CNS

Delhi High Court Dismisses Petition against Medha Patkar

Medha Patkar

The criminal revision petition filed challenging the medical certificate of Medha Patkar and seeking revision of dismissal order of the Metropolitan Magistrate was rejected admission by the single judge bench of Justice Ajay Bharhoke of the High Court of Delhi. The petition challenged the order of dismissal by Metropolitan Magistrate of Patiala High Court, Delhi. Before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, an application was filed under section 197 and 198 of Indian Penal Code on grounds of perjury alleging Ms Patkar's medical certificate as fake. Read more

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the number of people in Thailand living with diabetes, in the age group 20-79 years, has risen from 3,162,400 in 2007 to 3,538,000 in 2010. Thus, during the past three years 375,600 more Thais have joined the band wagon of this non communicable disease, increasing the national incidence of diabetes from 7.2% in 2007 to 7.7% in 2010. This is more than the current prevalence in India (7.1%) and China (4.5%) in the age group of 20-79 years. Thailand urgently needs to increase efforts to raise awareness of diabetes among its population in order to stem the potential of a burden epidemic. Read more

Three CNS writers (Shobha Shukla, Chief Masimba K Biriwasha and Bobby Ramakant) wrote on issues around the TB drug development, in lead up to the Open Forum-4 meeting held recently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (18-19 August 2010). One CNS writer (Shobha Shukla) was writing on-site from this meet (Open Forum-4 on key issues in TB Drug Development) with support from the organizers: Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Treatment Action Group (TAG) and Stop TB Partnership Working Group on New Drugs; and Citizen News Service (CNS). Read more

[To listen to the audio podcast of CNS Exclusive interview with Dr ID Rusen, click here]
One of the main objectives of the "TREAT TB" research grant is to conduct a clinical trial to look at relatively shorter and more effective multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment than the current regimen for MDR-TB. "One of the colleagues had done a study in Bangladesh which was just published few months back – that a shortened standardised regimen of just nine months was effective in treating MDR-TB patients. One of the challenges of treating MDR-TB is that it is a long and difficult treatment regimen – so this was a big breakthrough. What we are trying to do in our MDR-TB trial, which is called "STREAM" is to see whether the same results of Bangladesh trial can be replicated in four other countries. India is one of the countries being considered but final countries will be selected at the end of November 2010" said Dr ID Rusen, Director, Department of Tuberculosis, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). Read more

[To listen to audio podcast of CNS Exclusive interview with Dr Anil Kapur on TB-diabetes, click here]

People with diabetes are at a high risk of tuberculosis (TB). "There are several studies that have been done, there are systematic reviews that have been done which indicates that people with diabetes might have 2 to 3 times higher risk of getting TB" said Dr Anil Kapur, President of the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF). "Not only that, patients with TB and associated diabetes, have increased mortality. The risk of mortality is much higher in TB patients who have co-existing diabetes. There are also evidences to suggest that when there is co-existing diabetes it takes longer for the sputum to become negative (for TB) with anti-tubercular treatment" said Dr Anil Kapur. Read more

ANPUD Board Meet, Bangkok

The Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD) is the first registered regional network of people who use drugs, and was established by people who use drugs to unify the voices of their communities to advocate for changes in drug laws and policies that negatively affect their lives and for better access to prevention, treatment and care services across Asia. ANPUD currently has over 190 members throughout the Asian region. ANPUD's first meeting of the Executive Board was held in Bangkok on 25th-27th August 2010. Read more

Broadcast Launch of Community Radio in Lalitpur

Alapur, Birdha Block, Lalitpur: Community Radio (CR) achieved another milestone on 3rd September 2010. Its first Community Radio (CR) station 'Lalit Lokwani' went on air in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state, India, and officially began its broadcast to over 80 villages in Lalitpur district of Budelkhand region. A combined effort of UNICEF, Ideosync Media Combine and Sai Jyoti, a Laitpur based NGO, the region's first radio station was jointly put on air by Ranvir Yadav, District Magistrate (DM Lalitpur, Jugal Kishore, Joint Director Bharatendu Natak Academi UP and well known theatre personality who also recently made an appearance in Amir Khan's Peepli Live and Rajeshwari Chandrashekar, Programme Manager, UNICEF Lucknow at a gala function organized at the Lalit Lokwani station in Alapur. Read more

