International Albinism Awareness Day: #NoGhosts

International Albinism Awareness day is observed today (Tuesday) across the globe with an aim to stop the brutalities against people with albinism. Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in little or no pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes.

In several cultures around the world, and particularly in many African countries, people with albinism live in constant fear of murder.

Hundreds of albinos have been brutally murdered and mutilated in African countries in the past decades. Local superstitions claim their body parts can bring luck and prosperity. Another widespread rumour is that albinos are evil spirits.

The country with the highest percentage of albinos is believed to be Tanzania. In 2013, an independent documentary called “In the Shadow of the Sun” was released. The film by director Harry Freeland tells the story of Josephat Torner from Tanzania, who has albinism. Together, they spent years travelling around Tanzania to spread information about the widely misunderstood disorder.

The documentary, along with several other films, has been a powerful tool in the fight against persecution of people with albinism.

International Albinism Awareness Day was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 18, 2014.

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The resolution “encourages UN Member States to continue their efforts to protect and preserve the rights of persons with albinism to life, dignity and security, as well as their right not to be subject to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to continue their efforts to ensure equal access for persons with albinism to employment, education, justice and the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.”

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World Malaria Day 2017 : Ending Malaria For Good

When is Malaria Day 2017?

Malaria Day is every year on April 25.

What is the date all about?

World Malaria Day is all about celebrating the successes there have been in the drive to eradicate malaria from the world as well as raising awareness of the disease and its prevention.

What is this year’s theme?

This year the World Health Organisation (WHO) has made ‘ending malaria for good’ its theme for World Malaria Day 2017.

For its theme WHO is demonstration prevention methods including using nets and spraying insecticide indoors.

What is malaria?

Malaria, Life Cycle of the Malaria Parasite

Malaria, Life Cycle of the Malaria Parasite

A tropical disease which is spread by infected female anopheles mosquitoes. It only takes one bite from the insects to get the bug.

Around 400,000 die from the disease every year. Worldwide there are around 212 million cases.

Tackling malaria is improving with a 29% drop in mortality rates between 2010 and 2015 and a 21% global decrease in cases.

What are the symptoms?

They are similar to flu and include a high temperature, sweats and chills, muscle pains and headaches. They usually appear 10-15 days after being bitten.

But depending on the type of parasite you are infected with, it can take a year for symptoms to show.

In tropical regions of the world, such as areas of Africa and Asia, Central and South America as well as parts of the Middle East and Far East.

Malaria caused by the falciparum parasite is the most serious, and can lead to breathing problems, liver failure, coma and eventual death.

Who is most at risk?

In areas with high malaria concentration, pregnant women and children are most at risk of contracting the disease.

In 2015, more than two thirds of deaths (70%) from malaria were of children under the age of five, according to WHO.

How do you prevent it?

Avoid being bitten as much as possible using nets over places of sleep, avoiding areas with lots of mosquitos such as watering holes, using insecticide and bugs spray and taking anti-malarial tablets.

 

World Water Day – 22 March

What is World Water Day?

World Water Day is part of a global mission to get safer water for all.

It’s a day for people to learn, get involved and take action.

This is the 24th year, and it’s organised by UN Water in collaboration with governments and partners.

The United Nations organisation sets a theme each year.

What is the theme for 2017?

This year World Water Day’s theme is wastewater.

What’s that?

Wastewater is water that has been used.

This includes water from homes, businesses, industries and institutions.

The term covers everything from sewage and bathwater to washing up water.

This year’s campaign, ‘Why waste water?’, is about reducing and reusing wastewater.

How can I waste less water?

UN Water suggests taking these simple steps –

1. Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth

2. Turn off the tap while washing up or scrubbing vegetables.

3. Put rubbish, oils, chemicals and food in the bin, not down the drain. The dirtier your wastewater, the more energy and money it costs to treat it.

4. Collect used water from your kitchen sink or bath and use it to water your plants

5. You cans also collect and use this water to wash your bike or car.

Credit : www.metro.co.uk

International Women’s Day 2017: Five things you need to know about this year’s celebration

Wednesday 8 March is International Women’s Day, an event held around the world to commemorate the struggle for women’s rights.

Here are five facts about the day:

1. Originally called International Working Women’s Day, it was first celebrated on February 28, 1909, in New York in remembrance of a 1908 strike of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union when 15,000 workers, including many immigrants, marched through the city’s lower east side to demand social and political rights.

2. The first modern International Women’s Day was held in 1914, five years after its inception, on March 8. The day was chosen because it was a Sunday, which the majority of women would have off work allowing them to participate in marches and other events, and has been celebrated on that date ever since.

3. The day was declared a national holiday in the Soviet Union in 1917, and was predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted by the UN in 1977. Since 1996, the UN has assigned a theme to every IWD. This year’s theme is “Be bold for change”.

4. According to the UN, it is “a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.”

5.  The day is now an official holiday in several countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, Vietnam and Zambia and for women only in countries including China, Madagascar and Nepal.