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Health

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The health of people across the globe has become interconnected like never before. In an age of jet travel and emerging diseases, the spread of illness in one location – whether bird flu in Asia or AIDS in Africa – can quickly affect populations half a world away. The World keeps listeners up to date on developments in global health. Below is an archive of The World’s recent coverage on global health.

Lead Recycling Exacts High Price for Health

By The World ⋅ March 4, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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In the West African nation of Senegal, an informal recycling industry has poisoned children and left a neighborhood severely polluted. Residents caused the contamination by pulling apart car batteries to extract the lead. The government is now cleaning up the site, but many of the children will never be the same. Jori Lewis reports. Download MP3 (Photo: Jori Lewis)

Homeopathy in Britain

By Alex Gallafent ⋅ February 24, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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British lawmakers have determined that homeopathy, a form of alternative medicine, is not medicine of any kind at all (beyond a placebo.) Britain funds four homeopathic hospitals in the UK, spending about six million dollars per year. The World’s Alex Gallafent reports.

Doctors face ethical decisions in Haiti

By The World ⋅ February 23, 2010 ⋅ 11 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Doctors facing ethical decisions in Haiti

The medical needs in Haiti are so great, and the resources often so limited, that doctors and nurses working there since the earthquake have had to make some wrenching decisions. They’ve had to choose not only who they could save, but who they could not or would not save. Reporter Sheri Fink brings us a rare behind-the-scenes look at an American field hospital in Port au Prince in the early weeks of the disaster. Download MP3 (Photo: Sheri Fink)

China’s dirty water problem

By The World ⋅ February 11, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Dr. Peter Gleick about China’s massive water pollution problems. The Chinese government reported this week that levels of common water pollutants were twice as high as they had previously thought.

Alcoholism a ‘national disaster’ in Russia

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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You might say it’s no country for old men. Russia, that is. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russians have been increasingly ravaged by disease and death. And one of the main reasons is the nation’s favorite drink. There’s so much vodka going down the throats of so many Russians, life expectancy for men has fallen to just 60 years old – about the same as in Myanmar and Haiti. The World’s Laura Lynch ventured out to the Russian countryside to find the roots of the country’s troubles with alcohol. Download MP3

Brain activity detected in patients in vegetative states

By The World ⋅ February 4, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The World’s Rhitu Chatterjee reports on a new study by British and Belgian scientists that suggests that some patients in a “vegetative state” retain some level of consciousness.

Health care in Spain

By The World ⋅ January 25, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Health care access isn’t a right in the United States. But it is in many other countries… including Spain. Recently two Spanish towns began to chip away at that. They started by denying benefits to undocumented immigrants. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Vic, Spain.

Controversial strategies for reducing organ shortages

By The World ⋅ January 22, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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There’s a worldwide shortage of organs for transplantations.To tackle that shortage, many countries are experimenting with various strategies. Some Americans are pushing a controversial solution – legalizing the buying and selling of organs. But, can such a system meet the global demand for organs? And is it fair to the people who sell their organs? Come join the conversation with Dr. Mustafa Al-Miousawi, a Kuwaiti transplant surgeon and the past president of the Middle East Society for Transplantation. Download MP3

Flu vaccine overstock

By The World ⋅ January 11, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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After this year’s rush to stock up on the vaccine against the H1N1 Flu, some European countries are now trying to unload millions of doses. Countries such as Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and France have found themselves with huge stockpiles because far fewer citizens than expected sought the vaccine out. Governments are hoping to cancel orders or sell the excess vaccines to developing nations even as they’re being criticized for overreacting and overspending against the disease. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports.

Closer to solving the Tasmanian Devil cancer mystery

By The World ⋅ December 31, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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As we’ve reported on before, Tasmanian devils could be wiped out by a rare – and mysterious – form of cancer. Scientists have now made progress in solving that mystery, and host Jeb Sharp speaks with one of them. Download MP3

Smoking ban in Vietnam

By The World ⋅ December 31, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Many Americans will wake up tomorrow and pledge to give up cigarettes. It’s a traditional New Year’s resolution — something individuals vow to do on their own. In Vietnam, January first brings a new national effort to control smoking. A new law takes effect tomorrow that bans smoking in many public places — schools, factories, libraries, offices, hospitals, on public transportation. And a year from now, the government plans to extend that ban to bars and restaurants. It’s a big change for a country with one of the highest smoking rates anywhere. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports from Hanoi. Download MP3

Shroud reveals evidence of ancient leprosy

By The World ⋅ December 16, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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DNA evidence from an ancient burial shroud found in Jerusalem reveals the earliest proven case of leprosy. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with a member of the team that studied the shroud — James Tabor, professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina.

New Beginning in South Africa’s AIDS battle

By The World ⋅ December 1, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

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South Africa has the largest number of HIV-infected people on the planet. In a widely welcomed speech to mark World Aids Day, South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, pledged a new beginning. The World’s Jason Margolis has the story. Download MP3

BBC coverage
Health related coverage on The World

HIV positive soldiers

By The World ⋅ December 1, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The BBC’s Karen Allen reports on a unit of HIV-positive South African soldiers which is now being allowed to participate in international peacekeeping operations.

Mammograms around the world

By The World ⋅ November 19, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Most women should start regular breast cancer screening at age 50, not 40, according to new guidelines released in the US. The new guidelines have unleashed a heated debate and caused confusion for women and their doctors. International guidelines also call for screening to start at age 50. Jeb Sharp talks with David Dershaw, Director of Breast Imaging at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.