"Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students and revamp its system so that the academic programme motivates students to learn and engage in engineering-related socially-useful work rather than go after non-engineering consumerist oriented jobs which are totally non-productive" asserted Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and a former faculty member of IIT Kanpur and former member of Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. Dr Pandey also launched a signature petition to mount further pressure on IIT Kanpur (petition is online here). Read more"Revamp academic programme of IIT Kanpur to motivate students": Pandey
"IIT Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students"
"Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students and revamp its system so that the academic programme motivates students to learn and engage in engineering-related socially-useful work rather than go after non-engineering consumerist oriented jobs which are totally non-productive" asserted Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and a former faculty member of IIT Kanpur and former member of Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. Dr Pandey also launched a signature petition to mount further pressure on IIT Kanpur (petition is online here). Read more
"Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students and revamp its system so that the academic programme motivates students to learn and engage in engineering-related socially-useful work rather than go after non-engineering consumerist oriented jobs which are totally non-productive" asserted Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and a former faculty member of IIT Kanpur and former member of Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. Dr Pandey also launched a signature petition to mount further pressure on IIT Kanpur (petition is online here). Read more
Development Journalism is crucial for social change
Refresher course must for all journalists: PII editor
Emphasizing the great importance of development journalism in today’s world, Ms Sangeeta Rajeesh, senior editor, Press Institute of India (PII), Chennai said that it is very essential that we sensitize our journalists towards focusing on issues relevant to development. Ms Sangeeta who is the current editor of Vidura – a magazine on mass communication published by the Press Institute of India (PII) since 1963, was addressing media professionals at the fortnightly 'Media for Children' organized at the UP Press Club by Media Nest with the support of UNICEF. Editor of 'Grassroots'- a journal on development journalism published by PII for the last eleven years, Ms Sangeeta is also head of programmes for PII. Read more
Emphasizing the great importance of development journalism in today’s world, Ms Sangeeta Rajeesh, senior editor, Press Institute of India (PII), Chennai said that it is very essential that we sensitize our journalists towards focusing on issues relevant to development. Ms Sangeeta who is the current editor of Vidura – a magazine on mass communication published by the Press Institute of India (PII) since 1963, was addressing media professionals at the fortnightly 'Media for Children' organized at the UP Press Club by Media Nest with the support of UNICEF. Editor of 'Grassroots'- a journal on development journalism published by PII for the last eleven years, Ms Sangeeta is also head of programmes for PII. Read more
Time for grown-ups to listen to young sane voices: Save fuel, save environment
The young people are the true custodian of our future, so their voices must not be ignored. The children who live in urban slums in state capital of Uttar Pradesh gave a powerful message to grown-ups to save the environment. The outcome of rising pollution in the city and other adverse manifestations of environmental hazards, are often worst faced by those from the lower socio-economic group. Read more
Saraswat Samman conferred upon Prof Rama Kant for this year 2010
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Saraswat Samman for this year 2010 is being conferred upon Prof (Dr) Rama Kant for his social welfare activities. Professor (Dr) Rama Kant is the Head of the Department of Surgery at Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU - upgraded King George's Medical College KGMC). He is the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General's Awardee on tobacco control for the year 2005. He is the former Chief Medical Superintendent of Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals (GM & AH), CSMMU. He was conferred upon the Best Eminent Surgical Teacher Award by Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), UP. He is the President of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) UP. Read more
Media Nest to felicitate newly elected correspondent committee members
Media Nest, a pan India body of media professionals that works for the welfare of journalists and their families, will be felicitating the newly elected members of Uttar Pradesh State Accredited Correspondents committee (UPSACC) at Uttar Pradesh Press Club at 11.30 am on 23 January 2010. Read more
Mind That Diabetic Foot
2010 Dr SC Misra Oration Award [Listen to audio podcast] was conferred upon Dr Ajith Kumar Varma at the 55th Foundation Day of Department of Surgery (General), Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC). Dr Varma is an assistant Professor in the Department of Endocrinology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, Kerala. After serving the army for 15 years, he is doing excellent work in the field of podiatric surgery, related to the diabetic foot. I had the opportunity to meet him when he was recently in Lucknow to attend the 55th Foundation Day Celebration of Department of General Surgery, CSM Medical University, where he charmed everyone with his suave manners and modesty, as well as his passionate zeal for improving the quality of life of those living with diabetes. Read more
This article is based on an exclusive interview given by him to Citizen News Service (CNS). The concept of reconstructive and corrective surgery for the diabetic foot has evolved very recently, as a means to correct foot deformities. This latest technique is presently being practised in very few countries of the world. There are a few selected centres in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, Spain and Australia, with USA, which has 7 podiatric schools performing such operations, topping the list. In India, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, situated in Kochi, is the only institute doing this type of reconstructive surgery in high risk patients of totally deformed diabetic foot, thus obviating the traumatic need for amputations.
There is an entity called 'Charcot' in diabetic foot problems. In prolonged diabetic foot problems there is an increased blood flow to the lower limbs, due to autonomic neuropathy, which causes demineralisation of the bones. It is a tsunami like effect, just washing away the minerals of the bones. Moreover, it stimulates certain cells which simply eat up the bones. All this weakens the bones, and makes them soft and pudgy. This results in the collapse of the foot and ankle bones, making it impossible for the patient to walk. Moreover, multiple increased pressure points are developed on the soles of the affected feet, where ulcers and calluses develop. These act as portals for entry of bacteria. As the cellular immunity of the patient is suppressed, even the slightest bacterial infection can cause a serious life threatening problem, so much so that if the patient is not given proper treatment within 24 to 48 hours of the infection setting in, it may result in amputations or even death.
Worldwide, 50% of all leg amputations happen to people living with diabetes. In India, an estimated 50,000 amputations are carried out every year due to diabetes related foot problems. By employing reconstructive and corrective surgical techniques, to correct the shape of the deformed feet and remove the high pressure points, a large number of such amputations can be prevented. Thus the patient can lead a near normal life, free from complications.
After having trained in the US, two years ago, Dr Varma has been performing different types of foot and ankle corrective surgeries, at the Amrita Institute, to normalise the shape and function of the grossly deformed diabetic feet. Last year, more than 25 such surgeries were performed. The best, amongst the 8 to 10 types of surgical techniques currently available, is the Triple Arthodesis Surgery, which costs around Rs 30,000. The costs of implants, titanium screws and suture fibre wires are additional. This, according to Dr Varma, is quite reasonable, especially when compared to the exorbitant fees charged in the USA for a similar operation.
Not only this, Dr Varma and his team have developed a new 'Amrita Sling Technique' for foot stabilisation, which is one of its kinds in the entire world. This obviates many complications which routinely occur after the reconstructive surgery.
In normal corrective surgery of 'Charcot's Foot' (as is being done in the US and elsewhere), the patient has to take rest for 4 to 5 months before s/he can start walking, as the bones need time to reconsolidate gradually. Moreover, during this period, an external fixture called 'Illazarov Frame' has to be fixed on the foot with screws and pins, which penetrate the bones and flesh. When the patient starts walking, it is very likely for infection to set in, paving the way for amputation.
But the Amrita Sling Technique, when applied once the reconstruction is done, results in quick normalisation of the gait bio-mechanics and ambulation of the patient. This reduces the long recuperation period, and also minimises the post operative complications. It has been successfully tested on 10 patients at the institute who are now leading a normal life.
Apart from doing pioneering work in the field of podiatric surgery, the Amrita Institute happens to be the only one in Asia, offering three specialised courses under one roof, informed Dr Varma. It conducts a one year post doctoral fellowship programme in podiatric surgery with a view to train more doctors in this field. Another 4 year course in diabetes and diabetic foot surgery exists for MBBS students, as also a course for training paramedical staff for management of diabetic foot.
Dr Varma stressed upon the importance of proper and timely foot care and foot wear advice to patients, to prevent limb and life threatening infections. From the day the patient is diagnosed with diabetes, proper foot care and foot wear advice must be instituted to prevent further complications. As far as a good foot wear prescription is concerned, it has to be given with utmost care. Diabetic foot wear are not off-the-counter purchases. They are made of specific material, like micro cellular rubber, micro cellular polymer, or ethyl vinyl acetate, which distribute pressure evenly on the surface, and prevent build up of pressure points, to avoid formation of calluses which are entry points for bacterial infection. Proper footwear should ideally be prescribed only after doing a pedopodogram, in which plantar pressure at each point of the under surface of the feet is measured. This is as necessary as testing the blood sugar levels of a patient before prescribing insulin or other oral medication.
With India earning the dubious distinction of being the diabetic capital of the world, Dr Varma rightly stressed upon the need for awareness about the complications of the disease in the public, in the patients, and, above all, in the primary care physicians, working in rural areas. In his words 'Pick up the lesion at the earliest', so that the problem can be resolved without amputation. In developing countries, as in India, the amputation rate is over 45%, whereas in the USA, and also in patients at Amrita Institute, it is a mere 8.5%, thanks to the novel surgical techniques available. Not only this, as diabetes is a disease of the blood vessels, all the organs get affected, especially the heart, which is strained over 15%. Even with the best of processes in place, there is 85% mortality, within 5 years of the amputation, due to cardiac arrest. Hence it is imperative to salvage the limb. Only then can we improve the quality, as well as quantity of life of patients, many of whom may be bread winners of their families.
