CNS

Health emergencies and role of organized medicine

(published in Bulletin of Epidemiology Foundation of India, April-June 2022 issue)

Dr Suneela Garg, Dr Ishwar Gilada, Dr Sagar Galwankar, Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

When health emergencies occur it is the doctors and other healthcare providers who are on the frontlines in responding to the humanitarian and public health crises. These frontline responders often know best what the problem is and what effective and pragmatic solutions could help improve responses. Are these healthcare providers engaged to play a key role in shaping effective solutions that work in local contexts? Are different medical specialities who have a crucial role during emergencies and humanitarian crises, coordinating amongst themselves and with government and other agencies who are decision makers for the response?

[podcast] The Hero Lies In You (episode-1): Ms Dorothy Solomon

The Hero Lies In You - a special CNS series - salutes extraordinary lives of those who inspire us. This episode features Ms Dorothy Solomon who is in conversation with CNS founder and Executive Director Ms Shobha Shukla. Born in 1929, Ms Dorothy Solomon lives by the dictum of her father’s last words spoken to her when she was barely 10 years old: “We want something, and God ordains something else. God’s will prevails. Never get perturbed in life”. She defeated Covid-19, and even at age 92, tatting (making lace by hand) and doing embroidery are part of her daily routine. Listen to more of her (extra)ordinary life.

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

[video] The Hero Lies In You series (episode 1): Ms Dorothy Solomon

Substantial weight gain as dolutegravir is rolled out in Africa

Study finds women gain more weight; underlines need to watch out for weight-related diseases

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

(published in NAM aidsmap on 21 June 2022)

A study analysing data from four African countries found that people living with HIV who switched to a dolutegravir-based antiretroviral regimen had a four-fold increase in average weight gain, compared to the year before the switch.

"HIV treatment and care could continue during COVID-19, thanks to intense community participation," said Daxa Patel, in an interview given to CNS. Daxa is Secretary General at Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP+) and is former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV (NCPI+) in India.

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Join us on 23rd June 2022, Thursday, at 2:30pm India time for a consultation in Hindi/ Urdu languages with English simultaneous interpretation regarding local promotion of the Declaration of the rights of people affected by tuberculosis (TB).

Inequity and health security: will the poison that blinds, open our eyes too?

"There are poisons that blind you, and poisons that open your eyes" had said famous Swedish author August Strindberg. COVID-19 and monkeypox have not only exposed the inequity which poisons our health systems but has also caused avoidable human sufferings, including deaths. Even though inequity has been ailing our health and development model since long, the privileged class has remained numb and blind to it. But COVID-19 has proven that even the rich and powerful cannot remain firewalled from outbreaks of infectious diseases. Is it not high time that we open our eyes and rebuild equitable health and social security for all?

[हिंदी] Before G20 leaders and experts meet next week for the second health working group meeting under Indonesian G20 presidency, local leaders from several cities across the Asia Pacific region have unitedly called for implementing One Health approach.

[video] AIDS 2022 | People living with HIV but at risk of dying of TB, NCDs, Viral Hepatitis

[video] Climate crisis is jeopardising progress on gender equality, women's health, wage gaps | #AIDS2022

[video] Intergenerational response is vital for climate and gender justice: Fithriyyah Iskandar at #AIDS2022

[video] Pacific island nations have least emissions but face worst wrath of climate-disasters: Menka Goundan

[video] #ClimateChange exacerbates inequities faced by already-marginalized people: Sivananthi Thanenthiran

Dr Paula Fujiwara, Chair of Stop TB Partnership's Global Plan to End TB Task Force 2023-2030 presents at AIDS 2022

Understanding monkeypox

Breaking silos: TB and poverty

Latest advancements in TB science in spotlight

Important game-changing scientific advancements in preventing and treating TB (TB or tuberculosis, is among the deadliest of infectious diseases globally), were in spotlight at the recently concluded International Conference on Retroviruses and other Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2022).

