Bobby Ramakant
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Articles by Bobby Ramakant
January 15, 2012
Citizens have to seriously ponder of the utility (or futility) of investing significant amounts of limited public money India has in nuclear weapons and other arms and ammunition. Where should our money (public money) be invested? In bombs or in providing basic human amenities to every citizen? Should not governments provide social security to every citizen instead of so-called false sense of security that comes from nuclear weapons and other forms of weapons?
April 06, 2011
Some 440,000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are identified each year, causing at least 150,000 deaths from a disease that should be curable. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), which has an even higher fatality rate, has now been reported in 69 countries. "Drug-resistant TB is the end result of a number of different failures, each of which, on its own, is solvable with existing tools. To address all of the issues and stop the spread of this disease requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy, such as The Union has developed", says Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
April 05, 2011
From 5th April 2011, noted social activist and Padmabhushan and Padmashree awardee Anna Hazare has begun his fast-unto-death in New Delhi to put pressure on the Government of India to root out corruption. Not only in Delhi, but in more than 200 cities across India, people have started a protest today in support of Anna Hazare.
April 05, 2011
Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference (ADFC 2011) will open soon next month in Kochi, India. "Over one million lower extremity amputations are performed each year, 70% of which happen to people with diabetes. In India, almost 40,000 legs are amputated every year as a consequence of diabetes" had said Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, President of International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
April 07, 2011
According to The Lancet, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory disease, are responsible for two out of every three deaths worldwide and the toll is rising. A landmark global alliance between leading scientists and four of the world's largest NGOs brings together evidence from a 5-year collaboration with almost 100 of the world's best NCD experts and proposes a short-list of five priority interventions to tackle the increasing global crisis. Reducing tobacco and salt use, improving diets and physical activity, reducing hazardous alcohol intake, and achieving universal access to essential drugs and technologies have been chosen for their health effects, cost-effectiveness, low costs of implementation, and political and financial feasibility.
March 30, 2011
This is not sensational news but in spotlight because CNS recently reported that genital tuberculosis was one of the lead causes of tubal infertility and only 2 per cent women with genital TB delivered live births. It was a very positive news that a woman with genital TB successfully completed anti-TB treatment and then due to in-vitro fertilisation technique, also succeeded in giving births to normal baby (well, two babies in this case!).
March 26, 2011
People need not be afraid of tuberculosis (TB) as it is completely curable. People should be encouraged to go to the government-run free anti-TB treatment centres (providing the WHO recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short course - DOTS), rather than opt for visiting private practitioners as paying for treatment places an additional burden on the TB patient
March 26, 2011
Dr Binayak Sen, a medical practitioner and a civil liberties' activist, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Chhattisgarh. Amnesty International calls him a 'prisoner of conscience' because he never advocated violence and was a champion of human rights causes in the state but was unduly targeted by the state. Probably his stand for human rights exposing gross injustices meted out to tribal population by the state, and a report had irked the government which slapped upon him violation of two draconian laws: Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
March 24, 2011
Key questions regarding the new tools and new challenges facing TB control and prevention today are being addressed through an innovative international initiative, TREAT TB. The purpose of TREAT TB, which stands for Technology, Research, Education and Technical Assistance for Tuberculosis, is to conduct field evaluations of new diagnostic tools, clinical trials of priority research questions and operational research benefiting TB control.
March 24, 2011
A promising new diagnostic test will finally help detect more people with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), increasing the urgency to solve major problems around the pricing and supply of DR-TB medicines, according to a new report by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), and international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
March 17, 2011
Recent nuclear emergency in Japan leaves no doubt that this world needs to renounce nuclear power for military and civil/ energy purposes, as soon as possible, to put an end to any further catastrophe in the name of 'energy', 'power' or 'technology'.
March 16, 2011
Starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) save lives. This reinforces already existing body of evidence of beneficial public health outcomes of providing ART along with standard anti-TB treatment to TB and HIV co-infected people.
March 19, 2011
The Indian Prime Minister and citizens both made a call for scrutiny of India's nuclear plants. However the similarity ends here, and polar differences became evident...
March 19, 2011
Genital TB can happen to men and women both - but due to already existing gender-based inequalities and other factors, the impact of genital TB is likely to be severe on a woman.
March 15, 2011
Although women get diagnosed for tuberculosis (TB) later than men, treatment outcomes among women are better than men with higher TB treatment success rate and lower default (drop-out) rate in the female patients. Among the unreached people who need TB care, a significant number of them are likely to be poor and probably women. There is a lot more we need to do to bring in the desired change in diagnosing people with TB as early as possible and treating them with standard regimens successfully.
February 21, 2011
The Panchayati Raj Sammelan brought forth two key issues related to democracy at the community level: firstly, the elected representatives should take decisions in open meetings where common people can participate freely; and secondly, work towards establishing local self-governance as guaranteed under Article 243 of Indian constitution after 73rd and 74th amendment.
February 21, 2011
Local self-governance is guaranteed by Indian constitution, said Ravi Kiran Jain, a highly acclaimed senior advocate of UP High Court and also a member of state presidium of Lok Rajniti Manch
February 21, 2011
How will an anti-corruption agency function if it has to take permission for conducting inquiry from those in power? Moreover if the anti-corruption agency is only supposed to advise the government but not given any executive power to take action to check corruption, the plight becomes grimmer. Lokpal Bill proposes to establish a single, autonomous apex body empowered to investigate and prosecute politicians, bureaucrats and judges in a defined time-frame, said noted social activist and Magsaysay Awardee Arvind Kejriwal
February 21, 2011
The democratic institution of a panchayat needs to be strengthened. The strength is inherent at the local level, said Dr Ajit Jha from Delhi University who is the member of national presidium of Lok Rajniti Manch. Dr Jha was speaking at the Panchayati Raj Sammelan organized by Lok Rajniti Manch in Lucknow on 20th February 2011. The panchayats should be in the centre of democracy.
February 24, 2011
"Unbiased and independent inquiry must be held in every incident of bomb blasts and communal violence" said Suresh Khairnar who is a noted social activist, and has been working against communalism since Bhagalpur riots 1989. Suresh Khairnar has been part of fact-finding missions in bomb blast incidents like Malegaon 2006, Nanded 2006, Nagpur RSS HQ 2006, Malegaon 2008, Khairlanji 2008 (dalit atrocity), Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad) 2006, Batla House 2008 and over 60 communal riots, is in the city Lucknow.
