CNS

Timely treatment controls asthma

Chhatra Karki, CNS Correspondent, Nepal

Asthma is a non-communicable disease (NCD) although of the incurable type. It is, however, possible to keep it under control if proper management and treatment is attempted under appropriate supervision from its initial stage. Experts from all over the world consider some precautions to be observed for its control as globally approximately 300 million odd people (in developed and developing nations) are estimated to be suffering from asthma.

Misconceptions impede Asthma responses

Diana Esther Wangari, CNS Correspondent, Kenya

Photo credit: CNS

(first published in The Star, Kenya)
Mwololo is a ten year old girl from the Turkana tribe, a Semitic community in Kenya. The little manyatta that serves as her home is inhabited by seven other children-her siblings and cousins. Temporary shelters, communal sharing of resources and caring for their herds is the way of life for this small nomadic group. With such fragile societal structures, the uniting factors remain to be their livestock and the healer.

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist
(based on inputs from a panel discussion on HIV and stigma held at International Conference on Emerging Frontiers and Challenges in Management and Control of STIs and HIV, organized by National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (Indian Council of Medical Research) and MGM Institute of Health Sciences --Navi Mumbai):

The word stigma implies a mark or tattoo that was cut or burned into the skin of criminals, slaves, and traitors to visibly identify them as blemished or morally polluted persons. They were to be shunned especially in public places. Stigma is a social dichotomy where social perceptions are divided between us and them.

Photo credit: CNS

Socialist Party (India), which believes in sustainable environment being integral to development justice on lines of ‘Green Parties’ in Western nations, stated that BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is not the first person to talk about cleaning the river Ganga. Arvind Kejriwal had also made similar claims and Rajiv Gandhi had initiated the Ganga Action Plan in 1986.

Seeking honest politics distinguishes AAP from BJP and Congress

Dr Rahul Pandey, CNS Columnist

Photo credit: CNS

In a recent article I wrote that most of the people campaigning for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) come from different social strata but are united by a common desire to seek honest politics. On reading the article a friend asked me if I believed that everyone in AAP was honest and everyone in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Congress was corrupt. My response to him was, of course there were some honest individuals in BJP and Congress and maybe some dishonest ones in AAP, but the difference between the two sets of parties is not only relative but also fundamental. This is an attempt to understand that difference.

Chhatra Karki, CNS Correspondent, Nepal
In communities where sharing of injecting equipment drives the HIV epidemic, a parallel epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) often lurks quietly. Though a majority of people have been found to be cautious about Hepatitis B, very few people give Hepatitis C the seriousness it warrants. But the physicians opine that risks posed by Hepatitis C are no less dangerous considering its negative effects on health.

Regular cervical cancer screening, vaccination save lives

Bobby Ramakant, CNS Special Correspondent

Cervical cancer, a preventable cancer, continues to be the second most common cancer among women globally. Scientists and researchers from around the world brainstormed in sessions on cervical cancer management and control at the International Conference on "Emerging Frontiers and Challenges in Management and Control of STIs and HIV" organized by National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and MGM Institute of Health Sciences.

Henry Neondo, CNS Correspondent, Kenya and Editor, Africa Science News
A new study reveals that children who spend two hours or more in front of a screen (TV, computer, videogames etc.) have over 2.5 fold increases in their odds of having high blood pressure (BP). Presented at the World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology today (7th May), this new study measured the relationship between physical inactivity, sedentary behaviours and fitness on blood pressure in 8-10 year-old children at high risk of obesity.

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist
This is the sub theme of this year’s (2014) World Asthma Day (WAD), which was first celebrated in 1998 in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona. It is an annual event aimed at improving asthma awareness, diagnosis, treatment, and, ultimately, control and is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) on the first Tuesday of May. The main theme of WAD 2014 continues to be 'You Can Control Your Asthma.'

Henry Neondo, CNS Correspondent, Kenya
Medics at the World Congress of Cardiology 2014 have urged governments to put in more efforts to reduce Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) among children. RHD, a chronic heart condition caused by acute rheumatic fever (ARF), is the most common acquired heart disease amongst children in developing countries and affects over 15 million people.

Dr Rahul Pandey, CNS Columnist
For about two months I was in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh campaigning for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Alok Agarwal. Irrespective of what the result in Khandwa will be it appears that almost everywhere Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will make substantial gains, Congress will suffer a lot, and AAP may not get the seats they expected. And irrespective of all these outcomes certain effects of BJP’s imminent success and AAP’s emergence are evident too. Some of these I could sense on the ground in these two months. While one set of effects are worrying, the other set gives us hope. Nevertheless, they give an idea of the things that might come.

