Geneology International

Author: Linda Rider

  • Christmas Party In Norway May Have Been Omicron Superspreader

    Christmas Party In Norway May Have Been Omicron Superspreader

    Inspite of security safety measures, stories say a new gala held by a business in Norway may well have brought on the greatest omicron covid outbreak outside its source place in South Africa. Reports detail omicron spreading globally, alongside other surges and vaccination initiatives.


    Fox Information:
    Norway Xmas Bash May Have Sparked Biggest Omicron Variant Outbreak Outdoors Of South Africa

    A current Norwegian omicron outbreak at a Xmas bash supplies early anecdotal proof on how the variants spreads in between vaccinated individuals and the severity of its symptoms, in accordance to a latest report. A renewable electrical power business in Norway produced sure all vital basic safety precautions have been applied in advance of web hosting their yearly vacation occasion, such as only inviting vaccinated staff members and demanding rapid tests the day prior the bash, according to Stian Tvede Karlsen, a organization spokesman. (Sudhakar, 12/5)


    AP:
    United kingdom Tightens Travel Testing Policies Amid Omicron Concerns 

    Britain’s government tightened vacation constraints Saturday amid considerations about the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, saying all vacationers arriving in England will want to just take a COVID-19 check ahead of they board their flight. Health Secretary Sajid Javid stated the new principles will use from 4 a.m. London time Tuesday. “In light of the most new info, we are taking additional motion to slow the incursion of the omicron variant,” he reported in a tweet. (12/4)


    The New York Moments:
    Britain And Denmark Report A Increase In Identified Omicron Instances

    Britain and Denmark every documented a increase in verified coronavirus circumstances of the new Omicron variant on Sunday as countries with robust testing uncover a lot more known scenarios of the variant in their backyards. There ended up 86 new cases of the Omicron variant, Britain’s wellbeing stability company explained on Sunday, bringing the overall amount of circumstances in the country to 246 — virtually double the full amount of instances noted on Friday. In Denmark, nearby overall health authorities verified there were 183 recognized situations of the variant, additional than triple the whole range of suspected circumstances noted on Friday, and named them “worrying.” (Kwai and Erdbrink, 12/5)


    Bloomberg:
    Australia Confirms Community Transmission Of Omicron Variant

    Five individuals in Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, have contracted the omicron variant of the coronavirus regionally, New South Wales health and fitness authorities confirmed. The instances are joined to two schools and a climbing gym in Sydney’s western suburbs, which may perhaps also be the supply of a confirmed omicron an infection in the Australian Funds Territory, NSW Main Wellness Officer Kerry Chant reported Sunday. Urgent genome screening is underway for a variety of other circumstances joined to the venues and should really be readily available in coming days, she claimed in a movie update. (Burgess, 12/5)


    Reuters:
    Omicron Spreads In India, Total Vaccination In Aim

    Conditions of the Omicron coronavirus variant have risen to 21 in India about the weekend and people need to action up for vaccination, officials explained on Monday. The western point out of Rajasthan noted the most selection of Omicron conditions with nine, followed by eight in Maharashtra, two in Karnataka and 1 every single in Gujarat and the money New Delhi. (Das, 12/6)

    In additional world wide covid news —


    The Washington Put up:
    Antwerp Zoo Hippos Test Beneficial For Covid-19 In To start with Known Cases 

    Two hippos in Belgium that vets noticed were “expelling snot” have been placed in quarantine just after screening good for the coronavirus, the Antwerp zoo reported, in what appears to be the first recognised scenario of covid-19 amid the species. It continues to be unclear how hippopotamuses Imani, 14, and Hermien, 41, contracted the virus, but the pair surface to be carrying out well and have no indications other than their runny, sticky noses. (Hassan, 12/5)


    NPR:
    Philippines Vaccinates 7.6 Million In 3 Days — With More To Arrive

    The Philippine governing administration, beset by rates of incompetence and corruption in its managing of the pandemic, has mounted a vaccination marketing campaign that any of its Southeast Asian neighbors could envy. About the training course of just a few days this week the nation vaccinated 7.6 million people ages 12 and above. 34.53{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the nation is now completely vaccinated. Conky Quizon, discipline epidemiologist and member of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, identified as it “a huge, huge deal” and put the unprecedented figures down to uncomplicated accessibility to the vaccines — there had been 8,000 facilities established up across the Philippines — and various unique vaccines on provide, such as Pfizer, Moderna and China’s Sinovax. (McCarthy, 12/3)


    Bloomberg:
    Scholz Names Harvard Health care Specialist To Oversee Pandemic Coverage

