BuzzFeed: Pharma’s Generosity – Just a Disguised Scam?

Here at AMWHO 2018, delegates of each region are clamoring for approval and funding from pharmaceutical companies much like how a middle child assures Mommy how pretty she is before asking for their weekly allowance. Reps from Pfizer and Novartis are dishing out checks for as much as a whopping five million to regions implementing solutions increasing access to health.  Programs they’ve funded so far include mainly subsidies for providers, and in turn, the population, who buy the high-cost drugs they need for treatment. This may all seem like highly altruistic acts of charity, especially as the two reps are extremely well-spoken, gorgeous #bossladies, but we at BuzzFeed are not sure if their intentions are as good as their outfits.

The simple, dumbed-down reason behind how some big pharma companies justify their high and rising drug prices is that they are responding to high demand. By funding countries in AMRO to establish locally run pharmacies selling Pfizer products and to subsidize drugs patients at those pharmacies pay for, Pfizer is doing just that: hiking up demand. The cool million they hand out is nothing but a PR front they can use as a shield when they inevitably hike up prices for drugs that become in high demand. Also, in order for the countries at this conference to receive the funding, they had to agree to place Pfizer logos on everything, from the medication to the pharmacy building itself. Selling the souls of their people much?? The ulterior motive here is not to get patients access to healthcare, but rather to expand on their money making schemes. Funding more pharmacies that sell their drugs only adds to their profit. Just look at what happened to the price of Daraprim (that one drug that increased in price by 5000%?) thanks to donations from Turing Pharmaceuticals.

In AFRO, it seems that delegates are concerned over “fake” drugs that have overtaken populations. Their solution is to tighten regulations on non-effective drugs, as of course they’d like their people to actually be cured of their ailments, but they refuse to address the root of the problem: that people are turning to these sketchy drug dealers instead of international establishments because THEY’RE REALLY FRIGGIN EXPEN$IVE. This is the root of the problem, and it can only be solved by holding pharmaceutical companies responsible through policy, not through lil cute PR-scam checks.

Hold your government responsible guys. Big Pharma knows no shame. Speak up to protect yourself, your family, and Cardi B’s future child. Especially Cardi B’s future child.

CNN: Race to the Finish Line

Many NGO’s and Pharmaceutical companies have already put their stamp of approval on different committees. So far the Red Cross and the Gates foundation have approved AMRO, SERO, and EMRO. With three organizations approved is Refugees International, which has given their seal of approval to EMRO, EURO, and SEARO. Partners in Health has given out the fewest approvals, with seals given only to AFRO and EURO. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders has approved all of the participating committees.

These results leave AMRO, AFRO EURO each with three seals of approval, meaning they each still need one more seal to pass their resolution. Well done to SEARO and EURO who are now in good standing with their resolutions. Congratulations to AFRO their two-million-dollar grant, EURO on their one-million-dollar grant, and EMRO on their astounding six-million-dollar grant. These results are changing fast!

CNN: The Cloud has Arrived to Health Care

The Cloud comes to Health Care-A represents from the EURO committee discussing the upcoming health database that will be very useful in detecting health issues, especially in rural areas. #AMWHO2018 pic.twitter.com/HRL3B7oAA8

— CNN@AMWHO (@AMWHO_CNN) April 7, 2018

BuzzFeed: In the Spirit of Partnership, Some Insight

At this conference, we’re all about partnerships. Who can you work with to make your idea as realistic as possible? Are you getting enough seals? What about enough funding? BuzzFeed can help you find out who to work with to reach your committee goals in this new quiz!

CNN: EMRO On the Right Track

Thanks to Somalia and their resourcefulness in the past, EMRO is on the verge of successfully creating Med Pack, an initiative that could be used globally. Med Pack is a package that includes different preventative interventions, as well as educates the recipients. Due to the diversity in challenges that nations face, it is quite impossible to find a single intervention that would resolve all of them at once. Therefore, in creating these packages, different nations can choose what they would like to include based on the various burdens they face. These packages can include comprehensive medical interventions such as Hepatitis C vaccinations, Polio Vaccinations, Tuberculosis vaccinations, and even inhalers. They also include life style based interventions as well as easily understandable literature to promote healthy choices. EMRO has teamed up with Partners in Health to educate community health workers as well as initiate the distribution of packages. These participants will be trained to best execute distribution, as well as provide health related information to their various communities. We thank this committee for thinking creatively as well as globally.

BuzzFeed: Which Contraceptive Are You?

Are you sitting around listening to delegates talk about STI protection and increasing access to contraceptives? Did all that talk get you thinking about which contraceptive matches YOUR personality best? Here’s the perfect BuzzFeed quiz for you!

 

BuzzFeed: Highlighting Innovation Among Refugees

LISTEN UP FOLKS GET READY TO BE ~SHOWERED~ WITH INNOVATIVE INSPO FROM REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL #AMWHO2018 pic.twitter.com/7h9w9Ild9T

— Buzzfeed (@BuzzfeedAMWHO) April 7, 2018

NDTV Interviews the Delegation of India

CNN: NGOs Opinions on EURO Resolutions

Several of our NGOs have voiced their concerns with what is perceived to be a “Euro-centric” resolution that do not take the levels of society into consideration.

OXFAM admittedly professed its concern with the fact that there are no mention of establishing infrastructure in local and municipal government as well as educating tribes in respective areas.

Greenpeace refused to work a resolution that included unspecific nuclear uses.

Action-aid saw no motions for gender equity therefore left like EURO did not hold the same values.

CNN: Bye-bye Nile, Why East Africa has not discussed the fight over the Nile?

Out of all the Eastern African countries that are represented, not one has mentioned the constant conflict over access to the Nile River. Ethiopia, North Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda are all states affected over the conflict that has Ethiopia and Eritrea up in arms.

These two states have been feuding for decades whether it be relating to ethnic conflict, political regimes, and now water scarcity. The borders of the two are constantly filled with military personnel conducting training and practice as a demonstration of power. While they argue and bicker over the Blue Nile portion of the river, Egypt has not made a stance on its reliance on the Nile River either. While arguing with the Middle East, it seemingly removes itself from the equation of this imperative problem.

It calls to question whether or not any of the listed delegations realize that the Nile is no longer flooding and covering its banks with slit; the nutritious soil makes the Nile River Valley fertile.

Rising sea levels are affecting the river’s delta, emptying the freshwater into the sea. No one is suggesting possible infrastructure to preserve the area. Many of these countries are concerned with desalinization when a 10-liter container of water has been steadily increasing in price over the last 7-10 years.

Ethiopia has vigorously advocating for water preservation due to the increased desertification of the Sub-Saharan region but forgets that the belly of the longest river in the world is in her domain.

North and South Sudan have forgotten that their ethnic conflict has not allowed for prosperous climate discussion. As a newly divided state, either has the footing to hold to any resolution passed that does not provide amply guidance or funding.

Congo has stated that desertification has a paramount influence on not only its climate but its economy, however; for desertification to slow, soil must be used. Without vegetation in soils that are susceptible to such a damaging process, the Sub-Sahara will simply be the Sahara.

Rwanda and Uganda championed sanitation methods and best practices without mentioning the bodies of freshwater that their populations use the most. Its concerning seeing that both of these countries have been suffering through drought, famine and fruitless harvests as well as a rise in malnutrition and spread of disease.

The largest, quite arguably, most vulnerable asset in this region is virtually forgotten. The biodiversity provided by the Nile River is will no longer exist. The livelihood of these countries and the vitality of their people are at risk due to the willful ignorance of the representatives present.