[Listen to audio podcast of CNS exclusive interview with WDF President Dr Anil Kapur, click here]
Recognizing the compelling need to improve prevention, treatment, care and support services for children with diabetes, the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) has scaled up initiatives to address both types of diabetes among children: type-I and type-II, said Dr Anil Kapur, President of WDF, who spoke to CNS after receiving the IDRF Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more

[Listen to audio podcast of CNS exclusive interview with WDF President Dr Anil Kapur, click here]
Predominantly type-I diabetes affects children. "In case of these children with type-I diabetes, when they don't get insulin it is deciding whether they will survive or they will die" said Dr Anil Kapur, President of the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) who was conferred upon the IDRF Lifetime Achievement Award last week. "So it is a basic human rights to live issue here. It needs to be stressed that governments in every country in the world should make sure that these children get access to proper care - in terms of supply of insulin, diagnostics and for monitoring and also they should receive information on how they should remain healthy day-to-day" said Dr Anil Kapur. Read more

Dr Christian Lienhardt

[To listen to two part-audio podcast/ recording of an exclusive CNS interview with Dr Christian Lienhardt who heads the Research Movement at the Stop TB Partnership, click here1, here2]
The present diagnosis and treatment regimen for tuberculosis is almost 40 years old. According to the WHO, with the currently available diagnostic tools, we are able to diagnose just 61% of TB cases globally. This means that 40% of the cases go undetected and inadvertently help in further transmission of the disease in healthy people. Read More

'Lifetime Achievement' and 'IDRF Gold Medal Oration' Awards

In an effort to increase awareness regarding diabetes among the common public and as an advocacy incentive, the India Diabetes Research Foundation (IDRF), established by Prof A Ramachandran in 2007 in Chennai, has instituted two awards, to honour eminent people who have made significant contributions in the field of diabetes. Read more

As per reports from civil society groups, Supreme Court of Pakistan has agreed to release 100 Indian fisher-people whose sentence is over. It is indeed a landmark judgment from Pakistan and Indian judiciary is encouraged to reciprocate this gesture of at least, releasing those Pakistani fisher-people and other citizens whose sentence is over. Earlier there were reports that the Pakistan's Supreme Court had informed 454 Indian fishermen (out of total 582 currently detained) have completed their sentences in Pakistani jails, should be repatriated. Read more

Supreme Court of Pakistan informed 454 Indian fishermen (out of total 582 currently detained) have completed their sentences in Pakistani jails, should be repatriated. Pakistani ministry of Foreign Affairs told Supreme Court that four hundred and fifty four (454) Indian fishermen (out of total 582 currently detained) have completed their sentences and that they have been verified to be Indian nationals by the Indian high commission in Pakistan. Foreign Affairs has recommended to the Interior ministry to expedite their repatriation to India. Read more

Poverty is major driver of TB

[To listen to audio recording/podcast of CNS Exclusive interview with Dr Ann Ginsberg, click here]
In developing countries TB remains the third leading cause of death among women of reproductive age (15-44 years), disproportionately affecting pregnant women and the poor. This calls for immediate action to address the suffering caused by TB and to eliminate the disease as a leading killer of women. Read more

Photo credit: Kulsum Mustafa

Wednesday and Saturdays are Routine Immunization days in Uttar Pradesh. From morning one witness rural women with infants in arms making a beeline for primary health centres. But June and December are more special months for little children in India's most populous state with very poor development indicators. It is in these two months when health call beacons all the under five in remotest corners of the state. Read more

