DPC2109 JOURNAL Submitted to: Ms. Rhonda Hamilton Institution: University of Guyana Name of Student: Anika Felicien Date: 09/02/2022
Table of Contents Content Page # Reflection on scientist 3-4 contributions to the Covid-19 vaccine 5-6 Story on current issue of 7-8 concern 9-11 Eight story Paragraph on 12-14 Mental Health in Guyana 2- page news story on Science 15-17 Instructor Feature On Maternal Death Reflection on time in class 2
Write a reflection on the contributions of science to the development of any COVID-19 vaccine. 3
The covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, but the virus itself began spreading in 2019, hence the name. Vaccinations were first distributed in early 2021 and are still being distributed today. There is a widespread misconception that the Coronavirus vaccine was too quickly approved and endorsed for use in emergency situations. However, what had in fact occurred was that specialists and researchers had the option of utilizing extensive amounts of information, research, and advancements to aid in the development of these life-saving vaccinations. While all evidence suggests that Coronavirus antibodies are both protective and effective, work on the vaccination monitoring process continues. Scientists and engineers have gathered and continue to gather information on the safety and viability of Coronavirus vaccines. Vaccinations are something that we are constantly learning about. We learn something new about shots on a regular basis. The benefits, e.g. the ability to move around freely (eventually) without the use of items like masks etc., the ability to not get completely sick when /infected with the virus, of Coronavirus immunization outweigh the drawbacks e.g. fever, headaches, fatigue and pain at the injection site. Furthermore, there is evidence that supports it. According to Ms. Alicia Bárcena. \"The pandemic has highlighted the need for a methodology that extends beyond public boundaries and strengthens territorial coordination based on Science and Innovation frameworks that are linked among nations and among their creation frameworks.\" Humanity is attempting to discover an antibody and medicines that would take into account killing the pandemic's health effects, and this is where collaborative and coordinated efforts become critical.\" During this pandemic season, the commitment to science, innovation, and development, as well as the approaches and institutions that advance them, is not limited to disease prevention or treatment. Bringing science, innovation, and development closer to useful areas, for example, by assembling clinical supplies, various items for wellbeing assurance, tests to identify the infection, and basic clinical equipment such as mechanical ventilators, among other things is an important step that had to be taken. Science, innovation, and advancement are moving at a breakneck pace. As a result, during pandemic seasons, we must consider how to address both the momentum situation and the post- Coronavirus situation. In this sense, the link between science, innovation, and public creation frameworks will be fundamental. , In the administration of basic supplies and gear, for example, indicative tests, mechanical ventilators, and the advancement of uses for following and counteraction; and third, in monetary recuperation, with the advancement of computerized stages for wellbeing, instruction, and work a long way off, and innovative exchange and modern reconversion. Overall, the covid-19 The pandemic was and continues to be a phenomenon for which the world was unprepared, but vaccines are now available for every living person and with continuous efforts our world leaders, scientists and sponsors being put into the vaccines we as a people must work in arms with them to be able to return us to whatever level of normalcy we can achieve in the face of a virus that shows no signs of slowing down. 4
Interview a senior public health official in your community on a current issue of concern (other than Covid-19) and write a story 5
Every individual's emotional, social, physical, and mental well-being is critical and should not be overlooked under any circumstances. Wellbeing is frequently misunderstood as a nebulous and imprecise concept. When asked, \"How are you?\" most people give short answers, such as \"I'm fine\" or \"I'm ok.\" It is much more than a decorative word and we as a people need to emphasize it more. This paper will concentrate on children's physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being. Children are frequently perceived as being too young to have problems or to bear any burdens, but this could not be further from the truth. As a child or young person advances in their learning, it is critical that their mental, emotional, social, and physical well-being develops in a safe, caring, supportive, and focused environment. Society has constructed a house of cards based on the notions that \"boys don't cry\" and \"ladies should be seen and not heard,\" among other things, and expects girls and boys to react differently to the same situations. Listening to a child when they want to speak is not culturally relevant in the Caribbean, especially if the child has landed themselves in some hot water. This encourages the child not to speak up about anything that even remotely affects them, regardless of how serious it is. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways: they can become withdrawn, they can develop severe anger issues and have outbursts at every little thing, or they can talk over every person with whom they have a conversation out of fear of not being included or not being allowed to speak before the topic changes. Physical \"discipline\" taken too far is one aspect of culture that is quite a detriment. Caribbean parents frequently beat their children to the point of leaving bruises, cuts, scrapes, and so on. This can result in bullying, insecurities about scars left on the body, and even mental health problems for the child. Social wellbeing is a tricky topic that can speak to parents who shield their children a lot during their adolescent and early adult years, not allowing them to socialize, not trusting them out on their own, and so on, all in the name of being steadfast parents or being a little \"strict.\" To summarize, a child's physical, mental, social, and emotional health is critical, but it is frequently overlooked or treated as if it is not as important as it should be. A child must grow into an adult at some point, and denying them the opportunity to develop and spread their wings at a young age can result in irreversible damage. In conclusion, the mental, physical, emotional and physical wellbeing of a child are to be taken into consideration if they are to grow into the upstanding citizens to be “You don’t put poison in and expect roses to bloom” A quote by Ms. Olissa Telford sums up her position on the topic brought forth in this paper and I hope her points were clear. 6
Write an eight-paragraph story on the issue of mental health in Guyana. 7
Every year on October 10, the world observes World Mental Health Day. The world federation for mental health began it as an annual activity by the deputy secretary- general of the United Nations at the time. The availability of mental health services varies greatly between countries. While developed countries in the Western world offer mental health programs for people of all ages. In addition, there are third-world countries where families struggle to meet their basic needs. As a result, it is prudent that we be asked to focus on the importance of mental health for one day. Since time immemorial, mental health has been swept under the rug. It kills more people than any other major physical ailment. The devastation left behind by untreated mental illness is that of irreversible extremes. In Guyana, mental health and awareness are treated as casually as tying your shoelaces for the first time; you give it your undivided attention, and then it becomes second nature. In a country where it is common to mock feelings expressed with terms like \"weak\" or \"wuss,\" it is understandable why a victim would prefer to suffer in silence rather than speak up or seek help. Locally and internationally, poor mental health, particularly depression, is widely regarded as being linked to the majority of suicide deaths in Guyana, while poverty, a lack of employment opportunities, and the inability to access social services and justice are important risk factors. According to an article by Petr H updated on November 12, 2021. “Guyana, a largely rural country at the northeastern edge of South America and home to about 740,000 people, has the highest suicide rate in the world, four times higher than the global average. Deep rural poverty, alcohol abuse and easy access to deadly pesticides seem to be the combination leading to the self-inflicted deaths of more than 44 out of 100,000 Guyanese every year.” It is important to note recent efforts to address these issues, To promote holistic wellness, several programs were created inclusive of individual and group counseling services provided by a qualified psychologist, psychiatric nurse, or trained social worker, a weekly physical health program that focuses on fitness for individuals of all age groups, and all fitness levels.. We still have a long way to go before the road is completely paved but we are on the right track and if we continue this way in the coming years the state of mental illness and treatments will be vastly improved upon. 8
Interview a scientist or an instructor in science in Guyana and write a 2- page news story on their work. 9
I have spoken with Science Instructor Mr. Jeremiah Pierce. In this paper you will find detailed answers on Mr. Pierce’s experiences and opinions. 1. Can you tell us about yourself? “My name is Jeremiah Pierce and I have been a teacher for fifteen (15) years and a science teacher for nine (9) of those years. I am a private lessons teacher and I operate within my own means to teach the secondary school children of Guyana. Teaching has always been a passion for me for as long as I can remember. I was eighteen when I told my mom that I wanted to teach and I had to sit and listen to all the reasons why is shouldn’t do it but I decided to pursue my dreams anyway. I left my mother’s house to go live with my dad, got a job and starting learning to be a teacher at the Port Kaituma School. I started leaning Mathematics and I was relatively good at it too, went on to teach at that school for 6 years before I was let go due to inability to pay me. I started my own lesson not too long after and within 3 months I started getting a lot of children registering for my classes. Then I decided that I wanted to teach science because at that time we did not have a shortage in children that could do math, science was the weak area. so I did the unthinkable and started teaching science while I too was learning and it has bloomed into the science ‘school’ that you all know” 2. Starting with Covid-19 how did the early stages of the pandemic affect teaching for you? “The covid-19 Pandemic has been terrible for teachers and education, putting strain on us instructors. Schools were closed and re-opened inconsistently and teachers had to be ready to move whenever told to. Not to mention the time frame of the pandemic being during national exam times including that of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). Teachers had to double down on SBAs and teaching after missing two (2) full weeks of working without so much as word on what we would be doing from the ministry of education. In addition by being forced to create online content fast and teach our students remotely. The time of lockdown from mid-March until the end of May 2020 was likewise set with great levels of uncertainty for schools and instructors. While some continued their regular schedule in order to educate the children of critical workers, others were left wondering when they would return to physically teaching in the classroom, and whether it would be safe to do so. All of this was happening while loved ones were becoming sick, teachers' own children were home from school, and many types of social or recreational activities were disallowed.” 3. How is teaching Science different from that of any other subject? “Science, unlike other areas that are already clear and concrete and do not require inquiry, can be open to a wide range of options or new ideas and is always in flux. It is the finding of objects based on observable processes in the natural world and since science is not that straightforward teaching the subject can get difficult. Different People learn differently therefore the teaching method has to be thought out completely for each child while still keeping to the point. Ensuring everybody understands is a priority which is tedious task with the science subject because 0065plaining science is like attempting to explain ow we all exist and we all know how that conversation gets. People of ten compare 10
science to technology and that is both incorrect and correct, Science is the driving force behind technology so as science develops so does technology and vice versa” 4. What is the hardest thing about being an instructor? “ Like I said with last question, the hardest thing would be finding a way to deliver a lesson to a class full of children and make sure and make certain one of them understand what you are trying to bring across without it being a ling and drawn out back and forth process. That and trying to teach a class of people that just do not want to learn, as an instructor it is difficult having to redo an entire lesson or go back an entire chapter when the class is not at least making an effort to understand.” 5. You spoke a lot about trying to bring across lessons so that everybody understands can you list some ways you do that? “I don’t think these are limited to just me it’s not some sort of trade secret or anything. The things I do are I have a survey sheet I do at the start of the semester, with questions that provide answers to what would become how I find my teaching method for the next school year. If the answers to the questions point to a mostly introverted class, my teaching methods include more individual assignments and one on one teaching. If the class has more extroverted indivuals then there are more team-building activities, group assessments and field trips. Keeping a class interested should always be the number one goal especially when dealing with the younger folks.” 6. What types of tools/equipment is used in classes throughout the year? “The typical science lab equipment; microscopes, goggles, lab coats.” “To end off a message to parents and teachers alike because those roles are sometimes interchangeable. Take the time to learn the child before you and your life will get easier in terms of the effort you put in take my word for it.” 11
Write a feature on the maternal deaths in Guyana. 12
In Guyana, there have been numerous tragedies on the delivery bed. Mothers who will never be able to see the kid they grew in their wombs grow up should be a rare occurrence, if not unheard of. On the 19th of January 2019, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) gave 100 non- pneumatic anti-shock garments to the public health ministry in an effort to prevent mortality caused by hypovolemic shock and obstetrical hemorrhage. The effectiveness of the garment has been demonstrated statistically. Studies conducted in Africa revealed a 52% reduction in mortality during the NASG period. With technical assistance from PAHO/WHO, 150 healthcare workers within the ministry have already been trained to utilize the garments. \"Zero Maternal Death from Hemorrhage\" training began in 2018 and has so far resulted in nine workshops covering Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Six, and Seven. The unexplained deaths of mothers and their newborns occur with alarming frequency in both the public and private health systems in Guyana, and the families of these women rarely receive the justice that they so richly deserve. One of the common techniques in dealing with situations of maternal and baby deaths is to blame either the individuals or the medical practitioner/s that cared for them. This individual blaming strategy never yields long-term answers to the problem. Medical professionals also have a tendency to blame maternal fatalities and injuries on factors beyond their