Through good healthcare and informed self-care, it is possible to prevent diabetes-related amputations in the majority of cases. Prevention is always better than cure, more so in the case of diabetes.
Shobha Shukla
(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Published in:
Hindustan Times, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Central Chronicle, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
The Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka
Media From Freedom, Nepal
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
News Blaze
This article is based on an exclusive interview given by him to Citizen News Service (CNS). The concept of reconstructive and corrective surgery for the diabetic foot has evolved very recently, as a means to correct foot deformities. This latest technique is presently being practised in very few countries of the world. There are a few selected centres in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, Spain and Australia, with USA, which has 7 podiatric schools performing such operations, topping the list. In India, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, situated in Kochi, is the only institute doing this type of reconstructive surgery in high risk patients of totally deformed diabetic foot, thus obviating the traumatic need for amputations.
There is an entity called 'Charcot' in diabetic foot problems. In prolonged diabetic foot problems there is an increased blood flow to the lower limbs, due to autonomic neuropathy, which causes demineralisation of the bones. It is a tsunami like effect, just washing away the minerals of the bones. Moreover, it stimulates certain cells which simply eat up the bones. All this weakens the bones, and makes them soft and pudgy. This results in the collapse of the foot and ankle bones, making it impossible for the patient to walk. Moreover, multiple increased pressure points are developed on the soles of the affected feet, where ulcers and calluses develop. These act as portals for entry of bacteria. As the cellular immunity of the patient is suppressed, even the slightest bacterial infection can cause a serious life threatening problem, so much so that if the patient is not given proper treatment within 24 to 48 hours of the infection setting in, it may result in amputations or even death.
Worldwide, 50% of all leg amputations happen to people living with diabetes. In India, an estimated 50,000 amputations are carried out every year due to diabetes related foot problems. By employing reconstructive and corrective surgical techniques, to correct the shape of the deformed feet and remove the high pressure points, a large number of such amputations can be prevented. Thus the patient can lead a near normal life, free from complications.
After having trained in the US, two years ago, Dr Varma has been performing different types of foot and ankle corrective surgeries, at the Amrita Institute, to normalise the shape and function of the grossly deformed diabetic feet. Last year, more than 25 such surgeries were performed. The best, amongst the 8 to 10 types of surgical techniques currently available, is the Triple Arthodesis Surgery, which costs around Rs 30,000. The costs of implants, titanium screws and suture fibre wires are additional. This, according to Dr Varma, is quite reasonable, especially when compared to the exorbitant fees charged in the USA for a similar operation.
Not only this, Dr Varma and his team have developed a new 'Amrita Sling Technique' for foot stabilisation, which is one of its kinds in the entire world. This obviates many complications which routinely occur after the reconstructive surgery.
In normal corrective surgery of 'Charcot's Foot' (as is being done in the US and elsewhere), the patient has to take rest for 4 to 5 months before s/he can start walking, as the bones need time to reconsolidate gradually. Moreover, during this period, an external fixture called 'Illazarov Frame' has to be fixed on the foot with screws and pins, which penetrate the bones and flesh. When the patient starts walking, it is very likely for infection to set in, paving the way for amputation.
But the Amrita Sling Technique, when applied once the reconstruction is done, results in quick normalisation of the gait bio-mechanics and ambulation of the patient. This reduces the long recuperation period, and also minimises the post operative complications. It has been successfully tested on 10 patients at the institute who are now leading a normal life.
Apart from doing pioneering work in the field of podiatric surgery, the Amrita Institute happens to be the only one in Asia, offering three specialised courses under one roof, informed Dr Varma. It conducts a one year post doctoral fellowship programme in podiatric surgery with a view to train more doctors in this field. Another 4 year course in diabetes and diabetic foot surgery exists for MBBS students, as also a course for training paramedical staff for management of diabetic foot.
Dr Varma stressed upon the importance of proper and timely foot care and foot wear advice to patients, to prevent limb and life threatening infections. From the day the patient is diagnosed with diabetes, proper foot care and foot wear advice must be instituted to prevent further complications. As far as a good foot wear prescription is concerned, it has to be given with utmost care. Diabetic foot wear are not off-the-counter purchases. They are made of specific material, like micro cellular rubber, micro cellular polymer, or ethyl vinyl acetate, which distribute pressure evenly on the surface, and prevent build up of pressure points, to avoid formation of calluses which are entry points for bacterial infection. Proper footwear should ideally be prescribed only after doing a pedopodogram, in which plantar pressure at each point of the under surface of the feet is measured. This is as necessary as testing the blood sugar levels of a patient before prescribing insulin or other oral medication.
With India earning the dubious distinction of being the diabetic capital of the world, Dr Varma rightly stressed upon the need for awareness about the complications of the disease in the public, in the patients, and, above all, in the primary care physicians, working in rural areas. In his words 'Pick up the lesion at the earliest', so that the problem can be resolved without amputation. In developing countries, as in India, the amputation rate is over 45%, whereas in the USA, and also in patients at Amrita Institute, it is a mere 8.5%, thanks to the novel surgical techniques available. Not only this, as diabetes is a disease of the blood vessels, all the organs get affected, especially the heart, which is strained over 15%. Even with the best of processes in place, there is 85% mortality, within 5 years of the amputation, due to cardiac arrest. Hence it is imperative to salvage the limb. Only then can we improve the quality, as well as quantity of life of patients, many of whom may be bread winners of their families.
Through good healthcare and informed self-care, it is possible to prevent diabetes-related amputations in the majority of cases. Prevention is always better than cure, more so in the case of diabetes.
Shobha Shukla(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Published in:
Hindustan Times, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Central Chronicle, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
The Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka
Media From Freedom, Nepal
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
News Blaze
CSMMU Surgery Department celebrates its foundation day
The Department of Surgery (General) of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU, upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC) has been functioning for almost a century now (98 years to be precise). Just for the sake of records, the post-graduate course in surgery was started in the year 1928, and the first Masters of Surgery (MS) in General Surgery was awarded to Dr MAH Siddiqui in the year 1930. Read more
State Media Schools' Summit in Lucknow
Lucknow will for the first time play host to a summit of media schools of Uttar Pradesh on 21 January 2010. UNICEF and Amity school of mass communication, Lucknow, are the joint organizers of this unique event. Cine star Ms Sharmila Tagore, will open the summit, while actor Farooq Sheikh will conclude it. The Member Secretary of the National Commission for Protection of Rights of Children will chair the concluding session. Read more
Will you marry only a fair-skinned girl?
“My mother jokes about how I am too dark to be her daughter”
“Kaali ho rahi hai. Tujhse shaadi kaun karega”?
The latest Tweets? Let us hope not but beware of them! And perhaps go a step further. Like Kannan Mehta and her friends who designed and organized the ‘Kya aap sirf ek gori ladki se shaadi karenge?’ campaign [Will you marry only a fair-skinned girl? campaign] on one of the Bangalore's main streets in November 2009. Here's what I learned about the protest during an e-chat with Kannan a student of the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in the city. Read more
“Kaali ho rahi hai. Tujhse shaadi kaun karega”?
The latest Tweets? Let us hope not but beware of them! And perhaps go a step further. Like Kannan Mehta and her friends who designed and organized the ‘Kya aap sirf ek gori ladki se shaadi karenge?’ campaign [Will you marry only a fair-skinned girl? campaign] on one of the Bangalore's main streets in November 2009. Here's what I learned about the protest during an e-chat with Kannan a student of the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in the city. Read more
Counterfeit medicines can result in treatment failure
Counterfeit medicines are medicines that are deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity and/or source. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), use of counterfeit medicines can result in treatment failure or even death. Public confidence in health-delivery systems may be eroded following use and/or detection of counterfeit medicines. Both branded and generic products are subject to counterfeiting, says the WHO. Read more
NREGA Social Audit in Unnao
A social audit of national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS) shall be conducted by Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh (UP), during 15-21 January 2010.
