr Bashir. Coordinated sending Sudanese troops to Yemen as part of a Saudi-led coalition.

He took over the Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) job since November 2011. He has over 30 years of experience as a senior policy analyst and economist addressing diverse development challenges of the African policy landscape, primarily in the fields of governance, institutional analysis, public sector reforms, regional integration and resource management.

From 2001 onwards, Mr. Hamdok headed successively ECA’s portfolio of activities on development policy management, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and regional integration, and governance and public administration. By way of an interlude from 2003 to 2008, he served the International IDEA as Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East.

Earlier, Abdalla Hamdok held the positions of:

Chief Technical Advisor (1995-1997) at the International Labour Organization, Zimbabwe;

Principal Policy Economist (1997-2001) at the African Development Bank in Côte d’Ivoire;

Head of the Public Sector Group and Member of the management committee (1993-1995) at Deloitte & Touche Management Consultants, Zimbabwe;

senior official (1981-1987) at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan

Abdalla Hamdok Education Abdalla Hamdok holds a PhD and a Master of Arts from the School of Economic Studies, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Abdalla Hamdok Prime Minister of Sudan Sudan’s new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was sworn in on Wednesday 21 August 2019 as leader of a transitional government, and vowed to make achieving peace and solving the country’s economic crisis a priority. The nomination is the first step towards the creation of a transitional government that will prepare for free elections after the overthrow of veteran autocratic president Omar al-Bashir in April following months of unrest. The development came after protracted negotiations between the Transitional Military Council (TMC), which has ruled Sudan since April, and the opposition alliance known as the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC).

Sudanese economist Amin Hassan Sayed Ahmed said Hamdok had good connections in the African Union and United Nations and might help get Sudan removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, which has impeded Khartoum’s access to IMF and World Bank funding.

“I think he knows how to get in through the system, much more than anyone else who tried before,” said Sayed Ahmed.

“We wish Dr. Abdalla Hamdok success in one of the hardest periods in the history of our country and people, a period that the revolutionary Sudanese people are looking forward to and observing with hopefulness,” the Sudanese Professionals Association, the group that spearheaded the protest movement and is part of the FFC, said in a statement.

The appointment of the renowned economist came as General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the outgoing head of the military council, was sworn in as leader of the new Sovereign Council that will run the country for three years until an election after decades of autocratic rule.

The nomination of Hamdok to the role underlines the daunting task of repairing an economy that was battered by years of U.S. sanctions and government mismanagement during Bashir’s 30-year rule.

A shortage of foreign currency, resulting in a cash crunch and long lines for fuel and bread, triggered the protests that helped push Bashir out. The dramatic changes in Sudan have evoked memories of the Arab Spring uprisings that swept across many of the region’s countries in 2011.

Those upheavals raised hopes of political and economic reforms in countries such as Egypt, where the army watched patiently from the sidelines and then capitalised on the turmoil to widen its influence in politics.

“The revolution’s deep-rooted slogan, ‘freedom, peace and justice’ will form the programme of the transitional period,” Abdalla Hamdok told reporters at a news conference in the capital Khartoum.

“I think with the right vision, with the right policies, we will be able to address this economic crisis,” Hamdok said after the swearing-in ceremony.

“We will have a plan that will address the immediate challenges through our recovery program, addressing the felt need by the people: issues of inflation, availability of commodities, wheat, fuel, medicine and all that.”

UK, US and Norway statement on the new Prime Minister in Sudan The Troika countries (United Kingdom, United States and Norway) congratulate Dr. Abdalla Hamdok on his appointment as prime minister by the Sovereign Council and welcome the extensive professional experience he brings to the role.

We welcome this step in creating a civilian-led government. As Prime Minister Hamdok begins the process of selecting ministers and identifying the government’s priorities, we look forward to working with Sudan’s new institutions.

At this historic moment, Sudan has a unique opportunity to establish peace within its borders, draft a constitution that enshrines human rights protections and empowers all Sudanese, including women and youth, and create the infrastructure for free and fair elections.

We encourage all sides to engage in good faith to deliver these goals, in particular urging the armed movements to engage constructively with the new Government to achieve peace.

We will continue to support Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government as it conducts an investigation of the violence perpetrated against peaceful demonstrators and holds those responsible to account.

The appointment of a civilian-led government presents an opportunity to rebuild a stable economy and create a government that respects human rights and personal freedoms. Prime Minister Hamdok will have the Troika’s support in achieving these objectives.

Abdalla Hamdok Quick Facts

From 1981 to 1987, he was a senior official at Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, before taking on a number of leadership roles at several different institutions including the African Development Bank and the International Labour Organization.

He last served as deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, a post he held since November 2011.

He holds a bachelor of science from the University of Khartoum and a doctorate in economic studies from the University of Manchester in the UK.

Abdalla Hamdok was sworn in as Sudan’s new prime minister, leading the country’s transitional cabinet months after a mass protest movement forced the military removal of long-time authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir.

