East County News Service

February 20, 2017 (San Diego's East County) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominees for its 2017 Healthcare Heroes Awards. Now in its 11th year, the Healthcare Heroes is GHD’s annual awards program honoring volunteers who help advance the delivery of quality health services in the East County region.

East County News Service

February 14, 2017 (La Mesa) – More than a decade after East County voters approved Proposition G, a $247 million bond measure that provided taxpayer funds for improvements at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, the final construction contract was awarded to San Diego-based Swinerton Builders by Grossmont Healthcare District.

East County News Service

February 14, 2017 (Campo) – A new backcountry healthcare clinic currently under construction in Campo will have $1 million for new medical equipment thanks to the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), an East County regional public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Gutierrez with his wife Janice and daughter Mila courtesy Gabe Gutierrez.

February 13, 2017 (San Diego) - He thought he was healthy.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — Just two weeks after a court blocked merger of insurance giants Aetna and Humana, the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. has blocked another major insurance merger. This time, the court halted Anthem’s proposed merger with Cigna, the Wall Street Journal reports.  The court sided with California and 11 other states, as well as the Obama Justice Department, which had argued that the merger would reduce price competition and lower the quality of healthcare.

East County News Service

February 11, 2017 (El Cajon) - The San Diego Blood Bank will accept blood donations at Granite Hills High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from  8 am ‑  1:30 pm.  The drive will be held at 1719 E Madison Ave., El Cajon in the Wrestling Room.

About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood. One pint of blood, which is the amount volunteers give when they donate blood, can save up to three lives. Approximately, 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood but less than 10% do annually. Since blood is always needed, volunteers are asked to give blood for patients, such as those going through cancer or trauma.

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2017 (San Diego) — After doctors attributed the death of a California man to medical marijuana contaminated by a deadly fungus, the University of California, Davis Medical Center arranged testing on 20 medical marijuana samples statewide.  The vast majority were found to be contaminated with dangerous fungi and bacteria, CBS news reports.

East County News Service

February 8, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Trump and Congress may make it easier to get new drugs approved—even if they don’t work  (Los Angeles Times)
• CDC Seeks Controversial New Quarantine Powers To Stop Outbreaks (NPR)
•  Prion Test For Rare, Fatal Brain Disease Helps Families Cope (NPR)
• Genetic study reveals risk of deadly lung disease (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Senator asks Kaleo to explain $4500 pricetag for overdose, allergy devices (CNBC)
• MAP: Find Out What New Viruses Are Emerging In Your Backyard (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Macron offers refuge in France to U.S. scientists, entrepreneurs (Reuters)
• Seed-embedded bullets sprouting flowers: Can the US Army make that a reality? (CS Monitor)
• Exclusive: Boeing's space taxis to use more than 600 3D-printed parts (Reuters)
• Why is Google selling off its satellite fleet? (CS Monitor)
• How app makers increasingly track your every move (CS Monitor)
• Fall armyworm 'threatens African farmers' livelihoods' (BBC)
• Are We Eating Our Fleece Jackets? Microfibers Are Migrating Into Field And Food (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

February 6, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking applicants for two scholarship programs, one for nursing students and another for students pursuing careers as medical health technicians.

East County News Service

February 4, 2017 (Sacramento) - Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) this week introduced new bills that will strengthen the San Diego River Conservancy (SB 214), bolster language-assistance services in medical care (SB 223), and help prosecute human traffickers (SB 230).

East County News Service

February 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Air pollution may cause 21 percent of dementias worldwide, study suggests (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trump wants to gut FDA regs. He needs a refresher course on Thalidomine. (Huffington Post)
• Most powerful HIV- attacking antibody yet has been constructed (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Drug distributors penalized for turning blind eye during opioid epidemic (NPR)
• An Early First Menstrual Period May Lead to Premature Menopause (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• How some retailers are tracking you as you walk down their aisles (Marketplace.org)
• Hackers launch major attack against PayPal users (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Privacy by design: How fashion combats surveillance (CS Monitor)
• The confusing, wild world of science under the Trump administration (CS Monitor)
• To catch a python: Florida hires Indian tribesmen to root out invasive snakes (CS Monitor)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Rachel Williams

Photo, left: “Here at The Nile Sisters we’re really trying to address health disparities and improve access to care for our refugee and immigrant population,” said Susan H. the health advocacy coordinator for The Nile Sisters Initiative.

February 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Nile Sisters Initiative hosted a panel at The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female circumcision. Refugees and immigrants face several physical and mental health complications after undergoing the procedure in their home countries.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

January 27, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- In a victory for consumers, the U.S. Court for the District of Columbia has issued an injunction blocking the proposed merger of insurance giants Aetna, Inc. and Humana, Inc. 

The Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge lets fans compete for the most donations for every 3-pointer their team scores

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo: SDSU men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher courtesy goaztecs.com

January 25, 2017 (San Diego) - Making 3-point shots this basketball season takes on even more meaning this year for Steve Fisher and the San Diego State basketball team. The Aztecs will square off against teams across the nation to fight cancer as part of the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge.    

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Federal funding for abortions has long been banned, including under the Obama administration. But now President Donald Trump has gone farther, signing an executive order to ban all funding for nonprofits that provide abortions overseas, even money that provide vital women’s health services such as birth control, mammograms, pre-natal and maternity care.

Trump’s action could result in 6.5 million unintended pregnancies, 21,700 mothers dying, 2.1 million unsafe abortions, and countless deaths of newborn babies from preventable conditions, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development.