CNS: 2010

Lucknow citizens come out in support of Dr Binayak Sen

A public demonstration was staged in Lucknow by various citizens and people's organizations and citizens in support of Dr Binayak Sen and to condemn the fraudulent punishment by the Court against Dr Binayak Sen. Across the country, citizens have taken to the streets protesting against the charges levelled against the prestigious 'Jonathan Mann Awardee for Global Health and Human Rights' (2008) Dr Binayak Sen, who is a well-known paediatrician and human rights defender in Chhattisgarh.

One of the most powerful and cost-effective mediums to educate consumers about the hazards of smoking is the pictorial health warning on the package of tobacco products itself. It has universal reach, and the cost of package warnings is paid for by the tobacco companies, not the government. It is empirically established from the experiences of other countries that strong pictorial health warnings on tobacco products are powerful communication tools that can take the message of the health hazards of tobacco to the masses, including the illiterate. Health warnings on tobacco product packages are critical to any effective tobacco control strategy, as they deter non starters and motivate consumers to quit. Read more

Christmas wasn't merry...
2011 will be unhappy
until Dr. Binayak Sen is free!
Some of us were fortunate to spend a few hours with this soft spoken civil liberties activist sometime back. His humility was touching and inspiring. It is extremely painful that an insecure state has imprisoned him again on irrational grounds. We hope that this humane spirit will return to remote parts of rural Chattisgarh to continue working for the benefit of some of the most excluded Indians through his organization, Rupantar, soon. Read more

Before leaving Diyarbakir on 19th December, 2010, for the last stop-over in Turkey, Gaziantep, the Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan visited the grave of Ali Haydar Bengi, the local man who got killed in the Israeli attack on flotilla from Turkey on 31 May, 2010, in international waters of Mediterrean Sea. His is one among the many graves with flowers planted on top in the graveyard but Bengi is now considered a proud martyr in Turkey as well as among Kurds. The members of caravan stood in silence for some moments at his grave. Read more

It is Christmas time once again. It is the season of rejoicing; of giving and receiving; of raising our hands in Thanksgiving. My earliest recollections of Christmas festivities are associated with the socks which, we as children (even in Hindu homes), would hang up somewhere (not by the fireside, as there would be none) on Christmas Eve for Father Christmas to fill up. We were always rewarded with sweets or a story book, or something similar, which was sometimes found tucked under our pillows next morning, if it did not fit inside our small socks. But then, we had small desires and these simple gifts made us immensely happy. Read more

The 70th Annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India ASICON 2010, held recently in New Delhi was one of the largest medical conferences of surgeons in the world. Over 7000 national and international delegates from India, England, Scotland, USA, Egypt and SAARC nations attended the conference. Read more

The first Asia to Gaza solidarity caravan reached Tibriz from Tehran (Iran) on 13th December, 2010. On the way the people of Zanjan welcomed the caravan and offered lunch. The mayor of Tibriz, Alireza Novin, hosted the caravan. The member of the caravan from Republic of Azerbaijan, Hakim Alijade, was the most popular with the crowd as he spoke in Turkish which is a popular language in this region of Iran. Infact, Tibriz falls in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. Upon reaching Tibriz and two days before crossing over into Turkey the caravan was greeted by the morale boosting news that seven members of parliament of Iran have decided to join the caravan to Gaza. Read more

One of the best chances of stemming the tide of tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in low- and middle- income countries is to thwart the transmission cycle – by diagnosing TB early, and treating it successfully without delay. The microscope has been around since 1882 as the key standard TB diagnostic tool, and with low sensitivity (50-60%) and other challenges in detecting TB in varying conditions and co-morbidities, it is clear that it is high time we use better, more effective and efficient tools to accurately detect TB, and neither mis-diagnose nor miss TB diagnosis in myriad settings. Read more

Flashback: CNS Stop-TB Initiative in 2010

As we move towards the end of 2010, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all Seasons Greetings and a happy, healthy and peaceful new year in 2011. We at CNS Stop-TB Initiative will like to thank our thousands of visitors for their support and participation on a range of issues around tuberculosis (TB) control and TB-HIV co-infection. Read more

The 70th annual conference of Association of Surgeons of India (ASICON) being held in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campus, New Delhi, India, is showcasing recent and most modern advancements in surgery. More than 7000 surgeons from India and other countries are participating in ASICON 2010 (15-20 December ,2010), said Dr NK Pandey, national President of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) and Managing Director of Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS). Dr Pandey is a recepient of the most coveted award in medicine in India - Dr BC Roy Award. Read more

