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An Epidemic of Attention Deficit Disorder – NYTimes.com

January 2, 2014

Peter Singhatey Research ADHD, Development, Education, Gambia, Health, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

An Epidemic of Attention Deficit Disorder – NYTimes.com.

There is no doubt that a small percentage of children, perhaps 5 percent, have the disorder and that medication can alleviate the symptoms, such as inability to concentrate, that can impede success in school or in life. Some studies have shown that medications helped elementary schoolchildren who had been carefully evaluated for A.D.H.D. improve their concentration and their scores on reading and math tests.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 15 percent of high-school-age children had been diagnosed with the disorder and that the number of children taking medication for it had soared to 3.5 million, up from 600,000 in 1990. Many of these children, it appears, had been diagnosed by unskilled doctors based on dubious symptoms…

Children from poorer homes ‘watch more TV and eat fattier foods’

December 4, 2013

Peter Singhatey Irish News Education, Health, obesity, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Children from poorer homes ‘watch more TV and eat fattier foods’.

CHILDREN from disadvantaged homes consume 23pc more calories than better-off youngsters each day, and spend much more time in front of TV and computer screens.

A new Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) report highlights the widening health and social gap between Irish children by the time they are just five years old. It also lays bare the growing strain placed on families by the economic downturn. It reveals that the average five-year-old consumes approximately 1,500 calories per day, but children from less advantaged backgrounds, such as lower-income groups, consume 23pc more calories on average each day. And this higher calorie intake is clearly related to obesity rates. The report also shows that children whose mothers are educated to Junior Cert level or lower are more than twice as likely to be obese (9pc) as those whose mothers have a degree (4pc).

Barry Andrews: Failure to tackle climate change puts unfair burden on the poor – Independent.ie

November 13, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, Climate Change, Gambia, peter singhateh, Research 1 Comment

Barry Andrews: Failure to tackle climate change puts unfair burden on the poor – Independent.ie

via Barry Andrews: Failure to tackle climate change puts unfair burden on the poor – Independent.ie.

This weekend’s Typhoon Haiyan was more severe in every respect and latest estimates suggest that more than 12,000 people have lost their lives as a result of the storm.

The question that returns more and more, as weather patterns become increasingly dynamic, is whether these events can truly be considered “natural disasters” any more. The truth is, these events are not entirely natural but whipped up through our failure to properly confront and tackle the human impact on our weather systems.

And the other awkward truth is that those that contribute most to climate change do not share equally the burden of its effects. Rather it is disproportionately the poorest and most vulnerable who are its victims…

Bill Gates: Here\’s My Plan to Improve Our World — And How You Can Help | Wired Business | Wired.com

November 13, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Bill Gates, Development, Education, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Bill Gates: Here\’s My Plan to Improve Our World — And How You Can Help | Wired Business | Wired.com

via Bill Gates: Here\’s My Plan to Improve Our World — And How You Can Help | Wired Business | Wired.com.

I have known since my early thirties that I was going to give my wealth back to society. The success of Microsoft provided me with an enormous fortune, and I felt responsible for using it in a thoughtful way. I had read a lot about how governments underinvest in basic scientific research. I thought, that’s a big mistake. If we don’t give scientists the room to deepen our fundamental understanding of the world, we won’t provide a basis for the next generation of innovations. I figured, therefore, that I could help the most by creating an institute where the best minds would come to do research….

85% of children aged 9-12 using Facebook | Irish Examiner

November 8, 2013

Peter Singhatey Cyberbulling Cyberbulling, Education, Facebook, Ireland, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

85% of children aged 9-12 using Facebook | Irish Examiner.

Despite a minimum age limit of 13 years, 85% of nine to 12-year-olds are using social networking website Facebook, causing principals and teachers to have to deal with cyberbullying on an almost daily basis.

Irish anti-bullying service Bully 4U surveyed 1,720 children between nine and 17 years over the course of two months, asking them about their web usage. One section of the survey asked different age groups whether they were on Facebook and Twitter.

It found that 85% of nine to 12-year-olds were using Facebook and 35% were on Twitter. For 13 to 14-year-olds 97% were on Facebook and 50% were on Twitter. And in the 15 to 17-year-old category, 98% were on Facebook and 55% were on Twitter.

The huge presence of the youngest children surveyed on Facebook was a significant concern for Bully 4U director Jim Harding…

OECD says young Irish are among main victims of the crisis

November 7, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Development, Financial Crisis, Ireland, OECD, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

OECD says young Irish are among main victims of the crisis.

A new report by the global economic think-tank found the share increased by 1 percentage point on average in the area covered by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

But Ireland suffered the biggest hike, followed by Spain which increased 6 percentage points, according to an OECD study measuring the human cost of the crisis. It found that ordinary people’s satisfaction with life has plunged in the eurozone countries worst hit by the financial crisis as faith in their governments’ ability to ease the strain has diminished.

Research finds sleep a factor in childhood obesity – Health News | Irish Medical News | The Irish Times – Tue, Nov 05, 2013

November 6, 2013

Peter Singhatey Health Education, Health, obesity, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Research finds sleep a factor in childhood obesity – Health News | Irish Medical News | The Irish Times – Tue, Nov 05, 2013.

Putting children to bed earlier may be a simple way to keep their weight down, research has shown.

Childhood obesity is not only caused by fast food, sugary drinks and lack of exercise, the new findings suggest. Lack of sleep also appears to be an important factor.

Scientists made the discovery after adjusting the sleep patterns of 37 children aged eight to 11, more than a quarter of whom were overweight or obese…

allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2)

October 31, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Development, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2)

via allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2).

A pioneering new survey of public opinion in 34 countries across the continent suggests that the relatively high average growth in gross domestic product (GDP) reported in recent years is not reflected in the experiences of most citizens.

An average of one in five Africans still often goes without food, clean water or medical care. Only one in three think economic conditions in their country are good. Fifty-three percent say they are “fairly bad” or “very bad”.

The survey suggests that either the benefits of growth are being disproportionately channelled to a wealthy elite or that official statistics are overstating average growth rates (or possibly a combination of both)…