Public Health Wednesdays (PHW)- Africa & Asia Health Check

WHO WEEKLY REPORT: AFRICA

“This feel good R & B jam by the elements goes out to: Namibia, Botswana, Swaiziland, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria and Eritrea for no ongoing events.”

— Water & Cassava

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AFRICA

“There is a conscious effort here not to touch on issues that occur in or around the United States. However, the United States is a super power state that touches, “influences” all that is on this blue ball we call home. So, time to time, I will have to touch on U.S Foreign Policy, especially with conversations that include South Korea and the continent of Africa. ”

— Behind Water & Cassava

This so called global gag rule has been ongoing, since President Ronald Reagan. It is just with Trump, as with policy and law, it was upgraded.

A loss of over $8 billion in aid will be felt globally and services that are offered from this funding includes: HIV, Malaria, Cervical Cancer, TB, Family Planning, and a host of comprehensives health care needs. Groups that accept funding must stop offering abortion services even if it is legal.

I should point out here that every woman that goes in for services is not getting an abortion. I am not so sure the concern on a uterus and sets of ovaries that are not yours. This fixation on genital parts and reproductive organs and never the proactive health on the organs.

Research on gynecological diseases and disorders??? Sanitary napkins that do not include nail polish remover?? Condom use and research for women?? There are a host of other issues but moving along…….

Comprehensive health care for women includes full family planning services and that includes abortion services. It is ironic, the current administration views killing children in West Asia and Africa making “America Great” again. A fetus gets more sympathy and adoration that its final stage of development.  

Unfortunately, or (Fortunately) the States is the largest donor to all International Reproductive Health Efforts. African Countries have continuously not placed public health on the top list of development. They depend on Medical Diplomacy to take care of their own citizens. The U.S cannot be forced to give aid. The current administration is applying realism to all interactions with other states. What happens to America if some girl in Mozambique or Kenya lacks access to condoms, pills, well woman visits or abortion services? …….

“Therefore, you do not depend or pray to which colonized you. You will and always stay a slave.”

— Biko and 'dem tried to warn you...

The Trump administration has argued that forcing America to give aid that includes abortion services is Western Cultural Imperialism. With all 54 countries that make up the continent of Africa, abortion was only learned from westerners. I appreciate the insult inside the insult.

“…. Cultural Imperialism for Medical Aid now you say? My goodness, what do you call constantly raping the land of all resources, putting in “applicable heads of state”, Ah yes! Stealing people??? Could you please leave all together and return raw materials as you leave?....”

— Everyone below the Equator

Which African Countries will be affected?

Check out the map below.

EBOLA & CORRUPTION

Apparently all three countires lost over $6 million due to corruption during the Ebola epidemic. 

AIR POLLUTION AND AFRICA

“Air pollution may kill more Africans than HIV/AIDS”

— Shut the Front Door, No way!!! Who the Hell?? What..

WHAT YOU ARE TOLD ABOUT BIO MASS

ASIA

THAILAND

We touched on this briefly last PHW, but there is a drug resistant form of Malaria that has developed from Cambodia and is spreading to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. How is Thailand dealing?

CHINA

Uyghurs: Muslim Minority

China is offering free health care that includes wrap around services for a minority group in China known as the Uyghurs. With the disguise of using applied public health, China is collecting and storing DNA samples that includes biometric data to keep track of the Ugyhurs population.

OUR PINK NEWS IN ASIA- QUEER RIGHTS IN ASIA

JAPAN

ARE YOU OVER 60? MOVE TO JAPAN

Once again, Japan is the best country in Asia for older people to live. If you stay or have visited Japan, this is not surprising at all. I do still see a need for more interactive programs that target the senior population.

KAROSHI & MENTAL HEALTH IN JAPAN

Japan is notorious for incredible working hours that care less of your mental health and more on your dedication to get it done. Even if it means this will kill you, that form of death is known as Karoshi. Workers work 80+ hours over time a month, I am familiar with this kind of work hours. I had a lot of interaction with Texas State Troopers, Houston Police, and Clearlake Police, as I slept on the side of the freeway in my car from one case to the next case. 

I recall making it to a gas station and telling myself if I would just crash for 15 minutes. That ended up to be 1 hour with a police officer banging on my window, asking about my social welfare. After seeing my work ID, he simply said “This job will kill y’all”. I feel the pain and exhaustion of the video below.

A Japanese phenomenon known as "Karoshi," which means "death from overwork," is affecting many young men and women in Japan. Almost 2,000 people in the country committed suicide for reasons related to their job in 2016. Lucy Craft reports from Tokyo.

