"IIT Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students"
"Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students and revamp its system so that the academic programme motivates students to learn and engage in engineering-related socially-useful work rather than go after non-engineering consumerist oriented jobs which are totally non-productive" asserted Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and a former faculty member of IIT Kanpur and former member of Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. Dr Pandey also launched a signature petition to mount further pressure on IIT Kanpur (petition is online here). Read more
"It is a shame that Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has decided to expel 38 students belonging mostly to Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) category" said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
"While the general thinking of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is in the direction of relaxing the examination system so that a more conducive learning atmosphere can be created for students, it appears that IIT Kanpur has yet to come out of the paradigm in which academic performance is used to penalize students" said Dr Pandey, who has been a former member of MHRD's Central Advisory Board on Education.
"Suicides among students are not very uncommon in IIT Kanpur and presently an unusually high number of students are receiving psychological counselling. The failure is not that of students but that of IIT system" said Dr Pandey.
"IIT Kanpur must withdraw the expulsion order of students and revamp its system so that the academic programme motivates students to learn and engage in engineering-related socially-useful work rather than go after non-engineering consumerist oriented jobs which are totally non-productive" reads the signature petition which he launched yesterday in support of the growing movement of students demanding withdrawal of expulsion order of students. To sign the petition, click here
Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
News Trust News
Petitiononline.com
Tweetmeme.com
Dalitsrights.blogspot.com
Digg.com
Thursday, January 28, 2010
"Revamp academic programme of IIT Kanpur to motivate students": Pandey
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Development Journalism is crucial for social change
Refresher course must for all journalists: PII editor
Emphasizing the great importance of development journalism in today’s world, Ms Sangeeta Rajeesh, senior editor, Press Institute of India (PII), Chennai said that it is very essential that we sensitize our journalists towards focusing on issues relevant to development. Ms Sangeeta who is the current editor of Vidura – a magazine on mass communication published by the Press Institute of India (PII) since 1963, was addressing media professionals at the fortnightly 'Media for Children' organized at the UP Press Club by Media Nest with the support of UNICEF. Editor of 'Grassroots'- a journal on development journalism published by PII for the last eleven years, Ms Sangeeta is also head of programmes for PII. Read more
A pan India body, Media Nest works for the welfare of journalists and their families and these fortnightly sessions are aimed at providing professional insight to media people on development issues.
Stressing on refresher training for journalists, Ms Sangeeta said that it is sad that a lot of money is spent under different heads and programmes but by and large press organizations seem to have no provision for training programmes for journalists.
Emphasizing that every story has a development angle to it she said PII runs special courses on how to approach a development story.
"There is always a development angle to even the so called hard political story," she said adding that the important thing is to ensure that journalists are trained and tuned on how to use information wisely.
"We invite exclusive developmental stories in our journals. They are well researched and written from the field. We encourage journalists to speak the truth," she said.
Ms Sangeeta emphasized that 'Grassroots' is circulated in the government offices and also NGOs and thus is a good way of reaching out healthy criticism to the powers that can make things work.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Augustine Veliath, communication specialist, UNICEF said that UP children need the media. "Uttar Pradesh has the biggest concentration of children. Children have no voice, nor are they the vote bank. Media could become the voice of children."
Earlier Media Nest felicitated the members of newly elected members of the Uttar Pradesh state correspondent committee. The programme was conducted by Media Nest secretary general, Kulsum Talha.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
Published in:
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Media from Freedom, Nepal
Banderas News, Mexico
Tweetmeme.com
Twitter.com
Media Mantra.com
Time for grown-ups to listen to young sane voices: Save fuel, save environment
The young people are the true custodian of our future, so their voices must not be ignored. The children who live in urban slums in state capital of Uttar Pradesh gave a powerful message to grown-ups to save the environment. The outcome of rising pollution in the city and other adverse manifestations of environmental hazards, are often worst faced by those from the lower socio-economic group. Read more
Access to clean water, hygienic surroundings, clean air to breathe, eco-friendly garbage disposal, were some of the dreams of these children expressed in form of paintings. Simple solutions that can increase the quality of environment these children grow up in, were reflected in their incredible drawings. Saving fuel can reduce automobile emission, not burning 'tyres' in winters, recycling biodegradable garbage and handing over non-biodegradable one for further processing, carrying hand-bags and saying "no" to polythene, protecting water resources in the city so that those who don't have access to potable water can enjoy safe drinking water, were among the most powerful messages that came out of some of the paintings.
22-24 January 2010 saw children from Lucknow slums painting their messages for Lucknow citizens to protect the environment. As part of the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) fortnight of activities on "saving fuel and saving environment," Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) helped host a drawing and painting event for children from six urban slums in Lucknow. Mr Siddharth Mishra, Senior Regional Manager (SRM) lucknow Retail, HPCL Lucknow, Mr Venkatesh Dwivedi State Coordinator, PCRA and Mr. Arvind Lal Executive Officer MIS HPCL inaugurated the event.
This was a unique event where often those who are the keynote speakers on social issues were in the audience - training their sensitive ears to capture the voices of these underserved children. Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and senior social activist Dr Sandeep Pandey, senior Narmada Bachao Andolan activist and State Adviser to Right to Food Commissioner to Supreme Court Arundhati Dhuru, Asha Parivar activist Urvashi Mehta, Chunnilal, were among other citizens who came forward to interact with the children and listen to the voices of these future wardens of this city.