March 10, 2011
According to the study done by Tuberculosis Research Centre in India alarming numbers of women with tuberculosis (TB) become homeless once diagnosed with TB. At a meeting on importance of addressing TB in context of women´s health organized by Global Health Advocates (GHA) to mark the International Women's Day (8th March), this fact sent shivers down the spine: 100,000 women are abandoned by their husbands due to TB every year in India
March 11, 2011
It is no coincidence but rather an ill-synergy of a range of factors that increase the risk for a woman to get tuberculosis (TB). In India, sixty per cent women are poor which often means poor living conditions, poor food, long working hours and ignoring health overtime. Fifty five per cent women are anaemic. Anaemia is a cause of TB (as it accelerates progression from latent TB infection to active TB disease) and effect of TB too (once a person develops TB anaemia can set in). Forty eight per cent women are malnourished. Fifty six per cent of India´s total population lives in urban slums (overcrowded, poorly ventilated) out of which women constitute forty seven per cent.
March 11, 2011
Only two per cent of women with genital TB have live births. In India, 19 per cent infertility in women is attributed to genital TB. The impact of genital TB is more severe on lives of women because mostly genital TB impacts women of age group 15-35 years. Only 10% of genital TB in women is post-menopausal.
March 12, 2011
Tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes are better among women as compared to those in men, said Dr KS Sachdeva, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) of the Government of India. According to the RNTCP data, among new sputum positive cases of TB registered in 2009, TB treatment success rates were higher in women (89 per cent) than those in men (87 per cent) and less women dropped out of TB treatment than men (4 per cent drop out or default rate for women, and 6 per cent default rate in men)
March 06, 2011
"Ano-rectal problems were considered as minor medical or surgical procedure and never got its due importance. Any damage done to this area by any surgical technique is very difficult to reconstruct. So one has to be a very efficient surgeon to help these patients out from the so-called minor problems - these ano-rectal problems are not minor rather very major ones" said Professor (Dr) RP Sahi, one of the senior-most and decorated surgeons of the country while inaugurating the region's first Ano-Rectal Problems Revisited Workshop
March 05, 2011
Instead of a distinguished panel choosing an appropriate candidate for HT Woman 2011 award (probably in a closed meeting room), the reputed English newspaper opened the process of nomination and selection to its readers (at least in UP state of India). There might be others who might have done better, but let me share this example I know of, how participation, representation and ownership is so key in this era powered by social media.
February 26, 2011
If governments are made to pay compensation to every person who dies of avoidable diseases like TB, one can imagine the financial crisis governments might soon be in. Add to this the cost of TB that spreads due to suboptimal infection control measures particularly in prison settings. From social justice point of view, people who are sentenced to prison terms, are not sentenced to get TB and other diseases and at times death due to these avoidable causes! Fighting TB clearly is a smart choice for governments!
February 18, 2011
A civil society movement is growing in lead up to the United Nations (UN) Summit on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said the Chairperson of NCD Alliance Ann Keeling, who was speaking at the WHO-wide Planning Meeting for the UN High level Meeting on NCDs in Washington DC, USA (source: youtube video). She is also the CEO of International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The UN Summit on NCDs she referred to, is scheduled to be held in September 2011.
February 15, 2011
Although far from optimal, still considerable progress has been made in providing healthcare to transgender people in many parts of the world. Yet their mental health needs remain far from being served. "Mental healthcare problems are so severe and far from easy to overcome. I've spent seven years with therapists and doctors and even after that I've attempted suicide 5 times (4 weeks since last attempt)" said Svanhvit
February 14, 2011
"The people centric politics that should have taken place in India after independence never could become the mainstream politics. Post-independence politics should have made its citizens conscious of their rights and responsibilities, by virtue of India becoming independent, and tenets of democracy that our constitution was upholding" said Arvind Murti
February 03, 2011
60% of people living with HIV in India are dying due to preventable and curable TB. Though we have 12,500 microscopy centers available across India, deaths occur mainly due to late diagnosis, owing to technology limitations. Therefore better diagnostics is a major concern for the people living with HIV
February 08, 2011
In Andhra Pradesh state of India, a doctor gulped down sleeping pills when pulled up by authorities for not doing field visits to follow up tuberculosis (TB) patients (source: The Times of India). "There was no other medical officer" in the clinic so she couldn't go to field visits and rather attended to her duties within the clinic – argued the doctor. The question is: who has the expertise required to do effective advocacy, communication and social mobilization (ACSM) at the community level? Are we recognizing, respecting and utilizing the expertise available within affected communities in fighting TB optimally? Are we willing to look beyond a clinical or biomedical response to TB, recognize where the gap lies and engage affected communities with dignity?
January 31, 2011
"What we have achieved in the past decade in TB control, we weren't able to achieve in the preceding 30-40 years of national TB programme" said Dr KS Sachdeva, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Central TB Division, Government of India.
January 25, 2011
Decrease in bone density is seen in people living with HIV (PLHIV) when they initiate the antiretroviral therapy (ART)...
January 25, 2011
The people living with HIV (PLHIV), particularly those who are on the antiretroviral therapy (ART) consisting of tenofovir drug, should take extra-care of their kidneys. This was another key learning for me personally at the recently concluded Chennai ART Symposium (CART 2011).
January 27, 2011
Food insecurity might present in different forms in different people which may include macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies, ART interactions, obesity, lipodystrophy, range of mental health concerns, and more importantly, behavioural outcomes that can adversely impact ART adherence, missed clinic visits and treatment interruptions. If so, then no wonder with food insecurity, HIV treatment and care outcomes will be seriously compromised.
January 24, 2011
The antiretroviral therapy (ART) has undisputed benefits for people living with HIV. When people living with HIV (PLHIV) become resistant to drugs used in ART, treatment options that they can fall back upon to stay alive and healthy, reduce. This was a major point of academic discussion at the recently concluded Chennai ART Symposium (CART 2011).
