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Cambodia Health Officials Expand HIV/AIDS Prevention Education To Primary Schools
The Cambodian Ministry of Health has begun training primary education teachers in 12 provinces on HIV/AIDS prevention education, the Phnom Penh Post reports. Health officials said that although children in primary school are not seen as a high-risk population, they need to be educated on the disease. Mean Chhi Vun -- director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs -- said the students "are a group of people we have to pay attention to because they ... will be the backbone of the nation." Secondary-school aged students currently are receiving HIV/AIDS education, and the programs are being used as a model for the new primary school initiative, according to Pen Saroeun, director of the Ministry of Education"s School Health Department. Some health officials have said that young people are becoming increasingly at risk for HIV, and most outreach efforts target commercial sex workers and their clients and not young people, the Post reports. Saroeun noted that the HIV/AIDS prevention education program has been successful in secondary schools and is the reason the ministry decided to launch the program in primary schools, adding that many students drop out before reaching secondary school. He said, "We will teach them basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS and life skills, such as negotiation skills, how to say "no," goal setting, and how to provide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS." The ministry plans to double the $100,000 it allocated to HIV/AIDS education spending last year with additional funding from the United Nations Population Fund, according to Saroeun. He added, "If we are successful in those 12 provinces, then we will do it in the other provinces" (Kunthear, Phnom Penh Post, 5/19).

Sessions Announced For AHIP's Medicare & Medicaid Conferences Early And Team Registrations Available
Join America"s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) September 13 - 17, 2009, along with senior health insurance plan executives, policymakers, and federal and state representatives for updates, analyses, and discussion on the leading issues for health insurance plans participating in Medicare and Medicaid. Whatever is of special interest to you, AHIP"s Medicare & Medicaid Conferences offer sound public policy analyses and access to best practices and insights to help you strengthen your work serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
News of the day
Protein Level May Serve As Predictor Of Severe Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disorder throughout the world and a leading cause of disability, is characterized by pain, impaired joint mobility, reduction of muscular strength and loss of joint function. Unlike most other common diseases, little is known about its origins, and factors predicting a severe disease course have not been identified. A new study, the first to establish a laboratory marker for the risk of severe OA, found that vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), was a strong predictor of hip and knee joint replacement due to severe OA. The study was published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism .
Diagnostics

Highmark Provides Pediatricians With Res To Combat Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity causes lifelong illness, leads to serious health complications in young adults and can lead to premature death in adulthood due to medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. In addition to its significant human toll, childhood obesity alone costs the nation"s health care system some $14 billion annually. To address the continued tide of obesity in children, Highmark is providing a new Childhood Obesity Physician Toolkit to more than 3,500 family practice doctors, pediatricians and pediatric specialists in Central and Western Pennsylvania. The toolkit, created in partnership with health care professionals, contains best practices on the assessment and treatment of childhood obesity, guidelines and tips for parents on nutrition and activity, as well as res to help physicians better address obesity issues within their practice. "Childhood obesity is an epidemic that requires coordination and collaboration," said Dr. Mary Goessler, a pediatrician and Highmark medical director. "We believe that providing doctors with the toolkit will help them ensure a healthy future for the 33 percent of Pennsylvania"s youth who are considered to be overweight or obese." Data shows that children diagnosed with obesity are two to three times more likely to be admitted to the hospital than nonobese children, making health care costs for obese children about three times more expensive than an average-weight child. "The toolkit represents a partnership between Highmark and the pediatric community and will go a long way in helping us to improve identification of obesity with its complications and res to help treat them," said Dr. Ronald Williams, a pediatrician at Penn State Hershey Children"s Hospital. This is the second edition of the Childhood Obesity Physician Toolkit, which was first created in 2004 through collaboration with physicians in practice. Led by Highmark, the group participated in a community-focused discussion on the emerging childhood obesity epidemic and recognized the need to provide physicians with tools. Updates to the toolkit include more robust content to assist physicians in the early identification and treatment of overweight and obese children, as well as charts and other res to assess risks for comorbid conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Tips for beginning a dialog with parents about their child"s weight and associated health risks are also provided. In addition to Highmark"s focus on childhood obesity through the toolkit for physicians, the company"s $100 million contribution to the Highmark Foundation for Highmark Healthy High 5 is enabling the foundation to fund thousands of school- and community-based programs throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania aimed at providing tools, res and free opportunities to teach children about good nutrition and the importance of physical activity. About Highmark Inc. As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc."s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million people through the company"s health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people"s health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark"s positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the res to give its members a greater hand in their health. Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. Highmark Inc


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