Tobacco industry-propelled epidemic of tobacco-caused diseases and untimely deaths continue to plague human development. Despite significant progress on tobacco control, endgame of tobacco - which is a human rights and social justice imperative - is not yet in sight. The recently released 7th edition of Tobacco Atlas shows that while global smoking prevalence in adults has declined from 22.7% in 2007 to 19.6% in 2019, we still have 1.3 billion tobacco users in the world. The progress on the endgame of tobacco is also threatened by the growing tobacco smoking rates among children aged 13 to 15 years in many countries, and by tobacco industry tactics targeting poorer countries with weak regulatory environments and pushing so-called 'novel' products in previously untapped markets.

[listen to The Dose Podcast that premiered on 2022 World TB Day] [हिंदी] Undoubtedly, among the most important scientific breakthroughs for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) have happened in the past few years. But are we able to convert the scientific breakthroughs into public health gains quickly enough - by diagnosing every person with drug-resistant TB, and treating them with safe and effective medicines?

[video] President-elect of International AIDS Society Dr Beatriz Grinsztejn's message at Press Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASI)

CROI 2022: Global advocates offer insights and directions on the science and next steps needed

(watch the recording) You are invited to join the CROI Community Liaison Subcommittee, AVAC, and European AIDS Treatment Group for a webinar to debrief this year's Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2022).

[podcast] When COVID-19 lockdown was clamped, HIV communities led from the front to ensure HIV medicines reached them

Listen to another episode of CNS #endAIDS Dialogues featuring noted human rights and HIV activist Daxa Patel, former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India in conversation with CNS head Shobha Shukla at 13th national conference of AIDS Society of India (13th ASICON) in Hyderabad, India.

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

[podcast] Community leadership synced with government response to ensure uninterrupted supply of HIV medicines during lockdown

Listen to another episode of CNS #endAIDS Dialogues featuring Padamshree and ASI Lifetime Achievement Awardee 2022 Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar, who was earlier heading epidemiology at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and also has been a noted HIV scientist and expert at National AIDS Research Institute. He is in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at 13th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (13th ASICON).

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

[podcast] People living with HIV must stay virally suppressed and manage NCDs to reduce severe COVID risk

Listen to another episode of CNS #endAIDS Dialogues featuring Dr N Kumarasamy, who has been involved with HIV medical care and advancing HIV science since 1994, is Director of Infectious Diseases Medical Centre Voluntary Health Services Hospital, and Secretary General of AIDS Society of India (ASI). He is in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at 13th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (13th ASICON). He is also the Scientific Co-Chair of 13th ASICON.

[video] Did COVID-19 lockdown impacted HIV and healthcare services? Noted rights activist Daxa Patel speaks

[video] People living with HIV must take lifesaving antiretroviral medicines, stay virally suppressed, and manage NCDs to reduce severe COVID risk

[video] #Leadership: During lockdown, it was the people living with HIV who ensured medicines reached them

[podcast] #WomenLead: Generations of women entrepreneurs who run Imperial Sweet House, give hope for gender justice

In old city of Hyderabad, India, one of the legends close to Salarjung Museum and Charminar, in the oldest part of this city (Noor Khan Bazar), is Imperial Sweet House - founded decades ago, and led by generations of women entrepreneurs striving hard and from the core of their hearts to keep the legacy alive! Sweets/ desserts such as Pure Kaju (cashew nut) Kii Jaali, Badam (almond) ki jaali, are among the most iconic ones here!

Listen to Ms Aisha and Ms Nafees - two generations of women who share highlights of their decades long journey and still continuing strong! They are in conversation with CNS founding Managing Editor Shobha Shukla.

Prevention is better than cure, and is cheaper too!

This is an old adage that signifies the importance of taking precautionary steps to prevent a problem from happening rather than fixing it after it occurs. It is a fundamental principle of healthcare to avoid/reduce occurrence of any disease.

When health emergencies occur it is the doctors and other healthcare providers who are on the frontlines in responding to the humanitarian and public health crises. But they along with those impacted are not just part of the ‘problem’ but also key to effective solutions. Along with most affected people, it is the frontline healthcare providers who should be shaping responses to the pandemics and health emergencies.