Interested for an ECG class?
Here's a good one:
http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/index.html
Friday, December 14, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Some Early Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer by Fran Mullens
Do you know the early symptoms of ovarian cancer? One out of seventy women will develop ovarian cancer, and if detected early, the survival rate is about ninety percent. Ovarian cancer can progress from stage to stage quickly, and it is even more aggressive than breast cancer, so it is important to identify this disease in it's early stages.
For a long time ovarian cancer was considered asymptomatic, and has been called the silent killer. Now we know it does have early symptoms. The problem is women often ignore them and physicians do not always recognize the potential urgency of evaluating the symptoms.
According to medical records of ovarian cancer patients, the most common symptom was cramping abdominal pain. In women diagnosed with Stage I and II ovarian cancer the most common symptoms were abdominal pain and urinary urgency, frequency or incontinence.
Patients in the later stages, Stage III and IV ovarian cancer, the most commonly documented symptoms were abdominal pain and increased abdominal girth. These symptoms are not considered unique to ovarian cancer or directly related to the reproductive pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes, the uterus, or cervix and ovaries, therefore, the possibility of ovarian cancer is often overlooked with these early symptoms.
These early symptoms can indicate many conditions, not just ovarian cancer. Women should pay special attention if they have incontinence and abdominal pain that do not improve when treated. If a woman has been treated for abdominal, urinary or pelvic symptoms and the tests for the most common causes are negative, then more tests should be conducted and the possibility of ovarian cancer should be contemplated.
When the above symptoms are present and the doctor is unable to arrive at a clear diagnosis, then ovarian cancer must be considered. It will require a pelvic examination and ultrasound along with a blood test to ensure it is not present.
The urinary tract symptoms are usually due to the tumor pressing on the bladder, which causes an increased pressure inside the abdomen, resulting in urine loss. The symptom of abdominal pain more than likely is caused by pressure from the tumor or from fluid in the abdomen prompted by the tumor.
Women should be aware of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer. The symptoms are quite vague and can easily be mistaken for another disease.
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer can be mistaken for many things. You can get additional useful and practical information concerning cancer and other Women's Health Issues at http://www.womens-health-talk.wcf-ltd.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fran_Mullens
For a long time ovarian cancer was considered asymptomatic, and has been called the silent killer. Now we know it does have early symptoms. The problem is women often ignore them and physicians do not always recognize the potential urgency of evaluating the symptoms.
According to medical records of ovarian cancer patients, the most common symptom was cramping abdominal pain. In women diagnosed with Stage I and II ovarian cancer the most common symptoms were abdominal pain and urinary urgency, frequency or incontinence.
Patients in the later stages, Stage III and IV ovarian cancer, the most commonly documented symptoms were abdominal pain and increased abdominal girth. These symptoms are not considered unique to ovarian cancer or directly related to the reproductive pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes, the uterus, or cervix and ovaries, therefore, the possibility of ovarian cancer is often overlooked with these early symptoms.
These early symptoms can indicate many conditions, not just ovarian cancer. Women should pay special attention if they have incontinence and abdominal pain that do not improve when treated. If a woman has been treated for abdominal, urinary or pelvic symptoms and the tests for the most common causes are negative, then more tests should be conducted and the possibility of ovarian cancer should be contemplated.
When the above symptoms are present and the doctor is unable to arrive at a clear diagnosis, then ovarian cancer must be considered. It will require a pelvic examination and ultrasound along with a blood test to ensure it is not present.
The urinary tract symptoms are usually due to the tumor pressing on the bladder, which causes an increased pressure inside the abdomen, resulting in urine loss. The symptom of abdominal pain more than likely is caused by pressure from the tumor or from fluid in the abdomen prompted by the tumor.
Women should be aware of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer. The symptoms are quite vague and can easily be mistaken for another disease.
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer can be mistaken for many things. You can get additional useful and practical information concerning cancer and other Women's Health Issues at http://www.womens-health-talk.wcf-ltd.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fran_Mullens
Office Chairs - Things to Consider By Amy Pedersen
When looking for the right ergonomic chair to help support your back, there are several things to consider. First, does the chair have a comfortable lumbar back rest. Many ergonomic chairs have adjustable lumbar supports that allow you to move the lower back rest up and down or forwards and backwards to best fit your body. This option is especially helpful if there are multiple users of the chair. If there is a primary user, however, a fixed lumbar support may be appropriate.
