'We often go to bed on empty stomachs': In Ethiopia's Afar region, hunger takes its toll
Like Farah, every day, dozens of mothers turn up at Abala hospital with their malnourished children. Between January and February 2025, 1,768 new cases of severe acute malnutrition were detected, an increase of 44.3% compared to the same period in 2024, according to the non-governmental organization Première Urgence Internationale, which oversees treatment in the ward. In this arid region, the prevalence of this condition stands at 15%, exceeding the critical threshold set by the World Health Organization. In its latest report published in January 2025, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, a US-based alert and prevention network, classified the northwest of the region, where Abala is located, as being in an "emergency situation" – one step short of famine. In total, in Ethiopia, more than 10 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition, the World Food Program warned in April.
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Euronews
6 hours ago
- Euronews
As social prescribing gains traction, can nature, art, and sport heal?
When patients shuffle through Natalie Viaux's medical clinic in Brandenburg, a German city west of Berlin, she has no clue what their health problems are – and that's by design. Rather than checking patients' blood pressure or reviewing their medical charts, Viaux asks about their lives, challenges, and resources. Her clinic is experimenting with social prescribing, which aims to boost patients' health by 'prescribing' things far outside the medical realm, such as museum visits, sports clubs, and time spent in nature. Social connection and community support are a priority. 'It's valuable, all the modern medicine and what it does, yet with humans, some things can be rather simple,' Viaux, who is also a trained therapist, told Euronews Health. Here's how it works: Doctors flag patients grappling with social problems that may be hurting their wellbeing – loneliness, grief, relationship issues, finances, housing, employment, or anything else – and send them to 'link workers' like Viaux. Rather than treating a medical diagnosis, link workers partner with patients to create personalised plans that address the issues holding them back from good health. The idea is that by helping people get back on their feet – mentally, financially, or physically – they'll be empowered to take charge of their health, in turn reducing the burden on overstretched medical systems. 'We described it many years ago as focusing on what matters to people, rather than what the matter is with them,' said Dr Sam Everington, a UK-based physician and an early pioneer of the social prescribing movement, which has now spread to more than 30 countries worldwide. Research indicates social prescribing can help improve people's mental and physical health, reduce their visits to general practitioners, and boost their motivation and sense of meaning in life. Now, 22 health centres in eight European countries – Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain – are trying social prescribing as part of a research project to identify how well this approach works to improve health for refugees and immigrants, older adults who live alone, and LGBTQ people. 'It's not about privileged persons who would like to have a yoga class,' Dr Wolfram Herrmann, who is leading the five-year project at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, told Euronews Health. 'It's really about people who have social problems, and usually also have mental problems and somatic problems,' he said. Social services v. social prescriptions Many programmes already address the so-called social determinants of health, even if they aren't labeled social prescribing. This includes everything from doctors' referrals to social or legal services, to 'food as medicine' initiatives or unconditional cash transfers for new mothers. But social prescribing introduces new ideas, like prescription pottery classes or community gardening, that go beyond traditional support services. Julia Hotz, a US journalist who chronicled social prescribing efforts across the globe for her book, 'The Connection Cure,' says the material and social aspects are two sides of the same coin. She views social prescribing as an umbrella term for any initiative to address the non-medical factors that affect our health. 'I think you need them both together,' Hotz told Euronews Health. 'A nature prescription or culture prescription is not going to do somebody much good if they're unemployed, struggling to make ends meet, or not eating healthy food'. 'If you think about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, you need those things in order to achieve these sorts of higher delights,' she added. 'But on the other hand, ethically, who are we to say' what matters most to an individual person's wellbeing. 'The most advanced social prescribing communities recognise all of that,' Hotz said. Link workers are key In some cases, link workers have helped physicians rethink what might improve patients' health. When Viaux joined the Brandenburg clinic, doctors initially gave her a list of services, including the Red Cross, a church, and migration support. But Viaux had some ideas of her own. 'She had a new brochure [that included] many more ideas we didn't even consider,' Dr Benjamin Senst told Euronews Health, such as local clubs, sports leagues, nature, and art. 