Although significant advances in tuberculosis (TB) control have taken place over the past years, the TB levels are not going down as fast as expected earlier (10% decline every year was projected). Not to say that commendable work hasn’t happened in TB control – rather TB control has received major thrust over the past decade certainly in terms of programming, strategy (new Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015 was just released in October 2010), funding and research initiatives as well. However despite of all the good, the new TB cases continue to emerge and TB levels haven't reduced as earlier estimated (TB rates are coming down, but coming down too slowly). Read more

The TB Photovoice Project, the winner of the 2010 TB Survival Prize, started as a one man's way to deal with the loss of his beloved ones to tuberculosis (TB). By now, it is touching the lives of many people around the world, helping – through pictures and narratives – to empower and raise the voices of persons and communities affected by the disease. Read more

Asia to Gaza Caravan
After overcoming the initial obstacles in South Asia, where, first the Pakistani government denied visas to some Indians, then Indian government delayed permission to those of its citizens who had obtained visas from the Pakistani government to cross the Wagha border on foot, and the biggest disappointment in the form of denial by Pakistani government to permit the caravan to travel the land route through Balochistan, the peace activists assembled in Zahedan after flying into Iran via Tehran. This is where they would have arrived if they had followed the land route from Delhi through India and Pakistan. Read more

Over 100 girl students of Husain Chutki Bhandar Inter College participated in a poster making and debate competition on the theme 'present condition of youth and their rights.' The competitors from classes 9 to 11, through the medium of brush, colors and words added their voice and support to the urgent need of a youth policy for Uttar Pradesh, which has a large population of youth. The movement for a legal youth policy for the state is being spear-headed through Uttar Pradesh Youth policy advocacy campaign. Read more

Last week, 33 organizations across India issued the following statement in support of Tehelka reporter Shahina KK. She faces charges from the Karnataka Police under IPC 506 for intimidating witnesses. Her expose in The Tehelka showed how the police case against Abdul Nasar Madani, head of the People's Democratic Front (PDP), accused in 2008 Bengaluru blasts, was fragile and based on non-existent and false testimonies. Read more

The "International Symposium on TB Diagnostics: Innovating to make an impact" (ITBS 2010) shall soon be held in New Delhi, India during 16-17 December 2010. It is being organized by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). ITBS 2010 is being co-sponsored by Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). Read more

Those Were The Days In Lucknow

S H O B H A S H U K L A - C N S

Oft in the noisy nights, when smog hides the starry lights, the wafting smells of childhood make my world look bright.

Those were the days when innocence had not lost its naivety to the allure of the mobile phone, or the ready access to internet porn sites, or the dizzying effect of television reality shows.

An Asia to Gaza caravan is being planned from New Delhi to Gaza during the month of December, 2010, as part of the international effort to break the three year old blockade of Gaza by Israeli forces. This is probably the first time such an ambitious caravan, through land route, has been planned to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. It is to travel through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Egypt. On the way a part of the caravan will also visit Jordan and Lebanon. Meetings will be organized along the route to mobilize public opinion against the blockade of Gaza by Israel, the anniversary of which falls on 27th December. If everything goes alright the caravan will reach Gaza to coincide with this date. Read more

Mumbai High Court hears NAPM's petition on Adarsh: Government of Maharashtra and CBI must take a final call on Adarsh investigation by 20th December
The Government of Maharashtra has sent Notices to 17 Bureaucrats (IAS, IPS and IFS) under the All-India Services Conduct Rules, seeking information on their sources of income and funding and property ownership, seeking a reply within eight days. Read more

BOMBAY HIGH COURT REFUSES TO STAY THE STOP WORK NOTICE ISSUED BY MOEF TO LAVASA FOR CARRYING OUT WORK OF HILL STATION ILLEGALLY
Lavasa Lake City Corporation approached the Bombay High Court’s Division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S J Kathawala on Thursday to get the stop work notice issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests stayed. However, the Hon’ble Court refused Lavasa’s stay petition and clubbed the case with the NAPMs petition in the same matter. Read more