Abdalla Hamdok Biography and Profile

[mellowfestbanana]

Zimbabwe's holiday hamper of horrors - By Cathy Buckle

Zimbabwe’s holiday hamper of horrors – By Cathy Buckle

TOPSHOT – Supporters of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), protest against alleged widespread fraud by the election authority and ruling party, after the announcement of election’s results, in the streets of Harare, on August 1, 2018. – Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the most seats in parliament, official results showed on August 1, 2018, but EU observers criticised…

[khalilhumam]

Zimbabwe: Senior Doctors Urge Govt to Dump COVID-19 Rapid Testing

Register at https://mignation.com . The Only Social Network for Migrants. ---

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/zimbabwe-senior-doctors-urge-govt-to-dump-covid-19-rapid-testing/

Zimbabwe: Senior Doctors Urge Govt to Dump COVID-19 Rapid Testing

[New Zimbabwe] The Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association (ZSHDA) has urged health authorities to do discard the Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) on suspected COVID-19 patients arguing the process poses higher risks of spreading the deadly virus.

[mogosbrand]

Poor conditions in hospitals is causing 'silent genocide', Zimbabwe medics on strike say

Poor conditions in hospitals is causing 'silent genocide', Zimbabwe medics on strike say

Harare (CNN)Senior doctors in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have downed tools in protest against deteriorating working conditions and the firing of over 435 junior medical officers by the government following a three months-long impasse over poor salaries, the doctor’s association said.The Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA), a group of doctors, including specialists who had remained on duty…

[knowinng]

Poor conditions in hospitals is causing 'silent genocide', Zimbabwe medics on strike say

Senior doctors in Zimbabwe's public hospitals have downed tools in protest against deteriorating working conditions and the firing of over 435 junior medical officers by the government following a three months-long impasse over poor salaries, the doctor's association said. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8204427 https://ift.tt/2QVfdo5 via IFTTT

[midewestcoast]

Poor conditions in hospitals is causing ‘silent genocide’, Zimbabwe medics on strike say

Senior doctors in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have downed tools in protest against deteriorating working conditions and the firing of over 435 junior medical officers by the government following a three months-long impasse over poor salaries, the doctor’s association said.

source https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/27/africa/zimbabwe-doctors-strike-intl/index.html

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[biofunmy]

Zimbabwe doctors march as abducted leader is still missing

A line of baton-wielding police on Wednesday stopped a march by Zimbabwean doctors protesting the alleged abduction of a union leader as fears grew about government repression — and about his fate.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has said its president, Peter Magombeyi, was seized Saturday after calling for a pay strike, and members say they will not return to work until he is found. The southern African nation’s health care system has largely collapsed in recent years along with the economy.

More than 50 government critics and activists have been abducted this year, at times tortured and warned by suspected state security agents to back off from anti-government actions. One woman was forced to drink raw sewage, Human Rights Watch said in a statement, adding that no one has been arrested over the “alarming spike” in abductions.

“All these abductions are people breaking into homes, masked and carrying military weapons such as AK-47s,” human rights lawyer Doug Coltart said. “But typically we have seen them found within a few hours. In the few instances when that has not happened, they were found dead in mortuaries months later. So the fact that we are four days and there is no sign of him is of extreme concern.”

Some in Zimbabwe have openly worried that the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa is becoming more repressive than that of longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who died earlier this month. Mugabe was accused of using abductions to silence critics, and some have never been found.

Several dozen doctors chanted and sang as they tried to march to Parliament from the country’s biggest hospital, Parirenyatwa, in Harare. Police insisted they seek approval for the demonstration first.

The doctors’ association represents hundreds of newly qualified doctors doing their residencies. Health professionals at other government hospitals across Zimbabwe have gone on strike in solidarity, union leaders told The Associated Press.

But it carries risks. The secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, Nhema Edwick, said he had received anonymous death threats for bargaining for more pay for nurses.

“The government should stop targeting us as union leaders. All we are asking for is a living wage. I am also living in fear,” he told the cheering demonstrators.

Senior doctors said they have stopped working as well.

“It is much easier to produce one person (Magombeyi) than to convince us to return to work. No Peter, no work,” said Bothwell Mbuwayesango, a pediatric surgeon.

Zimbabweans left without health care expressed concern.

“We are the ones who are suffering, they should just release the doctor,” said Munei Ndlovu, sitting on the Parirenyatwa Hospital grounds. She said she had been told the hospital was attending to critical emergencies only.

The government says it is deploying military medics and doctors to help fill the gap at hospitals.

Magombeyi has been held longer than those abducted in recent weeks. “We are now not even sure whether he is alive or dead. We are praying he is still alive,” said Harry Magombeyi, a family spokesman.

“It’s really scary right now the situation that we have been put in, the gross injustice. We are not able to really survive in Zimbabwe,” said one doctor, Tatenda Memeza. “We are young professionals and we have dreams and now one of our colleagues is speaking truth to power and we have come to this level where he is abducted.”

The U.S. Embassy on Monday said more than 50 civil society, labor and opposition leaders have been abducted in Zimbabwe since January, and called on the government “to take action and hold perpetrators of these human rights violations accountable.”

Most abductees, including during Mugabe’s time, were released after days or weeks of torture, at times following the intervention of the courts.

