Netherlands study establishes number of people in minimally conscious state after severe brain injury for the first time

Every year, approximately 130,000 Dutch people suffer some form of acquired brain injury. The causes can be traumatic such as a fall or road-traffic accident, but also a brain hemorrhages or lack of oxygen in the brain (for example after a resuscitation). Sometimes severe brain injuries can lead to a prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDoC). This situation arises after coma when patients open their eyes and breathe on their own, but their consciousness does not return within four weeks after brain injury.

Q&A: Learning from Asian countries to control the leading global cause of death

The leading causes of deaths worldwide are diseases that are not acquired through infection from other people but through a combination of individual physiology and lifestyle, the so-called “noncommunicable diseases” (NCDs). Diabetes, most cancers and most heart diseases are examples, and they disproportionally affect low- and middle-income countries, where they are on a dramatic rise because of unhealthy lifestyles and insufficient health care.

Meta-analysis on urbanicity and depression research

In 2018 the United Nations predicted that 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, an increase from 55% today and a cause for concern among researchers who have identified multiple mental health risk factors in urban living. A 2010 meta-analysis in developed countries found that the prevalence of mood disorders was higher in urban areas, and one from 2019 studied rates of depression in older adults in developed and developing countries.

FAZ boss schools refs 

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga has urged Zambian referees to be focused and ensure that they take their career to the next level. 

Kamanga said there are no reasons why the country should fail to contribute match officials at tournaments such as the AFCON.

He was speaking during the launch at the FIFA elite referees course launch being facilitated by the FIFA instructor, Felix Tangawarima and FIFA physical instructor Mark Mzengo 

Kamanga said local referees have enough role models to learn from to take their careers to the next level.

He also expressed displeasure that every weekend FAZ is drawn to the attention of varying controversies involving match officiating. 

He said some of the screams around match officiating are borne out of ignorance of the laws of the game.

Kamanga encouraged referees taking part in the FIFA elite referees’ course to take advantage of the well-versed team of instructors conducting the course.

“Our duty is to make sure that there is fair play across the football spectrum. We are particularly excited that we have a well-versed team of instructors that are running the rule on our referees. 

It is also gratifying to see a fair share of local personnel heavily involved as instructors. It is a moment of pride for us to see Bernard Chabala, Stanley Hachiwa and the recently retired Janny Sikazwe being among the instructors,” Kamanga said.

Kamanga said FAZ, was determined to make sure that it is in tune with the developments across the game.

After the memorable trial with the Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) during the ABSA Cup final, Kamanga said the association was focusing on increasing the number of match officials exposed to the highest level of technology and training before implementing it fully in the Zambian game.