Every year, more than 400.000 children and adolescents below 20 are diagnosed with cancer. About 80% of children with cancer will survive in high-income countries and 20% of children with cancer will survive in some low- and middle-income countries. In developing countries, mortality due to childhood cancer is attributed to several interrelated factors such as; Lack of awareness and information on childhood cancer, delayed or wrong diagnosis, lack of access to quality cost-effective essential treatment, lack of access to trained healthcare providers, and weak in health infrastructure. Even in every 3 minutes a child dies from cancer. Early diagnosis and improved access to care will definitely saves more lives.

“Grow in Everlasting Chances, Bloom in the Service of Others”
Viva AMSA!

Reference: InternationalChildhoodCancerDay.org

Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells in a multi-stage process that generally progresses from a pre-cancerous lesion to a malignant tumour. Cancer is a leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 are from these organs; lung (1.800.000 deaths), intestine (935.000 deaths), kidney (830.000 deaths), and stomach (769.000 deaths). The risk factors of cancer are mostly from unhealthy lifestyle, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, air pollution, and alcohol consumption. To prevent this deadly disease, we could start from maintain a healthy body weight, avoid harmful use of alcohol, consume healthy diet, do some physical exercises, and stop using tobacco.

 

"Grow in Everlasting Chances, Bloom in the Service for Others"
Viva AMSA!

Reference: www.who.int

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a bacillus called Mycobacterium leprae. M. leprae multiplies slowly and the incubation period of the disease, on average, is 5 years. Symptoms may occur within a year, but also can take as long as 20 years or even longer. Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. There were about 127.558 new cases of leprosy detected globally in 2020, according to official figures from 139 countries from the 6 WHO Regions.

The main signs and symptoms of leprosy including skin patches, which are a different color from the rest of our skin. We can also feel numbness on our hands and feet, and weakness on our muscles. To treat these symptoms, we can use Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), which is a combination of three antibiotics that has been used to treat leprosy for decades. Some of this drug including Dapsone, Rifampicin, and Clofazimine.

In this year’s World Leprosy Day, we should get together to prevent leprosy and educate each other. Also don’t misunderstand this disease by believing the negative stigmas that are spreading around us. So, let us United for Dignity!

“Grow in Everlasting Chances, Bloom in the Service for Others”
Viva AMSA!

Reference:
www.who.int

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. There are 2 most common types of diabetes, in adults, the body is resistant to insulin or the body does not produce enough insulin. Approximately 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority live in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributable to diabetes each year. Both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have continued to increase over the last few decades.

In 1991, the IDF and the World Health Organization (WHO) created World Diabetes Day (WDD) in response to growing concerns about the increasing number of health threats posed by diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official UN Day in 2006 with the adoption of UN Resolution 61/225. World Diabetes Day is observed every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting. He was one of those who discovered insulin, along with Charles Best in 1922.

This year’s World Diabetes Day is taking place at the end of a year which has been intensive in terms of global advocacy for diabetes. The Day also comes at a time when the world continues to live through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has not only resulted in a high proportion of people with diabetes among hospitalized patients with severe manifestations of COVID-19 and among those who have succumbed to the virus, but has also led to severe disruption of diabetes services.

“Grow in Everlasting Chances, Bloom in the Service for Others.”
Viva AMSA!

References:
www.who.int

www.worlddiabetesday.org

Last year, the world highlighted inequalities of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and the lack of respect for human rights, including those who lives with mental health issues. This matter even happens in many countries in the world. Therefore, the World Mental Health Federation commemorates this year's Mental Health Day with the theme "Mental Health in an Unequal World". This theme is expected to be a highlight regarding access to mental health services that are still unequal. People with mental health issues in low- and middle-income countries who still unable to access mental health services at all, are around 75% to 95% of percentage. Even in high-income countries, the percentage isn’t showing a better number.

In a research recently, evidence show that there were still deficiencies in the quality of care provided to people with mental health problems. It can take up to 15 years before medical, social and psychological treatment for mental illness that has been shown to work in good quality research studies is delivered to patients who need it in daily practice.

