Although I had not had frequent attacks, there were clues that something was wrong with my gallbladder. The diagnosis was made by my primary care doctor, or huisarts, where most medical care in the Netherlands begins. After confirming gallstones were present using the ultrasound machine in his office, he referred...
A year and a half after open gallbladder surgery, I developed an incisional hernia.
Portugal has both a public and a private healthcare system. Residents can purchase private insurance to utilize the private hospitals and doctors, a better option except for emergencies. I saw a surgeon at the local...
Since its founding, the International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) has championed the power of women’s voices, ensuring they are heard, celebrated and shared. In 2025, its anthology efforts align with the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This event is a call to...
The Environment Team selected the book Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist by Kate Raworth for our April 2025 discussion by a landslide vote. Does this interest in economics express a deeper yearning in resonance with the zeitgeist, a desire to understand underlying issues to explain...
In 2023–24, CSW NGO Geneva worked with 120 NGOs from 43 countries to research the progress and challenges for member states of the UN ECE region based on the 12 critical areas of concern in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA). The 12 working groups were given a...
Have you ever thought of looking at your health in an A–Z guide? Here are 26 tips to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
A – ActivityMove, move, move…and add a little strength training. Aim to do this every day! Aim for a mix of cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility...
Uterine fibroids, medically known as leiomyomas, are benign tumours that develop from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus. These are the most common non-cancerous growths affecting women of reproductive age worldwide, but in Nigeria they have become a significant health issue. With a high prevalence rate, severe symptoms, and challenges in diagnosis and treatment, fibroids...
NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) has studied human health in space for many years, but few could have predicted that Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams would be stranded in space for nine months. However, they are not the longest-serving astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Scott Kelly, Christina...
One of the 12 critical concerns of the Beijing Platform for Action is Women in Armed Conflict. The Beijing Platform calls for, among other things, women’s full participation in conflict resolution. It also recognises women’s right to protection, as they are at particular risk of being targeted by violence...
The first thing most people who come to Florence want to buy is a new leather handbag, preferably a designer bag or one from a luxury fashion brand, a pair of beautiful shoes or a pair of soft leather gloves. There is a reason for this. Florence is home to the most talented leather artisans in...
