Top 5 CNS articles
Decriminalize and engage MSM and transgender populations in HIV responses
[Audio podcast] Policies that criminalize same-sex behaviour and punitive laws continue to impede access to existing healthcare services for those at heightened risk of HIV such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender populations. The 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (10th ICAAP) is being organized in South Korea - a country where a lot more needs to be done to provide safe, supportive and dignified access to services for LGBT community. "South Korea doesn’t have a very good record regarding programming around sexual minorities and HIV. If you look at the data, one of the highest number of people dying among young LGBT people are here. There is a whole issue around shame and culture that impacts upon their lives. The government is not very responsive, and no education system exists on these issues" said Shivanand Khan, Chief Executive of Naz Foundation International and Co-Chair of Asia Pacific Coalition on Male sexual health (APCOM).
Stigma within healthcare facilities blocks access to services for MSM and transgender
[Audio podcast] Stigma within healthcare settings blocks access of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender populations to existing services to an alarming level. "The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male sexual health (APCOM) has been looking at this issue of stigma within healthcare settings which prevents people from accessing services and in fact kills people if nothing else. So what NFI and APCOM are doing is engaging more with the UN system, WHO, and other stakeholders to improve quality of education for the health sector, to engage in issues around health sector reforms and to improve services at grassroots level" said Shivananda Khan, Chief Executive of Naz Foundation International (NFI) and Co-Chair of Asia Pacific Coalition on Male sexual health (APCOM) at the 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (10th ICAAP) in Busan, South Korea.
Asthma needs serious attention in Ghana
(First published in Joy Online, Ghana on 17th May 2013): Many adults in Ghana with asthma—a disease that causes swelling of the airways of the lungs and thus make the airways become narrow—usually know very well such symptoms as wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. But researchers trying to establish the factors that influence asthma in Ghana, especially in adults, have very little information on the disease. Most studies have focused on asthma among individuals aged 5 to 16 years and therefore very little information on risk factors associated with asthma among adults in Ghana is known, says Abena S. Amoah, principal Research Assistant at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, and colleagues in a research to identify studies on asthma in Ghana.
The unsung heroines of the slums
Pratima refused to finalize the marriage of her son till her husband agreed to construct a toilet in their house located in a Kanpur slum. She did not want her daughter-in-law to suffer the same fate of open defecation as she did. Sushma raised the banner of women’s education, persuading her illiterate slum neighbours to send their daughters to college. Against all odds, Urmila and her team mates prevailed upon their local corporator to build tiled roads in their waterlogged slum. Ashiya worked hard to get more toilets constructed and the sewer lines laid in her slum.
Asthma treatment, care still expensive
(First published in Daily News, Zimbabwe on 7th May 2013): ASTHMA is one of the most common chronic diseases and it is largely treated as private health matter not warranting public attention, said a local health expert, Manikai Nyandoro a local doctor said that asthma is slowing becoming prevalent among children and the chronic disease is treated mostly on an emergency basis. “The percentage of children reported for asthma has been increasing significantly. It is very much linked to the fact that they were not aware of these asthmatic conditions,” he said.
Special Report: Women and Tuberculosis - It's Impact on Nigerian Women living with HIV
Olufunke Osindele, Nigeria
(First published in Ogun Radio, Nigeria on 8th May 2013): As the world marked another International Women’s Day celebrated March 8 every year this gives the world opportunity to reflect on how to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and girls in terms of access to healthcare, education and social ammenties. According to WHO Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and maternal causes, are the three top killers of women of reproductive age globally. TB is a global health burden which countries are trying to control but the good news is that it is curable. It is one of the opportunitistic infections people living with HIV have to battle and this is never a pleasant experience for them especially the women folks.
Malawi struggles with asthma
Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 14th May 2013): The world on May 7 joined hands to commemorate the World Asthma Day, a disease that has suffered little attention despite millions of people in almost every region being affected. It is an issue of international concern and this is why an annual event is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.The theme for this year's commemoration was "You Can Control Your Asthma." However, this year GINA also introduced a sub-theme, "It's Time to Control Asthma."
