Actions, not answers, needed to reduce pneumonia deaths

Actions, not answers, needed to reduce pneumonia deaths
1st World Pneumonia Day, 2 November 2009

Pneumonia claims two million children under five each year, yet no new drug, vaccine or special diagnostic test is needed to save their lives. The answers are at hand, and effective treatment is both inexpensive and widely available.

So why are children dying? This question is the driving force behind the first World Pneumonia Day (2 November 2009). The Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia led by Save the Children has organised a Global Summit on Pneumonia in New York and other events around the world to mobilise efforts to stop a disease that kills one child every 15 seconds.

Actions, not answers, are needed to solve the problem, according to Penny Enarson, head of the Child Lung Health Division for the Paris-based International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

In an editorial “Who Speaks for the Children?” published this month in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Enarson et al point out that “recent data from 68 high-mortality countries showed that only 32% of children with suspected pneumonia receive antibiotics”. Other lapses in the delivery of care range from lack of trained staff and poor case management to inadequate stocks of drugs and faulty equipment.

Over the past decade, The Union has developed a service delivery model that addresses the key challenges in providing effective care for children with pneumonia. Based on the widely used Union model for tuberculosis control known as DOTS, the Child Lung Health Programme (CLHP) is based on government commitment, standard diagnostic and treatment guidelines, staff training, a purchasing and distribution system that ensures an uninterrupted supply of drugs, recording and reporting mechanisms, and supervision and evaluation.

The CLHP was first implemented by The Union in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health and Population. Between 2000 and 2005, the case fatality rate for children under five with severe and very severe pneumonia dropped 54.8%. By 2008, the rate had declined by 60%, demonstrating the sustainability of the model. The CLHP has also been implemented with good results in pilot programmes in Benin, China, Sudan and Tanzania.

“If we’re committed to reaching the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by 50% by 2015, we have to improve the way pneumonia is managed”, says Enarson. “The tools for saving these children exist. It is the political will to act and resources to support effective action that have been lacking”.

Published in:
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Actions, not answers, needed to reduce pneumonia deaths

Actions, not answers, needed to reduce pneumonia deaths
1st World Pneumonia Day, 2 November 2009

Pneumonia claims two million children under five each year, yet no new drug, vaccine or special diagnostic test is needed to save their lives. The answers are at hand, and effective treatment is both inexpensive and widely available.

So why are children dying? This question is the driving force behind the first World Pneumonia Day (2 November 2009). The Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia led by Save the Children has organised a Global Summit on Pneumonia in New York and other events around the world to mobilise efforts to stop a disease that kills one child every 15 seconds.

Actions, not answers, are needed to solve the problem, according to Penny Enarson, head of the Child Lung Health Division for the Paris-based International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

In an editorial “Who Speaks for the Children?” published this month in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Enarson et al point out that “recent data from 68 high-mortality countries showed that only 32% of children with suspected pneumonia receive antibiotics”. Other lapses in the delivery of care range from lack of trained staff and poor case management to inadequate stocks of drugs and faulty equipment.

Over the past decade, The Union has developed a service delivery model that addresses the key challenges in providing effective care for children with pneumonia. Based on the widely used Union model for tuberculosis control known as DOTS, the Child Lung Health Programme (CLHP) is based on government commitment, standard diagnostic and treatment guidelines, staff training, a purchasing and distribution system that ensures an uninterrupted supply of drugs, recording and reporting mechanisms, and supervision and evaluation.

The CLHP was first implemented by The Union in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health and Population. Between 2000 and 2005, the case fatality rate for children under five with severe and very severe pneumonia dropped 54.8%. By 2008, the rate had declined by 60%, demonstrating the sustainability of the model. The CLHP has also been implemented with good results in pilot programmes in Benin, China, Sudan and Tanzania.

“If we’re committed to reaching the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by 50% by 2015, we have to improve the way pneumonia is managed”, says Enarson. “The tools for saving these children exist. It is the political will to act and resources to support effective action that have been lacking”.

Published in:
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The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Elites TV News, USA
Banderas News, Mexico
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
World News Network, USA
Wikio.com, UK
The Liberian Times, Liberia
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
The Ghanaian Chronicle, Accra, Ghana
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Lathi charge, arrests and office-seizure of NBA condemned

Lathi charge, arrests and office-seizure of NBA condemned

NBA condemns as reprehensible the lathi charge, illegal arrests and seizure of office of long-standing peaceful and lawful mass people’s struggle in the Narmada Valley in Khandwa

Narmada Bachao Andolan severely condemns the unjust and unlawful treatment meted out by the Government of Madhya Pradesh to the displaced people of Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar and other dams and the activists working with them to realize their right to lawful rehabilitation. According to information received, activists Alok Agrawal, Kailashbhai, Kalubhai and some other villagers were unlawfully arrested today afternoon and the NBA office in Khandwa was forcefully seized and sealed by the police, without any prior intimation. The whole process of arrest and seizure, we are informed, was illegal, not following law and procedure. This only re-inforces our assertion of the total absence of rule of law in the state.

