Tag

Low And Middle Income Countries

All articles tagged with #low and middle income countries

health2 years ago•12 min saved

"Global Microbiome Research: A Lifesaving Initiative for Children"

The majority of human microbiome data comes from European and North American populations, leaving a significant gap in understanding the microbiota of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research indicates that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in conditions such as malnutrition and infectious diseases that disproportionately affect those in LMICs. To address this disparity, efforts are needed to collect microbiome data from diverse populations worldwide, train researchers in LMICs, develop local infrastructure for analysis, and foster long-term collaborations. Establishing regional centers of excellence, developing microbial culture collections, and fostering collaboration between better-resourced academic laboratories and researchers in LMICs are proposed as key steps to accelerate microbiome research in LMICs and improve global health outcomes.

via Nature.com|

#children #global-health #health

health2 years ago•6 min saved

"Alarming Revelations: Global Lead Exposure Exceeds Previous Estimates, Study Finds"

A new study published in Lancet Planetary Health reveals that the global death toll from lead exposure is six times higher than previously estimated. The study estimates that 5.455 million adults worldwide died in 2019 from cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to lead exposure. Additionally, children under 5 years old lost a collective 765 million IQ points due to lead exposure. The study puts the combined toll of cognitive damage and CVD mortality at $6 trillion for 2019 alone, with the greatest burden falling on low- and middle-income countries. The findings highlight the ongoing problem of lead exposure and the need for legislative responses to reduce lead pollution and exposure globally.

via MPR News|

#cardiovascular-disease #global-burden #health

technology2 years ago•3 min saved

Gates Foundation Supports 50 AI Projects for Equitable Global Development

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $100,000 each to 48 research groups in low and middle-income countries to develop AI-based applications using large language models. The projects aim to address healthcare and social issues, such as maternal healthcare, education, crop diseases, and gender-based violence. The initiative seeks to promote the development of generative AI globally and ensure more equitable access to the technology. The selected recipients will use models like ChatGPT, GPT-4, GPT 3.5, LaMDA, Bert, and mT5, and will have three months to complete their projects. The program aims to build an evidence base of generative AI use cases and determine how AI can benefit low-income communities.

via Forbes|

#ai-applications #gates-foundation #generative-ai

health2 years ago•7 min saved

The Overlooked Cruelty of Long Covid in the Global South

The impact of long Covid in low- and middle-income countries in the global south is largely undocumented and overlooked, with little research, awareness, or support for those suffering from the after-effects of the virus. Patients in countries like Bolivia, Kenya, and India have had to advocate for themselves to find diagnoses and treatments, as many doctors are unaware of long Covid. The lack of attention to this issue adds to the burden of chronic diseases in these countries, with limited resources and public health concerns taking precedence. The long-term consequences of long Covid in the global south remain uncertain, but the need for evaluation and support is crucial.

via The Guardian|

#global-south #health #health-burden