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Health to me means living in a clean environment, doing routine exercise, practising an active lifestyle, being free from stress, eating a balanced diet, having adequate sleep, having access to healthcare, having healthy relationships, having good personal hygiene, taking some proper rest, and understanding the family history. In a nutshell, I feel healthy when I can perform physical and mental tasks appropriately, I can keep up emotionally with myself and with other people, and I can stay connected spiritually.

Reference (image):
Public Health. (n.d.). What is Public Health? Ask Dr. Cath. https://www.drcath.net/snapfacts/index

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(Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership [Australia], 2019)

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Competency standard 12.1 reflection:

From my standpoint, competency standard 12.1 highlights the major part of domain 7: professional practice principle which focuses on self-awareness and self-reflection. After reading the framework, I have developed an understanding of the importance of respecting different cultures and being aware of my own culture, beliefs, and values in rendering care to a diverse population. For this reason, I have learned to improve my reflection skills which will help me interact and provide culturally safe and responsive care to my patients with different cultural backgrounds. Having realised this, I now feel capable of caring for people who are migrants, refugees, or from another culture. This knowledge is useful to me in the workplace because patient’s healthcare choices might be influenced by their culture and I need to understand and respect this so I can provide culturally appropriate and patient-centred care that could eventually yield positive health outcomes.

Reference (image):
Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership (Australia). (2019). Culturally responsive clinical practice: working with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds: competency standards framework for clinicians. https://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv:96595

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(First Nations Health Authority, n.d., as cited in Umeukeje, 2022)

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Unemployment

Migrants and refugees are grappling to find employment upon coming to Australia due to language barriers, trauma during migration, unrecognised qualifications, and inexperienced working locally. Hence, impacting the physical and mental health of unemployed migrants/refugees and their families.  In addition, unemployment will result in financial stress, social exclusion, and lack of confidence and empowerment towards self. On a side note, working migrants/refugees have lower incomes compared to non-migrants/non-refugees because of their race and English skills. Therefore, they will be at risk for chronic diseases, stress, depression, poor nutrition, and difficulty accessing housing and health services.

Housing Condition

Migrants/refugees are struggling to secure housing in Australia by reason of unemployment, low earnings, psychological trauma, non-English speakers, family size, and ethnicity. Homeowners and real estate agents prefer local applicants rather than migrants/refugees in rental accommodation. Additionally, public and community housing is getting costly and has longer waitlists. As a consequence, migrants/refugees end up homeless and compelled to stay with friends or live with other families in one house. This overcrowding contributes to migrants’/refugees’ poor health by spreading infection among household members. Also, homelessness depicts a cold environment increasing the risk of respiratory problems. These are indicative of unsafe and stressful living conditions migrants/refugees are experiencing.

Accessing Health Services

Migrants/refugees are having problems accessing adequate healthcare services when moving to Australia due to race, cultural barriers, language difficulties, financial constraints, unavailability of healthcare to those living remotely, unfamiliarity of available services, and lack of trust in healthcare providers because of traumatic experiences during migration. This inaccessibility negatively impacts the health and well-being of newcomer migrants/refugees who are suffering complex health problems, thus requiring referrals to allied health professionals for comprehensive care. Limited resources, finances, and services lead to poor health outcomes.

Globally, the implementation of policies and plans to address the social determinants of health in the multicultural sector has been established. In Australia, the absence of national policy is evident; however, South Australia’s Health in All Policies (HiAP) strategy correlates with the universal goal which is to improve health outcomes and equity.

Reference (image):
Umeukeje, E. (2022, April 7). #NephMadness 2022: Social Determinants of Health – The Biggest Elephant in the Room. AJKD blog. https://ajkdblog.org/2022/04/07/nephmadness-2022-social-determinants-of-health-the-biggest-elephant-in-the-room/

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Afghanistan - Health Issues and Treatment Options

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Afghanistan - Health Issues and Treatment Options

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Afghanistan is facing continuous humanitarian problems intensified by shortage of water and natural calamities; hence millions of Afghans have no access to food and health resulting in malnutrition and outbreaks of diseases (WHO, 2023). Afghanistan was taken power by the Taliban on August 15, 2021, following the downfall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan government (DFAT, n.d.). Subsequently, an Interim Mission on Afghanistan (IMA) was developed by the Australian government in support of the Afghans through humanitarian programs and advocacies. Australian migration program allotted a total of 31,500 available places for Afghan people which consists of 26,500 places for the Humanitarian program and 5,000 places for the Family stream (DFAT, n.d.).