HPCL supported this drawing and painting event for more than 400 children of six Asha Samajik Vidyalayas functioning in slums of Ismail Ganj, Gandhi Nagar, Madiayon, Dubagga and Janki Plaza, from 22-24 January 2010. Prior to the event, the Asha Parivar education coordinators were interacting with the children to raise awareness about the different ways of saving fuel and saving the environment. They were also trained by noted environmentalist Ms Prabha Chaturvedi of EXNORA Lucknow and Mr Venkatesh Dwivedi, PCRA officer.
"The real development should be to provide humane living conditions to the slum dwellers. They are the ones who suffer the brunt of urban development in the most severe manner" said Dr Sandeep Pandey. "These voices of the children should be heard by the policy makers to usher in a change towards a just social order" said Pandey.
This was undoubtedly an event with a difference - where children who never get a voice - got a creative medium to express their concerns on how the lifestyles of Lucknow citizens affect them and their environment. Most astounding was the sensible manner in which these young people came up with pragmatic solutions. Time for grown-ups to listen to these young voices.
Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Headline News from Liberia
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The New Times, Rwanda
The Banderas News, Mexico
Media For Freedom, Nepal
Modern Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/ Thailand
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Elites TV News, USA
Yahoo! news
Newstrust.net
World Sentinel
News Blaze, USA
OpEdNews.com
Astonmartinnews.com
Twitter.com
Littleabout.com
Friendfeed.com
Mediakhabar.com
Saraswat Samman conferred upon Prof Rama Kant for this year 2010
+Rama+Kant.jpg)
Saraswat Samman for this year 2010 is being conferred upon Prof (Dr) Rama Kant for his social welfare activities. Professor (Dr) Rama Kant is the Head of the Department of Surgery at Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU - upgraded King George's Medical College KGMC). He is the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General's Awardee on tobacco control for the year 2005. He is the former Chief Medical Superintendent of Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals (GM & AH), CSMMU. He was conferred upon the Best Eminent Surgical Teacher Award by Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), UP. He is the President of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) UP. Read more
Prof (Dr) Rama Kant was conferred upon the Begum Hazrat Mahal Quami Ekta Award (1995), Olympian Surgeon Award (1996), National Award from Indian Government's Health Ministry (1997), State Government's Award for his Hindi books (1998 and 2000), among other distinguished awards and recognitions.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Media Nest to felicitate newly elected correspondent committee members
Media Nest, a pan India body of media professionals that works for the welfare of journalists and their families, will be felicitating the newly elected members of Uttar Pradesh State Accredited Correspondents committee (UPSACC) at Uttar Pradesh Press Club at 11.30 am on 23 January 2010. Read moreMr. Hisamul Islam Siddiqui, a senior Urdu journalist was elected as the President of committee. Mr. Siddiqui is member of National monitoring committee for minorities’ education in India. Senior Hindi scribes Mudit Mathur and Yogesh Mishra were elected to the post of vice-president and secretary. Mr. Jitendra Shukla was elected the treasurer. Besides 12 journalists were elected to the executive committee.
Giving this information in a press note, Media Nest secretary general and UP correspondent of AFP, Ms Kulsum Talha said that after the felicitation ceremony the fortnightly progromme Media for Children will be held. Media Nest has been organizing this media sensitization event on the issues of women and children since November 2008 with the support of UNICEF at the Press Club.
This fortnight the chief resource person is Ms Sangeeta Rajeesh, senior editor, Press Institute of India, New Delhi . Ms Rajeesh will talk to the media about grassroot journalism.
Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and Secretary-General of Media Nest)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Mind That Diabetic Foot
2010 Dr SC Misra Oration Award [Listen to audio podcast] was conferred upon Dr Ajith Kumar Varma at the 55th Foundation Day of Department of Surgery (General), Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC). Dr Varma is an assistant Professor in the Department of Endocrinology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, Kerala. After serving the army for 15 years, he is doing excellent work in the field of podiatric surgery, related to the diabetic foot. I had the opportunity to meet him when he was recently in Lucknow to attend the 55th Foundation Day Celebration of Department of General Surgery, CSM Medical University, where he charmed everyone with his suave manners and modesty, as well as his passionate zeal for improving the quality of life of those living with diabetes. Read more
This article is based on an exclusive interview given by him to Citizen News Service (CNS).
The concept of reconstructive and corrective surgery for the diabetic foot has evolved very recently, as a means to correct foot deformities. This latest technique is presently being practised in very few countries of the world. There are a few selected centres in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, Spain and Australia, with USA, which has 7 podiatric schools performing such operations, topping the list. In India, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, situated in Kochi, is the only institute doing this type of reconstructive surgery in high risk patients of totally deformed diabetic foot, thus obviating the traumatic need for amputations.
There is an entity called 'Charcot' in diabetic foot problems. In prolonged diabetic foot problems there is an increased blood flow to the lower limbs, due to autonomic neuropathy, which causes demineralisation of the bones. It is a tsunami like effect, just washing away the minerals of the bones. Moreover, it stimulates certain cells which simply eat up the bones. All this weakens the bones, and makes them soft and pudgy. This results in the collapse of the foot and ankle bones, making it impossible for the patient to walk. Moreover, multiple increased pressure points are developed on the soles of the affected feet, where ulcers and calluses develop. These act as portals for entry of bacteria. As the cellular immunity of the patient is suppressed, even the slightest bacterial infection can cause a serious life threatening problem, so much so that if the patient is not given proper treatment within 24 to 48 hours of the infection setting in, it may result in amputations or even death.
Worldwide, 50% of all leg amputations happen to people living with diabetes. In India, an estimated 50,000 amputations are carried out every year due to diabetes related foot problems. By employing reconstructive and corrective surgical techniques, to correct the shape of the deformed feet and remove the high pressure points, a large number of such amputations can be prevented. Thus the patient can lead a near normal life, free from complications.
