CNS

Growing call to make Big Tobacco pay for health and environment harms

Would you not be surprised to learn that an industry whose products kill over 8 million people every year (even when used as the manufacturer intended), and cause an array of health and environment disasters of epidemic proportion, has not been held to account fully? Yes we are referring to the Big Tobacco. Well, perhaps a very long wait could be over as governments of over 180 countries are meeting in Panama for advancing progress on global tobacco treaty - and it is likely that such a decision to make Big Tobacco Pay - may come forth, finally.

Why are shorter, safer and more effective treatments for drug-resistant TB not reaching everyone in need?

Is it not a paradox that a preventable, diagnosable, treatable, and curable bacterial infection disease is still 1.30 million people every year. Yes we are talking of TB. Today we have all the solutions to #EndTB - point-of-care molecular tests to diagnose drug sensitive and drug-resistant TB upfront within an hour or so, and begin patient-friendly shorter treatment regimens ("same day test and treat") to get rid of this dreaded disease. And yet in 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB globally, out of which 410,000 cases were of drug-resistant TB. Moreover only less than half of those with drug-resistant TB (43%) were able to access treatment.

⭐ Watch the interview on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram

Immortal words of Leonard Cohen, “there is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in,” best sum up the transformative journey from pain to strength of Binika Shrestha, a native of Hetauda in Nepal. Binika shared the travails of the long path she trod- from being diagnosed with TB, going through the TB treatment, fighting the side effects of medicines as well as the haunting and daunting stigma, to eventually getting cured, and then, a few years later becoming a district TB officer herself.

This podcast features Dr Rennis Davis Kizhakkepeedika, President of Association of Pulmonologists Thrissur; Professor and Head, Pulmonary Medicine Dept and Vice Principal, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences; and part of lead organising committee of 78th National Conference of TB and Chest Diseases (NATCON, 2-4 February 2024 in Thrissur). Dr Rennis was on the panel for #EndTB Dialogues. For more information on NATCON in Thrissur (2-4 February 2024) please visit: www.natcon2023thrissur.com

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

[video] When problem (TB) is in grassroots and communities, then why are programmes not centred there?

Are we prepared to combat online gender-based violence?

[watch the recording on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram (part 1, 2), or listen to podcast] Gender-based violence is among the most prevalent human rights violations globally. Urgency is palpable as governments worldwide have less than 7 years to end all forms of gender-based violence and deliver on the promise of gender equality for all by 2030. But instead of declining, gender-based violence has become even more sinister and complex because technology-based and technology-facilitated online gender-based violence is also on an alarming rise.

[podcast] Youth and gender-based violence: Challenges and solutions

Listen to this podcast featuring an engaging discussion on youth and gender-based violence: challenges and solutions. Panelists include Kirthi Jayakumar, who is part of the Gender Security Project and Head of Community Engagement at World Pulse (India); Hafsah Muheed, intersectional feminist and human rights advocate from Sri Lanka; Tanmaya Kshirsagar, Indian Classical Vocalist, Writer & Academic and an intersectional feminist; Rita Widiadana, former Editor, The Jakarta Post, Indonesia; Kalpana Acharya, Health TV Online, Nepal; Xari Jalil, senior journalist and Editor Voice Pakistan; Zevonia Vieira, Editor, Neon Metin Media, Timor-Leste; SM Shaikat, SERAC-Bangladesh; Tanya Khera, Samanta Foundation; Joshua Dilawar, Y-PEER Pakistan; Matcha Phorn-in, Sangwan Anakot Yaowachon Thailand; and Shobha Shukla, CNS (moderator).

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

A faith-based experience

As I left the UN building in Lusaka, I heard the sound of beautiful African harmonies. Intrigued, I followed the sound to find out where it was coming from and was led to a large catholic church across the street.

An Irish folk dance - Zambian style

I recently had the privilege of being the guest of Father Michael Kelly, a wonderful Irish-Zambian Jesuit priest, who took me to visit the My Home orphanage for girls in Zambia.

Together, we drove about eight kilometres out of Lusaka to a peaceful rural location shaded by big trees, where the Indian Sisters run the small centre.

CNS wishes you a very happy new year 2024

Looking back at over 150 articles published on CNS (English, Hindi, Thai) in 2023 (and via CNS news wire syndication network worldwide), we are delighted to say that each of them, and the issues they focussed on, was so very important. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who shared their insights, analysis, reflections and science, evidence and rights-based viewpoints.

