CNS family wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2019

[CNS Rewind 2018] Top 10+ CNS Webinars and other eLearning sessions in 2018

[Click here to watch all CNS Webinars] Looking back at over 40 Webinars and other eLearning sessions hosted by CNS in 2018, we are compelled to say that each eLearning session, and issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - thanks to all the panelists and participants.

[CNS Rewind] Top 10+ videos in 2018 on CNS YouTube channel

Looking back at over 150 video-articles produced by CNS Correspondents Team in 2018 (including streaming on YouTube of eLearning sessions), we are compelled to say that each video, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight video-articles and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Our top 10+ podcasts in 2018

Looking back at over 50 audio podcasts of 2018 on a range of issues related to global health and sustainable development, we are compelled to say that each one of them, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight podcasts and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top 10+ Correspondents of 2018

Looking back at over 500 articles written by CNS Correspondents Team in Asian and African countries in 2018, we are compelled to say that each article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - thanks to each one of the Correspondents and Fellows. We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight articles and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top 20+ most-read 2018 articles on CNS website

Looking back at over 500 (English and Hindi) in-depth and issue-focussed articles written by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2018, we are compelled to say that each article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight articles and critical issues they highlighted.

Local actions are building blocks for #GlobalGoals

International commitments are vital for a better tomorrow but no less important are local actions on the frontlines, for bringing in desired change. Most important and often unheard voices are of those who are striving hard to bring in a change on the frontlines. These voices from the grounds-up, need to be plugged in to those at national, regional and global levels who are driving bigger processes for a better tomorrow.

Local leaders from Asia Pacific nations commit to #endTobacco and #beatNCDs

[हिंदी] Earlier in December 2018, several local leaders from Asia Pacific nations unanimously adopted a strong Declaration to combat tobacco use and the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Governors, Mayors, Vice Mayors and Vice-Governors, in the presence of several Members of Parliaments, national government representatives, and public health experts, from over a dozen countries in Asia Pacific region, adopted this AP-CAT Declaration at the 3rd Summit of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control and Prevention of NCDs (AP-CAT) in Singapore.

Catastrophic healthcare cost due to tobacco and NCDs is a major obstacle to development

This Podcast features conversation with Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Member of Parliament from Bangladesh on how catastrophic healthcare cost is the biggest obstacle to development in Bangladesh. He was in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

#EndTobacco and #beatNCDs will help build a healthy tomorrow, says Bangladesh's MP Shameem Haider Patwary


Local actions are cornerstone for effective implementation of tobacco control

This Podcast features conversation with Nepal's Member of Parliament Mr Khagaraj Adhikari, who is the former Health and Population Minister of Nepal. Mr Adhikari spoke with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at the 3rd Summit of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control and NCDs Prevention in Singapore (4-6 December 2018). He shares his insights on why local actions are building blocks for moving the nation, and Asia Pacific region, to become tobacco free, as well as beat non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Thanks
CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

Local actions are building blocks to #beatNCDs & #endTobacco: says Nepal's MP & former Health Minister Khagaraj Adhikari


It's Time: Match words with actions to #endTB

[video] [podcast] Alongside boosting research and development of new tools to prevent, diagnose and treat TB, there is an acute need to optimally deploy and maximally utilize existing tools for preventing, diagnosing and treating TB, says Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, head of national TB programme in Vietnam and Director of National Lung Hospital, Hanoi.

It's Time to end TB in Vietnam

This Podcast presents conversation with Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, head of National TB Programme in Viet Nam, and also a senior Professor and Director of National Lung Hospital in Hanoi.