However, some people such as journalist and activist Itai Dzamara, who was abducted in 2015, are still missing.

State Security Minister Owen Ncube and Health Minister Obadiah Moyo on Tuesday said they had tasked security agents to locate Magombeyi. Other officials blamed a “third force” linked to Mugabe for the abductions, asserting that they are bid to tarnish the president’s image abroad and hurt efforts to have sanctions imposed by the West removed.

The country’s biggest representative organization for churches, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, on Tuesday questioned the “third force” explanation, asking why only perceived government critics are being targeted.

———

Associated Press video journalist Pindai Dube in Harare, Zimbabwe contributed.

———

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP—Africa

Sahred From Source link Health

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[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Doctors’ Strike Leaves Some Zimbabweans ‘Gathering Here in Pain’ 

A month into a strike by doctors in the country’s public hospitals, Rudo Mbofana can’t find relief from her constant back pain — or her frustration.

The Harare resident said she had been referred to Parirenyatwa General Hospital, the capital’s largest medical center, “but there is no help. We are just gathering here in pain, in shame and in agony.”

An untold number of Zimbabweans have been turned away from public medical facilities since Sept. 3, when just more than 500 junior doctors, paid less than $200 a month, went on strike, demanding better wages as well as equipment and supplies for treating patients.

Hundreds of senior doctors with the same complaints joined the strike Thursday, further diminishing treatment options in the southern African country of 14 million.

Government offer rejected

On Friday, labor groups representing the doctors rejected the government’s offer of a 60% salary increase. It would have been paid in Zimbabwe’s devalued currency and not the U.S. dollars that the doctors sought.

“They’re asking the government to match their salaries with what they were earning” before the country’s economic collapse, explained Dr. Fortune Nyamande, spokesman for the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights. His group does not represent labor nor is it involved in negotiations, but Nyamande was apprised of Friday’s developments.

The government has threatened to withhold the pay of striking doctors. Dr. Paulinus Sikosana, chairman of its Health Services Board, said it won’t pay someone who won’t work.

The World Health Organization’s representative to Zimbabwe, Dr. Alex Gasasira, encouraged negotiations between the striking doctors and the government.

“We hear that many patients are being turned away, some of them with very serious conditions,” Gasasira said in a phone interview. “So we are concerned that the most vulnerable people … would not be able to access the services that they would require.”

FILE - A group of Zimbabwean doctors sing as they protest at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, Sept. 15, 2019.

An ailing health system

The strike has paralyzed the public health system.

“We know that something terrible is happening. We are hearing of pregnant women dying, victims of road traffic accidents dying,” Nyamande said, adding that he doubts the accuracy of government statistics on health and mortality.

Zimbabweans such as Mbofana gauge the health system based on personal experience.

Her back hurts and her prospects are poor. Turned away from public health care, “I was advised to go and seek treatment from private clinics or surgeons,” Mbofana said. “But how do I raise the money?”

Patients admitted into public hospitals before the strike have no guarantee of quality care, either, given gaps in staffing and shortages of medical equipment, such as diagnostic tools, surgical gloves and pain medicine.

A woman who identified herself only as Kukuwe said her sister’s health is worsening while at Parirenyatwa.

“No doctors are coming to see patients,” Kukuwe said. “The patients are stranded and are not receiving help because there are no doctors to write prescriptions.”

Doctor in care

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa delivers his state of the nation address at the opening session of parliament in Harare, Oct. 1, 2019.

Senior doctors last month had joined their junior counterparts in demonstrating for the release of Peter Magombeyi, who had led the strike as acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association. He allegedly had been abducted from his home Sept. 14, resurfacing several days later outside of Harare, dazed and in pain. He initially told VOA in a phone interview that he remembered “being electrocuted at some point.”

The group Human Rights Watch says it has confirmed at least 50 abductions of activists and government critics so far this year.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration and Zimbabwe police have denied any involvement in Magombeyi’s disappearance.

Zimbabwe police had blocked Magombeyi from leaving a Harare private hospital but ultimately heeded a high court’s order to allow the doctor to seek care in South Africa. He reportedly is being treated at an undisclosed medical facility there.

Rutendo Mawere reported for VOA’s English to Africa Service from Harare. Gibbs Dube of VOA’s Zimbabwe Service reported from Washington.  

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[politicoscope]

Abdalla Hamdok Biography and Profile

New Post has been published on https://www.politicoscope.com/abdalla-hamdok-biography-and-profile/

Abdalla Hamdok Biography and Profile

Abdalla Hamdok, born 1956 in south-central Kordofan province. Studied at a Sudanese military academy and later in Egypt and Jordan. Appointed Inspector General of the army in February by President Bashir. Named as head of TMC after removal of Mr Bashir. Coordinated sending Sudanese troops to Yemen as part of a Saudi-led coalition.

He took over the Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) job since November 2011. He has over 30 years of experience as a senior policy analyst and economist addressing diverse development challenges of the African policy landscape, primarily in the fields of governance, institutional analysis, public sector reforms, regional integration and resource management.

