Drug abuse plays a role in many major social problems, such as drugged driving, violence, stress and child abuse. Drug abuse can lead to homelessness, crime and missed work or problems with keeping a job. It harms unborn babies and destroys families. There are different types of treatment for drug abuse. But the best is to prevent drug abuse in the first place.
Source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugabuse.html
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Drinking water quality in rural India: Issues and approaches
Indira Khurana and Romit Sen, WaterAid
Executive Summary
The rural population of India comprises more than 700 million people residing in about 1.42 million habitations spread over 15 diverse ecological regions. It is true that providing drinking water to such a large population is an enormous challenge. Our country is also characterised by non-uniformity in level of awareness, socio-economic development, education, poverty, practices and rituals which add to the complexity of providing water.The health burden of poor water quality is enormous. It is estimated that around 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually, 1.5 million children are estimated to die of diarrhoea alone and 73 million working days are lost due to waterborne disease each year. The resulting economic burden is estimated at $600 million a year.
Read more:http://www.waterawards.in/suggested-reading/wateraid-drinking-water-quality.pdf
Executive Summary
The rural population of India comprises more than 700 million people residing in about 1.42 million habitations spread over 15 diverse ecological regions. It is true that providing drinking water to such a large population is an enormous challenge. Our country is also characterised by non-uniformity in level of awareness, socio-economic development, education, poverty, practices and rituals which add to the complexity of providing water.The health burden of poor water quality is enormous. It is estimated that around 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases annually, 1.5 million children are estimated to die of diarrhoea alone and 73 million working days are lost due to waterborne disease each year. The resulting economic burden is estimated at $600 million a year.
Read more:http://www.waterawards.in/suggested-reading/wateraid-drinking-water-quality.pdf
Sciatica
Sciatica is pain in the lower extremity resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve. The pain of sciatica is typically felt from the low back (lumbar area) to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and begins from nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back and extends through the buttock area to send nerve endings down the lower limb. The pain of sciatica is sometimes referred to as sciatic nerve pain.
Read more:http://www.medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm
Read more:http://www.medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Medical Council of India
The Medical Council of India was established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933, now repealed, with the main function of establishing uniform standards of higher qualifications in medicine and recognition of medical qualifications in India and abroad. The number of medical colleges had increased steadily during the years after Independence. It was felt that the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act were not adequate to meet with the challenges posed by the very fast development and the progress of medical education in the country. As a result, in 1956, the old Act was repealed and a new one was enacted. This was further modified in 1964, 1993 and 2001.
The objectives of the Council are as follows:-
1.Maintenance of uniform standards of medical education, both undergraduate and postgraduate.
2.Recommendation for recognition/de-recognition of medical qualifications of medical institutions of India or foreign countries.
3.Permanent registration/provisional registration of doctors with recognised medical qualifications,
4.Reciprocity with foreign countries in the matter of mutual recognition of medical qualifications.
Source:http://online.mciindia.org/website/home.aspx
The objectives of the Council are as follows:-
1.Maintenance of uniform standards of medical education, both undergraduate and postgraduate.
2.Recommendation for recognition/de-recognition of medical qualifications of medical institutions of India or foreign countries.
3.Permanent registration/provisional registration of doctors with recognised medical qualifications,
4.Reciprocity with foreign countries in the matter of mutual recognition of medical qualifications.
Source:http://online.mciindia.org/website/home.aspx
Indian Medical Association
Indian Medical Association is the only representative, national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large.
The founding fathers wayback in 1928, while struggling for liberation of the Motherland from British rule simultaneously felt the need of a national organisation of the medical profession. Before that, some members of the profession – a selected few – were members of the British Medical Association, which had opened branches in India to cater to the local needs. These stalwarts, ultimately succeeded in formation of Indian Medical Association and reached an agreement with the British Medical Association that they will have no branch in India, and got mutually affiliated, which relationship continues till today. Indian Medical Association in the year 1946 helped in organisation of the World body, namely, World Medical Association, and thus became its founder member. As an organisation it has been, and continues to play an important role in its deliberations. It hosted the III World Conference on Medical Education under the joint auspices of W.M.A. and I.M.A. in New Delhi in 1966. Today, I.M.A. is a well established organisation with it’s Headquarters at Delhi and State / Terr. Branches in 23 States and 9 Union Territories. It has over 1,78,000 doctors as its members through over 1700 local branches spread all over the country.
Objectives:
Promotion and Advancement of Medical and allied sciences in all their different branches.
