Lakers let the game go 101 to 96. Lakers lost a close one tonight but Kobe was nonexistent in the fourth. I would expect more from him next game. Huge disappointment for Laker fans and a new found hope for those in Oklahoma.

With a minute left in the game Lakers are down by a basket.

Kobe keeps chucking up threes and Oklahoma still leads 90 to 82. Their reign only continues as Westbrook lands another three. The crowd in Oklahoma goes wild as their team leads the 2009 champions 93 to 87.

The young Oklahoma team has gained their confidence and continues to lead the game. At 86 to 82 one has to say "What's going on with the Lakers?!" Kobe storms off the court pissed after getting blocked Durant.

The Thunders' long awaited lead comes at 10:57 in the fourth quarter. 75 to 76 with the Lakers trailing for the first time in the game. Kobe picks up his fourth personal foul. Oklahoma only increases the lead and the score is now 80 to 77. Bynum comes back and dunks to tighten the Thunder lead to 80 79.

3:11 to play with Odom missing the first free throw. He nails the second while Kobe sits out. Ron Artest looks on rocking some Laker pride in his hair. Offensive foul charge on Fischer.

At 5:52 in the third quarter, the score 64 to 56 Lakers. The Thunder has yet to catch up and pass the Laker lead. Both teams are playing well. Oklahoma narrows on the lead at 4:25 being six points behind. Lakers call a time out when Oklahoma makes a basket and minimizes the lead to four. For such a young team, Oklahoma is putting up a worthy fight.

Lakers on top by seven with 1:28 on the clock. Kobe Bryant with 14 points. As the time quickly winds down Oklahoma answers with a basket. Kobe goes for a three and misses. This ends the first half of the game with Laker lead of 50 to 43. The Lakers have led the whole time so far with the Thunder not so far behind. The game could go either way at this time.

With minutes left, Oklahoma narrows the lead to three. But Kobe Bryant comes back to make sure the Thunder don't get too comfortable and sinks two three pointers. Oklahoma comes back with two baskets and keeps the lead to four. As the Lakers try to come back with a shot, Oklahoma steals the ball and makes a basket. A commercial break ends Oklahoma's streak.

As the game continues the Thunder tries catch up to LA with the score of 36 to 28. The steam the Thunder had earlier seems to have died down a bit. LA continues to dominate 5:56 into the second quarter. A commercial break puts the game on hold.

At 8:05 in the second quarter Ron Artest makes a three pointer and a time out is called with the score 29 to 24.

The second quarter starts with the score 27 to 22. The ball belongs to the Thunder but is quickly turned over to LA. Gasol attempts a basket but is unsuccessful. The Thunder retrieve the ball and can't seem to make it in. After some back and forth attempts the Thunder ends the missing streak and makes a basket, tightening the Laker lead 27 to 24.

Number 13 on the Thunder makes a three pointer with 2:00 on the clock. The Lakers get the ball and are unable to answer to the Thunder's basket. Oklahoma takes the ball back and makes the shot but they are still trailing 27 to 20. The Thunder are starting to gain some steam; making continuous baskets and narrowing the Laker lead 27 to 22. As time winds down in the first quarter, neither team makes any points. The Thunder trailed as much as 12 but now they have caught up to stay in the game.

Oklahoma takes a time out. They had to "stop the bleeding" because the Lakers could not be stopped with their shots.

After the first time out comes to an end at 9:26 on the clock the Thunder has the ball. Their first basket comes and so does a foul by the Lakers. The Lakers take back the ball and Ron Artest makes a shot. Right after Kobe Bryant comes back with a three. The Thunder answer to Kobe's great shot with a basket. Both teams are going back and forth with their baskets and Derek Fisher ends the basket streak.

April 22, 2010 kicks off the third game in a playoff series featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the Lakers up by two games in this conference series, the Thunder are looking to salvage their spot in the 2010 NBA finals. The Lakers, having won the 2009 NBA championship, seem eager to clench another title, while the underdog team from Oklahoma would have never imagined making it this far. If the Thunder have a chance of defeating the Lakers, Kevin Durant needs to step up his game. The game starts with the Lakers in possession of the ball. Number 37 makes the first and second basket.

