CNS: May 2011

What We Need Is A Better Implementation Of The Global Tobacco Treaty

This year's World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2011 highlights the importance of efforts to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) initiated by the World Health Organization. FCTC is the world's first international public health treaty, which aims for a tobacco free healthy global society. "173 countries are now Parties to the FCTC, and that is a major achievement for public health that was almost unimaginable a decade ago", says Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has selected "The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" as the theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on Tuesday, 31 May 2011. On World No Tobacco Day 2011, and throughout the following year, WHO will urge countries to put the treaty at the heart of their efforts to control the global epidemic of tobacco use.

Better Late Than Never: Green signal to new stronger pictorial warnings on tobacco products

Although 1.5 years late in India - pictorial warnings on tobacco products will be rotated as per law

New pictorial warnings:
to be implemented by 1 Dec 2011

This old adage aptly describes the Indian government order to change the existing pictorial warnings on cigarette and tobacco packs. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a gazette notification on 27.5.2011 ordering for the replacement of the existing mild pictorial warnings with more grotesque, scary and effective ones with effect from 1st December 2011. This much needed order has not come a day early, after several deferments due to lack of political will on one hand and intense lobbying by the tobacco industry on the other hand. The existing pictorial warnings had come into being on May 31, 2009. So it will be after close to two and a half years that they will be rotated and replaced by scarier pictures of cancerous mouths/cheeks of men and women and diseased lungs of a man as per the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.

The Micro Small and Medium Industrial Enterprises (MSMEs) can be termed as a gender sensitive sector, as we have women entrepreneurs as well as women workers. This sector is a soft option for women as they generally have lower capital base and technical know- how. It also gives them more flexibility in terms of working from home and makes fewer demands on them by way of time, becuase women are time-poor as they have to look after their households too.

India's policy on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is bound to have significant impact on the country's economy in general, and in the manufacturing sector in particular. India is currently engaged in negotiating bilateral trade and investment agreements with several countries, having already signed FTAs with some of them. The latest in line, and also the most hotly debated, is the one it is negotiating with the European Union (EU). These cover not only trade of goods, but also trade in services, investments, intellectual property rights, and other issues like public procurement and competitive policy. It must be remembered that India's goods trade has not been up to the mark overall and with most of its FTA partners, India’s deficit in NAMA products (non agricultural market access) has increased steadily from Rs 414 billion in 2001-2000 to Rs 5420 billion in 2009-2010. With the exception of Singapore, India has a trade deficit (sometimes an increasing one) with most of its major FTA partners.

(As told by them to CNS )
Their grit and determination affirms our faith in the power of womanhood. Fighting against all odds, they have risen like the Phoenix, and continue to rise high, taking others along with them, transforming lives. All three were part of the Leadership for Results (L4R) program launched by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Positive Women Network (PWN+). Our salutes to them!

The MTBVAC01 vaccine candidate, developed to protect people against tuberculosis, will start Phase I clinical trials early in 2012. This was announced by the Spanish biopharmaceutical company Biofabri. The candidate was developed by the University of Zaragoza, Spain and is part of the international portfolio of TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI). Tuberculosis causes almost two million deaths per year.

Photo credit: Joe Athialy

People's Power Vs Builder Shahi : More Join in Struggle from Across the Country
'One man demolition army', G R Khairnar, who took cudgels against the land mafia and the builder lobby as then Deputy Commissioner (Special – Demolitions) between 2000 - 02 today joined Ghar Bhachao Ghar Banao Andolan's ongoing dharna in Ganesh Krupa Society, amidst the debris of broken houses by government authorities in collusion with Builder Lobby. He said, "the fight today led by Medha Patkar and this movement is an important fight. What he did as someone being in the authority is now being taken up by 'people's power'. This struggle needs support and everyone needs to join hand in this." Even as people lent support and they resolved to fight for their rights demolitions continued in Powai, Mankhurd, Worli, and a couple of other places.

[In lead up to the World No Tobacco Day (31 May) Shobha Shukla's 2010 CNS feature is republished]

The World No Tobacco day is once again upon us to remind us politely that health is a concern of everyone. From personal physical fitness to the threats posed by growing global pandemics, all people share an interest in improving the well-being of themselves and others. Real, sincere and ongoing action is needed to achieve this, instead of mere rhetoric. The war against tobacco needs to be won, and not just fought, with renewed pledges; stricter legislation; innovative awareness programmes; and the will to succeed in curbing the menace of tobacco. Read more

The leadership and development programme for women and girls living with HIV in India
It was indeed an empowering experience for all of us women, and the few men, present at the Valedictory Session of the Leadership for Results (L4R) programme, where 17 undaunted, women living with HIV were lauded for their grit and determination on completion of this L4R training programme. Despite their HIV positive status, despite the trials and tribulations which all of them had faced, despite being disowned and discarded by their parents-in-law, there was no sign of gloom on their faces. Some bitterness, yes, but no resignation. They had successfully completed the L4R programme launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the first time in January 2011 in India, in partnership with the Positive Women's Network (PWN+).