January 13, 2011
India should resist pressure from the European Union to accept, as part of a free trade agreement, harmful provisions that will have a major negative impact on access to affordable medicines
January 10, 2011
CART 2011 provides the latest clinical update on the management of HIV infection and updates the practicing clinicians on the current concept of antiretroviral (ARV) therapeutics, newer drugs, resistance and toxicities. YRGCARE has provided HIV related services to more than 16,000 patients and has acquired enough clinical and research experience to advise other clinicians. We are documenting what is happening to these patients over a period of time
January 10, 2011
Although science today suggests starting ART earlier for PLHIV is enormously beneficial and even India´s domestic guidelines recommend starting ART at CD4 below 350 count, the reality is grimmer: we are failing to reach PLHIV early enough with existing AIDS care services. Most PLHIV who show up in ART clinics of YRG CARE have CD4 count below 100, at times as low as 20, 30, or 50 CD4 count. Clearly lot more needs to be done to enrol PLHIV in AIDS care services early-on – to improve public health outcomes and their quality of life as well.
January 05, 2011
The year 2010 came to an end, but the need to attend to lung health has certainly become more pressing as we enter in the year 2011.
December 20, 2010
Although significant advances in tuberculosis (TB) control have taken place over the past years, the TB levels are not going down as fast as expected earlier (10% decline every year was projected). Not to say that commendable work hasn´t happened in TB control – rather TB control has received major thrust over the past decade certainly in terms of programming, strategy (new Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015 was just released in October 2010), funding and research initiatives as well. However despite of all the good, the new TB cases continue to emerge and TB levels haven't reduced as earlier estimated (TB rates are coming down, but coming down too slowly)
December 20, 2010
According to the WHO, evidence to date indicates that implementation of this test could result in a three-fold increase in the diagnosis of patients with drug-resistant TB and a doubling in the number of HIV-associated TB cases diagnosed in areas with high rates of TB and HIV.
December 19, 2010
The 70th annual conference of Association of Surgeons of India (ASICON) being held in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campus, New Delhi, India, is showcasing recent and most modern advancements in surgery. More than 7000 surgeons from India and other countries are participating in ASICON 2010 (15-20 December ,2010), said Dr NK Pandey, national President of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) and Managing Director of Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS). Dr Pandey is a recepient of the most coveted award in medicine in India - Dr BC Roy Award.
December 14, 2010
"It is perhaps the most opportune time to address issues in TB Diagnostics. With the largest pipeline of new drugs and drug combinations in place, 'potentially effective against all forms of disease in all patients' (TB Alliance), and a similar pipeline of TB vaccines in various stages of clinical trials, it is only imperative to devise point-of-care diagnostic methods, which are not only sensitive and specific but also time-effective and cost-effective
December 06, 2010
The poor and vulnerable people are much more likely to suffer from TB due to socioeconomic factors. The poor face significant costs and delays in accessing TB services and treatment outcomes are more likely to be adverse, said Rachael Thomson from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) who was nominated by the TB and poverty sub-working group of Stop TB Partnership to speak at the Biennial Conference of Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) held in Maynooth, Ireland (29-30 November 2010).
December 06, 2010
An Irish non-profit, Right to Sight (RTS), partnered with a NGO – Lions Aravinda Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO) and a private-for-profit company, Shalina, to deliver quality, affordable and sustainable eye care in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), shared Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, who was speaking at the Biennial Conference of Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) in Maynooth, Ireland (29-30 November 2010). This meet is being organized by IFGH with support from Irish Aid, National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUIM) and Combat Diseases of Poverty Consortium (CDPC).
November 26, 2010
"Where we have indigenous people, we have more poverty and more TB incidence" said Mirtha del Granado, Regional Adviser on TB, WHO (in Americas) at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, Berlin, Germany. There are 63,432 missed cases of TB in Americas (North, Central and South America), said Mirtha. Most of them are in Priority countries detecting less than 50% TB, said Mirtha
November 26, 2010
"Basic human rights as enjoyed by others have not benefitted indigenous peoples. Therefore the respect and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples is critical to our dignity and survival. In particular, implementation of our right to health is essential if we are to stop TB" said Wilton Littlechild, Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations, who was speaking at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany.
November 27, 2010
At the forthcoming Biennial Conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) in Maynooth, Ireland, one of the two keynote guest lectures - The John Kevany Memorial lecture - will be delivered by Dr Zeda Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) on "New Science, New Hope: Giving Women Power over HIV/AIDS.
November 26, 2010
Asthma is the most common chronic disease. Since 2000, some areas of public health, such as tuberculosis (TB), have gone from being deprived of resources for decades to having significant amounts of funding. While important gaps remain, this "dream come true" has also revealed that spending better is equally necessary as spending more. Ms Cécile Macé, Pharmacist and Coordinator, The Union's Asthma Drug Facility (ADF) said at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany that "ADF improves affordability of essential asthma medicines in developing countries.
November 26, 2010
As the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany was going on, another development took place in Canada – which will surely impact public health including tuberculosis (TB) and lung health among indigenous communities. Canada endorsed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Communities. Wilton Littlechild, Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations, has been a powerful advocate demanding this endorsement from Canada since years. Four states had voted against the declaration initially, New Zealand, Australia, United States of America and Canada. However, New Zealand and Australia had changed their position and endorsed the declaration earlier. Now Canada too have endorsed the declaration, thankfully
November 27, 2010
Three-quarters of all blindness can be prevented or treated. Avoidable blindness poses an enormous challenge to healthcare system, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. There are nine million people in Africa alone with preventable blindness, out of which 50-75% people are blind due to cataract and 5% due to glaucoma, says Keerti Bhusan Pradhan (Right To Sight) who is heading to Ireland to present his work in Africa at the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) biennial conference next week (29-30 November 2010)
November 25, 2010
The biennial conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) to mark the World AIDS Day (1 December) is focussing on the theme of "Partnerships to address health and diseases of poverty challenges." IFGH together with National University of Ireland (NUI) Maynooth and Irish Aid is organizing this two days meet (29-30 November 2010) bringing together experts from all sectors involved and working on global health - in particular, issues affecting the developing world
November 25, 2010
The Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) is concerned at the further cuts to the overseas aid budget in the Government's four-year plan. It urges the Government to protect aid funding for health and HIV programmes in developing countries and to keep its promise to increase aid to 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015.
November 20, 2010
As the host country for this week's tobacco control treaty meetings braces for a legal challenge from Philip Morris International (PMI) to its graphic cigarette warning labels, 172 Parties are uniting behind Uruguay in a declaration adopted at this meet. The declaration reaffirms the right of Parties to the treaty, "to give priority to their right to public health" over trade, given the "devastating worldwide health, social, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke."
