Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block, Unnao (UP)
20-28 May
To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here
After a year and a half of struggle activists of Asha Parivar and residents of Miyaganj Block of Unnao District Yeshwant Rao and Virendra Singh have been successful in obtaining documents related to implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in their Block.
The application asking for information (like Muster Rolls and Measurement Books, etc.) under the Right to Information Act, 2005, was filed on 4th December, 2006 by Yeshwant Rao at his Block office. He received a reply in June 2007 asking him to submit Rs. 1,58,400 (at an arbitrarily fixed rate of Rs. 2,400 per village panchayat for 66 panchayats in the Miyaganj Block).
This followed a long battle in the State Information Commission of UP where after more than ten hearings ultimately an order was passed directing the Block officials to provide information free of cost.
The activists finally started getting the documents on 6th April, 2008. This is the most detailed information that Asha Parivar has got in its attempts to conduct social audits so far in this area (earlier social audits of NREGS have been conducted in Bharawan, Sandila and Behender Blocks of neighbouring Hardoi District).
Volunteers are invited to be part of the Social Audit of NREGS in Miyaganj Block of Unnao District from 20th to 28th May, 2008.
We will assemble at the Miyaganj Block office on the morning of 20th May for a two day training. Eleven teams will then visit the 66 village panchayats over the next six days with each team covering one panchayat in a day. Finally, on 28th May there will be a public hearing on the social audit reports.
To reach Miyaganj:-
(1) Catch a three wheeler (popularly known as 'Vikram') from outside the railway station going to Rajajipuram and get down at Dhania Mari Pul within Lucknow . From there take a bus for Bangarmau (in Hardoi) and get down at Miyaganj. Bus will drop you outside the Block office.
(2) Catch a bus from Unnao to Sandila and get down at Miyaganj.
If you would like to be part of the social audit process please get in touch with any of the following:
Yeshwant Rao, 9935451876
Virendra Singh, 9935788420
Arundhati Dhuru, 9415022772, arundhatidhuru@yahoo.co.uk
Sandeep, ashaashram@yahoo.com
We also solicit financial donations for conducting the social audit in Miyaganj. Donations may be sent in the name of 'Asha' to Vallabhacharya Pandey, Village Bhandaha Kalan, Post Kaithi, Varanasi-221116, Ph: (0542) 2618201, 2618301, 2618401, Mobile : 9415256848, ashakashi@gmail.com
Asha Parivar, Unnao
&
National Alliance of People's Movements, UP
To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here
World Malaria Day (25 April 2008)
World Malaria Day
25 April 2008
Greater resources and stronger political commitment critical in tackling Malaria: WHO
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
Malaria, a disease without borders, is preventable and treatable however it needs a bolder commitment from donors and member states if it is to be brought under control.
Malaria remains a major health problem in the South-East Asia region with 83% of its population at risks. There are an estimated 20 million cases and 100,000 deaths each year from malaria in the region.
"Today we have powerful new tools and effective models of control, which is critical in our approach in tackling this disease. But financial resources need to be mobilised and political commitment to addressing this disease needs to be solidified. A lackadaisical attitude to this health issue will not lessen the current disease burden," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia marking the first World Malaria Day.
Populations particularly susceptible to malaria include those who live in urban slums, the poor, ethnic groups, mobile populations, young adults and border communities. In South-East Asia, where some of the most devastating resurgences of malaria have occurred, the disease continues to pose a serious threat to public health. Much of the malaria in this Region is transmitted by forest-dwelling vectors, making vector control extremely difficult and also leaving large infected populations beyond the reach of basic health infrastructure.
Malaria is endemic in all the countries in the South-East Asia Region except the Maldives, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to control. This region also harbours two main malaria parasites, the deadly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which is notorious for causing relapsing episodes. In addition to damage to health and well being, malaria adversely affects economic development particularly the livelihood of the poor. "A community with malaria is an impoverished community," stressed Dr Plianbangchang.
Parasite strains resistant to chloroquine, (cheapest and most common anti-malaria drug), have spread throughout this region. Multidrug-resistant strains are present in several countries and the resistance level is growing, posing a threat to all means of effective case management. Intensified efforts by Member countries, international agencies, partners and donor agencies are urgently required.
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
Published in
The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Seoul Times, South Korea
News Blaze, USA
Assam Times, Assam, India
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
25 April 2008
Greater resources and stronger political commitment critical in tackling Malaria: WHO
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
Malaria, a disease without borders, is preventable and treatable however it needs a bolder commitment from donors and member states if it is to be brought under control.
Malaria remains a major health problem in the South-East Asia region with 83% of its population at risks. There are an estimated 20 million cases and 100,000 deaths each year from malaria in the region.
"Today we have powerful new tools and effective models of control, which is critical in our approach in tackling this disease. But financial resources need to be mobilised and political commitment to addressing this disease needs to be solidified. A lackadaisical attitude to this health issue will not lessen the current disease burden," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia marking the first World Malaria Day.
Populations particularly susceptible to malaria include those who live in urban slums, the poor, ethnic groups, mobile populations, young adults and border communities. In South-East Asia, where some of the most devastating resurgences of malaria have occurred, the disease continues to pose a serious threat to public health. Much of the malaria in this Region is transmitted by forest-dwelling vectors, making vector control extremely difficult and also leaving large infected populations beyond the reach of basic health infrastructure.
Malaria is endemic in all the countries in the South-East Asia Region except the Maldives, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to control. This region also harbours two main malaria parasites, the deadly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which is notorious for causing relapsing episodes. In addition to damage to health and well being, malaria adversely affects economic development particularly the livelihood of the poor. "A community with malaria is an impoverished community," stressed Dr Plianbangchang.
Parasite strains resistant to chloroquine, (cheapest and most common anti-malaria drug), have spread throughout this region. Multidrug-resistant strains are present in several countries and the resistance level is growing, posing a threat to all means of effective case management. Intensified efforts by Member countries, international agencies, partners and donor agencies are urgently required.
[To read this posting in Hindi language, click here]
Published in
The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Seoul Times, South Korea
News Blaze, USA
Assam Times, Assam, India
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
USA wakes up after another death due to drug-susceptible TB
Photo by [Crewe]The death of a Nepalese woman of drug-susceptible TB on 8 June 2007 set off a frantic contact tracing measures in Colorado, USA, with 149 people tested for TB so far.
Drug-susceptible TB is treatable, curable and many countries including USA have been receiving accolades for successfully providing free treatment for drug-susceptible TB.
Is it surprising that the developed world couldn't wake up to TB despite of nearly 2 million TB deaths globally year after year and needs another TB death on its own home turf to respond? And this was fortunately not a case of drug-resistant TB or extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), rather a case of drug-sensitive TB that remain undiagnosed in the United States of America.
A 19 year-old student from Nepal, Kalpana Dangol, who was studying in the Colorado State University in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, had contracted drug-susceptible TB. She died in June this year after she was taken to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs hours after her hospital admission.
Instead of finding loopholes on how can a foreign University student in USA, who periodically needs mandatory medical examinations, had remained undiagnosed for TB, resulting in the student's death, the University provided the Pueblo County Health Department with a list of 174 students who shared classes with the Nepali student. Of those students, 149 were tested.
Out of these 149 students tested for TB after the death of Nepali student due to TB, 17 cases tested positive for latent TB. 10 out of these 17 students, are receiving Isoniazid-prevention-therapy (INH) for nine months to get completely cured of TB. The other seven have moved or are refusing treatment. Those who refuse treatment are not tracked by public health agencies because they are not infectious and therefore not a threat to public health.
People who are infected with latent tuberculosis are not contagious and have no symptoms. The body usually is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of people infected with latent TB will develop active TB in their lifetime. Those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the disease.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Drug-susceptible TB is treatable, curable and many countries including USA have been receiving accolades for successfully providing free treatment for drug-susceptible TB.
