CNS

Healing is different from cure, conveys Pirates Of Chemotherapy

[Watch play's recording] When we first heard of a dramatic comedy theatre play on breast cancer, it was difficult to comprehend as to how the three - comedy, theatre and the poignant theme of breast cancer - will go together. Glad we went for the preview show of this play because it did justice to comedy, theatre and breast cancer issue in a very compelling way. One of the most throbbing messages, that resonates within me, is: healing is different from cure. It is important to mention that this play was staged by outstanding artists, few of whom are breast cancer survivors (including one male actor) themselves.

Live streaming of dramatic comedy theatre play: Pirates Of Chemotherapy

[Watch recording of Live streaming] Pirates of Chemotherapy (dramatic comedy theatre play) by Paul Schutte and directed by Toni Cacioppo, of The Gate Theater, will be staged during February 14-17 at Kad Studio Theatre, 7th floor, Kad Suan Kaew, #ChiangMai, #Thailand. For those who are NOT in Thailand, we bring it LIVE streamed to you TODAY on Friday, 15th February 2019 at 12:45pm Geneva time
(5:30pm India, 7pm Thailand/ Indonesia/ Vietnam time).

Pirates of chemotherapy: A powerful comedy theatre play on breast cancer (Chiang Mai, Thailand, 14-17 February 2019)

We are together in the fight against cancer

Beryl Osindo, CNS Correspondent, Kenya

Non communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, continue to claim lives in a way that is frightening, to say the least. We are dealing with a tragedy whose signs and symptoms are well known, precautions are shared, and possible causes are subjects of continued research. World Cancer Day 2019 came and passed. But it is important to carry on the discourse around this still dreaded disease.

Poverty is a big damper for timely treatment of cancer

Catherine Mwauyakufa, CNS Correspondent, Zimbabwe

Wadzanayi Michele Mayiseni - A cancer survivor

Cancer treatment and care remains a challenge in Zimbabwe with most cases getting diagnosed in the late stages. Currently, over 5000 new cancer cases are diagnosed in the country annually. This is just the tip of the iceberg as many cases are not captured and registered. The majority seek medical help when in an advanced stage of the disease. The large number of people living with HIV (1.3 million) results in an even higher number of people who develop cancer.

"India spending three times more money to treat tobacco-related diseases than revenue from tobacco": Prof Surya Kant

Manjari Peiris, Sri Lanka

[First published in Asian Tribune, on February 7, 2019]
Worldwide tobacco industry's so-called claim that they are revenue earners for governments and are good for the country's' economy is a totally baseless one.

[हिंदी] [Watch #WorldCancerDay Webinar recording] [Listen to Podcast] 193 governments including those of India, committed to reducing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancers by 25% by 2025 and one-third by 2030 (UN Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs), but many cancer rates are rising, not declining, especially in several high burden countries.

Is cancer control on track to deliver on SDGs?

This 2019 World Cancer Day Podcast features conversation with experts such as, Thuy Khuc-Bilon and Dr Yannick Romero from World Cancer Day campaign and UICC; Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, Director, National Lung Hospital, Vietnam and head of Vietnam's National TB programme; Prof Surya Kant, Head of Respiratory Medicine Department, King George's Medical University (KGMU); Dr Pooja Ramakant, noted breast cancer expert and Professor, Department of Endocrine Surgery, King George's Medical University (KGMU); Ashok Ramsarup (Moderator), International award winning journalist and former Senior Producer, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Durban, South Africa; and Shobha Shukla (Moderator), Managing Editor, CNS (Citizen News Service).

[Click here to watch Webinar recording] [Listen or download Podcast] In the lead up to the World Cancer Day 2019, let us review if we are on track to reduce cancer disease burden and prevent premature deaths? 193 countries had committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among which is to reduce disease and death burden due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer by one-third by 2030 (and 25% by 2025).

[CNS Rewind 2018] Top 10+ CNS Webinars and other eLearning sessions in 2018

[Click here to watch all CNS Webinars] Looking back at over 40 Webinars and other eLearning sessions hosted by CNS in 2018, we are compelled to say that each eLearning session, and issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - thanks to all the panelists and participants.

Looking back at over 150 video-articles produced by CNS Correspondents Team in 2018 (including streaming on YouTube of eLearning sessions), we are compelled to say that each video, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight video-articles and critical issues they highlighted.

Looking back at over 50 audio podcasts of 2018 on a range of issues related to global health and sustainable development, we are compelled to say that each one of them, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight podcasts and critical issues they highlighted.

Looking back at over 500 articles written by CNS Correspondents Team in Asian and African countries in 2018, we are compelled to say that each article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today - thanks to each one of the Correspondents and Fellows. We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight articles and critical issues they highlighted.

Looking back at over 500 (English and Hindi) in-depth and issue-focussed articles written by CNS Correspondents in Asian and African countries in 2018, we are compelled to say that each article, and the issue it focussed on, is so very important, even today! We cannot overemphasize the importance of each of these spotlight articles and critical issues they highlighted.