November 18, 2010
One of the most adversely affected communities is at times least likely to seek care – as demanding care might have a price. "Relevance of strong tuberculosis (TB) control programmes is more when social determinants are weak" said Dr Ernesto Jaramillo from Stop TB Department, WHO at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, Berlin, Germany.
November 17, 2010
PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY: A new investigative report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists exposes a wide range of tactics employed by the tobacco industry to undermine advances being made by the global tobacco treaty. Threats to health policy include aggressive lobbying and legal intimidation, to charitable donations and even outright payoffs.
November 17, 2010
Within that pill is also your health – said Rachel C Orduno who herself completed anti-TB treatment (ATT) years back to encourage others who were on ATT and didn´t want to take the pills due to toxicity and side effects of ATT. "Take the pills and get on with your lives" said she
November 17, 2010
Success hinges on treaty financing, limiting industry interference. A weeklong treaty meetings commenced on 15 November 2010 as an industry prohibited from participating attempts to influence its outcomes from the outside looking in. Philip Morris International (PMI) is launching a legal attack against Uruguay for implementing the global tobacco treaty (formally known as the World Health Organization´s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) by requiring graphic warning labels on its cigarettes
November 14, 2010
"Many of these diseases are linked, such as diabetes and tuberculosis, so when you have a rapidly increasing burden of diabetes, you will also see an impact on TB control. Studies have shown that people with diabetes have a two-three times greater risk of developing tuberculosis" said Dr Nils Billo, Executive Director, The Union
November 14, 2010
Swaziland has the highest per capita TB burden in the world, and HIV incidence is 26% which is no less alarming. Not surprisingly TB-HIV co-infection rate amongst TB patients in Swaziland is 80%. "The government is creating genocide where we are infecting each other" said Tengetile Hlophe from Swaziland at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany. Also rate of drug-resistant TB among new TB cases is worrisome, said Tengetile.
November 09, 2010
"47% of TB cases are being missed by the state TB programme" said Dr DN Dewangan, State TB Officer in Chhattisgarh (every year, expected number of TB cases in Chhattisgarh is 51,840 and number of those TB patients registered under revised national TB control programme (RNTCP) is 27,300)
November 12, 2010
Every 20 seconds pneumonia causes a preventable tragedy somewhere in the world. That's how often a child under five dies of a disease that is preventable, treatable and curable with existing vaccines and antibiotics. World Pneumonia Day, to be held this year on Friday, 12 November, was established in 2009 by the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia to increase awareness and gain commitment to ending this waste of young live
November 06, 2010
The poor people are undoubtedly most hard hit by TB, tobacco and COPD, and are least likely to have access to existing services. Collaboration between different single disease or other programmes that are addressing poverty in communities will be truly beneficial and have major public health outcomes.
November 07, 2010
Poverty not only makes poor people more vulnerable to tuberculosis (TB) but also makes them less likely to access the existing TB-related prevention, treatment and care services. There is substantial number of active TB patients that are still not reached by existing TB control programmes. Efforts to scale up might mean a very well coordinated and community-centric approach so that those vulnerable communities who aren't benefitting from the existing healthcare services are reached and served optimally. This was a key thrust in varied sessions of the consultative workshop of TB and Poverty sub-working group of the Stop TB Partnership which was held in India (29-30 October 2010).
November 07, 2010
The risk of mortality is much higher in TB patients who have co-existing diabetes. There are also evidences to suggest that when there is co-existing diabetes it takes longer for the sputum to become negative (for TB) with anti-tubercular treatment
November 05, 2010
Poverty has played a leading role in accelerating the spread of TB. The poor are at the greatest risk for tuberculosis because of poor housing, poor diet, poor education and risky behaviour.
Let's combat TB by addressing the barriers faced due to poverty such as infrastructural, housing, employment, educational and nutritional deficiencies. (CNS)
November 03, 2010
68% of TB patients in this Thai study were either unemployed (14%) or earning USD 5-8 per day as daily wage workers. According to the World Bank data, 2009 Gross National Income per capita in Thailand was USD 3760. It is evident that unemployed and those Thai people earning low daily wages were the ones dealing with majority of TB burden in Thailand. Clearly poor people are at an elevated risk of TB.
September 10, 2010
One of the colleagues had done a study in Bangladesh which was just published few months back – that a shortened standardised regimen of just nine months was effective in treating MDR-TB patients. One of the challenges of treating MDR-TB is that it is a long and difficult treatment regimen – so this was a big breakthrough. What we are trying to do in our MDR-TB trial, which is called "STREAM" is to see whether the same results of Bangladesh trial can be replicated in four other countries.
September 07, 2010
1) patients with TB and associated diabetes, have increased mortality; 2) Patients with diabetes and TB take longer to respond to anti-TB treatment; 3) Patients with active TB and type-II diabetes are more likely to have multi-drug resistant TB
September 03, 2010
In case of these children with type-I diabetes, when they don't get insulin it is deciding whether they will survive or they will die
September 03, 2010
Recognizing the compelling need to improve prevention, treatment, care and support services for children with diabetes, the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) has scaled up initiatives to address both types of diabetes among children: type-I and type-II, said Dr Anil Kapur, President of WDF, who spoke to CNS after receiving the IDRF Lifetime Achievement Award
August 27, 2010
Supreme Court of Pakistan informed 454 Indian fishermen (out of total 582 currently detained) have completed their sentences in Pakistani jails, should be repatriated. Pakistani ministry of Foreign Affairs told Supreme Court that four hundred and fifty four (454) Indian fishermen (out of total 582 currently detained) have completed their sentences and that they have been verified to be Indian nationals by the Indian high commission in Pakistan. Foreign Affairs has recommended to the Interior ministry to expedite their repatriation to India.
August 02, 2010
A raging issue on the first day of XVIII International AIDS Conference was whether Isoniazid (INH) Preventive Therapy (IPT) be given to all –regardless whether people have TB or not? A full-course of IPT can prevent latent tuberculosis (TB) infection from becoming active TB disease. It is very crucial and often life-saving for people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) as TB continues to be the biggest killer of PLHIV.
August 03, 2010
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has worked with multi-faith religious leaders which included both ´shia´ and ´sunni´ religious leaders. Look at the theological basis for addressing homosexuality in particular and also drug use in a different way. Islam like all other great religions of the world speaks of forgiveness, protection...