After having trained in the US, two years ago, Dr Varma has been performing different types of foot and ankle corrective surgeries, at the Amrita Institute, to normalise the shape and function of the grossly deformed diabetic feet. Last year, more than 25 such surgeries were performed. The best, amongst the 8 to 10 types of surgical techniques currently available, is the Triple Arthodesis Surgery, which costs around Rs 30,000. The costs of implants, titanium screws and suture fibre wires are additional. This, according to Dr Varma, is quite reasonable, especially when compared to the exorbitant fees charged in the USA for a similar operation.
Not only this, Dr Varma and his team have developed a new 'Amrita Sling Technique' for foot stabilisation, which is one of its kinds in the entire world. This obviates many complications which routinely occur after the reconstructive surgery.
In normal corrective surgery of 'Charcot's Foot' (as is being done in the US and elsewhere), the patient has to take rest for 4 to 5 months before s/he can start walking, as the bones need time to reconsolidate gradually. Moreover, during this period, an external fixture called 'Illazarov Frame' has to be fixed on the foot with screws and pins, which penetrate the bones and flesh. When the patient starts walking, it is very likely for infection to set in, paving the way for amputation.
But the Amrita Sling Technique, when applied once the reconstruction is done, results in quick normalisation of the gait bio-mechanics and ambulation of the patient. This reduces the long recuperation period, and also minimises the post operative complications. It has been successfully tested on 10 patients at the institute who are now leading a normal life.
Apart from doing pioneering work in the field of podiatric surgery, the Amrita Institute happens to be the only one in Asia, offering three specialised courses under one roof, informed Dr Varma. It conducts a one year post doctoral fellowship programme in podiatric surgery with a view to train more doctors in this field. Another 4 year course in diabetes and diabetic foot surgery exists for MBBS students, as also a course for training paramedical staff for management of diabetic foot.
Dr Varma stressed upon the importance of proper and timely foot care and foot wear advice to patients, to prevent limb and life threatening infections. From the day the patient is diagnosed with diabetes, proper foot care and foot wear advice must be instituted to prevent further complications. As far as a good foot wear prescription is concerned, it has to be given with utmost care. Diabetic foot wear are not off-the-counter purchases. They are made of specific material, like micro cellular rubber, micro cellular polymer, or ethyl vinyl acetate, which distribute pressure evenly on the surface, and prevent build up of pressure points, to avoid formation of calluses which are entry points for bacterial infection. Proper footwear should ideally be prescribed only after doing a pedopodogram, in which plantar pressure at each point of the under surface of the feet is measured. This is as necessary as testing the blood sugar levels of a patient before prescribing insulin or other oral medication.
With India earning the dubious distinction of being the diabetic capital of the world, Dr Varma rightly stressed upon the need for awareness about the complications of the disease in the public, in the patients, and, above all, in the primary care physicians, working in rural areas. In his words 'Pick up the lesion at the earliest', so that the problem can be resolved without amputation. In developing countries, as in India, the amputation rate is over 45%, whereas in the USA, and also in patients at Amrita Institute, it is a mere 8.5%, thanks to the novel surgical techniques available. Not only this, as diabetes is a disease of the blood vessels, all the organs get affected, especially the heart, which is strained over 15%. Even with the best of processes in place, there is 85% mortality, within 5 years of the amputation, due to cardiac arrest. Hence it is imperative to salvage the limb. Only then can we improve the quality, as well as quantity of life of patients, many of whom may be bread winners of their families.
Through good healthcare and informed self-care, it is possible to prevent diabetes-related amputations in the majority of cases. Prevention is always better than cure, more so in the case of diabetes.
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:
Hindustan Times, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Central Chronicle, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Little About, India
The Colombo Times, Sri Lanka
The Asian Tribune, Sri Lanka
Media From Freedom, Nepal
Newstin.com, UK
Elites TV News, USA
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Med India News, India
News Blaze
Media Mantra.com
Twitter.com
All Voices
Digg.com
Jorbit.com
Friendfeed.com
Oneclick.indiatimes.com
Silobreaker.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
CSMMU Surgery Department celebrates its foundation day
The Department of Surgery (General) of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU, upgraded King George's Medical College - KGMC) has been functioning for almost a century now (98 years to be precise). Just for the sake of records, the post-graduate course in surgery was started in the year 1928, and the first Masters of Surgery (MS) in General Surgery was awarded to Dr MAH Siddiqui in the year 1930. Read more
But the concept of a composite department with its own building, as envisioned by Late Prof SC Misra, saw the light of the day in the form of the New Surgical Block (NSB), which was inaugurated, by the then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, on 16 January 1955. This day is celebrated by the department as its Foundation Day.
In 2010, the department is proudly celebrating its 55th Foundation Day, standing tall on its past glory and present achievements, with a firm determination to keep on surging ahead.
Today it pays its reverent homage to the stalwarts who helped give it the present shape and stature and won laurels for this institution.
It has come a long way from Col W Selby, who was the first Head of the Department, to the present incumbent, Professor (Dr) Rama Kant. During the year 2009, a total number of 14,205 operations were performed. Thus, on an average, 35 surgical emergency admissions are being catered to, everyday.
New and exclusive facilities initiated during the past year, under the able guidance of Prof Rama Kant, include anal sphincterometry, recto videoscopy and emed-paedography.
The newest techniques for treatment of piles were introduced in a big way in the department in its Ano Rectal Wing. 256 cases of haemorrhoids in grade 1 and 2 were treated through IRC, and 78 patients of piles were cured without any surgery through.