We are currently living in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a major impact on people's mental health. Health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with poor mental health conditions, are particularly affected. Unfortunately, services for mental health, neurological, and substance use disorders are also significantly impacted and can’t work optimally.

We need to act, and act urgently.

"Grow in Everlasting Chances, Bloom in the Service for Others."
VIVA AMSA!

References:
www.who.int
www.wfmh.global

September 29^th, 2021 is commemorated as World Heart Day. The commemorated event brings the theme “Use Heart to Connect”. This theme was chosen to represent how the information about Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) should be conveyed to the world, especially for those who live far from the information center. The main purpose is to increase people’s awareness about CVD, including its prevention and treatment.

What makes CVD become so urgent to discuss? Heart disease is one of the leading causes of increasing death rates every year. More specifically, CVD is a non-communicable disease (NCD) that causes the most deaths throughout the year, and it’s even estimated that more than half of NCD death case are caused by CVD. Quoted from the World Heart Federation, it is reported that each year, there are about 18.6 million deaths caused by CVD. Therefore, World Heart Day is commemorated as a form of support and prevention of this deadly disease, and is expected to reduce the number of lives claimed by this disease.

So, what exactly is CVD and why is it so dangerous?

CVD is an accumulation of heart and blood vessels disorder. Other heart disease such as coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease are part of CVD. Most cases of death from the patient of CVD are caused by heart attacks and strokes. Symptoms that are usually appear from patients with heart attack including discomfort in the centre of the chest and/or pain or discomfort in the arms, the left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back. While in patients with stroke, the following symptoms including numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. The strategies that we can use to prevent CVD is to reduce the risk factors, such as tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, and inadequate physical activities.

By commemorating the World Heart Day and spread the information about CVDs, together we can prevent and reduce the number of deaths caused by CVD. Use heart to connect.

 

“Grow in Everlasting Chances, Bloom in the Service for Others.”
VIVA AMSA!

References:

www.who.int
www.world-heart-federation.org

World Lupus Day 2021 marked on 10th may 2021. World Lupus Day serves to call attention to the impact that lupus has on people around the world. The annual observance focuses on the need for improved patient healthcare services, increased research into the causes of and cure for lupus, earlier diagnosis and treatment of lupus, and better epidemiological data on lupus globally.

Every day, more than 5 million people worldwide struggle with the often debilitating health consequences of lupus, a potentially fatal autoimmune disease capable of damaging virtually any part of the body, including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Ninety percent (90%) of people living with lupus are women. Most people with lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs). “Autoimmunity” means the immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and body’s healthy tissues. As a result, it creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. Lupus in not contagious disease but its more hereditary disease, which genes is predisposition factor of this disease.

there are 4 different form of lupus, that are:

• Systemic lupus accounts for approximately 70% of all cases of lupus. In approximately half of these cases, a major organ or tissue in the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain will be affected.
• Cutaneous lupus (affecting only the skin) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases.
• Drug-induced lupus accounts for about 10 percent of all lupus cases and is caused by high doses of certain medications. The symptoms of drug induced lupus are similar to systemic lupus; however, symptoms usually subside when the medications are discontinued.
• Neonatal lupus is a rare condition in which the mother's antibodies affect the fetus. At birth, the baby may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms typically disappear completely after six months with no lasting effects.

These are Lupus symptoms:

• Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
• Pain or swelling in the joints
• Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes
• Headaches
• Low fevers
• Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light
• Chest pain when breathing deeply
• A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose
• Hair loss
• Sores in the mouth or nose
• Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed (Raynaud’s Disease)

 

Lupus is not contagious and is characterized with the butterfly rash. Purple ribbon and purple butterfly is a symbol of hope, let us fight lupus! Keep in mind how you can't catch lupus but your germs can kill lupus sufferers.

"Enrich Collaboration, Exceed the Boundaries."
VIVA AMSA!

 

References:

lupus.org

worldlupusday.org

awarenessday.com

 

World Malaria Day 2021 held on 25th April 2021 and brought "Reaching the Zero Malaria Target" theme. This year, WHO and partners will mark World Malaria Day by celebrating the achievements of countries that are approaching and achieving malaria elimination. They provide inspiration for all nations that are working to stamp out this deadly disease and improve the health and livelihoods of their populations.

