CNS

8 tips for using Twitter effectively around World Cancer Day

"Eight tips for using Twitter around health-related events" was first prepared by @francetim (Inis Communication) and @GlobalHealthTom in collaboration with CNS and was launched at the 11th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. Since then it has adapted and used by delegates of various health-related events around the world (and those not attending but following these events online). Most recently it was adapted and disseminated by Union International for Cancer Control (UICC)/ World Cancer Day, Inis Communication and CNS. This brief guide provides eight simple tips to make the most of one social media platform – Twitter – around the World Cancer Day (4th February 2014). Please contact Inis Communication for getting this guide adapted to your health event!

Long road to justice and equality for LGBTI people

Shobha Shukla, CNS Columnist
The recently concluded 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (7th APCRSHR) in Manila saw some interesting discussions on protecting and advancing Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (SOGI) rights and improving their access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services. While LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people) form a sizeable population in Asia, their general and unique health needs are largely ignored or at the best seen through the HIV lens. Facing rejection and discrimination, even within the family and community, they are subject to violence in various forms - physical, psychological, sexual, economic and social. And yet they generally do not report cases out of fear of exposure, ignorance of the law, and due to self- stigma.

Smoking Goes Electronic

Shobha Shukla - CNS

[हिंदी] ‘Smoke healthy, Lite-joy-- A better alternative'; ‘Health e-cigarettes—Smoke and Quit Whenever'; 'Vapours- benefits of e-cigarettes'; 'Green-Smart-Living - easiest and most affordable way to start living a smoke-free life'... These are just a few of the several online advertisements one comes across these days-- all glorifying electronic cigarettes.

Shobha Shukla - CNS
Worldwide, a woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes, taking the annual toll to 275,000. The disease is preventable, and yet the second largest killer of women in low and middle income countries, with most women dying in the prime of life. According to the Cervical Cancer Global Crisis Card, India tops the chart in cervical cancer deaths with nearly 73,000 women dying every year, representing 26.4% of the global deaths.

Swapna Majumdar - CNS
Over three million children died before their fifth birthday in 2010 alone in the Asia Pacific region. Thousands of mothers continue to die unnecessarily while giving birth with this region accounting for close to half of the nearly 500,000 maternal deaths recorded annually across the world. Many of these deaths can be prevented if sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are accessible and affordable. It is here that innovative government health programmes can make a difference.

Photo credit: Swapna Majumdar

Swapna Majumdar - CNS

In India, 17 percent of female sex workers reported starting to sell sex under the age of 15 years.
In Maldives and Papua New Guinea, the median age reported among female sex workers ranged from 17-19 years (across surveyed sites), as compared to a range of 22-24 years of age in sites in Cambodia, Malaysia and Pakistan.
In Pakistan, 'hijras' (transgender persons) and male sex workers reported starting to sell sex at a mean age of 16 years.

Swapna Majumdar - CNS
[7th APCRSHR Images] Twenty years after the path breaking International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, millions of women and adolescents, particularly the poor and marginalised, in Asia and the Pacific continue to face inequalities in access to reproductive and sexual health and rights.

Dr Eden R Divinagracia,
Chair, 7th APCRSHR (right)

Shobha Shukla - CNS
The theme of the 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (7th APCRSHR), which opened in Manila on 21st January, 2014, is: Examining achievements, good practices, lessons learned and challenges: towards a strategic positioning of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. In an interview given to Citizen News Service (CNS), Dr Eden R Divinagracia, Executive Director, Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare, and Chair of 7th APCRSHR lamented that currently abortions are illegal and unconstitutional in Philippines, and yet the country has more than 500,000 cases of abortions every year.

Photo credit: CAMI-IMPT

Shobha Shukla - CNS
[7th APCRSHR Images] Millions of women and girls around the world are still unable to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Over 1 million people contract a sexually transmitted infection every day, half of whom are young people - mostly women. In fact women are 5 times more likely to get STIs than men. Also, currently 222 million women have an unmet need for contraception and approximately 290,000 women in developing countries die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth every year.

"Eight tips for using Twitter around health-related events" was first prepared by @francetim (Inis Communication) and @GlobalHealthTom in collaboration with CNS and was launched at the 11th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. Since then it has adapted and used by delegates of various health-related events around the world (and those not attending but following these events online). Most recently it was adapted and disseminated by Mulat Pinoy, CNS and Inis Communication at 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (7th APCRSHR). This brief guide provides eight simple tips to make the most of one social media platform – Twitter – around 7th APCRSHR. Please contact Inis Communication for getting this guide adapted to your health event!

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: A distant reality?