Bobby Ramakant, CNS Correspondent
India’s first (and oldest) public health programme was on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) since it became an independent republic. But as the years rolled on the programme lost its steam. Only recently it was merged with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) up to district level and with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for sub-district programmes.

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist
Translational research is scientific research that helps to make findings from basic science useful for improving human health and well-being. It is basically a three steps process: (i) doing laboratory research on a medical issue like cause of a medical condition or a specific treatment (ii) studying the efficacy of positive research findings through clinical trials on human volunteers, and (iii) finally making available the findings to the general population in the form of treatment.

Henry Neondo, CNS Correspondent and Editor, Africa Science News
Two studies conducted in India, US and Australia and presented at the World Congress of Cardiology 2014, being currently held in Melbourne from 4th to 7th May, showcase new research on best practices in the design and development of healthcare mobile applications, in order to optimize usability and maximize impact in different populations across the world. Around 75% of the world’s inhabitants now have access to a mobile phone. Out of the estimated 6 billion phone subscriptions worldwide, 5 billion are in developing countries-- 900 million of these are in India alone.

Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily has decided in middle of the Lok Sabha elections to double the gas prices immediately after the elections, according to the government notification issued recently. It is important to note that this gas price hike will be effective retrospectively from 1st April 2014. Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta has written a letter to the Election Commission and the Prime Minister asking for nullifying this government notification to double gas prices. "Only Jansatta newspaper has carried this news. Why are other media agencies silent on this issue?" asked Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and national Vice President of Socialist Party (India).

Salt-- A Silent Killer Of Africans

Henry Neondo, CNS Corespondent, Kenya and Editor, Africa Science News

No African food is complete without salt, usually added in cooking and/or at the table when food is served. But a new study released at the World Congress of Cardiology, being held in Melbourne, show that such practices predisposes them to high risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) - hypertension or high blood pressure. The study also reveals that according to research, thousands of lives and millions of dollars could be saved by the implementation of national targets to reduce salt consumption.

Socialist Party (India) calls for expelling UP Mahila Kalyan Nigam chief Ms Leelawati Kushwaha because of her insensitive remarks towards another woman. Meera Vardhan, President of Socialist Mahila Sabha, said that "we believe a woman of such distorted thoughts on gender justice does not deserve to head UP Mahila Kalyan Nigam. Ms Kushwaha had asked Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati ji to undergo a virginity test as per news reports so that Ms Kushwaha can determine whether to call her Kuanwari or Shrimati. She hads supported similar expression of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav ji which too is indeed shameful and of course anti-women."

Coordinated response for control of STIs is lacking

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, are known to be primarily transmitted through sexual route which has created a major impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide. They are caused by viruses, bacteria or parasitic microorganisms that are transmitted through sexual activity with an infected partner. Although some of the STIs are curable but others still do not have any effective preventive or therapeutics available such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Experts call to prevent malaria in Nigeria

Okeoghene Oghenekaro, CNS Corespondent, Nigeria
(First published in News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in April 2014)

Medical experts have urged governments, stakeholders and communities in Nigeria to take proper measures to prevent malaria which has remained ‘a big health challenge’ in the country. The experts made this call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, 22nd April, ahead of the World Malaria Day. The day is commemorated on April 25 in recognition of global efforts to control the disease.

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist
According to UNAIDS Report 2013, an estimated 260,000 children below 15 years were newly infected with HIV in 2012 in low and middle income countries. While the first paediatric HIV case in India was recorded in 1987, in 2012 out of the 2,100,000 people living with HIV in India, 200,000 were children below 15 years.

Dividing the country on communal lines

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist

Rambabu is a dalit activist working for the empowerment of marginalized section of the population in rural Hardoi. He feels for the first time in any elections that people are being divided on communal lines. His religious identity is in conflict with this caste identity and is beginning to create pressure on him to vote in the forthcoming elections on communal lines. Needless to say the result could be disastrous for the country.

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, are known to be primarily transmitted through sexual route which has created a major impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide. Although some of the STIs are curable but others still do not have any effective preventive or therapeutics available such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Globally, STIs and their complications rank in the top five disease categories for which adults and adolescent seek health care.