It may be noted that only yesterday, after a mass rally of thousands of displaced farmers on the 28th, Chittaroopa Palit, Ramkuwar, Kamla Yadav and 18 other activists who were staging a dharna at the Khandwa Collctorate were brutally lathi charged and arrested. The only crime they have committed is to seek enforcement of the directives of the Hon’ble High Court of Jabalpur to rehabilitate the displaced as per law and policy. All of them have been charged under various provisions of criminal law, including non-bailable offences.

The saga of development induced displacement due to the giant dams pushed by the Narmada Valley Development Authority, NHDC and Government of M. P, while displacing thousands of farmers, adivasis, fish workers, labourers in each dam, without complying with the basic environmental conditionalities is now well-known and condemned even by the judiciary. But it is unfortunate that the Government metes out a ‘terrorist-type’ treatment to the displaced and activists who are asserting basic established constitutional, legal and human rights and are challenging the state atrocity, discrimination and injustice in the Court and in the field.

We strongly object to NBA’s office being taken into custody, particularly the files of the people, all of which is nothing but an assault on the basic constitutional right to freedom of association and the freedom of speech and expression. The behavior of the State is nothing short of contempt of court and interference in count-administered justice to the displaced.

Today, not just in Madhya Pradesh, but all through the country, even as the Government trumpets of ‘combating the menace of naxalism’, it is only increasingly curbing and curtailing non-violent people’s struggles, which we feel would prove counter-productive and the anger and struggle of the displaced and marginalized, far from lessening, will only intensify. We warn the
Government to behave as per the law and Constitution and unconditionally and immediately release al the arrested activists and displaced persons, withdraw all false cases foisted against them and restitute their office.

We urge you to write to the National and State Human Rights Commission to take legal against those responsible for these violations and also to the Chief Minister calling upon him and his administration to respect law and people’s rights.

Published in:
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Wikio News, UK
Elites TV News, USA
The South Asian, Sri Lanka
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Lathi charge, arrests and office-seizure of NBA condemned

Lathi charge, arrests and office-seizure of NBA condemned

NBA condemns as reprehensible the lathi charge, illegal arrests and seizure of office of long-standing peaceful and lawful mass people’s struggle in the Narmada Valley in Khandwa

Narmada Bachao Andolan severely condemns the unjust and unlawful treatment meted out by the Government of Madhya Pradesh to the displaced people of Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar and other dams and the activists working with them to realize their right to lawful rehabilitation. According to information received, activists Alok Agrawal, Kailashbhai, Kalubhai and some other villagers were unlawfully arrested today afternoon and the NBA office in Khandwa was forcefully seized and sealed by the police, without any prior intimation. The whole process of arrest and seizure, we are informed, was illegal, not following law and procedure. This only re-inforces our assertion of the total absence of rule of law in the state.

It may be noted that only yesterday, after a mass rally of thousands of displaced farmers on the 28th, Chittaroopa Palit, Ramkuwar, Kamla Yadav and 18 other activists who were staging a dharna at the Khandwa Collctorate were brutally lathi charged and arrested. The only crime they have committed is to seek enforcement of the directives of the Hon’ble High Court of Jabalpur to rehabilitate the displaced as per law and policy. All of them have been charged under various provisions of criminal law, including non-bailable offences.

The saga of development induced displacement due to the giant dams pushed by the Narmada Valley Development Authority, NHDC and Government of M. P, while displacing thousands of farmers, adivasis, fish workers, labourers in each dam, without complying with the basic environmental conditionalities is now well-known and condemned even by the judiciary. But it is unfortunate that the Government metes out a ‘terrorist-type’ treatment to the displaced and activists who are asserting basic established constitutional, legal and human rights and are challenging the state atrocity, discrimination and injustice in the Court and in the field.

We strongly object to NBA’s office being taken into custody, particularly the files of the people, all of which is nothing but an assault on the basic constitutional right to freedom of association and the freedom of speech and expression. The behavior of the State is nothing short of contempt of court and interference in count-administered justice to the displaced.

Today, not just in Madhya Pradesh, but all through the country, even as the Government trumpets of ‘combating the menace of naxalism’, it is only increasingly curbing and curtailing non-violent people’s struggles, which we feel would prove counter-productive and the anger and struggle of the displaced and marginalized, far from lessening, will only intensify. We warn the
Government to behave as per the law and Constitution and unconditionally and immediately release al the arrested activists and displaced persons, withdraw all false cases foisted against them and restitute their office.

We urge you to write to the National and State Human Rights Commission to take legal against those responsible for these violations and also to the Chief Minister calling upon him and his administration to respect law and people’s rights.

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Wikio News, UK
Elites TV News, USA
The South Asian, Sri Lanka
Twitter.com
Tweetmeme.com

"Across the world, the threat [of diabetes] is ignored and under-funded": Kofi Annan

"Across the world, the threat [of diabetes] is ignored and under-funded": Kofi Annan
Diabetes Leadership Forum 2009 seeks solutions to reduce long-term public healthcare costs

"A recent survey showed that the age-standardized rate of diabetes among adults living in urban areas is up to 9.7% in China," said Prof. Yang Wenying, chairman of Chinese Diabetes Society. That means approximately 92.4 million people in China have diabetes, Prof. Yang revealed on 31st October 2009 in Beijing at The Diabetes Leadership Forum 2009 China, an international conference co-hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Health and the World Diabetes Foundation. The Chinese government is taking the threat seriously, implementing concrete actions to fight the epidemic.