In Indonesia, the success of eliminating malaria at the subnational level has also continued, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, 18 new districts have succeeded in achieving elimination status after going through an assessment process by the Komisi Penilaian Eliminasi Malaria (KOPEM). The national malaria program adapts to the situation during the pandemic to ensure that malaria services in health facilities and malaria prevention in the community continue. Technology for training, meetings, surveillance, and malaria diagnosis continues to be utilized and developed by the Ministry of Health. Based on World Malaria Report 2020 data for the last five years Indonesia has shown impressive progress. According to WHO estimates, malaria cases in Indonesia decreased from 1.1 million (2015) to 658,000 (2019).

the following are short explanation about malaria.

Malaria is infected disease cause by Plasmodium that transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria kills more than one million people each year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is the leading cause of death for children under five. There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species (Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax) that pose the greatest threat.

The common symptom of malaria are fever, headache, and chills. it may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria. If not treated within 24 hours, Plasmodium falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness, and lead to death. Children with severe malaria frequently develop one or more of the following symptoms such as severe anemia, respiratory distress in relation to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria. In adults, multi-organ failure is also frequent. In malaria endemic areas, people may develop partial immunity, allowing asymptomatic infections to occur.

Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease and prevents deaths, and also contributes to reducing transmission. The best available treatment, particularly for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, is artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Antimalarial medicines can also be used to prevent malaria.

 

“Enrich Collaboration, Exceed the Boundaries.”
VIVA AMSA!

References:

www.who.int

April 7th 2021, marks the World Health Day this year taking "Building a fairer, Healthier World" theme. This theme called out for action to eliminate health inequities, as part of a year-long global campaign to bring people together to build a fairer, healthier world.

There are several factors contribute to inequities such as poverty, unemployment, environmental challenges, gender inequalities, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has had grave consequences for people already experiencing inequities. Health inequities are not only unjust and unfair, but they also threaten the advances made to date, and have the potential to widen rather than narrow equity gaps. However, health inequities are preventable with strategies that place greater attention to improving health equity, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

The preventable measurement that WHO offers are working together, collecting reliable data, tackling inequities, and acting beyond borders;

• Work together

Work hand in hand with affected communities and individuals to address the root causes of inequities and to implement solutions – within and beyond the health sector – to address them. The impact will be greatest when governments and communities work together, in a coordinated approach

• Collect reliable data

Ensure collection and use of timely and reliable health data - disaggregated by gender, age, income, education, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant to the national context. Only then is it possible to assess inequities across population subgroups and take actions that have impact.

• Tackle inequities

Adopt a whole-of-government approach to tackling the root causes of inequities and increase investment in primary health care. This is key to meeting today’s challenges of ensuring Health for All and to building the resilience of tomorrow.

• Act beyond borders

For example, only when we can protect, test and treat the whole global population can we end the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as assuring an equitable supply of vaccines, tests and treatments, we must strengthen national and international mechanisms and build community trust and participation into their delivery and uptake to ensure access for all globally.

 

“Enrich Collaboration, Exceed the Boundaries”
VIVA AMSA!

Reference:

www.who.int

This year's World Kidney Day marked on 11th March 2021 with "Living well with Kidney Disease" theme. This theme has been brought to increase education and awareness about effective symptom management and patient empowerment, with the ultimate goal of encouraging life participation. Whilst effective measures to prevent kidney disease and its progression are important, patients with kidney disease including those who depend on dialysis and transplantation and their care-partners should also feel supported, especially during pandemics and other challenging periods, by the concerted efforts of kidney care communities.

The kidneys are complicated and amazing organs that do many essential tasks to keep us healthy. The main job of kidneys is to remove toxins and excess water from blood. Kidneys also help to control your blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep bones healthy. Each roughly the size of fist, kidneys are located deep in the abdomen, beneath the rib cage. Kidneys control blood stream levels of many minerals and molecules including sodium and potassium, and help to control blood acidity. Every day kidneys carefully control the salt and water in your body so that your blood pressure remains the same.

there's 8 golden rules to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease:

• Keep fit, Be active

This can help to maintain an ideal body weight, reduce your blood pressure and the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.