"Commitment to transparency and accountability runs through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). This commitment also flows from the right to information Act 2005. The Right to Information (RTI) Act should be followed in both letter and spirit in all matters relating to NREGA. No request (for information) should be refused under any circumstances. All NREGA-related information is in the public domain" says the chapter 10 of the NREGA operational guidelines. Read more
"Commitment to transparency and accountability runs through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). This commitment also flows from the right to information Act 2005. The Right to Information (RTI) Act should be followed in both letter and spirit in all matters relating to NREGA. No request (for information) should be refused under any circumstances. All NREGA-related information is in the public domain" says the chapter 10 of the NREGA operational guidelines. Read more
State Information Commission slapped fines on errant officers
In a significant order, the State Information Commisison has slapped a fine of Rs 9,750 (about USD 200) on two errant public information officers of the Nandurbar district administration (Maharashtra) for having caused enormous delay in satisfactorily responding to an application for information filed by a Sardar Sarovar project affected adivasi Siyaram Singa Padvi. Read more
Gandhians appeal to respect people's inalienable rights
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution of India. We are proud to live in a nation that believes in the ideal of universal human rights. However, sometimes the state expediently forgets its professed ideals and tries to ride roughshod over the rights of citizens. These transgressions have become more frequent as commercial, industrial and mining interests from all over the world have become more interested in the resources of this country" said veteran Gandhians Narayan Desai and Surendra Gadekar in a statement issued on DailySouthAsian. Read more
2010 is Year of the Lungs
The year 2010 was declared as year of the lungs to recognize that hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer each year from treatable and preventable chronic respiratory diseases. This initiative acknowledges that lung health has long been neglected in public discourses, and understands the need to unify different health advocates behind one purpose of lung health, informed Dr Nils Billo, Chair of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS). Read more
Go well Dr Radium Bhattacharya
Go well Dr Radium Bhattacharya
Dr Radium Bhattacharya breathed her last in early morning wee hours of Sunday, 20 December 2009. She was one of the first veteran AIDS activists in India to take up the fight against AIDS in 1980s. Her contribution to HIV prevention options for women and enabling civil society working on AIDS-related issues to network and collaborate effectively to improve HIV response was a benchmark indeed. Read more
Lucknow Journalists commit to the cause of child rights
Lucknow Journalists commit to the cause of child rights
Anjali Singh, CNS
Lucknow journalists joined hands with an organization working on child rights to sign a petition to stop child abuse. The media fraternity of Uttar Pradesh capital city has also urged the government to set up a Child Protection Unit in the state to put a stop to the rising incidences of crime against children. Read more
Lack of immunization ups fatal diseases like diphtheria
Lack of immunization ups fatal diseases like diphtheria
Kulsum Mustafa
Low percentage of routine immunization in Uttar Pradesh is resulting in the resurgence of diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough in children. While in some districts of UP, immunization is less then 20 percent, in others it is between 20-40 percent. Professor (Dr) Yogesh Govil from Department of Paediatrics, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU, upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC) said that in Tamil Nadu the immunization is 92 percent while in Karnataka it is 84 per cent.
Professor Govil gave this information in his presentation titled ‘Routine immunization-bitter facts’. Prof Govil was interacting with the journalists at ‘Media for Children’ programme, a bi- monthly media- sensitization event held at the UP Press Club on Friday, 25 December 2009. The programme was organized by Media Nest, a forum working for the welfare of journalists and their families and is supported by UNICEF.
Vaccinations for diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus and measles are necessary and a right of every child. Prof Govil said that when we do not give these life-saving vaccinations to our children we subject them to life threatening diseases. The doctor bemoaned the fact that the lack of immunization is resulting in the resurgence of these diseases and the results are fatal in many cases.
“All these vaccinations just cost less then Rs 5, but they provide the child with an armour of health,” said Dr Govil adding that only after a child gets all these vaccinations that we can say that he is 100 per cent immunized.
“We got 107 cases of diphtheria in our hospital but could only save 41. Sixty six children were lost because somebody somewhere did not think it important that the child was given the vital and necessary vaccination for diphtheria,” said Dr Govil.
Urging the media to come forward and help in focusing the attention of the masses on this issue Dr Govil said that it is important that those who draft and execute the state health policies are subjected to greater accountability.
On a suggestion by a scribe whether the government focus and priority being pulse polio has affected the routine immunization he answered in the affirmative. However he agreed to a suggestion coming from another journalist in the audience that routine immunization be linked the pulse polio programme.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS),India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
International News and views.com
Twitter.com
Celebrifi.com
Wikio.com
Kulsum Mustafa
Low percentage of routine immunization in Uttar Pradesh is resulting in the resurgence of diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough in children. While in some districts of UP, immunization is less then 20 percent, in others it is between 20-40 percent. Professor (Dr) Yogesh Govil from Department of Paediatrics, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU, upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC) said that in Tamil Nadu the immunization is 92 percent while in Karnataka it is 84 per cent.
Professor Govil gave this information in his presentation titled ‘Routine immunization-bitter facts’. Prof Govil was interacting with the journalists at ‘Media for Children’ programme, a bi- monthly media- sensitization event held at the UP Press Club on Friday, 25 December 2009. The programme was organized by Media Nest, a forum working for the welfare of journalists and their families and is supported by UNICEF.
Vaccinations for diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus and measles are necessary and a right of every child. Prof Govil said that when we do not give these life-saving vaccinations to our children we subject them to life threatening diseases. The doctor bemoaned the fact that the lack of immunization is resulting in the resurgence of these diseases and the results are fatal in many cases.
“All these vaccinations just cost less then Rs 5, but they provide the child with an armour of health,” said Dr Govil adding that only after a child gets all these vaccinations that we can say that he is 100 per cent immunized.
“We got 107 cases of diphtheria in our hospital but could only save 41. Sixty six children were lost because somebody somewhere did not think it important that the child was given the vital and necessary vaccination for diphtheria,” said Dr Govil.
Urging the media to come forward and help in focusing the attention of the masses on this issue Dr Govil said that it is important that those who draft and execute the state health policies are subjected to greater accountability.
On a suggestion by a scribe whether the government focus and priority being pulse polio has affected the routine immunization he answered in the affirmative. However he agreed to a suggestion coming from another journalist in the audience that routine immunization be linked the pulse polio programme.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS),India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
International News and views.com
Twitter.com
Celebrifi.com
Wikio.com
Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice
Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice
It is Christmas time once again. It is the season of rejoicing; of giving and receiving; of raising our hands in Thanksgiving. Christmas no longer belongs merely to the Christians. It is more of a universal celebration. The festivities of Christmas have seeped into the ethos of all nations. As I write this, I a
m inhaling deep, the festive spirit pervading the streets of a misty morning Bangkok, whose 92% population, of over 6 million, is Buddhist and a mere 1% Christians. Yet, there are fairy tinsel lights, white Christmas trees (a few coloured ones too, but none green) and breathtaking decorations in and outside the malls. The petite Thai waitresses, even in small eating joints, have donned red pixie caps and the warm air of the city reverberates with the sounds of laughter and joy. The peak tourist season adds to the gaiety, with honeymooning couples strewn all over the place.
Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (can’t we have Mother Christmas? was the innocent remark of my friend’s 5 year old son) has long overpowered the infant Jesus Christ. We now have even the ‘Best Santa’ contests, with Jimmy Chan of Hong Kong being voted this year’s top Santa Claus of the world. The corporate world has added its own embellishments by way of greeting cards, expensive gifts, Christmas Eve Balls, special Christmas dinners, etal. I wonder, if the proverbial stockings are still hung in homes (we did that in our very Hindu home), as the modern day gifts would rarely fit into them. So it is more of a display of wealth and an excuse to splurge in the ever expanding shopping malls. The humble manger, with the infant Jesus swathed in rags, is almost forgotten. Yet, there have been some well meaning improvisations. The Green Santa Claus from Japan, who instead of doling out gifts, talks about preserving the environment to have peaceful and beautiful Christmas times in future.
The birth of Christ is an event which teaches humanity the lessons of austerity and humility. It teaches us to respect the poorest of the poor and to accept the graces, as well as tribulations of life with equanimity. Let Christmas not be reduced to a fashionable and commercial venture. Let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas, which is of forgiveness and humility. Let the massed ringing of cash registers in shopping malls not drown the jingling of the reindeer’s bells, bringing joy to the uncluttered hearts of children.
Yet, this time of the Yuletide season, always reaffirms my faith in the goodness of humankind. It really seems that God is in her place in heaven and all is right with the world. So be it. May peace and goodwill always prevail on earth.
A Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year to all of you, from Citizen News Service.
Shobha Shukla
(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Twitter.com
Elites TV News, USA
It is Christmas time once again. It is the season of rejoicing; of giving and receiving; of raising our hands in Thanksgiving. Christmas no longer belongs merely to the Christians. It is more of a universal celebration. The festivities of Christmas have seeped into the ethos of all nations. As I write this, I a
m inhaling deep, the festive spirit pervading the streets of a misty morning Bangkok, whose 92% population, of over 6 million, is Buddhist and a mere 1% Christians. Yet, there are fairy tinsel lights, white Christmas trees (a few coloured ones too, but none green) and breathtaking decorations in and outside the malls. The petite Thai waitresses, even in small eating joints, have donned red pixie caps and the warm air of the city reverberates with the sounds of laughter and joy. The peak tourist season adds to the gaiety, with honeymooning couples strewn all over the place.Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (can’t we have Mother Christmas? was the innocent remark of my friend’s 5 year old son) has long overpowered the infant Jesus Christ. We now have even the ‘Best Santa’ contests, with Jimmy Chan of Hong Kong being voted this year’s top Santa Claus of the world. The corporate world has added its own embellishments by way of greeting cards, expensive gifts, Christmas Eve Balls, special Christmas dinners, etal. I wonder, if the proverbial stockings are still hung in homes (we did that in our very Hindu home), as the modern day gifts would rarely fit into them. So it is more of a display of wealth and an excuse to splurge in the ever expanding shopping malls. The humble manger, with the infant Jesus swathed in rags, is almost forgotten. Yet, there have been some well meaning improvisations. The Green Santa Claus from Japan, who instead of doling out gifts, talks about preserving the environment to have peaceful and beautiful Christmas times in future.
