Wednesday 16 May ,

GENEVA: One in three adults suffers from high blood pressure, a key cause of strokes and heart disease, according to World Health Organisation figures released on Wednesday.

Canada and the United States have the fewest patients, at less than 20 percent of adults, but in poorer countries like Niger the estimated figure is closer to 50 percent, the UN body said.

While wealthier countries have seen their cases drop thanks to effective, low-cost treatment, in Africa many remain people undiagnosed and are not getting help, according to the WHO.

Its World Health Statistics report includes figures on raised blood pressure, and also on blood glucose levels, for the first time this year.

One in 10 people are estimated to have diabetes, rising to up to one third in Pacific Island countries.

"This report is further evidence of the dramatic increase in the conditions that trigger heart disease and other chronic illnesses, particularly in low and middle-income countries," said WHO director general Margaret Chan.

"In some African countries, as much as half the adult population has high blood pressure."

In Niger 50.3 percent of men suffer from the condition, with Malawi and Mozambique not far behind at 44.5 and 46.3 percent respectively.

The report also said obesity levels doubled across the world between 1980 and 2008 and half a billion people or 12 percent of the world's populations are now considered obese.

The Americas have the highest instance, at 26 percent of adults, and south-east Asia the lowest obesity levels at three percent.

The WHO said deaths in children aged under five years dropped from almost 10 million in 2000 to 7.6 million a decade later, with the decline in deaths from measles and diarrhoea-related disease "particularly striking."

The World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, will meet in Geneva from May 21-26 where members will discuss new targets on cutting the cases of heart and lung disease, diabetes and cancer

Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Kabul (BNA) The Ministry for Public Health in coordination with the association of midwives celebrated the World Midwifery Day yesterday. 
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for public health, Suraya Dalil highlighted the role of midwives in reducing the rate of mother’s mortality, saying the rate of mother’s mortality and infants has been considerably refused due to the services of midwives in the country over the past ten years. 
She also noted that the public health ministry has trained some 3000 midwives and presently more than 800 persons are under training in institutes and midwifery schools in the country. 
Nevertheless, she stated Afghanistan due to scarcity of midwives still has the high rate of mother’s mortality in the world, noting the public health ministry is trying its best to overcome the problem.
 

Sunday, April 29, 2012
Lashkargah (BNA) A medical center was opened in the Washir district of Helmand province today. 
Dr. Enayatullah Ghafari head of public health of Helmand said to BNA, the mentioned center was executed by PRT stationed of Helmand province at the cost of 20,000 dollars in Wahsir district. 
This medical center having nine medical employees works for medical services, said the source. Since one year till now, the Washir district is under sovereignty of government and people of that district needs to have medical services, education and construction of roads.  
T. Suraya-Yarzada
 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Gardiz (BNA) A medical clinic was opened after reconstruction in the center of Gardiz city today. 
Dr. Nazdana care-taker of public health department of Paktia said to BNA, this clinic was set on fire by unknown men, was reconstructed with the financial cooperation of three foreign institutions and put for public use again. 
This clinic treat patients in five wards and 15,000 families benefited from medical services. 
T. Suraya-Yarzada