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 14th May 2013): The world on May 7 joined hands to commemorate the World Asthma Day, a disease that has suffered little attention despite millions of people in almost every region being affected. It is an issue of international concern and this is why an annual event is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.The theme for this year's commemoration was "You Can Control Your Asthma." However, this year GINA also introduced a sub-theme, "It's Time to Control Asthma."
IAS 2013: Innovations in HIV Testing, Cure and Care
Call to improve asthma care and control
When there are evidence-based methods to control asthma effectively, then why is the disease burden growing over the past 30 years, particularly in the low- and middle- income countries? This fact is stated clearly in the Global Asthma Report 2011 published by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).There is no doubt that much more needs to be done to effectively control asthma at all levels. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects 235 million people worldwide.This lifelong condition affects people of all ages, but increasingly more number of children are getting diagnosed with asthma.
Addressing the burden of asthma in Nigeria
Okeoghene Oghenekaro, Nigeria
(First published in News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria on 6th May 2013): Priscilla, a 40-year-old public servant, has been living with asthma for the last 32 years. When Priscilla was first diagnosed of asthma, her grandmother called her an ogbanje because of the way she struggling to breathe. Narrating her story, Priscilla said that growing up was not easy, as she was hospitalised on several occasions. She stressed that she had to consciously avoid cats, dust, fur and feathers, recalling that her contacts with such objects usually triggered asthma attacks.
(First published in News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria on 6th May 2013): Priscilla, a 40-year-old public servant, has been living with asthma for the last 32 years. When Priscilla was first diagnosed of asthma, her grandmother called her an ogbanje because of the way she struggling to breathe. Narrating her story, Priscilla said that growing up was not easy, as she was hospitalised on several occasions. She stressed that she had to consciously avoid cats, dust, fur and feathers, recalling that her contacts with such objects usually triggered asthma attacks.
Call for better asthma treatment option
Paidamoyo Chipunza, Zimbabwe
(First published in The Herald Online, Zimbabwe on 9th May 2013): AN international organisation is calling for a range of effective asthma treatment to better manage the condition as the world commemorates World Asthma Day. World Asthma Day is commemorated every year on May 7. This year's commemorations are running under the theme: You can Control Your Asthma. Pharmacist and coordinator of the Asthma and Drug Facility with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Mr Christophe Perrin said effective management of asthma requires two major drugs namely bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids.
(First published in The Herald Online, Zimbabwe on 9th May 2013): AN international organisation is calling for a range of effective asthma treatment to better manage the condition as the world commemorates World Asthma Day. World Asthma Day is commemorated every year on May 7. This year's commemorations are running under the theme: You can Control Your Asthma. Pharmacist and coordinator of the Asthma and Drug Facility with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Mr Christophe Perrin said effective management of asthma requires two major drugs namely bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids.
Should asthma control us or we control asthma?
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| Prof Rajendra Prasad, Director, VPCI Photo credit: CNS |
Reduction in tax on cigarettes and cigars against public health interest
Asthma: Recognising the triggers
Carolyn Kavita TauroGlobally, asthma is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Cases have increased in the past 20 years especially in children. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases with over 200 million suffering from it worldwide. If urgent action isn't taken, the deaths due to asthma will increase in the coming decade. Although asthma cannot be cured, good control and management lies in early and proper diagnosis, treatment and patient education.
Access to medicines is key to reducing suffering from asthma
7 May: World Asthma DayAsthma causes disabling symptoms in millions of people who struggle to breathe, making ordinary activities extraordinarily difficulty – things like going to school, working at a job, looking after children or aging parents, running or even walking. About 235 million people in the world suffer from asthma and the number is increasing – asthma is a neglected epidemic.