118 patients with grade 3 and 4 piles benefitted through Doppler Guided Haemorrhoidal arterial ligation (DGHAL) and recto-anal repair (RAR) techniques.
Apart from this, more than 103 patients were treated with the latest techniques of surgery in diabetic foot. Thoracoscopy was performed on 78 patients and thoracoscopic surgery surgery on 45 patients.
The deep involvement of the present Head of The Department with anti tobacco programmes, resulted in the regular facility of tobacco cessation being provided by this department – a unique facility available only here in the entire state of Uttar Pradesh. The Central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently bestowed upon this centre the distinction of becoming the Resource Centre For Tobacco Control (RCTC).
Besides conducting regular under graduate and post graduate teaching, the department remains in the forefront of providing service to those who need it. The addition of a multi disciplinary casualty department has helped in improving its credentials. But pre hospital care needs to improve and the elective surgery waiting list needs to be shortened, perhaps by increasing the facilities and staff.
The residents of the departments presented over 20 proffered papers in various conferences, and attended several surgical technique skill courses and surgical updates. The Best Paper and Best Thesis award was also won by one of its members.
Its fraternity presents an enviable picture of social bonding and cooperation. "The residents and faculty, not only work together, they also sing and play together – whether it be some social stage event or a cricket match. This bonhomie only goes to increase the dedication and determination of all its members" says Prof Rama Kant.
Prof Rama Kant strongly believes that "Winners recognize their weakness but focus on their strengths; while losers recognize their strength but focus on their weakness."
May the department rise from strength to strength by learning from its weakness in the interest of the patients it serves.
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:
Weekly Blitz News, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
The Colombo Times, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Elites TV News, USA
Media Mantra
Investment.com
Twitter.com
Tweetmeme.com
Sunday, January 10, 2010
State Media Schools' Summit in Lucknow
Lucknow will for the first time play host to a summit of media schools of Uttar Pradesh on 21 January 2010. UNICEF and Amity school of mass communication, Lucknow, are the joint organizers of this unique event. Cine star Ms Sharmila Tagore, will open the summit, while actor Farooq Sheikh will conclude it. The Member Secretary of the National Commission for Protection of Rights of Children will chair the concluding session. Read more
Published in:
Punjab News Line, Punjab, Inida
Citizen New Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Aston Martin News
New Trust News, India
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Digg.com
Mediakhabar.com
India News
The Daily Star
Topix.com
Nowpublic.com
Allvoices.com
Web News wire
Feedraider.com
Tweetmeme.com
Friendfeed.com
Twitter.com
Will you marry only a fair-skinned girl?
“My mother jokes about how I am too dark to be her daughter”
“Kaali ho rahi hai. Tujhse shaadi kaun karega”?
The latest Tweets? Let us hope not but beware of them! And perhaps go a step further. Like Kannan Mehta and her friends who designed and organized the ‘Kya aap sirf ek gori ladki se shaadi karenge?’ campaign [Will you marry only a fair-skinned girl? campaign] on one of the Bangalore's main streets in November 2009. Here's what I learned about the protest during an e-chat with Kannan a student of the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in the city. Read more
Our aim was to oppose the notion that only fair complexioned people are beautiful and can lead a happy and successful life. We sought to create a simple, peaceful yet thought provoking and and visually rich dialogue. It was the outcome of a workshop named The Aesthetics of Protest which explored the nature and context of protest intending to broaden learners' understanding of its aesthetics. It introduced the idea that the aesthetics involved in protests lie beyond iconography and visual forms and extend to the form of interaction of the protest and its subsequent and residual impact on both the participants and the observers.
Why do you think is it important to address this issue of skin colour bias?
We have all either been subjected to or seen someone being discriminated against on the basis of skin colour be it teasing a classmate in school or refusing a front desk job to a dark-skinned girl.
When, how and where did you conceptualize, design and implement this campaign? Did you need special permission from the BBMP, police, etc.? (BBMP is Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike, the city's Municipal Council).
This was a street activity for which we started a Facebook page called Dark and Lovely to inform people about the protest, inspire them to join and spread the message. We went to our location (Church Street, Bangalore) fairly early on a Sunday morning and painted slogans and phrases like “My mother wants me to marry a FAIR girl”, “I am too dark to apply for the job”, “It's no longer ‘Tall-Dark-Handsome”, now its ‘Fair and Handsome.” on the pavements. We didn't take permission from anybody, not even for painting the streets. That afternoon we returned to the same area and distributed the following 'meters' (wrist bands) to people based on their preferences:
1. Fairness meter
2. Darkness meter
3. Loveliness meter
We had basically planned this campaign for people in our age group (i.e., adolescents and early 20's) and gave them pieces of chalk to write down their ideas of beauty on the pavements. The responses we got were very subjective. While persons who had experienced this kind of discrimination could empathize, others thought that it was a fairly silly issue that we were protesting.
They were supportive. In fact, they took the loveliness meters from us. Some did not wear them as they were on duty.
Did you consider other issues? If yes, why did you choose this?
We started with this and will be undertaking environmental campaigns like seed bombing, moss graffiti, etc. I will inform you when we do those.
(The author is a freelance writer, a Fellow of Citizen News Service (CNS) Writers' Bureau, and a community volunteer based in Bangalore, India)
Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, USA
Reddit.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
Counterfeit medicines can result in treatment failure
All kinds of medicines have been counterfeited, from medicines for the treatment of life-threatening conditions to inexpensive generic versions of painkillers and antihistamines. Counterfeit medicines may include products with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients, without active ingredients, with insufficient or too much active ingredient, or with fake packaging, adds WHO.