Malaria in Latin America

Throughout history, epidemics have plagued individuals taking millions of lives. In modern times, however, the development of vaccinations has alleviated much of the devastation these illnesses have caused. There are vaccinations for numerous infectious diseases including malaria, small pox, and Lyme disease. Despite this fact, many people in Latin America do not have access to these vital treatments. Malaria, in particular, continues to be a growing problem for many Latin American citizens. The areas hit the hardest with the vector are tropical environments with high humidity. According to R. Mansell Prothero of the University of Liverpool, “the mortality risk is greatest in Guyana, French Guinea, Surinam, and Brazil which have the highest proportions (over 40 percent) of cases of falciparum malaria, the most deadly species of the disease.”

Malaria eradication projects in Central and South America face many obstacles. One of the initial plans for eradication brought on by the World Health Organization included spraying insecticides and the use of anti malaria drugs. Both of these measures have only been put into practice only in areas of dire need. Funding eradication projects throughout the continent is almost impossible because of the high costs of medication and chemicals to eliminate the disease.

The spread of malaria can be attributed to individuals migrating throughout Latin America. Prothero states that “in many instances movements of population assist in the transmission of malaria and interfere with programs for malaria control and for the general improvement of health.” People who are already infected run the risk of spreading the disease while those who are not infected my come in contact with the disease in a new area. It is also more difficult for integral eradication projects to be put in place when populations are mobile.

In recent years, an even greater threat to eradication has come about. Antimicrobial resistance to drugs has made it difficult to treat patients with malaria. Access to treatment is a minuscule problem when resistance to such drugs is becoming a fast growing problem in many of these areas. According to the U.S. Pharmacopeia organization, “antimicrobial resistance has several root causes including environmental changes, rapid population growth, and the adaptation of the microbes themselves.” When treatments are available the misuse of drugs and the poor quality of medication further heighten the severity of the problem. For instance if someone begins to use antibiotics for treatment and does not complete the dosage, the parasitic infection will gain a resistance to the medication. This is in part due to the lack of basic medical education many citizens who are exposed to the disease unfortunately have.

Eradication and many other efforts to stop the spread of disease like malaria are continuing an ongoing struggle. As more and more people are affected each day it is imperative that preventative measures be taken. Also, it is important that people recognize that malaria and many other tropical diseases still plague much of the tropical regions of Latin America.

Abortion in Latin America

Women’s reproductive rights are always a topic of concern in any underdeveloped country. In Latin America there are varied degrees of rights and health statuses among its female population. Abortion, for instance, is illegal in most regions. Governments and citizens are against the idea of terminating a pregnancy and view it as killing a living individual. This ban, however, has not alleviated the problem but only worsened it. Take the staggering abortion rates in Peru. According to an article published in the New York Times , women average two abortions over their entire lifetime. In Columbia, the rate does not fall far behind with one abortion over a lifetime. In the US where abortion is legal, the numbers are markedly lower with four out of ten women going through the procedure.

It is interesting to understand why these numbers are so high for an act that is illegal and frowned upon. Sex education is not necessarily taught in Latin schools. According to a paper published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization , sexual education has been met with much adversity due in part to influential conservative groups. Teenagers do not understand how the reproductive process works or how to use contraception; although in most of these countries the use of contraception, especially before marriage is considered taboo. Even in some Latin American countries where abortion is legal, such as Cuba, women who cannot afford to go to a private doctor seek under qualified individuals to perform their abortions. Often times this is met with devastating circumstances. The published paper in the New York times estimated that about 5,000 women die each year from complications that arise from abortions with over 100,000 being hospitalized. Countries where abortion is legal only under dire circumstances, such as rape or when the mother’s life is in jeopardy still make it difficult to terminate pregnancies. Most places refuse to even perform abortions because of religious reasons and many women do not report rape out of embarrassment.