He spoke with CNS alongside 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health in The Hague, Netherlands, on a range of issues that impact progress towards ending TB by 2030.Introduction of new TB drugs such as Bedaquiline, safeguards in place to check anti-TB drug resistance, latent TB infection, funding gap in TB research and development (R&D), disabilities that people who get cured of TB live and deal with, improving utilization of new diagnostic tools for optimal programme outcomes, were among key issues he shares his insights on.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

It's Time: Match words with action to #endTB



Disability rights of people with HIV, TB are on blindspot

This Podcast presents our conversation with Michael Miiro who leads MADIPHA (Masaka Association of Persons with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS) in Uganda. He spoke to CNS (Citizen News Service) on the sidelines of 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health in The Hague, Netherlands.

He shares his insights on disability rights for people living with HIV and co-infected with TB.He also shares MADIPHA’s core activities which also include focus on sexual and gender based violence, livelihood and household income, and policy advocacy and inclusion.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

Disability rights for people with HIV, TB


Do not lift foot off the pedal: #UHC and #endAIDS are not either/or choices!

This UHC Day Podcast features a stimulating conversation with 7 women leaders who spoke with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at HIV Research for Prevention or HIV R4P International Conference in Madrid, Spain in October 2018. Experts include: Lisa Rossi, Director, Communications and External Relations, MTN (Microbicide Trials Network), USA; Zurah Nakabugo, health journalist, The Observer, Uganda; Thandeka Moyo, health journalist, The Chronicle, Zimbabwe; Angela Oketch, health and science journalist, The Nation, Kenya; Winnie Botha, health journalist, Malawi; Vicky Wandawa, health journalist, The New Vision, Uganda; and Ida Jooste, global health advisor, InterNews.

Universal Health Coverage or UHC is critical for health security. Countries require a strong primary health care platform as the backbone of universal health coverage, in absence of which, we are risking losing gains made in fighting AIDS or TB or malaria or other disease control. We cannot afford not to strengthen UHC. In addition to UHC, we also need to scale up research and development of better tools to prevent infections such as HIV. We not only need new HIV prevention tools but we also need more choices especially for those who are at heightened risk of HIV such as girls and women.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

#UHCday: Voices of 7 women leaders on boosting HIV prevention to #endAIDS



Strengthening community participation is crucial for ending AIDS

Beryl Osindo, CNS Correspondent, Kenya
Photo credit: Beryl Osindo
HIV/AIDS remains an epidemic in several countries, but major milestones are yet to be reached. In order to achieve the ambitious 90-90-90 targets of UNAIDS by 2020 and to eventually end AIDS by 2030, many countries have incorporated plans that address evidence based studies, systematic scientific findings, and training programs that include people from diverse backgrounds. Notably, key messages around the infection have been shared.

Complacency kills: Prevention cannot take a backseat while we scale up treatment coverage to #endAIDS

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
[Webinar recording, podcast] "The global health system is only as strong as its weakest parts" had said UNDP’s Mandeep Dhaliwal in her article around last year's World AIDS Day. The context has only deepened over the year, not only for ending AIDS but also for health security in general. With Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) on 12th December this year, time is running out to catch up on lost opportunities to advance towards UHC.

Regulate 'new' tobacco products as tobacco products

This Podcast presents our conversation with Dr Tara Singh Bam, who was part of Nepal government delegation at the global tobacco treaty negotiations (formally called the 8th Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control). He is also the Deputy Regional Director at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease or The Union. He also spoke about the importance of the forthcoming 3rd Summit of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for tobacco control and prevention of non-communicable diseases or AP-CAT in Singapore later this week.

Government of South Africa and other 180 governments who met at the global tobacco treaty negotiations had mandated a research study on new tobacco products, like heat-not-burn, which pose a threat to public health - particularly to children. But world’s biggest tobacco company launched these so-called alternatives to tobacco smoking in South Africa.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

[World AIDS Day Webinar] More needs to be done alongwith 90-90-90 to #endAIDS!

[Webinar recording] [Podcast] 193 governments have committed to end AIDS by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs), which aspires to eliminate transmission of HIV and healthy and productive normal lifespans for all people living with HIV (PLHIV). We must ensure that all PLHIVs know their status, all of them receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and remain virally supressed (irresepective of where they reside), and no further transmission of HIV takes place, thereby making Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U) a reality!