"Chronic diseases such as diabetes are becoming public health challenges," said Chinese Minister of Health Chen Zhu to an audience of more than 600 delegates, including government officials, medical professionals, and experts from around the world. "Improving prevention and treatment is critical for realising the goals of the country's new reform plan, Healthy China 2020." Minister Chen revealed that in the coming months he will be announcing a national plan on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases from 2010-2020.

The forum's core message was a national and global call for action to reverse the diabetes epidemic, thereby improving people's lives, reducing long-term healthcare costs, and securing productivity and growth. Speakers encouraged cooperation across sectors and borders to advance diabetes treatment and prevention, increase public education of the disease, and improve early diagnosis and care in pregnant women, infants and children.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan underlined the need for global action: "Across the world, the threat [of diabetes] is ignored and under-funded. Tackling diabetes must be a priority. It is so serious that we all have to be involved if we are to reverse this epidemic.".
The annual direct costs of diabetes in China in 2004 were estimated at RMB 57,469 billion, about 7.5 % of total healthcare spending. Direct spending for a person with diabetes was 2.5 times more than for a person without it. Furthermore, two-thirds of Chinese people who have diabetes do not realise they have it until they start to develop its late-stage and costly complications such as damage to eyes, kidneys and heart. Diagnosing diabetes earlier and giving proper care will reduce healthcare costs by preventing or delaying the development of such complications.

"We need to learn how to handle the increasing number of people with chronic diseases and build healthcare systems that can effectively deal with the new situation," said Anil Kapur, managing director of the World Diabetes Foundation, stressing the need to find a model that balances community-based prevention and care with hospital-based acute care.

Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said: "Novo Nordisk is proud to support the dialogue in China around solutions to tackle the diabetes epidemic. The key to change the course of diabetes lies in prevention, early detection, access to care, and improved treatment. That way, we not only reduce the number of people who develop diabetes in the first place, but we also increase our capacity to tackle complications more effectively, and ultimately reduce the cost to society."

The Chinese Diabetes Society and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control have organised the Diabetes Leadership Forum 2009 China with the support of the International Diabetes Federation. Novo Nordisk, a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care, has sponsored the event.

Published in:
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Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
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"Across the world, the threat [of diabetes] is ignored and under-funded": Kofi Annan

"Across the world, the threat [of diabetes] is ignored and under-funded": Kofi Annan
Diabetes Leadership Forum 2009 seeks solutions to reduce long-term public healthcare costs

"A recent survey showed that the age-standardized rate of diabetes among adults living in urban areas is up to 9.7% in China," said Prof. Yang Wenying, chairman of Chinese Diabetes Society. That means approximately 92.4 million people in China have diabetes, Prof. Yang revealed on 31st October 2009 in Beijing at The Diabetes Leadership Forum 2009 China, an international conference co-hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Health and the World Diabetes Foundation. The Chinese government is taking the threat seriously, implementing concrete actions to fight the epidemic.

"Chronic diseases such as diabetes are becoming public health challenges," said Chinese Minister of Health Chen Zhu to an audience of more than 600 delegates, including government officials, medical professionals, and experts from around the world. "Improving prevention and treatment is critical for realising the goals of the country's new reform plan, Healthy China 2020." Minister Chen revealed that in the coming months he will be announcing a national plan on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases from 2010-2020.

The forum's core message was a national and global call for action to reverse the diabetes epidemic, thereby improving people's lives, reducing long-term healthcare costs, and securing productivity and growth. Speakers encouraged cooperation across sectors and borders to advance diabetes treatment and prevention, increase public education of the disease, and improve early diagnosis and care in pregnant women, infants and children.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan underlined the need for global action: "Across the world, the threat [of diabetes] is ignored and under-funded. Tackling diabetes must be a priority. It is so serious that we all have to be involved if we are to reverse this epidemic.".
The annual direct costs of diabetes in China in 2004 were estimated at RMB 57,469 billion, about 7.5 % of total healthcare spending. Direct spending for a person with diabetes was 2.5 times more than for a person without it. Furthermore, two-thirds of Chinese people who have diabetes do not realise they have it until they start to develop its late-stage and costly complications such as damage to eyes, kidneys and heart. Diagnosing diabetes earlier and giving proper care will reduce healthcare costs by preventing or delaying the development of such complications.

"We need to learn how to handle the increasing number of people with chronic diseases and build healthcare systems that can effectively deal with the new situation," said Anil Kapur, managing director of the World Diabetes Foundation, stressing the need to find a model that balances community-based prevention and care with hospital-based acute care.

Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said: "Novo Nordisk is proud to support the dialogue in China around solutions to tackle the diabetes epidemic. The key to change the course of diabetes lies in prevention, early detection, access to care, and improved treatment. That way, we not only reduce the number of people who develop diabetes in the first place, but we also increase our capacity to tackle complications more effectively, and ultimately reduce the cost to society."

The Chinese Diabetes Society and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control have organised the Diabetes Leadership Forum 2009 China with the support of the International Diabetes Federation. Novo Nordisk, a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care, has sponsored the event.