August 03, 2010
Despite of AIDS programmes prioritising men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender people as high risk communities, not only the existing services are reaching appalling low numbers of MSM and trangender people, but also the funding for programmes targeting these communities is shockingly, namesake
July 22, 2010
It was one of those defining moments in history of legendary AIDS activism at the International AIDS Conferences when the TB cough-in/coffin March began at the penultimate day of the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Vienna, Austria. At least half a thousand people had assembled, with t-shirts, placards, cardboard coffins (no more TB deaths), stop TB handkerchiefs/ bandanas, vuvuzelas, drums, banners, and mascots to name a few. AIDS activism has been a cornerstone of AIDS conferences, but TB was on the IAC agenda this time, as never before
July 23, 2010
In Lesotho, Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease, is not available for ordinary citizens but only for health workers. Those people who have latent TB infection have a right to protect themselves and access IPT services to prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease. The Global TB/HIV Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership has clearly stated that: IPT works, IPT is safe, and IPT works with ART or by itself
July 23, 2010
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection occurs in an estimated one quarter of HIV-infected persons in Europe, Australia, and the United States. "As use of highly active antiretroviral drugs has markedly reduced opportunistic infections, HCV-related liver disease has emerged as a leading cause of death. HIV infection adversely affects both the natural history and the treatment of hepatitis C" said Dr David L Thomas, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
July 21, 2010
The Patients' Charter for TB Care presents rights- and responsibilities- based framework to improve TB responses by mobilizing communities as equal partners effectively. But have we rolled The Charter out? Is it really getting the support and mandate that it ordains? And, if not then why not?
July 21, 2010
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a study analyzing evidence in Asia-Pacific on how punitive and discriminatory laws and human rights violations limit access to HIV prevention and care services for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender people. The study report "Legal environments, human rights and HIV responses among men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific:An agenda for action" is co-published by the UNDP and Asia Pacific Coalition for male sexual health (APCOM)
July 22, 2010
Putting TB-HIV co-infected people on the anti-retroviral treatment (ART) do slow down HIV progression to AIDS. However ART induced immune maintenance and recovery have no difference on the outcome of anti-TB treatment
July 20, 2010
The European Union´s actions are a direct threat to access to safe, effective and affordable medicines across the developing world. The European Union is demanding longer patents through free trade agreements (FTAs), longer than demanded by the World Trade Organization. Negotiations on drug price with over 90 low income countries become difficult with patents, for example, in countries like Guatemala the prices of some drugs went up by 845,000 times
July 20, 2010
In order to continue its existing programmes and rapidly scale up towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, The Global Fund would need its donors to pledge at least USD 20 billion for the period 2011-2013 during its Replenishment conference 4-5 October 2010 in New York. Will governments FUND the Global Fund?
July 19, 2010
The existing BCG vaccine which came into the market in 1921, has limited effectiveness in preventing people from TB. Further, the BCG vaccine which is used to prevent childhood TB may not be safe for children living with HIV. That is why Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation and other agencies are pushing hard to accelerate research and development of safe and effective TB vaccines
July 19, 2010
There is convincing evidence that scaling up collaborative TB-HIV activities, improve TB and HIV programme performances. "In 2008, there were 1.8 million estimated deaths from TB, of whom 0.52 million were co-infected with HIV, giving anHIV-TB case fatality rate of 37%" said Prof Anthony Harries
July 18, 2010
The criminalisation of illicit drug users is fuelling the HIV epidemic and has resulted in overwhelmingly negative health and social consequences. Injection drug use (IDU) is one of the main modes of HIV transmission in parts of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
July 15, 2010
Just a week before the world's largest AIDS Conference opens in Vienna, Austria, yet another woman has committed suicide on being told of her HIV positive status. The XVIII International AIDS Conference (XVIII IAC) will open next week on the theme of "Rights Here, Rights Now." Wish if this yet another death due to HIV related stigma and discrimination could be averted. However, will the XVIII IAC adequately set the stage for improving HIV responses in the community so that no other person dies due to HIV related stigma?
July 05, 2010
"In a little more than three years, our unusual coalition has already helped push the HIV and MSM/TG agenda significantly higher on national and regional agendas. This has made crucial issues far more visible, pushing governments and other influential stakeholders to craft and implement long overdue policies aimed at HIV prevention among communities that remain perhaps the most vulnerable to infection both in our region and globally"
June 29, 2010
In a detractive decision of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GOI), the implementation of new pictorial health warnings has been deferred to December 1, 2010 from the earlier commitment of introducing them from June 1, 2010.
May 31, 2010
The World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2010, is a critical point in the 2010: Year of the Lung campaign, according to the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). Studies show that 50% of all deaths from lung disease are linked to tobacco use. "Strengthening tobacco control is the single most important action we can take to improve global lung health," said Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of The Union and chair of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), which is sponsoring the Year of the Lung. "Tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death and kills 5 million men, women and children each year."
March 24, 2010
The need for accessible, effective multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment is urgent, as the incidence of MDR-TB continues to rise, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has been reported in 57 countries. In response, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is launching a trial of a 9-month treatment regimen that has demonstrated cure rates exceeding 80% in a pilot programme.
January 24, 2010
The young people are the true custodian of our future, so their voices must not be ignored. The children who live in urban slums in state capital of Uttar Pradesh gave a powerful message to grown-ups to save the environment. The outcome of rising pollution in the city and other adverse manifestations of environmental hazards, are often worst faced by those from the lower socio-economic group.
January 24, 2010
The young people are the true custodian of our future, so their voices must not be ignored. The children who live in urban slums in state capital of Uttar Pradesh gave a powerful message to grown-ups to save the environment. The outcome of rising pollution in the city and other adverse manifestations of environmental hazards, are often worst faced by those from the lower socio-economic group.
January 11, 2010
The year 2010 was declared as year of the lungs to recognize that hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer each year from treatable and preventable chronic respiratory diseases
July 10, 2009
Rohini Singh is still waiting for justice to be done after being brutally physically abused by the police constable Subhas Mishra, who entered and ransacked her home and also misbehaved with her two minor daughters, all because she was asking for protection against the harassment and domestic violence she was being subjected to by her husband.
July 08, 2009
"This tsunami didn´t arise yesterday; it evolved over time and is getting worse. We need a revolution to change the trajectory if we are serious"
May 19, 2009
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and World Heart Federation (WHF) issued a joint statement on 19 May 2009 that calls on the international community to address urgently the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 35 million deaths a year. The statement demands a substantial increase in funding for NCDs and greater availability of essential medicines, among other urgent responses, in a way to accelerate achievement of the health Millennium Development Goals.
