CNS: November 2017

Women with disabilities: Are they nobody's children?

Swapna Majumdar, CNS Correspondent, India

Maria Cresta Anore at APCRSHR

Maria Cresta Anore cannot hear or speak. But her expressive eyes and animated fingers articulate her enthusiasm. Being at the 9th Asia Pacific Conference for Reproductive and Sexual health and Rights (APCRSHR) in Vietnam is a dream come true for her. It is not just the opportunity to engage with health and gender activists from the region that excites her. As a peer facilitator, Anore is keen to learn more about how to advocate for justice in sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially for women with disabilities back home in Philippines.

[Webinar] When TB bacteria and HIV virus can work together, why can't we? #WorldAIDSday

Breaking the TB-diabetes nexus for a healthier India

Dr Sophia Thomas, CNS Correspondent, India

Source: World Diabetes Foundation

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day 2017 (November 14), Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Deputy Director General and Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), called for a standardised approach to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) similar to the Indian government’s Revised National TB control programme (RNTCP). Interestingly, there is a synergistic linkage between the two diseases which share some common risk factors.

Growing call to translate commitment to action for a TB-free world

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

"... Nobody is immune to tuberculosis (TB), including those in the first world countries. More than 20% TB cases are linked to smoking globally. We are aware of our responsibilities and reducing deaths from TB, as well as from CVDs, is one of our country’s priorities. Only with coordinated and concerted action will we be able to defeat TB. I hope this meeting will boost the quality of life and healthcare globally..." so said Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation at the World Health Organization (WHO)'s "Global Ministerial Conference: Ending TB in the sustainable development era: A multi-sectoral response" held in Moscow recently.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

"I suffered for 10 long years. and then one fine day I decided I would not tolerate any more violence. I thought to myself that in a few years’ time my son would get married and will have kids. And I would continue getting thrashed in front of my daughter-in-law and grandchildren. No, I would not suffer anymore," so said Lila who comes from a Dalit community of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.

[Watch webinar recording] [Listen or download audio podcast] In lead up to World AIDS Day 2017, it is important to review that despite strong scientific evidence-backed policies and programmes, we are still failing to avert every TB related death among people living with HIV (PLHIV). TB continues to be the lead killer of PLHIV.

Research is not a luxury but a necessity to end TB

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

More than 1000 participants, including the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, ministers from over 75 countries, donors, researchers, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders, had met at the first-ever "WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in the Sustainable Development Era: A Multisectoral Response" which was held in Moscow on 16-17 November 2017, to forge stronger inter-sectoral partnerships for accelerating action to end TB.

World Diabetes Day 2017: A special focus on women

Dr Amitava Acharyya, CNS Correspondent, India

Worldwide World Diabetes Day (WDD) is held on the 14th of November. The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day campaign is ‘Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future’. This theme is aimed at increasing awareness around diabetes in women at risk of or living with diabetes around the world.

Breaking the shackles of patriarchy

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

“Men always suppress women. It is for women to think that if they want to live their lives they have to be strong enough and step out of their homes. They should not be scared of ‘what society would say!’. If we are in the right, we do not have to be afraid of anyone. There is no shame in raising your voice against injustice, no matter what others say. Keep your spirits high.”

Latent TB deserves more attention

Dr Amitava Acharyya, CNS Correspondent, India

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major infectious disease globally. After initial contact with viable TB bacilli, hosts who fail to clear all Mycobacterium TB (M.TB) can progress to the status of latent TB infection (LTBI) and have a life-time risk of 5%–15% to further progress into active disease.

Applied health research for making systems work for all is vital to #endTB

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

[Watch video interview] [Listen/ download podcast] "Excellence in health means devoting your life to ending poverty" said physician and comedian Patch Adams many years ago, but these words have gained even more relevance in the current context and development paradigm.

Time to manage diabetes and latent TB

Roger Paul Kamugasha, CNS Correspondent, Uganda

Research has proved that people with diabetes are at high risk of developing active TB disease. This calls for global attention to focus on specific action in order to shift the paradigm of the escalating TB-diabetes burden. These actions should focus on earmarking resources for investment into research, advocacy communication and social mobilization.

Link between diabetes and TB

Dr P S Sarma, CNS Correspondent, India

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one disease that can have an adverse affect on many organs of the body. Like wise, it has a great impact on all forms of TB—whether latent or active . People with DM have a high risk of getting TB, more so if they are having poor diabetes control. Diabetes prevalence is increasing especially is low income settings where TB is already endemic.