[podcast] Seventeen IIM Indore students call for sustainable development


This Podcast features the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, on 30 June 2020 which featured special-seventeen keynote speakers, who shared their insights on range of issues related to sustainable development where no one is left behind!

[video] Indian Institute of Management Indore students call for sustainable development


Plain packaging will accelerate progress towards ending the tobacco epidemic

Despite the indisputable scientific evidence that tobacco kills, the tobacco industry has been conniving to use every trick possible to protect and increase its profits. Over 8 million people die of tobacco use worldwide every year. More worrying is the emerging scientific evidence that diseases of which tobacco is a common major risk factor, are dangerously elevating the risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19 (including death). One glimmer of hope in these difficult times, of public health emergency and cascading humanitarian and economic crisis, comes from Singapore: plain packaging of all tobacco products comes into immediate effect from 1st July 2020.

#APCRSHR10 Virtual abstract presentation of Than Nguyen Phuong Hai: Needs Of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) Of Students In Thai Nguyen University (TNU), Vietnam

#APCRSHR10 Virtual abstract presentation by Rayner Kay Jin Tan: Experienced homophobia and suicide ideation in young gay, bisexual, and queer men: Exploring the mediating role of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and outness in the Pink Carpet Y Cohort Study

Prof Caroline Homer's plenary presentation at #APCRSHR10 Virtual

[podcast] APCRSHR10 Virtual (1): Accelerating progress on SRHR in Asia Pacific


This Podcast features the first session of #APCRSHR10 Virtual on the theme of "Addressing barriers to accelerate progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia and the Pacific"

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] #APCRSHR10 Virtual (1): Addressing barriers to accelerate progress on SRHR in Asia Pacific


COVID-19 casts a shadow over progress on TB




Efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have inadvertently affected tuberculosis (TB) programmes and other aspects of non-COVID healthcare, according to two recent commentaries, published in Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials and Tropical Medicine and Health. The linkages between COVID-19, TB and HIV are most pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, where TB is the leading cause of death for people with HIV. Nonetheless, the impact has also been felt in the high income setting of the United Kingdom (UK).

#SDGtalks special (2): Indian Institute of Management Indore students shared insights on sustainable development

On 1st July (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured special-nineteen keynote speakers, who shared their insights on range of issues related to sustainable development where no one is left behind!

#SDGtalks special (1): Indian Institute of Management Indore students will share insights on sustainable development

On 30th June (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, will feature special-seventeen keynote speakers, who will share their insights on range of issues related to sustainable development where no one is left behind!

Public services are essential to COVID-19 response and for fairer and equitable world


The United Nations marked this year's Public Service Day online celebrations by honouring the women and men who are risking their lives and health to deliver essential public services amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. UN bestowed the UN Public Service Award to seven public institutions from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Republic of Korea, and Spain. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs said, "This pandemic has taught us an important lesson about the critical role of public sector institutions in serving the people, whether through provision of health care, education, social welfare, sanitation, or other services, that keep our societies running."

#APCRSHR10 Virtual (1): Addressing barriers to accelerate progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia Pacific

[links to recording and presentations] On 29th June, Monday (1pm Phnom Penh/ Bangkok/ Jakarta | 4pm Canberra | 11:30am Delhi), be welcome to participate in first episode of #APCRSHR10 Virtual on the theme of "Addressing barriers to accelerate progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia and the Pacific".

#APCRSHR10 virtual: online series for knowledge sharing, eLearning and dialogue on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia Pacific: June-December 2020

Click here to join #APCRSHR10 virtual

In the wake of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic situation, the convenor and International Steering Committee members of the 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR10) had announced on 1st June 2020 that the APCRSHR10 will evolve from an in-person conference to an ongoing virtual series.

Why are strong public services essential for social, economic and health security for all?

S H O B H A   S H U K L A  -  C N S
[हिंदी] The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated, more than ever, the overwhelming importance of public services and the devastating consequences of under-funding and privatising them. That is why the writing on the wall on this year's United Nations Public Service Day is clear: commit to COVID-19 recovery plans that will deliver a new era of public services for all.

Dr Sandeep Pandey calls for inclusive, equitable and quality public education for all


Magysaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey calls for inclusive and equitable quality, public education for all children. Along with the recording of his talk, also see a poster created by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore's Abhimanyu Thakur, Mihir Thakar, Nishan Singh Makker, Ojasvi Ganesh, Shivam Kumar and Utkarsh Tiwari from Dr Pandey's #SDGtalks.