    Germany’s incoming chancellor, Olaf Scholz, named a substantial-profile wellbeing expert who has taught at the Harvard Faculty of General public Health to deal with a brutal surge in Covid-19 bacterial infections. The Social Democrats’ Karl Lauterbach, a properly trained epidemiologist who has turn out to be a community figure in the course of the pandemic, will be wellness minister. Scholz on Monday named the 7 ministers from the SPD who will be in the new governing administration, which includes Christine Lambrecht as Germany’s 3rd-consecutive woman protection minister and a person of four ladies in the cupboard. Hubertus Heil will retain his write-up as labor minister. (Donahue, 12/6)

    In news from Africa —


    Reuters:
    COVID Pictures Are Ultimately Arriving, But Africa Are not able to Get Them All Into Arms 

    When a group arrived at the Sekenani health and fitness clinic in rural Kenya for their COVID-19 vaccines lately, personnel advised them there were being no doses remaining and that they ought to appear back soon. For some, it meant a very long squandered journey on foot and a working day absent from their cattle herds. However Narok county, where the clinic is situated, was not small of vaccines practically 14,000 doses had been sitting down in a fridge in the nearest town, 115 km away. A combine-up with county officials meant Sekenani did not get plenty of, two health employees mentioned. (Fick and Mcallister, 12/6)


    Reuters:
    ‘Extreme’ Vaccine Discrimination Dangers Leaving Africa Powering – Report 

    Africa has minimal possibility of conquering the COVID-19 pandemic unless 70{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of its population is vaccinated by finish-2022, yet “extreme vaccine discrimination” is leaving the continent guiding, a report published on Monday mentioned. The discovery of the Omicron variant in southern Africa has heightened promises that minimal inoculation charges can stimulate viral mutations, which can then unfold to countries where prices are considerably higher. (Wilkes, 12/5)

    And file this 1 under “What had been they considering?” —


    AP:
    Italian Dentist Provides Faux Arm For Vaccine To Get Pass

    A dentist in Italy faces achievable felony expenses soon after attempting to receive a coronavirus vaccine in a faux arm made of silicone. A nurse in the northern town of Biella, Filippa Bua, said she could inform proper absent that anything was off when a guy presented the phony limb for a shot on Thursday. “When I uncovered the arm, I felt skin that was chilly and gummy, and the colour was way too mild,’’ Bua told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. She reported she in the beginning considered the 57-yr-aged male was an amputee and experienced mistakenly presented the improper arm. She lifted his shirt and observed a silicone arm. (12/4)


    This is portion of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of wellbeing plan coverage from important information organizations.Signal up for an e-mail membership.

  • Local health care systems provide update on compliance with NYS COVID-19 vaccine mandate

    Local health care systems provide update on compliance with NYS COVID-19 vaccine mandate

    BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Regional wellbeing treatment units have furnished an update on compliance with the New York State COVID-19 vaccine mandate for well being care employees.

    In August, previous New York Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all health treatment workers in the condition.

    In early October, a federal choose dominated the condition experienced to make it possible for wellbeing care staff to find exemptions as a lawsuit challenging the necessity proceeded in court docket.

    In late Oct, a federal appeals panel upheld the state’s vaccine mandate for overall health treatment workers and reversed the federal judge’s choice.

    In November, the New York State Section of Well being despatched a letter to well being care suppliers throughout the state that explained starting November 22, those who ended up previously granted religious exemptions had been necessary to have documentation of a very first dose COVID-19 vaccination or a valid health-related exemption.

    Monday evening, Catholic Wellness and Kaleida Wellbeing provided updates on compliance with the mandate.

    Catholic Wellbeing said about 185 associates, or less than 2{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the workforce, stay unvaccinated.

    “Any unvaccinated Catholic Wellness associate coated underneath the vaccine mandate who has not obtained a health-related exemption or deferral, is remaining terminated based on the needs of the condition mandate,” a launch says.

    We carried out an aggressive training marketing campaign, which include having our infectious disease specialists and other vaccine advocates go device-to-unit and office-to-section to deal with any questions or fears our personnel experienced about the COVID-19 vaccine. Dozens of men and women were being vaccinated in the previous week by yourself, and we are grateful to all those who stepped up to shield by themselves and our patients and extended-phrase care inhabitants.

    – William Pryor, Catholic Wellness Executive Vice President & Main Administrative Officer

    Kaleida Health and fitness explained it terminated 100 workers Monday who ended up earlier granted a spiritual exemption and selected not to get an initial vaccination dose by the NYS deadline of December 5. Combined with the November deadline, Kaleida Wellness stated it has terminated around 200 personnel in full because of to the mandate.

    “Kaleida Health intends to continue being open and provide entry to solutions throughout the business. We continue to increase means and submit positions so that we can go on to be there for the group,” a release claims.

    Owing to the reduction in workforce which led to a reduction of staffed beds, and a rise in COVID-19 circumstances, Kaleida Overall health is suspending non-necessary elective inpatient surgeries at Buffalo Standard Healthcare Middle and Millard Fillmore Suburban Healthcare facility.