Photo credit: Joe Athialy

Slum dwellers continue to join relay fast from across Mumbai
Till the Golibar residents are not provided justice, till the governments does not take strong action against the land scam by Shivalik Ventures linked to 2G scam and does not permanently stop demolition at Golibar the hunger strike by Medha Patkar which has entered third consecutive day today will continue at Golibar, Khar (East), Mumbai. The UPA Government which has promised to fight corruption must take action against corruption at the ground level which has happen right here in Mumbai under its nose.

The 27 hours of sit-in against antiretroviral (ARV) drugs stock-out in UP and Bihar by people living with HIV (PLHIV) at the offices of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in New Delhi ended when ARV drug supplies were resumed. These ARV drugs were relocated from Gujarat and Delhi and India has no shortage of ARVs for coming couple of months. Fresh ARV supplies are expected within a month, said NACO.

[हिंदी] Mounting pressure on India's AIDS control programme (formally called as National AIDS Control Organisation - NACO) from people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are staging a sit-in inside the NACO offices since Friday, 20 May 2011, yielded partial results when antiretroviral (ARV) drugs reached Gorakhpur and Allahabad antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres at 8:30am on Saturday, 21 May 2011. These ARV drugs have been relocated from Gujarat and Delhi, said Naresh Yadav, who leads the Uttar Pradesh Network of people living with HIV (UPNP+) and is participating in the demonstration and sit-in inside NACO offices in New Delhi. ARV supplies in Bihar might get restored by the evening of 21st May said Naresh Yadav.

Recent reports show UN Agencies increasingly beset by corporate influence, lacking oversight
As health experts gather in Geneva to attend the 64th World Health Assembly (WHA), global civil society organizations are calling on World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr. Margaret Chan to address widespread concerns about corporate conflicts of interest regarding global water governance, health and nutrition policy.

Affects access and may lead to drug resistance
[हिंदी] The Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) is calling on the Health Ministry and National AIDS Control Organization’s (NACO) Director General to urgently address the issues of stock out of AIDS medicines in ART treatment centres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Life-saving AIDS drugs aren’t reaching people living with HIV (PLHIV) in desperate need. According to the local PLHIV networks, there have been several stock outs of AIDS medicines between February and May 2011 at the Allahabad and Gorakhpur ART centres in Uttar Pradesh and Gaya, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzzafarpur, and Patna ART centres in Bihar. PLHIV networks estimate hundreds of PLHIVs may have been affected by the stock outs of AIDS medicines.

On 10th May 2011 the new incoming head of India's national TB programme (formally called Revised National TB Control Programme - RNTCP) met the civil society for an open, informal and participatory interaction on a range of TB-related issues. The RNTCP agreed to support and participate in a proposed national consultation on TB and HIV collaborative activities in India. Participants from the civil society raised several key issues.

[Issues raised by civil society] On 10th May 2011 the new incoming head of India's national TB programme (formally called Revised National TB Control Programme - RNTCP) met the civil society for an open, informal and participatory interaction on a range of TB-related issues. Dr Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director General, Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Dr KS Sachdeva, Chief Medical Officer, RNTCP attended this interface with a range of civil society representatives to have a dialogue on key issues that emerged on TB care and control in India.

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, 18 May 2011
Approximately 7500 people newly infected with HIV every day. In this scenario, the development of an AIDS vaccine is one of the greatest challenges currently in medical research and no viral disease has ever been controlled without a vaccine. Health activists have expressed their concern for early access to effective HIV vaccine. For more than a decade, researchers and advocates have marked HIV Vaccine Awareness Day with varying degrees of hope, cynicism and despair. "Since 2009, in large part because of the results of the Thai Prime-Boost vaccine study, there is greater cause for hope than ever before and a renewed sense of urgency to transform this hope into a reality" said Jittima Jantanamalaka, Thailand.