Patents or people: The conundrum of healthcare industry


The first traces of SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) were discovered in November, 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has transformed from a local disease into a global pandemic. While countries across the world, rich and poor, are fighting the pandemic with all force, a common problem which stands in their way is the uneven distribution of resources and services in their societies. It is evident that a country cannot develop sustainably with the sole emphasis on the business motive of expanding profits, or enlarging the pie. Equal attention has to be paid to the distribution of this pie amongst the people. The division of resources must be sensitive to inequalities which manifest in various forms such as income, social, and gender disparities.

New essential norms must include sexual and reproductive health services

The bottom line of today's world, which applies to every person on this planet - irrespective of their social, economical or geographical positions - can be simply jotted down in a few words: "COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed our lives" as said by Dr Jameel Zamir, Director of Programmes at International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), East and Southeast Asia and Oceania region.

[video] Bharat Gandhi's security is under threat in Nagaland


Development justice is the way forward after the pandemic

The way forward after COVID-19: Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

The pandemic, COVID-19 does not discriminate between people based on their class, gender, or ethnicity. However, it has inevitably exposed the socio-economic disparities existing in our society. It demonstrates the power of privilege to different sections of society. The most vulnerable will bear the maximum brunt of it. People with low socio-economic backgrounds are unlikely to have the requisite financial capital and/or physical capacity to make self-distancing and self-isolation a viable option in the light of their everyday lives. The pandemic, if not managed correctly, would have far-reaching economic and social consequences, which would widen existing inequalities and further hobble the world's efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With human rights out of the window and millions affected without food, water and shelter, we have to move fast in an attempt to provide justice to all.

Treatment in private hospital on public money possible but no relief if private transport used

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic over the last 3 months has failed on almost every front. Not only has the government been unsuccessful in containing the exponential spread of the disease but has through its actions given rise to one of the biggest humanitarian crises our country has ever seen. It has violated the basic human rights of lakhs of Dalit, Adivasi, Bahujan people through its narrow-mindedness, short-sightedness and insensitivity.

Tobacco-caused diseases are a bane to the pandemic


"A cigarette is a pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other" had said George Bernard Shaw.

Grappling with a pandemic that has impacted humanity is no mean task. Scientists, doctors, governments, civilians – the entire world – have adorned their respective uniforms and stand united in this war against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Inevitably, the entire focus of all authorities, leaders and citizens has shifted to containing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). All contemporary issues and concerns of the society, which continue to affect the behavior and lifestyle of the community, seem to have been neglected and, in return, are allegedly becoming a factor in making the pandemic more severe.

Study shows a 70% decline in baseline CD4 testing in Uganda over six years

CD4 testing is vital for managing opportunistic infections and advanced HIV disease

If the pandemic is a "war" then India needs to spend more

If India is at war with a virus, why has it not invested more in public health care?
published in Fair Observer
Many world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister, have drawn parallels between war and the coronavirus pandemic. So, should the frontline workers leading the response be called “warriors”?

[podcast] Preventing illness and promoting wellness for girls and women


This Podcast features Dr Hema Divakar, who was the keynote speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore. She shared her insights on "Preventing illness and promoting wellness for girls and women".

Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Preventing illness and promoting wellness for girls and women


Are the young people left behind in times of COVID-19 pandemic?

Over 60% of the world's youth live in Asia Pacific region, accounting for about 19% of the region's total population. This translates into more than 750 million young women and men aged 15 to 24 years. As it is, many of them - especially adolescent girls and young women, young migrants and refugees, youth living in rural areas, young persons with disabilities, young people of different sexual orientations - already face a variety of obstacles in their access to education, employment and healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated their risks and vulnerabilities of being left behind on these and other fronts.

