Another Death of pregnant woman with HIV is Alarming

Online at: http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5099




Another Death of pregnant woman with HIV is Alarming
Saturday 7 April 2007
The Seoul Times
South Korea

It is not only shocking that alarming levels of HIV associated stigma and discrimination runs high in MP but also that despite of repeated alerts sounded on rising maternal mortality in the state, nothing much has improved.

By Bobby Ramakant

On World Health Day 7 April 2007: A 30-year-old pregnant woman who was living with HIV died outside the hospital building in Indore (Madhya Pradesh state (MP), India) after the government healthcare staff denied to provide adequate medical care and hospital admission.
It is not only shocking that alarming levels of HIV associated stigma and discrimination runs high in MP but also that despite of repeated alerts sounded on rising maternal mortality in the state, nothing much has improved.

Madhya Pradesh figures among the list of those Indian states where maternal mortality is high, particularly in rural areas, where the healthcare system is virtually non-existent and awareness on the subject among the people extremely low.

According to UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh along with Assam and Uttar Pradesh, has a high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of 700 or more per 100,000 live births as against the national figure of 407 per 100,000 live births as per the 2001 Census figures. However, regional disparities in maternal mortality are wide with the death ratio being low in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Punjab and extremely high in most northern states in India.

President of Madhya Pradesh Network of People living with HIV (MPNP+) Manoj Verma said that on 3 April 2007, a 30-year-old pregnant woman who was living with HIV, died outside MY Hospital after the government healthcare staff refused to admit the patient. She was referred from Bhuranpur, Nehru Hospital, village Gambhirpura on 31 March 2007.

After the preliminary examination, she was referred and was taken to the ward for admission. But when the doctors came to know of her HIV positive status, they intentionally discharged the patient despite of the fact that she was in labor pains. But the doctors blatantly refused to admit her. While the patient came from the fifth floor of the hospital and reached the compound, she delivered the baby girl near the water tank of the MY Hospital. The relatives again tried to approach the healthcare staff to re-admit her but the security guards refused their entry into the hospital building.

As her condition was critical on 2 April 2007 she was brought to the MY Hospital at 9.30 am and fortunately got hospital admission, but was not fortunate enough to get proper medical attention. On 3 April 2007, her condition worsened, with no doctors to attend to her and she succumbed owing to severe medical negligence during and after child birth. She belonged to 'Banjaran' backward class and had five children.

MPNP+ President Manoj called the collector of Indore who asked him to register an FIR (first Information Report) at the nearest police station. However the nearest Sayogitha Gunj police station refused to lodge an FIR.

"I am shocked to hear of the blatant discrimination against a pregnant HIV+ woman in the hospital in Indore. This is even more so because right now there is a huge campaign by UNICEF and others to work on maternal health issues in MP" said India's noted women's health rights activist Jashodhara Dasgupta of SAHAYOG (www.sahayogindia.org).

Many reports reveal the extent to which people are stigmatised and discriminated against by health care systems in India. Many studies reveal the reality of withheld treatment, non-attendance of hospital staff to patients, HIV testing without consent, lack of confidentiality and denial of hospital facilities and medicines.

Fear of discrimination often prevents people living with HIV from seeking existing healthcare services. Perhaps the most conspicuous context for HIV/AIDS-related discrimination, stigmatization, and denial is the health care sector in India, whether public or private. Many infected people trace some of their AIDS-related fear, anxiety, and denial to their traumatic experiences in health care settings.

Health activists in India stress on the dire need to frame strategies to address women's health care, including HIV vulnerabilities, in the context of rights. The issues they seek to resolve include confidentiality, partner notification, and free and informed consent — all difficult issues for women who risk violence and neglect if their HIV status is disclosed. Without increasing gender sensitivity among health planners, healthcare workers, policymakers, judiciary, and other stakeholders, the high rates of maternal mortality fuelled with HIV associated stigma are unlikely to come down.

Bobby Ramakant, author is a senior health and development journalist, writing for newspapers in Asia and Africa.