Walk down the old signature-market of Lucknow, Ameenabad, shows us an open and very busy market for pharmaceutical products. These are possibly not counterfeit, but surely, easy and open availability of medicines and other pharmaceutical products, is a big cause of worry - particularly because of rising drug resistance in India. So this market may not qualify at all as an example of counterfeit medicines, but may be closer to factors that are propelling irrational use of drugs.
According to the WHO, counterfeit medicines are found everywhere in the world. They range from random mixtures of harmful toxic substances to inactive, ineffective preparations. Some contain a declared, active ingredient and look so similar to the genuine product that they deceive health professionals as well as patients. But in every case, the source of a counterfeit medicine is unknown and its content unreliable. Counterfeit medicines are always illegal. They can result in treatment failure or even death. Eliminating them is a considerable public health challenge.
WHO states that studies can only give snapshots of the immediate situation. Counterfeiters are extremely flexible in the methods they use to mimic products and prevent their detection. They can change these methods from day to day, so when the results of a study are released, they may already be outdated. Finally, information about a case under legal investigation is sometimes only made public after the investigation has been concluded.
Counterfeiting is greatest in regions where regulatory and enforcement systems for medicines are weakest, adds WHO. In most industrialized countries with effective regulatory systems and market control (i.e. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, most of the European Union and the United States of America), incidence of counterfeit medicines is extremely low – less than 1% of market value according to the estimates of the countries concerned. But in many African countries, and in parts of Asia, Latin America, and countries in transition, a much higher percentage of the medicines on sale may be counterfeit.
Not only is there a huge variation between geographic regions in terms of incidence of counterfeit medicines, variation can also be significant within countries: for example, between urban and rural areas, and between cities, says WHO.
All kinds of medicines have been counterfeited – branded and generic – ranging from medicines for the treatment of life-threatening conditions to inexpensive generic versions of painkillers and antihistamines, states WHO.
Counterfeit medicines pose a public health risk because their content can be dangerous or they can lack active ingredients, says WHO. Their use can result in treatment failure (and contribute to increased resistance in the case of antimalarials that contain insufficient active ingredient) or even death. Unlike substandard medicines where there are problems with the manufacturing process by a known manufacturer, counterfeit medicines are made by people with the intent to mislead.
The extreme difficulty in tracing the manufacturing and distribution channels of counterfeit medicines makes their circulation on markets difficult to stop. Even a single case of a counterfeit medicine is unacceptable since it indicates that the pharmaceutical supply system in which it was detected is vulnerable. Worse, it undermines the credibility of national health and enforcement authorities.
Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
eNews Park Forest
Digg.com
Healthcare Industry Today
Turkishweekly.net, Turkish
News Trust News, India
Counterfeit medicines can result in treatment failure
All kinds of medicines have been counterfeited, from medicines for the treatment of life-threatening conditions to inexpensive generic versions of painkillers and antihistamines. Counterfeit medicines may include products with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients, without active ingredients, with insufficient or too much active ingredient, or with fake packaging, adds WHO.
Walk down the old signature-market of Lucknow, Ameenabad, shows us an open and very busy market for pharmaceutical products. These are possibly not counterfeit, but surely, easy and open availability of medicines and other pharmaceutical products, is a big cause of worry - particularly because of rising drug resistance in India. So this market may not qualify at all as an example of counterfeit medicines, but may be closer to factors that are propelling irrational use of drugs.
According to the WHO, counterfeit medicines are found everywhere in the world. They range from random mixtures of harmful toxic substances to inactive, ineffective preparations. Some contain a declared, active ingredient and look so similar to the genuine product that they deceive health professionals as well as patients. But in every case, the source of a counterfeit medicine is unknown and its content unreliable. Counterfeit medicines are always illegal. They can result in treatment failure or even death. Eliminating them is a considerable public health challenge.
WHO states that studies can only give snapshots of the immediate situation. Counterfeiters are extremely flexible in the methods they use to mimic products and prevent their detection. They can change these methods from day to day, so when the results of a study are released, they may already be outdated. Finally, information about a case under legal investigation is sometimes only made public after the investigation has been concluded.
Counterfeiting is greatest in regions where regulatory and enforcement systems for medicines are weakest, adds WHO. In most industrialized countries with effective regulatory systems and market control (i.e. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, most of the European Union and the United States of America), incidence of counterfeit medicines is extremely low – less than 1% of market value according to the estimates of the countries concerned. But in many African countries, and in parts of Asia, Latin America, and countries in transition, a much higher percentage of the medicines on sale may be counterfeit.
Not only is there a huge variation between geographic regions in terms of incidence of counterfeit medicines, variation can also be significant within countries: for example, between urban and rural areas, and between cities, says WHO.
All kinds of medicines have been counterfeited – branded and generic – ranging from medicines for the treatment of life-threatening conditions to inexpensive generic versions of painkillers and antihistamines, states WHO.
Counterfeit medicines pose a public health risk because their content can be dangerous or they can lack active ingredients, says WHO. Their use can result in treatment failure (and contribute to increased resistance in the case of antimalarials that contain insufficient active ingredient) or even death. Unlike substandard medicines where there are problems with the manufacturing process by a known manufacturer, counterfeit medicines are made by people with the intent to mislead.
The extreme difficulty in tracing the manufacturing and distribution channels of counterfeit medicines makes their circulation on markets difficult to stop. Even a single case of a counterfeit medicine is unacceptable since it indicates that the pharmaceutical supply system in which it was detected is vulnerable. Worse, it undermines the credibility of national health and enforcement authorities.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
NREGA Social Audit in Unnao
A social audit of national rural employment guarantee scheme (NREGS) shall be conducted by Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh (UP), during 15-21 January 2010.