Published in:
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Orissadiary.com, Orissa, India
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka
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"US should be liberal in transferring technology for clean energy": Dr Farooq Abdullah

"US should be liberal in transferring technology for clean energy": Dr Farooq Abdullah
Alka Pande

The new and renewable energy minister of India - Dr Farooq Abdullah - has said that the developed nations, especially the US, should have liberal policies for transfer of technologies for clean energy production in poor and developing nations, like India.

Advocating use of clean and renewable energy on mass scale to fight the challenges of climate change, the minister said the Indian manufacturers making solar panels, are exporting 85 percent of their products to the west because they are too highly priced for the consumption in the Indian market.

"The only way we can deal with the deteriorating climate, is by shifting our focus to alternative energy resources like sun and wind, which the country has in abundance and is available free of cost. But the challenge before the nation, is to make the alternative energy cost effective," he said.

The minister was speaking at a five-day environment and wildlife film festival which was inaugurated in the national capital Delhi, on Tuesday. The festival being organised by CMS (Centre for Media Studies) Vatavaran, will screen over 200 documentaries in the next four days. These film are made by national and international environment and wildlife lovers – who have raised issues relating to wildlife and environment.

Asserting on potential of natural energy resources in meeting the challenges of deteriorating environment, Abdullah said the solar mission was a challenge before the country. ``It has to have the viability for industrialists so that they can make money only then they will invest in it’’, he rued adding that ``after extensive investment in natural energies India would no more need to be subservient to countries that were supplying it gas and coal’’.

The minister said the ministry gives as high as 90 percent financial help to states for its schemes based on renewable energy resources, ``still, no state is showing interest in these schemes. On the contrary, the Chief Ministers of all the states are rushing for coal-based power station’’. The reason, he stated for this, is that coal based power plants are easy to set up.

"On the other hand everyone talks about clean energy. How can coal produce clean energy’?" the minister argued.

The renewable energy or natural energy resources can be helpful in rural electrification programmes and also for commercial and industrial usage. According to Farooq Abdullah, "In Ladakh, the army alone, uses diesel worth Rs 1,200 crore (Rs120 million) in a year. With the use of solar power, Rs 400 crore (Rs 40 million) could be saved, annually."

Some of the schemes and areas where Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is extending help to States and private investors:

Industrial and commercial applications:
- Biomass (non-bagasse) based co-generation and `waste to energy’ projects for rural electrification.
- Solar powered water heating system projects.
- Solar air heating / steam generation systems - for community cooking and for institutions etc
- Solar lights - for streets, hoardings etc.
- Akshay Urja Shops – for sale and after sale service of solar powered products.

Grid Interactive / off grid renewable power:
- Wind Power:
- Bio-power:
- Small Hydro Power: upto 25 MW capacity
- Solar Power

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior Journalist)

Published in:
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Elites TV News, USA
Little about
Delhi Energy, India
World News Network, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News (BJNS)

"US should be liberal in transferring technology for clean energy": Dr Farooq Abdullah

"US should be liberal in transferring technology for clean energy": Dr Farooq Abdullah
Alka Pande

The new and renewable energy minister of India - Dr Farooq Abdullah - has said that the developed nations, especially the US, should have liberal policies for transfer of technologies for clean energy production in poor and developing nations, like India.

Advocating use of clean and renewable energy on mass scale to fight the challenges of climate change, the minister said the Indian manufacturers making solar panels, are exporting 85 percent of their products to the west because they are too highly priced for the consumption in the Indian market.

"The only way we can deal with the deteriorating climate, is by shifting our focus to alternative energy resources like sun and wind, which the country has in abundance and is available free of cost. But the challenge before the nation, is to make the alternative energy cost effective," he said.

The minister was speaking at a five-day environment and wildlife film festival which was inaugurated in the national capital Delhi, on Tuesday. The festival being organised by CMS (Centre for Media Studies) Vatavaran, will screen over 200 documentaries in the next four days. These film are made by national and international environment and wildlife lovers – who have raised issues relating to wildlife and environment.

Asserting on potential of natural energy resources in meeting the challenges of deteriorating environment, Abdullah said the solar mission was a challenge before the country. ``It has to have the viability for industrialists so that they can make money only then they will invest in it’’, he rued adding that ``after extensive investment in natural energies India would no more need to be subservient to countries that were supplying it gas and coal’’.

The minister said the ministry gives as high as 90 percent financial help to states for its schemes based on renewable energy resources, ``still, no state is showing interest in these schemes. On the contrary, the Chief Ministers of all the states are rushing for coal-based power station’’. The reason, he stated for this, is that coal based power plants are easy to set up.

"On the other hand everyone talks about clean energy. How can coal produce clean energy’?" the minister argued.

The renewable energy or natural energy resources can be helpful in rural electrification programmes and also for commercial and industrial usage. According to Farooq Abdullah, "In Ladakh, the army alone, uses diesel worth Rs 1,200 crore (Rs120 million) in a year. With the use of solar power, Rs 400 crore (Rs 40 million) could be saved, annually."