But it appears a change is coming for Japan…

SOUTH KOREA

ASSISTANCE TO BANGLADESH

South Korea will donate $500,000 to UNFPA Bangladesh to help wth women and girls affected by the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

PILLS,PILLS, PILLS

“Africa Countries,
Do you hear what Kimchi Land knows???
Do you hear what Kimchi Land sings???
South Korea will be investing a bit over $ 3 Billion in their pharmaceutical and health care industries”

— Do you Hear What I Hear with a Twist?

Sister Whitney to all....

MENTAL HEALTH in south korea- ‎한,정

There is room for intersectionality in discussions of mental health. However, the gravity and complexes with mental health surrounding South Korea is heartbreaking and complexing. I am a product of Africa and the diaspora and I appreciate minding my space with some topics.
I can only give my opinions and thought on this issue from my professional and academic background. However even in critiquing the issue of mental health, I am coming from the lenses of the ‘Asian Diaspora”. This is not sufficient, I think to truly critique the issue however as an applied public health professional, I shall try with framework.

South Korea has a unique psychology (Han,  ‎한) that shapes the social dynamics of the society. These pressures of “making it” might be responsible for why less than 48 hours ago, the leader of the Korean pop group SHINee died by suicide.

South Korea is one of the most advanced countries on earth but sadly the stigma behind mental health puts the country on the list of countries that do the least for mental health. There is also the case of Jeong ( 정) that requires you to exercise sympathy and empathy, which is why the lack of care and efforts towards mental health is perplexing.

Until next PHW

Public Health Wednesdays(PHW): The F* Word, African Sexual Liberties & "Medical Diplomacy"

THE THREE  F WORDS IN GLOBAL HEALTH
 

“Superpower & Great Power States maintain a hold on Africa with the three F words: Food, Foreign Aid and F&*%$#@”

— Water & Cassava

...ONLY SEX POSITIVITY HERE... 

Learn the basics on how to use a male condom correctly. Male condoms are inexpensive, easy to find, not hard to use (a little instruction never hurts, though!) and really, really effective against HIV, chlamydia and a host of other sexually transmitted infections when used consistently and correctly.

FC2 female condom Animation - English

For any questions, concerns on safe sex including testing, go here:

..African queeer resources on sexual health

....AFRICAN QUEER FACES AND THIER NARRATIVES 

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MEDICAL DIPLOMACY

The violated and invaded spaces of African Sexual Liberties through the disguise of governance and aid in the name of “medical diplomacy” feeds the diet made of “Diplomacy of Dependency” of African states.
F f$%^&*# is part of health, just like the importance of a balanced meal, limiting alcohol or avoiding it in your diet, making sure to be active at least 30 minutes out of the day and so much more. I had a professor once tell me, once you hear or read “politics” or “security” in front or behind the word, the B.S is coming: Water Security, Food Security, and Global Health Security. It should be told, the person that uses this term to create any policy is the bullshitter!

“Never forget, any forms of medical diplomacy through “foreign aid” by the helping country is just a branding tool in their soft power to the “sick country”. ”

— Water & Cassava

International Health Cooperation for purposes of extending help (real health diplomacy) in health strategies are nothing new in the conversation of foreign policy. Europe was forced to incorporate such health strategies in their attempts of dealing with cholera and the plague. The International Sanitary Conference took place in Paris on July 23, 1851, this will be the beginning of Global Health corporation. 

“The motivation behind medical diplomacy or health diplomacy, is the ambition towards soft power or smart power to those that can wheel it on the global stage”

— Water & Cassava

THE HIGH AND THE LOW OF IT ALL.....

Foreign Policy discussions on health was at the low end of the pole like:

 “Graffiti is considered Art for some (Low Art by those with money) but paintings by Salvador Dali is considered not just high art, it is complex art”.

The game changer for health (low politics) vs (high politics) was the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It would forever change the language and corporation efforts towards global health security. In additions, the ability for actors to weaponize viruses presented new woes as bioterrorism. This moved health from the bottom of the pole(low politics) to the top of the pole “high politics” now known as foreign policy.  

Do you remember the “great global concerns” “the health security risks” of the Ebola virus? Did you see the praises Nigeria received on their approach to keep Ebola away?

Pay attention to the language in  8:05-:07

The Ebola virus has so far killed more than 2,800 people in West Africa, with the majority of deaths in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. But nearby Nigeria has been able to spread its message about the disease -- what it is, where to report it, how to prevent it -- with more success.

“The Econmics of Ebola was a powerful deterrent to stoping the spread of Ebola... Oh and Global Health Security”

— Water & Cassava

The Brookings Institute speaks on the economics behind Ebola

CDC

There is a very strange interest in spaces below the equator line with regards to family planning and sexual liberties with actors that range from religious spaces, NGOs and governments.  These actors occupy spaces in Africa and manipulate “STD/STI concerns” as a tool to control the people. 

