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.