Looking back at health and development conferences (and other public health and development meetings) covered by CNS in 2023 on a range of issues around health and development justice, here is a list of top 12 (based on the popularity of the conference coverage).

Faith can move mountains. Thanks to all partners and supporters who helped us do what we dare to do best. We look forward to continued solidarity and support in 2024 and beyond.

Looking back at CNS audio podcasts of 2023 on a range of issues around health and development justice, that streamed via CNS on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms, here is a list of top 12.

Looking back at over 100 online sessions (such as, Gender Equality Talks Live, End TB Dialogues, SDG Talks Live, Global Media Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance) hosted by CNS in 2023 and live streamed, we are delighted to say that each of them, and the issues they focussed on, was so very important. Our heartfelt thanks to all the panelists and participants.

Click here to register

Be welcome to join an engaging online discussion on youth and online gender-based violence: challenges and solutions.

[हिन्दी] As the year 2023 comes to an end, it is indeed a quantum of solace moment in terms of finding all TB worldwide. Globally we could find a record number of new TB cases in a single year - historically. Over 7.5 million new TB cases were diagnosed in 2022 worldwide – highest ever in the age-old fight against TB (as per the latest Global TB Report of the UN health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) which was released in November 2023).

If we are to end TB as promised by all the governments of African countries and globally, we need to find all people with TB, link them to effective standard treatment and care. If full cascade of TB services fails to reach people with TB, then not only will it result in avoidable human suffering but also fail us in stopping the spread of infection. Finding TB remains the critical entry-point to TB care pathway.

[podcast] Women migrant workers: Heroes of remittance or survivors of violence?

This episode of Gender Equality Talks Podcast Series, puts spotlight on issues faced by women migrant workers in Asia. Three feminist journalists-editors from India, Indonesia and Nepal, share their insights: Rita Widiadana, former Editor of The Jakarta Post (Indonesia); Kalpana Acharya, Editor-in-Chief of Health TV Online (Nepal) and former President of Health Journalists Forum Nepal; and Shobha Shukla, founder Managing Editor of CNS.

The “feminisation” of migration is most visible in Asia, where women constitute over 50% of all migrant workers. It is mostly poverty, and regressive societal norms in their home country that push 5 million women in South East Asia to migrate to other countries in search of a life that gives them economic independence to be able to carve a better future for their family back home. But their dreams can go terribly wrong at times. Despite making strong societal and economic contributions (to countries of origin and destination), their journey of migration is beset with serious human rights violations, including the risk of physical and sexual violence, harassment and abuse.

The least that countries can do is to make migration safe and fair for female migrant workers through enforcement of labour laws that protect labour and other human rights of workers.

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

[video] Find all TB to stop TB call at ICASA 2023

Dreams of female migrant workers are often shattered, but hope remains

Published in The Jakarta Post, Indonesia (11 December 2023)

written by: Rita Widiadana and Shobha Shukla

Purwanti (name has been changed to maintain confidentiality) was just 17 when she arrived in Hong Kong. When she saw the stunning views of glittering lights, lines of high-rise buildings, beautifully dressed women and the lavish lifestyles she came to know from many Hong Kong-produced movies and TV dramas, Purwanti felt her dream had come true.

[हिन्दी] In today’s world many human interactions are taking place in the online spaces. As the internet and mobile technologies, as well as social media spaces, become more and more accessible, this is where many of our real life activities take place. Many of us find virtual spaces safe and convenient to share opinions, exchange ideas, increase our knowledge, and find entertainment, without even stepping out of our homes.

[हिन्दी] Female migrant workers, despite contributing a significant share to the economy, face alarming levels of sexual and other forms of gender-based violence and harassment all across the migration cycle. Actions to make labour and migration safe and fair a reality for them are sketchy at best or few and far between.

Shooting our own foot: Misuse of medicines is making infections difficult to treat

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and become resistant to (or no longer respond to) medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, medicines become ineffective, and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. That is why AMR ranks among the top ten global health threats worldwide.

Not just a Portuguese connect, Goa also has a Paris link now. The “Global Call to find all TB to stop TB” which was launched earlier this month in Goa, India was in prime spotlight at the World Conference on Lung Health 2023 in Paris.