Again, why not help build condom factories and leave resources to help combat the issue? It would cost less and make fiscal sense on every caring actor's budget.

Their presence rubs raw to our issues and concerns and these morph to problems in our already fragile-complex spaces. Sing it loud and proud, Come together right now....

Ike & Tina Turner - Come together 1971 Original by The Beatles, released 1969

THE STORY OF THE CONDOM

EGYPT

5000 years ago, the first documented condom was in Africa. Africans have always understood family planning and understand the need to protect the body from STD's/STI's. We also understood that not every sexual experience must result to a child.

Where was Europe 5000 years ago in the discussion of sexual liberties? We know that the state of war was the norm. We know that in all this barbarism and pillaging of lands and tribes, there was just no room to contribute on sexual liberties. Ah yes!! The roman soldiers did use sex as a way to build cohesion in their military units. No judgement here, War is seductive.

In Asia, Japan used condoms before Giacomo Girolamo Casanova shocked and was celebrated for his sexual liberties!

This a linen condom from ancient egypt. 

Vintage condom container from 1929. ..Wonder why Ramses?

They've been around for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt. See where condoms started and you'll appreciate how far they have come. One more reason to never go without one.

OPPRESSION  OF AFRICAN SEXUAL LIBERTIES IN THE NAME OF: AID & GOVERNANCE:

The addiction to aid that African countries simply cannot detox from by their former European colonial dealers is not going unnoticed by some very old friends. While Japan and Korea give money towards combatting HIV/AIDS, China gives condoms. 

This is not always a good idea because of quality and frankly size. 

The colonized penis and vagina is on the backdrop of a colonial framework that only saw our sexuality as primitive and barbaric. Please understand that for African women and men, it has stood for 500 centuries that our diet is made of pure white virginity or monkey savage black as tar hypersexuality. 
It is documented that African men were subjugated to extreme violence from their masters and were forced to apply sexual violence on women because they were not viewed as humans but working domesticated animals.

Africans, Indigenous Americans, and Asian people were housed in human zoos found in the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium from 1835-Late 1940s. Wealthy white men could touch “the exotic creatures” and of course have that barbaric jungle sex.

 Sarah Baartman 

 A young Khoisan woman that was enslaved and sexually exploited from modern day South Africa. She is a testimony to the colonized state of African genitals. Sarah was known for her large buttocks a result steatopygia and beautiful elongated genitals.

“Accumulation of large amounts of fat on the buttocks. This is normal!”

— Steatopygia

After her death, her brain and genitals were put up for display in French museums  like Musée de l'Homme until 1975. It was in 2002, that the French government gave her body back at the request of then President Mandela begging and pleading.

“ Her skeleton is very well cared for here because we never know what science will be able to tell us in the future. If she is buried, this chance will be lost... for us she remains a very important treasure”

— Musée de l'Homme, Philippe Mennecier, Assistant curator

Her body was used for racist distorted justifications in academia and literature that claimed African women were related more to monkeys than humans. 

“Our beauty is like to that of a monkey! In the name of black Jesus byway of Marcus Garvey, we pray that you rebuke those white lies!!!”

— Water & Cassava

There is a western hegemony on theory, academia and sexual narratives that dominate our current conversations, academia or popular culture around sexuality. This  by design is not empowering to African people but damaging to the African ontology. 

After, The Atlantic & Indian Ocean Holocaust, The Aftermath for African diaspora people in the Americas and Europe, Colonial Africa, Apartheid Regime, and the systematic oppression throughout these spaces …

“Do Africans truly understand and celebrate their sexual liberties without colonial guilt?”

— Water & Cassava

Think about this…

 We are not even allowed to question the questions behind our colonized sexual expressions and sexual liberties. Medical OR Health diplomacy are such pressing issues in Africa yet with all that aid, I do not see condom factories but condom distributions.

Our sex is brutally policed, I mean you do not think those condoms reach everyone right? You do not really believe applied public health is truly used in our spaces like we see in western spaces, right? In my early years of applied public health, my employer (uncle sam) allowed for funding to teach people the sexy in “cheeking condoms”.

African Sexual ontology is fluid and more open-minded than that of the former colonial masters, despite the alternative truths that circulate around this topic. 

“Africa is responsible for the entire existence of the human population as we know it today. How can anyone even suggest that sexual liberties, diverse sexual orientation, gender, fluidity in human sexuality would be a new concept?”

— Water & Cassava

Tuareg & Sexuality

As you read this, understand they are Muslim! These women are and have always enjoyed their sexual liberties. 

THAT JUNGLE SEX, THAT JUNGLE FEVER

What in the entire $%&* makes white colonial spaces believe that our sex is barbaric, unnatural, jungle like, dirty even immoral and unholy? Stop playing games, our sex is so holy that we birth the planet. 