COVID-19, health sector & sustainable development: How the pandemic has affected the development in the health sector

The year 2020 has brought severe challenges to the world. One of the most disastrous epidemics that the world has faced in the past century perhaps is the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It is improbable that anybody on this earth has ever faced similar circumstances before in their lives. Gaining its existence from Wuhan in China, it created havoc by affecting almost the whole of the world. The pandemic is caused by a virus known as SARS-CoV-2. The virus belongs to a family of viruses that is responsible for many respiratory diseases in human beings. The virus has reportedly originated from bat populations, specifically from Rhinolophus. The mode of infection transmission, as well as the adaptability of novel coronavirus to human cell receptors, has resulted in tremendous speed in infecting human beings globally. The condition in countries with the most developed healthcare sector, like the US and Italy, is not unknown to the world. It is essential to know how the world will deal with the after-effects of the pandemic. Will the world be the same? It becomes crucial to think about how the world will be functional, what path would the world politics take as it becomes essential for the countries to coordinate with each other. What steps would the governments take to deal with the economic shutdown? It is much relevant to ask an answer to these questions in the current scenario.

[podcast] Cervical cancer: are we doing enough?


This Podcast features Prof Nuzhat Husain who was the keynote speaker on "screening for cervical cancer" as part of the Sustainable Development e-Talks (SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore.

[video] Are we doing enough to prevent cervical cancer and avert deaths?


#SDGtalks featured Dr Hema Divakar: Preventing illness and promoting wellness for girls and women

On 9th June (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speaker, Dr Hema Divakar, who shared her insights on "Preventing illness and promoting wellness for girls and women".

#SDGtalks on "border-free south Asia" featured Sandeep Pandey & Kanak Mani Dixit

On 4th June (9pm to 10:30pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speakers, Prof Dr Sandeep Pandey and Kanak Mani Dixit who shared their insights on "border-free south Asia" and "civil liberties".

[podcast] Border-free south Asia


This Podcast on "border-free South Asia" and "civil liberties" featured two keynote speakers: Prof Dr Sandeep Pandey (India) and Kanak Mani Dixit (Nepal). Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series is co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore.
Be welcome to listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Border-free south Asia


[podcast] Nuclear-free world is an imperative for SDGs


This Podcast features #SDGtalks keynote speaker: Dr SP Udayakumar, who shares his insights on "a nuclear-free world is an imperative for sustainable development". The Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) is a special series, co-hosted
by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020).

[video] Nuclear-free world is an imperative for sustainable development


[podcast] Inclusive and equitable quality education for all


This Podcast features Dr Sandeep Pandey, as keynote speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020). He spoke on inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

[video] Reality check on promise of inclusive and equitable quality education for all


#SDGtalks featured Dr Sandeep Pandey: Inclusive & equitable quality education for all"

On 4th June (11am to 12 noon India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speaker, Prof Dr Sandeep Pandey, who shared his insights on "inclusive and equitable quality education for all".

#SDGtalks featured Prof Nuzhat Husain: Screening for cervical cancer

On 6th June (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speaker, Prof Nuzhat Husain, who shared her insights on "Screening for cervical cancer".

watch the recording (YouTube, Facebook), listen to podcast

[podcast] Thailand supports innovation and social sustainability during crisis


This Podcast features Theresa Mathawaphan, who shared her insights on "How Thailand fights in the crisis to support innovation and social sustainability". Theresa Mathawaphan is the Chief Strategy Officer, National Innovation Agency (NIA), Thailand, and was a keynote speaker for the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) - a special series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore from World Health Day (7 April 2020) to World Environment Day (5 June 2020).

[video] How Thailand fights in the crisis to support innovation and social sustainability


#SDGtalks featured Dr SP Udayakumar: “Nuclear-free world is an imperative for sustainable development"

On 5th June (3pm India time), the Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co-hosted by CNS and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, featured keynote speaker, Dr SP Udayakumar, who shared his insights on "A nuclear-free world is an imperative for sustainable development".

watch the recording (YouTube, Facebook) | listen to podcast

Connecting the dots: Technology, healthcare, and pandemics like COVID-19

Technology is often seen as a bane that impedes human ability rather than benefit it. We have seen the cost of our advancement in the increasing rates of deforestation, the rise of global warming and the absolute carelessness with which we treat nature. The increase in awareness has led to people becoming more environmentally conscious, yet, understandably, we cannot compromise the development of countries as technology keeps advancing. And in the same way, we cannot cause any more degradation to the environment for the advancement of technology or development. However, in light of recent events, it is perhaps the technology that will help us emerge from the pandemic unscathed to a more considerable extent. The Guardian recently reported that this destruction of the environment is causing pathogens to reduce boundaries between humans and animals.