Some of the schemes and areas where Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is extending help to States and private investors:

Industrial and commercial applications:
- Biomass (non-bagasse) based co-generation and `waste to energy’ projects for rural electrification.
- Solar powered water heating system projects.
- Solar air heating / steam generation systems - for community cooking and for institutions etc
- Solar lights - for streets, hoardings etc.
- Akshay Urja Shops – for sale and after sale service of solar powered products.

Grid Interactive / off grid renewable power:
- Wind Power:
- Bio-power:
- Small Hydro Power: upto 25 MW capacity
- Solar Power

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior Journalist)

Published in:
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Elites TV News, USA
Little about
Delhi Energy, India
World News Network, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News (BJNS)

Rickshawallas Day At Loreto

Rickshawallas Day At Loreto

It was indeed a programme with a difference. In keeping with the true spirit of Loreto, Tuesday, the 27th of October (which incidentally is also the International Hand Washing Day), saw this missionary school, open its gates to 55 odd rickshaw (a three wheeled pedalled vehicle, used as a common mode of transport in Indian towns) drivers, as a gesture of respect to this marginalised section of society.

Every morning and afternoon, come rain or blistering sunshine, these men of all ages, old and young, ferry the school children from their homes to school and back. But today those very children and their class mates and teachers joined hands to recognize the services which largely go unheeded. It was indeed a proud moment for all of us at Loreto to be part of a 'Giving, gentle as silence'.

It was an afternoon filled with meaningful entertainment. The students presented a street play on the theme of 'God Helps Those Who Help Themselves'. Two doctors from the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) gave a presentation on general hygiene and maternal health under the banner of Health Oriented Programme and Education (HOPE).

Dr Prashant Agarwal, stressed upon the importance of clean toilet habits and washing of hands. This itself, reduces the incidence of many diseases by 45%. The simple gesture of washing hands thoroughly before eating is an effective way of reducing diarrhoea and pneumonia. Keeping our surroundings clean, does not require money, but just the right attitude which should be developed in all of us, irrespective of our social status. Another very pertinent observation made by the medical team was about the infamous spitting habit of Indians. Most of the rickshaw drivers confessed to be habitual tobacco/ gutkha users. They were exhorted to get rid of this habit. The doctor asked them to perform a simple test by putting their fingers inside their mouths. The pan masala/gutkha users' mouth was bound to open less as the skin inside the mouth contracts on prolonged use of tobacco products.

Dr Banani Poddar spoke on Maternal and Child Health. She stressed on the need of taking good care of the mother during pregnancy, in order that she deliver a healthy child, who should be fed on mother's milk alone during the first four months of infancy. No other nourishment, not even water, is required-such is the nutritional value of this diet. Tinned food supplements should be a big No No, as they are merely of cosmetic value, and may do harm than good.

The Principal of Loreto Convent requested them to send their children to school, offering to admit them in parallel run school of Loreto for under-privileged children.

A free medical check up of all the special invitees was done by doctors of SGPGI and by Dr Verma of the Civil Hospital. They seemed a little hesitant in the beginning but gradually each one gave his blood for blood group and haemoglobin testing.

The programme ended with a sumptuous feast arranged for the guests by the students. Each invitee was also presented with one kilogram of rice and ‘daal’, packed in eco friendly paper bags made by the students of the college.

This event marks just the beginning of a social change which needs to sweep across the country for a more equitable distribution and re allocation of resources, and to reduce the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.

Let there be enough for all, and let no one die of over consumption. Amen.

Shobha Shukla

(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in:
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Central Chronicle, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Elites TV News, USA
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Northern Voice Online News
Inboxrobot.com

Rickshawallas Day At Loreto

Rickshawallas Day At Loreto

It was indeed a programme with a difference. In keeping with the true spirit of Loreto, Tuesday, the 27th of October (which incidentally is also the International Hand Washing Day), saw this missionary school, open its gates to 55 odd rickshaw (a three wheeled pedalled vehicle, used as a common mode of transport in Indian towns) drivers, as a gesture of respect to this marginalised section of society.

Every morning and afternoon, come rain or blistering sunshine, these men of all ages, old and young, ferry the school children from their homes to school and back. But today those very children and their class mates and teachers joined hands to recognize the services which largely go unheeded. It was indeed a proud moment for all of us at Loreto to be part of a 'Giving, gentle as silence'.

It was an afternoon filled with meaningful entertainment. The students presented a street play on the theme of 'God Helps Those Who Help Themselves'. Two doctors from the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) gave a presentation on general hygiene and maternal health under the banner of Health Oriented Programme and Education (HOPE).

Dr Prashant Agarwal, stressed upon the importance of clean toilet habits and washing of hands. This itself, reduces the incidence of many diseases by 45%. The simple gesture of washing hands thoroughly before eating is an effective way of reducing diarrhoea and pneumonia. Keeping our surroundings clean, does not require money, but just the right attitude which should be developed in all of us, irrespective of our social status. Another very pertinent observation made by the medical team was about the infamous spitting habit of Indians. Most of the rickshaw drivers confessed to be habitual tobacco/ gutkha users. They were exhorted to get rid of this habit. The doctor asked them to perform a simple test by putting their fingers inside their mouths. The pan masala/gutkha users' mouth was bound to open less as the skin inside the mouth contracts on prolonged use of tobacco products.