The birth of Christ is an event which teaches humanity the lessons of austerity and humility. It teaches us to respect the poorest of the poor and to accept the graces, as well as tribulations of life with equanimity. Let Christmas not be reduced to a fashionable and commercial venture. Let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas, which is of forgiveness and humility. Let the massed ringing of cash registers in shopping malls not drown the jingling of the reindeer’s bells, bringing joy to the uncluttered hearts of children.
Yet, this time of the Yuletide season, always reaffirms my faith in the goodness of humankind. It really seems that God is in her place in heaven and all is right with the world. So be it. May peace and goodwill always prevail on earth.
A Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year to all of you, from Citizen News Service.
Shobha Shukla
(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
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Another Setback in Noor Bano case
Another Setback in Noor Bano case
Anjali Singh, CNS
Once again the case of seven year old Noor Bano came to a dead end on Dec 22 with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) forwarding the case to the government Railway Police (GRP) for ivestigation and action. The case was first brought before them for hearing by Saaksham Foundation on Dec 15.
While the CWC remained indecisive then, yesterday on Dec 22 a three member committee comprising of Dr VV Brigeetha, DK Chaudhary and Shyam Kumar again sat on judgment of the case and issued a letter to GRP Police once again to investigate the case.
The CWC letter was delivered yesterday evening to the thana incharge of GRP seeking lodging of First Information Report in the Noor Bano case.
Interestingly what was omitted was the fact that the case had already been referred to the Krishnanagar Thana by the DGP who instructed them to lodge an FIR when the case was put up before him.
But the Krishna Nagar thana refused to lodge the FIR and forwarded it to GRP saying the case came under GRP's jurisdiction.
The CWC also did not to make use of their suo motto powers to give verbal orders to lodge an FIR to Krishnanagar Thana to investigate the case. Neither did they consider the fact that the child was in immediate need of rehabilitative care and medical compensation.
Saaksham Foundation in its letter addressed to the CWC Chairperson had categorically mentioned that the case be registered at the Krishna Nagar thana and investigation into kidnapping, physical abuse and disfiguring of the child be ordered immediately. The GRP had no jurisdiction in this case as the child had gone missing from Alambagh and is a resident of Kanausi, Manaknagar which is under the Krishnanagar Police circle.
Yet decision on the case was delayed and when a judgment was finally delivered a week later all the details were not taken into consideration and the case was forwarded to GRP.
This will not only further dilute the case but also hamper delivering of justice to the child and her family.
As requested on behalf of the child, letter from CWC should have been shot off to the DGP and the DIG Range to immediately get the FIR on the case lodged in the relevant thana so that proper investigation on the matter could begin. It should have also instructed the state officials responsible to ensure rehabilitative care due to Noor Bano her as per her right.
But none of the above was done and the buck continues to be passed on in the Noor Nano case even by the Committee which is a foremost representative and protector of child rights in UP.
Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)
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(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)
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Will cancer-stricken commissioner get justice on 14 January 2010?
Will cancer-stricken commissioner get justice on 14 January 2010?
Kulsum Mustafa
Mumbai: The Commissioner of Customs at Mumbai, Deepak Kumar, and members of anti-tobacco lobby are anxiously looking forward to heralding in the New Year. On 14th January, 2010, will be pronounced a landmark judgment in the case that has already gone down in annals of history. Whatever the verdict the case is India’s first such complaint to be filed by a serving officer.
Deepak Kumar has registered a case at Maharashtra Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Mumbai. on December 2. He has demanded compensation of Rs. 1 Crore (INR 10 million or USD 200,000) from ITC Ltd, Kolkatta for severe physical damages, including loss of natural voice, incurred due to tobacco consumption without awareness of the dangers posed by the product.
After nearly 40 years of regularly smoking cigarettes, he had developed throat cancer. Kumar's larynx – the voice box has been removed. So severe was his ailment that his treatment entailed two surgeries and radiation therapy, just to keep the cancer from spreading. The dream of the man who wanted to become an attorney after he retired from the Customs department today lies shattered. His resonant voice is gone Mr. Kumar can barely utter just a few words, and that also with great difficulty and after first covering the hole in his larynx with his palms. From his neck hangs a white gauze bib- an attempt to hide the gaping whole left by the surgery.
“It is not money, it is not personal vendetta, I await this judgment because it is in larger interest of tobacco consumers. The consumer must know he is inhaling and chewing poison,” Mr. Kumar told media persons at a national level media interaction organized in Mumbai by Healis Sekhsaria Institute for public Health.
The judgment Mr. Kumar hopes will make tobacco companies accountable, pressurize government bodies to curb tobacco products in India and make public aware of the ill effects of tobacco and draw attention to the hardships faced by users of tobacco.
“I have seen death, pain and suffering. On the hospital bed I took a vow- if I survive I will devote my entire life to anti-tobacco campaign. I do not want others to suffer what I have…... “ says Mr. Kumar, his voice choked with emotions. Mr. Kumar was operated in the Tata Memorial Hospital in November 2008.
Not able to take on the strain of speaking through prosthetic voice box Mr. Kumar addressed the media through power point presentation. He went on to describe his journey from a 16 year old boy, thrilled and excited at smoking his first cigarette. In the next 40 years the number increased to 40 sticks a day. In those days there was no warning about cigarette smoking being injurious to health. This came to be printed on cigarette packs only in mid eighties. "If I had made an informed choice 40 years ago, it would be a different story. But when I began smoking, which started as just a cigarette or two during my pre-college and early college days, there were no warnings. Nothing. How could I -- or the millions of others in India who started then -- have known that cigarette smoking is more addictive than heroin? It was intentionally made glamorous, through marketing. I used to smoke Wills Navy Cut, an ITC brand. I'll never forget that advertisement campaign they ran: a beautiful young girl, a handsome young man, and between them a pack of Wills Navy Cut. The slogan? Made for each other," said Mr. Kumar in a remorseful voice.
"More than anything, I regret smoking that first cigarette. Ultimately, it ruined my life. How many more lives must be ruined by tobacco in this country?" he asks, adding that education and awareness for the people is the most important step especially in India which has more tobacco users than almost any country in the world.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
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Orphanages are viable options for some children: Study
Orphanages are viable options for some children: Study
A Duke University study of more than 3,000 orphaned and abandoned children in five Asian and African countries has found that children in institutional orphanages fare as well or better than those who live in the community.
The findings contrast sharply with research that associates institutions with poorer health and well-being, and the policies adopted by many international agencies/governments.
"Our research is not saying that institutions are better. What we found is that institutions may be a viable option for some kids," said study leader Kathryn Whetten, director of the Center for Health Policy at the Duke Global Health Institute. "As the number of orphans continues to rise worldwide, it is vital not to discount orphanages before assessing whether they are harmful to the millions of children for whom they care."
Whetten’s research team compared the physical health, cognitive functioning, emotion, behaviour and growth of orphaned or abandoned children ages 6-12, half of them living in institutions and the other half dwelling in the community. The study found that children in institutions in five countries reported significantly better health scores, lower prevalence of recent sickness and fewer emotional difficulties than community dwelling children. These findings suggest the overall health of children in orphanages is no worse than that of children in communities.
The research team has been following the 3,000 orphans involved in the study for three years, and they plan to continue tracking them into their late teens and early 20s to determine how their childhood affects their life course.
Published in the interactive open-access journal PLoS ONE, this is one of the most comprehensive studies of orphans ever conducted. Data were collected between May 2006 and February 2008 from children and their caregivers in 83 institutional care settings and 311 community clusters. The study assessed five culturally, politically and religiously-distinct countries that face rising orphan populations. Sites included Cambodia, Ethiopia, Hyderabad and Nagaland in India, Kenya, and Tanzania.
"Very few studies cross a span of countries like ours does," said Whetten. "The design flaw of past studies is that they compared a small number of orphanages against community houses. Those limited results can’t be generalized to other places."
Some of the most influential studies on child institutions were conducted in eastern bloc countries. But the greatest burden of orphans and abandoned children is in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern and Southeastern Asia.
Of the estimated 143 million orphans and abandoned children worldwide, roughly half reside in South and East Asia, according to UNICEF. An estimated 12 percent of all children in Africa will be orphaned by next year as a result of malaria, tuberculosis, pregnancy complications, HIV/AIDS and natural disasters, according to the World Health Organization.
The Duke study included less formal institutions in Asia and Africa that were not studied before, and not easily recognized. Researchers spent the first six months meeting with members of each community to identify and map orphanage locations. In Moshi, Tanzania, the research team found 23 orphanages, after initially learning of just three from local government officials.