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) - 17 May
Last month in April, 2011, 66 Muslim schoolboys, aged between 13 and 17, in Malaysia (which is an emerging global economy) were picked out as being too effeminate by their teachers and sent to a special 4 days camp for counselling on masculine behaviour. Razali Daud, director of the education department of Terengganu, said "the boys would undergo physical education, attend religious classes and listen to talks by motivational speakers to guide them back to a proper path in life." While acknowledging that there were transvestites and homosexuals in Malaysia, he said efforts had to be made to keep the numbers down.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) launched its World Diabetes Day campaign 2011, on Monday, 16th May, with the slogan 'Act On Diabetes Now'. One of the poignant messages released by the Federation acknowledges that killing one person every eight seconds and four million per year, diabetes is the number one silent killer that can no longer be ignored.

Guiding Question

What are the ways the Global Fund can strengthen the effectiveness of its country-level partnerships to improve outcomes and impact for the three diseases?

Have your say! Click here

Mohammed Arif and Mohammed Ali Vakil are two energetic brothers in their early thirties based in Bangalore, with a spark of creativity. Small wonder that have published a ninety five page English book titled 40 Sufi comics under the "Creative Commons Attribution No Derivative Works" licence. The Vakils' work was released on-line and in print in January 2011. One can read 40 Sufi Comics on the Internet or purchase it through Amazon and Flipkart. It contains short, simple and meaningful stories represented using black, white and grey illustrations drawn by them.

Findings Result from NIH-funded International Study
Men and women infected with HIV reduced the risk of transmitting the virus to their sexual partners by taking oral antiretroviral medicines when their immune systems were relatively healthy, according to findings from a large-scale clinical study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

They are nothing but barbaric and brutal murders by bigoted persons with feudal minds - So remarked a bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra of the Supreme Court of India.
"All persons who are planning to perpetrate 'honour killing' should know that the gallows await them," said the bench, after upholding the conviction and sentence of one Bhagwan Dass, who killed his daughter for deserting her husband and eloping with an uncle.

Today diabetes has overtaken HIV/AIDS, taking 3.2 million lives every year as compared to 3 million HIV related deaths. Together with other non-communicable diseases (NCD) it has replaced infectious diseases as the major cause of mortality in the world. India has the second highest incidence of diabetes in the world with over 47 million people in the country living with the disease, and the numbers are rising every day. Apart from affecting the metabolism of the body, diabetes also affects the eyes, heart and kidneys, and causes severe foot problems resulting in an estimated 50,000 lower limb amputations every year, which is likely to increase to 100,000 amputations in the near future. Thus diabetes impacts not only the quantity, but also the quality of life.

The Million Message March 2011 is a collaborative communication campaign to mobilize community support and political commitment for the Right to Health and Universal Access. It aims to reach out globally to collect one million messages (by SMS, Tweets) from people in need of treatment and care (for HIV, cancer, TB, diabetes, hepatitis and other life threatening diseases) and their families, care-givers and allies.

In 1945 the catastrophe was inflicted by the enemy. In what remains till date the most horrendous attack on human beings, over three lakhs were killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and many more continued to suffer because of radioactivity related ailments. Today it is self-inflicted catastrophe for Japan . What makes the tragedy of this most ill fated nation on earth, from the point of view of nuclear mishaps, more ironic is that it had resolved not to develop a nuclear weapon programme. The Japanese argument was that they would not like any other human population on earth to suffer the way they did in 1945 attack. In spite of this noble resolve they chose to go ahead with a big nuclear energy programme for power generation. They would have never imagined that their nuclear power plants would one day bring back the nightmares of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to haunt them.

[To mark 11 May 1998 when India conducted its nuclear tests and ushered in an arms race in the subcontinent, we are republishing Dr Sandeep Pandey's 2007 article below]
When you hear of Koodankulam the image that conjures up is that of the nuclear power plant coming up there with Russian help. Two reactors which have been imported from Russia will have an installed capacity of 1000 MW each. No functioning reactor in India is so big. However, if you were to visit Koodankulam, what strikes you most is not the nuclear power plant so much but the hundreds of continuously rotating wind mills. Whereas the nuclear power plant is yet to be commissioned, the wind mills are already generating more than 2000 MW of power in Tamil Nadu.

Report: Philip Morris International's grabbing at straws
NEW YORK: As Philip Morris International (PMI) executives heralded the corporation's USD 27 billion revenues in 2010 at its annual shareholders' meeting, another not-so-welcome account of the corporation's activities was distributed to shareholders. Corporate Accountability International released a report called "Philip Morris International Exposed: Alternative Annual Report," documenting the human toll of PMI's profits and the range of tactics employed to grease the wheels for such earnings – tactics ranging from hiding behind front groups to litigation and intimidation of national governments.

[हिंदी] 'Tobacco Control' and 'Fight Against Corruption' were the two burning issues-in-spotlight at a youth awareness programme organized by Citizens For Healthy Lucknow campaign, at ALS Academy in Lucknow. Noted social activist and Magsaysay Awardee, Dr Sandeep Pandey exhorted the students to fight corruption, by making full use of the tool of Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005. He also appealed to the students to take a pledge to neither give nor take bribes.