Cancer Photos to Discourage Tobacco Users

The SEOUL TIMES
Seoul, South Korea
Friday 13 April 2007

Online at: http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5128

Cancer Photos to Discourage Tobacco Users

By Bobby RamakantPublic Health Writer



X-Ray picture of lung cancer Health warning labels, both on cigarette packages and on all tobacco marketing materials, help create informed consent between tobacco companies and their customers and are an inexpensive and important first step in a national health education programme. On May 16, 2005, Republic of Korea had ratified the World's fist corporate accountability and public health treaty - FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control). Article 11 of the FCTC states that warning messages should cover at least 50% of the principal display areas of the package (i.e. both the front and back), but at a minimum must cover at least 30% of the principal display areas. It also requires that the messages be rotated and encourages the use of pictures and pictograms as well as the use of non-health messages ( e.g. "Quit smoking — Save money"). "We have tried everything but it has been of no use. So now we have decided to put scary photos of cancer patients on tobacco products to discourage consumers" said India's Union Health Minister Dr Ambumani Ramadoss on April 10, 2007 at the New Delhi summit of CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).

Dr Ramadoss further announced that "all tobacco products would from June 1, 2007, bear photographs of patients suffering from cancer caused by tobacco consumption as further warning." Tobacco product packaging should be designed to maximize informed consent on the part of the consumer, not to maximize the appeal of the product. Strong and prominent health warning labels, limits on labels such as "slim" and "light," package inserts containing detailed health and ingredient information, and standardized packaging formats are among the ways to accomplish this goal. Unfortunately, warning labels tend to be weak in all but a few countries. More than 40 developing countries do not require any warning labels at all. Of those that do, 73% require weakly worded warnings on the side of the package and many of those are in English rather than local languages. Numerous studies have been done to determine which elements are most important in creating effective labels. Findings include:* To command attention, warning labels should occupy a minimum of 25% of the top of the front and back of the package. They should be in black and white or other sharply contrasting colors. Type style and size also must be specified to avoid industry efforts to undermine the impact of the warning.

* Messages should be unequivocal, simple, and stark. They should convey both the nature and magnitude of the risks, since studies show smokers underestimate most risks associated with tobacco use. Pictorial warnings may also be appropriate, particularly in countries with low literacy rates or where research shows that smokers are ignoring standard warning labels. Several nations have implemented strong health warning label requirements. Examples include:
- Canada, whose health minister recently proposed enlarging the labels from 30% of the package face to 60%;
- Thailand, which has added the message "SMOKING CAUSES IMPOTENCE" to its list of required warnings; and
- Australia, which was the first nation to require that "how to quit" information be printed on every pack.
- South Africa, Singapore and Poland also require strong warning labels.Tobacco companies use words such as "light," "ultralight," "slim" and "superslim" in their brand names and in their marketing materials. Research suggests that these words are intended to make implicit health claims minimizing the harmfulness of the product, and may encourage smokers motivated to quit to switch to a "light" brand. These words also appeal to smokers, primarily women, who believe they can use cigarettes to lose weight. These pictorial warnings provide smokers with helpful information on the health effects. Most smokers want this information, and certainly want their children to have this information too. The tobacco industry is continuing its decades-long strategy of trying to minimize the effectiveness of package warnings. The tobacco industry is no friend of smokers — and ironically it's true that 'the tobacco industry kills its best customers.' Also package warnings are a good public health strategy because the cost of package warnings is paid for by tobacco companies, not government. Also this should not be looked upon as an isolated initiative rather has to be supported by comprehensive healthcare, legislations and education programmes to attain long-run public health gains.

Bobby Ramakant, who serves as The Seoul Times columnist, is a member of NATT, Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals, and edits Weekly MONiTOR series, reporting violations of tobacco control policies as a senior public health and development journalist. He writes for newspapers in 11 countries and can be reached at bobbyramakant@yahoo.com)
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Keep-The-Promise Campaign is a 120 days (7 April – 4 August 2007) media advocacy and communications campaign dedicated to raise awareness about existing tobacco control legislations (including FCTC) in countries in Asia and Africa, bring out challenges in their enforcement and increase media coverage of the same. The campaign shall also remind of promises made on tobacco control by policy makers of different countries in Asia and Africa and strengthen advocacy to Keep The Promises! More details about the KTP Campaign are available online at:
http://mycitizennews.blogspot.com/2007/04/keep-promise-campaign.html

Is Tobacco Company Seriously Concerned About People's Lungs In Pakistan ?

Online at: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00265.htm

New Zealand
Scoop Independent News
17 April 2007

TIME-TO-PONDER: Is Tobacco Company Seriously Concerned About People's Lungs In Pakistan ?


