| Absence of morphine condemns children to a life of pain Morphine, as a narcotic, has such a bad reputation in many poor countries that doctors cannot obtain it for their patients. A new report from Human Rights Watch describes the suffering of children in pain in KenyaMorphine is an essential medicine. The World Health Organisation says so. It is on the list that every country should stock and because it has been around a long time, it's not even expensive. In developed countries, it is vital for easing the suffering of those with terminal cancer and other agonisingly painful conditions. But in too many countries of the developing world it is virtually unobtainable. Many of their governments consider it dangerous.A report today from Human Rights Watch highlights the consequences of this thinking for children in Kenya with cancer and with Aids. It gives disturbing examples of children who have endured excruciating pain. Yet morphine is even on the Kenyan government's own essential drugs list. It is there, but such is the drug's reputation from misuse by addicts that doctors cannot get hold of it to treat their patients. Only seven of the country's 250 public hospitals stock oral morphine. The report blames the government.In fact, the Kenyan government has erected legal and regulatory barriers to using morphine to treat severe pain. The Kenyan narcotics law focuses on the illegal uses of morphine and other opioids and makes illicit possession punishable by life imprisonment and a heavy fine. There are exceptions for medical use, but no detailed guidelines about lawful possession by patients and health care workers, and some doctors and nurses perceive the current legislation to prohibit morphine. Kenya is also one of the few countries worldwide to levy an import tax on morphine powder. Consequently, the medicine is unavailable at the vast majority of public hospitals in Kenya, in contravention of the country's international legal obligations. And these are the words of the mother of a five year-old boy, who lived and died of Aids in Kibera slum in Nairobi:[My son] had severe pain sometimes, especially some abdominal pains There were times that he would use those pain killers paracetamol and Brufen [ibuprofen] and the pain would just persist I could tell he was in a lot of pain because he was just stiffened and you could see he was really struggling he died in pain.Human Rights Watch calls on the Kenyan government to increase access to morphine urgently and urges health donors to ensure that all patients they help should be able to get palliative care.On the subject of donors, the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK, has carried out a poll which reveals mixed feelings on the part of the British public about aid. Most people think it is morally right to help developing countries, but the proportion - at 62% - is hardly overwhelming. And in fact, a slightly larger 64% think that charity begins at home and 63% say that - at a time of stringent cuts in government spending - the international development budget ought to be reduced to help deal with the budget deficit. Around half (52%) thought most UK aid to developing countries is wasted.This is the verdict of Lawrence Haddad, director of the Institute:This survey suggests development charities and the Government need to take a fresh approach to engaging with the public about aid. We need to hear more from the people whose lives have been changed by aid. We should do more to understand what UK taxpayers' need to hear to be convinced that aid works. And we need to be honest about what works and what doesn't, so we can learn for the future.International aid and developmentKenyaDrugsSarah Boseleyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
On Our Radar: A Federal 'Green Bank' A proposal for an entity that would identify sustainable technologies allowing for the most efficient use of federal dollars. feeds.nytimes.com |
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Today's Mystery Bird For You To Identify This common European mystery bird is a popular avicultural subject and has several color variants that are propagated in captivityMystery Bird photographed at Harlech, Gwynedd, west Wales, UK. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Brian Pendleton, 21 June 2010 [with binoculars].This common European mystery bird is also a popular avicultural subject and has several color variants that are propagated in captivity. Can you name this species?Daily Mystery Bird Rules: 1. Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification, keeping in mind that more than one field mark is often necessary to distinguish between species. IDs without any supporting information are not valid and may be deleted by the moderators. 2. Expert and intermediate level birders: do NOT try to be the first to blurt out the mystery bird's ID. Instead, please provide helpful hints, such as descriptions, literary references, puns, personal anecdotes, and other forms of discussion and assistance for beginning birders and for those following on their iPhones without naming the species. Expert and intermediate birders are free to name the bird species 24 or more hours after it was first published.3. Each mystery bird is usually accompanied by a question or two. These questions can be useful for identifying the pictured species, but may instead be used to illustrate an interesting aspect of avian biology, behaviour or evolution, or may be intended to generate conversation on other topics, such as conservation. 4. Each bird species will be demystified 48 hours after publication. If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Polar bears given Alaska 'haven' The US government designates a huge area in Alaska as a 'critical habitat' for polar bears, raising the hopes of environmentalists. bbc.co.uk |