Paid leave for domestic violence survivors can help break the cycle of violence against women

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
[हिंदी]To mark the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) and 16 Days of Activism (25 November to 10 December), public sector unions launched a campaign to demand paid leave for all survivors of domestic violence. This is a part of efforts to strengthen labour laws and policies that can help stop violence and harassment.

Antimicrobial resistance: An understated threat

Avantika Chaturvedi, CNS Correspondent, India
Antimicrobial resistance is a condition when a microbe starts resisting the effects of medication that once could successfully treat diseases caused by the microbe. Resistant microbes are more difficult to treat, requiring alternative medications or higher doses of antimicrobials, making treatment more expensive and/or more toxic. Microbes resistant to multiple antimicrobials are called multi-drug resistant.

[Podcast] Will a long-acting & female-initiated HIV prevention option be a game-changer?



[Podcast] Local youth leadership is key for advancing progress on SRHR



Power of local youth leadership is pivotal for sexual health and rights



Overcoming antibiotic resistance is a collective responsibility

Ekwi Ajide, CNS Correspondent, Nigeria
Photo credit: WHO
Antibiotic resistance according to the World Health Organisation is one of the world's most serious health threats. This assertion may not be unconnected with the fact that antibiotic resistant bacterial infections are much harder to treat, just as they leave the sufferer sicker and infectious for longer periods, thereby giving the ‘superbugs’ more  opportunity to spread.

South Africa’s war against superbugs

Ronel Sewpaul, CNS Correspondent, South Africa
What if the medicines that are used to treat our illnesses became ineffective over time? What if the hitherto curable diseases become untreatable? The peril of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that is looming large, has already started taking its toll and is likely to escalate if not addressed urgently.

Clock is ticking: 26 months left to meet AIDS 90-90-90 targets

[Recording] [Photos] [हिंदी] Governments have promised to end AIDS by 2030 but are we on track? Experts reviewed progress we are making towards some HIV related goals with a deadline earlier, such as the 90-90-90 targets set for 2020.

We want the ring...

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
That seemed to be the resonating refrain of women at the HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P2018) held recently in Madrid, Spain. And no, they were not talking about the engagement ring. Their focus of interest was the intra-vaginal dapivirine vaginal ring - a long acting female-initiated, self-administered product that has been found to be highly effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection.

[SABC Newsbreak] Alarming incidence of breast cancer warrants urgent action, says Dr Pooja Ramakant

[SABC News and Current Affairs] By Newsbreak Producer Taliesha Naidoo
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer among Indian women. Details have the proportional prevalence in younger age-groups in the world's largest democracy is higher than the global average. According to the Indian Ministry of Health Welfare, the incidence of breast cancer is 25.8 per 100,000 women and is expected to rise to 35 per 100,000 women in 2026. Newsbreak's Taliesha Naidoo asked renowned breast cancer surgeon and Associate Professor in Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery of King George's Medical University, Dr Pooja Ramakant - how big a problem breast cancer is in India...

WHO prioritizes AMR: A key issue tackled through multi-sectoral partnership

Manjari Peiris, Sri Lanka
[First published in Asian Tribune]
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multi-sectoral problem affecting human and animal health, agriculture, as well as the global environment and trade. Clean water, sustainable food production and poverty alleviation are but a few of the challenges it poses. It is learnt that AMR threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.

[Call to register for 26/10 CNS Live Hour] Is fight against TB in the Middle East on track?

[Click here to register] Is fight against TB in the Middle East countries (Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon) on track to end TB by 2030 or earlier? Are there unique challenges in socio-economic and political context in these Middle East nations that are weighing upon the fight to end TB?

HIV prevention: Bridging the gap between research and impact

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
[Podcast] We are at an incredible moment in the history of the HIV/AIDS response, which reflected in the vibrancy of the HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P 2018) - the only global scientific conference focused on the fast-growing field of biomedical HIV prevention research. Today, the latest research in different areas of biomedical HIV prevention, including vaccines, rings, microbicides and other female-controlled forms of prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-acting delivery systems, offer the greatest promise of significantly slowing the toll of the disease.