From 2001 onwards, Mr. Hamdok headed successively ECA’s portfolio of activities on development policy management, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and regional integration, and governance and public administration. By way of an interlude from 2003 to 2008, he served the International IDEA as Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East.

Earlier, Abdalla Hamdok held the positions of:

Chief Technical Advisor (1995-1997) at the International Labour Organization, Zimbabwe;

Principal Policy Economist (1997-2001) at the African Development Bank in Côte d’Ivoire;

Head of the Public Sector Group and Member of the management committee (1993-1995) at Deloitte & Touche Management Consultants, Zimbabwe;

senior official (1981-1987) at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan

Abdalla Hamdok Education Abdalla Hamdok holds a PhD and a Master of Arts from the School of Economic Studies, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Abdalla Hamdok Prime Minister of Sudan Sudan’s new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was sworn in on Wednesday 21 August 2019 as leader of a transitional government, and vowed to make achieving peace and solving the country’s economic crisis a priority. The nomination is the first step towards the creation of a transitional government that will prepare for free elections after the overthrow of veteran autocratic president Omar al-Bashir in April following months of unrest. The development came after protracted negotiations between the Transitional Military Council (TMC), which has ruled Sudan since April, and the opposition alliance known as the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC).

Sudanese economist Amin Hassan Sayed Ahmed said Hamdok had good connections in the African Union and United Nations and might help get Sudan removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, which has impeded Khartoum’s access to IMF and World Bank funding.

“I think he knows how to get in through the system, much more than anyone else who tried before,” said Sayed Ahmed.

“We wish Dr. Abdalla Hamdok success in one of the hardest periods in the history of our country and people, a period that the revolutionary Sudanese people are looking forward to and observing with hopefulness,” the Sudanese Professionals Association, the group that spearheaded the protest movement and is part of the FFC, said in a statement.

The appointment of the renowned economist came as General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the outgoing head of the military council, was sworn in as leader of the new Sovereign Council that will run the country for three years until an election after decades of autocratic rule.

The nomination of Hamdok to the role underlines the daunting task of repairing an economy that was battered by years of U.S. sanctions and government mismanagement during Bashir’s 30-year rule.

A shortage of foreign currency, resulting in a cash crunch and long lines for fuel and bread, triggered the protests that helped push Bashir out. The dramatic changes in Sudan have evoked memories of the Arab Spring uprisings that swept across many of the region’s countries in 2011.

Those upheavals raised hopes of political and economic reforms in countries such as Egypt, where the army watched patiently from the sidelines and then capitalised on the turmoil to widen its influence in politics.

“The revolution’s deep-rooted slogan, ‘freedom, peace and justice’ will form the programme of the transitional period,” Abdalla Hamdok told reporters at a news conference in the capital Khartoum.

“I think with the right vision, with the right policies, we will be able to address this economic crisis,” Hamdok said after the swearing-in ceremony.

“We will have a plan that will address the immediate challenges through our recovery program, addressing the felt need by the people: issues of inflation, availability of commodities, wheat, fuel, medicine and all that.”

UK, US and Norway statement on the new Prime Minister in Sudan The Troika countries (United Kingdom, United States and Norway) congratulate Dr. Abdalla Hamdok on his appointment as prime minister by the Sovereign Council and welcome the extensive professional experience he brings to the role.

We welcome this step in creating a civilian-led government. As Prime Minister Hamdok begins the process of selecting ministers and identifying the government’s priorities, we look forward to working with Sudan’s new institutions.

At this historic moment, Sudan has a unique opportunity to establish peace within its borders, draft a constitution that enshrines human rights protections and empowers all Sudanese, including women and youth, and create the infrastructure for free and fair elections.

We encourage all sides to engage in good faith to deliver these goals, in particular urging the armed movements to engage constructively with the new Government to achieve peace.

We will continue to support Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government as it conducts an investigation of the violence perpetrated against peaceful demonstrators and holds those responsible to account.

The appointment of a civilian-led government presents an opportunity to rebuild a stable economy and create a government that respects human rights and personal freedoms. Prime Minister Hamdok will have the Troika’s support in achieving these objectives.

Abdalla Hamdok Quick Facts

From 1981 to 1987, he was a senior official at Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, before taking on a number of leadership roles at several different institutions including the African Development Bank and the International Labour Organization.

He last served as deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, a post he held since November 2011.

He holds a bachelor of science from the University of Khartoum and a doctorate in economic studies from the University of Manchester in the UK.

Abdalla Hamdok was sworn in as Sudan’s new prime minister, leading the country’s transitional cabinet months after a mass protest movement forced the military removal of long-time authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir.

Abdalla Hamdok Biography and Profile

[global-news-station]

HARARE : Zimbabwe’s teachers and doctors, who make up the bulk of the public service, on Monday rejected the government’s wage offer, with medical personnel threatening a strike if their demand to have their wages benchmarked in the U.S. dollar is not met.

The government on Friday proposed a 60% pay increase for doctors, while offering a 76% raise for the rest of the civil service, in a bid to avert crippling strikes by state workers.

But in separate statements, the main unions representing the doctors and the teachers said they rejected the government offers, which would see the lowest paid worker earning 1,023 Zimbabwe dollars ($98.75) a month.

