CNS

Treatment is prevention: Stop the spread of infection by finding all and treating all TB

"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

These golden words of Michelangelo perhaps sum up the fundamental gap in the fight to end TB worldwide.

In this podcast, Manitosh Ghildiyal, TB and HIV human rights activist, shares his personal lived experience with HIV as well as TB - and how he is advocating for people-centred responses to end TB and end AIDS. Why cannot all people-in-need get better tests and new shorter and more effective treatments for TB? he asks.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, iVoox, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Detecting all TB cases and treating them is critical to stop the spread of TB

5000 vertical HIV transmissions in India in 2021

States need tailored interventions to eliminate vertical transmission

Written by: Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

Edited by: Dr Trupti Gilada (CNS Medical Editor HIV & TB science)

published in aidsmap on 19 February 2024

published in aidsmap on 19 February 2024

149 experts call to find all TB to stop TB

One hundred and forty nine delegates of 78th National Conference of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases ( NATCON) have endorsed a global call to find all TB to stop TB, which has 1 key ask: Stop missing TB cases, by taking 2 actions:

Replace smear microscopy 100% with WHO recommended molecular tests as soon as possible, along with a paradigm shift from a lab-centric to a fundamentally people-centric model to find TB, leaving no one behind
Find the missing millions! Screen everyone (and not just those with TB symptoms) in high burden settings with WHO recommended screening tools, and confirm those with presumptive TB using molecular tests.

[video] Global North vs Global South: End health inequity to end TB and deliver on health for all

[podcast] Ending inequity is imperative to end TB and deliver on #HealthForAll

This podcast features Sumit Mitra, a thought leader on reaching the unreached with best of evidence-based diagnostics and health services, and President of Molbio Diagnostics (makers of Truenat). He is speaking at the World Social Forum (WSF 2024) in Kathmandu, Nepal, in a session entitled "Ending inequity is imperative if we are to end TB and deliver on health for all." This WSF 2024 session is being held in Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal.

[video] Go to the communities and #findAllTB

It is time to hold governments to account for ending tobacco

Currently the intergovernmental talks on the legally binding global tobacco treaty are taking place in Panama. This meeting, formally called the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), has delegates from 183 countries representing more than 90% of the world’s population, to review progress in the implementation of the global tobacco treaty, and take the next steps to help achieve the right of all people to lead healthy lives.

Would you not be surprised to learn that an industry whose products kill over 8 million people every year (even when used as the manufacturer intended), and cause an array of health and environment disasters of epidemic proportion, has not been held to account fully? Yes we are referring to the Big Tobacco. Well, perhaps a very long wait could be over as governments of over 180 countries are meeting in Panama for advancing progress on global tobacco treaty - and it is likely that such a decision to make Big Tobacco Pay - may come forth, finally.

Why are shorter, safer and more effective treatments for drug-resistant TB not reaching everyone in need?

Is it not a paradox that a preventable, diagnosable, treatable, and curable bacterial infection disease is still 1.30 million people every year. Yes we are talking of TB. Today we have all the solutions to #EndTB - point-of-care molecular tests to diagnose drug sensitive and drug-resistant TB upfront within an hour or so, and begin patient-friendly shorter treatment regimens ("same day test and treat") to get rid of this dreaded disease. And yet in 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB globally, out of which 410,000 cases were of drug-resistant TB. Moreover only less than half of those with drug-resistant TB (43%) were able to access treatment.

⭐ Watch the interview on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram

Immortal words of Leonard Cohen, “there is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in,” best sum up the transformative journey from pain to strength of Binika Shrestha, a native of Hetauda in Nepal. Binika shared the travails of the long path she trod- from being diagnosed with TB, going through the TB treatment, fighting the side effects of medicines as well as the haunting and daunting stigma, to eventually getting cured, and then, a few years later becoming a district TB officer herself.