International commitments are vital for a better tomorrow but no less important are local actions on the frontlines, for bringing in desired change. Most important and often unheard voices are of those who are striving hard to bring in a change on the frontlines. These voices from the grounds-up, need to be plugged in to those at national, regional and global levels who are driving bigger processes for a better tomorrow.

[हिंदी] Earlier in December 2018, several local leaders from Asia Pacific nations unanimously adopted a strong Declaration to combat tobacco use and the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Governors, Mayors, Vice Mayors and Vice-Governors, in the presence of several Members of Parliaments, national government representatives, and public health experts, from over a dozen countries in Asia Pacific region, adopted this AP-CAT Declaration at the 3rd Summit of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control and Prevention of NCDs (AP-CAT) in Singapore.

This Podcast features conversation with Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Member of Parliament from Bangladesh on how catastrophic healthcare cost is the biggest obstacle to development in Bangladesh. He was in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

#EndTobacco and #beatNCDs will help build a healthy tomorrow, says Bangladesh's MP Shameem Haider Patwary

Local actions are cornerstone for effective implementation of tobacco control

This Podcast features conversation with Nepal's Member of Parliament Mr Khagaraj Adhikari, who is the former Health and Population Minister of Nepal. Mr Adhikari spoke with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at the 3rd Summit of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control and NCDs Prevention in Singapore (4-6 December 2018). He shares his insights on why local actions are building blocks for moving the nation, and Asia Pacific region, to become tobacco free, as well as beat non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Thanks
CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

Local actions are building blocks to #beatNCDs & #endTobacco: says Nepal's MP & former Health Minister Khagaraj Adhikari

It's Time: Match words with actions to #endTB

[video] [podcast] Alongside boosting research and development of new tools to prevent, diagnose and treat TB, there is an acute need to optimally deploy and maximally utilize existing tools for preventing, diagnosing and treating TB, says Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, head of national TB programme in Vietnam and Director of National Lung Hospital, Hanoi.

This Podcast presents conversation with Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, head of National TB Programme in Viet Nam, and also a senior Professor and Director of National Lung Hospital in Hanoi.

He spoke with CNS alongside 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health in The Hague, Netherlands, on a range of issues that impact progress towards ending TB by 2030.Introduction of new TB drugs such as Bedaquiline, safeguards in place to check anti-TB drug resistance, latent TB infection, funding gap in TB research and development (R&D), disabilities that people who get cured of TB live and deal with, improving utilization of new diagnostic tools for optimal programme outcomes, were among key issues he shares his insights on.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

It's Time: Match words with action to #endTB

Disability rights of people with HIV, TB are on blindspot

This Podcast presents our conversation with Michael Miiro who leads MADIPHA (Masaka Association of Persons with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS) in Uganda. He spoke to CNS (Citizen News Service) on the sidelines of 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health in The Hague, Netherlands.

He shares his insights on disability rights for people living with HIV and co-infected with TB.He also shares MADIPHA’s core activities which also include focus on sexual and gender based violence, livelihood and household income, and policy advocacy and inclusion.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

Disability rights for people with HIV, TB

Do not lift foot off the pedal: #UHC and #endAIDS are not either/or choices!

This UHC Day Podcast features a stimulating conversation with 7 women leaders who spoke with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla at HIV Research for Prevention or HIV R4P International Conference in Madrid, Spain in October 2018. Experts include: Lisa Rossi, Director, Communications and External Relations, MTN (Microbicide Trials Network), USA; Zurah Nakabugo, health journalist, The Observer, Uganda; Thandeka Moyo, health journalist, The Chronicle, Zimbabwe; Angela Oketch, health and science journalist, The Nation, Kenya; Winnie Botha, health journalist, Malawi; Vicky Wandawa, health journalist, The New Vision, Uganda; and Ida Jooste, global health advisor, InterNews.

Universal Health Coverage or UHC is critical for health security. Countries require a strong primary health care platform as the backbone of universal health coverage, in absence of which, we are risking losing gains made in fighting AIDS or TB or malaria or other disease control. We cannot afford not to strengthen UHC. In addition to UHC, we also need to scale up research and development of better tools to prevent infections such as HIV. We not only need new HIV prevention tools but we also need more choices especially for those who are at heightened risk of HIV such as girls and women.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org

#UHCday: Voices of 7 women leaders on boosting HIV prevention to #endAIDS

Strengthening community participation is crucial for ending AIDS

Beryl Osindo, CNS Correspondent, Kenya

Photo credit: Beryl Osindo

HIV/AIDS remains an epidemic in several countries, but major milestones are yet to be reached. In order to achieve the ambitious 90-90-90 targets of UNAIDS by 2020 and to eventually end AIDS by 2030, many countries have incorporated plans that address evidence based studies, systematic scientific findings, and training programs that include people from diverse backgrounds. Notably, key messages around the infection have been shared.

Complacency kills: Prevention cannot take a backseat while we scale up treatment coverage to #endAIDS

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

[Webinar recording, podcast] "The global health system is only as strong as its weakest parts" had said UNDP’s Mandeep Dhaliwal in her article around last year's World AIDS Day. The context has only deepened over the year, not only for ending AIDS but also for health security in general. With Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) on 12th December this year, time is running out to catch up on lost opportunities to advance towards UHC.