"What people don't understand is that, in many cases, the institutions are the community’s response to caring for orphaned and abandoned children," said Whetten. "These communities love kids and as parents die, children are left behind. So, the individuals who love children most and want to care for them build a building and that becomes an institution. These institutions do not look or feel like the images that many in this country have of eastern bloc orphanages, they are mostly places where kids are being loved and cared for and have stable environments."
The research findings run contrary to global policies held by childrens rights organizations such as UNICEF and UNAIDS, which recommend institutions for orphaned and abandoned children only as a last resort, and urge that such children be moved as quickly as possible to a residential family setting.
"This is not the time to be creating policies that shut down good options for kids. We need to have as many options as possible," said Whetten. "Our research just says ‘slow down and let’s look at the facts.' It’s assumed that the quality of care-giving is a function of being institutionalized, but you can change the care-giving without changing the physical building."
Whetten said more studies are needed to understand which kinds of care promote child well-being. She believes successful approaches may transcend the structural definitions of institutions or family homes.
"Let's get beyond labeling an institution as good or bad," she said. "What is the quality of care inside that building, and how can we help the community identify cost-feasible solutions that can be delivered in small group homes, large group homes and family homes?”
The study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Development. Other Duke researchers involved in the study include Rachel Whetten, Jan Ostermann, Nathan Thielman, Karen O’Donnell, Brian Pence and Lynne Messer.
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Mounting pressure on UP state government to set up Child Protection Unit
Mounting pressure on UP state government to set up Child Protection Unit
The fight for child rights got a fillip with a the media fraternity in Lucknow joining hands with Saaksham Foundation, an organization addressing violations of child rights in Uttar Pradesh, to fight for the rights of child facing inhuman attacks. Journalists from all the leading news papers in the city including The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, Dainik Hindustan, The Indian Express, The Pioneer, Aaj Tak and Times Now gave their support to the petition to setup a Child Protection Unit in the state.
It is noteworthy here that as per the Juvenile Justice Act 2006 amendment it is mandatory to set up social police to address cases related to children. Furthermore as per National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Directions and Guidelines a social police station and a child friendly police personnel is a must in every state. But UP as of now has none.
In a jointly signed petition that demanded setting up a Child Protection Unit in the State to address the increasing numbers of brutal attacks on children, scribes and the social organization also sought the provision of child friendly police station and police personnel.
The petition has been submitted to Additional Cabinet Secretary Vijay Shanker Pandey and to the Chief Minister's office on December 8. On receiving the petition and going through the contents Mr Pandey expressed his concern over the issue and assured the Director of Saaksham Foundation that he will be looking into the matter and also call a meeting on the issue of seting up a Child Protection Unit in UP soon.
A copy of the petition was also handed over to UPCC Chief Rita Bahuguna, on December 6 at the Congress Party office. She promised her full support to the issue and also said that she would hand over the petition campaigning for the cause of protection of children to Rahul Gandhi on his visit to the state capital on December 8.
Ms Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was also given a copy of the petition on December 8 when she was in town to attend a State Level consultation on the Right To Education Act. She expressed her concern over the fact that children were being subjected to such brutal attacks and said she will take up the matter strongly and also expedite the process of setting up a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in UP.
Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)
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(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)
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Microbicide trial results signal end of one chapter, focus turns to promising ARV-based candidates
Microbicide trial results signal end of one chapter, focus turns to promising ARV-based candidates
While acknowledging disappointment in the trial results announced today, the Global Campaign for Microbicides noted that the failure of PRO 2000, a candidate microbicide gel, to show effectiveness against HIV was only the “end of the beginning” in the search for a safe and effective product. This comment came in response to the UK-based Microbicides Development Programme’s announcement that its MDP 301 trial, which enrolled over 9000 women in four African countries, has shown conclusively that PRO 2000 was safe but did not reduce women’s risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted HIV.
Microbicides are being developed as products that could be topically applied by a receptive sex partner to reduce risk of becoming HIV infected during sex. Microbicide candidates are being formulated as vaginal gels, suppositories, foaming tablets or slow-releasing vaginal rings.
Last February, the release of promising results from another PRO 2000 study, HPTN 035, signaled that PRO 2000 might be effective—a hope that was disproven by the MDP 301 results. “We all knew that the trend observed in HPTN 035 could have been due to chance,” noted Yasmin Halima, Director of the Global Campaign. “While we are deeply disappointed to learn definitively that PRO 2000 is not effective, it is our responsibility as advocates to turn our full attention now to the candidates currently in clinical trials”, she continued. “These candidates, being tested as oral pills as well as microbicides, contain antiretroviral drugs or ARVs, the same life-saving medications used as treatment by people living with HIV. In laboratory and animal studies, they appear to be many times more potent than any of the non-ARV-based candidates”, she added, noting that results of the first effectiveness results from this new class of products are expected next year.
Dr. Sheena McCormack, Principal Investigator for the PRO 2000 trial, observed that adherence rates (participants’ use of the test product as directed) were high in this study. “We know that women and their partners liked the gels and used them”, McCormack stated. The trial used multiple methods to determine how frequently women were using the gel and all indicated a high level of use. “Women reported that using it increased sexual pleasure and fostered intimacy by helping women talk about sex with their partners,” McCormack added, “So we know that we have the method right. Now we just need a product with the potency to stop HIV.”
Because the MDP 301 trial featured a much stronger social science component than any previous HIV prevention trial, it has also generated a substantial body of data on sexual behaviors that can be immediately applied to existing HIV prevention research and programming. The findings, which will be published over the coming months, confirm that the majority of trial participants liked using the gel, noting it made condom use easier and more pleasurable. “We have heard this in other large-scale microbicide trials as well”, Halima added.
Samu Dube, leader of the Global Campaign’s Africa team noted that, while communities participating in the MDP 301 trial are understandably disappointed by the trial results, they are nevertheless proud to have participated in it and determined to see microbicide and other prevention research continue. “As African women, we cannot afford to feel defeated,” Dube stated. “We know that research is a painstaking process and that the challenge of finding safe and effective products is not easy. But women are engaging in the process because we must find a tool to save the lives of our daughters and sisters. Giving up is not an option for us,” she said.
Reiterating this sentiment, McCormack quoted the words of one of the South African women who volunteered for the MDP301 trial participants who said that, “[e]ven though the gel proved not to be effective, we played a role in the fight against HIV. We learnt a lot about caring for ourselves, such as using condoms. We also learnt to encourage others to test for HIV and we gained confidence in helping those who were already infected.”
Global Campaign for Microbicides is a network of advocates and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working to expand HIV prevention options for women and encourage ethical research that involves civil society. Since 1998, GCM has worked to accelerate product development, facilitate widespread access and use of existing tools, and protect the needs and interests of users and communities, especially women.
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While acknowledging disappointment in the trial results announced today, the Global Campaign for Microbicides noted that the failure of PRO 2000, a candidate microbicide gel, to show effectiveness against HIV was only the “end of the beginning” in the search for a safe and effective product. This comment came in response to the UK-based Microbicides Development Programme’s announcement that its MDP 301 trial, which enrolled over 9000 women in four African countries, has shown conclusively that PRO 2000 was safe but did not reduce women’s risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted HIV.
Microbicides are being developed as products that could be topically applied by a receptive sex partner to reduce risk of becoming HIV infected during sex. Microbicide candidates are being formulated as vaginal gels, suppositories, foaming tablets or slow-releasing vaginal rings.
Last February, the release of promising results from another PRO 2000 study, HPTN 035, signaled that PRO 2000 might be effective—a hope that was disproven by the MDP 301 results. “We all knew that the trend observed in HPTN 035 could have been due to chance,” noted Yasmin Halima, Director of the Global Campaign. “While we are deeply disappointed to learn definitively that PRO 2000 is not effective, it is our responsibility as advocates to turn our full attention now to the candidates currently in clinical trials”, she continued. “These candidates, being tested as oral pills as well as microbicides, contain antiretroviral drugs or ARVs, the same life-saving medications used as treatment by people living with HIV. In laboratory and animal studies, they appear to be many times more potent than any of the non-ARV-based candidates”, she added, noting that results of the first effectiveness results from this new class of products are expected next year.
Dr. Sheena McCormack, Principal Investigator for the PRO 2000 trial, observed that adherence rates (participants’ use of the test product as directed) were high in this study. “We know that women and their partners liked the gels and used them”, McCormack stated. The trial used multiple methods to determine how frequently women were using the gel and all indicated a high level of use. “Women reported that using it increased sexual pleasure and fostered intimacy by helping women talk about sex with their partners,” McCormack added, “So we know that we have the method right. Now we just need a product with the potency to stop HIV.”
Because the MDP 301 trial featured a much stronger social science component than any previous HIV prevention trial, it has also generated a substantial body of data on sexual behaviors that can be immediately applied to existing HIV prevention research and programming. The findings, which will be published over the coming months, confirm that the majority of trial participants liked using the gel, noting it made condom use easier and more pleasurable. “We have heard this in other large-scale microbicide trials as well”, Halima added.
