Inequities Jeopardize Healthcare Access

People with disabilities and female victims of violence were in the spotlight this week, as inequities put their health at a higher risk. Health systems are committed to eliminate these barriers and ensure the right to health to everyone. Meanwhile, Monkeypox is still in the spotlight as cases continue to rise. 

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) will support organizations that fight cancer in Latin America through the Continent 2 Continent 4 Cancer (C2C4C) ride.

This is The Week in Health!

Fighting Cancer on a Bike

BMS is hosting the Continent 2 Continent 4 Cancer (C2C4C) ride for the first time in Latin America. The pharmaceutical subsidiaries in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru are participating in this initiative, which is taking place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 14, 2022, covering a total of 1,800 km from Puerto Varas to the Pucon province, Chile. BMS will donate proceeds to an organization that fights cancer in each country. In Mexico, the selected organization is the Mexican Association of the Fight Against Cancer (AMLCC). Learn more about this on MBN. 

Health Emergencies Pose a Higher Risk to Those with Disabilities

Although the rights of people with disabilities are ensured in local and international legal frameworks, disparities still exist, specifically regarding health equity. These inequities put persons with disabilities at a higher risk of dying earlier, having poorer health and being more affected by health emergencies than the rest of the population. For this reason, the WHO aims to raise awareness on the consequences of health disparities through the Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities. “The overarching aim of the report is to make health equity for persons with disabilities a global health priority,” reads the report. Read the whole story on MBN.

Violence Threatens Women’s Health

Violence against women is a public health concern. Violence affects women’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health and puts them at a higher risk of acquiring HIV, as reported by WHO. Moreover, this violence does not only affect women: “The violence suffered by a woman throughout her life impacts in a multidimensional way, not only emotionally and physically, but it also affects families, communities and the whole nation,” said Karla Berdichevsky, Director General, CNEGSR. To face this situation, Mexico’s health sector has committed to raise awareness on this sector and implementing strategies to eliminate violence against women. Read more about it here.  

Quality in Healthcare: Information for Action

There are several ways to measure hospital quality and safety, one of which is based on the establishment of quality indicators. The development of Quality and Patient Safety Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) allows healthcare organizations to evaluate the performance of the strategies deployed to ensure better services and provide a framework to compare medical practices between institutions. Meanwhile, it is also important to opt for transparency of indicators as a way to promote a patient safety culture. TecSalud, for example, has put quality and transparency at the center to contribute to the transformation of medical practice in Mexico. Learn more about this in this article written by Jorge Azpiri, Director of Development and Expansion Projects, TecSalud. 

Mexico Sees 93 More Monkeypox Cases 

Last week, authorities reported 93 more monkeypox cases in Mexico, with Mexico City, Jalisco and the State of Mexico concentrating most cases. As of today, there have been 60 deaths around the world attributed to monkeypox and 11 deaths in Mexico. Monkeypox’s symptoms include a rash, fever, headaches, muscle aches, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. To prevent it, Mexico’s Ministry of Health recommends avoiding physical contact with people with the disease. It also highlights that unprotected sex with strangers increases the risk of infections. Read more about this disease on MBN.