CNS: November 2022

Closing window of opportunity to save the medicines that save us from sexually transmitted infections

Antimicrobials have been widely used to fight diseases, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), for nearly 80 years. Penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, was used for the first time to treat and cure syphilis in 1943. However, bacteria that cause STIs have fought back so that many of the antibiotics once used to treat them no longer work, even as STIs continue to cause high rates of infections worldwide.

Do we not dread an unfortunate situation of being infected with an incurable (or difficult to treat) disease? We saw how COVID-19 (to which there is no cure yet) jolted not only the global health security but also economic and social security worldwide.

Pervasive discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in Indian hospitals

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

published in NAM aidsmap, UK

25 November 2022

National media workshop in Indonesia: Applying #OneHealth approach in reporting on health and development issues

(click here to register)

As the world observes the annual World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) from November 18 to 24, the spotlight is once again on preventing antimicrobial resistance that is not only devastating human health but also threatening the sustainability of our planet earth. Will we protect the medicines that protect us or lose them, resulting in diseases that become difficult or impossible to treat? "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind" as the legendary lyrics go.

India is a leading consumer of antibiotics and hence also carries a huge burden of drug-resistant pathogens. Between 2000 and 2015, its antibiotic consumption increased by 103%, from 3.2 to 6.5 billion defined daily doses. Not just antibiotic use rose, but also resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobials. A recent Government of India's Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s report points to a sustained rise in antimicrobial resistance in India, with an increase in the number of drug-resistant pathogens, making certain infections difficult to treat with available medicines or impossible to treat. This trend is a warning bell for all of us to take stringent measures against the irrational and irresponsible use of antimicrobials.

[podcast] Progress on gender equality must take into account diverse realities of people-in-need

This podcast features Tomoko Fukuda, IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation)'s Regional Director for East and South-East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) who is in conversation with CNS founder and feminist leader Shobha Shukla at the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning in Pattaya, Thailand.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Healthcare services are bedrock for family planning, says Dr Glen Mola, #PapuaNewGuinea | #ICFP2022

STREAM study gives hope for better treatment of drug-resistant TB

When TB bacteria becomes resistant to most effective anti-TB medicines, then it no longer responds to them. As a result, drug-resistant TB becomes harder to treat, treatment is longer and outcomes are not satisfactory, and toxicity and side effects are deeply worrying. That is why new TB drug research and development is so critical as we need more effective and shorter therapies with no toxicities and side effects. One major news of better therapies for drug-resistant TB was shared at the opening of the world's largest conference on TB and lung health.

(watch the recording on YouTube, Facebook)

[watch the recording on YouTube, Facebook] Media representatives are welcomed to attend the 2nd Annual Global Media Forum in lead up to World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022 to have a direct interface with senior experts from the quadripartite organizations that have united to address one of the top threats to global health security - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). These quadripartite organizations include: the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE).

Gender equality is an essential cog-in-the-wheel of human development which is socially just and ecologically sustainable. That is why governments worldwide have committed to deliver on this promise by 2030 along with other sustainable development goals (SDGs). But progress on gender equality and other SDGs has been sketchy and far from satisfactory. With less than 97 months left to meet these goals it is high time to listen to the alarm bells and take corrective actions to try to get on track to deliver on all SDGs, globally including those of gender equality and human rights “where no one is left behind”.

This podcast features DATO’ Dr K Balanathan A/L Kathirgamanthan, President of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia, and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Malaysia. He is speaking with CNS in lead up to 2022 International Conference on Family Planning.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

This podcast features Dr Unnop Jaisamrarn, Secretary General of The Royal Thai College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. He is also the Chief of the Family Planning and Reproductive Health Unit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and Associate Dean for International Affairs of Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-President of the Thai Menopause Society; President of the Thai Osteoporosis Foundation; Secretary of Forum for WHO Multicenter Research in Reproductive Health; and Secretary General of WHO Collaborating Centre for Research in Human Reproduction. @International Conference on Family Planning.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

This podcast features Professor (Dr) Aziz-un-Nissa Abbasi, National President of Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) and Abbottabad Chapter President of Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She is also the Dean, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Ayub Medical College of Abbottabad. She is in conversation with CNS founder Executive Director and Managing Editor Shobha Shukla in the lead up to 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2022).