Is it surprising that the developed world couldn't wake up to TB despite of nearly 2 million TB deaths globally year after year and needs another TB death on its own home turf to respond? And this was fortunately not a case of drug-resistant TB or extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), rather a case of drug-sensitive TB that remain undiagnosed in the United States of America.
A 19 year-old student from Nepal, Kalpana Dangol, who was studying in the Colorado State University in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, had contracted drug-susceptible TB. She died in June this year after she was taken to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs hours after her hospital admission.
Instead of finding loopholes on how can a foreign University student in USA, who periodically needs mandatory medical examinations, had remained undiagnosed for TB, resulting in the student's death, the University provided the Pueblo County Health Department with a list of 174 students who shared classes with the Nepali student. Of those students, 149 were tested.
Out of these 149 students tested for TB after the death of Nepali student due to TB, 17 cases tested positive for latent TB. 10 out of these 17 students, are receiving Isoniazid-prevention-therapy (INH) for nine months to get completely cured of TB. The other seven have moved or are refusing treatment. Those who refuse treatment are not tracked by public health agencies because they are not infectious and therefore not a threat to public health.
People who are infected with latent tuberculosis are not contagious and have no symptoms. The body usually is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of people infected with latent TB will develop active TB in their lifetime. Those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the disease.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Tobacco Control policies in prisons
Tobacco Control policies in prisons
To read this in Hindi language please click here
To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:
जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal
नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free
On 11 February 2008 I c
ompleted presenting 63 nicotine dependency recovery programs in 28 state prisons here in South Carolina, USA, prisons that by January 1 had all become 100% tobacco-free. In response to the below article about India considering tobacco-free prisons I write to share a few points that I hope might be considered:
To read this in Hindi language please click here
To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:
जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal
नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free
On 11 February 2008 I c
ompleted presenting 63 nicotine dependency recovery programs in 28 state prisons here in South Carolina, USA, prisons that by January 1 had all become 100% tobacco-free. In response to the below article about India considering tobacco-free prisons I write to share a few points that I hope might be considered:
Nicotine Cessation Educator
Editor, WhyQuit.com
Email: john@whyquit.com
To read this in Hindi language please click here
To read earlier postings in Hindi/ English languages on this issue, click on the below-given links:
जेल में तम्बाकू नियंत्रण है एक गंभीर चुनौती: IG prisons
Banning tobacco in prisons is one of the biggest deal
नागपुर सेन्ट्रल जेल अब तम्बाकू-रहित बनेगा
Nagpur Central Jail to become tobacco-free
NGO Forum in northern Thailand impacts civil society representation in UNGASS process
Photo by Heroic BeerThe growing movement to involve civil society from northern Thailand in United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS report-writing process in the country, eventually bore fruits.
The Royal Thai government finally decided to invite one civil society representative from northern Thailand for UNGASS 2008. This was the first meeting convened by Royal Government of Thailand to review the country report for 2008 due in January next. This is the first time in history of UNGASS on HIV/AIDS reporting in the country that a civil society representative from northern Thailand has been invited to be part of the 5 member civil society delegation to review and discuss Thailand's 2008 UNGASS report.
The meeting took place on 26 November 2007 in Bangkok. Jutatip Dechaboon from Partners Thailand (national partnership platform in Thailand for information, dialogue and advocacy on AIDS and TB issues), had participated in this meet, representing civil society Working Group in Northern Thailand formed last month at the October NGO Forum, to increase civil society representation and participation from northern Thailand in UNGASS report-writing process on HIV/AIDS. Northern NGOs on HIV/AIDS in Thailand had earlier dedicated their monthly NGO Forum in October 2007 to mobilize a civil society response to the UNGASS process. This was organized by the Northern NGO Coalition on AIDS (NNCA) and Health & Development Networks (HDN) and Mr Sompong Chareonsuk, Country Programme Advisor, UNAIDS, Thailand, was one of the key speakers.
The UNAIDS has been supporting civil society participation in UNGASS review process on HIV/AIDS globally. In Thailand, the UNAIDS had translated key documents related to UNGASS on HIV/AIDS in Thai language to promote genuine civil society engagement in the review process.
This invitation also brought in responsibilities on civil society in northern Thailand to demonstrate how civil society can be more engaged in monitoring and reporting of AIDS response by using existing, practical, open and feasible mechanisms for civil society participation in the country. Is civil society in northern Thailand prepared to respond to this challenge given the short time-span which is left before the country-report finally gets submitted in January 2008?
It is certainly a huge challenge to which civil society needs to effectively respond to if we want UNGASS review processes to deliver results in improving AIDS response in Thailand. It may also be an example for many other countries to learn from.
So far, Thai Government had involved very limited civil society representatives based in nation’s capital Bangkok in UNGASS report-writing, that too largely tokenistic. There was not much scope of a meaningful role for civil society members in the actual reporting or monitoring of AIDS response in Thailand for this review. For instance, one of the civil society members of the Thai delegation to UNGASS 2006 shared her experience in last month’s NGO Forum that she had no role in actual report writing and didn't get a draft report to comment on before it was submitted to UNGASS. In New York during UNGASS 2006, the involvement of civil society participants was reported to be inadequate as well.
The initiative by the Thai government to involve civil society in northern Thailand for the UNGASS 2008 report opens a doorway for civil society to organize itself for genuine participation around UNGASS review in 2010 and beyond.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
The Royal Thai government finally decided to invite one civil society representative from northern Thailand for UNGASS 2008. This was the first meeting convened by Royal Government of Thailand to review the country report for 2008 due in January next. This is the first time in history of UNGASS on HIV/AIDS reporting in the country that a civil society representative from northern Thailand has been invited to be part of the 5 member civil society delegation to review and discuss Thailand's 2008 UNGASS report.
The meeting took place on 26 November 2007 in Bangkok. Jutatip Dechaboon from Partners Thailand (national partnership platform in Thailand for information, dialogue and advocacy on AIDS and TB issues), had participated in this meet, representing civil society Working Group in Northern Thailand formed last month at the October NGO Forum, to increase civil society representation and participation from northern Thailand in UNGASS report-writing process on HIV/AIDS. Northern NGOs on HIV/AIDS in Thailand had earlier dedicated their monthly NGO Forum in October 2007 to mobilize a civil society response to the UNGASS process. This was organized by the Northern NGO Coalition on AIDS (NNCA) and Health & Development Networks (HDN) and Mr Sompong Chareonsuk, Country Programme Advisor, UNAIDS, Thailand, was one of the key speakers.
The UNAIDS has been supporting civil society participation in UNGASS review process on HIV/AIDS globally. In Thailand, the UNAIDS had translated key documents related to UNGASS on HIV/AIDS in Thai language to promote genuine civil society engagement in the review process.
This invitation also brought in responsibilities on civil society in northern Thailand to demonstrate how civil society can be more engaged in monitoring and reporting of AIDS response by using existing, practical, open and feasible mechanisms for civil society participation in the country. Is civil society in northern Thailand prepared to respond to this challenge given the short time-span which is left before the country-report finally gets submitted in January 2008?
It is certainly a huge challenge to which civil society needs to effectively respond to if we want UNGASS review processes to deliver results in improving AIDS response in Thailand. It may also be an example for many other countries to learn from.
So far, Thai Government had involved very limited civil society representatives based in nation’s capital Bangkok in UNGASS report-writing, that too largely tokenistic. There was not much scope of a meaningful role for civil society members in the actual reporting or monitoring of AIDS response in Thailand for this review. For instance, one of the civil society members of the Thai delegation to UNGASS 2006 shared her experience in last month’s NGO Forum that she had no role in actual report writing and didn't get a draft report to comment on before it was submitted to UNGASS. In New York during UNGASS 2006, the involvement of civil society participants was reported to be inadequate as well.