• Eat a healthy diet

This can help to maintain an ideal body weight, reduce your blood pressure, prevent diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with Chronic Kidney Disease.

• Check and control your blood sugar

This is especially important for those who are approaching middle age or older. About half of people who have diabetes develop kidney damage but this can be prevented/limited if the diabetes is well controlled.

• Check and control your blood pressure

High blood pressure can damage your kidneys. This is especially likely when associated with other factors like diabetes, high cholesterol and Cardio-Vascular Diseases. The risk can be reduced with good control of blood pressure. Normal adult blood pressure level is 120/80. Hypertension is diagnosed if, when measured on two different days, the systolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥90 mmHg (WHO).

• Take appropriate fluid intake

The right level of fluid intake for any individual depends on many factors including exercise, climate, health conditions, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Normally this means 8 cups, approximately 2 liters (quarts) per day for a healthy person in a comfortable climate condition.

• Don’t smoke

Smoking slows the flow of blood to the kidneys. When less blood reaches the kidneys, it can decrease their ability to function normally. Smoking also increases the risk of kidney cancer by about 50%.

• Don’t take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills regularly

Common drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS)/ pain-killer (e.g. drugs like ibuprofen) can harm the kidneys if taken regularly.

• Get your kidney function checked if you have one or more of the ‘high risk’ factors(Diabetes, Hypertension, Obese and family history of kidney disease)

“Enrich Collaboration, Exceed the Boundaries”
VIVA AMSA!l

Reference:

www.worldkidneyday.org

This Year's World Cancer Day take place on 4th February 2021. As all the people known, cancer is a critical health and human issues. About  10 million people die each year from cancer. That’s more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. By 2030, experts project cancer deaths to rise to 13 million. If we act fast knowing this condition, more than one third of cancer cases can be prevented. Another third can be cured if detected early and treated properly. By implementing resource-appropriate strategies on prevention, early detection and treatment, we can save people from dying because cancer.

Here's a bit explanation about what cancer is and how threatening cancer in our lives.

Cancer is a disease which occurs when changes in a group of normal cells within the body lead to uncontrolled, abnormal growth forming a lump called a tumor, this is true of all cancers except leukemia (cancer of the blood).If left untreated, tumors can grow and spread into the surrounding normal tissue, or to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic systems, and can affect the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems or release hormones that may affect body function.

Tumors can be divided in three groups, which are:

• Benign tumors are not cancerous and rarely threaten life. They tend to grow quite slowly, do not spread to other parts of the body and are usually made up of cells quite similar to normal or healthy cells. They will only cause a problem if they grow very large, becoming uncomfortable or press on other organs - for example a brain tumor inside the skull.
• Malignant tumors are faster growing than benign tumors and have the ability to spread and destroy neighboring tissues. Cells of malignant tumors can break off from the main (primary) tumor and spread to other parts of the body through a process known as metastasis. Upon invading healthy tissue at the new site they continue to divide and grow. These secondary sites are known as metastases and the condition is referred to as metastatic cancer.
• Precancerous (or premalignant) describes the condition involving abnormal cells which may (or is likely to) develop into cancer.

Tumors can be classified from the type cell they start from. There're 5 types:

• Carcinoma. A cancer that arises from the epithelial cells (the lining of cells that helps protect or enclose organs). Carcinomas may invade the surrounding tissues and organs and metastasize to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body. The most common forms of cancer in this group are breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer
• Sarcoma. A type of malignant tumor of the bone or soft tissue (fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves and other connective tissues that support and surround organs). The most common forms of sarcoma are leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma and osteosarcoma
• Lymphoma and Myeloma. Lymphoma and Myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which runs all through the body, and can therefore occur anywhere. Myeloma (or multiple myeloma) starts in the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies to help fight infection. This cancer can affect the cell's ability to produce antibodies effectively
• Leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells and bone marrow, the tissue that forms blood cells. There are several subtypes, common are lymphocytic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Brain and spinal cord cancers. These are known as central nervous system cancers. Some are benign while others can grow and spread.