The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide (2023) has recorded 3 principal health issues:  tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV which are likely to be present in people arriving from Afghanistan.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is transmitted through inhalation of droplets containing TB bacteria during coughing or sneezing from a person with an active TB infection. Symptoms include persistent cough with haemoptysis, fatigue, fever, weight reduction, and night sweats. The preventive treatment for refugees from Afghanistan who tested positive for LTBI is isoniazid taken for 6-9 months or rifamycin for short-term treatment. (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023)

Malaria

Afghanistan is regarded as the third country with the most malaria cases worldwide (WHO, 2023). Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite called Plasmodium and is transmitted through mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and tiredness. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) emphasised that treatment of oral artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for 3 days before departure is given to Afghan refugees who tested positive for malaria during the pre-Departure Health Check (DHC) screening. (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV is a retrovirus that damages the immune system and destroys white blood cells weakening the body to fight infection causing chronic illness like AIDS. It is transmitted through unprotected sex, contact with blood and body fluids, and breastfeeding. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, and sore throat. One treatment available for HIV infection is antiretroviral therapy (ART) combined with other HIV drugs taken daily to stop the reproduction of the virus and increase life expectancy. (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2023)

References:
Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. (2023). Identifying patients from refugee backgrounds. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/identifying-patients-from-refugee-backgrounds/
Butenkov, A. (2019, January 25). Afghanistan marked with a flag on the map. Alamy. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/afghanistan-flag-globe-map-background.html?sortBy=relevant
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (n.d.). Afghanistan. Australian Government. https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/afghanistan
World Health Organisation. (2023, August 18). Afghanistan’s health system suffers critical underfunding, calls for donor support. https://www.who.int/news/item/18-08-2023-afghanistan-s-health-system-suffers-critical-underfunding--calls-for-donor-support
World Health Organisation. (2023). Afghanistan: malaria. https://www.emro.who.int/afg/programmes/malaria-leishmaniasis.html#:~:text=In%20Afghanistan%2C%205%25%20of%20malaria,Afghanistan%20having%20the%20highest%20burden.

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Pterocarpus indicus or Narra is the Philippines’ national tree and is famous for its hardwood used for houses and furniture. Narra has specific health benefits from its roots to its fruits. Its branch contains potent antioxidants that scored highest in the Philippines and is one of the top 10 among the world’s 326 antioxidant-rich food items listed in the USDA. These antioxidants boost immunity and manage illnesses like diabetes which increases blood glucose tenfold more than metformin. Diabetes ranked fourth most common cause of mortality in the Philippines. Aside from Narra’s household and health advantages, it encourages people to plant more trees to save more lives. (Cal, 2022)

Reference:
Cal, B. (2022, October 21). Use of Narra tree extracts as diabetes cure is significant advancement. Palawan news: Oasis Media Group Corp. https://palawan-news.com/use-of-narra-tree-extracts-as-diabetes-cure-is-significant-advancement/

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(Tinikling Dance, National Dance of the Philippines, n.d.) 

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Tinikling is known as Philippine’s national dance and was created during Spanish colonisation, hence it is performed on Philippine Independence Day and festivals. It is called tinikling because the dance imitates the movement of a bird called tikling. Tinikling is also danced in the US as part of physical education and a form of exercise. Dancing improves physical and mental health by releasing chemicals that boost dancers’ moods and feelings.

Reference:
Tinikling Dance, National Dance of the Philippines. (n.d.). Tinikling dance, national dance of the Philippines. https://danceask.net/tinikling-dance-philippines/

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Euphorbia hirta or Tawa-tawa in the Philippines contains curing properties like tannins, flavonoids, and polyphenols characterised by a non-cytotoxic milky substance (Kumar et al., 2010). It is used for asthma, cancer, bacterial and fungal infection, fertility, and malaria. In the Philippines, Tawa-tawa is famous for treating Dengue which is believed to have a hemostasis effect (increasing platelets) through boiling and drinking the plant extract. WHO (2023) reported 80,318 dengue cases in July and considered endemic in the Philippines.

