[Podcast] Do not put TB hotspots on blindspot, warns Dr Chitra Chandrashekar


[Listen or dowload this audio podcast] Dr Chitra Chandrashekar, recipient of prestigious Professor OA Sarma Oration Award 2016 spoke with Shobha Shukla, Managing Editor of CNS (Citizen News Service).  She shared her study findings that got her the coveted recognition. Preventing TB from spreading any further is indeed a compelling public health imperative. TB hotspots cannot be on blindspots. [Listen or dowload this audio podcast] [Watch video]

[Focus] "We must bequeath good air to our next generation..."



We cannot run away from cancer, we have to fight it

Alice Sagwidza-Tembe, CNS Correspondent, Swaziland
On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part: governments, the private sector, civil society and ordinary people.

Smoking?? Think many times!

Clarity Sibanda, CNS Correspondent, Zimbabwe
The International Cancer Day 2017 (4th February) comes at a time when the death rate due to the disease is increasing, notwithstanding the research going on to diagnose and cure more people. Several progressive governments are calling for nicotine tar lovers to quit smoking, which accounts for more than 20% of all cancer deaths worldwide.

WHO’s new guide for cancer focuses on early detection and treatment

Aarti Dhar, CNS Correspondent, India
(First published in theIndiasaga.com)
Latest cancer data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that 8.8 million people died from cancer in 2015, with about 70% of deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries. One thing common in these deaths is that the disease was diagnosed too late, making the chances of survival slim. Even in countries with optimal health systems and services, many cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when they are harder to treat successfully.

We must bequeath good air to our next generation...

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
Shobha Shukla, CNS (L), Dr Chitra Chandrashekar (R)
[audio podcast] [video] So said award-winning Dr Chitra Chandrashekar, Director of  Dr Iravatham’s Clinical Laboratory, Hyderabad. I met her in Mumbai during NAPCON 2016 and was struck by her modesty and her passion for working in the field of TB. Chitra spoke with CNS (Citizen News Service) about her study titled 'Host susceptibility to Mycobacteria and Transmission dynamics', related to the transmission dynamics of TB, which won her the prestigious Professor OA Sarma Oration Award at NAPCON 2016.

Towards getting rid of cancer

Francis Okoye, CNS Correspondent, Nigeria
Taking place under the slogan ‘We can. I can’, World Cancer Day 2017 explores how we can all work together—collectively and as individuals— to reduce the global burden of cancer. Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, all people have the power to take action to reduce the devastating impact that cancer has on individuals, families, communities and the country as a whole.

Are cancer deaths declining fast enough to meet SDGs by 2030?

In a webinar (recording, podcast) experts raised key concerns around cancer deaths not declining fast enough in order to keep the governments' commitments of reducing cancer deaths (and of other non-communicable diseases or NCDs) by one-third by 2030.

Fight against cancer in Malawi: Report by Winnie Botha


[Podcast] World Cancer Day 2017


[Listen or download the audio podcast] This is a recording of the webinar in lead up to 2017 World Cancer Day (watch its recording). Panel of experts included:
  • Anne Jones OAM, senior tobacco control expert with the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union); former CEO of ASH Australia; and Medal of the order of Australia (OAM) awardee   
  • Dr Navneet Singh, Lung cancer expert; Associate Professor, Pulmonary Medicine Department, PGIMER; Secretary of Indian Society for Study of Lung Cancer; 
  • Nita Mullick, cancer survivor and senior educationist  
  • Moderators: Ashok Ramsarup, award-winning senior journalist from Durban, South Africa and former Senior Producer at SABC; and 
  • Shobha Shukla, CNS Managing Editor 
 [Listen or download the audio podcast]

[Webinar] World Cancer Day 2017


How cancer lost the battle against Michelle

Catherine Mwauyakufa, CNS Correspondent, Zimbabwe
(First published in Manica Post)
Michelle Wadzanayi Maiseni is currently awaiting her O-Level test results, and I bet she will do well. 5 years ago she had obtained 5 units in Grade 7, and that too after having spent the whole year in hospital. This interview with Michelle bears testimony to her battle against cancer, in which she emerged victorious and became the driver of her destiny by sheer will power.