The initiative by the Thai government to involve civil society in northern Thailand for the UNGASS 2008 report opens a doorway for civil society to organize itself for genuine participation around UNGASS review in 2010 and beyond.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
How do we know drug-resistant TB in children is increasing?
Photo by varsheshIs there an increasing number of children in the high prevalence countries contracting the drug resistant strain?
Can these TB resistant strains in children be diagnosed? Has anyone proven it?
Childhood TB (or Primary TB) is a 'self-limiting' disease. Nobody knows if or when a child has primary TB, since the child shows no symptoms.
Primary TB could be detected, if contact tracing is carried out vigilantly. The source of infection is usually a close family member (house contact) who is coughing up sputum containing live tubercle bacilli and who is not (yet) under chemotherapy for TB.
The finding of hilar glandular enlargement plus the very presence of a source of infection and the absence of clinical symptoms (child is healthy,? no symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, etc) could indicate primary or childhood TB.
The characteristic signs of primary TB on chest X ray, are the presence of a primary affect, an infiltrate (too small to be visible on X ray) in the lung tissue, and an adjacent enlarged hilar lymphnode(s) which is likely more visible.
After BCG however, chest X ray may not show the characteristics of primary TB, pleural or miliary TB. To diagnose childhood or primary TB, after BCG, tuberculin tests are not helpful, neither are sero-diagnostic tests.
It is difficult to collect sputum from small children as they do not expectorate. Gastric washings are traumatic to the child. Besides, primary TB is paucibacillar, containing very few TB bacilli if any.
It is more difficult to carry out sensitivity testing for (multi-) drug resistant M tuberculosis and as far as extreme-drug resistant sensitivity testing is concerned it is impossible to diagnose MDR- or XDR-TB even in the most sophisticated TB laboratories where second-line drugs are not used or available.
However, it must be stressed, that children are not excluded from having post-primary TB. Characteristics can be found similar to those adults showing radiographical lesions consistent with progressive pulmonary tuberculosis. In such case, sputum examination may be positive and sensitivity tests can be carried out in a well established bacterial laboratories.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Can these TB resistant strains in children be diagnosed? Has anyone proven it?
Childhood TB (or Primary TB) is a 'self-limiting' disease. Nobody knows if or when a child has primary TB, since the child shows no symptoms.
Primary TB could be detected, if contact tracing is carried out vigilantly. The source of infection is usually a close family member (house contact) who is coughing up sputum containing live tubercle bacilli and who is not (yet) under chemotherapy for TB.
The finding of hilar glandular enlargement plus the very presence of a source of infection and the absence of clinical symptoms (child is healthy,? no symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, etc) could indicate primary or childhood TB.
The characteristic signs of primary TB on chest X ray, are the presence of a primary affect, an infiltrate (too small to be visible on X ray) in the lung tissue, and an adjacent enlarged hilar lymphnode(s) which is likely more visible.
After BCG however, chest X ray may not show the characteristics of primary TB, pleural or miliary TB. To diagnose childhood or primary TB, after BCG, tuberculin tests are not helpful, neither are sero-diagnostic tests.
It is difficult to collect sputum from small children as they do not expectorate. Gastric washings are traumatic to the child. Besides, primary TB is paucibacillar, containing very few TB bacilli if any.
It is more difficult to carry out sensitivity testing for (multi-) drug resistant M tuberculosis and as far as extreme-drug resistant sensitivity testing is concerned it is impossible to diagnose MDR- or XDR-TB even in the most sophisticated TB laboratories where second-line drugs are not used or available.
However, it must be stressed, that children are not excluded from having post-primary TB. Characteristics can be found similar to those adults showing radiographical lesions consistent with progressive pulmonary tuberculosis. In such case, sputum examination may be positive and sensitivity tests can be carried out in a well established bacterial laboratories.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Democracy weeps in Nandigram
Democracy weeps in Nandigram
NHRC and NCW urged to act
"The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) must take immediate cognizance of the violations in Nandigram and recommend stringent penal action against all those involved, including instituting an inquiry into the involvement of the CPI (M) leadership and cadres in the planning/abetment/execution of the crimes committed" demanded firebrand activist and leader of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Medha Patkar.
"The National Commission for Women must immediately constitute a fact-finding delegation that must visit Nandigram and submit its Report to the NHRC and also direct immediate payment of compensation to all the women raped and all others injured" further stressed Patkar.
On 18 April 2008, known members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] and armed members of Hamad Vahini Party from Khejuri, leashed another wave of barbaric violence, gang-rape and loot in Nandigram, West Bengal, India.
Nandigram gained the spotlight in early 2007 when state government in collusion with private corporations was trying to forcibly evict farmers from arable land, and resorted to one of the most heinous ways to serve the private corporations, all in the sake of development. The outrage on this massacre by the state authorities of poor farmers in the interest of private companies was paramount globally.
"On 18 April 2008, CPI (M) members attacked the house of Radha Rani and Pratap Ari, threw Pratap Ari in the tank nearby and gang-raped Radha Rani Ari for the second time, in her own house" said Debjeet Shrikant from Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), Nandigram.
Radharani Ari is one of the women at the forefront of the Nandigram struggle. Coming from a dalit landless family, supported by Pratap Ari (her husband), she has always vehemently protested against the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) chemical hub project and giving away the land, houses, nature, and culture of Nandigram. She is one of the most articulate and courageous women in Nandigram and has also strengthened pro-people movements in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra during the Nandigram-Narmada- Gorai Jaththa.
Narmada Sheet, another very committed and outspoken woman from Sonachura and Mona Pramanik were also brutally attacked. Few men have been missing since that ill-fated night last week.
Radha Rani, Pratap, Narmada Sheet and some others are admitted in the Nandigram Hospital while rest of them, are admitted in Tamluk hospital.
At least 20 houses have been attacked since then, houses destroyed and belongings looted, making more than 100 members of the families homeless. These people are presently being supported by the BUPC.
These atrocious incidents had occurred in Gokul Nagar, Sonachura, Gadhchakrabedia, under the leadership of Nabakumar Samanta and other CPI (M) active cadres and leaders from Garu Pada, Gokul Nagar, some of whom came from Kejuri.
Reportedly, there were also blasts in some houses, including in the house of one Kokhon Sheet, who was just released after months-long judicial custody.
"Nandigram continues to be one of the worst blots on the face of Indian democracy. These atrocities continue to happen and recur in Nandigram with the active involvement of the local CPI (M) cadres and leaders and tacit approval and blessings of the party leadership at various levels" says Debjeet.
With most of the earlier victims of violence not having received any compensation and in fact false cases foisted against them, these fresh blows to the people of Nandigram "is nothing short of a death blow to the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the valiant residents of Nandigram" asserts Medha.
Social activists under the banner of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, Nandigram (BUPC Nandigram) further demanded that:
- All the accused must be immediately identified, charged and arrested for gang rape, grievous hurt, intimidation, assault, illegal confinement and wrongful detention and other relevant penal provisions.
- Free legal, medical, psycho-social and other aid and support must be provided to the women and all victims of state and party violence in Nandigram.
- Compensation to all the affected and attacked, with houses destroyed and rapes/molestation faced, must be paid immediately as per the High Court orders.