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to affect society's most vulnerable - those who live in abject poverty, are marginalized or economically and socially isolated. The poor and vulnerable people are much more likely to suffer from TB due to socioeconomic factors. The poor face significant costs and delays in accessing TB services and treatment outcomes are more likely to be adverse, said Rachael Thomson from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) who was nominated by the TB and poverty sub-working group of Stop TB Partnership to speak at the Biennial Conference of Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) held in Maynooth, Ireland (29-30 November 2010). The IFGH meet was organized by IFGH with support from Combat Diseases of Poverty Consortium (CDPC), Irish Aid and National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUIM). Read more

A peacock seems to love the evening namaaz (the Muslim prayer) in a village of Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. It dances in the courtyard of the mosque throughout the evening prayer. So the locals call it the ‘jannat ka parinda’(the bird from heaven). It spreads its wings and dances in gay abandon as if paying obeisance to the Almighty. For the past two years, heera (as the villagers lovingly call him), has reportedly not missed the namaaz even once , come rain, hail or sunshine. Read more

An Irish non-profit, Right to Sight (RTS), partnered with a NGO – Lions Aravinda Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO) and a private-for-profit company, Shalina, to deliver quality, affordable and sustainable eye care in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), shared Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, who was speaking at the Biennial Conference of Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) in Maynooth, Ireland (29-30 November 2010). This meet is being organized by IFGH with support from Irish Aid, National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUIM) and Combat Diseases of Poverty Consortium (CDPC). Read more

To commemorate World AIDS Day, December 1, 2010 some AIDS affected children from Lucknow, Sultanpur, and Bara Banki districts of Uttar Pradesh, had a dialogue with the media at the Uttar Pradesh Press Club. The Uttar Pradesh Welfare For people living with HIV/AIDS (UPNP+) supported by UNICEF and Media Nest, a pan India body of Media professionals, facilitated this one hour long interaction under 'Media for Children'. Read more

Today, 1st of December, is World AIDS Day—a grim reminder of this killer disease, which has devastated millions of families all over the world. In Uttar Pradesh alone, more than 35,000 AIDS patients were registered with the state AIDS Control Office till September, 2010. How many more unregistered people would there be, is anybody’s guess. Amongst the registered ones, there are 1597 male and 777 female HIV positive children. Read more

Strengthening Health Systems: Global Health Financing

A new research report "Financing Global Health 2010: Development assistance and country spending in economic uncertainty", by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, indicates that despite the worst global economic crisis in decades, public and private donors continue to donate generously to global health, though at a slower rate. The report documents the continued rise in health funding and the effects of that funding on spending for health by governments in developing countries. The commitment to health in the developing world has grown dramatically over the last twenty years, with the developing countries' governments increasing their spending on health. Read more

Dr. Viroj Tangcharoensathien, the Director of International Health Policy Program, MOPH Thailand and the winner of Edwin Chardwick Medal Award, shared the successful experiences of Thailand over 27 years to achieve full Universal Health Coverage at the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR), 16 – 19 November 2010, Montreux, Switzerland. Read more.

Inspiring stories, both on paper and film, have recently been published to address the issue of tuberculosis (TB) in Thailand. The TB/HIV Research Foundation bundled the memories of volunteers working with people affected by TB in a book, and made a video to enhance treatment adherence among people living with TB. Read more.

At the forthcoming Biennial Conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) in Maynooth, Ireland, one of the two keynote guest lectures - The John Kevany Memorial lecture - will be delivered by Dr Zeda Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) on "New Science, New Hope: Giving Women Power over HIV/AIDS." The microbicides refer to a new type of product being developed that people could use vaginally or rectally to protect themselves from HIV and possibly other sexually transmitted infections. Read more

Three-quarters of all blindness can be prevented or treated. Avoidable blindness poses an enormous challenge to healthcare system, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. There are nine million people in Africa alone with preventable blindness, out of which 50-75% people are blind due to cataract and 5% due to glaucoma, says Keerti Bhusan Pradhan (Right To Sight) who is heading to Ireland to present his work in Africa at the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) biennial conference next week (29-30 November 2010). Read more

Health remains the most important goal in one’s life. All diseases need proper attention, though (one may argue) some need more attention than others. Our fight should not be directed merely against certain specific diseases, but to have a disease free and healthy mind and body. To achieve this, we will need to strengthen health systems and work towards the fair and equitable distribution of health care resources to all those who need them. Read more