Another point to consider is this the width of the chair. There should be enough hip space when sitting back against the lumbar support. Inadequate hip room can make you sit more forward on the seat pan reducing the support to your thighs. Also make sure that the chair back rest is large enough to provide good back support. Many ergonomic chairs are designed to provide mid and upper back support, in addition to good lower back support. Finally, look for chairs with reclining backrests. The body naturally moves while sitting to help maintain a healthy spine. To help relive built up pressure choose chairs that allow you to easily recline while still providing lumbar support in different postures and whose back is able to track where your back moves.
Ergonomics affect all of us, not just those of us who sit in our office chair in front of our computer all day long. When seated in the average office chair, one does not normally give much thought as to the ergonomics or positioning of their body. That is, not until they start to feel the tension or experience pain from a RSI or repetitive stress injury. At this point, the damage may already be done and once injuries such as this have occurred, the effects can be irreversible. Injuries such as carpal tunnel are currently the number one debilitating condition that is a disability reported by insurance Companies. Maybe ergonomics do affect us after all.
They affect not only the sufferers of RSI's but the employers as the corporations are the ones paying out the big bucks in insurance money due to the number of worker's compensation claims being filed daily. Ergonomics is the solution to all of these problems and once businesses and the average computer geek start to realize how important ergonomics are to overall body health and employee productivity, they may become more important.
It shouldn't take injury or problems to arise for people to become educated on ergonomics and office chair positioning. Your office chair takes a good beating, with you sitting in it for such long periods of time throughout your day. Make sure that your body does not take the same beating and learn to sit properly and practice good workplace ergonomics. Educate yourself on ergonomics and your back, neck and entire body are sure to thank you for it.
© 2007 Sit On This Ergonomics, LLC.
Author Bio: Amy Pedersen has worked in the Ergonomics and Office Furniture industry for over 10 years and is owner of Sit On This Ergonomics, operating a number of ergonomic websites dedicated to Office Chairs and the practice of good Workplace Ergonomics.
Featuring a wide variety of Executive Chairs, Leather Office Chairs, Mesh Seating & Task Office Chairs with an Online Sales Catalog. Their Huge Office Chair Collection and the Sit On This Ergo website provides detailed ergonomic information on proper chair positioning and seating in the workplace environment to help people to find the perfect Office Chair for their situation.
Visit Our Office Chair Collection: Sit On This Ergonomics
More Ergonomic Information: Ergonomics Explained
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Pedersen
Another point to consider is this the width of the chair. There should be enough hip space when sitting back against the lumbar support. Inadequate hip room can make you sit more forward on the seat pan reducing the support to your thighs. Also make sure that the chair back rest is large enough to provide good back support. Many ergonomic chairs are designed to provide mid and upper back support, in addition to good lower back support. Finally, look for chairs with reclining backrests. The body naturally moves while sitting to help maintain a healthy spine. To help relive built up pressure choose chairs that allow you to easily recline while still providing lumbar support in different postures and whose back is able to track where your back moves.
Ergonomics affect all of us, not just those of us who sit in our office chair in front of our computer all day long. When seated in the average office chair, one does not normally give much thought as to the ergonomics or positioning of their body. That is, not until they start to feel the tension or experience pain from a RSI or repetitive stress injury. At this point, the damage may already be done and once injuries such as this have occurred, the effects can be irreversible. Injuries such as carpal tunnel are currently the number one debilitating condition that is a disability reported by insurance Companies. Maybe ergonomics do affect us after all.
They affect not only the sufferers of RSI's but the employers as the corporations are the ones paying out the big bucks in insurance money due to the number of worker's compensation claims being filed daily. Ergonomics is the solution to all of these problems and once businesses and the average computer geek start to realize how important ergonomics are to overall body health and employee productivity, they may become more important.
It shouldn't take injury or problems to arise for people to become educated on ergonomics and office chair positioning. Your office chair takes a good beating, with you sitting in it for such long periods of time throughout your day. Make sure that your body does not take the same beating and learn to sit properly and practice good workplace ergonomics. Educate yourself on ergonomics and your back, neck and entire body are sure to thank you for it.
© 2007 Sit On This Ergonomics, LLC.