(Based on an interview with Dr Amita Pandey, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King George's Medical University - KGMU)

[7th APCRSHR Images] Before 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (7th APCRSHR) opens in Manila later this week, Citizen News Service (CNS) spoke with Dr Amita Pandey on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges in India.

- Those children who were left out can receive their dose on 28th January -
Over 1.7 crore children in Bihar were targeted for deworming treatment using Albendazole, on 23rd January. Albendazole is drug recommended by the World Health Organization to combat parasitic worms, and has been safely used to treat hundreds of millions of children worldwide.

Citizen News Service (CNS) is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting applications for new fellows for its CNS Health Fellowship Programme 2014. This programme offers mentorship, peer support, networking opportunities, and technical assistance to health writers on neglected health priorities.

[हिंदी] Rehabilitating communal violence survivors is State's responsibility, was echoed by the members of Socialist Party (India) in their procession and demonstration in UP state capital of Lucknow on 8th January 2014. Since permission was not granted to Socialist Party (India) to hold the demonstration at Gandhi Pratima in Lucknow city-centre (Hazratganj), the administration received the memorandum from them, after which this demonstration converted into a procession that marched to Lakshman Mela grounds where it continued the protest till the evening.

'Why I am not in Aam Aadmi Party?'

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist

[First published in Tehelka] Some friends are calling to suggest that I should join Aam Aadmi Party while others want to know whether they should join. Some think that I am close to AAP and want me to recommend their names as candidate for the next general elections from their respective constituencies while some experts of different fields are offering their services for the benefit of schemes for poor to be implemented by AAP in Delhi.

Beginning of a novel experiment in politics

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee and CNS Columnist

With the formation of Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi the country is going to witness a novel experiment in politics. The first target has been the VIP culture. Arvind Kejriwal has refused to accept security, beacon fitted vehicle and a government bunglow not only for himself but all his ministers. In a country where most people become politician to avail of all these facilities it is going to be a trend setting decision. In fact, the facilities given to people’s representatives and bureaucrats should be drastically cut down. This is an unnecessary wastage and burden on the tax payer.

Hom L. Shrestha - CNS
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its allies are taking a bold step to challenge Big Tobacco’s bullying and ‘intimidation by litigation’ by exposing the undue influences of Tobacco Industry (TI) and are responding to the industry’s disregard to the sovereignty of governments to protect health of its citizens. The WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) enshrines effective tobacco control initiatives across the globe and has been ratified by 175 countries, protecting nearly 90% of the world’s population from tobacco health hazards. Article 5.3 of FCTC guidelines explicitly recognizes the need to protect tobacco control programmes from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.

Shaleen Rakesh - CNS

On 11 December 2013, the streets outside the Supreme Court of India thronged with a dazed crowd, hugging, sobbing and not quite sure what had happened. Inside the hushed courtroom, the judges had just passed a devastating ruling. Lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) in India had once again been labelled as criminals. Section 377, the 149-year-old colonial law that banned gay sex, had been upheld by the Highest Court of Law of India saying that amending or repealing Section 377 should be a matter left to Parliament, not the judiciary.

Despite evidence to prevent occupational exposure to HIV for surgeons and other healthcare providers, people living with HIV (PLHIV) requiring surgical procedures for treatment often face heightened stigma and get discriminated within healthcare settings. But all is not that black and there are surgeons who have championed the cause of treating PLHIV without stigma and challenged discrimination in healthcare settings as well. Few of these surgeon-heroes were sharing their experiences of over 20 years in treating PLHIV at the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013).

"Co-infections and HIV beget each other": Dr Dilip Mathai

(This article is based upon a CNS interview with Professor (Dr) Dilip Mathai, Dean, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research)

Dr Dilip Mathai (left): ASICON 2013

HIV in today's context is a chronic condition of the human immune system. HIV is a retrovirus and the infection leads to a progressive reduction in the number of CD4+ T-helper cells (so called because CD4 glycoprotein is found on their surface) which are an essential part of the human immune system. They are the main targets of HIV which destroys infected CD4 cells leading to an overall weakening of the immune system, said Dr Dilip Mathai, Dean, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, and former Head of Medicine Department, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore.

A study found that prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) among women living with HIV was 26.85% which was much higher than the HPV rates in HIV-negative women. Dr Ankita Chourasia, a researcher from Banares Hindu University (BHU) whose oral presentation of this study was awarded at the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013), strongly recommended regular HPV screening for women to cut down rates of HPV-caused cancers such as cervical cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI).

AIDS is just one of the manifestations of HIV, said a veteran health advocate. A range of co-infections and co-morbidities also need as much attention as AIDS-related treatment and care. HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection was in spotlight at the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013). HBV is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. Mode of transmission of HBV and HIV both are similar: they get transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids with high viral load of an infected person. About 600,000 people die every year due to the consequences of HBV.