Dr Banani Poddar spoke on Maternal and Child Health. She stressed on the need of taking good care of the mother during pregnancy, in order that she deliver a healthy child, who should be fed on mother's milk alone during the first four months of infancy. No other nourishment, not even water, is required-such is the nutritional value of this diet. Tinned food supplements should be a big No No, as they are merely of cosmetic value, and may do harm than good.

The Principal of Loreto Convent requested them to send their children to school, offering to admit them in parallel run school of Loreto for under-privileged children.

A free medical check up of all the special invitees was done by doctors of SGPGI and by Dr Verma of the Civil Hospital. They seemed a little hesitant in the beginning but gradually each one gave his blood for blood group and haemoglobin testing.

The programme ended with a sumptuous feast arranged for the guests by the students. Each invitee was also presented with one kilogram of rice and ‘daal’, packed in eco friendly paper bags made by the students of the college.

This event marks just the beginning of a social change which needs to sweep across the country for a more equitable distribution and re allocation of resources, and to reduce the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.

Let there be enough for all, and let no one die of over consumption. Amen.

Shobha Shukla

(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Central Chronicle, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
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MSI commits to promote the microbicides research in India

MSI commits to promote the microbicides research in India

Some of the readers might be interested to know about the various factors which had helped regarding the formation of Microbicides Society of India (MSI), the first of its kind in any country. After talking to various scientists in the field of microbicides and HIV prevention in India , a brief summary regarding the genesis of MSI is given below

The research and development programs in India from its own national resources and funds on the treatment and / or prevention of Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including the HIV, had been going on since 1990s, but in patches and in a low key manner. Amongst the international partners, CONRAD started screening compounds from Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) Lucknow in the early 1990's. The National Institute of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) started some work in these areas at YRG Care Chennai as well as National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) Pune around 1998, and later on, also supported at these centres, the establishment of a Clinical Trials Unit starting around 2005.

However, it was CONRAD USA which had initiated the microbicides research activities in India around 1999, by supporting a TOPCAD Program at the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)'s Institute (National Institue of Pharmaceutical & Educational Research - NIPER) in Chandigarh with Dr Sanjay Garg in collaboration with Dr Zananveld from University of Chicago, for the formulations of several newer microbicidal products. It, also concurrently had supported the clinical trials of two types of female condoms. Later on, CONRAD signed MOUs with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as well as with DBT for Microbicides Research and broadened it base of collaborative researches covering through research training and project grants to the various scientists ranging from basic researches to clinical trials as well as hands on laboratory training workshops on Pre-clinical Toxicology screening In-Vitro Methods for the Microbicidal Products. The Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) through PATH India, in early 2000s, started several sensitization meetings with the NGOs, several community based organizations, general public and journalists about the possibility of the microbicidal products being available for the HIV prevention and how should they be used.

The ICMR and DBT had also started a expanded joint R & D program for the microbicidal products during 2006. Thereafter, India had hosted the Microbicides 2008 Conference in February 2008 at New Delhi. All these factors, led to internal discussions amongst the few like minded Indian scientists working in the field of microbicides, and felt the need to form a professional society. That is how, the Microbicides Society of India (MSI) was formed. Several international scientists and partners - specially like CONRAD, always had also encouraged and supported the idea of the formation of MSI, which became a reality from June 31, 2009.

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MSI commits to promote the microbicides research in India

MSI commits to promote the microbicides research in India

Some of the readers might be interested to know about the various factors which had helped regarding the formation of Microbicides Society of India (MSI), the first of its kind in any country. After talking to various scientists in the field of microbicides and HIV prevention in India , a brief summary regarding the genesis of MSI is given below

The research and development programs in India from its own national resources and funds on the treatment and / or prevention of Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including the HIV, had been going on since 1990s, but in patches and in a low key manner. Amongst the international partners, CONRAD started screening compounds from Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) Lucknow in the early 1990's. The National Institute of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) started some work in these areas at YRG Care Chennai as well as National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) Pune around 1998, and later on, also supported at these centres, the establishment of a Clinical Trials Unit starting around 2005.

However, it was CONRAD USA which had initiated the microbicides research activities in India around 1999, by supporting a TOPCAD Program at the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)'s Institute (National Institue of Pharmaceutical & Educational Research - NIPER) in Chandigarh with Dr Sanjay Garg in collaboration with Dr Zananveld from University of Chicago, for the formulations of several newer microbicidal products. It, also concurrently had supported the clinical trials of two types of female condoms. Later on, CONRAD signed MOUs with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as well as with DBT for Microbicides Research and broadened it base of collaborative researches covering through research training and project grants to the various scientists ranging from basic researches to clinical trials as well as hands on laboratory training workshops on Pre-clinical Toxicology screening In-Vitro Methods for the Microbicidal Products. The Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) through PATH India, in early 2000s, started several sensitization meetings with the NGOs, several community based organizations, general public and journalists about the possibility of the microbicidal products being available for the HIV prevention and how should they be used.