[Podcast] Research & development & "delivery" all key to #endAIDS: Translating scientific advancements into public health gains must not be delayed


[Podcast] What inspired 4 women scientists towards HIV science and care?


Can we end tobacco pandemic without holding industry liable?

[हिंदी] The disease burden, death toll and economic loss caused by tobacco is mountainous enough to warrant urgent action globally. Over 7 million deaths every year and more than US$ 1.4 trillion economic cost cripples the global economy - can this be ignored? Also more evidence piles up on how tobacco threatens sustainable development.

Governments meet in Geneva to get tough on the tobacco industry

(First published in Le News, Switzerland on 11 October 2018)
Governments of 181 countries and the European Union met in Geneva for the 8th conference of the parties to the global tobacco treaty, formally called the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Antimicrobial resistance and human health

Beryl Osindo, CNS Correspondent, Kenya 
The emergence of drug resistant bacteria, viruses, and parasites, is challenging modern medicine to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at an entirely new level. The administering of antimicrobial drugs to treat infections is a common practice that has been used over the years.

[Podcast] SABC Newsbreak: Geneva conference continues to strive towards averting the harmful effects of tobacco use


Unmask the complexities of TB, a pigeonholed curable disease

Roger Paul Kamugasha, CNS Correspondent, Uganda
The time is closing fast to prevent millions of people dying from susceptible and multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). We need an initiative that will go beyond the intermittent paper declarations that have failed to end TB. We need a marshal plan to generate investments with the potential to lessen the interstate barriers to end deaths caused by this disease and increase productivity—a plan embedded in a multi sectoral framework working towards one global goal. Hundreds of declarations to end the disease have been made, global targets are set every 3-5 years, extensive research and studies have been done.

[Podcast] First ever cross-sectional study on heart disease to be conducted in India: SABC interviews Prof Rishi Sethi

Fully funding the TB response is a smart investment

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
 
As per WHO’s Global TB Report 2018 financing for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment continues to fall short of the amount needed and commitments from both domestic and international donor sources need to be stepped up.

Ending antimicrobial resistance is the lynchpin to #endTB as well as health security

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
[हिंदी] While reaffirming their commitment to end TB by 2030, the draft Political Declaration in the fight against tuberculosis by governments at the first UN High-Level Meeting on TB (#UNHLM to #endTB) acknowledges that "TB, including its drug-resistant forms, is a critical challenge and the leading infectious disease cause of death, the most common form of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally."

[Podcast] Despite challenges, Indonesia making progress towards ending TB by 2030

Despite challenges, Indonesia makes progress in fight against TB


Rotation of pictorial health warnings on tobacco products

Manjari Peiris, Sri Lanka
[First published in Asian Tribune]
Sri Lanka initiated implementation of Article 11- as envisaged in WHO’s Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)- on packaging and labelling of tobacco products, in early 2015. Eight pictures on Pictorial Health Warnings (PHWs ), that covered 80% of the surface area of cigarette packets, were introduced.

Tip of the iceberg? Not just a health hazard, tobacco devastates development

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

(हिंदी) Tobacco kills over 7 million people annually. Every tobacco-related disease is preventable, and every tobacco related untimely death could have been averted.

Will SimpliciTB make TB treatment simpler?

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
(हिंदी) Taking the encouraging results of its NC-005 study one step forward, TB Alliance has initiated SimpliciTB a pivotal clinical study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a novel and potentially shorter 4 drug regimen for patients with drug-sensitive (DS) as well as multi drug-resistant (MDR) pulmonary TB.