Samu Dube, leader of the Global Campaign’s Africa team noted that, while communities participating in the MDP 301 trial are understandably disappointed by the trial results, they are nevertheless proud to have participated in it and determined to see microbicide and other prevention research continue. “As African women, we cannot afford to feel defeated,” Dube stated. “We know that research is a painstaking process and that the challenge of finding safe and effective products is not easy. But women are engaging in the process because we must find a tool to save the lives of our daughters and sisters. Giving up is not an option for us,” she said.
Reiterating this sentiment, McCormack quoted the words of one of the South African women who volunteered for the MDP301 trial participants who said that, “[e]ven though the gel proved not to be effective, we played a role in the fight against HIV. We learnt a lot about caring for ourselves, such as using condoms. We also learnt to encourage others to test for HIV and we gained confidence in helping those who were already infected.”
Global Campaign for Microbicides is a network of advocates and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working to expand HIV prevention options for women and encourage ethical research that involves civil society. Since 1998, GCM has worked to accelerate product development, facilitate widespread access and use of existing tools, and protect the needs and interests of users and communities, especially women.
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36 million people with TB cured: New WHO Data released
36 million people with TB cured
Up to 8 million lives saved through 15 years of DOTS programmes, but millions still unable to access high quality care
Some 36 million people have been cured of tuberculosis (TB) over the past 15 years through a rigorous approach to treatment endorsed by WHO. New data, released by WHO, also indicate that up to 8 million TB deaths have been averted, confirming DOTS/the Stop TB Strategy as the most cost-effective approach in the fight against tuberculosis.
(To download/ read the Global Tuberculosis Control Report 2009 Update, click here)
DOTS was first developed in 1994 and was later incorporated into the WHO Stop TB Strategy as its main component. DOTS has five elements: political commitment with increased and sustained financing, case detection through quality-assured bacteriology, standardized treatment with supervision and patient support, an effective drug supply and management system, monitoring and evaluation system and impact measurement.
Steady progress in curing TB and saving lives
Since the launch of DOTS, the number of people being cured has increased regularly. Data from the latest 12 month period now shows that the highest ever number of infectious patients – 2.3 million people – were cured. With 87% of treated patients being cured, the 85% global target was exceeded for the first time since it was established in 1991. Furthermore, a total of 53 countries surpassed this treatment milestone.
The WHO update shows continued progress on addressing the lethal combination of TB and HIV. Between 2007 and 2008, 1.4 million TB patients were tested for HIV, an increase of 200, 000. Of those who tested HIV positive, one-third benefited from life-saving HIV anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and two-thirds were enrolled on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis to prevent the risk of fatal bacterial infections. In addition, screening for tuberculosis and access to isoniazid preventive therapy for TB among people living with HIV more than doubled, although the total number is still far short of what it should be.
"Fifteen years of TB investments are bringing visible results in terms of human lives saved. Together, national programmes, WHO, UNAIDS, the Global Fund and other partners have helped save millions of lives from TB," said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of WHO's Stop TB Department. "But the current pace of progress is far from sufficient to decisively target our goal of TB elimination."
Not all receiving the treatment they could
Although more and more patients are being cured, there are millions who are being let down because they are unable to access high-quality care. TB remains second only to HIV/AIDS in terms of the number of people it kills. In 2008, 1.8 million people died from TB including half a million deaths associated with HIV - many of them because they were not enrolled on ART.
A persistent challenge that is being largely left unchecked in many parts of the world is multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and its even more dangerous form, extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). Of the estimated half a million MDR-TB cases occurring per year, almost 30 000 were officially reported and 6 000 were known to be treated according to WHO international standards in 2008. A major expansion of services is currently in an early and difficult phase but almost 29 000 people are expected to be treated in 2010.
Of the estimated 9.4 million TB cases in 2008 (including 1.4 million TB/HIV cases), 3.6 million cases occurred among women.
"Half a million women died from TB last year. It is a disease that destroys lives, damages families and stifles development," said Dr Mario Raviglione. "Without help to fill the US$ 2 billion funding gap for TB care and control in 2010, the most vulnerable people will continue to miss the benefits so many others have seen."
The new report provides the most accurate information on the global burden of tuberculosis. It also features updates about the work of the Global Laboratory Initiative, the WHO Global Task Force on TB Impact Measurement, and describes the success of a new initiative in 2009 in which global TB data collection went online.
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Up to 8 million lives saved through 15 years of DOTS programmes, but millions still unable to access high quality care
Some 36 million people have been cured of tuberculosis (TB) over the past 15 years through a rigorous approach to treatment endorsed by WHO. New data, released by WHO, also indicate that up to 8 million TB deaths have been averted, confirming DOTS/the Stop TB Strategy as the most cost-effective approach in the fight against tuberculosis.
(To download/ read the Global Tuberculosis Control Report 2009 Update, click here)
DOTS was first developed in 1994 and was later incorporated into the WHO Stop TB Strategy as its main component. DOTS has five elements: political commitment with increased and sustained financing, case detection through quality-assured bacteriology, standardized treatment with supervision and patient support, an effective drug supply and management system, monitoring and evaluation system and impact measurement.
Steady progress in curing TB and saving lives
Since the launch of DOTS, the number of people being cured has increased regularly. Data from the latest 12 month period now shows that the highest ever number of infectious patients – 2.3 million people – were cured. With 87% of treated patients being cured, the 85% global target was exceeded for the first time since it was established in 1991. Furthermore, a total of 53 countries surpassed this treatment milestone.
The WHO update shows continued progress on addressing the lethal combination of TB and HIV. Between 2007 and 2008, 1.4 million TB patients were tested for HIV, an increase of 200, 000. Of those who tested HIV positive, one-third benefited from life-saving HIV anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and two-thirds were enrolled on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis to prevent the risk of fatal bacterial infections. In addition, screening for tuberculosis and access to isoniazid preventive therapy for TB among people living with HIV more than doubled, although the total number is still far short of what it should be.
"Fifteen years of TB investments are bringing visible results in terms of human lives saved. Together, national programmes, WHO, UNAIDS, the Global Fund and other partners have helped save millions of lives from TB," said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of WHO's Stop TB Department. "But the current pace of progress is far from sufficient to decisively target our goal of TB elimination."
Not all receiving the treatment they could
Although more and more patients are being cured, there are millions who are being let down because they are unable to access high-quality care. TB remains second only to HIV/AIDS in terms of the number of people it kills. In 2008, 1.8 million people died from TB including half a million deaths associated with HIV - many of them because they were not enrolled on ART.
A persistent challenge that is being largely left unchecked in many parts of the world is multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and its even more dangerous form, extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). Of the estimated half a million MDR-TB cases occurring per year, almost 30 000 were officially reported and 6 000 were known to be treated according to WHO international standards in 2008. A major expansion of services is currently in an early and difficult phase but almost 29 000 people are expected to be treated in 2010.
Of the estimated 9.4 million TB cases in 2008 (including 1.4 million TB/HIV cases), 3.6 million cases occurred among women.
"Half a million women died from TB last year. It is a disease that destroys lives, damages families and stifles development," said Dr Mario Raviglione. "Without help to fill the US$ 2 billion funding gap for TB care and control in 2010, the most vulnerable people will continue to miss the benefits so many others have seen."
The new report provides the most accurate information on the global burden of tuberculosis. It also features updates about the work of the Global Laboratory Initiative, the WHO Global Task Force on TB Impact Measurement, and describes the success of a new initiative in 2009 in which global TB data collection went online.
Published in:
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
World News Network, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Weekly Blitz News
Health Dev.net
Zunia.org
The Body.com
Infection Control Today (ICT)
Twitter.com
XNews Center.com
Silobreaker.com
Orissadiary.com, Orissa, India
Vogelgriepforum.com
Medisurf.co
30% school kids need mental healthcare
30% school kids need mental healthcare
"Thirty per cent of the so called ‘normal’ schools going kids require mental healthcare otherwise they will be forced to live in ‘learnt' helplessness," said Dr Alok Bajpai, Psychiatric based in Kanpur. Dr Bajpai was the key speaker at the fortnightly Media4Children, organized by Media Nest and supported by UNICEF at the UP Press Club. The session meant to sensitize journalist on different development issues was presided over by psychologist Dr Manju Agarwal.
Asserting that 90 per cent behavioral disorders in children are due to the environment and society. Dr Bajpai said that 70 per cent of these behavioral problems are because of the education system. He said most of the time the parents do not know what they want from their child and the child also grows up confused.
Apart from practicing general psychiatry, Dr Bajpai’s consistent focus and work has been with child and adolescent mental health, and have established a child and adolescent mental health centre, Uttar Pradesh’s first at Kanpur.
He has been instrumental in awareness campaigns. and workshops especially with schools and training teachers aimed at increasing sensitivity towards childhood problems. An extension of this work is an ongoing School mental health project.
These workshops were conducted in various cities in India like Noida, Varanasi, Lucknow, including Gujarat. A three day workshop in Chennai included 300 children and parents from various strata of schools in Chennai. 'NO KIDDING' was immensely useful. These workshops depending on the group and time focus on the children in form of brainstorming, or life skills events, with teachers and parents on knowing the child and his/her problems. The purpose is to enhance positive mental health rather than focus on disease.