    We keep on to consult with our doctor leadership as well as surgical leadership teams to handle the quantity of elective inpatient surgeries on a each day basis that demand an right away remain. This will guarantee that, as a well being technique, we are appropriately controlling affected individual treatment and local community need amid this current surge in COVID-19 scenarios.

    – Dr. Michael Mineo, main clinical officer for Buffalo Basic Healthcare Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Healthcare facility

    7 Eyewitness News reached out to ECMC for remark on compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, we have not listened to back. In September, ECMC declared it put around 7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of its full workforce on unpaid depart as a outcome of the vaccine mandate.

  • Is your satnav fit for purpose? Traffic Commissioners offers advice on satnav use in commercial vehicles

    Is your satnav fit for purpose? Traffic Commissioners offers advice on satnav use in commercial vehicles

    highway basic safety

    Barbour EHS

    The Site visitors Commissioners for Fantastic Britain has made available guidance for satnav people after there had been 1,624 incidences on the Community Rail infrastructure by yourself in 2020/21.

    Is your satnav fit for purpose? Traffic Commissioners offers advice on satnav use in commercial vehiclesOver the previous two many years, there has been an improve in incidences of business autos working with inappropriate routes, together with not complying with excess weight limits, which results in harm to roads, congestion and threats the basic safety of other street buyers. 

    In addition to the perhaps catastrophic street security concerns, there are major economical implications to these incidences, with the influence on drivers and operators also currently being most likely sizeable. Adhering to a bridge strike in St. Helens, the Website traffic Commissioner held a public inquiry and concluded that the principal lead to of the incident was the driver’s failure to have out his obligations in a professional manner. His HGV driver’s licence was revoked, and he was disqualified from keeping an HGV licence for 6 months. 

    However, the Targeted visitors Commissioner also observed that the operator could have finished much more to stop the incident and the operator located their licence permanently curtailed. 

    One particular of the reasons for these incidences taking place is inadequate route organizing and the reliance on inappropriate satnav devices, which deficiency professional performance to warn the driver of all the important details on routes. Even though satnav technological know-how can be employed proficiently and successfully, the gadgets utilized should be in good shape for a industrial purpose. Very good satnav units will consistently be updated with up-to-day data on the street network, such as height limitations. 

    Obtaining ideal satnav devices is not a substitute for successful route preparing, but it may help the driver to keep away from some of these incidences, primarily when routes alter in the course of a journey. 

    The traffic commissioners expects operators and drivers to take care of this difficulty very seriously and acquire accountability. Any failure to do so could direct to an operator or driver acquiring to appear ahead of a website traffic commissioner.

    Is your satnav fit for purpose?

    To minimise the hazard of very poor highway alternatives, the suggestions is to usually:

    • Make positive your satnav is a professional car satnav, not a person built for a car or truck, setting up a route on a system that thinks you are driving a car or truck has way too a lot of risks, make confident your product is up to date, roads and maps are continuously switching – it is your duty to program accurately
    • Make absolutely sure that if satnavs are furnished to drivers, they are experienced to use them and, importantly, the right checks and processes are in place to assure they do! They should know how to set the alarm if they operate shut to an impediment
    • Have a satnav plan inside of your operation, set principles for use of private satnavs and make certain they are in shape for objective
    • Really do not believe you know the constraints on a road, check out initial 
    • Double verify on an up-to-date map, you could use Google Street Views to get a sight of an unfamiliar route or junction, such as supply or select up points, operators ought to create no matter whether there are any localised problems that impression on routes and incorporate this in shopper information and facts notes for motorists
    • Know your motor vehicle height, width and body weight, and make certain your motorists do – give peak conversion charts
    • Even when your auto is ‘not in service’ your route need to still be planned, having unsuitable shortcuts back to the depot or when going for upkeep is a danger. 

    For much more information on how to figure out no matter if your satnav is healthy for function, click on below. 

    With staff members who travel for enterprise more likely to be killed at function than deep sea divers or coal miners, driver basic safety is a crucial small business thing to consider.

    Down load this Book from Driving for Greater Company and SHP to include:

    • The danger of the roads
    • Comparing road basic safety in the UK to the rest of Europe
    • Reducing possibility: Steering clear of incidents
    • Street security finest observe
    • What is fleet chance?
    • Managing get the job done-linked highway safety.
    Driver Safety eBook cover

    Related Topics

    December 7, 2021
  • 3 tips to improve 911, EMS response to mental health crisis

    3 tips to improve 911, EMS response to mental health crisis

    Psychological wellbeing concerns are major of mind for a lot of people today in the region appropriate now. According to a single 2021 study report carried out by Rave Mobile Protection, 94{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of respondents are worried about the condition of psychological health in the United States, and 66{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of individuals are a lot more involved now than they were being one year back – and that’s not shocking dependent on the final impression of the pandemic.

