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Critics are calling it a two-tier health system — one for the politically well connected, another for the hoi polloi. As Germany launched its mass-vaccination program against the H1N1 flu virus on Monday, the government found itself fending off accusations of favoritism because it was offering one vaccine believed to have fewer side effects to civil servants, politicians and soldiers, and another, potentially riskier vaccine to everyone else. The government had hoped that Germans would rush to health clinics to receive vaccinations against the rapidly spreading disease, but now rising anger over the different drugs may cause many people to shy away.

Amid growing fears of a possible global flu pandemic, the German government prepared for its mass-vaccination campaign earlier this year by ordering 50 million doses of the Pandemrix vaccine, enough for a double dose for 25 million people, about a third of the population. The vaccine, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, contains an immunity-enhancing chemical compound, known as an adjuvant, whose side effects are not yet entirely known. Then, after a report was leaked to the German media last week, the Interior Ministry confirmed that it had ordered a different vaccine, Celvapan, for government officials and the military. Celvapan, which is made by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Baxter, does not contain an adjuvant and is believed to have fewer side effects than Pandemrix.

Anger at the news was widespread in Germany. “If mass vaccination is considered to be necessary, then everyone should be treated the same way,” says Birgitt Bender, health spokeswoman for the Green Party. Ulrike Mascher, head of the VdK social-welfare association, says giving government officials a vaccine that’s different from that given to the rest of the population sent the “wrong signal” and gives many people “the impression that they are second-class patients.” A story on the front page of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper accused the government of giving “second-class medicine” to regular Germans. More…

Author: Tristana Moore / Berlin
Photo Credit:

The killing of Marwa el-Sherbini provoked outrage among Muslims for its sheer brutality and brazenness. According to witnesses, the pregnant mother was stabbed to death in front of a courtroom full of people in Germany by a man with an apparently deep-seated hatred of Muslims. Thousands marched in Egypt, Iran and other Muslim countries against what they perceived as a disturbing rise of Islamophobia and racism in Germany as well as the scant attention the attack received in the German media.

Now, four months later, the trial of el-Sherbini’s alleged killer is being closely watched by Muslims across the world — not to mention Germany’s 4 million–strong Muslim community — amid fears that anything but a severe punishment for the defendant, an unemployed Russian émigré identified only as Alex W., could spark more unrest. In Egypt, where el-Sherbini has been dubbed by the media as the “headscarf martyr,” people are expecting “justice to be administered in a swift way,” Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, Egypt’s ambassador to Germany, told al-Jazeera.

The trial began on Oct. 26 in the same courthouse in Dresden where the killing took place. The 28-year-old defendant wore a cap, a dark blue hooded top and sunglasses to conceal his face as he was led into the courtroom, flanked by police officers, and seated behind a screen of bulletproof glass. Prosecutors then described how el-Sherbini, 31, was attacked. The pharmacist had appeared in court on July 1 to testify in a hearing against Alex W., who was appealing an earlier conviction for defaming el-Sherbini by calling her an “Islamist” and a “terrorist” on a playground. Prosecutors say that after el-Sherbini’s testimony, Alex W. lunged at her with a 7-in. kitchen knife he had smuggled into court and stabbed her at least 16 times. Her husband, Elwy Okaz, 32, was also repeatedly stabbed before being shot by a police officer who mistook him for el-Sherbini’s attacker. El-Sherbini, who was three months pregnant at the time, bled to death in front of the couple’s 3-year-old son. More…

Author: Tristana Moore / Berlin
Photo Credit: Ralf Hirschberger / Reuters

Heavily-indebted state grains agency National Food Authority (NFA) raised P9 billion through the sale of 10-year Treasury bonds (T-bond) in an auction yesterday and will use a tap facility to secure another P1.5 billion more from the same debt paper.

“We will request for the opening of the tap window for another P1.5 billion,” NFA assistant administrator for finance and administration Celia Tan said.

Banks’ offers for the float totalled P10.43 billion with the awarded debt papers bearing a coupon rate of 6.375 percent.

The NFA will seek a total of P27 billion this year to cover losses mostly from subsidy schemes on rice prices that could reach P30 billion.

The NFA said it would need P16.5 billion more outside the float that could be raised through the sale of more debt papers or through direct loans.

Average rate of the debt paper stood at 5.96 percent, lower than the 5.42 percent of the benchmark five-year PDST-F, which is defined by the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. (PDEX) as the “average of the best 60 percent of firm bid rates posted by market-making banks for 12 tenors at 11:16 a.m. daily.”