"Commitment to transparency and accountability runs through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). This commitment also flows from the right to information Act 2005. The Right to Information (RTI) Act should be followed in both letter and spirit in all matters relating to NREGA. No request (for information) should be refused under any circumstances. All NREGA-related information is in the public domain" says the chapter 10 of the NREGA operational guidelines. Read more
The NREGA guidelines dedicate an entire chapter (11) to compulsory social audit. The guidelines state: "An innovative feature of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is that it gives a central role to 'social audits' as a means of continuous public vigilance (NREGA, Section 17). One simple form of social audit is a public assembly where all the details of a project are scrutinized. However, 'social audit' can also be understood in a broader sense, as a continuous process of public vigilance."
In Unnao social audit planned during 15-21 January 2010, villagers and activists associated with Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) will be conducting social audit of work done under NREGS in the district, to ascertain the quality of work as well as veracity of documents which have been obtained under the RTI Act. The focus will be specially on issues related to workers, like issue of job cards, who keeps them, giving of work, payment of wages, fulfillment of other provisions, etc. "All are cordially invited to join this audit" says the organizers of the social audit.
The training to conduct social audit will be held during 15-16 January 2010 at the Fatehpur Chaurasi Block office. Upon conclusion of social audit a public hearing will be held at the Block office on 21 January 2010 which is likely to be attended by District level officials, officials of the Rural Development Department of Government of UP and some past and present people's representatives.
Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
NREGA Social Audit in Unnao
"Commitment to transparency and accountability runs through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). This commitment also flows from the right to information Act 2005. The Right to Information (RTI) Act should be followed in both letter and spirit in all matters relating to NREGA. No request (for information) should be refused under any circumstances. All NREGA-related information is in the public domain" says the chapter 10 of the NREGA operational guidelines. Read more
The NREGA guidelines dedicate an entire chapter (11) to compulsory social audit. The guidelines state: "An innovative feature of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is that it gives a central role to 'social audits' as a means of continuous public vigilance (NREGA, Section 17). One simple form of social audit is a public assembly where all the details of a project are scrutinized. However, 'social audit' can also be understood in a broader sense, as a continuous process of public vigilance."
In Unnao social audit planned during 15-21 January 2010, villagers and activists associated with Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) will be conducting social audit of work done under NREGS in the district, to ascertain the quality of work as well as veracity of documents which have been obtained under the RTI Act. The focus will be specially on issues related to workers, like issue of job cards, who keeps them, giving of work, payment of wages, fulfillment of other provisions, etc. "All are cordially invited to join this audit" says the organizers of the social audit.
The training to conduct social audit will be held during 15-16 January 2010 at the Fatehpur Chaurasi Block office. Upon conclusion of social audit a public hearing will be held at the Block office on 21 January 2010 which is likely to be attended by District level officials, officials of the Rural Development Department of Government of UP and some past and present people's representatives.
State Information Commission slapped fines on errant officers
The original application for information related to details of the road being constructed from Kudavidungar hamlet to Hirapada hamlet in village Danel, Tahsil Akkalkuva, District Nandurbar under the NREGA. The information demanded included details of sanction of the project, inauguration, display board, number of labourers, attendance register, enrolment registers etc.
It is notable that while the original application for information was filed with the Public Information Officer, Public Works Department (Molgi Sub-Division) on 11-05-09, the first reply was furnished on 19-05-09 in a very limited, incomplete ad misleading way. An appeal against this was filed with the departmental appellate authority on 6-07-2009 who gave a direction on 14-07-09 to provide the information, as requested for, by 27-07-09. However, information was not provided and the second appeal was filed with the State Information Commisison on 22-08-09. Though some information was provided on 5-09-09, it was again incomplete, false and misleading and it was stated that the muster rolls would not be given since the same is available on the website.
How could the PIO assume that the applicant who is not computer-literate have access to the internet?
When appeal came up for hearing before the Commisison on 08-12-09 in the presence of the Chief Information Commissioner (Maharashtra), Shri Suresh V Joshi, the applicant and the respondent PIOs, the delay and illegality was presented before the Commissioner on behalf of the applicant by NBA activist-advocate Yogini Khanolkar. Upon hearing the parties, the Commission recorded a delay of 39 days on behalf of the APIO and PIO in providing information and imposed a fine of Rs. 9,750 fine on them; at the rate of Rs 250/- per day. Each has to thus shell out Rs. 4895/- from their pocket. The order dated 24-12-09 directs that the amounts are to be recovered from the salary of the concerned officers i.e. the Senior clerk and Department sub-engineer and Assistant PIO of the Public Works Department (Molgi Division) for the month of January 2010 and the execution report is to be submitted to the Information Commission by 15-02-2010.
NBA welcomes this order which assumes significance in a district like Nandurbar where corruption in public works has become rampant. This particular project is also known to involve massive corruption and the above punishment in this context speaks a lot. We, however, also feel that the Information Commissioner could have invoked his full powers under the Act and his order could also have directed appropriate compensation, as provided for under the same Act, to the adivasi BPL applicant, Siyaram Padvi for the physical and mental hardship that has been caused to him.
Further, if one were to calculate the cumulative delay over many months, since May and considering that even until now wholly satisfactory information has not been furnished, the fine of Rs. 9,750/- would be inadequate, while it could have been anywhere upto Rs. 25000. The order should also have recommended disciplinary action against the erring officials, so that PIOs do not disregard and delay people’s applications, henceforth. In the light of this, the applicant feels the need to pursue further options at the appropriate legal fora for full justice and implementation of the true letter and spirit of the Act.