By Bobby Ramakant

Will Pakistan Tobacco Company protect people's lungs by building environment parks alone? Nine out of ten lung cancers are attributed to tobacco use, says Pakistan's noted expert Prof Javaid Khan. Time to seriously ponder and act on to make effective tobacco control a reality.
A colour newspaper advertisement (see below) was published in Pakistan 's newspapers to announce the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Ghourghushti Environment Park in Attock district by collaborative efforts of Pakistan Tobacco Company and Government of Pakistan on 8 April 2007 . Prime Minister Mr Shaukat Aziz laid the stone.
Pakistan is one of the 146 countries that have ratified the global tobacco treaty and in doing so has taken a great step forward in protecting the health and lives of its citizens from the tobacco epidemic. Formally known as the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the treaty aims to reverse the tobacco epidemic by changing the way tobacco corporations operate around the world.

"On one hand the government of Pakistan ratified FCTC and committed itself to comprehensive tobacco control, yet they are accepting money from the tobacco industry to create a public park at Attock District (NWFP)" said Senior Chest Physician and noted tobacco control advocate Prof (Dr) Javaid Khan from Aga Khan University. He further said that "By such collaboration, tobacco industry is trying to tell the public that they are doing public welfare for the country. Previously they also claimed that they have made mobile dispensaries for poor patient and planted million of trees in the country to help the environment. Our government should not accept money from the tobacco industry as this money is tainted with the blood of those who have died from tobacco related diseases".

If tobacco industry is seriously interested in public welfare, the first step it can take on its own is to reduce the mountainous burden of diseases, disabilities and deaths attributed to tobacco use. By building environment parks for people's lungs and hoping people will believe that they are concerned about their lungs, tobacco industry must be kidding! People of Pakistan are smart enough to understand that the single largest preventable cause of lung cancer is tobacco.
"Unfortunately, tobacco corporations like British American Tobacco, Philip Morris/Altria and their subsidiaries (Pakistan Tobacco Company is the subsidiary of BAT) have attempted to interfere with the implementation and enforcement of the global tobacco treaty in countries around the world. These corporations use their tremendous political influence to weaken, delay and defeat tobacco control legislation around the world." said Kathryn Mulvey, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability International (www.stopcorporateabuse.org ).

Corporate Accountability International has been urging governments to be attentive to tobacco industry interference in public health policy, said Kathryn Mulvey. BAT and Philip Morris/Altria spend millions annually in an attempt to brand themselves as "socially responsible" corporations. This allows them to hide behind glossy image make-overs while continuing to promote tobacco addiction to children and adults around the world.

"Pakistan Tobacco Company sought to curry public favor through a public-private partnership to build the Ghourgushti Environment Park in Pakistan's Attock district. Pakistan's Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz accepted the tobacco corporation's invitation to lay the foundation stone at the Park's ground-breaking. This behavior is one clear example of tobacco corporations seeking to buy favor with the public and with elected officials" said Mulvey.

All around the world, people are rejecting Big Tobacco's attempts to interfere with health policy. And people of Pakistan are no exception. Let us hope that Government of Pakistan will dissociate itself from this 'environment park' venture with Pakistan Tobacco Company to begin with and further strengthen its commitment to global tobacco treaty.
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(The author is a senior health and development journalist writing for newspapers in Asia and Africa. He is a member of Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) and can be reached at: bobbyramakant@yahoo.com

Online at: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0704/S00325.htm

Avian Influenza in Egypt
Bobby Ramakant
Scoop Independent News
New Zealand
19 April 2007
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"What is avian influenza?" asks a senior lady doctor working in one of the leading hospitals in Cairo. It is not a surprise because in present times we all are so focused with our own respective professions and interests, that it becomes hard to know all about all.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced two new human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The cases have been confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3).

The first case, a 2-year-old female from Menia Governorate, developed symptoms on 3 April 2007 and was admitted to hospital the following day. She is currently in a stable condition. Initial investigations into the source of her infection indicate recent contact with backyard poultry.

The second case is a 15-year-old female from Cairo Governorate. She developed symptoms on 30 March 2007 and was admitted to hospital on 5 April 2007 where she remains in a critical condition.

Of the 34 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.

Avian influenza, or "bird flu", is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. Avian influenza viruses are highly species-specific, but have, on rare occasions, crossed the species barrier to infect humans.

In domestic poultry, infection with avian influenza viruses causes two main forms of disease, distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The so-called "low pathogenic" form commonly causes only mild symptoms (ruffled feathers, a drop in egg production) and may easily go undetected. The highly pathogenic form is far more dramatic. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality that can approach 100%, often within 48 hours.