The Apex Council, which is an umbrella group for public sector unions, has demanded the equivalent of $475 for the lowest paid government worker.

In a letter sent to the government on Monday, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) said its members could no longer afford to report for duty amid surging inflation and continued deterioration of Zimbabwe’s economy.

“We maintain our request to have our earnings, which were previously pegged in United States dollars, be paid at the prevailing inter-bank rate,” the ZHDA said. adding that they would strike on September 3 if their demands were not met.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), the biggest single union of public workers with about 44,000 members, also said the government’s wage offer was unacceptable, but committed to further negotiations.

Hope that the economy could recover under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who replaced the long-ruling Robert Mugabe in a November 2017 coup, has made way for widespread anger over the slow pace of reforms and recovery.

Last week, the police banned a series of protests called by the opposition in the country’s major cities. They used teargas, baton sticks and water cannon to disperse demonstrators and arresting scores of protesters.

Ten leaders of a smaller teachers’ union were arrested on Friday along with their lawyer when they tried to petition the minister of finance for higher wages. The police on Thursday also arrested Amos Chibaya, a senior MDC official, on charges that he failed to stop the banned Harare protests.

Chibaya was released on 400 Zimbabwe dollar bail by a Harare magistrate on Monday. He also faces a separate subversion charge over protests staged in January 2019 over a sharp fuel price increase.

The post Doctors threaten strike over pay appeared first on ARYNEWS.

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[serinakemp]

Is Full-Fat Dairy Good for Your Heart?

Preferred Nutritional supplements to obtain Nitric Oxide Health

Browsing for top-quality authorised health products?  Discover about  these quality Approved Vitamins.

By Dr. Mercola

A new study confirms (again) that whole-fat dairy is not associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease as has been asserted for more than 60 years. The evidence is overwhelming that consuming whole fats can be an important part of maintaining optimal health and actually fights heart disease and other diseases prevalent today rather than causing them.

The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study1 was published in Lancet, one of the world's most prestigious medical journals, and gives one cause to second-guess the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans2 set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Those agencies continue to maintain that your best bet for reducing your heart disease risk is to pass up full-fat dairy products and reach for no-fat and low-fat options instead.

However, while some doctors are finally beginning to acknowledge that full-fat dairy isn't the killer it's been made out to be, just as many are still touting those erroneous recommendations for their patients. The confusing guidelines mentioned above may be one of the reasons, but evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.

As lead study author Mahshid Dehghan, a senior research associate and nutrition epidemiology investigator at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, noted in the featured study, "Our results showed an inverse association between total dairy and mortality and major cardiovascular disease. The risk of stroke was markedly lower with higher consumption of dairy."3

The PURE study was large and extensive, involving researchers from Canada, India, Sweden, South Africa, Brazil, Pakistan, Columbia, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Iran, Turkey, Chile, Poland, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, China, Bangladesh and the U.S.

Lasting an average of nine years, the study used controls for such factors as age, sex, smoking, physical activity, education levels and consumption of vegetables, fruit, red meat and starchy food for a total of 136,384 people in 21 countries, with ages ranging from 35 to 70.

At the end, researchers reported that when people ate two or more servings of full-fat dairy (one serving being defined as 8 ounces of milk or yogurt, 1 teaspoon of butter or a half-ounce slice of cheese), it was associated with:

A 22 percent lower heart disease risk

A 34 percent lower risk of stroke

A 23 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular...

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Discover more about N.O. Supplements and Heart health.

