Since the early years of this decade, an organisation known as APOPO has been training a particular species of rat – the Giant African Pouched Rat – to help detect the presence of land mines in Mozambique.
More recently, these same rats – or at least members of their family – are being trained by...
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The true origins of Valentine’s Day seem to have been lost to antiquity. Numerous early Christian martyrs were called Valentine, but apparently no romantic elements were attached to their lives.
There are claims that the first association between Valentine’s Day and romance was referenced by Chaucer writing in the 14th century. In any event,...
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Twenty-one years ago the World Health Organization (WHO) declared 1 December the first World AIDS Day. Its aim was, and remains, to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues, and particularly the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Since then, World AIDS Day has been established as one of the world’s most...
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections requiring medical treatment.
While UTIs can affect any one at any stage in life, they are more common with advancing age and affect more women than men. In fact nearly one in three women will need treatment for a UTI before the age of...
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It’s been reported that visitors arriving in Indonesia with flu-like symptoms will be requested, perhaps even required, by the Government there to wear face masks for three days – a measure aimed to reduce the risk of human to human transmission of swine flu.
Swine flu also remains a problem in Australia, and precautions to...
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Whilst in Australia each year we are commemorating ANZAC Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is raising awareness of a disease that affects about 40% of the world’s population and kills more than one million people annually.
April 25 is World Malaria Day.
Malaria was once much more widespread, but it was successfully eliminated from many...
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At some time in our lives, almost every one of us will be confronted with a fungal infection. Fortunately, they only rarely occur on the face; but they do appear in most other parts of the body – from head to toe, especially the toe.
Tinea on the toes and elsewhere on the foot –...
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Flu only affects old people, right? Wrong!
The fact is, rates of flu infection are highest among children. Nevertheless, children under the age of five are less likely to show the typical symptoms of flu – the fever and the cough – and you may not know that your child has actually contracted the infection.
Whilst...
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease. The organism which causes TB is carried by two billion people – a third of the world’s population – and there are an estimated two million deaths every year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared TB to be a global health emergency and designated 24 March each...
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In 1988 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared December 1 the first World AIDS Day. Its aim was, and remains, to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues, and particularly the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Over the last 20 years, World AIDS Day has been established as one of the world’s...
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