Asthma is the most common chronic disease. Since 2000, some areas of public health, such as tuberculosis (TB), have gone from being deprived of resources for decades to having significant amounts of funding. While important gaps remain, this “dream come true” has also revealed that spending better is equally necessary as spending more. Ms Cécile Macé, Pharmacist and Coordinator, The Union's Asthma Drug Facility (ADF) said at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany that "ADF improves affordability of essential asthma medicines in developing countries." Read more

"Where we have indigenous people, we have more poverty and more TB incidence" said Mirtha del Granado, Regional Adviser on TB, WHO (in Americas) at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, Berlin, Germany. There are 63,432 missed cases of TB in Americas (North, Central and South America), said Mirtha. Most of them are in Priority countries detecting less than 50% TB, said Mirtha. Read more

"Basic human rights as enjoyed by others have not benefitted indigenous peoples. Therefore the respect and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples is critical to our dignity and survival. In particular, implementation of our right to health is essential if we are to stop TB" said Wilton Littlechild, Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations, who was speaking at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany. Read more

As the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany was going on, another development took place in Canada – which will surely impact public health including tuberculosis (TB) and lung health among indigenous communities. Canada endorsed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Communities. Wilton Littlechild, Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations, has been a powerful advocate demanding this endorsement from Canada since years. Four states had voted against the declaration initially, New Zealand, Australia, United States of America and Canada. However, New Zealand and Australia had changed their position and endorsed the declaration earlier. Now Canada too have endorsed the declaration, thankfully. Read more

"Current economic crisis threatens to reverse much of the progress made in developing countries"
The Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) is concerned at the further cuts to the overseas aid budget in the Government's four-year plan. It urges the Government to protect aid funding for health and HIV programmes in developing countries and to keep its promise to increase aid to 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015. The current economic crisis threatens to reverse much of the progress made in developing countries over recent decades and UNESCO estimates that the economic downturn will cause between 200,000 and 400,000 additional child deaths each year between now and 2015. Urgent measures are needed to protect the poor and vulnerable. Read more

The biennial conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) to mark the World AIDS Day (1 December) is focussing on the theme of "Partnerships to address health and diseases of poverty challenges." IFGH together with National University of Ireland (NUI) Maynooth and Irish Aid is organizing this two days meet (29-30 November 2010) bringing together experts from all sectors involved and working on global health - in particular, issues affecting the developing world. Read more

The Ambassador of Indonesia, Lt Gen (Retd) Andi M Ghalib, has been extensively touring all across Indian states, re-building relations. Indonesia is a member state of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Finally, he found the place, which he liked the most and which according to him, can actually work towards reaffirming the economic, cultural and social relations between the two countries. The place is heart of India – the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Lt Gen Ghalib was on a four day visit to Uttar Pradesh. Read more

Simple, safe and effective medication is a right of all TB patients

A new report, presented at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health held recently in Berlin, Germany, by a consortium of international TB organizations (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Global Drug Facility (GDF), Treatment Action Group, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), the Global Alliance for Drug Development (TB Alliance), and Management Sciences for Health) has highlighted that many TB patients, especially in the developing countries, are still not getting simple, quality assured first line medicines which are available in the global market. Read more

“Around 150 million people are suffering from the hardships presented by the collapse of financial systems. And 100 million people have actually been pushed under the poverty line because of the need to use and pay for health services," said David Evans, director of health systems financing at the WHO and the author of World Health Report 2010, which was officially launched in November. Read more

“Every year almost 9 million children and infants die from preventable causes.”

“1 in 5 children are now over weight. Childhood obesity is 10 times higher than it was in 1970.”

“Poverty and disease in any one country has an impact on every other country because we are all living in an age where national borders should matter less and humanity matters more.”

These are some of the hard hitting quotes that Judith Rodin, the president of Rockefeller Foundation stated over the opening session of The First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR) which was held in Montreux, Switzerland, from 16 to 19 November 2010. The event was hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners in order to scale up better health systems research. Read more

Declaration at treaty meeting affirms priority of public health over trade
PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY – As the host country for this week's tobacco control treaty meetings braces for a legal challenge from Philip Morris International (PMI) to its graphic cigarette warning labels, 172 Parties are uniting behind Uruguay in a declaration adopted at this meet. The declaration reaffirms the right of Parties to the treaty, "to give priority to their right to public health” over trade, given the “devastating worldwide health, social, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke." Read more

