Latest news with #fragility
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Cancer Diaries: Where I almost tumble off an escalator and get reminded I'm a fall risk
JULY 16 — I almost fell off an escalator the other day and it made me so angry. Yes, I know someone reading this assumed perhaps I was careless, inattentive, staring at my phone or somehow distracted. My phone was in my bag. I was staring straight ahead. One arm gripping the handrail, both feet planted firmly on the step. Yet for a brief moment I felt disoriented all of a sudden and I swayed backward. If I hadn't been holding on tightly the back of my head would have met the floor; it was terrifying as I held on trying to right myself. This, despite when I'm walking on level ground always having to fight my body trying to hunch over like Gollum. I hate being reminded about how much more fragile I am but at the same time I now get why people will avoid the stairs/escalators and choose the lift. The only reason I was out and about was because I needed cat food and my picky tabby only likes a specific type — no mousse, no jelly, no chicken, only soupy or with gravy and I'd forgotten to order some online. Not that I'm not getting better. It doesn't hurt sitting down getting into a car now though getting out is another story. Some days I still get disoriented at odd times — I found myself doing a 360 degree turn in the bathroom, like my head couldn't quite grasp where I was until I spun around. Still I'm very conscious that besides my near-bald head I don't look sick so I'm sure people get judgy about the way I walk or my hasty shuffle into an MRT lift. Being hyper-vigilant is exhausting, though. If I hadn't been holding on tightly the back of my head would have met the floor; it was terrifying as I held on trying to right myself. — Freepik pic I continue to lightly tread on my mini-trampoline, no energetic jumps just stepping in place or to the side, occasionally incorporating arm boxing movements and pacing myself. When I first got it I couldn't even stand being on it for more than a couple of minutes. I got too winded. Now I regularly do the bounce for at least 10 minutes after meals and my resting heart rate has improved. Still, my near-fall is a reminder that all I can do is try and cross my fingers. On social media Malaysians grumble a lot seeing our politicians happily post photos of themselves doing walkabouts in foreign countries that would not be possible here. Sure, someone wrote, Malaysia is very walkable if you have no fear for your life! I would just like everywhere to be walkable because even our hospitals are not exactly wheelchair-friendly, despite their nature. Having taken the walking paths around KL General Hospital I note how uneven some pavements are and the crossings that would be difficult to navigate if I was solo in a wheelchair. Meanwhile the woman I'm quietly stalking on Threads had given up on trying to get zakat to fund her medication. She was told that she needed to redo her application, after she had followed up with not one but two offices to ask if they needed anything else from her. It's harrowing to see the hoops people need to jump just to survive. There is plenty of zakat money — why is it so hard to access for those who need it? What is this gatekeeping from what zakat was meant for? Having to go to a third zakat office after the first two gave her the runaround, I know she must be so tired. No one should struggle this hard to afford life saving medication and treatments. Fortunately by the time I finished drafting this column, her application had been re-assessed and approved. The road to the end of my treatment is within sight, coincidentally around my birthday next year. For other people like this woman the future is still uncertain and a long, expensive road full of trials such as bureaucratic red tape awaits them. Depressingly, instead of making treatment more accessible, we now have a new paid tier for public healthcare. One doctor said on X, now patients are going to grumble at us saying they paid extra, why aren't they getting seen faster? The problem: too few doctors, too many patients. The solution, apparently, is to give the people the option to pay more to get seen first. I am not sure what problem this solution solves but I hope people get angry enough to make their dissatisfaction over this, the government's problem.