However, there has been some progress in terms of abortion rights. Governments are realizing that criminalizing abortion is not solving the problem. They are now focusing on ways to improve women’s health and not basing it on their own moralities. Although legalization in most countries has not occurred, more women’s rights groups are being formed and more women are taking political positions where they are urging the government to legalize abortion. There has also been pressure from the United Nations for Latin governments to track their progress in terms of women’s rights.

Women’s reproductive rights are still an issue of great concern in developing nations. Many women go without basic rights because of their government’s lack of foresight. Recognizing different ways in which to improve rights can greatly alleviate the health of women throughout the world.

Pollution in Latin America

Pollution throughout the world has been a growing concern since the rise of industrialism. During this time pollution was centralized to areas in which industry was growing. Now, since labor is cheaper in developing nations, many companies have infiltrated these areas bringing along various contaminates. Many of the third world nations of Latin America have dealt with the effects of industrial pollution for years.

There are many different types of pollutants that are affecting Latin American people’s health. The soil, for instance, in most of these countries is being contaminated with chemicals and metal traces near agriculturally dense areas. This in turn leads to health risks from food that is cultivated for mass distribution. Mercury levels are at an all time high along the Amazon River which flows through much of Peru and Brazil. Pesticides are also a significant issue. Many nations have outlawed the use of such chemicals because of the environmental devastations they cause. Some developing Latin nations, however, have started to produce and sell the product for revenue to other third world countries.

Air pollution is another major concern for Latin American nations. According to a 2002 World Health Organization disease report , air pollution has caused 35,000 annual premature deaths and 276,000 years of life lost. Urban areas are some of the harder hit places with many people being affected, especially the poor and young children.


There has been some progress in terms of increasing air quality in Latin America. Responses to this crisis have come in the form of the Clean Air Initiative for Latin American and the Caribbean and the Clean Air Institute. These projects seek to promote clean air in urban environments, alleviate climate change, and encourage the use of public transportation.

Overall, Latin American governments are taking steps in the right direction in terms of improving pollution. This region continues to suffer from the effects of past decisions where health was not an issue. It is still important that initiatives be taken in order to minimize the destructive nature of pollution on health in Latin America.

The Rising Costs of Medication

In the past decade pharmaceutical companies around the world have been growing as a sector at rapid rates. Profit margins for these companies are reaching staggering numbers. From 2001-2002 the industry of pharmaceutics gained a 20% increase in sales. The rise of pharmaceutical companies has left much of Latin America with restricted access to medical care. Much of this industry has focused its attention and advertising to wealthier countries such as the US. They are catering to areas of the world with the greedy intention of making enormous amounts of money. In doing this, they are ignoring most Latin American counties that desperately need drugs to combat diseases that don’t necessarily occur in the US. Tropical diseases for instance are taking millions of lives in Latin America, while this concern in the western world is almost nonexistent. Ways to treat such diseases are scarce when pharmaceutical drugs are not available.


Powerful pharmaceutical companies in Latin America have begun pushing for wider patent protection and rights on their products. The effects of these measures are seen in the dramatic price increases on vital medications. Many companies want generic brands to become unavailable and are lobbying for drugs to be sold only in pharmacies. They are also marketing to other countries besides their own to push their products.

Not only would the steps taken by these large corporations increase prices, but they would also prohibit the use of plants for medicinal purposes. This practice happens to be extremely widespread in the Latin culture. Medicinal herbs have often times been a viable option for treating illnesses that are normally combated with medications.

It seems almost unbelievable that these large corporations are planning steps to increase prices and limit access to drugs when most people in Latin America live below the poverty line. Interventional measures need to be taken before drug companies monopolize and create a disastrous health environment in these third world nations.

