Month: November 2021

Community Health Worker Related

WiRED International Marks World AIDS Day on December 1

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The theme of World AIDS Day 2021 is “End inequalities. End AIDS.” The tagline recognizes the growing disproportion in access to essential HIV services. Tragically, populations in Africa are most severely affected, where nearly one in every 25 adults lives with HIV, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide.

This year underserved communities again face greater risk for HIV infection and AIDS-related deaths as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment and care services. Further, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that HIV infection increases the risk of severe and critical COVID-19.

Global Health

Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD): A Killer of Marginalized Populations

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Winter brings seasonal increases in strep throat, a bacterial infection which if not treated with an antibiotic can lead to rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and even death.
Although RHD is completely preventable, it affects 39 million people worldwide, many of them children in low-resource countries.

WiRED International has long targeted RHD. Nearly a decade ago, we started to develop a suite of programs designed to educate and curb the spread of the infection.

Community Health Worker Related

A Thanksgiving Message from WiRED International

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WiRED International’s board and volunteers wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

This American holiday is about sharing, and this year that must include the sharing of programs and resources to promote good health and to prevent and treat illness. While we give thanks for the blessings in our lives, we also remember the people in need who live in our own communities and around the world. For the fortunate, Thanksgiving means a bountiful meal, but for far too many living in underserved communities this day and every day lead to starvation from food scarcity and to diseases such as COVID-19, malaria and too many others.

Global Health

WiRED Releases Diphtheria Modules

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Diphtheria — a disease generally easy to prevent and nearly eradicated globally — is making a comeback because of its growing resistance to antibiotics — although antibiotics are still the go-to treatment of choice.

WiRED International now offers two diphtheria modules: one for general audiences and one for health professionals. The modules describe diphtheria, its causes, transmission, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and vaccination.

Community Health Worker Related

WiRED Community Health Workers Battle Malaria

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Every single WiRED International Community Health Worker (CHW) in Kisumu Kenya, has had at least one episode of malaria and, aside from COVID-19, malaria is the most frequent illness they see in the people they treat in their communities. The following are three testimonials from CHWs describing their own experiences with malaria and their efforts to educate their people locally in how to prevent, recognize and treat the disease.

Community Health Worker Related

Update from WiRED Community Health Workers in Kenya

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During the month of September, 12 WiRED International community health workers in Kisumu, Kenya, reached a total of 5,382 people with health services. COVID-19 was the primary concern while other issues addressed included malaria, handwashing, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and first aid.

Throughout Africa, and in nearly all low-income regions around the world, CHWs augment the professional medical corps by offering critical medical and public health services. They provide community health education, basic clinical services, health surveillance, mother and child assistance and much more.

People@WiRED

WiRED Mourns the Loss of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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WiRED International’s board of directors and volunteers are saddened to note the death of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., aged 87 on October 20, 2021, at his home in Claremont California. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi was best known for writing Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, which reflected his research into creativity and focus. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi sat on WiRED’s Honorary Board.