Let us hope on World Earth Day (22 April 2008), justice will prevail in favour of people of Nandigram who have been struggling hard to protect their own livelihood, nature, natural resources and environment from the combined onslaught of the capitalists and CPI (M)।
Published in
News Blaze, US
Asian Tribune, Thailand/ Sri LankaAssam Times, Assam, India
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
The Seoul Times, South Korea
SHAME: CPI (M) goons rape Radharani again in Nandigram
SHAME: CPI (M) goons rape Radharani again in NandigramAlliance
(To read this posting in Hindi language, click here)
(To read this posting in Hindi language, click here)
CPI (M) GOONS GANG-RAPE RADHARANI AGAIN IN NANDIGRAM
The shocking news from Nandigram where the battle is still on, is of the gang rape of Radharani Ari from the
National
NAPM,
(B.U.P.C. Nandigram)
(To read this posting in Hindi language, click here)
2007 AIDS epidemic update: Global HIV prevalence has levelled off
"GLOBAL HIV PREVALENCE HAS LEVELLED OFF; AIDS IS AMONG THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH GLOBALLY AND REMAINS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF DEATH IN AFRICA"
Improvements in surveillance increase understanding of the epidemic, resulting in substantial revisions to estimates
GENEVA:? New data show global HIV prevalence—the percentage of people living with HIV—has levelled off and that the number of new infections has fallen, in part as a result of the impact of HIV programmes.
However, in 2007 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people were estimated to be living with HIV, 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] people became newly infected and 2.1 million [1.9 – 2.4 million] people died of AIDS.
There were an estimated 1.7 million [1.4 – 2.4 million] new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2007—a significant reduction since 2001. However, the region remains most severely affected. An estimated 22.5 million [20.9 – 24.3 million] people living with HIV, or 68% of the global total, are in sub-Saharan Africa. Eight countries in this region now account for almost one-third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths globally.
Since 2001, when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed, the number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has increased by more than 150% from 630 000 [490 000 – 1.1 million] to 1.6 million [1.2 – 2.1 million] in 2007. In Asia, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Viet Nam has more than doubled between 2000 and 2005 and Indonesia has the fastest growing epidemic.
These findings were released today by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the report 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update.
Continuing improvements to latest estimates
The new report reflects improved and expanded epidemiological data and analyses that present a better understanding of the global epidemic. These new data and advances in methodology have resulted in substantial revisions from previous estimates.
While the global prevalence of HIV infection—the percentage of people infected with HIV— has levelled off, the total number of people living with HIV is increasing because of ongoing acquisition of HIV infection, combined with longer survival times, in a continuously growing general population.
Global HIV incidence—the number of new HIV infections per year—is now estimated to have peaked in the late 1990s at over 3 million [2.4 – 5.1 million] new infections per year, and is estimated in 2007 to be 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] new infections, an average of more than 6 800 new infections each day. This reflects natural trends in the epidemic, as well as the result of HIV prevention efforts.
The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses has declined in the last two years, due in part to the life prolonging effects of antiretroviral therapy. AIDS is among the leading causes of death globally and remains the primary cause of death in Africa.
"These improved data present us with a clearer picture of the AIDS epidemic, one that reveals both challenges and opportunities," said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.
"Unquestionably, we are beginning to see a return on investment—new HIV infections and mortality are declining and the prevalence of HIV levelling. But with more than 6 800 new infections and over 5 700 deaths each day due to AIDS we must expand our efforts in order to significantly reduce the impact of AIDS worldwide."
Revision of estimates
UNAIDS, WHO and the Reference Group on Estimates, Modelling and Projections have recently undertaken the most comprehensive review of their methodologies and monitoring systems since 2001. The epidemic estimates presented in this year’s report reflect improvements in country data collection and analysis, as well as a better understanding of the natural history and distribution of HIV infection. This information is vital in helping countries understand their epidemics and respond to them more effectively.
UNAIDS and WHO are now working with better information from many more countries. In the past few years a number of countries, most notably in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, have expanded and improved their HIV surveillance systems, conducting new, more accurate studies that provide more precise information about HIV prevalence than earlier studies. In addition, 30 countries mostly in Africa have conducted national representative population-based household surveys. These have also informed adjustments for other countries with similar epidemics that have not conducted these surveys. New assumptions have also been made as a result of a better understanding of the natural history of untreated HIV infection.
The current estimate of 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people living with HIV replaces the 2006 estimate of 39.5 million [24.5 – 47.1 million]. Applying the improved methodology retrospectively to the 2006 data, the 2007 report revises that figure, now estimating that in 2006 there were 32.7 million [30.2 – 35.3 million] people living with HIV. The single biggest reason for the reduction in global HIV prevalence figures in the past year was the recent revision of estimates in India after an intensive reassessment of the epidemic in that country.
The revised estimates for India, combined with important revisions of estimates in five sub- Saharan African countries (Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe) account for 70% of the reduction in HIV prevalence as compared to 2006 estimates.
"Reliable public health data are the essential foundation for an effective response to HIV/AIDS", said WHO's HIV/AIDS Director Dr Kevin De Cock. "While these new estimates are of better quality than those of the past, we need to continue investing more in all countries and all aspects of strategic information relating to health."
"The data for measuring the HIV epidemic used by UNAIDS/WHO has considerably expanded and improved in recent years," said Ron Brookmeyer, Professor of Biostatistics and Chair of the Master of Public Health Program, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Nevertheless, there is a need to further improve the representativeness of the underlying data. There is a need to expand disease surveillance systems to better track the sub-epidemics in risk populations within each county."
"More accurate estimates and trends will ultimately lead to improvements in the design and evaluation of prevention programmes," added Professor Brookmeyer, who was also the Chair of the Independent Review Panel at the recent International Consultation on epidemiological estimates convened by UNAIDS and WHO.
UNAIDS and WHO will continue to update their methodology as new data becomes available from research studies and surveillance data from countries.
Progress seen but more needs to be done HIV prevalence among young pregnant women (15 – 24) attending antenatal clinics has declined since 2000/2001 in 11 of the15 most-affected countries. Preliminary data also show favourable changes in risk behaviour among young people in a number of countries, (Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).
These trends suggest that prevention efforts are having an impact in several of the most affected countries.
In sub-Saharan Africa, continued treatment scale-up and HIV prevention efforts are also bringing results in some countries, but mortality from AIDS remains high in Africa due to the extensive unmet treatment need. Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe, among others, have all seen downward trends in their national prevalence. Beyond sub-Saharan Africa, declines in new HIV infections have also occurred in South and South-East Asia, notably in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.
There is a need to adapt and revive HIV prevention efforts as some countries are seeing a reversal of declining trends. Burundi’s declining trend from the late 1990’s did not continue beyond 2005 and HIV prevalence started to increase again at most surveillance sites.
Despite achievements in reversing the epidemic in Thailand, HIV prevalence is rising among men who have sex with men and has remained high among injecting drug users over the past 15 years, ranging between 30% to 50%.
UNAIDS and WHO officials point out that the new estimates do not change the need for immediate action and increased funding to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Improvements in surveillance increase understanding of the epidemic, resulting in substantial revisions to estimates
GENEVA:? New data show global HIV prevalence—the percentage of people living with HIV—has levelled off and that the number of new infections has fallen, in part as a result of the impact of HIV programmes.
However, in 2007 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people were estimated to be living with HIV, 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] people became newly infected and 2.1 million [1.9 – 2.4 million] people died of AIDS.
There were an estimated 1.7 million [1.4 – 2.4 million] new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2007—a significant reduction since 2001. However, the region remains most severely affected. An estimated 22.5 million [20.9 – 24.3 million] people living with HIV, or 68% of the global total, are in sub-Saharan Africa. Eight countries in this region now account for almost one-third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths globally.
Since 2001, when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed, the number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has increased by more than 150% from 630 000 [490 000 – 1.1 million] to 1.6 million [1.2 – 2.1 million] in 2007. In Asia, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Viet Nam has more than doubled between 2000 and 2005 and Indonesia has the fastest growing epidemic.
These findings were released today by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the report 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update.
Continuing improvements to latest estimates
The new report reflects improved and expanded epidemiological data and analyses that present a better understanding of the global epidemic. These new data and advances in methodology have resulted in substantial revisions from previous estimates.