Author Bio: Amy Pedersen has worked in the Ergonomics and Office Furniture industry for over 10 years and is owner of Sit On This Ergonomics, operating a number of ergonomic websites dedicated to Office Chairs and the practice of good Workplace Ergonomics.
Featuring a wide variety of Executive Chairs, Leather Office Chairs, Mesh Seating & Task Office Chairs with an Online Sales Catalog. Their Huge Office Chair Collection and the Sit On This Ergo website provides detailed ergonomic information on proper chair positioning and seating in the workplace environment to help people to find the perfect Office Chair for their situation.
Visit Our Office Chair Collection: Sit On This Ergonomics
More Ergonomic Information: Ergonomics Explained
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Pedersen
The Manual for Ergonomic Office Chairs - Your Guide To Troubleshooting, By Jonathan Andrew
The first thing you should do when you are experiencing problems in adjusting it is to consult the manual for ergonomic office chair operation which came with your chair and try to find the solution to difficulty. Ergonomic office chairs are designed to be user-friendly, but accidents do happen and a damaged chair may not work as it should. The manual for your ergonomic office chair will probably have at least one suggestion as to what is causing the trouble. If it does not, it will certainly have telephone number with which you can contact the chair's manufacturer for advice.
The manuals for ergonomic office chairs are relatively simple do not take long to search through; your manual should have instructions on how to make the necessary adjustments to put your ergonomic chair back into working condition. With the help of the manual for your ergonomic office chair, you can get the job accomplished without knowing the first thing about how your ergonomic chair actually works. The ergonomic manual for your office chair will very probably have simple illustrations of the steps you should follow to repair your chair. chair.
Determine The Problem And Follow The InstructionsYou first need to examine your chair to determine as best you can where the problem lies; you can do this by seating yourself on the chair and attempting to engage its various features. When you have identified the features which aren't working, you can look them up in the manual for your ergonomic office chair.
If your reclining chair, for instance, fails to recline, look in the index of the manual for your ergonomic office chair and try to locate an illustration of its reclining mechanism. Then compare the illustration to the actual appearance of your chair's mechanism, and adjust it according to the manual's instructions. The re-seat yourself in the chair and engage the reclining feature. If you have done as the manual for your ergonomic office chair instructed, you will probably have corrected the trouble.
If, however, you have made a number of adjustments to your chair but are still experiencing the same problem, you should simply ask for help from the experts. If you have some handymen around your office, ask them to take a look at the manual for your ergonomic office chair and see if they can determine how to make the proper adjustments. If that fails, give the manufacturer a call and continue from there.
You can also find more info on ergonomic office and office chair ergonomic. Knowergonomic.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Ergonomic chairs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Andrew
The manuals for ergonomic office chairs are relatively simple do not take long to search through; your manual should have instructions on how to make the necessary adjustments to put your ergonomic chair back into working condition. With the help of the manual for your ergonomic office chair, you can get the job accomplished without knowing the first thing about how your ergonomic chair actually works. The ergonomic manual for your office chair will very probably have simple illustrations of the steps you should follow to repair your chair. chair.
Determine The Problem And Follow The InstructionsYou first need to examine your chair to determine as best you can where the problem lies; you can do this by seating yourself on the chair and attempting to engage its various features. When you have identified the features which aren't working, you can look them up in the manual for your ergonomic office chair.
If your reclining chair, for instance, fails to recline, look in the index of the manual for your ergonomic office chair and try to locate an illustration of its reclining mechanism. Then compare the illustration to the actual appearance of your chair's mechanism, and adjust it according to the manual's instructions. The re-seat yourself in the chair and engage the reclining feature. If you have done as the manual for your ergonomic office chair instructed, you will probably have corrected the trouble.
If, however, you have made a number of adjustments to your chair but are still experiencing the same problem, you should simply ask for help from the experts. If you have some handymen around your office, ask them to take a look at the manual for your ergonomic office chair and see if they can determine how to make the proper adjustments. If that fails, give the manufacturer a call and continue from there.
You can also find more info on ergonomic office and office chair ergonomic. Knowergonomic.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Ergonomic chairs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Andrew
Where To Buy A Good Memory Foam Mattress by Robin Obrien
The word is spreading; memory foam mattresses provide unparalleled support and comfort. Traditional inner-spring mattresses just can't offer the same degree of restful sleep as this new type of mattress. But, not every memory foam mattress is created equal so you need to be careful about what you buy. Here's what's on offer from some of the big name players in the industry.