'This was so eye-opening,' Senst said. It 'went beyond the well-established, basic structures of social support, to something broader [that] also addresses certain problems with disease and social diagnosis'. Having strong link workers, who are sometimes called bridge-builders or community health nurses, appears to be the key to making social prescribing programmes work. Everington ticked off a list of qualities they should have: emotionally intelligent, creative problem-solvers who go the extra mile to support and motivate people. 'A sign-poster might just say, 'the swimming pool is there,' Everington told Euronews Health. 'A social prescriber will say, 'well, actually, there's all female sessions.' Or, 'by the way, there's lots of people who are very overweight, so don't feel body-shy about going swimming.' Or, 'this time of day, the pools are actually empty''. 'It's actually [about] how you get somebody to go through the door, not just pointing them to the door,' he added. Viaux worked with one older woman, for example, who had mental health issues and obesity and used a wheelchair. While a doctor might have advised her to work out more, Viaux found her a water exercise programme after she said she wasn't comfortable attending a tai chi class due to her weight. She also helped the woman overcome bureaucratic hurdles to get a new wheelchair. Soon after, the woman began leaving her house more often and joined a local card-playing group. 'Once the ball was rolling, she took over,' said Viaux, who works with 40 to 50 patients at a time for a maximum of three months each. 'The beauty of social prescribing, for me, is that we connect [patients] to something existing,' she added. 'We use the resources that are already there, which makes it a very cost-effective approach to health'. Building the evidence base Yet while advocates say the benefits of social prescribing are clear, they cite a common challenge: proving, conclusively, that it works. It's also been hard to home in on exactly which programmes are the most effective. 'Oftentimes, people will look at that data and they'll say, 'Well, this was a small sample size, how do you demonstrate that it was the social prescription, specifically?'' Hotz said. 'I get that from a research perspective,' she added. 'But a social prescription will often have all these intangible benefits, like giving us more confidence, getting us out of the house more, [and] helping us to adopt other healthy behaviours'. Social prescribing also isn't a silver bullet solution to all of society's ills. As one research team put it, these programmes are 'not a quick fix to address problems of inequality and social exclusion in disadvantaged areas'. That's exactly what the new research project aims to explore, with nearly nearly €7 million in funding from the European Union. It will run a randomised trial that splits patients into two groups: one that gets social prescribing and one that receives standard care, so researchers can determine what impact the approach has on vulnerable groups. 'There are things which seem to make total sense and [be] very good, but in the end, they do not show positive effects,' Herrmann said. 'We would like to see if there are really positive effects,' with the goal of influencing health policy decisions across Europe. In the meantime, Everington is continuing to push for social prescribing – which the UK government committed to rolling out in primary care clinics nationwide in 2019 – to enter the global mainstream. He said his London clinic, which runs more than 100 social prescribing projects, hosts thousands of visitors per year, including national health ministers interested in replicating his model. 'We learned very early on that you cannot describe it and get people to understand it by a document,' Everington said. 'You actually have to come and taste it, smell it, feel it, and talk to people who are actually doing it'. His personal enthusiasm may be another selling point. 'We have a cure for a hell of a lot of disease and illness, and it's called social prescribing,' Everington said. 'This is the magic medicine that we've been looking for'.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
What we know about the West Nile virus spreading in Europe
Ten people have died of West Nile virus in Italy this year, with cases of the mosquito-borne illness also reported in other parts of Europe. As summer heats up, health authorities have warned Europeans to take steps to prevent themselves from being infected with the West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, including chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. But what exactly do we know about the West Nile virus? Where does the virus come from? Spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes, the West Nile virus infects both humans and birds. But in very rare cases, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and breast milk. Its name dates back to 1937, when it first appeared in the West Nile region of Uganda. It was introduced to the United States in 1999, and has since become widely established across the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Today, it is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and west Asia. West Nile virus often spreads from mid summer to early autumn in regions with warmer weather. Research has shown that climate change is accelerating the spread of mosquito-borne viruses in Europe. In addition to Italy, infections have been reported in Bulgaria, France, Greece, and Romania this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The virus was also detected in mosquitoes in the United Kingdom for the first time earlier this year. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus? Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. But about one in five people will develop West Nile fiver, which causes body aches, headaches, vomiting, fatigue, rashes, and swollen lymph glands. Around one in 150 infected people develop a more serious form of the disease that can cause neurological complications, coma, tremours, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Serious illness can occur in people of any age, however people over the age of 50 and some immunocompromised persons (for example, transplant patients) are at the highest risk for getting severely ill when infected with WNV. People with compromised immune systems and those over the age of 50 are at higher risk of these complications. In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause fatal neurological disease. What is recovery like? There is no vaccine or specific treatment for people with Nest Nile virus. Rest, fluids, and pain medications can help alleviate some symptoms. Patients with a neuro-invasive illness are usually hospitalised and given intravenous fluids and respiratory support while they recover, the WHO said. Once infected, people are believed to be protected against the virus for life. Beyond treatment, public health authorities are focused on preventing people from infection in the first place. These efforts rely heavily on local mosquito control programmes and personal protection. Authorities recommend that people use insect spray and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers to keep themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Five ways wildfires can hurt your health
A massive blaze is sweeping through the south of France, leaving more than 160 square kilometres burnt, property destroyed, and at least one death in its wake. French authorities say the wildfire in the Aude region is the country's biggest since 1949, with Prime Minister François Bayrou describing it as 'catastrophe on an unprecedented scale'. France is not alone. Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Romania, and the United Kingdom have also been grappling with fierce wildfires this summer. Their toll goes far beyond the immediate destruction. Smoke and flames can cause high levels of air pollution, which is harmful to people's health and can travel thousands of kilometres from the fire. Wildfire smoke also appears to be more harmful than other types of air pollution when it comes to our health, though research on its long-term impact is limited. Children, older adults, people with certain health issues, and outdoor workers are at higher risk of complications. Even after they are contained, wildfires can affect people's wellbeing by, for example, making it harder for them to access health care services. Here are five ways wildfires can affect human health – and how you can protect yourself if wildfire smoke reaches you. 1. Respiratory irritation Wildfire smoke is full of tiny air pollutants, including fine particulate matter or PM2.5. It can get deep into the lungs, triggering coughing fits, chest pain, and stinging eyes. Exposure can also exacerbate asthma and has been linked to pneumonia. 2. Organ damage Experts believe PM2.5 can enter the bloodstream, cause inflammation, and affect other parts of the body, including the heart. Smoke exposure has been tied to a higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack. Beyond the impact on our lungs and hearts, PM2.5 from wildfire smoke can cause and exacerbate problems with the skin, gut, kidney, eyes, nose, and liver, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 3. Mental health issues Wildfires can be traumatic. Victims are at higher risk of depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). The mental health impact can be either immediate or longer term. Meanwhile, research published this week found that after devastating wildfires in the Hawaiian island of Maui in 2023, the rates of suicide and overdose deaths nearly doubled. 4. Brain performance Wildfire smoke can lead to cognitive impairment and memory loss, the WHO said. In research published last year, the more people were exposed to wildfire pollutants over time, the more likely they were to be diagnosed with dementia. In another study, researchers found adults had shorter attention spans within just a few hours of exposure to wildfire smoke pollution. 5. Cancer Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke may raise the risk of lung cancer and brain tumours, though more research is needed on the topic. A sweeping review in 2022, for example, found that PM2.5 and other chemicals often found in wildfire smoke were linked to cancer, based on studies that showed elevated cancer risks among firefighters and people in the western United States, where wildfires are common. How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke? If wildfire smoke reaches you, there are steps you can take to minimise its impact on your health. In parts of France affected by the wildfires, local authorities are urging residents and tourists to stay in their homes unless they are told to evacuate. Meanwhile IQAir, a Swiss company that tracks air quality, recommends that people shut their doors and windows, set their heating and cooling system to recirculate indoor air, and consider using an air purifier. It says people should try to stay indoors and wear a KN95 mask if they need to leave the house.
