CNS: 2019

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team CNS

Boosting immunity is also an important cog-in-the-wheel to prevent TB

This Podcast features Professor (Dr) Surya Kant, Head of Respiratory Medicine department, King George's Medical University (KGMU). He is the President of National College of Chest Physicians (2019-2020), President of Indian Chest Society (2016-2017), and President of Indian College of Allergy, Asthma and Applied Immunology (2018-2020). Prof Surya Kant is also a member of National Task Force (tuberculosis) of Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) Government of India; and Chairman of Zonal Operational Research Committee, RNTCP, North Zone.

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Top 25+ most-read articles on CNS website in 2019 (English & Hindi) | #Rewind2019

Looking back at over 500 (English and Hindi) in-depth and issue-focussed articles written by CNS team in Asian and African countries in 2019, 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.

[Click here to watch all CNS Webinars in the past decade] Looking back at over 100 Webinars and other eLearning sessions (such as, #endTB Dialogues series) hosted by CNS in 2019, we are compelled to say that each eLearning session, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - heartfelt thanks to all the panelists and participants.

Looking back at over 500 articles written by CNS Correspondents Team in Asian and African countries in 2019, 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.

Looking back at over 200 audio podcasts of 2019, 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.

[click here to watch CNS YouTube channel] Looking back at over 200 video-articles produced by CNS team in 2019 (including streaming on YouTube of eLearning sessions such as Webinars and #endTB Dialogues series), 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.

This Podcast features Dr Ishwar Gilada, who was among the first Indian doctors to begin HIV care when first case got diagnosed in the country. He is part of Governing Council of International AIDS Society (IAS), President of AIDS Society of India (ASI) - national professional association of HIV medical experts and scientists, and also member of Government of India's Technical Working Group on LatentTB Infection (LTBI).

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Disability and TB: Call for greater collaborative action to help advance disability rights and #endTB agenda

This Podcast features Miiro Michael, Dansk Handicap Forbund (DHF) Uganda Representative, 2017 Human Rights Advocates Program, Columbia University and leader of MADIPHA (Masaka Association of Persons with Disabilities Living With HIV and AIDS).

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Addressing latent tuberculosis is also key if we are to #endTB in SAARC nations

This Podcast features Dr Ramesh Kumar Kharel, Director of SAARC TB and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC) who shares his insights on accelerating response towards elimination of TB in SAARC nations (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional geopolitical union of 8 nations in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Preventng TB and timely diagnosis & treatment of active disease are key to #endTB

This Podcast features Dr Man Mohan Puri, senior TB and respiratory diseases expert from NITRD Delhi (National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, formerly LRS Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases). He is also a member of government of India's Technical Working Group on Latent TB Infection (LTBI).

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

It is unethical not to offer TB preventive therapy to contacts of patients of active TB disease

This Podcast features Dr Suvanand Sahu, Deputy Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership.

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

If we are to end TB then we have to increase health literacy and programme effectiveness

This Podcast features Dr PS Sarma, senior #TB expert from #AndhraPradesh state in India and Chairman,SMLS Trust. He is the honorary national professor at Indian Medical Association (IMA) CGP New Delhi, and Executive Committee member of TB Association of Andhra Pradesh.

[Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms].

Rapid rate of TB decline is helping move Kerala towards #endTB goal

This Podcast features Dr Shibu Balakrishnan and Dr Rakesh PS. Both of them are part of team fighting TB in Kerala state, India. Both are World Health Organization (WHO) consultants working with the state tuberculosis programme of India's national TB programme (formally called the Revised National TB Control Programme - RNTCP).

[Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms].

If we are to end TB then all TB services must reach everyone-in-need

This Podcast features Tushar Kanti Ray, senior public health social scientist, who is also a two-times TB survivor himself. With over 30 years of experience in fighting TB and promoting other public health measures in over 30 countries, Tushar Kanti Ray shares insights on how to strengthen TB response [Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms].