While the global prevalence of HIV infection—the percentage of people infected with HIV— has levelled off, the total number of people living with HIV is increasing because of ongoing acquisition of HIV infection, combined with longer survival times, in a continuously growing general population.
Global HIV incidence—the number of new HIV infections per year—is now estimated to have peaked in the late 1990s at over 3 million [2.4 – 5.1 million] new infections per year, and is estimated in 2007 to be 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] new infections, an average of more than 6 800 new infections each day. This reflects natural trends in the epidemic, as well as the result of HIV prevention efforts.
The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses has declined in the last two years, due in part to the life prolonging effects of antiretroviral therapy. AIDS is among the leading causes of death globally and remains the primary cause of death in Africa.
"These improved data present us with a clearer picture of the AIDS epidemic, one that reveals both challenges and opportunities," said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.
"Unquestionably, we are beginning to see a return on investment—new HIV infections and mortality are declining and the prevalence of HIV levelling. But with more than 6 800 new infections and over 5 700 deaths each day due to AIDS we must expand our efforts in order to significantly reduce the impact of AIDS worldwide."
Revision of estimates
UNAIDS, WHO and the Reference Group on Estimates, Modelling and Projections have recently undertaken the most comprehensive review of their methodologies and monitoring systems since 2001. The epidemic estimates presented in this year’s report reflect improvements in country data collection and analysis, as well as a better understanding of the natural history and distribution of HIV infection. This information is vital in helping countries understand their epidemics and respond to them more effectively.
UNAIDS and WHO are now working with better information from many more countries. In the past few years a number of countries, most notably in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, have expanded and improved their HIV surveillance systems, conducting new, more accurate studies that provide more precise information about HIV prevalence than earlier studies. In addition, 30 countries mostly in Africa have conducted national representative population-based household surveys. These have also informed adjustments for other countries with similar epidemics that have not conducted these surveys. New assumptions have also been made as a result of a better understanding of the natural history of untreated HIV infection.
The current estimate of 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people living with HIV replaces the 2006 estimate of 39.5 million [24.5 – 47.1 million]. Applying the improved methodology retrospectively to the 2006 data, the 2007 report revises that figure, now estimating that in 2006 there were 32.7 million [30.2 – 35.3 million] people living with HIV. The single biggest reason for the reduction in global HIV prevalence figures in the past year was the recent revision of estimates in India after an intensive reassessment of the epidemic in that country.
The revised estimates for India, combined with important revisions of estimates in five sub- Saharan African countries (Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe) account for 70% of the reduction in HIV prevalence as compared to 2006 estimates.
"Reliable public health data are the essential foundation for an effective response to HIV/AIDS", said WHO's HIV/AIDS Director Dr Kevin De Cock. "While these new estimates are of better quality than those of the past, we need to continue investing more in all countries and all aspects of strategic information relating to health."
"The data for measuring the HIV epidemic used by UNAIDS/WHO has considerably expanded and improved in recent years," said Ron Brookmeyer, Professor of Biostatistics and Chair of the Master of Public Health Program, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Nevertheless, there is a need to further improve the representativeness of the underlying data. There is a need to expand disease surveillance systems to better track the sub-epidemics in risk populations within each county."
"More accurate estimates and trends will ultimately lead to improvements in the design and evaluation of prevention programmes," added Professor Brookmeyer, who was also the Chair of the Independent Review Panel at the recent International Consultation on epidemiological estimates convened by UNAIDS and WHO.
UNAIDS and WHO will continue to update their methodology as new data becomes available from research studies and surveillance data from countries.
Progress seen but more needs to be done HIV prevalence among young pregnant women (15 – 24) attending antenatal clinics has declined since 2000/2001 in 11 of the15 most-affected countries. Preliminary data also show favourable changes in risk behaviour among young people in a number of countries, (Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).
These trends suggest that prevention efforts are having an impact in several of the most affected countries.
In sub-Saharan Africa, continued treatment scale-up and HIV prevention efforts are also bringing results in some countries, but mortality from AIDS remains high in Africa due to the extensive unmet treatment need. Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya and Zimbabwe, among others, have all seen downward trends in their national prevalence. Beyond sub-Saharan Africa, declines in new HIV infections have also occurred in South and South-East Asia, notably in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.
There is a need to adapt and revive HIV prevention efforts as some countries are seeing a reversal of declining trends. Burundi’s declining trend from the late 1990’s did not continue beyond 2005 and HIV prevalence started to increase again at most surveillance sites.
Despite achievements in reversing the epidemic in Thailand, HIV prevalence is rising among men who have sex with men and has remained high among injecting drug users over the past 15 years, ranging between 30% to 50%.
UNAIDS and WHO officials point out that the new estimates do not change the need for immediate action and increased funding to scale up towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Integration of TB and HIV services urgently needed in Indonesia
Indonesia is second only to India and China in its number of active TB cases, being home to 6 percent of the global TB burden. Approximately 150,000 people die each year of TB in Indonesia. According to recent headline news in Indonesia, "Its HIV epidemic is among the fastest growing in Asia." The estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Indonesia is 169,000 to 216,000 in the nation of 220 million. This is despite the considerable progress Indonesia has recently made in delivering TB and HIV services. Not surprisingly, the problem of drug resistant TB is also on the increase in the country.
"TB and HIV are often forgotten while the world's attention is now focussing on new emerging epidemics," according to the Health Minister of Indonesia, Dr Siti Fadilah Supari. Speaking on World AIDS Day last year, he added: "I strongly endorse the Call to Stop TB in Asia, and commit to ensuring that the recommendations within it are pursued with priority within Indonesia. The world is focusing on Indonesia for many competing health issues, with the danger that TB may be forgotten."
Now, with World TB Day fast-approaching, a re-examination of how to best respond to the dual epidemics of TB and HIV in Indonesia is timely.
Several factors in Indonesia could potentially spark a sudden and rapid spread of HIV: an extensive sex industry; limited clinical and laboratory services to detect and treat sexually-transmitted infections (STIs); highly mobile populations; rapidly expanding injection drug use; and the aftermath of major economic and natural crises.
Indonesia is committed to integrating HIV prevention efforts into the national family planning programme by promoting condom use for dual protection. The Government of Indonesia is providing free antiretroviral drugs for poor people on a case-by-case basis, developing harm-reduction activities for injection drug users, and devising programmes for high-risk populations to reduce HIV transmission.
Indonesia has also contributed significantly to efforts aimed at reaching global targets for TB programmes. Latest reported figures from the country's DOTS programme (directly-observed treatment short-course) include a 68% TB case detection rate and among those an 89% treatment success rate. This compares well with 2005 global targets for the same, set at 85% and 70% respectively.
The HIV and TB epidemics go hand-in-hand and according to World Health Organization (WHO), over half of PLHIV in Indonesia ultimately lose their lives to TB. Despite this, neglecting integration of AIDS and TB care is still a risk.
Among the challenges facing more integrated approaches to TB and HIV is the regional variation of TB rates and health care provision in different parts of the country. In Java and Bali, for example, which are home to 60% of the population and have among the lowest TB incidence, healthcare services are the most advanced. Meanwhile, Sumatra and the eastern parts of Indonesia - which have double and quadruple the national TB burden respectively - have many remote and hard-to-reach areas, and the numbers of healthcare workers areas are limited.
In terms of HIV care, there have been media reports in the past year not only indicating rising HIV resistance to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), but also decreasing ARV adherence among PLHIV. According to The Jakarta Post (8 February 2007, Resistant virus threatens people with HIV/AIDS), there is no facility for conducting ARV resistance testing in Indonesia.
Yusuf Rey Noldy, a counsellor from the Hatihati Foundation, and organisation that supports people with HIV, said that some PLHIV send their blood to an Australian laboratory at a cost of around US$440 per test. ARV resistance threatens the lives of some 4,000 PLHIV in Bali, according to data from the Bali Province HIV/AIDS Commission.
