Diving behaviour and decompression sickness among Galapagos underwater harvesters.

Diving conditions, dive profiles, vascular bubbles, and symptoms of decompression sickness (DCS) in a group of Galapagos commercial divers are described. They harvest sea cucumbers from small boats with surface supplied air (hookah). Dive profiles for 12 divers were recorded using dive loggers, and bubble formation was measured in the pulmonary artery. DCS symptoms were assessed by interview. A total of 380 immersions were recorded over a nine day period. The divers did on average 6.3 immersions per day, in a yo-yo pattern. Mean overall depth was 34.5 FSW. Maximum recorded depth was 107 FSW. Average bottom time per day per diver was 175 minutes. 82 % of all ascents exceeded the recommended maximum ascent rate of 30 FSW/ min. High bubble grades were observed on six occasions, but the test was unreliable. Muscle and joint pain was reported on five occasions, in three different divers. Symptoms were typically managed by analgesics, in-water recompression or not at all. The divers were extremely reluctant to seek professional help for DCS symptoms, mostly due to the high costs of treatment. We conclude that the fishermen dive beyond standard no-decompression limits, and that DCS symptoms are common.

Health for all in the 21st century a policy framework for the WHO European region.

The HEALTH 21 policy for the European Region of WHO provides the framework for taking up the challenges of achieving better health by applying the best strategies that have emerged from the Region's collective experience during the past 10-15 years. The arguments contained within this new policy demonstrate the essential relationship between health, poverty and social cohesion. The policy adopted by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe sets targets and outlines strategies that countries, organisation and civil society can use to turn national policies into practical operational programmes at local level through the European Region.

[Toward health for all in the European region of the WHO. Survey of progress accomplished. I. General evaluation]. / Vers la santé pour tous dans la région européenne de l'OMS. Surveillance des progrès accomplis. I. Evaluation générale.

A review of the main changes in the Member States of the European Region as regards the targets they have set themselves in the area of health-for-all was recently performed. Many indicators have shown considerable progress, but changes are perforce slow. The existence of a political will in matters of health in the governments of the Region has clearly appeared in the course of the past few years.

Ways of combatting the high infant mortality rate in Turkey.

PIP: Turkey's infant mortality rate stood at 95/1000 live births in 1982. A wide range of strategies is needed to address this situation, including better nutrition, immunization, sanitation facilities, safer drinking water, increased motivation for family planning, and improved maternal-child health services. 80% of deliveries take place at home, and 70% of women in a recent survey reported they received no health care services during their last pregnancy. The majority of women are uninformed about the principles of care involved in illnesses such as diarrhea. Respiratory diseases and infectious and parasitic diseases account for 40% of all infant deaths in Turkey. There is an urgent need for applied research to analyze the low level of utilization of Turkey's health center infrastructure. Improved management training in the health sector could establish a continuous feedback system to help local health personnel identify problem areas. The Turkish and International Children's Center could play a key role in improving the flow of information, ideas, and expertise between research groups and the health sector. problematic is the fact that key health policy documents are not available in Turkish. The World health organization (WHO) has agreed to work with the Children's Center to determine the extent and nature of WHO's role in health development in Turkey.^ieng

Evaluation of the European strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000.

For the first time ever, Europe has a concrete, comprehensive and forward-looking health policy framework. Forming part of the worldwide movement for Health for All (HFA) by the Year 2000, the European regional HFA strategy, embodied in 38 specific targets. has been developed by the 33 Member States of the WHO European Region. Completed in 1985, the first evaluation of overall progress in implementing this new health policy has shown that the regional targets may be ambitious but they are viable and realistic. Certain countries have already achieved some of the targets, but even in these countries efforts are still needed to improve equity among social groups. Performance in key areas such as orientation towards primary health care and the provision of safe water and adequate sanitary facilities, although improving, is still not at the levels hoped for and these remain priority items. Even more serious difficulties are apparent in other areas such as healthy lifestyles and the quality of care. The quality of the information available, even in an area as developed as Europe, also leaves much to be desired. The gaps and weaknesses identified must be tackled urgently if the goal of HFA is to be achieved, but there are encouraging signs that the HFA movement in Europe has now really started.

La internacionalizacion de la gerontologia: el papel de la OMS, pasado, presente y futuro: Prefacio

El presente trabajo narra el papel de la organización mundial de la salud (OMS) en el desarrollo de políticas y programas que tienen como fin el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida del anciano. Se enfatiza el respaldo de informacion para la elaboración y difusion de políticas y programas, tanto al nivel nacional como internacional