To download or read the Patients' Charter for TB Care click here
The necessity of involving common citizens in the ongoing battle against TB was discussed at the recently concluded Open Forum 4: Critical Path to TB Regimen: New Hope of Life for TB Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read more

There is a direct link between TB and poverty. It is indeed a vicious cycle, as one begets the other. The stark reality is that tuberculosis saps the economy of the community, which in turn increases the likelihood of contracting TB. This point emerged several times during the recently concluded Open Forum 4: Critical Path to TB Regimen: New Hope of Life for TB Patients, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meet was organized by TB Alliance with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Stop TB Partnership Working Group on New Drugs, Treatment Action Group among others. Read more

The 4th Open Forum Conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 18th and 19th August to address key issues in developing new drugs for tuberculosis, which kills nearly 2 million people every year and is becoming increasingly resistant to the current drugs. The conference, with a special focus on Africa, brought together regulators, scientists and other interested stakeholders, from all around the world, to share knowledge and build a proper infrastructure needed to adopt new and improved TB treatments. They deliberated over an innovative drug development model which will reduce the usual time taken to develop safer and more effective TB drug regimens by almost 75%. Read more

"If theatre and media join hands I am sure that they will be able to shatter many myths that abound in society about AIDS," this is what Ms Tripurari Sharma, associate director, National School of Drama (NSD) said while addressing media persons at 'Media for Children' –a capacity building session organized by Media Nest with support of UNICEF at UP Press Club on Saturday, 14 August 2010. Read more

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and CNS Diabetes Media Initiative (CNS-DMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acknowledge the commitment of both agencies to scale up documentation, reporting and online information exchange, dialogue and news monitoring services on issues related to diabetes-care. Read more

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Open Forum 4 on key issues in tuberculosis (TB) drug development is all set to begin in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (18-19 August 2010). This Open Forum 4, will raise and address key issues in TB drug development, with a special focus on regulatory affairs. The Forum will include sessions on the current global TB drug development portfolio, key issues in the critical path to TB drug registration, designing pivotal trials, conducting registration trials in high TB burden countries , challenges in TB drug development for resistant disease and developing regimens containing multiple novel agents. Read more

TUBERCULOSIS (TB) has a major impact on women's sexual reproductive health and that of their children. For pregnant women living in areas with high TB infection rates, there are increased chances of transmission of TB to a child before, during delivery or after birth. The disease, especially if associated with HIV, also accounts for a high incidence of maternal and infant mortality. Unfortunately, there is little to no attention to women's vulnerability in the current discussion and media blitz of a resurgent TB internationally, and in particular, sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

This special day is once again upon us, swelling our hearts with pride as we try to manoeuvre our way through traffic diversions (to make way for the iconic appearances of our political and bureaucratic bigwigs) amid the loudspeakers blaring out patriotic songs—some of them almost as old as our freedom. There is always a lump in my throat as I bow my head, saluting the national tricolour on this momentous day when India awoke to freedom as the rest of the world slept. Read more

The India Pakistan Peace Caravan, a yet another citizens' initiative in both nations, where people are marching towards Wagah border with a message of peace and harmony on both sides, is all set to merge with the traditional candle lighting ceremony at Wagah on Independence Day eve this year (14 August 2010). The India Pakistan Peace Caravan began from Mumbai in India and Karachi in Pakistan, and is moving towards Wagah border in both nations. Many noted peace activists in India and Pakistan are the key organizers of this Peace Caravan including Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, Gurudayal Singh Sheetal, Faisal Khan, Saeeda Diep, Karamat Ali among others. Read more

[To read this article in HINDI language, click here]

Yet another landmark people's initiative is unfolding in India and Pakistan where citizens are marching towards the Wagah border. The India Pakistan Peace Caravan began from Mumbai in India and Karachi in Pakistan, simultaneously, and Caravan on both sides will reach Wagah on 14th August 2010, where it will merge with the legendary candle light ceremony organized every year by noted journalist Kuldip Nayar. Read more