    As gatherings are rescheduled, unexpected emergency responders, which include EMS departments, have to think tough about how to serve their communities well throughout crises, in particular those people involving people today with mental overall health challenges.

    This is a tricky problem due to the fact a lot of group customers don’t experience self-confident in local public security officers to handle these sorts of emergencies proficiently. Rave’s survey found that 86{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of survey respondents “completely or somewhat concur that people tasked with public safety need to have to make enhancements to superior react to psychological wellbeing crises.”

    Emergency responders need specialized training and education for dealing with mental health incidents with a focus on de-escalation, while still ensuring the safety of the public and responding agencies.

    Emergency responders will need specialised instruction and training for working with mental wellness incidents with a emphasis on de-escalation, while continue to ensuring the safety of the public and responding organizations. (impression delivered by CentralSquare Systems)

    So, what’s the answer?

    Emergency responders require specialized training and education and learning for dealing with mental overall health incidents with a aim on de-escalation, though however making certain the protection of the general public and responding businesses. This variety of balance can be pretty difficult, particularly in superior tension and quickly-going circumstances. Pros who could be included in addressing these scenarios – from paramedics to dispatchers – will have to know what to do and who to get hold of under a wide variety of conditions. Additionally, crisis response groups need to collaborate with local community users to engage any time correct and share info that aids make sure community basic safety officers can be successful.

    To that end, here are 3 guidelines to support you develop a far more strong emergency reaction ecosystem for handling psychological health and fitness crises in your communities.

    1. Provide context for situational recognition to responders

    Having responsible and actionable info is often crucial in emergencies. In a lot of cases, reaction units are not informed of important specifics when a psychological wellness crisis surfaces, making confusion and incorporating complexity to chaotic conditions. An incomplete image of the unexpected emergency can outcome in wasted time, duplicative attempts and weak selections that have an effect on people’s lives. 

    Initially responders, like 911 dispatchers, and other community safety officers need to collaborate throughout departmental lines and share critical information and facts that can positively impact an occasion. Facts siloes only make everyone’s employment more hard, and can delay treatment for individuals who genuinely will need it or, even worse, guide to a mishandled condition.

    To share a actual-globe illustration of successful coordination, imagine an crisis circumstance involving anyone with autism who doesn’t react nicely to verbal commands who tends to be frightened all over lights and sirens. Possessing noticed this play out throughout the state many moments, we know that there are a few of ways these encounters are inclined to go and a great deal of it depends on the details obtainable to 911 and initially responders, alongside with their specialized education for mental wellbeing activities.

    Now picture places like Virginia Beach, Denver and Seattle that have all proactively leveraged know-how to enable gather essential info from the community. In destinations like these and lots of a lot more throughout the region, 911 connect with takers and responders can be provided with critical resident details, including voluntary mental health concerns, emergency make contact with aspects, pertinent remedies and substantially extra. Armed with this more data, 911 can dispatch those people properly trained in de-escalation methods that deal with the exclusive troubles confronted by individuals with behavioral health and fitness and developmental concerns that may well impression a resident’s desires or the crisis reaction. Instead than send out a law enforcement officer with confined psychological wellness experience, the dispatcher could coordinate with other departments to uncover personnel (e.g., mental health counselors) who are better positioned to relaxed the personal and collaborate with all of the stakeholders in an structured different response process.

    Maintain this in intellect and break down details silos throughout your public safety ecosystem. Make the most of what you have by sharing it broadly, and have faith in that other teams can enhance your initiatives to retain safer communities.

    2. Proactively assemble information and facts to help in crisis reaction

    Unexpected emergency responders must feel empowered to inspire the community to share as much facts as doable ahead of a disaster happens. Most folks who get in touch with 911 in an emergency are also panicked to share all of the data that might be related. Outdoors of emergencies, even though, EMS and local regulation enforcement can inspire group customers to register information and facts voluntarily about mental overall health or even other physical overall health troubles that exist in their households.

    By notifying authorities of pre-current professional medical situations, such as mental health issues, group members give responders a head get started when addressing emergencies involving unique folks. Basic safety officers can provide in gurus who might now have a romantic relationship with the particular person in crisis and apply tailor-made de-escalation strategies.

    On top of that, reports have revealed that persons are joyful to share non-public information with crisis responders if it can be helpful in any way. Rave’s 2021 study report discovered that almost 80{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of people are “completely or really willing to offer initially responders with data on their mental wellbeing historical past or that of their loved types.”

    The takeaway: really do not hesitate to collect info proactively or ask for much more engagement from local community users. The a lot more trustworthy the information you have, the improved your conclusions will be when emergencies unfold. It’s also vital to keep in brain that local community outreach and engagement is a little something that requires to come about on a frequent basis, all 12 months spherical. 