The ICMR and DBT had also started a expanded joint R & D program for the microbicidal products during 2006. Thereafter, India had hosted the Microbicides 2008 Conference in February 2008 at New Delhi. All these factors, led to internal discussions amongst the few like minded Indian scientists working in the field of microbicides, and felt the need to form a professional society. That is how, the Microbicides Society of India (MSI) was formed. Several international scientists and partners - specially like CONRAD, always had also encouraged and supported the idea of the formation of MSI, which became a reality from June 31, 2009.

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Finally to the rescue

Finally to the rescue
Anjali Singh

They plan to take up the case of sick, abandoned and destitute animals and by the looks of it are serious this time round. Having earned a dubious reputation ever since their inception ten years back, the People For Animals (PFA) Lucknow Chapter, are now all set to earn the city folks trust post a total revamp of their management and working committee.

Says Anand Sharma, the newly elected President of PFA Lucknow, "A lot has been changed within PFA as the need to involve more youth was being felt by all. All the good work being done was going in vain as a lot credibility was being lost due to the loss of trust of the people. So Maneka Gandhi too decided to make some positive changes and since the past five months we have been functioning as a new team. We have improved the shelter at Hanskhera at Para and begun to answer rescue calls regularly as well."

A charitable organisation formed to champion the cause of stray animals, PFA has a nationwide network that has over 2.5 lakh members, 180 units and 26 hospitals. The main objective of which is to uphold the rights of the animals by giving them shelter, medical care and checking atrocities on them. All of these services will now also be available to animals in Lucknow.

Explains PK Sharma, a well known vet who is also among the newly elected trustees, "There is so much focus on highlighting the negatives of PFA that no one sees the fact that ours is the only animal rights group that has achieved hundred percent success rate in the ABC sterilization programme we have taken on. The effort and intention both is to get relief to a suffering animal as soon as possible, for which we have strategies planned, an ABC infrastructure in collaboration with Animal Welfare Board and the Lucknow Nagar Nigam is also on the anvil and will shortly begin in the city."

As upbeat as that sounds one of their biggest challenge remains the hostile attitude of the police. With most police thanas not as amicable as one would like them to be where animal rights is concerned, the rescue operations become cumbersome for PFA volunteers. But the new President has that worked out as well.

“Police sensitisation is among the top of our priority list as their intervention is a must in cases of altercation. Apart from that sometimes we have to book people under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act and it is very essential to lodge FIRs. But the police do not cooperate, in addition we plan to also hold awareness drives at various thanas in the city to make the police aware of Section 34 IPC of Police Act 1861 which empowers then to arrest offenders of cruelty to animals without a warrant,” avers Sharma.

So far so good as PFA plans to target no less than 600 districts in UP to promote vegetarianism, advocate compulsory introduction of education of animal rights in schools, establish a veterinary hospital and to launch a membership drive apart from focussing on animal treatment and medication.

With so much planned for the animals in UP PFA Lucknow is more than eager to set the record straight where animal rights is concerned. As informs Kavita Dass, a trustee of PFA, “aim is do something constructive and that cannot be done without the support of the people. A beginning has been made by PFA and a new helpline number has also been installed on 9236012078 and animal lovers can also reach us on mail at pfa.news@gmail.com.”

Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)

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Finally to the rescue

Finally to the rescue
Anjali Singh

They plan to take up the case of sick, abandoned and destitute animals and by the looks of it are serious this time round. Having earned a dubious reputation ever since their inception ten years back, the People For Animals (PFA) Lucknow Chapter, are now all set to earn the city folks trust post a total revamp of their management and working committee.

Says Anand Sharma, the newly elected President of PFA Lucknow, "A lot has been changed within PFA as the need to involve more youth was being felt by all. All the good work being done was going in vain as a lot credibility was being lost due to the loss of trust of the people. So Maneka Gandhi too decided to make some positive changes and since the past five months we have been functioning as a new team. We have improved the shelter at Hanskhera at Para and begun to answer rescue calls regularly as well."

A charitable organisation formed to champion the cause of stray animals, PFA has a nationwide network that has over 2.5 lakh members, 180 units and 26 hospitals. The main objective of which is to uphold the rights of the animals by giving them shelter, medical care and checking atrocities on them. All of these services will now also be available to animals in Lucknow.

Explains PK Sharma, a well known vet who is also among the newly elected trustees, "There is so much focus on highlighting the negatives of PFA that no one sees the fact that ours is the only animal rights group that has achieved hundred percent success rate in the ABC sterilization programme we have taken on. The effort and intention both is to get relief to a suffering animal as soon as possible, for which we have strategies planned, an ABC infrastructure in collaboration with Animal Welfare Board and the Lucknow Nagar Nigam is also on the anvil and will shortly begin in the city."

As upbeat as that sounds one of their biggest challenge remains the hostile attitude of the police. With most police thanas not as amicable as one would like them to be where animal rights is concerned, the rescue operations become cumbersome for PFA volunteers. But the new President has that worked out as well.

“Police sensitisation is among the top of our priority list as their intervention is a must in cases of altercation. Apart from that sometimes we have to book people under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act and it is very essential to lodge FIRs. But the police do not cooperate, in addition we plan to also hold awareness drives at various thanas in the city to make the police aware of Section 34 IPC of Police Act 1861 which empowers then to arrest offenders of cruelty to animals without a warrant,” avers Sharma.