There are many manufacturers making memory foam mattresses. This is a good thing but also a bad thing for the consumer. The Tempurpedic mattress was the first on the market and remains the most popular today, but other brands now offer the consumer a greater choice, and at a price that is usually a good deal lower than buying a Tempur mattress. But, not all memory foam is the same. Each company has its own, secret recipe and some are definitely better than others.
First off, let's take a look at the original memory foam mattress; the Tempurpedic. This mattress still sets the standard that other brands try to match. The foam used has a 5.3 lb/cubic foot density. This is important as this plays the most important part in how the mattress feels (comfort) and how much support it gives. Basically, this measurement tells you how heavy the material is for every cubic foot. Many other manufacturers tout that their foam is much cheaper than that of Tempur, but you'll usually find that their mattresses have a lb/cubic foot density somewhere between 2.5 and 4.0. This makes the foam softer and fails to provide good support. Of course, they produce a mattress with a lower density because manufacturing costs are reduced: less material; more air.
In the early days, there was only one type of mattress available from Tempur but now the company makes several types. The ClassicBed is the original. The Tempurpedic AdjustableBed along with its specially designed base, allows you to change the position of the mattress. It has a patented 'Wallhugger' design so that you stay nearer to your nightstand. The idea behind the adjustable mattress is that it can help alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux, lower back pain, hiatal hernia, minor arthritic pain and much more.
The best selling mattress from Tempurpedic is called the CelebrityBed. It comes with an even thicker top layer of memory foam. This gives it a softer feel than that of the ClassicBed; an old complaint was that a Tempurpedic mattress was too firm, so the introduction of this model was a smart move by the company.
Sealy are the world's largest manufacturer of mattresses so it isn't surprising that it has started to make its own version of memory foam mattresses. Currently, there are 3 models to choose from; the Sealy TrueForm 8 series, 9 series and 11 series. The numbers indicate the overall thickness of the mattress. Also, each mattress uses memory foam of a 5.25 lb/cubic foot density, which tells you it is of good quality. The 8 series comes with a top layer of 3" 5.25 lb memory foam and 5" of high density foam. The 9 series comes with a top layer of 3" 5.25 lb memory foam and 5" of high density foam giving the mattress a slightly more firm and supportive feel. Finally, the 11 series comes with 1.5" Convoluted Visco Top Layer of 5.25lb density, followed by a 3.5" Visco Middle Layer of 5.25lb density with a 6" Polyurethane Core of 2.15lb density. The idea behind the middle layer of convoluted foam is to help reduce heat that some sleepers complain of when sleeping on any kind of foam mattress.
Sealy mattresses are of good quality and cost a little less than a comparable Tempur-Pedic mattress.
Not to be left behind, Serta has released its version called the True Response mattress. It too uses a high density core - it's 10" thick. The top layer is of lighter, memory foam. The company doesn't specify what the density of the foam is, why they don't give out this information is a mystery; a high density is usually a major selling point for a manufacturer.
The Serta True Response mattress does come with Smart Fabric Technology by Outlast. This fiber layer is designed to wick away moisture and regulate body temperature for a cooler, more restful sleep - as stated before, heat is often an issue for some when sleeping on a memory foam mattresses.
The Serta retails for around the same price as a comparable Sealy.
All of the above 3 are major players in this sector. They aren't the only ones, but each is a well-known company with a good reputation. All offer excellent warranties with its memory foam mattress. Choosing which is better is very much down to personal choice. Some may find the Tempur a little too firm while others prefer the look and feel of the Sealy. The best advice is to actually go along to a store and try each one of them out before you buy.
Follow the links for a memory foam mattress such as the Tempurpedic mattress and the Sealy mattress.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
There are many manufacturers making memory foam mattresses. This is a good thing but also a bad thing for the consumer. The Tempurpedic mattress was the first on the market and remains the most popular today, but other brands now offer the consumer a greater choice, and at a price that is usually a good deal lower than buying a Tempur mattress. But, not all memory foam is the same. Each company has its own, secret recipe and some are definitely better than others.