[Photo] [Audio podcasts] Although estimates of people with diabetes in India are getting updated on an ongoing basis, there are at least 47 million people with diabetes in India. "That means we have 94 million feet to look after" said Dr Arun Bal, founder-President of Diabetic Foot Society of India (DFSI) and one of the legendary diabetic foot surgeons in the country, associated with Raheja Hospital, Fortis Hospital and Hinduja Hospital, besides being a visiting Professor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeeth. "13.5 million feet will develop ulcers and 100,000 amputations will take place in India alone due to diabetic foot. Diabetic foot is a major public health problem in India" said Dr Bal.

The department of Endocrinology, Diabetic lower limb and Podiatric surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS), Kochi, conducted its two days annual Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference (ADFC 2011), in the institute which concluded on 7th May ‘11. It was a very successful attempt in bringing forth the problems, as well as the solutions, faced in the treatment of the diabetic foot, thanks to the tireless efforts of the organising secretary, Dr Ajith Kumar Verma.

[Photo] [Audio podcasts] In an award-winning research paper presentation at the Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference (ADFC 2011), Dr Shibin T Sudevan, Department of Endocrinology and Podiatric Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS) presented the study 'Bacteriological profile of diabetic foot infections' making a clear conclusion: judicious use of antibiotics will decide the treatment outcome of diabetic foot infections. ADFC 2011 is being held in Kochi, India (6-7 May 2011). "The treatment of diabetic foot involves offloading, proper wound care and judicious use of antibiotics. Selecting an effective antibiotic regimen requires the knowledge of the prevailing microbial pattern" said Dr Shibin Sudevan.

[Photo] [Audio podcasts] A collaborative approach between different specialities in a hospital can save the limb in people with diabetic foot who are slipping towards amputation. "There is always room for change and betterment" said Dr Sarnarendra S Miranpuri, Section of Podiatric Surgery, Detroit Medical Centre, USA, who was delivering the keynote address at the Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference (ADFC 2011). The ADFC 2011 is being organized by Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS) in Kochi, India (6-7 May 2011).

(Based on an interview given exclusively to CNS by Dr KR Suresh, Director, Jain Institute of Vascular Sciences)
[Audio recording] Diabetes is a disease of the nerves and the blood vessels. Poor blood sugar control affects almost all organs of the body, but the worst sufferers are the feet, said Dr KR Suresh, Director, Jain Institute of Vascular Sciences, Bangalore, India, who spoke to CNS at the Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference (ADFC 2011), organized by Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS), Kochi, India (6-7 May 2011). The two main components of diabetes are blood vessel damage and nerve damage (neuropathy). Blockage of the blood vessels results in lack of blood supply. In the case of nerve damage, the patient may not know about it in the initial stages, especially in a country like India where people generally do not go for annual medical checkups, said Dr Suresh.

[Photo] [Audio podcasts] Thus spoke Swami Sampoojya Poornamritanandapuri, at the inaugural function of Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference (ADFC 2011), organized by Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS), Kochi, India (6-7 May 2011). In the words of Swamiji, 'we can reach a supreme state of bliss if we respect our body, as the human body is a temple in which God resides.' So we must refrain from insulting anybody and must respect everybody. It is important for all of us to keep our bodies healthy and pure as they are too precious to be neglected. This can be done by eating proper and pure food so that we remain fit to perform our duties towards society. Out of this respect arises the need to control diseases like diabetes.

On 7 May Prof. Peter Lawætz Andersen of the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) in Denmark, research partner and steering committee member of TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI), will receive the prestigious Novo Nordisk prize. He receives the prize of DKK 1,500,000 (around € 200,000) for his pioneering research on the development of vaccines against tuberculosis. The prize is awarded annually by the Danish Novo Nordisk Foundation as a reward for outstanding medical research or other research efforts that could benefit medical science. The prize comprises a personal reward of DKK 500,000 and a research grant of DKK 1,000,000.

India's national AIDS programme lacks transparency and civil society participation, said health activists of Delhi Network of people living with HIV (DNP+). Working group meetings for planning the fourth phase of India's AIDS programme (2011-2017) are being held in New Delhi. DNP+ is calling on National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)'s Director General to increase transparency around the process and strengthen participation of civil society, particularly representatives of vulnerable communities, groups working on access to treatment, community based organizations and state level people living with HIV (PLHIV) networks in the working groups.