Cancers can be caused by a number of different factors and, as with many other illnesses, most cancers are the result of exposure to a number of different causal factors. There're Modifiable risk factors include:

• alcohol
• overweight or obese
• diet and nutrition
• physical activity
• smoking
• ionizing radiation
• workplace hazard
• infection

But there're Non-modifiable risk factors include: 

• age
• cancer causing substances
• genetics
• immune systems

Sign and symptoms are varies, but there are common signs and symptoms too, such as:

• Unusual lumps or swelling, cancerous lumps are often painless and may increase in size as the cancer progresses
• Coughing, breathlessness or difficulty swallowing 
• Changes in bowel habit such as constipation and diarrhea and/or blood found in the stools
• Unexpected bleeding includes bleeding from the vagina, anal passage, or blood found in stools, in urine or when coughing
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Fatigues
• Pain or ache 
• New mole or changes to a mole, look for changes in size, shape, or color and if it becomes crusty or bleeds or oozes
• Complications with urinating includes needing to urinate urgently, more frequently, or being unable to go when you need to or experiencing pain while urinating
• Unusual breast changes such as changes in size, shape or feel, skin changes and pain
• Appetite loss 
• A sore or ulcer that won’t heal 
• Heartburn or indigestion 
• Heavy night sweats 

Management of the cancer depends on what kind of cancer, where it's located, how big it is, etc. The general types of treatments include:

• Surgery. If a cancer has not metastasized (spread), surgery can remove the entire cancer which may completely cure the disease. Often, this is effective in removing the prostate or a breast or testicle.
• radiotherapy. Radiation treatment or radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to reduce a tumor or destroy cancer cells as a stand-alone treatment and in some cases in combination with other cancer treatments.
• chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses chemicals to interfere with the way cells divide - damaging of DNA - so that cancer cells will destroy themselves. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma.
• immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses the body's own immune system to fight the cancer tumor. Immunotherapy may treat the whole body by giving an agent that can shrink tumors.
• hormone therapy. Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, including breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy works to change hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely.
• Gene therapy. The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell destroys themselves. However, gene therapy is new and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.

Reference:

https://www.worldcancerday.org/

World Leprosy Day takes place on the last Sunday of January, and this year World Leprosy Day taken place on 31st January 2021. The World Leprosy Day established in 1954 by French philanthropist Raoul Follereau, it aims to raise awareness about leprosy (now called Hansen’s disease) and teach people about this ancient disease and that it is easily curable today.

This year, World Leprosy day brought "Beat Leprosy, End Stigma and advocate for Mental Wellbeing" theme, which is to beat leprosy, spread word that leprosy curable, end stigma and advocate mental wellbeing of persons who have experienced leprosy.

The Following explanation about leprosy.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is known to occur at all ages ranging from early infancy to very old age. Leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability.

Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.

The disease can cause skin symptoms such as:

• Discolored patches of skin, usually flat, that may be numb and look faded (lighter than the skin around)
• Growths (nodules) on the skin
• Thick, stiff or dry skin
• Painless ulcers on the soles of feet
• Painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes
• Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes

Symptoms caused by damage to the nerves are:

• Numbness of affected areas of the skin
• Muscle weakness or paralysis (especially in the hands and feet)
• Enlarged nerves (especially those around the elbow and knee and in the sides of the neck)
• Eye problems that may lead to blindness (when facial nerves are affected)

Symptoms caused by the disease in the mucous membranes are:

• A stuffy nose
• Nosebleeds

If left untreated, the signs of advanced leprosy can include:

• Paralysis and crippling of hands and feet
• Shortening of toes and fingers due to reabsorption
• Chronic non-healing ulcers on the bottoms of the feet
• Blindness
• Loss of eyebrows
• Nose disfigurement

Other complications that may sometimes occur are Painful or tender nerves, Redness and pain around the affected area, Burning sensation in the skin.

Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is treated with a combination of antibiotics. Typically, 2 or 3 antibiotics are used at the same time. These are dapsone with rifampicin, and clofazimine is added for some types of the disease.

"Enrich Collaboration, Exceed The Boundaries!"

VIVA AMSA!

Reference:

www.who.int