No more business as usual: Call to manage asthma well
Despite evidence that asthma can be effectively managed, not only asthma-related health literacy is very low in most settings but also quality-assured affordable essential medicines are very seldom available. With slow growth in awareness of asthmatic conditions, increasing number of children and adults are being diagnosed with asthma. Once diagnosed, we must ensure that they are educated about asthma, empowered to live positively with proper management of asthma, and in-country mechanisms are robust enough to ensure uninterrupted supplies of required quality-assured affordable essential medicines, healthcare workers are skilled enough to comprehensively support people who need care, and aggravating factors or triggers are controlled effectively where possible.Asthma control requires affordable, accessible quality-assured essential medicines
"It's time to control asthma", according to this year's World Asthma Day theme, but the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) says the low availability and the prohibitive cost of asthma inhalers continue to be serious challenges in low- and middle- income countries. With the vast majority of the 235 million people affected by asthma living in such limited-resource settings, The Union established the Asthma Drug Facility (ADF) to help overcome these barriers.Unavailability of asthma drugs in Malawi -report
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 2nd May 2013): A survey conducted in some of the country's private pharmacy hospitals, national procurement centre and public hospital pharmacies has revealed an unavailability of some of the asthma drugs and this is highlighted in the global asthma report 2011. The report which is the first of its kind says the survey conducted on availability of surveyed inhalers by country, type of health facility and national essential medicines list in the world, shows that Malawi has a lot to do, as some drugs were not available in the private pharmacy, national procurement centre and public hospital pharmacy.
Up to half of current users will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease
Since majority of tobacco addiction takes root in young age, children and youth need to be informed of tobacco-related diseases, disabilities and deaths to make a wise choice and say NO to tobacco, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General’s Awardee (2005), and Principal of Career Institute of Medical Sciences at Delhi Public School (DPS), Sector-19, Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Prof Rama Kant is also the Dean, College of Surgeons of India; and former Chief Medical Superintendent and former HOD Surgery, KGMU; and was plenary speaker at Vote For Health session at DPS.Are we doing enough to protect right to clean air?
Despite overwhelming evidence from around the world on positive health benefits of enforcing smoke-free policies, countries in South and South-East Asia are yet to
achieve desired enforcement of smoke-free laws. More political will and
strategic programming are key elements of good smoke-free programmes. At the recently concluded 4th Union Asia Pacific Region Conference on Lung Health (APRC 2013) in Hanoi, Viet Nam, countries were appealed to strictly enforce smoke-free laws on the ground and maximize potential public health outcomes. 73.6% child brides, 28% female literacy in Maharajganj UP
Nautanwa (Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh): Statistics never lie - they only help unravel some harsh truths. Like many social indicators in Maharajganj district only confirm that this district is one of the most undesired places for girls to live in. While 73.6 per cent of females here marry before the legal age of 18 years, the female literacy rate is a mere 28 per cent. One can find a child bride in almost every second home. While poverty, human trafficking, low birth registrations are some of the other major issues which the residents are battling with, child marriage undoubtedly tops all these concerns.
New technique to prevent diabetic lower-limb amputations
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| Dr AK Varma, AIMS, Kochi |
Socialist Party (India) demands ending imports from China
In wake of Chinese intrusion into 19kms of Indian territory, the Socialist Party demands that the Government of India must stop all imports of Chinese goods into India. Banares Sarees, Holi 'pichkaaris, woolen clothes, religious statues, various kind of electronic goods, etc are some examples where our markets are flooded with Chinese products. We do not support direct military action at this stage and believe that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral negotiations. But we do support and demand policies which should protect our local markets of small and middle scale industries and local craft artisans across the country. Such a decision will strengthen our economic power. Banning imports from China and promoting domestically produced products will give double boost to our economy and put more pressure on China to respect international borders including India’s.
We need new strategies to fight malaria, experts say
(First published in The Star, Kenya on 15th April 2013): Malaria control strategies must keep up with the rapidly changing patterns of malaria infection in low transmission settings, the authors of a new review published in The Lancet say. Sir Richard Feachem, director of the Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco, USA, and senior author of the study, says the malaria control strategies implemented over the last decade have been highly successful in reducing malaria worldwide. “However, these strategies must evolve to respond effectively to the changing patterns of infection in low transmission areas,” he says.
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