Berlin, Germany: Louder voices and more demand for new tools against tuberculosis (TB) from people and communities are needed to push the fight against the airborne disease, participants of the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany (November 11-15) stressed. Read more

(Based on an interview given exclusively to CNS by Dr. Dean Schraufnagel, Vice president of The Union, and Professor of Medicine and Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, during the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, which was held in Berlin during 11--15 November,2010)
The connection between breath and life is fundamental, yet lung health does not seem to be high on the public health agenda. Around 10 million people (especially the poor, old and the weak) die every year, due to lung diseases, including tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia, influenza, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) which is soon going to become the number one killer. Read more

The discussions at the recently concluded 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, in Berlin, brought forth several connections between diabetes and tuberculosis, clearly showing a link between non communicable and communicable diseases. According to Professor Anthony Harries, a seasoned physician and Director, Department of Research, at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), "There is very good evidence which suggests that if you have diabetes, the risk of TB is twice than if you do not have it. In terms of diagnosis and treatment also, there is similarity of obstacles. We do not have simple diagnostic tests available for both these diseases." Read more

One of the most adversely affected communities is at times least likely to seek care – as demanding care might have a price. "Relevance of strong tuberculosis (TB) control programmes is more when social determinants are weak" said Dr Ernesto Jaramillo from Stop TB Department, WHO at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, Berlin, Germany. Read more

Uruguay proposes resolution calling for unity in face of tobacco industry interference
PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY: A new investigative report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists exposes a wide range of tactics employed by the tobacco industry to undermine advances being made by the global tobacco treaty. Threats to health policy include aggressive lobbying and legal intimidation, to charitable donations and even outright payoffs. Read more

Within that pill is also your health – said Rachel C Orduno who herself completed anti-TB treatment (ATT) years back to encourage others who were on ATT and didn’t want to take the pills due to toxicity and side effects of ATT. “Take the pills and get on with your lives” said she. She showed a photograph of all ATT pills for her family put in one bag – and titled the photograph as ‘Gift of Health.’ Six of her family members had come out positive for TB. This was one of the most motivating sessions at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany (symposium of advocacy, communication and social mobilization – ACSM on 14 November 2010). Rachel C Orduno was introduced as a TB survivor, rightly so – who continues to strengthen social response to TB that complements the biomedical one in such a vital way. Read more

Success hinges on treaty financing, limiting industry interference
PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY: A weeklong treaty meetings commenced on 15 November 2010 as an industry prohibited from participating attempts to influence its outcomes from the outside looking in. Philip Morris International (PMI) is launching a legal attack against Uruguay for implementing the global tobacco treaty (formally known as the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) by requiring graphic warning labels on its cigarettes. Read more

The private pharmacists are real partners in TB control helping increase new TB case detection and treatment in Cambodia. Senior TB advocate Hara Mihalea from PATH presented the best practice example of Cambodia at the 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health in Berlin, Germany. Not only private agencies referred suspected TB cases to TB clinics for further diagnosis and required treatment, they also stopped keeping anti-TB treatment drugs in their pharmacies – an outcome in Cambodia that surely needs to be replicated in many settings. Read more

Sting operations are morally, ethically and professionally wrong: Kuldip Nayar

Bara Banki: "Sting operations are morally, ethically and professionally wrong, they are pure drama and stunt, aimed at creating sensationalism. This is not responsible journalism." These were the views of veteran journalist and chief patron of Media Nest, while speaking in a seminar "Sting operation: trial by fire", organized by Media Nest at Jahangirabad Media Institute at Bara Banki on 13 November 2010. Read more

World Diabetes Day is on 14th November
Diabetes is a leading threat to public health and, along with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality globally. The largest burden -- 80% (28 million) -- occurs in low- and middle- income countries, making NCDs a major cause of poverty and an urgent development issue. Building awareness of this issue is the main focus of World Diabetes Day, which will be on Sunday, 14 November 2010.

"You can not talk about public health today without addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries", said Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), which is one of the key partners of the NCD Alliance. Read more

Today is World Diabetes Day and also Children’s Day in India. We are also in the middle of an international conference on Lung Health in Berlin ( 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, Berlin, Germany (11-15 November 2010). There can be better way to meaningfully link all these events together than by taking part in the Global Walk which is being promoted by the World Diabetes Foundation. Read more