May 13, 2009
Jonathan Mann awardee (2008) Dr Binayak Sen, who is a well-known paediatrician and human rights defender, will complete two years on 14 May 2009 in a Raipur prison on false charges of abetting Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh, sedition, and waging war against the State. Not only in India, but in countries around the world the pressure is mounting for the release of Dr Sen.
May 07, 2009
Late last month El Salvador became the first country to take advantage of The Union´s Asthma Drug Facility (ADF), which uses pooled procurement and other purchasing strategies to obtain greatly reduced prices from approved suppliers.
May 03, 2009
The Global Burden of Asthma Report, indicates that asthma control often falls short and there are many barriers to asthma control around the world. Proper long-term management of asthma will permit most patients to achieve good control of their disease. Yet in many regions around the world, this goal is often not met.
April 29, 2009
Activists expressed their deep anguish and concern on unabated mass killings in Sri Lanka which is, as they underlined, "no short of a humanitarian disaster in northern Sri Lanka".
April 24, 2009
In the least developed countries, one third of death and disease is a direct result of environmental causes. Proper environmental management is the key to avoiding the quarter of all preventable illnesses which are directly caused by environmental factors
April 22, 2009
Unless sustainable ways of development and living are not evolved, it will be very difficult to sustain the prevalent kind of urban lifestyle where exploitation of natural resources goes on unabated by the nexus of private corporations and the state. The overriding question is how to create a mode of production which does not depend on the expliotation of nature.
April 22, 2009
Earlier this month the Group of Twenty (G-20) leaders had announced a USD 1.1 trillion booster-dose into the world economy by the end of 2010 through multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Health advocates believe that critical reforms are needed for IMF policies to prevent disastrous fallouts like rising tuberculosis (TB) incidence in countries that might receive IMF funding.
April 21, 2009
"Don't de-politicize politics to this extent" - Arundhati Dhuru
April 17, 2009
The long pending pictorial or graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in India shall finally be impelmented from 30 May 2009. This is in line with the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act and the global tobacco treaty which India has ratified (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).
April 14, 2009
Bahadur Lal Sonkar (48 years) who was contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Jaunpur parliamentary constituency of India, was found dead hanging from a tree on the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti.
April 11, 2009
In times when manifestos of election candidates are announced by the highest seats of political 'ivory towers', a people centric initiative is taking shape in Lucknow. A series of public meetings led to the nomination of people's candidate from prestigious Lok Sabha constituency of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh in India.
April 07, 2009
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on tobacco warnings is meeting on 8 April 2009 and further dilution or delay to pictorial health warnings on tobacco products is expected. This is a great concern before the nation when the implementation on pictorial warnings is long due now and the deadline is very close (31 May 2009).
April 04, 2009
Earlier this week the Group of Twenty leaders announced a USD 1.1 trillion booster-dose into the world economy by the end of 2010 through multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, in July 2008, analysts from Cambridge and Yale Universities had reported that tuberculosis (TB) in countries with IMF loans rose sharply.
April 01, 2009
There is a growing public movement globally to put pressure on the Group of Twenty (G-20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors that will meet in London, UK, on 2 April 2009, to put a currency transaction levy of 0.005% to raise dedicated resources for funding health programmes. This currency transaction levy of 0.005% can potentially generate USD 30-40 billion a year.
March 30, 2009
The need to include indigenous people in the Global Plan to Stop TB was echoed by many participants at the 3rd Stop TB Partners' Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (23-25 March 2009).
March 28, 2009
Despite of African governments declaring tuberculosis (TB) as an emergency, Africa as a region, faces the largest funding gap of USD 10.7 billion to fully implement the Global Plan to Stop TB by 2015.
March 26, 2009
About 3 million people fail to access TB treatment under directly-observed treatment shortcourse (DOTS), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Control Report 2009.
March 23, 2009
"We simply must stop TB. This succinct but compelling message implies a shared responsibility for unified action at all levels, by health-care providers, national and international partners and communities to control and eliminate TB"
March 22, 2009
Involving the TB patients in TB control programmes - particularly those who have successfully completed the TB treatment - might help in Turkey, says Professor (Dr) Nazmi Zengin from Toplum Sagligi Arastirma ve Gelistirme Merkezi (Centre for Research and Promotion of Health) in Konya, Turkey (www.toplumsagligi.org). Dr Nazmi is representing a civil society organization in Turkey, which is a member of the Stop TB Partnership, and attending the 3rd Stop TB Partners' Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
March 22, 2009
The number of drug-susceptibility laboratories (DST) is also not adequate. Most laboratories only test the anti-TB drug resistance for 4 first-line drugs. To test the anti-TB drug resistance for 10 classes of anti-TB drugs, the patients need to go to the university hospitals, the cost of which is often prohibitive and beyond the reach of the patients.
March 22, 2009
In these times of global meltdown, it is all the more critical to focus on how can TB care and control, be still seen as a smart investment to governments, private sector and other stakeholders.
March 20, 2009
How ethical is it to providing treatment for anti-TB drug resistance without quality counseling? The treatment literacy, infection control, toxicity and side-effects related to the treatment, adherence and a range of other issues need to be addressed in counseling sessions, believes the activist from the West Bengal Network of people living with HIV (BNP+) in India. This indeed provides a food for thought for delegates of the 3rd Stop TB Partners Forum (Brazil: 23-25 March 2009) and the high-level ministerial meeting on drug-resistant TB (Beijing, China: 1-3 April 2009).
March 20, 2009
Questions raised on the legitmacy of the corporate-controlled World Water Forum
March 19, 2009
Less than a week before the 3rd Stop TB Partners' Forum is about to begin in Brazil, a unique partnership is being forged in a community of India's capital to improve TB responses.
March 17, 2009
Noted tobacco control advocate and a United Nations consultant Dr Mira Aghi was conferred upon the International award in recognition of her lifetime contribution to advancing tobacco control initiatives for women.
March 15, 2009
Coalition urges UN to stop providing cover for life-threatening privatization of water
March 15, 2009
Earlier this week, the Female Health Company (FHC) announced approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the company's Female Condom (FC2), a woman-initiated barrier method that helps to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancy.