First off, let's take a look at the original memory foam mattress; the Tempurpedic. This mattress still sets the standard that other brands try to match. The foam used has a 5.3 lb/cubic foot density. This is important as this plays the most important part in how the mattress feels (comfort) and how much support it gives. Basically, this measurement tells you how heavy the material is for every cubic foot. Many other manufacturers tout that their foam is much cheaper than that of Tempur, but you'll usually find that their mattresses have a lb/cubic foot density somewhere between 2.5 and 4.0. This makes the foam softer and fails to provide good support. Of course, they produce a mattress with a lower density because manufacturing costs are reduced: less material; more air.
In the early days, there was only one type of mattress available from Tempur but now the company makes several types. The ClassicBed is the original. The Tempurpedic AdjustableBed along with its specially designed base, allows you to change the position of the mattress. It has a patented 'Wallhugger' design so that you stay nearer to your nightstand. The idea behind the adjustable mattress is that it can help alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux, lower back pain, hiatal hernia, minor arthritic pain and much more.
The best selling mattress from Tempurpedic is called the CelebrityBed. It comes with an even thicker top layer of memory foam. This gives it a softer feel than that of the ClassicBed; an old complaint was that a Tempurpedic mattress was too firm, so the introduction of this model was a smart move by the company.
Sealy are the world's largest manufacturer of mattresses so it isn't surprising that it has started to make its own version of memory foam mattresses. Currently, there are 3 models to choose from; the Sealy TrueForm 8 series, 9 series and 11 series. The numbers indicate the overall thickness of the mattress. Also, each mattress uses memory foam of a 5.25 lb/cubic foot density, which tells you it is of good quality. The 8 series comes with a top layer of 3" 5.25 lb memory foam and 5" of high density foam. The 9 series comes with a top layer of 3" 5.25 lb memory foam and 5" of high density foam giving the mattress a slightly more firm and supportive feel. Finally, the 11 series comes with 1.5" Convoluted Visco Top Layer of 5.25lb density, followed by a 3.5" Visco Middle Layer of 5.25lb density with a 6" Polyurethane Core of 2.15lb density. The idea behind the middle layer of convoluted foam is to help reduce heat that some sleepers complain of when sleeping on any kind of foam mattress.
Sealy mattresses are of good quality and cost a little less than a comparable Tempur-Pedic mattress.
Not to be left behind, Serta has released its version called the True Response mattress. It too uses a high density core - it's 10" thick. The top layer is of lighter, memory foam. The company doesn't specify what the density of the foam is, why they don't give out this information is a mystery; a high density is usually a major selling point for a manufacturer.
The Serta True Response mattress does come with Smart Fabric Technology by Outlast. This fiber layer is designed to wick away moisture and regulate body temperature for a cooler, more restful sleep - as stated before, heat is often an issue for some when sleeping on a memory foam mattresses.
The Serta retails for around the same price as a comparable Sealy.
All of the above 3 are major players in this sector. They aren't the only ones, but each is a well-known company with a good reputation. All offer excellent warranties with its memory foam mattress. Choosing which is better is very much down to personal choice. Some may find the Tempur a little too firm while others prefer the look and feel of the Sealy. The best advice is to actually go along to a store and try each one of them out before you buy.
Follow the links for a memory foam mattress such as the Tempurpedic mattress and the Sealy mattress.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
Bush urges additional AIDS money
MOUNT AIRY, Md. - President Bush urged Congress on Friday to approve an additional $30 billion for the fight against AIDS worldwide over the next five years, and announced he would visit Africa early next year to further highlight the need and his administration's efforts.
"We dedicate ourselves to a great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS — once and for all," Bush said. "I look forward to seeing the results of America's generosity."
Bush chose the gymnasium at the Calvary United Methodist Church in this tiny western Maryland town to make his remarks. The church supports a Christian group home and school in Namibia for children orphaned by the disease. Before speaking, he met with representatives from churches and other religious groups that have been fighting AIDS, part of his attempt to highlight his belief that faith-based organizations are the best vehicles for such work.
Evangelical Christians, who make up a large and influential portion of Bush's political support, have been key to his policies increasing U.S. involvement in the fight against AIDS, particularly in Africa. Bush has been said to believe that the United States, and his administration, do not get enough credit for the work being done on the issue.
"Every year American taxpayers send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseas to save the lives of people they have never met," he said.
