CNS: January 2018

Her husband's suspicious nature ruined her life

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

Ratnavali’s story bears testimony to the fact that 'doubt is a disease that infects the mind, creating a mistrust of people’s motives and one’s own perceptions.' Her husband’s suspicious nature made her suffer untold miseries for more than 25 years. Ratnavali Vishwakarma, daughter of late Dr Siddhgopal (then a government doctor), hails from Pailani, Banda, in Uttar Pradesh, India. She got married in 1982 to a teacher in the same village when was just 18 years of age and had passed Class X. Her father-in-law had been in the army and her husband was the youngest of three brothers - all of who were in the teaching profession. Siddhgopal thought that he was marrying his daughter in an educated family. Little did he realise what lay in store for her.

[Watch webinar recording] [Listen to (or download) the podcast] In the lead up to the World Cancer Day 2018, this webinar will provide an opportunity to have a direct interface with key experts and participate in the online discussion, on reviewing if we are on track to deliver on promises made to prevent avoidable cancers, and avert premature deaths due to cancers. Governments have committed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reducing premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030, is among these targets. What more can we do to accelerate progress towards these goals and targets, and reducing global cancer burden?

Turning sunset years into gold

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

[Watch video interview] [Listen or download podcast] As soon as I set foot inside Care Resort Chiang Mai, for the elderly in northern Thailand, I was immediately struck by its spacious, sylvan and tranquil surroundings. Set in Maerim valley, 20 km away from the Lanna province of Chiang Mai, this retirement facility is owned and managed by 66 years old British businessman Peter Brown and his Thai wife. Opened in 2013, it won the Most Outstanding Care Resort of the world award in 2016. In an exclusive and candid interview with CNS (Citizen News Service), Peter narrated the incident that motivated him to open this care home for the elderly.

(Left to right) Dr Surya Kant, Dr Ishwar Gilada, Dr MLB Bhatt

India has promised to end AIDS by 2030 at the UN General Assembly in 2015 by adopting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Not just internationally, the government of India has also reinforced in National Health Policy (NHP) to end TB by 2025 and AIDS by 2030. "But these promises to end TB and end AIDS must be matched by a stronger response for preventing, diagnosing, treating and caring for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those affected by TB as well.

Challenges in caring for children with autism: Dr Shivani Sharma Pandey's slides

Dr Shivani Sharma Pandey's slides on challenges with autistic children

[Podcast] Are children with autism on blindsopt in Agenda 2030?

[SDM Health Justice eLearning Session] Children with autism

Universal Health Coverage is integral to achieving the SDGs

Roger Paul Kamugasha, CNS Correspondent, Uganda

In December 2012 the UN passed a landmark resolution endorsing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the same is now at the forefront of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Since then the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified UHC as a top priority for sustainable development and focusing on it as a tool to end TB in the sustainable development era generates a cocktail of strategies. UHC is ultimately a means to promote the human right to health. More than 100 low and middle income countries, home to almost 3/4 of the world’s population, have taken steps to deliver UHC.

'Never say die' says domestic violence survivor

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

"It is because of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, (PWDVA) that today I am living in my house with my children, and my husband has been ousted from it and lives elsewhere in Latghat”, says Sonmati with a twinkle in her 60 years old eyes. Although the scars of 20 long years of suffering are writ all over her body, her spirit is indefatigable.

Adversity brought out the fighter in her

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

"He would come home drunk and kick the food I served him. I would pick up the morsels from the ground and eat them, not letting them go waste. That would infuriate him still more. I would be thrashed every day and even get thrown out of the house at night, along with my 4 children. I spent many a cold, shivering nights, sitting outside the house, wrapping my sari around my children to keep them warm. Sometimes I would not eat for 2-3 days and just cry. And to top it all, I could still not refuse him sex, else more beatings would ensue. On days when he had no money to buy liquor, he would be in a terrible mood and create a ruckus unless I arranged to get liquor for him", recalls Usha (40 years), who suffered these indignities and inhuman behaviour at her husband’s hands for 10 long years.

Stigma-a stumbling block in eliminating TB and HIV

Dr Sophia Thomas, CNS Correspondent, India

Tara (name changed) was ill. She was the youngest daughter of my house help. It is not very often that we saw her worried and this made me ask her what was wrong. And wrong it was, as Tara had been diagnosed with TB. The mere name of the disease caused her mother endless worries. Her main cause of concern was that her daughter would soon attain a marriageable age and, given her condition, it would be difficult to find a groom for her.

A self HIV test in time leaves no one behind

Swapna Majumdar, CNS Correspondent, India

Photo credit: Swapna Majumdar

It is easy to miss Hidden Corners, a community based organisation working with men who have sex with men (MSM). Tucked away in a narrow alley in a residential area in Quang Ninh in Halong, Vietnam, the building that houses Hidden Corners has no boards announcing its existence. Yet, this has not hampered their outreach. In fact, it is their low key, word-by-mouth approach that has helped to create a safe environment for the MSM community to come forward and seek services, especially those living with HIV. Considering that there are 11,000 new infections in Vietnam every year and, 30% of the 260,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) are unaware of their status, the work of Hidden Corners has been crucial to reach out to MSMs- one of the most affected key populations.

[Watch recording] [Listen or download podcast] According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which begins in childhood and tend to persist into adolescence and adulthood. While some people with ASD can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require lifelong care and support.

[CNS Rewind] Top 10+ Correspondents of 2017

Looking back at over 500 articles written by CNS Correspondents Team in Asian and African countries in 2017, 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 150 video-articles produced by CNS Correspondents Team in 2017 (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.