FHC's lower-cost second generation female condom will now be sold at 30 per cent less than the earlier version of female condom.
March 14, 2009
The tobacco industry has historically employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy, says a recently released report (Tobacco Industry Interference with Tobacco Control, 2009) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The tobacco industry has used its economic power, lobbying and marketing machinery, and manipulation of the media to discredit scientific research and influence governments in order to propagate the sale and distribution of its deadly product, it says further.
March 14, 2009
The smoke-free policies in India were enforced since 2 October 2008 and different states are at varying levels of its implementation, yet the tobacco cessation services are still limited to very few clinics in India.
A lead article published in The Economist (7-13 March 2009) says: "tobacco is more addictive than virtually all of them [narcotic drugs]."
With tobacco being highly addictive, it is clear that for a successful implementation of the smoke-free policies, the scaling up of high-quality and reliable tobacco cessation services can no longer be ignored.
March 10, 2009
U.S. CONGRESS CONSIDERS BILL TO REGULATE TOBACCO DURING GLOBAL CONFERENCE
March 08, 2009
Youth from 27 countries that met at the 2nd Global Youth Meet (GYM) in the lead up to the 14th World Conference on Tobacco Or Health (WCTOH) in Mumbai, India, expressed their common ire against cross-border tobacco advertising in films.
Satellite televisions, cinema theatres, CDs, DVDs are some of the ways movies made in any part of the world and dubbed in local languages, reach the youth. Despite of ban on smoking in films at the country level, there is no effective way to curb this channel of films made elsewhere portraying tobacco use in them.
March 01, 2009
The first national convention of People's Politics Front (PPF) shall be convened in the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, on 5-6 March 2009.
"People's Politics Front has been formed to build a political alternative in the country so that people's issues can be brought to center-stage and the dominant model of mainstream political parties which rely on muscle power, money power and unscrupulous ways for winning elections can be rejected" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay awardee (2002) for emergent Leadership and senior social activist.
February 24, 2009
The anti-HIV microbicides research has finally given a positive outcome - the microbicides gel PRO2000 under research showed 30% reduction of HIV transmission in the human clinical trials.
Women who were offered PRO2000 microbicide gel plus condoms had 30 per cent fewer HIV infections than those offered condoms only or condoms plus a placebo gel
February 21, 2009
Anti-Dalit and Anti-poor action by a pro-dalit Government
February 18, 2009
Unless the tuberculosis (TB) advocates reach out to decision makers to impress upon them the urgency of strengthening TB care and control programmes, the global economic meltdown is likely to threaten to reverse the gains made in TB care over past decades.
February 07, 2009
Although the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) is falling short of USD 5 billion of its estimated budget for 2009-2010, the Wall Street corporations have disbursed USD 18 billion holiday bonuses in January 2009. The newspapers say this money came from the bail-out money provided by the government (read ´tax payers´).
Where do tax payers want to invest their money – in holiday bonuses or to save lives from AIDS, TB and Malaria in the most hard-hit countries globally?
February 05, 2009
At the fourth Leishmaniasis World Congress in Lucknow, India, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said that there is a serious need to expand availability of effective treatments and diagnosis for visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar) in order to reduce the present burden of disease and resistance to treatments. At the Congress, MSF is presenting important results showing that liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome) could play a critical role in the fight against the disease.
January 30, 2009
A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) office-bearer Ghanshyam rained baton rods on dalit workers on 14 January 2009. Ghanshaym is the husband of Urmila Devi, who is the Gram Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Aira Kake Mau, Block Bharawan, District Hardoi, UP. Ghanshyam is also the BSP Treasurer from the Vidhan Sabha constituency of Minister for Science and Technology in UP Government, Abdul Mannan.
January 22, 2009
On 23 January 2009, the Group of Ministers (GoM) in India will again meet to assuage concerns of tobacco lobby on pictorial warnings, health activists apprehend.
January 07, 2009
To confront the present war posturing between India and Pakistan, the citizens of both countries are launching a joint signature petition campaign on 9 January 2009, to voice their mandate against terrorism, war posturing and to promote mutual cooperation and peace. This signature petition campaign shall conclude on 8 February 2009, after which these signatures shall be handed over to the heads of both the nations along with other prominent stakeholders.
November 26, 2008
Pictorial warnings on tobacco products most likely postponed 7th time
November 22, 2008
GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY MEETING ADOPTS STRONG GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST INDUSTRY ABUSE
November 19, 2008
More than 90% of the diagnosed TB patients are successfully completing treatment in Nepal today. Nepal's anti-TB programme has received appreciation in the south-east Asian region which is the result of ongoing government commitment, community support, forging wide range of partnerships, and the use of innovative ways of ensuring access to Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) - especially in remote areas, says Dr Dirgh Singh Bam, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Nepal, who is also the former Vice-President of Nepal's Anti-Tuberculosis Association (NATA).
November 18, 2008
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revealed before the Central Information Commission that tobacco industry is putting "pressure" to relax the tobacco control policies (source: The Hindu, 14 November 2008).
October 04, 2008
India is reeking under increasing communal polarisation and urgent steps to check it are warranted.
October 01, 2008
India has boldly enforced the smoke-free policies banning smoking in public places and private areas with public access from 2 October 2008 – the birth anniversary of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi.
September 24, 2008
There is a growing consensus to raise awareness about diabetes in the 50 days leading up to World Diabetes Day on 14 November 2008. The International Diabetes Federation announced that the theme for this year's campaign is "Diabetes in Children and Adolescents."
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children. It can strike children of any age, even toddlers and babies. Every day more than 200 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, requiring them to take multiple daily insulin shots and monitor the glucose levels in their blood. It is increasing at a rate of 3% each year among children and rising even faster in pre-school children at a rate of 5% per year. Over 70,000 children a year under the age of 15 get diabetes.
September 20, 2008
Thankfully, the commitment of Andhra Pradesh state-capital's Medical and Health Officer Ms Jaya Kumari to enforce smoke-free policies and that of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is indeed unprecedented.
Smoking in public places will be banned from 2 October 2008 in compliance with the rulings of The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.
However a recent walk around in city of nawabs - Hyderabad - makes me wonder if the city is geared to enforce this public health policy.
September 02, 2008
All tobacco products will display approved pictorial warnings from 30 November 2008, as per a notification issued by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (dated 27 August 2008), in accordance with the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.
