CNS: February 2018

Stop this shaming of menstruation

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

The photograph accompanying this article, was clicked on Chinese New Year (16th February 2018) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is a signpost/ notice written in Thai, English and Chinese (in that order) in a temple, having a statue of Ganesha, situated in the heart of the city in front of Maya Mall. I reproduce the English version:
"1. Women during pregnancy and menstruation are not allowed to visit
2. Non vegetarian food and some fruits such as sapodilla plum, monkey apple, custard apple, langsad (langsart) and longkong are strictly not allowed
3. Please take off your shoes
Thank you for your prompt compliance with this notification."

Reining the galloping march of cancer

Francis Okoye, CNS Correspondent, Nigeria

A webinar organized by Citizen News Service, (CNS) to mark the World Cancer Day 2018, presented an online discourse on how to accelerate progress towards reducing global cancer burden. As we all know, governments across the world 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.

Family planning requires a multi-sectoral response for better outcomes

Listening to the unheard voices of India

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

It is a common practice to interview celebrities and share their success stories. But the real grassroots heroines and heroes rarely get heard. So, for a change, let us listen to what our 13 year old Raveena has to say on girls’ education. It is high time our policy makers paid heed to the experiential knowledge of people like Raveena to ensure that all children receive an education, and help achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals, one of which (SDG 4) envisages to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Winning the fight against cancer

Dr P S Sarma, CNS Correspondent, India

A key international awareness day on the global health calendar is World Cancer Day which takes place every year on the 4th of February to unite the world under one banner in its fight against cancer. World Cancer Day was established by the Paris Charter adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris on February 4, 2000.

Zoonotic TB survivor resolves to make her community TB-free

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

Timpiyian Leseni (left), Shobha Shukla, CNS (right)

Dressed in a colourful attire, Timpiyian Leseni from the Maasai tribe of Africa, turned many heads at the first-ever "WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in the Sustainable Development Era: A Multisectoral Response" which was held in Moscow in November 2017. Looking at her, it was impossible to guess that here was a zoonotic extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) survivor. Here is her inspiring story based upon an exclusive interview Timpiyian gave to Shobha Shukla, Managing Editor of CNS (Citizen News Service):

African Union heeds the voices of girls in distress

Catherine Mwauyakufa, CNS Correspondent, Zimbabwe

Tadiwanashe, 3rd from right, receiving a scholarship in Addis Ababa

Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think that she would fly! Never did she ever think that she would address heads of states and other important delegates in a pre-conference session. Yet, all this became a reality for Tadiwanashe Naghaina, a 19 year old rural girl from Murehwa, Zimbabwe.

CNS