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Is Full-Fat Dairy Good for Your Heart? Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola A new study confirms (again) that whole-fat dairy is not associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease as has been asserted for more than 60 years. The evidence is overwhelming that consuming whole fats can be an important part of maintaining optimal health and actually fights heart disease and other diseases prevalent today rather than causing them. The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study1 was published in Lancet, one of the world's most prestigious medical journals, and gives one cause to second-guess the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans2 set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Those agencies continue to maintain that your best bet for reducing your heart disease risk is to pass up full-fat dairy products and reach for no-fat and low-fat options instead. However, while some doctors are finally beginning to acknowledge that full-fat dairy isn't the killer it's been made out to be, just as many are still touting those erroneous recommendations for their patients. The confusing guidelines mentioned above may be one of the reasons, but evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. As lead study author Mahshid Dehghan, a senior research associate and nutrition epidemiology investigator at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, noted in the featured study, "Our results showed an inverse association between total dairy and mortality and major cardiovascular disease. The risk of stroke was markedly lower with higher consumption of dairy."3 The PURE study was large and extensive, involving researchers from Canada, India, Sweden, South Africa, Brazil, Pakistan, Columbia, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Iran, Turkey, Chile, Poland, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, China, Bangladesh and the U.S. Lasting an average of nine years, the study used controls for such factors as age, sex, smoking, physical activity, education levels and consumption of vegetables, fruit, red meat and starchy food for a total of 136,384 people in 21 countries, with ages ranging from 35 to 70. At the end, researchers reported that when people ate two or more servings of full-fat dairy (one serving being defined as 8 ounces of milk or yogurt, 1 teaspoon of butter or a half-ounce slice of cheese), it was associated with: A 22 percent lower heart disease risk A 34 percent lower risk of stroke A 23 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease or a major cardiovascular event4 Semantics on Fat Consumption: Full-Fat Versus Low-Fat Dairy Products According to Dehghan, current guidelines are rooted in the belief that saturated fatty acids are harmful based on a single risk marker: LDL, aka "bad," cholesterol. However, she says dairy products contain a number of nutrients and avoiding them prevents you from getting other important nutrients. Dehghan noted that people shouldn't be discouraged from eating dairy products, and if they don't eat much already, they should in fact be encouraged to increase their consumption.5 Overall, people should focus on moderation, she added, especially since cardiovascular disease is a global epidemic. In fact, 80 percent of heart disease cases are found in low- and middle-income countries, Reuters observes, quoting Dehghan from an earlier study.6 It should be noted that eating more whole-fat foods from the dairy section did not make a significant difference in the overall outcome of the study for either total mortality or major cardiovascular disease, MedPage Today explains. In fact, "the findings were similar but not significant for people who ate both full-fat and low-fat dairy."7 The controversy continues, however, and the naysayers are still adamant. Jo Ann Carson, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, maintains that "Currently with the evidence that we have reviewed, we still believe that you should try to limit your saturated fat including fat that this is coming from dairy products." With those statements, Carson essentially upholds the now-disproven assertions of Ancel Keys, the University of Minnesota professor who started the "fat is bad" ball rolling back in 1953. Keys used faulty science and patchy data to conclude that eating saturated fat raises your cholesterol and then leads to heart disease. The medical community embraced the concept and adopted a collective stance. Saturated fat was then summarily vilified, and in its place, vegetable oils and shortening, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarine were pushed to the forefront and quickly became all the rage. Unfortunately, the "fat kills" mantra launched a movement in the food industry that's proving very difficult to turn around, but the PURE study helps lay the myth to rest. ‘Robust, Widely Applicable' Science Supports Whole Dairy Consumption Dehghan says that while the PURE study was largely observational, it was still "robust and more widely applicable" because it was all-encompassing over a broad range of types of dairy consumption and reflected many different settings and cultures. In 2017, Dehghan and her cohorts involved in the featured PURE study submitted another facet of the review that looked at the issue from another view, associating fat and carb intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality, and concluded: "We found that high carbohydrate intake (more than about 60 percent of energy) was associated with an adverse impact on total mortality and noncardiovascular disease mortality. By contrast, higher fat intake was associated with lower risk of total mortality, non-cardiovascular disease mortality, and stroke. Furthermore, higher intakes of individual types of fat were associated with lower total mortality, noncardiovascular disease mortality, and stroke risk and were not associated with risk of major cardiovascular disease events, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular disease mortality. Our findings do not support the current recommendation to limit total fat intake to less than 30 percent of energy and saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of energy. Individuals with high carbohydrate intake might benefit from a reduction in carbohydrate intake and increase in the consumption of fats."8 It's interesting to note that the PURE study was considered controversial for several reasons, such as the stance it made on healthy salt intake and increased vegetable recommendations. Additionally, while there have been inquiries into the entities that funded the study, Marion Nestle, a master of public health at New York University, notes that while numerous government entities and pharmaceutical companies around the world helped fund the study, the dairy industry did not.9 What's the Skinny on US Health Organization Recommendations for Dairy? When it comes to some of the biggest names and entities in the medical community, most still say low-fat dairy is best. As an example, an American Heart Association (AHA) article on milk, yogurt and cheese10 still insists that adults should opt for two to three servings of fat-free, zero-fat, no-fat or nonfat milk dairy products, and children, teenagers and older adults should have four servings, per day. The USDA says pretty much the same thing.11 People in Europe and North America have the highest dairy consumption, as they have more than four servings per day, the study notes, but in Africa, China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, individuals tested had less than one serving per day. When comparing people who ate three servings of dairy per day with those who ate none, Web MD12 noted that those who ate no dairy had higher rates of: Overall death — 3.4 percent versus 5.6 percent Heart-related deaths — 0.9 percent versus 1.6 percent Major heart disease — 3.5 percent versus 4.9 percent Stroke — 1.2 percent versus 2.9 percent Significantly, studies are stacking up that support the PURE study. One is very significant for two reasons: one because a two-decade-long review concluded that full-fat dairy consumption led to a reduced diabetes risk and better weight management consequences, as well. Nutrition & Metabolism published research showing evidence that fewer carbs, not adopting low-fat foods, is the key to reducing and often completely eliminating diabetes medication in 90 percent of the participants.13 In 2003, a study14 in The New England Journal of Medicine found that when people focused more on healthy fats and less on non-vegetable carbs, it improved insulin sensitivity and fasting blood glucose. It also stabilized the A1C or average blood glucose tests for diabetic patients. According to a 2015 study15 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, children who drink raw milk, which is typically full-fat, have lower rates of viral and respiratory tract infections, including regular colds, fevers and respiratory infections by around 30 percent. Raw Milk and Pasteurized Milk: What's the Difference? While governmental agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA contend that consuming raw milk is a ticket to disease and maybe even death, it's interesting to observe that Europe has no such issues. Ted Beals, a pathologist from the University of Michigan Medical School, writes that you are actually 35,000 times more likely to get sick from any other food than raw milk.16 Pasteurized milk products are heated to kill bacteria because of the often dreadful conditions cows in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) live in, and that's where the overwhelming majority of milk in the U.S. is produced. Animals in CAFOs are often deprived of sunlight, are fed genetically engineered (GE) grains and soy products and stand knee-deep in each other's excrement. To counteract these conditions, the animals are given antibiotics. What pasteurized milk offers is essentially milk laced with dead bacteria; the bacteria are dead, but not removed. When your body is hit with these foreign proteins, an allergic response is often the result because your body tries to fight them off. Conversely, when cows raised on grass (as opposed to grains) produce milk, the raw, unpasteurized form contains whey protein, which stabilizes those same fighting cells in your body and reduces the allergic effect some people experience. When cows eat grains, their body composition is altered, and with it, their milk. Pasteurization destroys many valuable nutrients, some which are important for your digestion and immune function. What About Cheese, Butter, Yogurt and Kefir? Not a few experts in the field noticed that the PURE study "exonerates" high-fat cheese. As a whole, one food analyst reported, the combination of nutrients in cheese are varied and plentiful, and many are new to the conversation in regard to nutritional value. One study17 found whole-fat cheese can improve your overall health because it raises your HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, which protects your body against both heart disease and metabolic diseases. Further, when it's made from the milk of grass-pastured animals, cheese provides several important nutrients, including protein, amino acids, omega-3 fats, vitamins A, D, B2, B12, and K2 (especially Gouda, Brie, Edam and to a lesser degree hard goat cheese, Colby, Swiss, Gruyere and Cheddar), minerals such as phosphorus, calcium and zinc, and conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. In another study described in The Telegraph, researchers found that eating eight servings of full-fat milk, cheese, cream and butter was linked to a 23 percent lower risk of developing diabetes, compared to those who ate fewer portions. One serving counted as 200 milliliters (ml) (a little under a cup) of milk or yogurt, 20 grams (0.7 ounces) of cheese, 25 grams (2 tablespoons) of cream or 7 grams (1.4 teaspoons) of butter. More importantly, "There was no link between low fat dairy products and diabetes."18 Kefir, a traditionally fermented food that is loaded with probiotic bacteria, as well as yogurt, both of them ideally made from organic, grass fed raw milk, present excellent ways to boost your immunity and increase your energy. The bacteria used to make kefir and yogurt consumes most of the lactose in milk, which can otherwise be a problem for someone with insulin resistance. Both help you develop and maintain a healthy microbiome. When it comes to butter, the best you can do is to seek out the organic raw form from grass-pastured cows. The next best is pasteurized butter from grass fed or pastured organic cows, followed by regular pasteurized butter common in supermarkets. Surprisingly, fat levels in your blood are lower after eating a meal rich in butter than after eating one rich in olive oil, canola oil or flaxseed oil, one study noted.19 Taken altogether, the message is clear: Including saturated fats, including raw, organic and full-fat dairy products, is a healthy choice. That includes organic butter from grass fed cows, virgin coconut oil and raw whole milk and cheese. Far from being the culprits in cardiovascular and "high cholesterol" issues, eating them can actually improve your heart, and at the same time, improve your insulin sensitivity. In any case, avoid trans fats and non-vegetable carbohydrates that have led to ever-rising rates of chronic disease and obesity. Reversing this trend is simpler than you might think, at least on an individual level. Don't just eat more dairy; go for healthy, full fat, grass fed dairy instead.