References:
Herbanext Laboratories. (n.d.). Philippine Medicinal Herb. https://www.herbanext.com/medicinal-herbs/asthma-weed-tawa-tawa
Kumar, S., Malhotra, R., & Kumar, D. (2010). Euphorbia hirta: Its chemistry, traditional and medicinal uses, and pharmacological activities. Pharmacognosy reviews, 4(7), 58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249903/
World Health Organisation. (2023, August 17). Update on the Dengue situation in the Western Pacific Region. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/emergency/surveillance/dengue/dengue_20230817.pdf?sfvrsn=b4a28654_64

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Filipino Art: Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

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Filipino Art: Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

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The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines, painted by Carlos Botong Francisco, was acknowledged as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011 and is displayed at the Philippines’ National Museum. Botong was awarded the National Artist for the Visual Arts in 1973. The painting consists of four 9.71 ft x 8.92 ft oil canvasses portraying the Philippines’ healing traditions. Pre-colonial era represented sacrificing animals for the sick person. The colonial era was the Spanish invasion period characterised by superstitions and sorceries. The American period depicted the foundation of the public health system and sanitation. Lastly, modern medicine illustrates the establishment of hospitals, medical equipment, laboratories, and surgical and diagnostic procedures.

Reference:
TravelswithCharie. (2018, July 29). The art of Carlos Botong Francisco – Progress of medicine in the Philippines. https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2018/07/the-art-of-carlos-botong-francisco.html

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Halo-halo means “mix-mix” in Filipino because it is a mixture of red beans, fresh fruits, crushed ice, and milk; also considered a sweet and creamy Filipino dessert that is enjoyed during summer and get-togethers. It is usually high in sugar and fat; however, to make it healthy use organic fruits, low-fat, and unsweetened alternatives.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp fresh jackfruit
1tbsp unsweetened corn kernels
1 tbsp coconut meat (shredded)
1-2 tbsp unsweetened red mung beans
1 tbsp fresh banana
1 tbsp coconut gel
1 tbsp purple yam
1 tbsp leche flan
2 tbsp home-made ice cream or low-fat frozen yogurt
1 cup crushed ice
2-4 tbsp evaporated or low-fat skim milk

Method:

In a large bowl, mix all fruits, beans, and coconut ingredients. Add the crushed ice and top it with purple yam, ice cream, and leche flan. Finish it by pouring the milk. Then mix and enjoy.

Nutritional Facts:

Servings per recipe: 1
Calories: 312.5
%Daily Value*
Total Fat:9.4g|12%
Saturated Fat:6.4g|32%
Cholesterol:52.7mg|18%
Sodium:238.3mg|10%
Total Carbohydrate:50.8g|18%
Dietary Fiber:2.7g|10%
Total Sugars:36.3g
Protein:8g
Vitamin D:1.3mcg|6%
Vitamin C:3mg|15%
Calcium:219.2mg|17%
Iron:1mg|5%
Potassium:374.6mg|8%
Fatty acids, total trans:0g
Vitamin D:49.8IU
Alanine:0.2g
Arginine:0.3g
Ash:2.1g
Aspartic acid:0.6g
Caffeine:0mg
Carotene, alpha:0mcg
Choline, total:34.1mg
Copper, Cu:0.1mg
Cystine:0.1g
Energy:1308.8kJ
Fluoride, F:24.7mcg
Folate, total: 16.4mcg
Glutamic acid:1.3g
Glycine:0.2g
Histidine:0.2g
Isoleucine:0.3g
Leucine:0.6g
Lysine:0.5g
Methionine:0.1g
Magnesium, Mg:36.4mg
Manganese, Mn:0.2mg
Niacin:0.4mg
Phosphorus, P:203.6mg
Pantothenic acid:0.7mg
Phenylalanine:0.3g
Phytosterols:2.4mg
Proline:0.5g
Retinol:57.5mcg
Selenium, Se:8.5mcg
Serine:0.4g
Starch:2.3g
Theobromine:0mg
Threonine:0.3g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol):0.2mg
Tryptophan:0.1g
Tyrosine:0.3g
Valine:0.4g
Vitamin A, IU:242.9IU
Vitamin A, RAE:60.1mcg
Vitamin B-12:0.2mcg
Vitamin B-6:0.1mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone):0.6mcg
Water:270.5g
Zinc, Zn:1.5mg

Reference:
Moncada, K. (2023, May 9). Halo-halo (Filipino shaved ice dessert). Better Homes and Gardens. https://www.bhg.com/halo-halo-recipe-7112645

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The picture depicts “Bayanihan” which means working together. The image represents people helping each other carry and move the Philippine traditional wooden house from one place to another. It shows Philippine culture and embodies the values of camaraderie and community spirit. In contemporary times, Bayanihan is seen during calamities and during Covid19 pandemic where Filipinos work hand-in-hand to promote mental health, prevent further infection, and address nutritional problems through outreach programs and free counselling services.

Reference:
Obias, N. (2019, January 10). Bayanihan: Great unity and wholesome camaraderie. https://medium.com/@nicoleangelaobias/bayanihan-great-unity-and-wholesome-camaraderie-31e22891849