Geetanjali Chauhan, Vijay Valivi, Medha Patkar
State Information Commission slapped fines on errant officers
In a significant order, the State Information Commisison has slapped a fine of Rs 9,750 (about USD 200) on two errant public information officers of the Nandurbar district administration (Maharashtra) for having caused enormous delay in satisfactorily responding to an application for information filed by a Sardar Sarovar project affected adivasi Siyaram Singa Padvi. Read more
The original application for information related to details of the road being constructed from Kudavidungar hamlet to Hirapada hamlet in village Danel, Tahsil Akkalkuva, District Nandurbar under the NREGA. The information demanded included details of sanction of the project, inauguration, display board, number of labourers, attendance register, enrolment registers etc.
It is notable that while the original application for information was filed with the Public Information Officer, Public Works Department (Molgi Sub-Division) on 11-05-09, the first reply was furnished on 19-05-09 in a very limited, incomplete ad misleading way. An appeal against this was filed with the departmental appellate authority on 6-07-2009 who gave a direction on 14-07-09 to provide the information, as requested for, by 27-07-09. However, information was not provided and the second appeal was filed with the State Information Commisison on 22-08-09. Though some information was provided on 5-09-09, it was again incomplete, false and misleading and it was stated that the muster rolls would not be given since the same is available on the website.
How could the PIO assume that the applicant who is not computer-literate have access to the internet?
When appeal came up for hearing before the Commisison on 08-12-09 in the presence of the Chief Information Commissioner (Maharashtra), Shri Suresh V Joshi, the applicant and the respondent PIOs, the delay and illegality was presented before the Commissioner on behalf of the applicant by NBA activist-advocate Yogini Khanolkar. Upon hearing the parties, the Commission recorded a delay of 39 days on behalf of the APIO and PIO in providing information and imposed a fine of Rs. 9,750 fine on them; at the rate of Rs 250/- per day. Each has to thus shell out Rs. 4895/- from their pocket. The order dated 24-12-09 directs that the amounts are to be recovered from the salary of the concerned officers i.e. the Senior clerk and Department sub-engineer and Assistant PIO of the Public Works Department (Molgi Division) for the month of January 2010 and the execution report is to be submitted to the Information Commission by 15-02-2010.
NBA welcomes this order which assumes significance in a district like Nandurbar where corruption in public works has become rampant. This particular project is also known to involve massive corruption and the above punishment in this context speaks a lot. We, however, also feel that the Information Commissioner could have invoked his full powers under the Act and his order could also have directed appropriate compensation, as provided for under the same Act, to the adivasi BPL applicant, Siyaram Padvi for the physical and mental hardship that has been caused to him.
Further, if one were to calculate the cumulative delay over many months, since May and considering that even until now wholly satisfactory information has not been furnished, the fine of Rs. 9,750/- would be inadequate, while it could have been anywhere upto Rs. 25000. The order should also have recommended disciplinary action against the erring officials, so that PIOs do not disregard and delay people’s applications, henceforth. In the light of this, the applicant feels the need to pursue further options at the appropriate legal fora for full justice and implementation of the true letter and spirit of the Act.
Geetanjali Chauhan, Vijay Valivi, Medha Patkar
Gandhians appeal to respect people's inalienable rights
Narayan Desai is the son of Mahadev Desai who was Mahatma Gandhi’s secretary.
"Unfortunately, there has never been a dearth of local collaborators within this country who for the sake of a few personal crumbs are willing to sacrifice the future of a vast majority of our population to these foreign interests" say Desai and Gadekar.
"The adivasis of Chhatisgarh along with the poor in many parts of the country have been suffering exploitation and repression for a long time. Shri Himanshu Kumar, a long time Gandhian activist has gone on an indefinite fast in solidarity with his adivasi bretheren. The government, whether belonging to BJP in the state or the Congress in the centre has irrespective of political affiliation, chosen a path of brutal suppression of people's aspirations. The lure of wealth underground has proved stronger than the well-being of people living overground. It does not behove us as a people of a democratic nation to allow this brutality. I appeal to the government of both the state and the centre to respect the inalienable rights of the people and to rethink and realign their policies in line with people's wishes" further adds Narayan Desai and Surendra Gadekar.
Published in:
Elites TV News, USA
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Twitter.com
Mahalo.com
Gandhians appeal to respect people's inalienable rights
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution of India. We are proud to live in a nation that believes in the ideal of universal human rights. However, sometimes the state expediently forgets its professed ideals and tries to ride roughshod over the rights of citizens. These transgressions have become more frequent as commercial, industrial and mining interests from all over the world have become more interested in the resources of this country" said veteran Gandhians Narayan Desai and Surendra Gadekar in a statement issued on DailySouthAsian. Read more
Narayan Desai is the son of Mahadev Desai who was Mahatma Gandhi’s secretary.
"Unfortunately, there has never been a dearth of local collaborators within this country who for the sake of a few personal crumbs are willing to sacrifice the future of a vast majority of our population to these foreign interests" say Desai and Gadekar.