    3. All 1st responder agencies can make a constructive effect in the community

    Safety is an ecosystem and the public’s notion and willingness to have interaction in a optimistic method with public safety is influenced by the daily engagements the community has. Irrespective of whether it be police, hearth or EMS, each and every stakeholder has an option to use their time in entrance of the general public to have interaction and make improvements to the close-to-close unexpected emergency responses. 

    Repeated end users of emergency providers are some of the greatest beginning points for engagement and amassing additional information and facts that can then be utilised in the subsequent reaction – or improved nonetheless, to stop unnecessary responses or facilitate alternate responses that might be extra ideal for the function and personal. 

    Becoming present and proactive is a lot more critical than at any time. Start implementing the methods summarized right here, and then permit your constituents know that you are getting steps to make improvements to how unexpected emergency responders method psychological wellbeing situations. A several straightforward alterations will go a lengthy way in direction of strengthening relationships with community associates and defending people who may finish up in emergency circumstances.

    Read next:

    Examine next:

    De-escalating psychological well being/substance abuse crises

    Creating a risk-free scene commences with knowing how your patient’s mental and bodily well being hook up, and in keeping away from these 5 don’ts

     

  • A Preliminary Report on Herbal Medicine Use Among Patients Hospitalize

    A Preliminary Report on Herbal Medicine Use Among Patients Hospitalize

    Introduction

    Globally, herbal medicines use has been reported as a common practice both in the prevention and treatment of diseases.1–3 This is especially common with diseases with high mortality, morbidity or those without conventional therapy that cure the disease. Previous studies in Uganda report that more than 60{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the population depended on traditional medicine before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.4 Due to the high mortality associated with the second wave of COVID-19, this practice is likely to have increased.

    Many factors have been identified as drivers of herbal medicine use. In many parts of the world, users have reported that herbal remedies are safe, effective, and are cheap.1,5 In Uganda, easy access, and cultural familiarity as well as the higher number of traditional health practitioners compared to health-care professionals are some of the common factors influencing this practice.4,6 A recent study in Uganda reported that media has increased the use of herbal medicines in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.7 However, there is limited information concerning the level of herbal medicine use among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and the reasons why they resort to this practice even with the existence of conventional supportive treatment and vaccines.

    Although some studies have reported the role of combining herbal remedies with westernized medicine in the treatment of COVID-19,8 the side effects of these remedies are not well studied. This is in addition to the wide variation in the types of herbal medicines on the market which may wrongly influence their use. Various studies have documented harmful consequences of herbal remedies including hepatotoxicity and allergies, which may be worsened by confounders such as self-medication.1,9 The continued use of herbal medicines without question may lead to long-term health consequences for both the individual and the government.

    The Uganda National Drug Policy and Authority Statute (1993) gives the National Drug Authority (NDA) a mandate to regulate herbal medicine use including approving of all manufacturers. During the pandemic, several manufacturers have hit the market with herbal medicine products, but only a few of these are approved by the NDA and little has been done to regulate their practice.10 This study, therefore, aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with herbal medicine use among hospitalized patients at the two large COVID-19 treatment units in Uganda.

    Methods

    Study Design and Setting

    An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between July and August 2021 in two large CTUs in Kampala, Uganda, namely, Mulago National Referral Hospital CTU and Namboole Stadium CTU. These are the main referral CTUs in the country with bed capacities of over 30,000 beds catering for a diverse range of patients from all over the country. The CTUs run daily, seeing both patients referred from other health facilities across the country as well as patients who are being followed up routinely.

    Study Population

    We approached all patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the two-largest CTUs in the country. Eligible participants were those confirmed to have COVID-19 and aged 18 years and above. Respondents with a known history of impaired mental capacity to provide coherent and reliable information, critically ill in the absence of a reliable caretaker were excluded.

    Sample Size Calculation

    The sample size was calculated using the Kish Leslie formula for cross-sectional studies where the estimated sample size at 95{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} confidence interval was 384 participants. To cater for non-response associated with critically ill, unable to provide information or absence of caretakers, 10{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the estimated sample size was added leading to a final sample size of 422 participants.

    Questionnaire Development

    The questionnaire was divided into three major sections: socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, tribe, religion, education level, employment status, occupation, residence), herbal medicine use assessment (prevalence, and reasons for herbal medicine use), and factors associated with herbal medicine use with both open and closed-ended questions.

    Measurements

    The questions asked were modified from the International Questionnaire to Measure Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (I-CAM-Q); which aims to comparably assess the use of CAM internationally.11

    Data Analysis and Management

    Fully completed questionnaires were extracted from KoBo Toolbox® and exported to a Microsoft Excel 2016 for cleaning and coding. The cleaned data was exported to STATA 16 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas, USA) for analysis. Numerical data were then summarized as means and standard deviations or median and range as appropriate. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and relative percentages. To assess the association between independent variables with herbal medicine use, chi-square test or Fishers’ exact test (for categorical variables) and Mann-Whitney U-test (for continuous variables) were used at bivariate analysis. All independent variables with p < 0.2 at bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression models to adjust for confounders. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Ethics

    The study was performed according to the Declaration of Helsinki, after obtaining approval from Mulago Hospital Research and Ethics Committee (Approval number MHREC 2097). Consent forms were given to respondents before the initiation of the study.