This podcast features Dr Rennis Davis Kizhakkepeedika, President of Association of Pulmonologists Thrissur; Professor and Head, Pulmonary Medicine Dept and Vice Principal, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences; and part of lead organising committee of 78th National Conference of TB and Chest Diseases (NATCON, 2-4 February 2024 in Thrissur). Dr Rennis was on the panel for #EndTB Dialogues. For more information on NATCON in Thrissur (2-4 February 2024) please visit: www.natcon2023thrissur.com

[video] When problem (TB) is in grassroots and communities, then why are programmes not centred there?

Are we prepared to combat online gender-based violence?

[watch the recording on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram (part 1, 2), or listen to podcast] Gender-based violence is among the most prevalent human rights violations globally. Urgency is palpable as governments worldwide have less than 7 years to end all forms of gender-based violence and deliver on the promise of gender equality for all by 2030. But instead of declining, gender-based violence has become even more sinister and complex because technology-based and technology-facilitated online gender-based violence is also on an alarming rise.

[podcast] Youth and gender-based violence: Challenges and solutions

Listen to this podcast featuring an engaging discussion on youth and gender-based violence: challenges and solutions. Panelists include Kirthi Jayakumar, who is part of the Gender Security Project and Head of Community Engagement at World Pulse (India); Hafsah Muheed, intersectional feminist and human rights advocate from Sri Lanka; Tanmaya Kshirsagar, Indian Classical Vocalist, Writer & Academic and an intersectional feminist; Rita Widiadana, former Editor, The Jakarta Post, Indonesia; Kalpana Acharya, Health TV Online, Nepal; Xari Jalil, senior journalist and Editor Voice Pakistan; Zevonia Vieira, Editor, Neon Metin Media, Timor-Leste; SM Shaikat, SERAC-Bangladesh; Tanya Khera, Samanta Foundation; Joshua Dilawar, Y-PEER Pakistan; Matcha Phorn-in, Sangwan Anakot Yaowachon Thailand; and Shobha Shukla, CNS (moderator).

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, iVoox, and other podcast streaming platforms.

A faith-based experience

As I left the UN building in Lusaka, I heard the sound of beautiful African harmonies. Intrigued, I followed the sound to find out where it was coming from and was led to a large catholic church across the street.

An Irish folk dance - Zambian style

I recently had the privilege of being the guest of Father Michael Kelly, a wonderful Irish-Zambian Jesuit priest, who took me to visit the My Home orphanage for girls in Zambia.

Together, we drove about eight kilometres out of Lusaka to a peaceful rural location shaded by big trees, where the Indian Sisters run the small centre.

CNS wishes you a very happy new year 2024

Looking back at over 150 articles published on CNS (English, Hindi, Thai) in 2023 (and via CNS news wire syndication network worldwide), we are delighted to say that each of them, and the issues they focussed on, was so very important. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who shared their insights, analysis, reflections and science, evidence and rights-based viewpoints.

Looking back at health and development conferences (and other public health and development meetings) covered by CNS in 2023 on a range of issues around health and development justice, here is a list of top 12 (based on the popularity of the conference coverage).

Faith can move mountains. Thanks to all partners and supporters who helped us do what we dare to do best. We look forward to continued solidarity and support in 2024 and beyond.

Looking back at CNS audio podcasts of 2023 on a range of issues around health and development justice, that streamed via CNS on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms, here is a list of top 12.

Looking back at over 100 online sessions (such as, Gender Equality Talks Live, End TB Dialogues, SDG Talks Live, Global Media Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance) hosted by CNS in 2023 and live streamed, we are delighted to say that each of them, and the issues they focussed on, was so very important. Our heartfelt thanks to all the panelists and participants.

Click here to register

Be welcome to join an engaging online discussion on youth and online gender-based violence: challenges and solutions.

[हिन्दी] As the year 2023 comes to an end, it is indeed a quantum of solace moment in terms of finding all TB worldwide. Globally we could find a record number of new TB cases in a single year - historically. Over 7.5 million new TB cases were diagnosed in 2022 worldwide – highest ever in the age-old fight against TB (as per the latest Global TB Report of the UN health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) which was released in November 2023).