A study titled ‘Size and Usage Patterns of Private TB Markets in the High-Burden Countries’ was recently conducted by the TB Alliance and IMS Health (a healthcare market research and consulting-services firm) and published yesterday (4^th May, 2011) in the journal PLoS ONE. It is the first of its kind detailed study which explores the private TB Drug Markets in 10 high TB burden countries, which carry 60% of the world’s TB burden (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand, and Viet Nam). According to this new study, the private TB drug market is surprisingly large and has irregular practices that could be driving treatment failures and contributing to emergence of multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which is further worsening the TB epidemic.

[हिंदी] [Photo] Enforce tobacco control laws by using RTI

Using Right To Information (RTI) Act in ensuring proper implementation of government policies including those in tobacco control was the issue-in-spotlight at Sherwood Academy, Sector-25, Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Magsaysay Awardee and noted social activist Dr Sandeep Pandey who was the Chief Guest, taught students how to write applications under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to fight corruption, and to increase accountability and transparency. He also appealed to the students to take a pledge never to give or take bribe.

[हिंदी] [Photo] Since majority of tobacco addiction takes root in young age, children and youth need to be informed of tobacco-related diseases, disabilities and deaths to make a wise choice and say no to tobacco, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General’s Awardee (2005), who was the Chief Guest at the Grow Without Tobacco theme discussion organized at Delhi Public School (DPS), in Sector-19, Indira Nagar, Lucknow.

Prevention Of Major Amputations In Diabetic Lower Limb Wounds

This is the theme of the 'Amrita Diabetic Foot Conference 2011', which is being organized by the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetic lower limb and Podiatric Surgery, Amrita Institute Of Medical Sciences And Research Centre, (AIMS) Kochi, Kerala, on 6th and 7th May 2011. Renowned podiatric surgeons and endocrinologists from India, Australia and the United States are expected to take part in the two days deliberations and share their expertise and latest techniques in the field of surgical & medical management of Diabetic foot.

Doha Talks Sound The Death Knell Of Industrial Development

The Centre for Trade and Development (Centad) and Third World Network (TWN), in collaboration with Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS), recently organized a very lively and informative workshop to discuss the current undercurrents of the Doha talk. The workshop was ably facilitated by eminent personalities—notably Mr Martin Khor, (a Malaysian economist, activist and journalist all rolled into one) Executive Director, South Centre Geneva, S Narayanan, former ambassador to General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Sanya Reid Smith, Legal Advisor TWN, and other experts from various fields.

World Asthma Day: 3 May 2011
The theme of World Asthma Day 2011 on 3 May 2011, again highlights "you can control your asthma", but, according to the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), control of asthma remains a distant goal for patients in low- and middle- income countries, where the low availability and the prohibitive cost of asthma inhalers are still major barriers for proper asthma care. That's why The Union established the Asthma Drug Facility (ADF), a project that has demonstrated that these barriers can be overcome.

[हिंदी] India had undoubtedly witnessed a historic social mobilization against corruption in early April 2011, led by Gandhian leader Anna Hazare. However right after he broke his fast after the Indian government issued the notification inviting civil society to be part of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, a number of controversies and allegations hounded them since then. Braving them all, Anna Hazare and his other comrades moved ahead with the Lokpal Bill drafting process and are now going on a nation-wide tour to consult the people on Lokpal Bill. Two members of Anna's team, Magsaysay Awardee, noted RTI activist and former Income Tax official Arvind Kejriwal and Rights Livelihood Awardee Swami Agnivesh were in Lucknow at St Francis' College, seeking suggestions from citizens on Lokpal Bill.

The recent incident of a five year old being raped and murdered by her neighbour in New Delhi is yet another example of the increasing numbers of children who face sexual abuse. Add to that the case of a child from Kanpur who was sexually abused by her school teacher and died as a result, and a disturbing trend of children under threat will emerge. But in Uttar Pradesh such instances have not been few. In Sept 2009, 13 year old girl was found dead and her 7 year old friend was found lying unconscious with her hands amputated and knife wounds and burn marks on her body on the railway tracks near Manak Nagar, in Lucknow.

In a small village in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh state, 88 out of 545 children were found severely malnourished, of which 32 died within a span of a week. These children succumbed to a situation due to absence of any medical intervention though the deaths were very much preventable. No wonder, that about 49 percent of world's malnourished children live in India and more than 40 percent of Indian children are underweight whereas 45 percent have stunted growth. The situation is alarming in the country's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest infant mortality rate (67/1000) in the country.

Addressing human rights in country settings

Guiding Question
What changes can the Global Fund make to its model to address barriers in the delivery of evidence-based services to most at risk and other underserved populations - in a way that protects human rights and prevents violations?

Have your say! click here