To tackle any disease it is not merely only diagnosing correctly and offering quality treatment but ensuring that the patients adhere to treatment that is of paramount importance. Timely and correct diagnosis and availability of standard, evidence-based and effective treatment cannot be of much help unless the patient takes the prescribed drugs for the complete duration of time. So over and above everything else it is the patients' willingness and determination to take their medicines regularly that can bring relief.

An estimated 3.4 million children are living with HIV, thus accounting for 10% of the total global HIV infected population. At the same time, the number of children newly infected with HIV dropped drastically by 52% between 2001 and 2012. And yet as per the UNAIDS Global Report 2013 currently only 34% of children under 15 years of age in need of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the world are actually receiving it. This is just half of the ART coverage for adults. To reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation we have to focus on elimination of HIV in children.

Although historic scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is keeping people living with HIV (PLHIV) alive, 1 in 10 of them succumb to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). “The good news is that survival of PLHIV has improved, but CVD is increasingly becoming one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality” said Dr K Naik of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College (LTMMC), Mumbai. Dr Naik was speaking at the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013).

On one hand the new mantra of ‘zero new HIV infections, zero deaths and zero AIDS-related stigma and discrimination by 2015’ is increasing decibels and on another hand Indian AIDS response is dealing with a complex matrix of challenges impeding programme outcomes. To compound the situation there are policy conflicts against public health such as the Supreme Court’s decision to re-criminalize same sex behaviour that further will slow down the AIDS response in the country (as men who have sex with men and transgender people are HIV key affected populations as per the government’s National AIDS Control Organization).

One size does not fit all. Likewise we need an expanded basket of evidence-based interventions and approaches to meet the unique needs and contexts of different key affected populations to prevent HIV. Deliberations on the first day of the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013), discussed amongst other things, effective strategies for HIV prevention and control.

The 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013) which has brought together over 700 HIV medical experts from across India with a distinguished national and international faculty opened in Mumbai. Dr IS Gilada, President of the conference and also of AIDS Society of India (ASI), said: “to strengthen south-south collaboration between Africa and India and to promote mutual information exchange and learning in fight against AIDS, ASICON 2013 is being inaugurated by Minister of Health from Tanzania.”

Shobha Shukla - CNS
Mumbai will be host to the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013) from 13th to 15th December. As its theme HIV/AIDS: Scaling New Heights – From Prevention & Treatment …Towards Cure suggests, the conference will focus on vital issues in the journey of the HIV epidemic from prevention and treatment towards possible cure. 45 national and 25 international eminent speakers are expected to share their expertise on a variety of subjects during this 3 day long event, informed Dr IS Gilada, President, AIDS Society of India.

Alice Tembe - CNS
In this years' event, the Swaziland Business Coalition on HIV-AIDS (SWABCHA) launched the integration and mainstreaming of gender in the HIV and TB response programmes in the workplace. The US Ambassador to Swaziland, Ms Makila James, the guest speaker, said in her remarks that the progress and milestones gained so far in the HIV and TB response will go to waste if due diligence is not accorded to the gender dynamics at play in the society. She noted that gender based violence, has undoubtedly contributed to new infections among the Swazi population. Further, these two epidemics, have increased the burden of care on women and reduced the chances of women growing in the workplace as they are bound to withdraw from work to care for their loved ones.

Dr Carolyn Kavita Tauro - CNS
Recently, Ahmedabad was host to an International Conference on Inequity in Maternal and Child Health organized by the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) Gandhinagar and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). It brought together national and international public health professionals to discuss about various issues affecting an equitable delivery of health care to mothers and children in India.

Xpert MTB/RIF in Delhi

Bobby Ramakant - CNS

There is no doubt that research and development of new diagnostic technologies and effective drugs must go ahead with full thrust. But there is no single 'magic wand' intervention and therefore deploying existing diagnostic tools optimally and managing treatment well are no less a priority to reach the formidable tuberculosis (TB) related goal of zero new infections, deaths and suffering.

Chhatra Karki - CNS
(First published in Kapan Online, Nepal on 1 December 2013)
Since the governments have not taken effective integrated steps for controlling HIV-TB, the challenges to control the two diseases continue to compound and experts rue over the absence of effective programmes to prevent TB infection in HIV infected people. It is well known that there is a much higher possibility of TB infection in people living with HIV (PLHIV) than in those who are HIV negative. Researches reveal that they have an estimated 21 to 26 times greater risk of developing active TB once infected. In 2012, among the 35.3 million PLHIV in the world, 11.8 million were also infected with TB. Globally 320 000 PLHIV co-infected with TB lost their lives in 2012. The number of these deaths would have been less, if somehow TB infection in them was prevented.