In my initial search for worthy news in health care, I came upon several articles on DNA-Prokids and wanted to share some information on the work being done to stop human trafficking .
Professor Jose A. Lorente, PhD at the University of Granada-Spain is utilizing investigative genetics and information technology to assist in the fight against human trafficking. Dr. Lorente's project developed from a concern he had for the trapped and neglected children in many foreign countries. In 2004, he started a genetic indentification protocol and data base to assist in identifiying trafficked and missing children and their families. The object of the program as stated is to impede human traffic via identification of victims, to reunite victims with family and to investigate origins, routes and means of trafficking to apprehend and prosecute traffickers. The program was piloted in Guatemala, Mexico, Indonesia and the Phillipines and was extremely successful.
Dr. Lorente is now collaborating with Arthur Eisenberg, PhD professor and chair of Forensic and Investigative Genetics at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification. They are hoping to enlist each nation to establish a national data base and link it to a single world wide data base for missing, abducted and homeless children. The Life Technology Foundation has awarded DNA-Prokids $500,000 to fund the development of a new DNA collection kit for easier distribution to developing countries, to establish the data base and to educate countries how DNA sequencing can be used to solve crimes.
That is good news in health care.
Source: Medical News Today, Life Technology
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Human Trafficking Down Home
Where is the real news in health care these days? The Internet and evening news have been preoccupied with health care reform for months predicting doom and destruction no matter what Congress enacts. I'm weary of the rhetoric, so I went looking for some real news about health care. Knowing that genetic science always has new developments I started a search and received an education in Human trafficking.
Human trafficking an international public health problem and has become a 13 billion dollar global industry. It is the modern day equivalent of slavery and it is projected to become the number one international crime in 2010, surpassing drugs, weapons and blood diamonds. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) estimates there are 2 million victims and 50% are children under the age of 17. The US government estimates that between 18,000 and 20,000 international victims are within its borders. Much more impressive is that 200,000 children who are US citizens are at risk also. International efforts are spear headed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project (UNIAP). The World Health Organization and UNICEF have published guidelines on how to interview and assist victims. Here in the United States, the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees a Restore and Rescue Program for victims and operates a hot line at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
Now I am from "The Show Me" state of Missouri and I had to investigate the prevalence of human trafficking in this country further. I found it right here in the Heart Land. Because the Mississippi River is a geographical barrier to ground transportation, there are 2 interstates that support the region. Hwy 44 is the southern route. It is very rural and well known as a super highway to move illegal substances from the southwest part of the country. Hwy 70 spans the middle of the state and connects two major metropolitan areas St. Louis and Kansas City, an even better route to traffic humans. And right there in the middle is Columbia, a small but growing town that is home to Missouri University (MU).
MU has a masters program in Public Health and they received a grant from HHS in June of this year to start a Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking Regional Program.
The stated goals are surveillance and investigation, to raise public awareness and be a resource for victims. They will be training public health professionals and students, as well as police, hospital staff, social workers and others. Interesting too, they will be looking at human trafficking from a rural perspective.
I must say that I have always assumed this was "not in my back yard" but I actually lived and worked in Columbia for 10 years and still have many friends there. This posting has definitely "raised my awareness".
I certainly hope that whatever health care reform comes out of Congress it comes soon. I think our president is a very brave and earnest individual trying to manage a monumental change for our country. But we are waisting time picking sides, qwibbling amongst our selves, chasing the boogie man and stumbling over the little things. There are more important health and humanitarian issues and we should be assuming the lead for the larger community of man.
Human trafficking an international public health problem and has become a 13 billion dollar global industry. It is the modern day equivalent of slavery and it is projected to become the number one international crime in 2010, surpassing drugs, weapons and blood diamonds. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) estimates there are 2 million victims and 50% are children under the age of 17. The US government estimates that between 18,000 and 20,000 international victims are within its borders. Much more impressive is that 200,000 children who are US citizens are at risk also. International efforts are spear headed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project (UNIAP). The World Health Organization and UNICEF have published guidelines on how to interview and assist victims. Here in the United States, the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees a Restore and Rescue Program for victims and operates a hot line at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
Now I am from "The Show Me" state of Missouri and I had to investigate the prevalence of human trafficking in this country further. I found it right here in the Heart Land. Because the Mississippi River is a geographical barrier to ground transportation, there are 2 interstates that support the region. Hwy 44 is the southern route. It is very rural and well known as a super highway to move illegal substances from the southwest part of the country. Hwy 70 spans the middle of the state and connects two major metropolitan areas St. Louis and Kansas City, an even better route to traffic humans. And right there in the middle is Columbia, a small but growing town that is home to Missouri University (MU).
MU has a masters program in Public Health and they received a grant from HHS in June of this year to start a Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking Regional Program.
The stated goals are surveillance and investigation, to raise public awareness and be a resource for victims. They will be training public health professionals and students, as well as police, hospital staff, social workers and others. Interesting too, they will be looking at human trafficking from a rural perspective.
I must say that I have always assumed this was "not in my back yard" but I actually lived and worked in Columbia for 10 years and still have many friends there. This posting has definitely "raised my awareness".
I certainly hope that whatever health care reform comes out of Congress it comes soon. I think our president is a very brave and earnest individual trying to manage a monumental change for our country. But we are waisting time picking sides, qwibbling amongst our selves, chasing the boogie man and stumbling over the little things. There are more important health and humanitarian issues and we should be assuming the lead for the larger community of man.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
My name is Mary Vasterling and I have worked in health care for 35 years. I am a registered nurse as well as sonographer specializing in cardiac and vascular diagnostics. I have worked in staff and management roles in several specialties and practice settings including adult surgery, diagnostics, long term care and cardiology. I am currently enrolled in the Distance Learning program at UC-Davis in Healthcare Informatics. The purpose of this blog is to discuss the present state and future of healthcare always acting as advocate for the patient.
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