"It [resistance] is the tip of the iceberg. There are many more people with HIV experiencing virus resistance who have gone undetected," Noldy said.
The commission said several people with HIV in Bali had deliberately stopped their ARV therapies for various reasons. Ariawan, 41, decided to stop taking ARV because he disliked its side-effects.
The numbers from Denpasar's Sanglah Hospital are discouraging. Through January 2007, some 23 people with HIV treated at the hospital have stopped their ARV therapies. There are 19 others who have failed to show up at the hospital.
In many settings in Indonesia, there is an urgent need to expand equitable access not only to quality TB diagnosis and treatment, but also to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, support and care services. But these two types of services are offered at different levels of the health system, adding another challenge to their integration. TB control is currently strong at the health centre level, while HIV programmes are mainly concentrated at the hospital level.
For adequate care and support to people living with HIV and active TB in Indonesia, two measures appear to be in need of urgent action: Voluntary HIV testing and counselling (VCT) needs to be more widely available, and TB services need to be fully integrated in the hospital programmes and programmes delivering ARVs.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
"TB and HIV are often forgotten while the world's attention is now focussing on new emerging epidemics," according to the Health Minister of Indonesia, Dr Siti Fadilah Supari. Speaking on World AIDS Day last year, he added: "I strongly endorse the Call to Stop TB in Asia, and commit to ensuring that the recommendations within it are pursued with priority within Indonesia. The world is focusing on Indonesia for many competing health issues, with the danger that TB may be forgotten."
Now, with World TB Day fast-approaching, a re-examination of how to best respond to the dual epidemics of TB and HIV in Indonesia is timely.
Several factors in Indonesia could potentially spark a sudden and rapid spread of HIV: an extensive sex industry; limited clinical and laboratory services to detect and treat sexually-transmitted infections (STIs); highly mobile populations; rapidly expanding injection drug use; and the aftermath of major economic and natural crises.
Indonesia is committed to integrating HIV prevention efforts into the national family planning programme by promoting condom use for dual protection. The Government of Indonesia is providing free antiretroviral drugs for poor people on a case-by-case basis, developing harm-reduction activities for injection drug users, and devising programmes for high-risk populations to reduce HIV transmission.
Indonesia has also contributed significantly to efforts aimed at reaching global targets for TB programmes. Latest reported figures from the country's DOTS programme (directly-observed treatment short-course) include a 68% TB case detection rate and among those an 89% treatment success rate. This compares well with 2005 global targets for the same, set at 85% and 70% respectively.
The HIV and TB epidemics go hand-in-hand and according to World Health Organization (WHO), over half of PLHIV in Indonesia ultimately lose their lives to TB. Despite this, neglecting integration of AIDS and TB care is still a risk.
Among the challenges facing more integrated approaches to TB and HIV is the regional variation of TB rates and health care provision in different parts of the country. In Java and Bali, for example, which are home to 60% of the population and have among the lowest TB incidence, healthcare services are the most advanced. Meanwhile, Sumatra and the eastern parts of Indonesia - which have double and quadruple the national TB burden respectively - have many remote and hard-to-reach areas, and the numbers of healthcare workers areas are limited.
In terms of HIV care, there have been media reports in the past year not only indicating rising HIV resistance to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), but also decreasing ARV adherence among PLHIV. According to The Jakarta Post (8 February 2007, Resistant virus threatens people with HIV/AIDS), there is no facility for conducting ARV resistance testing in Indonesia.
Yusuf Rey Noldy, a counsellor from the Hatihati Foundation, and organisation that supports people with HIV, said that some PLHIV send their blood to an Australian laboratory at a cost of around US$440 per test. ARV resistance threatens the lives of some 4,000 PLHIV in Bali, according to data from the Bali Province HIV/AIDS Commission.
"It [resistance] is the tip of the iceberg. There are many more people with HIV experiencing virus resistance who have gone undetected," Noldy said.
The commission said several people with HIV in Bali had deliberately stopped their ARV therapies for various reasons. Ariawan, 41, decided to stop taking ARV because he disliked its side-effects.
The numbers from Denpasar's Sanglah Hospital are discouraging. Through January 2007, some 23 people with HIV treated at the hospital have stopped their ARV therapies. There are 19 others who have failed to show up at the hospital.
In many settings in Indonesia, there is an urgent need to expand equitable access not only to quality TB diagnosis and treatment, but also to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, support and care services. But these two types of services are offered at different levels of the health system, adding another challenge to their integration. TB control is currently strong at the health centre level, while HIV programmes are mainly concentrated at the hospital level.
For adequate care and support to people living with HIV and active TB in Indonesia, two measures appear to be in need of urgent action: Voluntary HIV testing and counselling (VCT) needs to be more widely available, and TB services need to be fully integrated in the hospital programmes and programmes delivering ARVs.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
POSCO not driven by philanthropy but shrewd planning to compensate displaced farmers
POSCO not driven by philanthropy but shrewd planning to compensate displaced farmers
- An economic scam in the making -
Sandip K Dasverma and Dr Sanat Mohanty
- An economic scam in the making -
Sandip K Dasverma and Dr Sanat Mohanty
To read in Hindi language, click here
Note: Earlier, Dr Mohanty and Sandip had co-authored three in-depth special analytical articles on POSCO steel project in Orissa. To read them, click on the titles below:
Orissa: An Economic Scam Coming?
POSCO Project is not an unquestionable boon for Orissa
Who will gain from the POSCO Project in Orissa?
Rediff News recently reported that the steel giant POSCO, currently planning to set up a $12 Billion effort in Orissa has agreed to pay higher levels of compensation to farmers who will be displaced from non-forest land.
This decision of POSCO is not driven by kind-heartedness, a sense of justice for those displaced or magnanimity but from shrewd planning and analysis of what they can get away with. An earlier analysis published widely had shown that the people and the state of Orissa are giving iron ore away at less than 0.5% of the open market prices.
As part of the initial deal, POSCO has promised a flat rate of royalty at USD 0.5/ tonne of iron ore to the Government of Orissa (for ore with at least 62% iron content). This results in less than Rs 1620 crores to Government of Orissa over time of the contract of 600 Million Tonnes. The current global market rate of iron ore is over USD100/tonne. In December 2007, the market was at USD 120/tonne. By this rate, 600 million tonnes of iron ore (that POSCO would mine) at greater than 62% iron content would result in Rs 288,000 crores. Wow! We suddenly realize that POSCO has effectively been given this ore free. Since the Memorandum of understanding (MOU ) in 2005, the Iron Ore prices have gone up by 20%, 19% & 70% respectively.
The indirect costs of this effort to the people of Orissa add up even further. Thousands of acres of land and millions of gallons of water given almost free to the company, coal at give away prices and the economic venture framed within an Special Economic Zone (SEZ) providing tax benefits to the company -- all of these steal from revenue from the people of Orissa. And yet, the government of Orissa has continued to argue that this project is for the good of the state.
People who will be affected by the project, however, have realized the harm they come to and have continued to oppose this effort in spite of extreme intimidation, threats, offer of jobs or money.
For the last three years, POSCO, backed by the state government as well as the Centre, has made consistent, systematic, yet unsuccessful attempts to 'take over' this highly fertile and ecologically fragile coastal area for its projects. The company's persistence has led the state government to thwart widespread popular resistance to the project, and lately to step up pressure by using force. For the last four months, 18 battalions of police have been deployed around these villages, occupying government school buildings. The administration had also barred the entry of essential supplies into these villages and restricted free movement of people in the region. But the unrelenting resistance to the project in the face of coercion, cajoling and various other pressure tactics proves that the stakes are higher for the affected people. The promise of 13,000 jobs used to lure people has had few takers here. Communities are convinced that livelihoods lost will probably be many times those gained. It is a lesson they have learnt after 60 years of 'industrial development' in the state that has brought little benefit to them.