A decade of work is now slowly creating an awareness of Dyslexia and other childhood problems in population.
He said it makes him sad when he meets children in the age group of 8 to 14 and they tell him that they do not feel like doing anything. That they would just prefer not to do anything.
“These are serious utterances. If the child is not given a chance to de-stress this same child will grow up to become violent and aggressive and will one day become a burden on both the family and society, “said the doctor.
He suggested that we teach ‘critical thinking to our child, understand what we really want out of our kid and evaluate what the child is capable of doing actually.
“Goal of education is and must be to free the mind, it must not enchain and produced individuals with wrapped personality,” said Dr Bajpai.
Agreeing with what Dr Bajpai had to say that in a country like India going to a psychiatric hospital is a taboo or a stigma it is not easy to heal the scars in a child’s mind, but he stressed that each school and in fact all health centers must have a mental health counseling cell.
Dr Augustine Veliath, UNICEF’s communication specialist, said that December 11, being the birthday of UNICEF he hopes that there is a healthier, happier state for Uttar Pradesh’s children.
“Mental health is a forgotten right of child development and we are glad Media Nest has focused media attention in that direction,” said Mr. Veliath while addressing the media. He said as parents what we can really give our children is not money and expensive gifts but a patient ear.
The programme was conducted by the secretary general of Media Nest, Kulsum Talha.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
"Thirty per cent of the so called ‘normal’ schools going kids require mental healthcare otherwise they will be forced to live in ‘learnt' helplessness," said Dr Alok Bajpai, Psychiatric based in Kanpur. Dr Bajpai was the key speaker at the fortnightly Media4Children, organized by Media Nest and supported by UNICEF at the UP Press Club. The session meant to sensitize journalist on different development issues was presided over by psychologist Dr Manju Agarwal.
Asserting that 90 per cent behavioral disorders in children are due to the environment and society. Dr Bajpai said that 70 per cent of these behavioral problems are because of the education system. He said most of the time the parents do not know what they want from their child and the child also grows up confused.
Apart from practicing general psychiatry, Dr Bajpai’s consistent focus and work has been with child and adolescent mental health, and have established a child and adolescent mental health centre, Uttar Pradesh’s first at Kanpur.
He has been instrumental in awareness campaigns. and workshops especially with schools and training teachers aimed at increasing sensitivity towards childhood problems. An extension of this work is an ongoing School mental health project.
These workshops were conducted in various cities in India like Noida, Varanasi, Lucknow, including Gujarat. A three day workshop in Chennai included 300 children and parents from various strata of schools in Chennai. 'NO KIDDING' was immensely useful. These workshops depending on the group and time focus on the children in form of brainstorming, or life skills events, with teachers and parents on knowing the child and his/her problems. The purpose is to enhance positive mental health rather than focus on disease.
A decade of work is now slowly creating an awareness of Dyslexia and other childhood problems in population.
He said it makes him sad when he meets children in the age group of 8 to 14 and they tell him that they do not feel like doing anything. That they would just prefer not to do anything.
“These are serious utterances. If the child is not given a chance to de-stress this same child will grow up to become violent and aggressive and will one day become a burden on both the family and society, “said the doctor.
He suggested that we teach ‘critical thinking to our child, understand what we really want out of our kid and evaluate what the child is capable of doing actually.
“Goal of education is and must be to free the mind, it must not enchain and produced individuals with wrapped personality,” said Dr Bajpai.
Agreeing with what Dr Bajpai had to say that in a country like India going to a psychiatric hospital is a taboo or a stigma it is not easy to heal the scars in a child’s mind, but he stressed that each school and in fact all health centers must have a mental health counseling cell.
Dr Augustine Veliath, UNICEF’s communication specialist, said that December 11, being the birthday of UNICEF he hopes that there is a healthier, happier state for Uttar Pradesh’s children.
“Mental health is a forgotten right of child development and we are glad Media Nest has focused media attention in that direction,” said Mr. Veliath while addressing the media. He said as parents what we can really give our children is not money and expensive gifts but a patient ear.
The programme was conducted by the secretary general of Media Nest, Kulsum Talha.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
Jurmil Morcha and CPJ Karnataka enlighten Bangaloreans about Chattisgarh's marginalized
Jurmil Morcha and CJP Karnataka enlighten Bangaloreans about Chhattisgarh's marginalized
Jurmil Morcha, a local people’s movement from Chhattisgarh participated in a recent series of events in Bangalore as a response by the Campaign for Justice and Peace, Karnataka (CJPKar) to the gross human rights violations on adivasis and dalits in that state. From 4th-9th December, four Jurmil Morcha members highlighted the prevalent injustice towards adivasis and other excluded minorities using powerful and lively folk music and puppetry in parks, colleges, auditoriums and streets across Bangalore. Alongside the Jurmil Morcha activists, CJPKar volunteers (some of whom had visited Chattisgarh earlier this year) informed the general public, concerned individuals, civil society groups and community based organizations about the need to pressurize the State to follow Supreme Court directives to rehabilitate displaced adivasis and restore civil administration in affected areas of Chhattisgarh. CJPKar sources have revealed that nearly 3.5 lakh adivasis in 700 villages have been displaced while their resource rich land is being sold off to Indian and foreign mining corporations.
Jurmil Morcha's core group plans to initiate the formation of Naanchun Morcha (children’s front). It dreams of establishing a centre for cultural expression and publish a children’s newspaper to strengthen kids' voices. Despite financial hurdles due to its reliance on the minimal contributions from the extremely marginalized people with whom it associates, Jurmil Morcha continues to invest more time and energy in them. The group is scheduled to formalize its constitution and leadership next year. Its three fold strategy is to:
* Demand smooth and transparent operation of government’s welfare schemes for the excluded
* Endeavour collective production by marginalized communities
* Resist programmes, policies and processes leading to further marginalization
Further, CJPKar comprising civil society groups, students, lawyers and individuals who condemn Operation Greenhunt demands that the Governments of India and Chhattisgarh:
Pushpa Achanta
(The author is a freelance writer, a Fellow of Citizen News Service (CNS) Writers' Bureau, and a community volunteer based in Bangalore, India)
Published in:
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Banderas News, Mexico
Orissa Diary.com, Orissa, India
World News Network, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
World News Network, USA
Littleabout.com
Country.com
Jurmil Morcha, a local people’s movement from Chhattisgarh participated in a recent series of events in Bangalore as a response by the Campaign for Justice and Peace, Karnataka (CJPKar) to the gross human rights violations on adivasis and dalits in that state. From 4th-9th December, four Jurmil Morcha members highlighted the prevalent injustice towards adivasis and other excluded minorities using powerful and lively folk music and puppetry in parks, colleges, auditoriums and streets across Bangalore. Alongside the Jurmil Morcha activists, CJPKar volunteers (some of whom had visited Chattisgarh earlier this year) informed the general public, concerned individuals, civil society groups and community based organizations about the need to pressurize the State to follow Supreme Court directives to rehabilitate displaced adivasis and restore civil administration in affected areas of Chhattisgarh. CJPKar sources have revealed that nearly 3.5 lakh adivasis in 700 villages have been displaced while their resource rich land is being sold off to Indian and foreign mining corporations.
Jurmil Morcha performs at Cubbon Park, Bangalore
Meaning United Front, Jurmil Morcha, formed in January 2009 is based in Ambargarh Chouki block of Chattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district. Its core group consists of five talented and energetic yet economically backward and barely literate dalit and adivasi women empowered by challenging patriarchy. They include Pandwani artist Budhan Bai Meshram, orator Bhan Sahu and Jaswanta who all live in an Ashram (a refurbished Kothar or crop storage space) in Paangri, a remote, yet picturesque adivasi village with a primarily dry river surrounded by dense forest and hills. Through songs and oral narratives, Jurmil Morcha has been actively mobilizing communities and increasing awareness about social discrimination, child rights, migration, health and women’s problems in Chattisgarh. A founder member of Chhattisgarh Visthaapan Virodhi Manch (a state level coalition for joint action against displacement of adivasis and other marginalized communities), following its emergence, the group raised the demand for implementation of the Famine Code in all drought hit areas of Chattisgarh including Ambagarh Chouki block. Apart from highlighting the issue of long delayed payments of wages under the NREGS, the group also organized a children led padyatra on 2nd October invoking women's independence and joy for all villagers particularly kids.
