Health improves in Arab states, but heart disease and depression are on the rise

People in Arab states are living longer, but these gains have come at the cost of increased heart disease and depression. The Philanthropy Age (Issue 05, May-July 2014) documented findings from a series of papers published in The Lancet, a medical journal, that tracked the leading causes of death, and the state of public health, in Arab states between 1990 and 2010. The Arab states included Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen.

Life expectancy has risen in Arab states since 1990, but Yemen and Somalia lag behind. In comparison with the global average life expectancy of 70 years, life expectancy of people in Arab states are: United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 77 years, Bahrain –76 years, Saudi Arabia – 75 years, Egypt – 71 years, Morocco – 70 years, Iraq – 69 years, Yemen – 63 years, and Somalia – 54 years (2011 data). Yemeni men have one of the shortest life spans among Arab states at 65.5 years.

Disease prevention has increased in all Arab states, except Yemen and Somalia – both have remained unchanged in 20 years. The top causes of death in 1990 were diarrhoea (16.8%), respiratory infections (14.7%), malaria (5.6%), malnutrition (4.8%), and congenital anomalies (4.8%). In 2010 the top causes of death were respiratory infections (12.2%), diarrhoea (10.2%), malaria (7.0%), pre-term birth complications (4.9%), and congenital anomalies (4.2%).

Road deaths were increasing as early killers of people aged 15-49, causing 8.4% of all early deaths (under 50 years) across the region. The reported road traffic fatalities across the Arab states in 2010 were: Saudi Arabia – 6,596 deaths (86% male), UAE – 826 deaths (89% male), Oman – 820 deaths (85% male), Kuwait – 374 (84% male), Qatar (228 (97% male), and Bahrain – 75 (83% male).

Depression has been rising across Arab states since 1990. Major depressive disorders was the fourth most common cause of early death in 2010, with North Africa the most afflicted of all reported cases. In 1990 middle-income Arab states reported 2.7% of deaths from depression, with 4.1% in 2010. In 1990 high-income Arab states reported 4.9% of deaths from depression, with 6.9% in 2010.

The rise in depressive disorders may be caused by more reporting as the stigma of depressive disorders decreases. Public health campaigns in depression awareness are now quite common too. However, while most health changes examined by the study were consistent with global patterns, the prevalence of depression and anxiety was more pervasive in Arab countries than worldwide. Another reason may be due to the region’s high youth demographics. Major depressive disorders disproportionately affect young adults, compared to other age groups.

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

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