But "in return for this extra generosity, Americans expect results," the president said, adding that his program demands measurable progress, accountability and the involvement of local partners. The result: The number of people in sub-Saharan Africa receiving treatment for AIDS has gone from 50,000 five years ago to nearly 1.4 million now.
"We have pioneered a new model for public health," Bush said. "So far, the results have been striking."
In May, the last time he devoted a speech to the topic, Bush asked Congress to double the $15 billion that the U.S. committed over the program's first five years to therapy, testing and counseling through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The program is active in 120 countries, with a concentrated focus on 15, including Namibia, in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
As of the end of September, 1.36 million people in those focus countries have received antiretroviral treatment through the program, with a focus on averting infant infections by treating pregnant women. Others receive testing and counseling.
"Some call this remarkable success. I call it a good start," Bush said, adding that he has worked with other nations and the private sector to increase their commitments.
Doubling the funding for PEPFAR would provide treatment for 2.5 million people, the White House said.
Also in honor of Saturday's World AIDS Day, the White House hung a red ribbon — 28 feet tall and 8 feet wide — in the North Portico of the mansion to symbolize the fight against AIDS. It will stay up for two days and, on Saturday, guests who visit the White House will receive a red ribbon sticker and a fact card.
The White House also said Friday that the Department of Homeland Security will publish a final rule this winter aiming to help reduce discrimination against those living with the virus that causes AIDS. The new rule would establish a categorical waiver for HIV-positive people seeking to enter the United States on short-term visas. A 1993 law prohibits HIV-positive people from receiving visas to visit the United States without a waiver. A categorical waiver will enable HIV-positive people to enter the United States for short visits through a streamlined process.
The Children of Zion Village, an orphanage in northeastern Namibia, was opened in 2003 by missionaries Gary and Rebecca Mink of Rising Sun, Md. They belong to Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air, which provides most of the home's $14,000-a-month operating funds with help from other United Methodist churches in Maryland and Ohio, said Lisa McLaughlin, board chairwoman of Children of Zion Inc.
The facility is home to 55 children up to 17 years old. Children of Zion also feeds 116 more orphans in nearby Mafuta and hopes to build a group home and preschool there.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071201/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_aids;_ylt=AkOII8oqG0DP7VElpCJ5v9HVJRIF
"We dedicate ourselves to a great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS — once and for all," Bush said. "I look forward to seeing the results of America's generosity."
Bush chose the gymnasium at the Calvary United Methodist Church in this tiny western Maryland town to make his remarks. The church supports a Christian group home and school in Namibia for children orphaned by the disease. Before speaking, he met with representatives from churches and other religious groups that have been fighting AIDS, part of his attempt to highlight his belief that faith-based organizations are the best vehicles for such work.
Evangelical Christians, who make up a large and influential portion of Bush's political support, have been key to his policies increasing U.S. involvement in the fight against AIDS, particularly in Africa. Bush has been said to believe that the United States, and his administration, do not get enough credit for the work being done on the issue.
"Every year American taxpayers send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseas to save the lives of people they have never met," he said.
But "in return for this extra generosity, Americans expect results," the president said, adding that his program demands measurable progress, accountability and the involvement of local partners. The result: The number of people in sub-Saharan Africa receiving treatment for AIDS has gone from 50,000 five years ago to nearly 1.4 million now.
"We have pioneered a new model for public health," Bush said. "So far, the results have been striking."
In May, the last time he devoted a speech to the topic, Bush asked Congress to double the $15 billion that the U.S. committed over the program's first five years to therapy, testing and counseling through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The program is active in 120 countries, with a concentrated focus on 15, including Namibia, in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
As of the end of September, 1.36 million people in those focus countries have received antiretroviral treatment through the program, with a focus on averting infant infections by treating pregnant women. Others receive testing and counseling.
"Some call this remarkable success. I call it a good start," Bush said, adding that he has worked with other nations and the private sector to increase their commitments.
Doubling the funding for PEPFAR would provide treatment for 2.5 million people, the White House said.
Also in honor of Saturday's World AIDS Day, the White House hung a red ribbon — 28 feet tall and 8 feet wide — in the North Portico of the mansion to symbolize the fight against AIDS. It will stay up for two days and, on Saturday, guests who visit the White House will receive a red ribbon sticker and a fact card.