So far so good as PFA plans to target no less than 600 districts in UP to promote vegetarianism, advocate compulsory introduction of education of animal rights in schools, establish a veterinary hospital and to launch a membership drive apart from focussing on animal treatment and medication.

With so much planned for the animals in UP PFA Lucknow is more than eager to set the record straight where animal rights is concerned. As informs Kavita Dass, a trustee of PFA, “aim is do something constructive and that cannot be done without the support of the people. A beginning has been made by PFA and a new helpline number has also been installed on 9236012078 and animal lovers can also reach us on mail at pfa.news@gmail.com.”

Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)

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Negotiating Climate change - a filmi way

Negotiating Climate change - a filmi way
Alka pande

New Delhi: The timing for the screening of an environment documentary - 'Negotiating Justice' - could not have been more appropriate. The film, which talks about India's negotiating position in crucial Copenhagen meet, has been nominated for Fifth CMS Vatavaran Wildlife and Environment Award - popular as Indian Green Oscar.

The award festival ready to start in the national capital Delhi from October 27 will see the presence of eminent personalities like Indian minister for new and renewable energies Farooq Abdullah, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit, Netherlands ambassador Bob Hinesh, group general manager and country head of HSBC bank Naina Lal Kidwai, social activist Anna Hazare and noted Indian film maker Mahesh Bhatt.

The screening of the film coincides with national conference on climate change, which the country is hosting in New Delhi these days. During the conference, the UN climate chief Yvo de Boer strongly advocated "significant financial support by the developed countries to help poor nations comply with the emission targets''. Boer stressed, "any agreement at Copenhagen would need to include ambitious emission cuts for industrialised countries, limiting emission growth from developing nations and enough financial support to help poor nations comply with the targets." His message came with a warning - "if any of these inter-related issues failed to work out, the Copenhagen Summit would be a futile exercise."

Weeks ahead of December 2009, when the world meets in Copenhagen to fix a new climate agreement, the film 'Negotiating Justice' explains India's negotiating position on climate change. The film takes the viewers through a series of initiatives that India has taken voluntarily, to work towards a clean and energy-efficient economy. It reiterates that India will continue to grow even as it fights climate change.

The film raises the climate change issue in the same pitch as of Boers. It's director Rishu Nigam, who is one of the 10 women directors, whose films have been nominated for the current CMS Vatavaran Award, feels the earth's atmosphere belongs equally to all human beings, irrespective which part of it they live in. She says the dialogue on climate change is on but there are several misinformation relating to issue. "The film clears those misinformation" says Rishu.

"The film reminds us of this universal truth that was endorsed by all nations of the world in the summer of 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio. Today, several rich nations of the world are blatantly denying this reality. Despite their own remarkable legacy in polluting the planet, they demand the developing nations to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions," rues Rishu, who works In the film division of TERI and specialises in making films on environment and development issues.

This year 12 films by women directors have reached the nomination stage including the one directed by Rishu. Incidentally all these women are from the national capital. Through their films these environment lovers have raised issues like vanishing water reservoirs, disappearing lakes in and round Delhi, shortage of water, or disappearing wildlife and many more such issues.

Including Rishu's film Negotiating Justice, there are 12 films by women directors, which have reached the nomination stage for the Indian Green Oscar. Incidentally all these women are from the national capital. Through their films these environment lovers have raised issues like vanishing water reservoirs, disappearing lakes in and round Delhi, shortage of water, or disappearing wildlife and many more such issues.

Some of them have focused on intervention/success stories such as Nutan Manmohan's Brown Power. The film narrates the story of a small town - Haebowl - in the state of Punjab. Located between Satluj river and Buddha Nala - at one time it was famous for its beautiful landscape, its large milk dairies, its superior quality of milk products and its hard working people. But over the years - as more and more dairies opened up - and number of livestock began to exceed number of people - Haebowl became infamous for its foul smell and large dumps of cow dung scattered all over the town. Possibility of change emerged when Punjab Energy Development Board set up a demonstration plant in which high rate of biomethanation converted the waste into electricity - which was fed into the main grid and the by product was sold as organic manure to local farmers. "In one bold stroke - a waste product became precious resource, many new jobs were created, a town was saved from become a dump yard-filled with disease and illness and most importantly it demonstrated a sustainable technology that ran on its own spawning great environmental and economic benefit to all," according to Nutan.

Then there is Akanksha Joshi's Chilika Banks which will be screened in the livelihood category. The film is about a banyan tree, on the banks of the lake Chilika, silently whispers tales of the lake and her fisher folk. From the times when there was no export bazaar to the time when there maybe no lake. The film bagged the First Prize at Jeevika 2008: South Asia Livelihood Documentary Film Festival.

The bi-annual event organised by Centre of Media Studies (CMS) has got more than 100 films from 17 states of India and 15 from different other countries, which are competing with each other for the prestigious award. All films are based on the festival theme "climate change and sustainable technology''. There are 25 awards carrying the prize money of Rs 2 million in India and International categories. "The aim of the festival is to take the green cause to the masses through these Indian and international films, seminars, workshops, panel discussions and exhibitions, all of which will be the part of the five day event," says Alka Tomar, the festival director.

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

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