Norway Wins Spot for the sixth year as the World's most Prosperous Country

re-blogged from the guardian,

       Norway has been named the most prosperous country in the world for the sixth year in a row and European countries dominate the top 30 of the annual Prosperity Index.  What is a Prosperity Index?  According to Saian Hansen, Executive Director from the Legatum Institute who published the rankings,

   "The Prosperity Index tells us that the story of human progress goes beyond economics. It tells us that for nations to flourish they must provide opportunity and freedom to their citizens. It shows how access to quality healthcare and education provide the foundations on which nations can grow.  It proves that effective and transparent government empowers citizens to take control of their lives. And it shows that protection from violence and oppression, as well as strong social bonds, are crucial to a thriving society."     Simply stated, the Prosperity Index studies the overall economic health and well-being of a nation besides looking at indicators such as a country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product).   The GDP measures the economic performance of a country based on output and productivity.  In a broader context, the economic health or the holistic health are Comprehensive  Holistic Indicators of a country or an individual's overall wellbeing- sounds a lot like TOVA's mission.  Prosperity is about more than Money.     The Index assesses 142 countries and looks at 89 individual variables across eight sub-indices: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, personal freedom, health, safety and security and social capital. 

 

   Norway has been named the most prosperous country in the world for the sixth year in a row by a global prosperity ranking, which rates countries on how they perform in areas such as economics, health, education and freedom. What makes Norway one most prosperous country in the world?  Norway's high incomes coupled with social freedom, political stability, excellent healthcare, education and other social benefits aim to provide safe and secure environment for people to live and go about their daily lives. 
    European countries dominate the top 30 of the Prosperity Index, while the UK has jumped three places on last year’s rankings and has been named the most prosperous of all the major EU countries in 2014. It has been placed above Germany at 14th and France at 21st place.  It also warns that the US is “no longer perceived to be the ‘land of the free’” and is placed 21st for the personal freedom, below countries such as Uruguay and Costa Rica. Following Norway in second place on the overall rankings is Switzerland. New Zealand, which is placed third, is the highest climber of the latest release with its jump up attributed to its economic resurgence.  Almost two thirds of the countries listed in the top 30 are European nations, with 6 of these being EU member states. 

Here are the top 10 prosperous countries:
  1. Norway              2. Switzerland         3. Denmark      4. New Zealand         5.  Sweden      6.  Canada       7. Australia   
  8. Netherlands       9. Finland               10. Ireland       11.  United States      12.  Iceland     13.  Luxembourg 
14. Germany          15.  United Kingdom


Click on for the complete report,

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/nov/03/european-countries-dominate-in-global-prosperity-rankings?CMP=share_btn_link
 100 best things to do in Switzerland. It is over 10,000 words and packed with practical tips and advice. You can find it here: https://www.jenreviews.com/best-things-to-do-in-switzerland/

Be Well and Prosper
All the Best,  Dr. Anderson

TOVA Community Health
Primary Specialty Care
www.tovacommunityhealth.org
(302) 429-5870 ext. 120



Background Check to promote trait awareness at the Delaware Adolescent Program (DAPI)

                                                                 Background Check

Sickle Cell Awareness in our Community

  The TOVA team was invited to the Delaware Adolescent Program (DAPI) last week for a Sickle Cell presentation called, 'Background Check'. Only 1 out of 10 girls knew their Sickle Cell Trait status or the status of their baby's father. One mother of her newborn child was identified as having the Sickle Cell Trait and she was of Hispanic descent. She was appreciative of the information and the information provided on the trait.  Overall, teen pregnancy rates are declining in the state of Delaware and nationally.  Support TOVAs' programs to increase awareness, quality care & research for Sickle Cell. Go to www.tovacommunityhealth.org for more information.
National Teen Pregnancy Statistics:
     In 2013, there were 26.5 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19, or 273,105 babies born to females in this age group. Nearly eighty-nine percent of these births occurred outside of marriage. The 2013 teen birth rate indicates a  decline of ten percent from 2012 when the birth rate was 29.4 per 1,000. The teen birth rate has declined almost continuously over the past 20 years. In 1991, the U.S. teen birth rate was 61.8 births for every 1,000 adolescent females, compared with 26.5 births for every 1,000 adolescent females in 2013. Still, the U.S. teen birth rate is higher than that of many other developed countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom  (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (Office of Adolescent Health, http://www.hhs.gov).