    COVID 19 Precautions

    The study was conducted following the Ministry of Health and the National COVID-19 task force guidelines of Uganda.

    Results

    Characteristics of the Participants

    The study was terminated early because of a significant reduction in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and the closure of one of the CTUs. Of the anticipated 422 participants, we recruited 108 (25.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}). Of the 108 participants, 58 (53.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) were female, with a median age of 38 (range: 20–75) years. Majority of the participants were from central Uganda (70.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 76) and were Christians (66.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 72), more than one-third attained tertiary level of education (37.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 40). More than half were employed (56.5{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 61) and were married (52.8{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 57). Forty-nine (45.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) participants had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Majority were on COVID-19 treatment (86.9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) and more than half were getting their treatment from Namboole CTU (58.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 53). Table 1 summarizes the socio-demographic characteristics of participants.

    Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Participants

    Herbal Medical Use

    Of the 108 participants, 58 (57.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) ever used herbal medicine and the majority had used herbal medicine in the past 12 months (71.9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 41). Of those that had used herbal medicines in the past 12 months, 35 (85.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) had used before a diagnosis of COVID-19, and 15 (36.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) continued to use even while on treatment for COVID-19 (Figure 1). Their doctors or nurses asked almost half of the participants about herbal medicine (49.5{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 53), and the majority reported some improvement after using herbal medicine (80.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, n = 46). Table 2 summarizes the use of herbal medicine by the participants. Of those that were using herbal medicines, efficacy, accessibility, and affordability were the frequently reported as the reasons for their use (n = 35, 60.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}), (n = 14, 24.1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) and (n = 14, 24.1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}), respectively (Figure 2A). Gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and vomiting were the most commonly reported side effects associated with the use of herbal medicines (Figure 2B).

    Table 2 Herbal Medicine Use Among the Participants

    Figure 1 Herbal medical use before and after diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last 12 months. ε represents the total number of patients who had used herbal medicines in the last 12 months before this survey.

    Figure 2 (A) Reasons for use of herbal medicines among COVID-19 patients. (B) Common side effects of herbal medicines reported.

    Table 3 summarizes factors associated with herbal medicine use among the participants at bivariate analysis. Vaccination status (p = 0.004), level of education (p = 0.002), and accessibility of the herbalists vs conventional treatment (p < 0.001). Table 4 summarizes factors associated with herbal medicine use among the participants at multivariable logistic regression: being vaccinated (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.1, 95{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} CI: 1.4–6.8, p = 0.005) and having attained a tertiary level of education (aOR: 6.2, 95{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} CI: 1.7–23.1, p = 0.006), as well as the accessibility of the herbalists (aOR: 31.2, 95{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} CI: 3.7–263.2, p = 0.002).

    Table 3 Bivariate Analysis for Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Herbal Medical Use

    Table 4 A Multivariable Logistic Regression Showing Predictors of Use of Herbal Medical Use

    Discussion

    In the current study, the prevalence of herbal medicine use was found to be 57.3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}. All participants who reported to have used herbal medicines started to use before hospital-based treatment a third of whom continued to use even after initiation of COVID-19 treatment. This finding was consistent with the results of a cross-sectional online survey among Vietnamese adults that found nearly half of the respondents to use herbal medicine for common illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.12 However, studies from Saudi Arabia report rather a higher prevalence (>90{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) of herbal medicines use in the management of COVID-19 and other conditions.1,5,13 This big difference in the prevalence could be explained by the fact that our study assessed herbal medicine use among virologically confirmed patients, unlike the Saudi Arabian study whose participants reported to have used herbs for boosting their immunity and to improve general health and not to cure infection.13 However, a finding of herbal medicine use of more than half in our study is concerning given limited evidence supporting efficacy and safety of herbal medicines. In fact, previous studies in Uganda assessing herbal medicine use have reported a comparatively high prevalence.6,14,15 Easy access, affordability, cultural familiarity, and the unfavorable doctor–patient ratio in Uganda are the major factors leading to increased herbal medicine use.4

    Being vaccinated, having attained a tertiary level of education, as well as the accessibility of the herbalists were found to be significantly associated with herbal medicines in this study. This finding corroborates with the results of a study conducted in Vietnam which reported higher levels of income, urban dwellers, and higher levels of education to be more likely to use herbal medicines in the management of COVID-19.12 Although studies from other countries have reported a predilection of females towards herbal medicine use,12,16 this was not the case in our study. Our study revealed that participants who were vaccinated against COVID-19 continued to use herbal medicine for prevention and treatment. Notably, still, our participants believed that herbal medicines were safe and effective corroborating findings reported by Nguyen et al, in which nearly 70{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of participants considered herbal medicines safe and effective.12 With limited research evidencing the efficacy, mode of action, and toxicity profiles of the common herbal medicines on market, the population is at great risk of drug-herbal medicine interactions, drug resistance, and unexplained adverse reactions. Efforts should be directed towards further studies to understand the role of herbal remedies in patient management and public awareness to guide their utilization.

