About Me

"I am a family physician and public health specialist, and have lived and worked in Africa, Asia and North America. I am passionate about health-care development and am a co-founder and director of Healtheon Asia.

This is a collection of my thoughts, travels and things I can't otherwise classify."
- Dr Armid Azadeh

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Smoking Cessation

One of the tasks I would often be asked to support would be the creation of posters for the clinics. When I had a bit of time or a hint of inspiration then I'd usually create something a little more interesting.


The poster created which has become the topic for this post is smoking cessation. Tobacco usage has in more recent times become recognized as one of the major public health issues facing both the developed and now developing parts of the globe. Over 50 percent of the male population are smoking in China now. Thats over 250 million people! Tobacco related diseases are expected to be responsible for 10 million tobacco related deaths per year by the year 2030, with 80% of these in the developing world. At the moment, tobacco has been implicated as a risk factor for 6 out of the 8 leading causes of death worldwide.



You see, once the tobacco companies were restricted from advertising and their use in public spaces prohibited in the developed world, they concentrated all their considerable marketing muscle in the developing world. The largest business transaction ever in Indonesia was when Sampoerna, a local cigarette manufacturer was bought out by Philip Morris.


Anyway, the poster was quite well received. I hope it gives you some ideas or at the very least some information.




Tuesday 7 April 2009

Living in Indonesia




As with all manner of animals, one of the primary survival instincts or needs for humans is to find shelter. The ability to feel comfortable and secure in Indonesia, being the shelter you have “chosen”, may be regarded as vitally important, as this safety and security may be the foundation upon which you justify your choices.

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there may not be a specific reference to medical care being a basic human right, but in Articles 3 and 25(1), where “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person…” and “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services…”, respectively, reference is made to security and medical care. These aspects are vital to your sheltering in Indonesia.