"The adivasis of Chhatisgarh along with the poor in many parts of the country have been suffering exploitation and repression for a long time. Shri Himanshu Kumar, a long time Gandhian activist has gone on an indefinite fast in solidarity with his adivasi bretheren. The government, whether belonging to BJP in the state or the Congress in the centre has irrespective of political affiliation, chosen a path of brutal suppression of people's aspirations. The lure of wealth underground has proved stronger than the well-being of people living overground. It does not behove us as a people of a democratic nation to allow this brutality. I appeal to the government of both the state and the centre to respect the inalienable rights of the people and to rethink and realign their policies in line with people's wishes" further adds Narayan Desai and Surendra Gadekar.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010 is Year of the Lungs
The year 2010 was declared as year of the lungs to recognize that hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer each year from treatable and preventable chronic respiratory diseases. This initiative acknowledges that lung health has long been neglected in public discourses, and understands the need to unify different health advocates behind one purpose of lung health, informed Dr Nils Billo, Chair of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS). Read more
The FIRS partners include the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), American Thoracic Society (ATS), Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociacion Latinoamericana de Torax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), Pan African Thoracic Society and American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
Earlier last year, the New York Times carried a series of articles on different parts of human body, but forgot the lungs! It is difficult to remain alive without lungs for more than few seconds!
The Declaration signed by the partners of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health last year read as following:
[Begin]
WE NOTE WITH GRAVE CONCERN THAT:
Hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer each year from treatable and preventable respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), asthma, lung cancer, H1N1, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
WE RECOGNIZE THAT:
Despite the magnitude of suffering and death caused by lung disease, lung health has long been neglected in public discourse and in public health decisions.
WE CALL UPON OUR PARTNERS TO:
Enact smoking cessation legislation and programs to reduce the prevalence and stigma of tobacco-related lung diseases.
[Ends]
There are a range of health and environmental factors that affect our lung health. This includes tuberculosis (TB), tobacco smoke, biomass fuel smoke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia among other respiratory infections. The evidence of their potentially devastating effects on global public health is increasing and they require a coordinated approach for control. These diseases all occur in predominantly resource-poor countries. They are perpetuated by poverty and inadequate resources and their control and management require coordinated approach among health programmes at all levels.
Statistically, there is 1 TB-related death that takes place every 18 seconds, 1 HIV death every 16 seconds, 1 child dies of pneumonia every 15 seconds and 1 smoking-related death every 13 seconds. The enormous public challenge posed by the combined epidemics of tobacco smoking, HIV, TB and COPD, is undoubtedly alarming.
More than 2 billion people or a third of the world's total population, are infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is now the world's seventh-leading cause of death. It killed 1.8 million people worldwide last year, up from 1.77 million in 2007. It is one of the three primary diseases that are closely linked to poverty, the other two being AIDS and malaria.
Tobacco smoking is unquestionably the primary risk factor for COPD. More than 5 million deaths are attributed to tobacco use every year. Smokers have two fold higher risk of developing active TB disease. Tobacco smokers have 2 times more risk of dieing of TB. Tobacco smoke increases the risk of pneumonia, influenza, menningococcal meningitis, among others. Evidence is accumulating that smoking is a risk factor for TB. However there is no published data on the cellular interactions of tobacco smoke and mycobacterium tuberculosis. The risk to develop active TB disease is higher when tobacco smoking is combined with alcohol.
Dr Donald Enarson stressed that tobacco smoking cessation is an important part of the comprehensive tobacco control programme, and not the only part. So all components of the comprehensive tobacco control measures should be implemented for improving public health outcomes. Dr Enarson was referring to MPOWER report from Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) of WHO which outlines the MPOWER package, a set of six key tobacco control measures that reflect and build on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC, global tobacco treaty). Another delegates remarked that MPOWER is in line with the global tobacco treaty - FCTC - and we should be demanding implementation of the treaty to which governments have committed to enforce. The WHO FCTC is the first public health and corporate accountability treaty, said a delegate from India. Comprehensive tobacco control programmes can yield major public health outcomes, as 30% of male TB patients die of tobacco smoking.
Asthma is yet another major lung health challenge. It is a chronic disease that affects airways. When people have asthma, the inside walls of their airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that they are allergic to or find irritating. When airways react, they get narrower and lungs get less air. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night. When asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it's called an asthma attack. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that vital organs do not get enough oxygen. People can die from severe asthma attacks.
More than 300 million people around the world have asthma, and the disease imposes a heavy burden on individuals, families, and societies. The Global Burden of Asthma Report, indicates that asthma control often falls short and there are many barriers to asthma control around the world. Proper long-term management of asthma will permit most patients to achieve good control of their disease. Yet in many regions around the world, this goal is often not met. Poor asthma control is also seen in the lifestyle limitations experienced by some people with asthma. For example, in some regions, up to one in four children with asthma is unable to attend school regularly because of poor asthma control. Asthma deaths are the ultimate, tragic evidence of uncontrolled asthma.
According to the Global Burden of Asthma Report, the majority of asthma deaths in some regions of the world are preventable. Effective asthma treatments exist and, with proper diagnosis, education, and treatment, the great majority of asthma patients can achieve and maintain good control of their disease. When asthma is under control, patients can live full and active lives.
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.
Host of other conditions that affect the lungs, are preventable, and often treatable.
Let us hope that 2010 Year of The Lung initiative of FIRS succeeds in putting the spotlight on the long neglected part of human body which New York Times missed, the lungs.
Published in:
Scoop.com, New Zealand
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
The Botswana Gazettes, Botswana, Africa
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
Media For Freedom, Nepal
Elites TV News, USA
Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
American Chronicle, USA
The Liberian Mandingo Association of New York
Banderas News, Mexico
Littleabout.com
Allvoices.com
Healthdev.net
Tweetmeme.com
Digg.com
Flusymptons.net
Mediamantra.com
Astomartinnews.com
Health.kosmix.com
Newschurner.com
Posts