    To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in sub-Saharan Africa to assess the use of herbal medicine among COVID 19 patients hospitalized in treatment centers. Previous studies on herbal medicine use in Uganda and other sub-Saharan countries have focused on populations with HIV, hepatitis, and hypertension and there is a paucity of literature on the prevalence and rationale of herbal medicine use among patients with COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa.17,18 Findings from this study provide documented evidence on herbal medicine use among the population of COVID-19 patients, which will be used to promote public awareness, and knowledge of proper use of herbal therapies and contribute to the National Drug Authority’s objective to regulate the use of herbal medicine in Uganda. This information can also be used to promote activities to bring about improved communication between patients and health workers about herbal medicine use.

    Limitations

    Several limitations were taken into consideration as we interpreted these results. First, the study employed a non-random sample. Participation in the study was voluntary and no information was available about the characteristics of those who did not participate. Secondly, the cross-sectional design of our study does not allow for a causal interpretation of the results. Thirdly, the CTUs employed were geographically situated in town and this could have limited access to populations in rural areas who could have reflected different study findings. However, despite these limitations, this is the first study in Uganda assessing the prevalence of herbal medicine use and its associated factors among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

    Conclusion

    The use of herbal medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic is a widespread practice among the general population in Uganda amidst unpublished evidence of their safety and efficacy. Continuous public health awareness is suggested on the different natural remedies and further studies on the role of herbal medicine in patient management are recommended.

    Data Sharing Statement

    The data used to support the results of the research are available from the corresponding author upon request.

    Acknowledgments

    The authors would like to acknowledge administrative support from Mulago National Referral hospital, Namboole COVID-19 Treatment Unit, and Kiruddu Referral Hospital.

    Author Contributions

    All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, agreed to submit to the current journal, gave final approval to the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

    Funding

    Research reported in this publication was supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health, US Department of State’s Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy (S/GAC), and President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) under Award Number 1R25TW011213. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

    Disclosure

    The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest for this work.

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  • There are no ‘bad’ foods, says a new guide to heart-healthy eating

    There are no ‘bad’ foods, says a new guide to heart-healthy eating

    There are no “good” foodstuff and “bad” meals. Fairly, it is your in general nutritional sample that issues most when it comes to healthful taking in.

    That’s the principal concept from the American Coronary heart Association in its most current nutrition rules to boost the hearts and wellness of Individuals of all ages and lifestyle instances.

    The specialists who wrote the tips recognise that individuals do not take in nutrition or unique components. They eat food items, and most individuals want to take pleasure in the meals they eat whilst remaining inside of their budgets and, the association hopes, without the need of injuring their bodies.

    Rather than urging people today to skip pasta as it’s a refined carbohydrate, a better message may be to explain to persons to try to eat it the common Italian way

    This does not suggest you want to fully steer clear of Big Macs, Cokes and French fries, but it does suggest you should really not routinely indulge in this sort of fare if you want to stay nutritious.

    Dr Robert H Eckel, a former president of the American Coronary heart Association, and an endocrinologist and lipid expert at the College of Colorado Denver, tells me he “occasionally” indulges in foodstuff exterior a wholesome nutritional pattern. The operative word right here, however, is “occasionally”.

    Dr Neil J Stone, a preventive cardiologist at the Feinberg Faculty of Medicine at Northwestern University, who praised the thoughtfulness and expertise of the guidelines committee, reported in an interview, “There’s no these kinds of detail as 1 diet regime that fits all, but there are ideas to kind the basis of diets that in good shape everyone.”

    He added: “The aim is to make excellent nutrition attainable for all. The more healthy we can continue to keep everyone in this region, the reduced our health and fitness expenditures will be.”

    In the 15 many years because the heart association last issued dietary guidelines to lessen the possibility of cardiovascular disease, pretty much nothing has modified for the superior in the US. The regular American food plan has remained hugely processed. People in america take in also a lot of extra sugars, artery-clogging fats, and refined starches, as perfectly as as well significantly purple meat and salt, and really don’t consume ample nutrient-prosperous vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and whole grains that can enable prevent heart disorder, diabetes and cancer.

    But rather than turn out to be discouraged, the association made a decision to try a distinct method. For as well long, nutrition guidance has been extremely targeted on personal vitamins and minerals and ingredients, Alice H Lichtenstein, the guidelines’ main creator, tells me, and it has not been centered adequate on general dietary styles that can greatest match people’s lives and budgets.