On April 1st, on the day POSCO planned a ground breaking ceremony, hundreds of people from villages in the area planned a huge rally despite the large police presence (and the police firings in Kashipur and Kalyanagar in the back of every one's mind). POSCO decided to cancel the ceremony (saying it was owing to the absence of government clearance coming through) -- the rally went on.
It is in the context of these two trends that the decision of POSCO to compensate displaced people must be understood. POSCO gains truly humongous amounts of profits from the deal -- hundreds of thousands of crores and the people of Orissa get little. As the economic analysis concludes -- the government of Orissa and the company seem to have colluded for there is no way that Government of Orissa does not realize how much it loses from the deal. The human rights and displacement costs are insignificant compared to the profits -- it is an economic scam in the making. A good hypothesis is that the issue of displacement is being used by the Government of Orissa and POSCO to keep focus away from the economic loot and that sooner or later the company will have a change of heart and compensate those who will be displaced. Even 1000 crores in displacement compensation will be insignificant for the company and the scale of profits it will make. Thus, as per this hypothesis, with profits being delayed owing to protests, the company will invest in compensations, earn kudos from all sections for doing the right thing and being a socially responsible company and then rake in hundreds of thousands of crores while their paid lackey -- the Government of Orissa and its officers -- prevent any prying eyes from uncovering the economic scam playing out.
There is little that anyone can do to stop this now -- anyone but the people of Orissa. Unfortunately, most of the media in Orissa or in India have attempted to frame the protests as being anti-development but have refused to discuss the economic analysis of this project. The Oriya educated sections have been happy to bask in the few crores that have come to Orissa as part of this venture. The only path left then in for the people of Orissa to raise awareness of the economic implications of this project, the economic loot that plays out, protesting the government and the project nonviolently, joining those who are directly affected by it empathetically. The only path left is that of people's democracy.
Sandip Dasverma and Dr Sanat Mohanty
Also read:
Orissa: An Economic Scam Coming?
POSCO Project is not an unquestionable boon for Orissa
Who will gain from the POSCO Project in Orissa?
News Blaze, US
The Seoul Times, South Korea
Neglect of Hepatitis C leaves people with HIV vulnerable
In communities where sharing of injection equipment drives the HIV epidemic, a parallel epidemic often lurks quietly in the shadows. Greater awareness about hepatitis C, more investment of resources, cheaper diagnostic and treatment services, and improved hepatitis-related treatment literacy, are all urgently needed by people co-infected with the hepatitis C virus and HIV.
"Hepatitis C treatment is mostly left out since AIDS activists are so focused on ARVs [antiretroviral drugs] or other prevention and treatment services," said Umesh Sharma, who has just completed a course of hepatitis C treatment.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. HCV transmission occurs when traces of blood from an infected person enter the body of a HCV-negative person. Like HIV, HCV is spread through sharing injection equipment, through needle stick or other sharps injuries, or less frequently from infected mothers to their babies.
HCV transmission rates are higher than that of HIV, and the condition is often more severe in drug users. People who share injection equipment are vulnerable to HCV and HIV infection, and in many places co-infection is not common.
For Umesh the key was largely having access to the information he needed. Already aware of his positive HIV status, he went for a routine general health check-up during a trip to Manchester in 1995. He discovered he was also infected with HCV. Until then he had no symptoms of HCV. This is not an unusual story, up to 80% of people with HCV usually develop no symptoms. Initial symptoms, when they appear, can include jaundice, fatigue, dark urine, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and nausea.
There are three types of tests for HCV, which all use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology:
* HCV PCR viral detection test: This qualitative test is designed to detect the hepatitis C virus.
* HCV PCR viral load test: This quantitative test estimates the level of HCV in the blood. It helps to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
* HCV PCR genotype test: This determines the specific genotype (genetic 'make-up') and subtype of HCV. This information is important in selecting a course of treatment. For example, treatment with interferon is more often effective for people with HCV genotype 2 or 3.
"The cost of these PCR tests is prohibitive", says Umesh. He had to pay close to US$100 for the tests.
People co-infected with HCV and HIV also need to monitor indicators of HIV progression, such as their CD4 count. If the CD4 count falls below 200, then HCV treatment is less effective, and its side-effects may be more pronounced. Umesh suggests that those people with HIV who are taking antiretroviral (ARV) drugs should consult their doctors to find out if they need to change their ARV combination before starting HCV treatment.
Another challenge is the limited availability of PCR tests. In India for example, the test is available in only one city (Mumbai), although blood samples are collected from other parts of the country and sent there for diagnosis. The results can take more than a month to be returned.
Over ten years after his initial diagnosis, Umesh has just completed a course of hepatitis treatment, but getting through the treatment was not without its challenges. "We clearly need more HCV diagnostic facilities", added Umesh. "Particularly in areas with high levels of injection drug use."
HCV can often be treated successfully, including among PLHIV, but the treatment is not easy to endure. Treatment for HCV uses a single drug, or a combination of two drugs, and usually takes between six and twelve months. Umesh points out that there is no standardized treatment protocol and clinical practice varies considerably between individual doctors. This can add to uncertainty and confusion for patients.
The treatment for HCV is also very expensive - costing on average approximately US$250 per week. Interferon injections are given weekly, in addition to ribavirin tablets. The tablets may be provided free for people paying for interferon injections. On purchasing four interferon injections, one extra is often provided free as a 'discount'. But in countries such as India, people have to bargain with representatives of pharmaceutical companies or doctors, remarks Umesh. A cheaper alternative is to use interferon injections alone, although this is reported to be less effective. Umesh comments that high-profile donor agencies including the Clinton Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) are yet to dedicate resources to providing treatment for HCV.
Another dispute among clinicians surrounds the diagnostic value of a liver biopsy. In well-resourced countries, a liver biopsy is usually performed to determine the extent of hepatitis-related liver damage, whereas in Asian countries such as India, China, Vietnam, and Thailand, doctors usually avoid this procedure. Consensus is needed around the diagnostic utility of liver biopsy, if nothing else in order to eliminate additional confusion for patients.
There is no vaccine to prevent HCV infection and even after successful completion of treatment, HCV reinfection can occur. During and after treatment, HCV PCR viral load testing is done at six month intervals to monitor HCV control.
Umesh says that people with HCV considering treatment should connect with those who have previously been through it. The initial days of the regime can be very frustrating and challenging, including loss-of-appetite and flu-like symptoms - it helps to talk to those who have completed the regimen before. Even after successful completion of HCV treatment, it is vital to keep the HCV viral load low. Umesh recommends that drug and alcohol use should be avoided in order to protect liver functions. Also people with HCV need to take care of their livers by avoiding spicy or fatty foods.
Umesh recalls, "I learnt from my doctor, Dr Samiran Panda, in the early 1990s, who taught me how to take care of myself and monitor my own health."
Umesh has proactively sought information over the years, in order to look after his own well-being as well as possible. As a result, he has developed a comprehensive understanding of issues around HIV, injection drug use, as well as HCV.
Developing these kinds of self-management abilities is vital: To monitor and control symptoms of hepatitis C, to minimise other complications or opportunistic infections, or hopefully to prevent their onset entirely.
For people co-infected with HCV and HIV, self-management and treatment literacy skills may be all the more crucial.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
"Hepatitis C treatment is mostly left out since AIDS activists are so focused on ARVs [antiretroviral drugs] or other prevention and treatment services," said Umesh Sharma, who has just completed a course of hepatitis C treatment.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. HCV transmission occurs when traces of blood from an infected person enter the body of a HCV-negative person. Like HIV, HCV is spread through sharing injection equipment, through needle stick or other sharps injuries, or less frequently from infected mothers to their babies.