Electoral system biased against smaller parties

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist

Anil Mishra is a candidate of Socalist Party (India) from Unnao in U.P. On 12 April, 2014 he sought permission of Election Officer of District Unnao to take out a bicycle rally with about a hundred people on 23 April from his village Khan Peer Ali Nevada to Auras town area. The polling in his constituency will take place on 30th April. The report filed by Assistant Returning Officer said that he had no objection to the rally as well as to the use of megaphone which was also requested.

Countries should know their endemic malaria to plan the fight well

World Malaria Day: 25 April 2014

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a manual to help countries to assess the technical, operational and financial feasibility of moving towards malaria elimination. WHO’s new guide, "From malaria control to malaria elimination: a manual for elimination scenario planning", will provide these countries with a comprehensive framework to assess different scenarios and timelines for moving towards elimination, depending on programme coverage and funding availability.

Implications of foreign funds received by Congress and BJP

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist

In the context of movement against the Kudankulum nuclear power plant the PM had himself directly accused the movement of receiving foreign funds implying thereby that there were some foreign powers who were not interested in seeing development in India and therefore sponsored anti-development movements. Realty was that the office of the movement was being run from a Church. But most fisherfolk who formed the base of movement were Christians and it was quite natural for them that a movement to protect their interest should be run from their Church. Funds for the movement were collected from people.

Photo credit:
Corporate Accountability International

[हिन्दी] On the heels of the World Bank's 2014 spring meetings, an international coalition of water rights groups from India and the United States issued a stern call for the institution to end its destructive promotion of water privatization under the guise of development. After a week of meetings, including high level events on water, no action has been taken to address the coalition’s concerns.

CNS Image Library: June 2011

With patent barriers on new oral drugs to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in developing countries, the high price of new treatment could squander the opportunity governments now have to scale up diagnosis and treatment for the disease, said an advisory from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The caution comes as MSF welcomed the first-ever World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Meaning of slapping of Arvind Kejriwal

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist

Photo credit: CNS

Several incidents of ink throwing at or trying to punch or slap Arvind Kejriwal have occurred now. It appears that some people, mostly from his own movement and party, are angry at him and are giving vent to their frustration in this manner. However, is Arvind Kejriwal the only leader with whom people are angry? Actually, people are probably more angry with big leaders of established parties. But have we ever heard of anybody slapping Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, L.K. Advani, Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Yadav, Mayawati? Occasionally some Sharad Pawar or Buta Singh is targeted. Such incidents, though, are exceptions. And they were not repeated.

Alice Tembe, CNS Correspondent, Swaziland
Tuberculosis is taking the fast lane in Swaziland, and with approximately 1.3 million Swazis exposed to MDR-TB at first infection, it is increasingly becoming difficult to ignore it. According to the WHO, of the nine million people who get sick every year with TB globally, one third of them are “missed" by health systems.

Rise in global health financing, but funding priorities shift

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist

Photo credit: CNS

A new research done by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), at the University of Washington, indicates that globally the total development assistance for health (DAH) hit an all-time high of $31.3 billion in 2013 (a year-over-year increase of 3.9%), although funding priorities shifted. Findings of the research were presented in the report 'Financing Global Health 2013: Transition in an Age of Austerity' by IHME Director and report co-author Dr Christopher Murray and made public at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies on 8th April, 2014.

Manoj Pardesi

Manoj Pardesi - CNS
(First published by India HIV/AIDS Alliance)
Pre ART: 1986 to 31st March 2004: “You have AIDS,” a counselor said to me in 1997. I don't remember the exact date, but suddenly everything went blank. The counselor had spoken to me for more than 20 minutes, but I just remembered his one sentence: “You have AIDS.” Only one thing came to my mind: everything is finished. I cursed God. Why did He choose me? Why only me?

Tuberculosis, which takes approximately 1.3 million lives per year, imposes not only a huge cost to humanity, but also affects economies worldwide, and not only in developing countries. According to very conservative calculations, the direct costs of TB in the European Union add up to about € 537 million per year. With the threatening rise of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB in the whole world, it is likely that these costs will increase in the near future. Several WHO studies indicate that the disease cannot be eliminated without new vaccines.

Diana Wangari, CNS Correspondent
(First published in The Star News in Kenya on 15 March 2014)
Tuberculosis is ranked second among the infectious agents with highest mortality rates. According the WHO, 8.7 million people were infected with TB in 2011 with 1.4million deaths. This can be translated to approximately 1,500 deaths every day where 10% of these are children. Despite the high incidence rate, there appeared to be a silver lining after investigations showed a decrease in new infections and an estimated 85% success rate in treatment.