Jurmil Morcha's core group plans to initiate the formation of Naanchun Morcha (children’s front). It dreams of establishing a centre for cultural expression and publish a children’s newspaper to strengthen kids' voices. Despite financial hurdles due to its reliance on the minimal contributions from the extremely marginalized people with whom it associates, Jurmil Morcha continues to invest more time and energy in them. The group is scheduled to formalize its constitution and leadership next year. Its three fold strategy is to:
* Demand smooth and transparent operation of government’s welfare schemes for the excluded
* Endeavour collective production by marginalized communities
* Resist programmes, policies and processes leading to further marginalization
Further, CJPKar comprising civil society groups, students, lawyers and individuals who condemn Operation Greenhunt demands that the Governments of India and Chhattisgarh:
- Withdraw all paramilitary forces in adivasi areas and disband Salwa Judum
- Implement the Supreme Court’s order on rehabilitating adivasis in Chhattisgarh
- Repeal the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act & Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act
- Cancel all existing MOUs with large corporations (especially those engaged in mining minerals) and start dialogue with adivasi representatives
Pushpa Achanta
(The author is a freelance writer, a Fellow of Citizen News Service (CNS) Writers' Bureau, and a community volunteer based in Bangalore, India)
Published in:
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Banderas News, Mexico
Orissa Diary.com, Orissa, India
World News Network, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
World News Network, USA
Littleabout.com
Country.com
Not respecting confidentiality is unethical in TB Care
Not respecting confidentiality is unethical in TB Care
Why are people who might be having TB not going in for TB testing in Lesotho? "When it comes to confidentiality in TB care, going for testing often means that entire community comes to know of your TB status. This is a violation of human right" said Maketekete Alfred Thotolo, Treatment Literacy and Advocacy Coordinator at Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Lesotho) which works closely with AIDS and Rights Alliance in Southern Africa (ARASA). Alfred was sharing his experiences from Lesotho at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health.
People who might have TB need to have supportive and safe healthcare facilities that don't expose them to TB related stigma, says Alfred. Going for TB test is like taking a risk as healthcare facilities providing TB services are insensitive to the human rights of people who are seeking services from them.
"Normally we are told that somebody's illness is a private matter. But in clinics doctors identify TB patients violating confidentiality and trust. Lack of confidentiality further breeds stigma and discrimination related to TB for this patient" said Alfred. This fear of TB-related stigma and eventual discrimination at different levels, discourages people from going to existing TB-care services. We speak of intensified TB case finding, want people to complete anti-TB treatment successfully and prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease by taking full course of isoniazid preventive therapy, but unless we address TB stigma and reduce discrimination, it will be difficult to achieve what we are aiming for in TB control, says he.
"In Lesotho, Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease, is not available for ordinary citizens but only for health workers. Those people who have latent TB infection have a right to protect themselves and access IPT services to prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease. I consider these people have a right to get IPT. Everybody has a right to health, when it comes to TB prevention" said Alfred. The Global TB/HIV Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership has clearly stated that: IPT works, IPT is safe, and IPT works with ART or by itself. TB is a major cause of illness and death in people living with HIV, even in those taking antiretroviral therapy. TB could be prevented in millions of people infected with both HIV and TB through the use of IPT. IPT is an important intervention for preventing and reducing active TB in communities affected by HIV - preventing active TB can prevent millions of people from being infected in the community and in health care services.
IPT is safe and effective and the treatment lasts for 6-9 months. It is only given to people who have confirmed latent TB infection (not to be given to those with active TB disease). Effective IPT treatment reduces the development of active TB disease in 40-60% of patients.
Despite of the potential public health outcomes of using IPT effectively in high burden TB countries, and IPT being one of the key interventions recommended by WHO in 1998 to reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV, the uptake of IPT has been very low. Clearly there is a need to mobilize TB-HIV affected communities and other stakeholders to integrate IPT as part of the package of health services.
Everybody has a right to health - and this includes the right to access TB services - without any fear of healthcare facilities not respecting one's confidentiality or being denied IPT if one has latent TB and putting oneself at risk of developing active TB disease.
May be TB care and control programmes can get some lessons in reducing stigma and discrimination from other disease control programmes. Engaging community meaningfully at all levels of AIDS programmes has certainly yielded results - and reduced stigma, discrimination and increased access to AIDS services in different parts of the world. Community engagement is certainly suboptimal in TB care and control programmes in reality. There are good examples where genuine involvement of community, particularly cured TB patients, have improved TB programme performances in different parts of the world. But this is certainly not a generalized statement to the global TB control.
The WHO Global TB Strategy and the Global Plan to Stop TB (2006-2015) gives a major thrust to community engagement. The Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care (PCTC, The Charter) is an integral component of the WHO Global TB Strategy, as a tool to empower communities for advocating to achieve the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC). Many national governments have adapted the Charter as official component of their national TB programmes. But in reality, genuine engagement of cured TB patients at all levels of TB programmes is a distant dream, despite of increasing number of examples where community has demonstrated their competence in improving TB responses locally. After all, why are governments reluctant to engage communities - which can address so many current impediments to TB care and control at local level?
A 2007 World Bank research report "The Economic Benefit of Global Investments in Tuberculosis Control" found that 22 countries with the world’s highest numbers of TB cases could earn significantly more than they spend on TB diagnosis and treatment if they signed onto a global plan to sharply reduce the numbers of TB-related deaths. Highly affected African countries could gain up to 9 times their investments in TB control. When the economic benefits of effective TB care and control are estimated to be greater than the cost, it is all the more reason for governments to not delay any further the improvement of TB responses by engaging communities with dignity as equal partners in TB care and control at all levels.
Why are people who might be having TB not going in for TB testing in Lesotho? "When it comes to confidentiality in TB care, going for testing often means that entire community comes to know of your TB status. This is a violation of human right" said Maketekete Alfred Thotolo, Treatment Literacy and Advocacy Coordinator at Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Lesotho) which works closely with AIDS and Rights Alliance in Southern Africa (ARASA). Alfred was sharing his experiences from Lesotho at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health.
People who might have TB need to have supportive and safe healthcare facilities that don't expose them to TB related stigma, says Alfred. Going for TB test is like taking a risk as healthcare facilities providing TB services are insensitive to the human rights of people who are seeking services from them.
"Normally we are told that somebody's illness is a private matter. But in clinics doctors identify TB patients violating confidentiality and trust. Lack of confidentiality further breeds stigma and discrimination related to TB for this patient" said Alfred. This fear of TB-related stigma and eventual discrimination at different levels, discourages people from going to existing TB-care services. We speak of intensified TB case finding, want people to complete anti-TB treatment successfully and prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease by taking full course of isoniazid preventive therapy, but unless we address TB stigma and reduce discrimination, it will be difficult to achieve what we are aiming for in TB control, says he.
"In Lesotho, Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease, is not available for ordinary citizens but only for health workers. Those people who have latent TB infection have a right to protect themselves and access IPT services to prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease. I consider these people have a right to get IPT. Everybody has a right to health, when it comes to TB prevention" said Alfred. The Global TB/HIV Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership has clearly stated that: IPT works, IPT is safe, and IPT works with ART or by itself. TB is a major cause of illness and death in people living with HIV, even in those taking antiretroviral therapy. TB could be prevented in millions of people infected with both HIV and TB through the use of IPT. IPT is an important intervention for preventing and reducing active TB in communities affected by HIV - preventing active TB can prevent millions of people from being infected in the community and in health care services.
IPT is safe and effective and the treatment lasts for 6-9 months. It is only given to people who have confirmed latent TB infection (not to be given to those with active TB disease). Effective IPT treatment reduces the development of active TB disease in 40-60% of patients.
Despite of the potential public health outcomes of using IPT effectively in high burden TB countries, and IPT being one of the key interventions recommended by WHO in 1998 to reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV, the uptake of IPT has been very low. Clearly there is a need to mobilize TB-HIV affected communities and other stakeholders to integrate IPT as part of the package of health services.
Everybody has a right to health - and this includes the right to access TB services - without any fear of healthcare facilities not respecting one's confidentiality or being denied IPT if one has latent TB and putting oneself at risk of developing active TB disease.
May be TB care and control programmes can get some lessons in reducing stigma and discrimination from other disease control programmes. Engaging community meaningfully at all levels of AIDS programmes has certainly yielded results - and reduced stigma, discrimination and increased access to AIDS services in different parts of the world. Community engagement is certainly suboptimal in TB care and control programmes in reality. There are good examples where genuine involvement of community, particularly cured TB patients, have improved TB programme performances in different parts of the world. But this is certainly not a generalized statement to the global TB control.
The WHO Global TB Strategy and the Global Plan to Stop TB (2006-2015) gives a major thrust to community engagement. The Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care (PCTC, The Charter) is an integral component of the WHO Global TB Strategy, as a tool to empower communities for advocating to achieve the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC). Many national governments have adapted the Charter as official component of their national TB programmes. But in reality, genuine engagement of cured TB patients at all levels of TB programmes is a distant dream, despite of increasing number of examples where community has demonstrated their competence in improving TB responses locally. After all, why are governments reluctant to engage communities - which can address so many current impediments to TB care and control at local level?
A 2007 World Bank research report "The Economic Benefit of Global Investments in Tuberculosis Control" found that 22 countries with the world’s highest numbers of TB cases could earn significantly more than they spend on TB diagnosis and treatment if they signed onto a global plan to sharply reduce the numbers of TB-related deaths. Highly affected African countries could gain up to 9 times their investments in TB control. When the economic benefits of effective TB care and control are estimated to be greater than the cost, it is all the more reason for governments to not delay any further the improvement of TB responses by engaging communities with dignity as equal partners in TB care and control at all levels.
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