(Special CNS article reproduced in lead up to the India's 63rd Independence day eve - 15 August 2010)
Jajupur is a village in Sandila Tehsil, P.S. Atrauli, of Hardoi District of UP. 107 dalit landless families were allotted land pattas in 1976 by the Gram Sabha but till today the dalits have not been able to cultivate their fields. The reason is that a politically influential feudal family of the neighbouring village Majhgaon doesn’t give up its control on these lands which it exercises directly or indirectly. Read more

Hiroshima Day: August 6th

To raise public consciousness about issues related to nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, including the life-threatening hazards, is one of the key missions of peace activists, many of whom are presently mobilizing support for India Pakistan Peace Caravan that is currently underway in both the nations on people's initiatives. "Even after 63 years of the most ghastly act of violence on Earth – the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing in 1945, the country that masterminded that deadly bombing – USA – hasn't apologized even once. The keenness with which India is going ahead with the Indo US Nuclear Deal with USA, is of utmost concern" said Arundhati Dhuru, firebrand social activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan. Read more

Honey combed shaped pits
sustain pour flush toilets for yrs

Badaun: He is on a mission, one that few would like to take on, but then Amit Gupta, District Magistrate, Badaun a small district in western Uttar Pradesh seems to enjoy challenges. And the latest one he has taken on since July 2010 is unmatched by any that he has tackled so far. Intrigued? Then read on. Read more

Seven CNS writers (Anjali Singh, Bobby Ramakant, Chief Masimba Biriwasha, Jittima Jantanamalaka (daily FM Radio broadcasts 102.5), Medha Patkar, Shobha Shukla and Sugata Mukhopadhyay) wrote on issues around HIV and TB-HIV co-infection from their local contexts, in the lead up to and during the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC/ AIDS 2010) in Vienna, Austria. Bobby Ramakant was supported by the Stop TB Partnership and PANOS Global AIDS Programme and some of the articles below were published in PANOSCOPE - daily on-site newspaper published at IAC. Read more

Jeffrey O'Malley, UNDP

In a press conference at the XVIII International AIDS Conference to mark the launch of a new study by UNDP and Asia Pacific Coalition on male sexual health (APCOM), a journalist from Bosnia asked the impact of Sharia law on health outcomes, particularly in context of HIV prevention and care programmes among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender people this study refers to. This study report “Legal Environments, human rights and HIV responses among MSM and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific” is co-published by the UNDP and APCOM. Read more

Shivanand Khan OBE

Despite of AIDS programmes prioritising men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender people as high risk communities, not only the existing services are reaching appalling low numbers of MSM and trangender people, but also the funding for programmes targeting these communities is shockingly, namesake. “Funding for programmes that address sexual health needs of MSM people in Asia Pacific is left to 4% of total HIV-related funding” said Shivanand Khan, who was conferred upon the Order of British Empire (OBE) by the British Queen in recognition of his contribution to HIV prevention among MSM. Shivanand Khan is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Naz Foundation International (NFI). Read more

"WHEN A VIRUS (HIV) AND BACTERIA (TB) CAN WORK SO WELL TOGETHER WHY CAN'T WE?"
It is so nice to see that TB/HIV has been given due importance, focus and limelight in the recently observed IAC of Vienna. There were several oral sessions and poster presentation in the conference to share research, clinical and programmatic experiences on combined TB/HIV interventions around the world, chiefly from Africa. The conference has given us opportunity to know about the key lessons learned from the TB/HIV collaborative activities in the countries though it is also felt that the experiences of Asia should have been highlighted more. Read more

A raging issue on the first day of XVIII International AIDS Conference was whether Isoniazid (INH) Preventive Therapy (IPT) be given to all –regardless whether people have TB or not? A full-course of IPT can prevent latent tuberculosis (TB) infection from becoming active TB disease. It is very crucial and often life-saving for people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) as TB continues to be the biggest killer of PLHIV. Read more