The Independent
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Democracy ‘not a given' in Britain, top political biographer Anthony Seldon warns
Democracy is ' collapsing in the world ' and 'is not a given' in Britain's future, leading political biographer Sir Anthony Seldon has warned. Sir Anthony, known for his political biographies of UK prime minister's, sat down at Wales' Hay Festival on Saturday (24 May) to discuss Liz Truss ' short premiership and her predecessor, Boris Johnson 's, turbulent time in office. He also discussed the state of democracy today, and how fragile it could be for Britain. Speaking about what he called the 'deep state', Sir Anthony said: 'I don't think they have their own agenda, other than preserving democracy. 'On that point about democracy, let us not forget that democracy is collapsing in the world. The number of democracies are in decline and the reality of what it means to be a democracy is also in decline. 'Democracy is not a given. There was a time when Britain was not a democracy, there well may be a time in the future when Britain will not be a democracy again. 'And the United States, which was born out of the ribs of Britain, breaking away in 1776, has a head of state who does not believe in pluralism.' He added: 'Democracy is frail.' When asked at the end of the talk if he thought Britain would still be a democracy in 50 years, he referenced Britain's instinct against revolution and said: 'There's so much that's admirable in this country, there's so much resilience and care that I think that will hold us through. And good sense.' Sir Anthony also gave verdicts about former prime ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson during the wide ranging talk. He claimed Johnson, the focus of Sir Anthony's 2023 book Johnson at 10: The Inside Story, 'does not believe in Brexit,' despite championing it in the public sphere. 'He wasn't interested. Brexit for Boris was his party ticket to get into Downing Street,' he said. 'He didn't believe in it. He does not believe in Brexit.' Hay Festival, which is spread over 11 days, is set in Hay-on-Wye, the idyllic and picturesque 'Town of Books'. The lineup includes Mary Trump, Michael Sheen, Jameela Jamil, and more. The Independent has partnered with the Festival once again to host a series of morning panels titled The News Review, where our journalists will explore current affairs with leading figures from politics, science, the arts and comedy every morning.
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank Forge Strategic Partnership to Address Fragility and Build Resilience in Africa
The African Development Bank ( and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have reinforced their strategic partnership to enhance collective efforts in addressing fragility and building resilience across Africa. This commitment follows a high-level technical exchange held from 22-23 April at the Bank headquarters in Abidjan. The two-day mission brought together senior officials from both institutions to align approaches, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration to address complex challenges-- particularly in transition states or experiencing fragility. This meeting builds on previous engagements between the two development institutions, including a 2019 Civil Society deep dive facilitated by the African Development Bank's Civil Society Division, where key areas for joint action were initially identified. "This strategic alliance with IsDB reinforces our shared vision of addressing complex challenges in transition states through tailored, context-specific approaches," said Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office at the African Development Bank. "By aligning our methodologies and leveraging our complementary strengths, we can deliver more sustainable solutions in places where development needs are most acute." The IsDB delegation was led by Ahmed Berthe, Lead NGO and Civil Society Specialist, and included Esra Sayhi and Abass Kassim, both Senior Fragility and Resilience Specialists. "Our institutions serve many of the same member countries facing similar challenges," noted Berthe. "What has impressed us most is the African Development Bank's shift toward anticipatory action and prevention rather than simply responding to crises. This partnership creates a framework for maximizing our collective impact through coordinated investments, shared knowledge, and aligned strategic priorities." The exchange spotlighted the African Development Bank's Transition Support Facility (TSF), which committed more than $610 million to projects in fragile contexts in 2024. Discussions explored how the TSF's approach could complement IsDB's financing tools and create stronger synergies in countries where both institutions operate. Climate security emerged as a key theme, with both partners recognizing the role of environmental challenges exacerbating fragility, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The partnership will help develop integrated approaches that address immediate needs and build long-term resilience for both institutions. The exchange also explored ways to harmonize assessment methodologies, coordinate financial instruments, and implement integrated approaches to climate security, with both institutions agreeing to establish a joint technical working group to operationalize the partnership. "In line with our 2022-2026 Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa, this partnership reflects the Bank's strategic emphasis on building alliances that amplify our development impact," said Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, Chief Operations Officer at RDTS. "By combining our institutional strengths with IsDB, we're creating a more powerful platform for advancing resilience where it's needed most." The partnership includes a structured implementation framework scheduled for 2025-2026, in line with the duration of both institutions' strategies for fragility and resilience. A joint technical working group will operationalize the partnership, ensuring that concrete actions follow this strategic alignment. This strategic collaboration advances the African Development Bank's approach to staying engaged in fragile contexts, focusing on prevention rather than crisis response, and building strategic partnerships across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus—all key principles of its fragility and resilience strategy. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Contact: Delphine Vakunta Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS) vakunta@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