There is romantic white vanilla softness that is praised with whites and their sexuality. We are not allowed to bask in our shea butter African sexuality in peace. We as Africans have our own traditions, practices and scholarships in sexuality that are wide and diverse.

Whitewashing of everything that comes from anything below the equator is the norm. Constant alternative truths and taking away contributions of the co called "other" in western distorted narratives even deceives good people out here that the vanilla spice is white. 

To understand why you think it is white, no fault to you. I tell you the colonized state is a disease, it even colonizes your stomach!

To understand more about the Theif that stole from our brother Edmond Albius:

This entry is about sexual liberties, so I should mention the queerness that is vanilla.  The vanilla plant is hermaphroditic by nature.

                THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1500 years and you are still not holy! Carry on

On the plane returning from his journey to Africa Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, Pope Francis spoke about condoms as a method of preventing the spread of disease, saying that the Church was faced with a perplexity of whether to follow the fifth commandment (Thou shalt not kill) "or that sexual relations are open to life."

 PHILIPPINES PRIEST & “ALTERNATIVE CATHOLICISM

PEDOPHILIA, EPHEBOPHILIA & THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIV+ PRIEST THAT RAPE CHILDREN & THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

A catholic priest in Mexico was accquited and forgiven by the church after raping 30 young girls despite knowing he was HIV+. The kicker here, he was forgiven by the church. 

That is the Catholic Church on sex!  They are killing African men and women by making it clear condoms are not holy. I wonder what about the videos you just watched scream "HOLY". The church and to be clear, places of worship should not be given a platform of any to dictate legislature in health-related policies directly or indirectly.  They are more than welcome to be part of positive community engagement in public health education.

AFRICAN SEXUALITY: DID YOU KNOW?

1. We have special “aunties” or “older female relatives” in many African countries that offer marital advice before your special day. I am not speaking about making: Ugali, Jellof rice or Tajine. I am talking about SEX. These women are so legendary that you only know them on a need to know basis. #vipstatus

2. Chinamwali session from Zambia

You are so welcome!

 3. Labia Elongation (Nothing to do with FTM)

RUBBER TREES & CONDOM FACTORIES IN AFRICA

Top Rubber Producers in Africa

Liberia
Nigeria
Zaire
Ivory Coast
Cameroon
Central Africa
Ghana
Mali
Congo

None of these countries have condom factories because that would really be “medical diplomacy”. Outside of this fact, out of 1.2 billion Africans majority of condoms in Africa are either donated or from western manufacturers. There are less than 20 condom plants in Africa and less than half of these factories would be up to standards as you saw on the video. 

An average condom factory should produce 160 million condoms a year, operating 24 hours a day with staff from the business sector, social media sector, science sector and technology sector.

Anyone willing to help?

FYI: There is a current  shortage of roughly over 450 million condoms in Africa. 

.....MEANWHILE IN ASIA AND EUROPE...

The world’s largest condom maker is based in Malaysia. Malaysia is a top rubber producing country in Southeast Asia. However, it has decided to contribute to their public health narrative by designing and manufacturing their own condoms.

JAPAN SEXUAL LIBERITES: MEET ERICA

Japan's population decline could be the biggest humanity has ever seen. Adam Yamaguchi went to Japan to learn how they're looking to robots to prop up their dwindling numbers, and maybe even redefine what being "human" means.

FOUNDATION FOR RESPONSIBLE ROBOTS

You can catch the conference that looks at robots & human sexuality and what the future looks like:

To read the latest report on robot behavior and sex:

 Until next PHW!!

Water & Cassava will be back on 9/11....

Discussions on....

Mul-Days 

• What is W.A.S.H?
• Why is W.A.S.H important?
• Why are women and children most vulnerable to W.A.S.H?

Cassava Tuesdays: The Kingdom of Morocco- The Tale of the King & Soft Power

• How is the Kingdom using economic incentives, culture, education, and religion to craft soft power?
• What is the draw to Marrakesh?

Public Health Wednesday: Sex, Condoms and Africa- Can’t we all just come together??

“One thing I can tell you is you got to be free”

— Our brother, John Lennon

• What are the quality of African Condoms?
• Can Africans not have sex without the interruption of their civil liberties?
• Condom Campaigns are nice but with all those rubber trees,  how many condom plants does Africa have?
• Why  must the church be the legislating body of sexual health for Africans? 

Silk Road Thursdays: Cool Japan to the rest the world, but not so cool in Africa??? 

“We ney dey hear you abi? Nah wheti be Anime??? Sushi nah lie??? ”

— Water & Cassava

• Japan is not soft or cool in Africa but why is this?