Tunisia’s financial crisis leaves the sick struggling to find medicine
Tunis, TunisiaReuters Sick Tunisians face a frantic struggle to find some medicines because the cash-strapped state has reduced imports, leaving doctors unable to control debilitating health problems and patients turning to informal markets for their medication. Hundreds of medicines have been missing for months, pharmacies say, including important treatments for heart disease, cancer and diabetes […]
Sudanese help one another find medicine, water as state collapses into war
Cairo, Egypt Reuters As Sudan collapsed into fighting last week that has trapped civilians in their city neighbourhoods, cutting off access to water, food and healthcare, community groups, websites and apps have sprung up to mobilise medical help and find basic supplies. The violent power struggle between the heads of the army and a big […]
“Life is difficult”: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis leaves elderly homeless and penniless
PIYUMI FONSEKA, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports that an economic meltdown has forced some elderly people onto the streets as their families can no longer afford to care for them…
Indonesia finds some medicines with ingredients linked to fatal child kidney injury
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Some medicinal syrups available in Indonesia contained ingredients linked to fatal acute kidney injury (AKI) in children, its health minister said on Thursday, as it investigates a spike in cases and 99 child deaths this year. Indonesia has temporarily banned sales of all syrup-based medications and has been looking closely at paracetamol […]
In exile or prison, Cuban activism gutted one year after mass protests
Havana, CubaReuters On 11th July last year, Cuba appeared poised for political change. Protests – the largest since the late Fidel Castro took power in 1959 – rocked the Communist-run island as Cubans poured onto the streets demanding social and economic reform. Protesters shout slogans against the government during a demonstration, which also involved counter-protesters […]
North Korea reports another infectious disease outbreak amid battle against COVID
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea has reported an outbreak of an unidentified intestinal epidemic on Thursday, potentially adding to strains on the isolated country’s healthcare system which is battling an unprecedented COVID-19 wave. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent medicines to the western port city of Haeju on Wednesday to help patients suffering from the […]
Postcards: Lebanon’s crisis pushes mental health services to the limit
MAYA GEBEILY, of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports from Beirut on the challenges facing mental health workers…
Bicycle riding volunteers deliver medicines in Indonesia’s Semarang
Semarang, Indonesia Reuters Pedalling through the Indonesian city of Semarang, Arrahman Surya Atmaja stops at a pharmacy to pick up some vitamins before hitting the road again to deliver them to a person isolating at home. The 35-year-old is part of a small group of volunteer cyclists running errands for people in the city of […]
Postcards: Cubans turn to herbal remedies, barter amid medicine scarcity
RODRIGO GUTIERREZ, of Reuters, reports from Havana on the impact of medicine shortages amid Cuba’s worst economic crisis in decades…