Tan told reporters after the auction that proceeds of the bond sale will be used for their operational requirement as well as prepayment of loans.

She said the pricing was “very good” and the appetite was high after total bids reached P10.4 billion against their initial target of P5 billion.

The NFA hopes to raise another P1.5 billion from the tap window either tomorrow or Thursday for government securities eligible dealers (GSEDs).

“We will refresh the opening of the tap window for us to get another P1.5 billion,” she said.

Tan said they have other options like bilateral loans to get funds but they prefer selling debt paper.

“The rate is good (so we want to maximize this),” she said.

Source: TheDailyTribune
Photo Credit: John Javellana

Opposition Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is expected to finally make formal his presidential bid today, which announcement was originally planned to take place some two weeks ago, but with his camp now indicating this signaling as the eventual declaration of his team-up with partymate Sen. Loren Legarda, as frontrunners of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in next year’s elections.

Amid requests by Escudero’s camp for media coverage on an “important political announcement” he will make today, there already are talks that the senator, the lone neophyte member of the upper chamber embarking on presidential race, is already withdrawing his bid for the highest position in the country.

But Escudero is said to be set to declare his presidential bid today at the Club Filipino in Green Hills, San Juan. Earlier, the announcement said that he will be making an “important announcement at the at the University of the Philippines’ Bahay ng Alumni.

“Sen. Chiz Escudero is ready to lead this nation out of the misery brought about by an immoral leadership that came to power by questionable means,” Brian Ong, president of the claimed one-million strong Youth for Chiz Movement, said yesterday. He will unveil a seven-point pro-people platform of change, Ong said.

Talk from NPC sources said Escudero is going to junk Sen, Loren Legarda as his running mate and is now scouting for a vice presidential candidate who is loyal to the NPC. The name mentioned was Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Talks on Escudero pulling out of the race came out as early as Monday and was further heightened when his camp made last-minute changes on the venue of the scheduled event.

“He is not dropping out and he will make his firm intention known to the public tomorrow,” Lito Banayo, political adviser of Sen Panfilo Lacson and now political strategist for Chiz as well as his campaign manager, said in TV interview.

Banayo reiterated previous explanations given by Escudero in postponing his annoucement. More…

Author: Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo
Photo Credit: beazfroi

As mothers tend to sacrifice during their lives to meet their children’s needs, a mother’s body will give up its own essential nutrients to provide health and growth for her developing baby. Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is often so nutritionally deficient that even this sacrifice does not guarantee adequate nutrition for the unborn baby.

1. Zinc
Inadequate zinc is the most common and problematic deficiency during pregnancy. Zinc is critical for two reasons: proper growth and for developing a healthy immune system for the baby.

2. Folic Acid
Getting enough folic acid is critical both before and during pregnancy to help assure proper growth and to prevent birth defects.

3. Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is routine in the American diet and can increase the possibility of high blood pressure and seizures during pregnancy, a condition known as eclampsia. To prevent this deficiency, take 200 milligrams of magnesium in the glycinate form daily.

4. B Vitamins
These are critical for energy, mental clarity and to prevent depression. B vitamins have also been found to improve pregnancy-related complications such as gestational diabetes. Taking 200 milligrams a day of vitamin B6 can improve the health of those women suffering from this form of diabetes.

5. Fish Oils
The human brain is made predominantly of DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish oils. Perhaps this is why there is an old wives’ tale about fish being brain food. Regardless, DHA deficiency is very common and it is critical that pregnant women get adequate fish oils so that their baby can develop healthy and optimal brain tissue.

6. Calcium
Ideally, pregnant women should ingest 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. It is best to take this at night (it helps with sleep) in the liquid, powdered or chewable form.

7. Iron
Approximately 18 to 36 milligrams of iron per day can be helpful. Interestingly, iron deficiency can sometimes cause infertility.

8. Water
Be sure to drink plenty of water. When pregnant, blood volume can increase about 30 percent and it is easy to become dehydrated.

9. Check Your Thyroid
Millions of women suffer from an underactive metabolism, also known as hypothyroidism, which often goes undiagnosed. This results in fatigue, weight gain and simply feeling like you’ve run out of gas. Hypothyroidism accounts for more than 6 percent of miscarriages and can be cause for learning disabilities in the child.

10. Things for Pregnant Women to Avoid
A few cautions for pregnant women: avoid taking more than 8,000 units of vitamin A per day. And don’t partake in anything that can raise your body temperature too high (hot tubs, saunas or steam rooms).

More…

Author: Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum
Photo Credit: Nnegrilli

More forum discussion HERE.