Grim images of diseased lungs will appear on cigarette, bidi and gutkha packets, as per the notification, covering 40 per cent of the surface area of the tobacco packets, with the message: 'Tobacco kills/Smoking kills'.
August 12, 2008
Formal merger negotiations were announced between two key HIV/TB development agencies - Health & Development Networks (HDN) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance - at the XVII International AIDS Conference which ended in Mexico on 8 August 2008.
August 02, 2008
There is a deliberate misinformation being created that nuclear plants will be a quick fix to our huge shortages and power cuts. Nuclear plants have to have detailed studies regarding where and how to put them up and take a long time to build. The import of reactors have to be negotiated commercially and their fuel has to be guaranteed. Typically, the entire process takes 8-10 years. So even if we finish all the steps required to complete the India US Nuclear Deal, it will take not less than 8-10 years before any electricity is produced. And this is an optimistic figure; the last plant that the US commissioned -- the Watts Bar 2 Reactor -- took 23 years to complete. So the belief that nuclear energy will provide an immediate solution to our power crisis is a deliberate fraud on the people, said Dr Pandey.
July 14, 2008
Last week the bollywood heartthrob film-star Aamir Khan was found smoking after the launch of the latest blockbuster movie 'jaane tu … ya jaane na'. Earlier in June 2008, he was reported saying that he is back to smoking due to 'stress' related to the forthcoming release of 'jaane tu … ya jaane na' film and he will quit smoking right after the film-release. Although the film has been successfully released and is doing well at box office, the cigarettes are hard to leave… and Aamir continues to smoke.
Tobacco is addictive, and some researchers feel nicotine is as addictive as heroin. It is not impossible to quit, but not easy too, because tobacco is so powerfully addictive!
July 01, 2008
Despite of the India's legally-binding Cigarette and Other tobacco products Act (2003) and repeated appeals of India's Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss to bollywood film-stars to refrain from on-screen smoking, there seems to be less compliance in the guise of 'creative liberty'.
On 30 June 2008, the Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court issued notice to megastar 'Big B' - Amitabh Bachchan - and others for allegedly violating the Anti-Tobacco Act. Goa-based anti-tobacco organisation, National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), had filed the case against Bachchan and others after billboards showing the megastar smoking a cigar were raised on the Goa highway. Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS) had also earlier served a legal notice to Amitabh Bachchan through Manu Shresth Mishra, a High Court lawyer practicing in Lucknow, UP. The court, which heard the case on 30 June 2008, issued notice to Bachchan, Anchor Electric appliances, Keshu Ramsay and others.
June 29, 2008
Amidst protests against price rises of essential items throughout the country, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has again started harping on the issue of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. Activists of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) - the largest network of people's struggles in India - opposed the deal.
"The Deal has been pushed forward in India in an anti-democratic manner without approval of the Parliament - in fact in the teeth of opposition by a large majority of parliamentarians" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, who is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and a convener of NAPM.
June 26, 2008
The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a cabinet decision to hike the salary of doctors of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), (formerly King George's Medical College or KGMC) to be at par with Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).
CSMMU doctors have faced decades of neglect by being deprived of facilities and being one of the most lowly paid government doctors in the country. Till now, these doctors at CSMMU were not even getting the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay-scale.
However despite of the meagre resources, the institution and its Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals (GM & AH) have been providing healthcare services to one of the largest numbers of patients in India.
June 23, 2008
Many concerned Indians in the USA, UK, Canada, UK, Australia, Thailand and other countries are fasting from 16 - 25 June 2008 along with hundreds of activists in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, demanding the annulment of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA) 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) 1967, amended in 2004, and the release of Dr Binayak Sen (medical doctor and recipient of the prestigious Jonathan Mann award for Health and Human Rights), Ajay TG (filmmaker) and others.
These draconian laws (CSPSA and UAPA) sanction the violation of due process by the state, and thus contravene internationally accepted norms of jurisprudence as well as democratic governance. As Mr.Kannabiran, National President of PUCL, India, argues in his letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the CSPSA and UAPA operate by criminalizing the very performance of civil liberties activities, and culpability is decided upon not by direct proof, but through guilt by association.
June 22, 2008
Retired IIT Kanpur Professor (retired) Dr GD Agarwal, 76 years, is sitting on a fast-unto-death since 13 June 2008 to save the Ganga from the aggressive onslaught of strings of dams and hydel projects in Uttarakhand. On 21 June 2008, the Uttarakhand government had to forcibly disrupt the peaceful and non-violent agitation of Prof Agarwal, forcing the unflinching crusader to move to the nation's capital to continue his agitation.
June 21, 2008
Retired IIT Kanpur Professor (retired) Dr GD Agarwal, 76 years, is sitting on a fast-unto-death since 13 June 2008 to save the Ganga from the aggressive onslaught of strings of dams and hydel projects in Uttarakhand. Today the fast entered 9th day.
June 16, 2008
A 10-days fast (16 - 25 June 2008) demanding the release of Dr Binayak Sen began today in India, Pakistan, Thailand, US and UK. More than 100 organizations have endorsed this fast and campaign demanding justice for Dr Sen worldwide.
June 04, 2008
On June 9, for the first-time government, public health and business leaders, heads of UN agencies and advocates are coming together at United Nations (UN) Headquarters to acknowledge HIV/TB as an urgent priority. This first HIV/TB Global Leaders' Forum, convened by Dr Jorge Sampaio, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Stop TB, seeks to galvanize leadership at all levels.
June 02, 2008
Hundreds of activists will be fasting from 16-25 June 2008 demanding immediate release of Dr Binayak Sen, and others who are in jail since more than a year now in Chhattisarh under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967) amended in 2004.
Dr Binayak Sen, is also the recipient of Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights (2008).
May 31, 2008
Despite of five years having passed by since the globally acclaimed national tobacco control parliamentary Act (The Cigarette and other tobacco products Act 2003) was formed, and more than four years since India had ratified the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) - which happens to be the world's first global public health and corporate accountability treaty – the urgent need to contain tobacco-related diseases, morbidity and mortality, remains as compelling.
May 27, 2008
On 31 May 2008, is the World No Tobacco Day. Just 10 days before, WHO released the World Health Statistics Report (2008) which clearly indicates that non-communicable diseases are the biggest killers in the world, the risk to which is exacerbated by tobacco use. It is time to scale up time-tested and proven interventions to control tobacco use globally.