Innovation is key to #endTB: A disease riddled with myths

Roger Paul Kamugasha, CNS Correspondent, Uganda
Photo credit: Roger Paul, Uganda
Tuberculosis (TB) — the silent killer — has found its place on the agenda of one of the forthcoming United Nations High Level Meetings (UNHLM on TB), for the first time in the annals of history. This has been made possible through the combined efforts of the Stop TB Partnership, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (The Global Fund), United Nations, G-20 nations, UNITAID, Russian Government, media, TB advocates who include TB survivors, celebrities who have spearheaded the campaign against TB, religious institutions and international/ regional/ national development partners.

Environment and lung health are vital for sustainable societies

[हिंदी] The 24th National Conference on Environmental Sciences and Pulmonary Diseases (NESCON 2018) will be held in Mumbai, India during 24-26 August 2018. “Environment and lung health are inalienable, if we are to deliver on promises made in National Health Policy 2017 (NHP 2017) as well as UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, said Dr Ishwar Gilada, Co-Chair of NESCON 2018 and President of AIDS Society of India (ASI), which is a national network of doctors and researchers in HIV care.

[SABC NewsBreak on Lotus FM] CNS head Shobha Shukla pays tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee



Existence of civil society is under threat

Dr Ian Hodgson, CNS (Citizen News Service) 
Gandhi ji's Talisman
CNS Image Library: Gandhi Settlement, Durban/ 2018
The increasing repression of civil society was a major theme that emerged during the recently concluded 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) in Amsterdam. A range of presentations and discussions confirmed that, in many countries, like Hungary, Russia, Venezuela, and the Philippines, the civil society space for HIV prevention is diminishing with the introduction of new laws and policies that are aimed at minimising access to human rights and jeopardising the health and well-being of key populations.

Where are the nurses in the HIV response?

Dr Ian Hodgson, CNS (Citizen News Service)
Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, nurses have been at the forefront of the response to this once fatal infection. The nurse is involved at every stage of the trajectory of a person living with HIV—from usually being the first to counsel the newly diagnosed person, to one of the last to be with him/her at the point of death.

Slump in fight against #AIDS can derail progress made so far!

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
[Podcast] “Tremendous progress against AIDS over the past 15 years has inspired a global commitment to end the epidemic by 2030. Out of the total 36.9 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally, 21.7 million of them were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by 2017. But we should also note that 1.8 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2017" said Dr Ishwar Gilada, who was Chairing a session at 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Will approach of 'breaking barriers and building bridges' accelerate progress to #endAIDS?

Dr Prakash Tyagi, CNS (Citizen News Service)
From CNS files: 2 years old photo but even more relevant!
A number of aspects stand out clearly from the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018). Firstly, the conference has the largest ever participation of younger people, recognizing the importance of the roles youth play and the contributions they can make in the global efforts of controlling the pandemic within their communities and beyond.

Ending AIDS, the Dutch way

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
Alphonsus Stoelinga, Netherlands Ambassador to India
We are all very familiar with the phrase ‘going Dutch’ (meaning each person of a group pays one's own expenses in an outing), but are we also aware of dealing with HIV/AIDS the Dutch way? Perhaps very few of us know that "Amsterdam, which is currently hosting the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) from 23-27th July 2018 - the largest conference for any global health issue in the world - became the first city in the world to overshoot the 90:90:90 target, set by UNAIDS (joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS), in 2017 itself with a continuum progress of 94:90:94,” said Alphonsus Stoelinga, Netherlands Ambassador to India, in an exclusive interview given to CNS (Citizen News Service) on the eve of AIDS 2018.

[Call for application] Be Different: Become a part of Bimla Misra Memorial Health Fellowship Programme 2018-2019

[Click here to apply] CNS team is pleased to announce that we are currently accepting applications for new Fellows for Bimla Misra Memorial Health Fellowship Programme 2018-2019.

Are you willing to be different, and:
  • Be the change you want to see in the world?
  • See things differently, and strive for a better tomorrow?
  • Challenge the status quo, and think and act differently, to make sustainable development a reality for all - where no one is left behind?
  • Focus on issues that matter to people most in need?