The Status of AIDS and Homosexuality in Latin America

As mentioned in the previous post, AIDS has become an ever growing problem in Latin America. This is especially true in the homosexual community. In fact, sexually active homosexual men are actually 33 times more likely to contract the disease then straight men and women. Social stigmas surrounding this lifestyle have led to a decrease in access to AIDS treatment. Much of the Latin culture prides itself on gender roles, with the ”machismo” ideology being at the forefront of various stigmas. A “macho man” is supposed to demonstrate extreme masculinity in order to seem powerful and to attract the opposite sex. Pure ignorance leads many to persecute gay men for not assimilating to this representation. Coming out seems like a battle many homosexuals do not want to fight. Therefore, those who do contract the disease through sex are reluctant to seek help. Without proper education about the virus, many don’t understand how it is obtained. This lack of knowledge has people actually fearing infected individuals and has caused some hospitals to randomly test patients and workers for AIDS without their consent. If they test positive, patients could be denied treatment and workers could lose their jobs.

Another major roadblock gay Latin’s face is the Catholic Church’s stance on marriage. Catholicism is one of the predominate religions in this region. With a significant portion of the population practicing a religion that condemns homosexuality, it seems like a never ending struggle for homosexuals with AIDS to seek help.

However, in the past two years there has been progress in accepting the gay population in some Latin countries. Laws are becoming more liberal towards homosexuals. For instance, in Mexico gay pride parades are now being celebrated with the government issuing police protection at such events. The government is becoming more lenient and allowing such grand scale demonstrations of gay pride to occur. Even in health care some progression has been made since access to AIDS treatment is becoming more accessible.


Yet these small strides towards social equality come with their share of downfalls. Even though homosexuality is becoming more widely received, there are still many that are not attaining proper medical treatment for their illness. Before the gay movement began, many sought asylum in America for treatment. In 1994, asylum began to be offered to those that were persecuted for their lifestyles. It gave them a place of refuge from the judgmental eye of their community, and the opportunity to acquire medications in the U.S. With Latin governments allowing more gay friendly laws to pass, it is becoming harder and harder for gays to receive asylum. The American lawmakers are no longer granting asylum to Latin citizens as easily.

Only recently have various Latin American governments begun to recognize gay and lesbians as an integral part of the community. Just because there has been a push for gay rights, does not mean that deeply ingrained beliefs and homophobia are going to disappear anytime soon. The men who have sex with men group in Latin American countries are still being singled out for their lifestyles. Access to vital medical treatment is as hard to come by as ever before. America needs to recognize this fact and continue to disperse proper treatment to those in underprivileged countries.

The Basics

Imagine a significantly vast region of the world where roughly a fourth of the population is living on two dollars a day. The idea of an annual medical checkup becomes an almost unheard of luxury. Individual health is pushed back to a secondary priority when people are uncertain of where their next meal is coming from. The third world countries of Latin America face this unarguably horrific state. Underdeveloped, overpopulated, impoverished, politically unstable - these are all defining terms of what constitutes a third world nation.


Poverty is not the only damaging cause that riddles these territories with disease and paralyzes their medical management. Influences such as strict religious beliefs, social stigmas, lack of education, cultural practices, dramatic price increases on pharmaceutical drugs, environmental effects (the list can go on and on), have not only caused but also have restricted access to treatments of various afflictions.


In recent years, there has been a rising number of AIDS diagnoses. According to a 2007 statistical review, Latin America has about 2 million people living with the AIDS virus; double the number of people living with the ailment in the United States. The AIDS epidemic in Brazil and Belize is now rivaling that of Africa’s, with an outlandish number of citizens being exposed. Outbreaks such as this are happening all over the area. Eradication efforts are difficult to come by when there is little money or no stable organization within the government to provide aid. There are also social and religious stigmas, such as those involving homosexuality and sexual promiscuity, associated with AIDS that inhibit those victims to seek help.

Whether it is money or culture, there seems to be a never-ending cycle of complications. Globally health care is a growing concern, especially for those who cannot afford it. Even in America the debate regarding health reform goes back and forth with hardly a resolution in sight. But before any type of reform can happen, individuals need to understand what is going on in order to effectively make a difference in this part of the world.