    Non-Hispanic black youth, Hispanic/Latino youth, American Indian/Alaska Native youth, and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth of any race or ethnicity experience the highest rates of teen pregnancy and childbirth. Together, black and Hispanic teens comprised 57% of U.S. teen births in 2013 (CDC).
Delaware Statistics:
 In Delaware, DECLINING TEEN BIRTH RATE SHOWS MORE YOUTH ARE MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES.  Delaware's teen pregnancy and teen birth rates are at an all-time low, according to statistics from Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH). During 2004-2008, the most recent rate available, Delaware's teen pregnancy rate for girls ages 15-19 was 65.1 per 1,000. The 2004-2008 teen birth rate for girls 15-19 was 43.1 per 1,000. Nationwide, teen pregnancy is at its lowest point in 70 years. (Delaware Department of Health & Human Services, 2011).

All the best,
Dr. Nina

Chicago Woman is the First Adult Cured Of Sickle Cell Disease With Chemo-Free Technique

re-blogged from blackdoctor.org

Ieshea Thomas, a Chicago woman, is the first adult

         to be cured of sickle cell disease with the chemotherapy-free

procedure at UI Hospital. Photo: UI News Release

                  http://blackdoctor.org/466678/doctors-cure-12-adults-of-sickle-cell-disease/

Promising results for Sickle Cell recipients a Chemo-Free Stem Cell Transplant.  Typical stem-cell transplant treatment protocols would use chemotherapy and radiation to suppress the bone marrow before infusing healthy non-sickled cells.  But, chemotherapy & radiation can increase a person’s risk for infection & other problems. 

Types of Stem Cell Transplants:
     In a typical stem cell transplant for blood disorders very high doses of chemo are used, often along with radiation therapy, to try to destroy all the damaged cells. This treatment also kills the stem cells in the bone marrow. Soon after treatment, stem cells are given to replace those that were destroyed. These stem cells are given into a vein, much like a blood transfusion. Over time they settle in the bone marrow and begin to grow and make healthy blood cells. This process is called engraftment. (American Cancer Association.)
There are 3 basic types of transplants. They are named based on who gives the stem cells.
            ·  Autologous (aw-tahl-uh-gus)—the cells come from you

·  Allogeneic (al-o-jen-NEE-ick or al-o-jen-NAY-ick)—the cells come from a matched related or unrelated donor

           ·  Syngeneic (sin-jen-NEE-ick or sin-jen-NAY-ick)—the cells come from your identical twin or triplet

     Outcomes:   

            “In the reported trial, the researchers transplanted 13 patients, 17 to 40 years of age, with a stem cell preparation from the blood of a tissue-matched sibling. Healthy sibling donor-candidates and patients were tested for human leukocyte antigen, a set of markers found on cells in the body. Ten of these HLA markers must match between the donor and the recipient for the transplant to have the best chance of evading rejection.

In a further advance of the NIH procedure, physicians at UI Health successfully transplanted two patients with cells from siblings who matched for HLA but had a different blood type.

In all 13 patients, the transplanted cells successfully took up residence in the marrow and produced healthy red blood cells. One patient who failed to follow the post-transplant therapy regimen reverted to the original sickle cell condition.”

          To learn more about ongoing sickle cell transplant trials at NIH (a participant in a trial will not be charged for a procedure) call 1-800-411-1222 or visit the NIH clinical trials registry at www.clinicaltrials.gov and search under ‘sickle cell disease.”

 

All the best,

Dr. Anderson

 

Thanks Theo Jr. for sharing