control, terrible diets or underlying conditions they had before. Among the primary solutions to the constant rise in maternal deaths yearly, are ensuring the presence of relevant facilities in outlying regions and an adequate number of qualified practitioners directing childbirth activities. Training doctors, nurses etc. in this filed particularly would be beneficial to every part involved because then we will have a decrease but also in the case there is a death, they can diagnose exactly what the cause of death was without playing the blame game. Facilities as well is a great hindrance in the year 2022 there are still areas that do not There are various steps that may be taken to reduce mother and infant mortality, but one of the most important is to ensure that there are suitable facilities in outlying villages and an adequate number of qualified practitioners leading childbirth activities. Maternal deaths are made more likely by a lack of sufficient infrastructure. 13
Colorism is one of the most prominent reasons that maternal deaths occur. It is not only overlooked but in most cases automatically ruled out as an option. Some women get horrible treatment when at hospitals if they don’t fit a certain ‘image’ they’re treated as less than human and in the case that these women have any sicknesses or illnesses from beforehand it is worse. However, the impediments to effective health service access are much more than a shortage of hospitals or skilled medical people; it also involves our social, cultural, and economic factors such as poverty, location, racial discrimination, gender inequity, and so on. According to statistics, adolescent girls have a higher birth rate than boys. Before we can around to solving a problem we need to investigate into what exactly is causing the problem. There are many factors influencing maternal deaths and they have been discovered years before but we as a people are still not capable of looking into it? Something has to be done for the hundreds of mothers whose families have to grieve one less member, whose children are made to grow up without their biological mother. Guyana was listed as a developing country and as a developing country the people, resources and everything else needs to go with it. 14
Write a reflection paper on your experiences (in this class) writing health and science related stories. 15
Upon entering the 2109 classroom for the first time (on zoom) it was noted that the class seemed like it would be fun and so it was. The lecturer; Ms. Rhonda Hamilton was very different from other lecturers I was accustomed to. She would not drone on and on but would stop at regular intervals and ask questions, make sure we understand what she explained etc. It was a different experience being able to leave a class feeling like I had learned without the need to listen to lecture recordings. Her teaching method on the moodle platform was also very interactive and fun, we had forums where we could convers, talk about any about scientific discovery we found out about or just talk about we learned in the last class. I believe teaching is hard thing to do especially with a group of adults that already have their ideals and can sometimes be really stubborn, and Ms. Hamilton really delivered on this. My time writing science related articles and reading them as well were quite interesting for a want of a better word. I learnt so much science related facts from the assignments, I developed a habit for reading any science article that crossed my eyes, my curiosity level for science related news was heavily influenced by this class I would not even pick up a science magazine before but now I actively seek out information. Moving onto the actual classes and what I learned. At the beginning of the presentation we were met a phrase “science is like ordinary magic but performed by academics” and I think that was the exact moment that I knew I would enjoy the class because the lecturer seemed to have a sense of humour and any teacher that has a sense of humour is usually great at keeping a class’s attention. Continuing on the first class, by the end of it could trace the origin and nature of science to present day and I grew to appreciate science journalism but more specifically health science Journalism. By the time the second class rolled around I had a deeper understanding of the principles of interviewing and I could identify and apply reporting techniques for writing science stories to an extent. The third lecture session where we learnt about health issues and how they affected the well-being of citizens, I was also made aware that the term health is not a single dimensional word and can refer to several different things. Identifying and assessing health issues both locally and globally did not seem as difficult as it would if I was doing it without prior assistance or knowledge. The fourth lecture was on the implications of a focused or haphazard health care delivery system and we got identify the six dimensions of quality in health care, critically analyze Guyana’s 16
healthcare delivery, Identify and assess the economic implications of Guyana’s health care delivery and speak on those very economic implications. The dpc 2109 classes were a great learning experience and there was not a single class that I came out of with no new knowledge. The lecturers lessons were well thought out and delivered in a way that was I believe every student can learn from. 17
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