Women and community ownership have made a difference, says Rwanda's health minister

(Exclusive article published in The New Times, Rwanda on 7th December 2019)

Rwanda is one of the few countries, globally, that are on track to achieve the 90-90-90 UNAIDS targets. Visiting Indian media personality Shobha Shukla spoke with Health minister Dr Diane Gashumba on the margins of ICASA 2019 – the 20th International Conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Africa, which will come to an end on Saturday in Kigali.

Most women in low- and middle-income countries find vaginal rings acceptable and easy to use

[Published in aidsmap.com]

Gives hope for uptake of the dapivirine ring when approved

Shobha Shukla

Bobby Ramakant

A new formulation of life-saving medicines on the anvil for children living with HIV

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

Watch video interview | Listen to podcast

An easy to consume, heat-stable, fixed-dose combination of four antiretrovirals (ARVs) developed for HIV infected infants and young children between 3 and 25 kg bodyweight is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved by the FDA, this all-in-one ARV regimen, consisting of 4 ARV medicines (lopinavir, ritonavir, abacavir and lamivudine), could prove to be a game-changer for millions of HIV infected infants and young children around the world, especially in low and middle income countries.

This Podcast features Dr Linda-Gail Bekker, Professor of Medicine, Chief Operating Officer of Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, and Director of Desmund Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She was in conversation with CNS founder Managing Editor and Executive Director Shobha Shukla. Dr Linda-Gail Bekker is a former President of the International AIDS Society (IAS).

Political leadership, decentralization and community ownership have made a difference, says Rwanda's Health Minister

This Podcast features Rwanda's Health Minister Dr Diane Gashumba who spoke with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at ICASA 2019 (20th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa). Dr Diane shares her insights on progress Rwanda is making on strengthening health systems and also on disease-specific programmes such as HIV/AIDS, TB, NCDs, gender/ women equity, among others. She underlines how political leadership, decentralization and community ownership have been change agents making a big difference and helping progress the nation towards sustainable development, where no one is left behind.

Bringing #HIV response on track to #endAIDS is vital in Sub-Saharan Africa

This Podcast features Rouzeh Eghtessadi, Executive Director, SAfAIDS (Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service) and Chrispin Chomba, acting deputy director for programmes at SAfAIDS in Zambia. They were in conversation with CNS founder Executive DIrector and Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at the 20th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2019) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Do not leave the (mothers and) children behind, in efforts to #endAIDS

This Podcast features François Bompart, Director of HIV & Hepatitis C Initiative at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). He was in conversation with CNS founder Executive DIrector and Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at the 20th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2019) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Health and treatment literacy is a linchpin for global health security

This Podcast features Dr Dilip Mathai, Vice President of AIDS Society of India (ASI), and Co-Chair of Scientific Committee of ASICON 2019 (12th National Conference of ASI). He was conferred upon the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award by ASI for 2019. Dr Mathai is Dean, and Professor of Medicine & Adult Infectious Disease, at Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR) in Hyderabad.

We cannot end AIDS without combating antimicrobial resistance

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

With just 133 months left to end AIDS, this year's World AIDS Day underlines the urgency to step up the fight against the epidemic. Despite unprecedented progress made in scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, we are not yet on track to end AIDS by 2030. One of the major threats lurking to reverse these gains made in combating AIDS is antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

13 months left to deliver on 90:90:90 promises of 2020

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

[हिंदी] Despite promise of governments to end AIDS by 2030 and considerable progress on putting people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) along with reduction in AIDS deaths, the decline in new HIV infections has stalled over the past 8 years in Asia Pacific.

TB preventive therapy saves lives: Why is the rollout so poor?

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

Dr Susan Swindells - UNMC (left) with Shobha Shukla - CNS (right)

Watch video recording | Listen to podcast

The crown that won the HIV battle

Swapna Majumdar, CNS Special Correspondent, India

Barbara Kemigisa
Photo credit: Swapna Majumdar

She is not traumatised by it, nor does she want to hide it. On the contrary, Barbara Kemigisa wants the whole world to know that she has the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. In fact, the 33-year-old flaunts it by wearing a victory crown made with empty bottles of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs used to treat the infection and leftover pills. “I’m not afraid of the stigma of living with HIV. I want people to know my status so that they can see that people living with HIV don’t need to wither away and die. By wearing this crown, I can attract attention without saying a word,” says Kemigisa.

[Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts] This Podcast features Dr Bilali Camara, a medical epidemiologist and Country Director of UNAIDS (Joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS) in India. Bilali is former UNAIDS country director for Nigeria and has over 30 years of experience in health policy, epidemiology, clinical sciences, medical virology laboratories, advocacy and rights to health.

HIV decline has stalled in Asia Pacific: Focus more on key populations

[Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts] This Podcast features Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman who is the President-elect of International AIDS Society (IAS), and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at ASICON 2019 (12th National Conference of AIDS Society of India) in Chennai, India.

New shorter one-month treatment regimen for TB prevention gives hope

[Listen on Apple Podcast] This Podcast features Dr Susan Swindells, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, and Medical Director, Speciality Care Clinic, University of Nebraska Medical Center - UNMC, USA who was in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at ASICON 2019 (12th National Conference of AIDS Society of India) in Chennai, India (22-24 November 2019).

133 months left to make U=U a reality for every person living with HIV

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

Watch video recording | Listen to podcast

[Listen on Apple Podcasts] This Podcast features a conversation with leaders of the ASICON 2019 (12th National Conference of AIDS Society of India). Dr Ishwar Gilada, President of AIDS Society of India (ASI), President of ASICON 2019, & Governing Council member, International AIDS Society (IAS); Dr N Kumarasamy, Co-Chair of ASICON 2019 and Chief & Director of Infectious Diseases Medical Centre, Voluntary Health Services (VHS) Hospital, Chennai; and Dr Susan Swindells, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA.

Stronger the health system & social security, greater is the chance to end TB | Dr Mario Raviglione | #endTB Dialogues

[Listen on Apple Podcasts] This Podcast features a conversation with Dr Mario Raviglione, former Director of WHO Global TB Programme, who is currently the Director of Global Health Centre of University of Milan, Italy. He is among the LEADERS featured in #EndTB Dialogues - a special CNS series, presenting insightful and thought-provoking interviews with leaders to accelerate progress towards ending TB.

Call for stronger action to end TB & tobacco, and prevent NCDs in Telangana

Several eminent doctors and public health experts delivered a memorandum to Governor of Telangana earlier this month, calling for stronger action to accelerate progress towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB) and tobaccco use, as well as in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Telangana Governor, who herself is a medical doctor, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan received the delegation on the last day of the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Hyderabad, India.

One-third of people living with HIV in rural Tanzania report clinically relevant drug-drug interactions

[Published in aidsmap.com]

Study finds sub-optimal management of drug-drug interactions

Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant

[Listen on Apple Podcasts] This Podcast features the audio recording of the World Diabetes Day Webinar, which presented highlights of 9th Diabetes Atlas, and link between TB-tobacco and diabetes among other issues. 9th Diabetes Atlas was released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) on World Diabetes Day 2019. This Webinar also had a message from Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Member of Parliament, Bangladesh, who is part of APCAT (Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control & NCDs Prevention) & Asia Pacific Parliamentarians' Caucus for tobacco control and NCDs prevention.

TB prevention is no longer a choice, but an essential part of end TB strategy

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

"TB prevention is no longer a choice but an essential intervention to end TB... TB is one of the few infections that we ignore and do not treat till it manifests as late stage disease that has already [been] transmitted to several others. The strategy needs to expand to include preventing full blown TB disease" tweeted Dr Suvanand Sahu, Deputy Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership. "If you are not doing TB prevention, you are in the old era of controlling TB - not ending it."

World Diabetes Day Webinar: Know more about 9th Diabetes Atlas & link between diabetes-tobacco-TB

watch Webinar recording | listen to podcast

watch Webinar recording | listen to podcast

This Podcast features a conversation with Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, and Chairman of Indian government's Technical Working Group on Latent #Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). He is among the LEADERS featured in #EndTB Dialogues - a special CNS series, presenting insightful and thought-provoking interviews with leaders to accelerate progress towards ending TB.