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Uday Chopra tweets for marijuana, cops cite law | Hindi Movie News

MUMBAI: Actor Uday Chopra stirred a debate and controversy on social media by stating that India should legalise the use of marijuana. Tweets were exchanged, some angrily, and Mumbai Police joined in to clarify to Chopra that “consumption, possession and transportation’’ of marijuana invites harsh punishment under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Chopra, who has 1.4 million followers on Twitter, first tweeted on Thursday evening, offering his reasons. “Firstly, it’s part of our culture. Secondly, I think if legalized and taxed it can be a huge revenue source. Not to mention it will remove the criminal element associated with it. Plus and most importantly it has a lot of medical benefits,” he said.

Although cannabis has traditionally been used in India, its cultivation is highly controlled and carried out in mainly the northern states. in his tweets, Chopra said, “…in Holi, Bhaang (similar to marijuana) has been used for centuries. Also, during Mahashivratri many sadhus smoke it in emulation of Shiva. Guess more religion than culture but the two are kind of inter-related.”

In fact, over the last few years, there has been a movement across the US to legalize the use of marijuana not only for medical but even recreational use: 29 states allow its medical use, while nine also allow personal use. Around 14 European countries, Israel, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Panama, Mexico, Zambia and Zimbabwe allow its medical use. But the moot question is whether India will follow the world to allow wider use of marijuana.