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

This podcast features Prof Yi Yung Chen, Director, Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Senior Attending Physician, Division of High Risk Pregnancy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital. He is in conversation with CNS in lead up to 2022 International Conference on Family Planning.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

This Podcast features Professor Glen Mola, head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea, and treasurer at Papua New Guinea Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] It is vital to prevent and manage both: non-communicable diseases as well as infectious diseases for global health security

[podcast] Reproductive autonomy is an essential cog in the wheel for advancing gender equality

In lead up to the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2022), this podcast features a special conversation with Sonal Mehta, who is the South Asia Regional Director for International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and a long-standing and widely respected advocate for #GenderEquality and #HumanRights.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

This Podcast features Dr Tadashi Kimura, Chairperson of Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Professor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Osaka University School of Medicine who is in conversation with CNS founder Shobha Shukla in lead up to 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2022).

[podcast] Lessons to be learnt for pandemic preparedness and global health security

This podcast features Prof Surya Kant who has been the Government of India's National Health Mission's COVID-19 Vaccination Ambassador and noted respiratory medicine expert. He is in conversation with CNS founder and Managing Editor Shobha Shukla. Prof Surya Kant is among the distinguished leaders who have been elected as national President of all 3 respiratory and chest medicine national associations: Indian Chest Society, National College of Chest Physicians and Indian College of Allergy, Asthma and Applied Immunology. He is also the Head of Respiratory Medicine Department at King George's Medical University (KGMU) in India.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

This Podcast features Mina Barling, who is part of IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) Director's Leadership Team and Director of External Relations at IPPF. She was in conversation with CNS Founder, Managing Editor and Executive Director Shobha Shukla.

Listen to this podcast featuring Dr Ishwar Gilada, who spoke to CNS in lead up to the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2022). Dr Gilada is a globally acclaimed infectious diseases expert, and longest serving HIV medical expert in India. He was the first doctor in India who began HIV medical management when first case got diagnosed in the country. He is part of Governing Council of International AIDS Society (IAS), President of AIDS Society of India (ASI) and Secretary General of Organized Medicine Academic Guild of India.

[podcast] Antimicrobial resistance and women's health

Listen to this podcast featuring Prof Amita Pandey, in lead up to the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (#ICFP2022). Professor (Dr) Amita Pandey is from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King George's Medical University (KGMU) in India, who was in conversation with CNS founder Managing Editor and Executive Director Shobha Shukla. Prof Amita Pandey is among the Academic Editors of the prestigious Asian Research Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. She is also a Master Trainer for India's most populated state UP's State Innovation for family planning services or SIFPSA, and one of the few obstetricians and gynaecologists who also specializes in medical genetics.

Closing window of opportunity to save the medicines that save us from sexually transmitted infections

Will Thailand lead from the front in combating antimicrobial resistance?

Pervasive discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in Indian hospitals

National media workshop in Indonesia: Applying #OneHealth approach in reporting on health and development issues

Fork in the road: Will we protect medicines that protect us or deal with incurable diseases?

Antimicrobial resistance threatening to reverse progress on women's health

[video] 2nd Annual Global Media Forum in lead up to 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week | #WAAW2022

[podcast] Progress on gender equality must take into account diverse realities of people-in-need

[video] Progress on gender equality must take into account diverse realities of people-in-need

[video] Healthcare services are bedrock for family planning, says Dr Glen Mola, #PapuaNewGuinea | #ICFP2022

STREAM study gives hope for better treatment of drug-resistant TB

2nd Annual Global Media Forum in lead up to World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW 2022)

Will global family planning meet galvanise governments to deliver on gender equality?

[podcast] Remarkable progress on sexual and reproductive health in Malaysia

[podcast] Progress on sexual and reproductive health in Thailand, Prof Unnop Jaisamrarn shares insights

[podcast] Prof Aziz-un-Nisa Abbasi shares insights on improving family planning and SRHR in Pakistan

[podcast] Commendable progress on sexual and reproductive health in Taiwan

[podcast] Universal healthcare services are bedrock for family planning

[video] #GenderEquality is not only vital for women but for women, men and all gender diversities

[video] It is vital to prevent and manage both: non-communicable diseases as well as infectious diseases for global health security

[podcast] Reproductive autonomy is an essential cog in the wheel for advancing gender equality

[podcast] It is vital to prevent and manage both: non-communicable and infectious diseases

[video] Will we #WalkTheTalk with courage on commitments for gender equality, family planning and human rights?

[podcast] Lessons to be learnt for pandemic preparedness and global health security

[podcast] Will we #WalkTheTalk with courage on #GenderEquality, #FamilyPlanning and #HumanRights commitments?

[podcast] Connecting the dots: Sexually transmitted diseases and antimicrobial resistance

[podcast] Antimicrobial resistance and women's health

[video] Despite progress challenges confront sexual and reproductive health in Pakistan

[video] Thailand's leadership in advancing sexual and reproductive health

[video] Commendable progress on sexual and reproductive health in Taiwan

[video] Sexual and reproductive health in Malaysia: Prof K Balanathan | ICFP 2022