The White House also said Friday that the Department of Homeland Security will publish a final rule this winter aiming to help reduce discrimination against those living with the virus that causes AIDS. The new rule would establish a categorical waiver for HIV-positive people seeking to enter the United States on short-term visas. A 1993 law prohibits HIV-positive people from receiving visas to visit the United States without a waiver. A categorical waiver will enable HIV-positive people to enter the United States for short visits through a streamlined process.
The Children of Zion Village, an orphanage in northeastern Namibia, was opened in 2003 by missionaries Gary and Rebecca Mink of Rising Sun, Md. They belong to Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air, which provides most of the home's $14,000-a-month operating funds with help from other United Methodist churches in Maryland and Ohio, said Lisa McLaughlin, board chairwoman of Children of Zion Inc.
The facility is home to 55 children up to 17 years old. Children of Zion also feeds 116 more orphans in nearby Mafuta and hopes to build a group home and preschool there.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071201/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_aids;_ylt=AkOII8oqG0DP7VElpCJ5v9HVJRIF
Up to 50 million Chinese at risk from AIDS: UN
BEIJING (AFP) - Up to 50 million Chinese people are at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, United Nations officials warned Friday, a day after the government said the spread of the disease has slowed.
Chinese health minister Chen Zhu said Thursday there were an estimated 50,000 new HIV infections in 2007 and China has about 700,000 HIV/AIDS cases.
This compares with the estimated figure of 650,000 announced nearly two years ago based on work carried out by the Chinese government, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.
But a day ahead of the World AIDS day, UN officials warned against complacency and cautioned that between 30 and 50 million people in China remained at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
"Thirty to 50 million are exposed to substantial risk of HIV infection today. It shows you the potential and magnitude of the issue for the future," said Bernhard Schwartlander, China coordinator of UNAIDS.
The fact that heterosexual contact was the top cause of new infections in 2007, accounting for 44.7 percent, should also raise an alarm.
"It is remarkable and important to recognise that, because that shows the potential of that spread is quite significant," he said.
Schwartlander said although the current overall number of HIV/AIDS cases seemed relatively low for China's 1.3 billion population, infections were rising in more and more areas.
The rapid increase in male homosexual activities, expanding sex industry and more widespread drug use in China in recent years have also contributed to the potential for further spread of the
disease.
"We may be seeing fewer infections than we have seen in earlier years, but that can change rapidly again," he warned.
Independent AIDS activists have long warned that the official estimates underestimated the rampant spread of the disease and the real number of people suffering from the disease could be 10 times higher.
But Khalid Malik, UN resident coordinator disagreed.
"The (official) numbers are estimates first of all, they (the real figures) could be a little lower, a little higher, but definitely not in the multiples."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071130/hl_afp/healthchinaunaids_071130110017
Chinese health minister Chen Zhu said Thursday there were an estimated 50,000 new HIV infections in 2007 and China has about 700,000 HIV/AIDS cases.
This compares with the estimated figure of 650,000 announced nearly two years ago based on work carried out by the Chinese government, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.
But a day ahead of the World AIDS day, UN officials warned against complacency and cautioned that between 30 and 50 million people in China remained at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
"Thirty to 50 million are exposed to substantial risk of HIV infection today. It shows you the potential and magnitude of the issue for the future," said Bernhard Schwartlander, China coordinator of UNAIDS.
The fact that heterosexual contact was the top cause of new infections in 2007, accounting for 44.7 percent, should also raise an alarm.
"It is remarkable and important to recognise that, because that shows the potential of that spread is quite significant," he said.
Schwartlander said although the current overall number of HIV/AIDS cases seemed relatively low for China's 1.3 billion population, infections were rising in more and more areas.
The rapid increase in male homosexual activities, expanding sex industry and more widespread drug use in China in recent years have also contributed to the potential for further spread of the
disease.
"We may be seeing fewer infections than we have seen in earlier years, but that can change rapidly again," he warned.
Independent AIDS activists have long warned that the official estimates underestimated the rampant spread of the disease and the real number of people suffering from the disease could be 10 times higher.
But Khalid Malik, UN resident coordinator disagreed.
"The (official) numbers are estimates first of all, they (the real figures) could be a little lower, a little higher, but definitely not in the multiples."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071130/hl_afp/healthchinaunaids_071130110017
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