CNS

Governments' accountability for responding to COVID-19, NCDs and tobacco epidemics

Politics, in many ways, is the ultimate determinant of health, had said Dr Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet, a couple of years back. In lead up to the 2020 World No Tobacco Day, and before the first virtual World Health Assembly began, a high level virtual meet with several government leaders from Asia and the Pacific region, convened to discuss governments' accountability in the context of the global public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that not only cause over 70% of deaths globally but also increase the risk of developing serious outcomes of COVID-19, including death. Tobacco use which kills over 8 million people every year, and is an entirely preventable and common risk factor of major NCDs, was also on the agenda.

This Podcast features Dr Helen Rosenbaum, who was a keynote speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). She spoke on "Moratorium on deep sea mining is the only responsible way forward."

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Ending tobacco use will reduce risk of deadly diseases including COVID-19

Tobacco and lung diseases increase the risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19 including death
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Scientific evidence from COVID-19 hard-hit countries globally has shown that elderly people and also those with conditions such as non-communicable diseases are at a much higher risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19, including death. “Tobacco use is the biggest common risk factor of major NCDs such as heart diseases and stroke, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases among others. Tobacco adversely affect the respiratory system and damages the lungs as well as weakens the immune system. Tobacco has a deadly connection with the world’s biggest killer infectious disease tuberculosis (TB), which heightens the risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19” said Prof (Dr) Surya Kant, Head of Respiratory Medicine Department of King George’s Medical University (KGMU). He said that people who have TB are usually more vulnerable to other infections, including the novel coronavirus, due to pre-existing lung damage. They are at a higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19.

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On Thursday, 21st May (1pm India time/ 5:30pm Queensland Australia), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speaker, Dr Helen Rosenbaum, shared her insights on "Moratorium on deep sea mining is the only responsible way forward".

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On Saturday, 23rd May (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speaker, Professor (Dr) Surya Kant, who shared his insights on "Lung health, tobacco and COVID-19".

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Stronger universal public health services, not privatization, will deliver #HealthForAll

Shobha Shukla | Bobby Ramakant

When the world has come to a grinding halt due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and it is majorly the public health services that are on the frontline of the efforts to contain it (with most of the private health industry 'safe distancing' by being shut or busy profit-minting), the writing is crystal clear on the wall: only stronger universal public health could be our saviour.

Gandhi's talisman is best guiding light to reform public health

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

CNS photo from Gandhi's House, Gandhi/ Phoenix Settlement, Durban, South Africa

Mahatma Gandhi's talisman is perhaps the best guiding light to reform the public health system in the wake of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: "I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test- "Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

This Podcast focuses on sexual and gender-based violence during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Asia and the Pacific region. Panelists include: Abigail Erikson, Ending Violence Against Women Programme Specialist, UN Women, Fiji Multi-Country Office; Ofa-Ki-Levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki, Director, Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC), Tonga; Dr Chivorn Var, Executive Director of Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC) and Convener of 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR10), Cambodia; Matcha Phorn-In, an ethnic minority Lesbian Feminist Women Human Right Defender, Founder Executive Director of Sangsan Anakot Yawachon Development Project, Thailand.

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Only way for survival of humanity is solidarity: Kate Lappin

S H R E Y A R A W A L | D U R G E SH N A N D A N Y A D A V

[podcast] Tobacco or health: choose life, not tobacco!

This Podcast features Dr Mayank Somani and Dr Ajaya Kumar, two renowned medical experts, who were speakers for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). They spoke on "health impacts of tobacco use."

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Nurses unite to demand universal public health

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

[हिंदी] To mark International Nurses' Day on May 12, millions of nurses around the world are calling on governments to commit to universal public health. "As we rebuild from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, we must transform the way societies are organised. We must organise our societies around the capacity to care. We must all recognise the union adage - Touch One Touch All - if our healthcare systems cannot care for all, we are all at risk" rightly said Kate Lappin, Regional Secretary of Public Services International (PSI) for Asia and the Pacific.

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This Podcast features Dr Sandeep Pandey who was a speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). He spoke on "Energy democracy is key for sustainable development."