Influenza viruses are grouped into three types, designated A, B, and C. Influenza A and B viruses are of concern for human health. Only influenza A viruses can cause pandemics.

Influenza A viruses have 16 H subtypes and 9 N subtypes. Only viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes are known to cause the highly pathogenic form of the disease. However, not all viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes are highly pathogenic and not all will cause severe disease in poultry.

On present understanding, H5 and H7 viruses are introduced to poultry flocks in their low pathogenic form. When allowed to circulate in poultry populations, the viruses can mutate, usually within a few months, into the highly pathogenic form. This is why the presence of an H5 or H7 virus in poultry is always a cause for concern, even when the initial signs of infection are mild.

The current outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which began in South-East Asia in mid-2003, are the largest and most severe on record. Never before in the history of this disease have so many countries been simultaneously affected, resulting in the loss of so many birds.

The widespread persistence of H5N1 in poultry populations poses two main risks for human health.

The first is the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from poultry to humans, resulting in very severe disease. Of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed the species barrier to infect humans, H5N1 has caused the largest number of cases of severe disease and death in humans. Unlike normal seasonal influenza, where infection causes only mild respiratory symptoms in most people, the disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and high fatality. Primary viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure are common. In the present outbreak, more than half of those infected with the virus have died. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults.

A second risk, of even greater concern, is that the virus – if given enough opportunities – will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. Such a change could mark the start of a global outbreak (a pandemic).

Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. To date, most human cases have occurred in rural or periurban areas where many households keep small poultry flocks, which often roam freely, sometimes entering homes or sharing outdoor areas where children play. As infected birds shed large quantities of virus in their faeces, opportunities for exposure to infected droppings or to environments contaminated by the virus are abundant under such conditions. Exposure is considered most likely during slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of poultry for cooking.

In areas experiencing outbreaks, poultry and poultry products can also be safely consumed provided these items are properly cooked and properly handled during food preparation. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat. Normal temperatures used for cooking (70oC in all parts of the food) will kill the virus. Consumers need to be sure that all parts of the poultry are fully cooked (no "pink" parts) and that eggs, too, are properly cooked (no "runny" yolks).

World Health Organization says that avian influenza is not transmitted through cooked food. To date, no evidence indicates that anyone has become infected following the consumption of properly cooked poultry or poultry products, even when these foods were contaminated with the H5N1 virus.


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(The author is a senior health and development journalist writing for newspapers in Asia, Middle East and Africa. He can be contacted at: bobbyramakant@yahoo.com)

Cubernoon.com
April 20 2007


News- Are Indian youth turning towards violence too?

The recent shooting at America’s esteemed Virginia Tech campus has raised concern about our youth

The Virginia Tech shootout is the worst of a long line of American campus firings. Though other options have opened up, America still remains one of the top countries for higher studies.

However, this incident where two Indians have lost their lives might change the attitudes of many. Moreover, some fear that the Indian youth might be treading the same path right now. Sukaina Esmail, an independent psychologist who works with a juvenile home did not have a very positive response to give when asked if it is possible that in a few years’ time India will experience such incidents on campuses.“Unfortunately, yes,” she said. “Since I work with a juvenile centre, I know what I am talking about, when I say that today’s teenagers are increasingly moving towards violence.”

She gave us a profile of the shooter, or rather, of anyone who gets so hot under the collar that picking up a gun and shooting people around him is the only option left in his mind. “Such a person most definitely comes from a very unstable home,” she said. “It is a process of dulling the mind about right and wrong which arises from a combination of factors, the leading one being inadequate parental morals. This person has probably been exposed to a lot of violence, either at home or through television, and has an inability to delay his gratification. Usually an incident that is perceived to be a personal failure triggers the violence.”

One of the theories is that Cho Seung-Hui, the shooter, started shooting after his alleged girlfriend, Emily Jane Hilscher, broke up with him. His dormitory mates said that nobody knew much about him as he was always a bonafide loner. Cho Seung-Hui suspected Emily Jane Hilscher of having an affair with twenty two-year-old Ryan Clark, her neighbour on the fourth floor of the West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory. At 7:15am Cho shot his ex-girlfriend and Clark. However, no immediate action was taken. The reason for this lapse is relatively unknown. Shooting resumed two hours later.

The Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, Steven Flaherty, is known to have stated that the police are looking into the possibility of two different shooters. Cho shot himself upon being surrounded by the police. When we contacted Dr. Kirti Narain, Principal of Jai Hind College, she stated that such a situation cannot arise in India but stressed on the words ‘as of now’.“It is very difficult to predict at this juncture, but as of now looking at the current scenario, I do not think such shootouts can happen in Indian colleges with such regularity,” she said. Dr. Narain attributes this thought to the family support systems and early inculcation of values available to young Indians even in this era of fast drugs and a fast lifestyle.“There will be stray incidents of course, but such incidents are very common in the US,” she continued. “Such kind of deep-seated anger that would lead to picking up a gun and shooting your peers, colleagues and friends is not something we are likely to witness at this point. Of course, one never knows what the future might hold.”Jai Hind takes care of its students by not only providing formal counselling to them but also making the faculty members as available to their needs as possible.“I have always maintained this and I say it again,” said Dr. Narain. “Bringing up a responsible and secure generation of young adults requires the efforts of a three-tiered system: parents, society and educational institutes.

Jai Hind by its very nature chooses to be compassionate to the students. Formal counselling is not the only option available to our children.”Nineteen-year-old Sarnath Pawar is a student at IIT, Powai. He admits to getting stressed more than his peers as he stays away from his family, based in Calcutta.“I have been in Bombay for the last year and half now, and I have made friends,” he said. “Whenever I am stressed I only have to call up my parents. My mother is always there to talk to me about my problems.”Pawar admits to having been very shy when he had first made the shift.“I used to do nothing but study,” he said. “I had no social life and barely spoke to anyone for long. Even today I am not as social as others around me but I do have a good set of friends, most of whom are from out-of-town as well. Good friends ease stressful moments, just like family.”When asked about America, Pawar said that he cannot blame the youth as their parents have clearly done a ‘not-so-great job’ of bringing them up.“Out there they have no sense of the word family,” he said. “Most of the times parents don’t know what their children are doing. It is not about controlling them; it is about caring enough to know what’s going on in your child’s life. And also American parents have strange lifestyles. Even celebrities do whatever they want, no matter what they are famous for. Children don’t have good role models there. So they don’t know how to be role models themselves.”While school and college shootings in America are common, many expressed shock that such an incident had occurred on the Virginia Tech campus. It was regarded as one of America’s safest campuses. But this is not the first time it was the scene of a shootout. In August 2006, the opening day of classes was cancelled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the Tech area. A sheriff’s deputy involved in the manhunt was killed on a trail around the campus. The accused gunman, William Morva was ultimately caught.
History of shootings in the past The most horrific of all American campus shootings occurred in 1966 at the University of Texas. He climbed up on the campus tower – 307 feet tall – and shot for 96 uninterrupted minutes before the police could bring him down. Having trained in the military, he excelled at hitting moving targets.The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado. Two teenage students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, carried out a shooting rampage, killing twelve students and a teacher, as well as wounding twenty-four others, before committing suicide. After the 2007 Virginia Tech and the Texas University massacres, this is the most horrific.In November 2005, Tennessee, the Principal and Acting Administrator John Klang has lost his life. John was a true hero who was shot 3 times while trying to protect his students and staff from a 15-year-old student who was armed with a shotgun, and a .9mm handgun. March 2007. A sixteen-year-old male killed himself while in the band hallway area of the school around 7:15 a.m. No other students were injured. January 2007. An 18-year-old was arrested for shooting and killing a 17-year-old at their school.

The suspect allegedly shot the victim in the face and then stood over him, firing twice more.December 2006. A 16-year-old shot and killed himself with an AK-47 assault rifle in the hallway of his high school. September 2006. Five Duquesne University basketball players were wounded after a shooting on campus after a dance. One of the two shooters was allegedly upset that his date had talked to one of the athletes.August 2006. After shooting his father, a student opened fire at his high school, injuring two students. Deputies found guns, ammunition, and homemade pipe bombs in the student’s car. August 2006. A gunman shoots five people, killing two of them, in a rampage through two houses and an elementary school, before wounding himself.March 2005. Ten killed (shooter killed nine and then himself) and seven injured in rampage by high school student.March 2005. A school bus driver was shot and killed on duty by a 14-year-old who had been reported to administrators by the driver for chewing tobacco on the bus.

online available at -http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=April2007_inbombay_standard12680