HCV transmission rates are higher than that of HIV, and the condition is often more severe in drug users. People who share injection equipment are vulnerable to HCV and HIV infection, and in many places co-infection is not common.
For Umesh the key was largely having access to the information he needed. Already aware of his positive HIV status, he went for a routine general health check-up during a trip to Manchester in 1995. He discovered he was also infected with HCV. Until then he had no symptoms of HCV. This is not an unusual story, up to 80% of people with HCV usually develop no symptoms. Initial symptoms, when they appear, can include jaundice, fatigue, dark urine, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and nausea.
There are three types of tests for HCV, which all use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology:
* HCV PCR viral detection test: This qualitative test is designed to detect the hepatitis C virus.
* HCV PCR viral load test: This quantitative test estimates the level of HCV in the blood. It helps to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
* HCV PCR genotype test: This determines the specific genotype (genetic 'make-up') and subtype of HCV. This information is important in selecting a course of treatment. For example, treatment with interferon is more often effective for people with HCV genotype 2 or 3.
"The cost of these PCR tests is prohibitive", says Umesh. He had to pay close to US$100 for the tests.
People co-infected with HCV and HIV also need to monitor indicators of HIV progression, such as their CD4 count. If the CD4 count falls below 200, then HCV treatment is less effective, and its side-effects may be more pronounced. Umesh suggests that those people with HIV who are taking antiretroviral (ARV) drugs should consult their doctors to find out if they need to change their ARV combination before starting HCV treatment.
Another challenge is the limited availability of PCR tests. In India for example, the test is available in only one city (Mumbai), although blood samples are collected from other parts of the country and sent there for diagnosis. The results can take more than a month to be returned.
Over ten years after his initial diagnosis, Umesh has just completed a course of hepatitis treatment, but getting through the treatment was not without its challenges. "We clearly need more HCV diagnostic facilities", added Umesh. "Particularly in areas with high levels of injection drug use."
HCV can often be treated successfully, including among PLHIV, but the treatment is not easy to endure. Treatment for HCV uses a single drug, or a combination of two drugs, and usually takes between six and twelve months. Umesh points out that there is no standardized treatment protocol and clinical practice varies considerably between individual doctors. This can add to uncertainty and confusion for patients.
The treatment for HCV is also very expensive - costing on average approximately US$250 per week. Interferon injections are given weekly, in addition to ribavirin tablets. The tablets may be provided free for people paying for interferon injections. On purchasing four interferon injections, one extra is often provided free as a 'discount'. But in countries such as India, people have to bargain with representatives of pharmaceutical companies or doctors, remarks Umesh. A cheaper alternative is to use interferon injections alone, although this is reported to be less effective. Umesh comments that high-profile donor agencies including the Clinton Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) are yet to dedicate resources to providing treatment for HCV.
Another dispute among clinicians surrounds the diagnostic value of a liver biopsy. In well-resourced countries, a liver biopsy is usually performed to determine the extent of hepatitis-related liver damage, whereas in Asian countries such as India, China, Vietnam, and Thailand, doctors usually avoid this procedure. Consensus is needed around the diagnostic utility of liver biopsy, if nothing else in order to eliminate additional confusion for patients.
There is no vaccine to prevent HCV infection and even after successful completion of treatment, HCV reinfection can occur. During and after treatment, HCV PCR viral load testing is done at six month intervals to monitor HCV control.
Umesh says that people with HCV considering treatment should connect with those who have previously been through it. The initial days of the regime can be very frustrating and challenging, including loss-of-appetite and flu-like symptoms - it helps to talk to those who have completed the regimen before. Even after successful completion of HCV treatment, it is vital to keep the HCV viral load low. Umesh recommends that drug and alcohol use should be avoided in order to protect liver functions. Also people with HCV need to take care of their livers by avoiding spicy or fatty foods.
Umesh recalls, "I learnt from my doctor, Dr Samiran Panda, in the early 1990s, who taught me how to take care of myself and monitor my own health."
Umesh has proactively sought information over the years, in order to look after his own well-being as well as possible. As a result, he has developed a comprehensive understanding of issues around HIV, injection drug use, as well as HCV.
Developing these kinds of self-management abilities is vital: To monitor and control symptoms of hepatitis C, to minimise other complications or opportunistic infections, or hopefully to prevent their onset entirely.
For people co-infected with HCV and HIV, self-management and treatment literacy skills may be all the more crucial.
Bobby Ramakant-CNS
Is Coca-Cola Full of Hot Air?
Is Coca-Cola Full of Hot Air?
Shareholders, Activists Challenge Coke's ''Green'' Image
While Coca-Cola executives plan to use today’s [16 April 2008] shareholders’ meeting as a forum to trumpet the corporation’s water stewardship credentials, many in attendance are asking whether Coke is full of hot air.
For more information visit: http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org
Patti Lynn
Campaigns Director
Corporate Accountability International
www.stopcorporateabuse.org
ph: 617-695-2525
fax: 617-695-2626
Email: plynn@stopcorporateabuse.org
Activists to move High Court against Amitabh Bachchan for smoking-on-screen
Activists to move High Court against Amitabh Bachchan for smoking-on-screen
To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here
“We will seek justice in the honourable High Court of Bombay” said Dr Shekhar Salkar, General Secretary of National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE).
“Mr.Amitabh Bachchan was clearly shown smoking a cigar [in ‘Family’
film] in all the display-hoardings prominently. This amounts to clear and unambiguous breach of the law prevalent within the state and the country. However the session court did not appreciate the view of NOTE
In March 2008, the Sessions Judge, North Goa, Mr U V Bakre had quashed the legal proceeding against Amitabh Bachchan, chairman of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), for smoking cigar on-screen in ‘Family’ film. The sessions’ Court had also quashed the process issued against Mr Keshu Ramsay and M/s DMS Film Pvt Ltd.
These hoardings, showing Amitabh smoking a cigar, were in gross violation of The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulations of the Trade and Commerce, Production Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 and under Section 7 of the Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, 1997.
The Cigarette and other tobacco products Act (2003) and other notifications have advocated for ban on portrayal of tobacco use in films, since it was identified by many studies done in India and abroad, that it influences children and young people to begin tobacco use.
"Studies have establish
ed that portrayal of tobacco use in films is one of the biggest influencer for young people to begin tobacco use. Since The Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (2003) came into increasing effect, not only tobacco use in films have been on the rise, but also tobacco brand placement."
However after about two years now, the words of Dr Ramadoss are yet to see the light of the day.
In January 2006 when Amitabh Bachchan smoked a cigar in 'Family' film and such posters were splashed all over
“Exposure to tobacco use in movies is clearly linked to youth tobacco use. Simply put, more must be done to ensure that tobacco use in movies is removed from films seen by our nation's youth” said WHO awardee (2005) Professor Rama Kant, who is the founder-President of ISAS. “We have within our powers one simple and effective way to jump start the decline in youth tobacco use - delete tobacco use in films from the list of influences that rob our youth of longer and healthier lives by removing tobacco use from movies, unless they clearly depict the negative health effects” added Prof Kant.
“We anticipate that this [High Court judgement] would be a landmark case meriting a landmark judgement. It would either strengthen the case of anti-tobacco lobby vis-a-vis clandestine and surrogate advertisement of unhealthy products or it would prevail upon our lawmakers to resort to more stringent laws without exploitable loopholes” said Dr Salkar.
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide. In 2005, tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths, or an average of one death every 6 seconds. At the current rate, the death toll is projected to reach more than 8 million annually by 2030 and a total of up to one billion deaths in the 21st century.
To read this posting in Hindi language, please click here
Published in
Assam Times, Assam, India
News Blaze, USA
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Published in
Assam Times, Assam, India
News Blaze, USA
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)