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8th #APCRSHR10 Dialogues: Sexual and gender based violence during COVID-19 pandemic

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Will alcohol and tobacco use jeopardize the response to COVID-19?

Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey, Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

Amidst the COVID-19 crisis initially the government was trying to enforce compliance of social (physical) distancing norms very strictly. However, rush of migrant workers to home, which was unpreventable, and big queues infront of liquor shops, which were entirely preventable, have thrown all safeguards regarding distancing to wind. In Lucknow at two community kitchens being run for the needy some people consumed liquor on 4 May and created ruckus such that the kitchens had to be shut down. The ultimate losers were women and children. Unable to resist the temptation to generate revenue, which seems to be as strong as temptation for liquor itself, the government has ensured that the money which would otherwise have been spent on food or medicines for the family of poor would now be squandered.

On Friday, 8th May (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured Dr Sandeep Pandey, who shared his insights on "Energy democracy is key for SDGs."

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[podcast] Self-reliance and sustainable living: Jon Jandai's #SDGtalks

This Podcast features Khun Jon Jandai who was a speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). He spoke on "Self-reliance and sustainable development."

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Private health 'industry': A hurdle to the fight against COVID-19?

Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey, Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant(

Along with measures to cut the chain of transmission of the coronavirus, such as lockdowns, social distancing, and masks, it is indeed important to find those who are positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), isolate them and provide them with the best possible medical care. However, in India, it appears as though the government lacks the capacity to scale up testing across the country, and is also facing a shortage of hospital beds to provide medical care to all those who have been tested positive. In India, there is a law – The Epidemics Act 1897 – which gives the government (even state governments) constitutional authority to bring all private health institutions under government control. What better way for the government to scale up testing and hospital capacity in the country than take these institutions under control, or perhaps try to negotiate a price with the private sector?

Intergenerational model gives hope even during pandemics

Anjali Sunil, B Sai Sushma, Parv Julania,

Pranav Raghuraman, Priya Sahu, K Shree Shantha

“The COVID-19 pandemic is causing untold fear and suffering for older people across the world”, said United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week on the launch of the policy brief on older persons and coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “The fatality rate for older people is higher overall, and for those over 80, it is five times the global average.” Beyond its immediate health impact, the pandemic is putting older people at higher risk of poverty, discrimination and isolation. It is likely to have a particularly devastating effect on older people in developing countries, added Guterres.

This Podcast features Dr Ishwar Gilada, who was a speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). He spoke on "Journey to end AIDS since first case got diagnosed in India - reflections from longest serving HIV medical expert in the country."

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Women bear the brunt of humanitarian disasters, including COVID-19

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

The United Nations (UN) data estimates that 168 million people worldwide will need assistance in 2020 to deal with humanitarian crises, including natural disasters, extreme climate events, conflicts and infectious disease outbreaks. 25% of these will be women and girls of reproductive age. And they are the ones who are disproportionately affected during any humanitarian disaster - from being more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth related complications, to facing increased risks of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections, as well as sexual and gender-based violence.

Will the world be the same again?

S H A S H W A T C H O U R A S I Y A

[podcast] Can artificial intelligence and machine learning based solutions address the healthcare challenges?

This Podcast features Professor (Dr) Rishi Sethi and Amit Khare, who were speakers for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). They spoke on "How AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning) based solutions can address the challenges in healthcare including those in India."

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Need for immediate nationalisation of health services

Ram Shankar met with a fatal hit-and-run accident in rural area of Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh on 16 April, 2020 and was referred by the District Hospital to Trauma Centre of King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow. He could not be admitted there and was referred to nearby Balrampur Hospital. From there he was referred to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. He was denied admission at these government facilities as only coronavirus affected patients were being admitted and beds had to be kept free for them. Leaving no choice for them the attendants had to take him to one private hospital after another because either it was too expensive or treatment was unsatisfactory.

On Tuesday, 12th May (4:30pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured Dr Mayank Somani and Dr Ajaya Kumar, who shared their insights on "health impacts of tobacco use."

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