Dr Altaf Patel, director of medicine at Jaslok Hospital and former professor from Grant Medical College in Byculla, pointed out that marijuana is milder and safer than alcohol. “There should be some sort of control, but it’s safe enough to be legalized for medical and personal use.’’

Dr Sripad Banavali, dean of academics at Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, said the marijuana movement across the world was “fizzling out’’. Another senior doctor said there were better formulations for medical pain management than narcotics.

And, Chopra added another tweet for the record: “And no I do not use it. I just really think it’s a wise move, given our history with the plant.”

Mumbai Police took two days to respond to Chopra, saying, “Sir, as citizen of India, you are privileged to express your view on a public platform. Be mindful, as of now, consumption, possession and transportation of marijuana, invites harsh punishment as per provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act,1985. Spread the Word.”

Joint commissioner of police (law & order) Deven Bharti said, “Mumbai Police is to enforce the law of land. We run awareness campaigns against drugs so that no one falls prey to it. We have been and will be taking harsh action against drug suppliers and peddlers.”

The jury is still out on whether marijuana causes brain/neurological changes. A recent study in the American Journal of Drug Alcohol Abuse said regular users of marijuana showed a decrease in gray matter volume in parts of the brain. “The neuropsychological studies provide evidence for subtle cognitive deficits at least seven days after heavy cannabis use,” the study said.

The post Uday Chopra tweets for marijuana, cops cite law | Hindi Movie News appeared first on Watch Online Pakistani Dramas.

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Doctors’ Strike Leaves Some Zimbabweans ‘Gathering Here in Pain’ 

A month into a strike by doctors in the country’s public hospitals, Rudo Mbofana can’t find relief from her constant back pain — or her frustration.

The Harare resident said she had been referred to Parirenyatwa General Hospital, the capital’s largest medical center, “but there is no help. We are just gathering here in pain, in shame and in agony.”

An untold number of Zimbabweans have been turned away from public medical facilities since Sept. 3, when just more than 500 junior doctors, paid less than $200 a month, went on strike, demanding better wages as well as equipment and supplies for treating patients.

Hundreds of senior doctors with the same complaints joined the strike Thursday, further diminishing treatment options in the southern African country of 14 million.

Government offer rejected

On Friday, labor groups representing the doctors rejected the government’s offer of a 60% salary increase. It would have been paid in Zimbabwe’s devalued currency and not the U.S. dollars that the doctors sought.

“They’re asking the government to match their salaries with what they were earning” before the country’s economic collapse, explained Dr. Fortune Nyamande, spokesman for the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights. His group does not represent labor nor is it involved in negotiations, but Nyamande was apprised of Friday’s developments.

The government has threatened to withhold the pay of striking doctors. Dr. Paulinus Sikosana, chairman of its Health Services Board, said it won’t pay someone who won’t work.

The World Health Organization’s representative to Zimbabwe, Dr. Alex Gasasira, encouraged negotiations between the striking doctors and the government.

“We hear that many patients are being turned away, some of them with very serious conditions,” Gasasira said in a phone interview. “So we are concerned that the most vulnerable people … would not be able to access the services that they would require.”

FILE - A group of Zimbabwean doctors sing as they protest at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, Sept. 15, 2019.

An ailing health system

The strike has paralyzed the public health system.

“We know that something terrible is happening. We are hearing of pregnant women dying, victims of road traffic accidents dying,” Nyamande said, adding that he doubts the accuracy of government statistics on health and mortality.

Zimbabweans such as Mbofana gauge the health system based on personal experience.

Her back hurts and her prospects are poor. Turned away from public health care, “I was advised to go and seek treatment from private clinics or surgeons,” Mbofana said. “But how do I raise the money?”

Patients admitted into public hospitals before the strike have no guarantee of quality care, either, given gaps in staffing and shortages of medical equipment, such as diagnostic tools, surgical gloves and pain medicine.

A woman who identified herself only as Kukuwe said her sister’s health is worsening while at Parirenyatwa.

“No doctors are coming to see patients,” Kukuwe said. “The patients are stranded and are not receiving help because there are no doctors to write prescriptions.”

Doctor in care

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa delivers his state of the nation address at the opening session of parliament in Harare, Oct. 1, 2019.

Senior doctors last month had joined their junior counterparts in demonstrating for the release of Peter Magombeyi, who had led the strike as acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association. He allegedly had been abducted from his home Sept. 14, resurfacing several days later outside of Harare, dazed and in pain. He initially told VOA in a phone interview that he remembered “being electrocuted at some point.”

The group Human Rights Watch says it has confirmed at least 50 abductions of activists and government critics so far this year.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration and Zimbabwe police have denied any involvement in Magombeyi’s disappearance.

Zimbabwe police had blocked Magombeyi from leaving a Harare private hospital but ultimately heeded a high court’s order to allow the doctor to seek care in South Africa. He reportedly is being treated at an undisclosed medical facility there.

Rutendo Mawere reported for VOA’s English to Africa Service from Harare. Gibbs Dube of VOA’s Zimbabwe Service reported from Washington.  

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