[Podcast] Lung cancer cure: Hope, not hype! [World Cancer Day special]


[Listen or download this audio podcast] World Cancer Day 2017 is on 4th February 2017. CNS presents an exclusive and very interesting panel discussion moderated by CNS Managing Editor, Shobha Shukla. Two noted experts on the panel: Dr Navneet Singh from Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER (Secretary of Indian Society for the Study of Lung Cancer); and Dr Marzi Mehta, senior surgical oncologist from Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai [Listen or download this audio podcast].

[World Cancer Day Exclusive] Lung cancer cure: Hope, not hype!



World Cancer Day: Ensure the right treatment at the right time to every patient

Shobha Shukla, Citizen News Service - CNS
Dr Navneet Singh, PGIMER (L), Shobha Shukla, CNS (C)
and Dr Marzi Mehta, surgical oncologist (R)
[Watch this video] [Listen or download audio podcast] Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. In 2012, there were an estimated 1.8 million new lung cancer cases (13% of all cancers diagnosed), and 1.59 million deaths (19.4% of the total cancer deaths). According to the latest cancer registry data released by the Indian Council of Medical Research, 0.114 million new lung cancer cases (83,000 in males and 31,000 in females) are estimated during 2016 in India.

#BeTheChange: It is about growing in years, not about getting old!

Shobha Shukla, Citizen News Service - CNS
[Podcast] [Video] As fertility rates decline and life expectancy increases, the number of senior citizens is growing globally. Among the 7.3 billion people worldwide in 2015, an estimated 617.1 million, were aged 65 years or more. The Asia Pacific region is ageing rapidly and South-East Asia’s elderly numbers are growing fast at around 5% a year - between now and 2030 there will be nearly 20 million more people aged 60 and above in the region.

[Podcast] Stop ignoring ageing related issues, says Jerome Pons of European Union


[Listen or download this podcast] Jerome Pons, Head of Cooperation (Malaysia and Thailand) at the European Union spoke with CNS (Citizen News Service) in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 19th January 2017. He raised important ageing related issues and made a strong case calling upon countries to not ignore the elderly and adapt development responses to meet the unique needs of changing population demographics. Thanks to the HelpAge International's East Asia Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) for helping facilitate this interview. [Listen or download this podcast]

[Focus] Stop ignoring ageing issues and adapt to changing population demographics



[Podcast] Scaling up ART for people living with HIV: Major success but challenges remain to #endAIDS


[Listen or download this podcast] Dr BB Rewari is widely acknowledged for his decade-long stewardship of Indian government's roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme beginning from ART provision to the first person living with HIV to over a million now. Now he is the focal person for HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office and helping accelerate ART and other efforts to #endAIDS by 2030 (#SDGs). This interview is part of CNS Inspire Series. [Listen or download this podcast]

Tobacco products cost the world economies more than USD 1 trillion annually

Aarti Dhar, CNS Correspondent, India
(First published in theindiasaga.com)
The tobacco industry and its products, which have a deadly impact on people’s lives, cost the world’s economies more than US$ 1 trillion annually in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity, according to findings published in ‘The Economies of Tobacco and Tobacco Control.’ Around 6 million people die annually as a result of tobacco use, with most of them living in developing countries. Policies to control tobacco use, including tobacco tax and price increases, can generate significant government revenues for health and development work, according to this new landmark global report from WHO and the National Cancer Institute of the United States of America.

[Call to register] Webinar in lead up to World Cancer Day 2017

[Click here to see webinar recording] [Listen or Download audio podcast] In lead up to 2017 World Cancer Day this webinar aims to review if we are on track in reducing cancer deaths by one-third by 2030 (as well as other commitments made in SDGs in this regard).