    So as a substitute of a laundry checklist of “thou shalt not eats”, Dr Lichtenstein suggests, the association’s committee on nourishment and cardiovascular sickness chose to encourage heart-balanced dietary styles that could accommodate a large range of tastes and having patterns. In staying away from “no nos” and dietary revolutions, the new pointers can foster gradual evolutionary adjustments intended to very last a lifetime.

    Selecting plant-based proteins not only has health price for individuals but can assist to foster a much healthier world

    The committee recognised that for men and women to undertake and adhere to a wholesome nutritional pattern, it should accommodate individual likes and dislikes, ethnic and cultural methods, and everyday living conditions, and it need to take into consideration whether most foods are eaten at household or on the go.

    For instance, alternatively than urging persons to skip pasta mainly because it’s a refined carbohydrate, a additional successful information could be to inform folks to take in it the classic Italian way, as a modest 1st-course portion. Or, if pasta is your principal program, select a pasta merchandise produced from an unrefined carbohydrate like whole wheat, brown rice or lentils.

    “We’re speaking about lifelong adjustments that include personalized tastes, culinary traditions and what is offered wherever men and women store and eat,” suggests Dr Lichtenstein, a professor of nourishment science and plan at the Friedman College at Tufts University. “The tips is evidence-based and applies to all the things individuals consume irrespective of where the meals is procured, organized and eaten.”

    The guidelines’ first principle is to modify one’s “energy ingestion and expenditure” to “achieve and maintain a healthier physique weight”, a advice that may possibly be simpler to comply with with the future two rules: try to eat lots of fruits and greens, and decide on foodstuff produced primarily with complete grains somewhat than refined grains. If price or availability is an issue, as is the situation in lots of of the US’s food items deserts in which contemporary generate is scarce, Dr Lichtenstein suggests keeping baggage of frozen fruits and vegetables on hand to reduce waste, include advantage and conserve funds.

    Legumes are among the protein choices recommended by the American Heart Association. Photograph: Getty Images
    Legumes are amid the protein selections recommended by the American Heart Association. Photograph: Getty Images

    Some wholesome protein options that the committee suggested incorporated fish and seafood (though not breaded and fried), legumes and nuts, and small-excess fat or body fat-totally free dairy items. If meat is wished-for, opt for lean cuts and refrain from processed meats like sausages, warm canines and deli meats that are large in salt and saturated unwanted fat.

    The committee’s tips on protein foodstuff, published during the current local climate talks in Glasgow, was very well timed. Picking out plant-centered proteins over animal resources of protein not only has health and fitness value for individuals but can support to foster a more healthy earth.

    Gurus have lengthy recognised that animal solutions like beef, lamb, pork and veal have a disproportionately unfavorable impression on the atmosphere. Increasing animals calls for additional drinking water and land and generates extra greenhouse gases than escalating protein-wealthy crops does.

    “This is a win-get for men and women and our atmosphere,” Dr Lichtenstein states. Having said that, she cautions, if a plant-based diet is overloaded with refined carbs and sugars, it will raise the danger of type 2 diabetes and heart sickness. And she discourages relying on well-liked plant-centered meat options that are extremely-processed and normally significant in sodium, harmful fats and calories, and that “may not be ecologically audio to produce”.

    To defend both equally the environment and human overall health, the committee encouraged shifting one’s diet absent from tropical oils – coconut, palm and palm kernel – as properly as animal fats (butter and lard) and partially hydrogenated fat. Instead, use liquid plant oils like corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, canola, nut and olive. They have been revealed to decreased the hazard of cardiovascular disease by about 30 for every cent, an effect equivalent to getting a statin drug.

    A healthful nutritional pattern should get started preconception, not after another person has a coronary heart assault

    As for beverages, the committee endorsed the current US countrywide dietary guideline to avoid beverages with extra sugars (together with honey and concentrated fruit juice). If you never now consume liquor, the committee advised against starting off for those who do consume, the suggestions is to restrict intake to 1 to two drinks a day.

    All advised, the nutritional styles that the committee outlined can go significantly over and above lowering the hazard of cardiovascular disorders like coronary heart attacks and strokes. They can also shield versus sort 2 diabetes and a decrease of kidney functionality, and maybe even support foster much better cognitive abilities and a slower price of age-connected cognitive decrease.

    The previously in daily life a wholesome dietary sample starts, the superior, Dr Lichtenstein suggests. “It need to get started preconception, not following another person has a coronary heart assault, and [be] bolstered by way of diet education and learning in faculty . . .”

    And through annual check-ups, Dr Eckel suggests, most important care physicians ought to commit three to five minutes of the check out to a life-style job interview, asking sufferers how many servings of fruits, vegetables and entire grains they consume and irrespective of whether they examine nourishment labels. – This report at first appeared in The New York Situations