Prevention is key cog-in-the-wheel for #TB-free India | Dr Ashwani Khanna | #endTB Dialogues

This Podcast features a conversation with Dr Ashwani Khanna, Delhi State TB Control Officer (RNTCP), and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Chest Clinic at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Delhi. He is among the LEADERS featured in #EndTB Dialogues - a special CNS series, presenting insightful and thought-provoking interviews with leaders to accelerate progress towards ending TB.

Air pollution and asthma: Sankar shares his personal testimony calling for greater action

This Podcast features a conversation with A Sankar from Empower India in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) in Tamil Nadu state of India who shares his personal experience with #asthma triggered due to #airPollution. He gave a plenary talk at the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Hyderabad, India.

Are we on track to end TB in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon? | #EndTB Dialogues

This Podcast features a conversation with Dr Ghazi Sharkas, leads national TB programme in Jordan; Dr Hasan Gawerdi, leads national TB programme in Syria; Dr Ms Malak Quardash, leads national TB programme in Yemen south; Dr Esam Mahyoub, leads national TB programme in Yemen north; Dr Ahmed Asmer, leads national TB programme in Iraq; and Dr Ms Hiam Yaacoub, leads national TB programme in Lebanon.

Kerala's multi-layered approach to #endTB

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

As part of the #EndTB Dialogues series launched in lead up to the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health last month, we got an opportunity for exclusive interview with Dr M Sunil Kumar, State Tuberculosis Officer, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Kerala, and Dr Shibu Balakrishnan, World Health Organization (WHO) consultant with the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in Kerala.

100-100-100 & 0 transmission of HIV & TB are imperative to meet SDGs | #endTB Dialogues

Fight to end TB in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon: Are we on track? #EndTB Dialogues

TB prevention is better than cure | #endTB Dialogues

Cost of inaction to prevent and treat TB is (very) high

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

Prevention of TB was the focus of many a sessions at the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Hyderabad, India, on the theme of 'Ending the Emergency: Science, Leadership, Action.' This conference comes one year after the first ever United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB.

Research needed on who's likely to progress from latent TB to active disease | Dr Soumya Swaminathan WHO | #endTB Dialogues

This Podcast features a conversation with Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO). She was most recently WHO's Deputy Director-General for Programmes. A paediatrician from India and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV, she brings with her 30 years of experience in clinical care and research and has worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes.

Ground zero: Frontline champions lead the fight to #endTB as global meet opens in India

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

(poster of 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health outside King Koti DMC)

This Podcast features a conversation with G Swamy Reddy of Lepra Society, who is among the LEADERS featured in #EndTB Dialogues - a special CNS series, presenting insightful and thought-provoking interviews with leaders to accelerate progress towards ending TB. Launched in the lead up to the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in October 2019, this #endTBdialogues series underpins the URGENCY to step up the fight against the epidemic.

Are we forgetting that TB prevention is better than cure?

SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS

Without infection there is no disease: Nip the TB infection

Prevention of new infections of TB bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and their progression to active TB disease is critical to reduce the burden of TB disease and to achieve the goal of ending TB by 2030.

This Podcast features a conversation with Urvashi Prasad, public policy specialist at Niti Aayog, Government of India (a policy think tank to foster state involvement in policy making processes) where she focuses on health, nutrition, sanitation and gender. She is among the LEADERS featured in #EndTB Dialogues - a special CNS series, presenting insightful and thought-provoking interviews with leaders to accelerate progress towards ending TB.

Together we win: #StepUpTheFight & unite to end TB | Dr Rohit Sarin | #endTB Dialogues

This Podcast features a conversation with Dr Rohit Sarin, Director of National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD) in Delhi, India (formerly LRS Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases), who is among the LEADERS featured in #EndTB Dialogues - a special CNS series, presenting insightful and thought-provoking interviews with leaders to accelerate progress towards ending TB.