[CNS Rewind] Top 5 global health interviews of 2016

Looking back at interviews with global health experts featured in over 400 articles published by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2016, we are compelled to say that each voice that was documented was invaluable and a 'must-heard' voice for discourses on sustainable development. We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight interviews and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top 5 conferences covered by CNS in 2016

Looking back at over 20 conferences/ meetings on global health and development justice covered by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2016, here are our top conference coverage assignments from 2016. Thanks to entire CNS Correspondents Team!

[CNS Rewind] Top 5 most-watched 2016 videos on CNS YouTube channel

Looking back at over 150 video-articles produced by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2016, we are compelled to say that each video-article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight video-articles and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top most-read 2016 articles on CNS website

Looking back at over 400 articles written by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2016, we are compelled to say that each article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight articles and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top 5 podcasts of 2016

Looking back at over 50 audio podcasts based upon interviews conducted by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2016, we are compelled to say that each one of them, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight podcasts and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top 5 Correspondents of 2016

Looking back at over 400 articles written by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2016, we are compelled to say that each article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - thanks to each one of the Correspondents and Fellows. We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight articles and critical issues they highlighted.

[CNS Rewind] Top 5 webinars of 2016

[Check out all webinars hosted by CNS here]
Looking back at all webinars hosted by CNS in 2016, we are compelled to say that each webinar, and issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - thanks to all the panelists and participants. However if we look at some indicators such as the number of registrations, attendees, interaction on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook page, LinkedIn, email listservs, post-webinar media coverage, podcast and expert-presentation downloads, among others, here are top-5 webinar picks from 2016 CNS archives:

Reducing childhood pneumonia deaths in India: Work in progress

Dr Nachiket Sule, CNS Correspondent, India
During the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) period, the global under 5 mortality rate declined by more than half— from 90 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 43 deaths per 1000 live births in 2015. India had an estimated 609,000 deaths among children under the age of 5 due to pneumonia and diarrhea in 2010, the highest amongst all the countries in the world.

How we can stop more deaths from breast cancer by 2030

Francis Okoye, CNS Correspondent, Nigeria
(First published in Nigeria Politics Magazine)
In a webinar organised for the media by Citizen News Service, titled ‘Are we on track to reduce breast cancer deaths by 1/3 by 2030?’ medical experts and breast cancer survivors shared their views on how to reduce deaths from this dreaded cancer.
The panel of experts and cancer survivors included Priya Kanayson, Advocacy Officer, NCD Alliance; Dr Pooja Ramakant, Associate Professor, Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, King George Medical University; Prof Anand Mishra, Head of Department of Endocrine and Breast surgery, KGMU; and Bret Miller, Founder, Male Breast Cancer Coalition and a breast cancer survivor himself.

Childhood pneumonia

Aarti Dhar, CNS Correspondent, India
(First published in TheIndiasaga.com)
According to the Global Coalition Against Childhood Pneumonia (GCACP), pneumonia is the most deadly infectious illness for children under 5 years of  age worldwide. Even as 2000 to 2015, the annual death toll from childhood pneumonia decreased from 1.7 million deaths in 2000 to 920,000 in 2015, approximately 2,500 children still die from pneumonia every day. This amounts to 16% of all child deaths.

Not-to-miss message in the laudable act by Dipa Karmakar

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist
Because of the fantastic performance in Gymnastics in the Rio Olympics in 2016 Dipa Karmakar was chosen along with P.V. Sindhu and Sakshi Malik, the two medal winners, by the Hyderabad Badminton Association to be awarded a BMW car which was presented by Sachin Tendulkar. Dipa has now returned the car saying the roads of Tripura where she lives are not broad enough for this car and there is no BMW service centre there. She has decided to buy a less expensive car which is suitable for the conditions where she lives.