The improvement of public Health and Medical Education in India.
The maintenance of honour and dignity of medical profession
Source:http://www.ima-india.org/index.html
The founding fathers wayback in 1928, while struggling for liberation of the Motherland from British rule simultaneously felt the need of a national organisation of the medical profession. Before that, some members of the profession – a selected few – were members of the British Medical Association, which had opened branches in India to cater to the local needs. These stalwarts, ultimately succeeded in formation of Indian Medical Association and reached an agreement with the British Medical Association that they will have no branch in India, and got mutually affiliated, which relationship continues till today. Indian Medical Association in the year 1946 helped in organisation of the World body, namely, World Medical Association, and thus became its founder member. As an organisation it has been, and continues to play an important role in its deliberations. It hosted the III World Conference on Medical Education under the joint auspices of W.M.A. and I.M.A. in New Delhi in 1966. Today, I.M.A. is a well established organisation with it’s Headquarters at Delhi and State / Terr. Branches in 23 States and 9 Union Territories. It has over 1,78,000 doctors as its members through over 1700 local branches spread all over the country.
Objectives:
Promotion and Advancement of Medical and allied sciences in all their different branches.
The improvement of public Health and Medical Education in India.
The maintenance of honour and dignity of medical profession
Source:http://www.ima-india.org/index.html
National Literacy Mission
The Census 2001 provisional reports indicate that India has made significant progress in the field of literacy during the decade since the previous census in 1991.The literacy rate in 2001 has been recorded at 64.84% as against 52.21% in 1991.The 12.63 percentage points increase in the literacy rate during the period is the highest increase in any decade.Also for the first time there is a decline in the absolute number of non-literates during the past 10 years.The total number of non literates has come down from 328 million in 1991 to 304 million in 2001.During 1991-2000, the population in 7+ age group increased by 176 millions while 201 million additional persons became literate during that period.Out of 864 million people above the age of 7 years, 560 million are now literates.Three-fourths of our male population and more than half of the female population are literate.This indeed is an encouraging indicator for us to speed up our march towards the goal of achieving a sustainable threshold literacy rate of 75% by 2007
Source :http://www.nlm.nic.in/
Source :http://www.nlm.nic.in/
Epidemiology of Cancer of the cervix: global and national perspective.
J Indian Med Assoc. 2000 Feb;98(2):49-52.
Shanta V, Krishnamurthi S, Gajalakshmi CK, Swaminathan R, Ravichandran K.
Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai.
Abstract
Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women worldwide. The estimated new cancer cervix cases per year is 500,000 of which 79% occur in the developing countries. Cancer cervix occupies either the top rank or second among cancers in women in the developing countries, whereas in the affluent countries cancer cervix does not even find a place in the top 5 leading cancers in women. The truncated rate (TR) in the age group 35-64 years in Chennai, India, is even higher (99.1/100,000; 1982-95) than rate reported from Cali, Colombia (77.4/100,000, 1987-91). The cervical cancer burden in India alone is estimated as 100,000 in 2001 AD. The differential pattern of cervical cancer and the wide variation in incidence are possibly related to environmental differences. Aetiologic association and possible risk factors for cervical carcinoma have been extensively studied. The factors are: Sexual and reproductive factors, socio-economic factors (education and income), viruses e.g., herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in cervical carcinogenesis and other factors like smoking, diet, oral contraceptives, hormones, etc. The accumulated evidence suggests that cervical cancer is preventable and is highly suitable for primary prevention. Sexual hygiene, use of barrier contraceptives and ritual circumcision can undoubtedly reduce cervical cancer incidence. Education, cervical cancer screening of high risk groups and improvement in socio-economic status can reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality significantly.
PIP: Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women worldwide. The estimated number of new cervical cancer cases per year is 500,000, of which 79% occur in developing countries. Cervical cancer is ranked highest or second-highest among cancers in women in developing countries, whereas in affluent countries cervical cancer does not even rate within the top 5 leading cancers in women. The truncated rate in the age group 35-64 years in Chennai, India, is even higher (99.1/100,000; 1982-95) than the rate reported from Cali, Colombia (77.4/100,000; 1987-91). The cervical cancer burden in India alone is estimated to reach 100,000 by 2001. The differential patterns of cervical cancer and the wide variation in incidence are possibly related to environmental differences. Etiologic associations and possible risk factors for cervical carcinoma have been extensively studied. The factors are: sexual and reproductive factors; socioeconomic factors (education and income); viruses (e.g., herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, HIV); and other factors such as smoking, diet, oral contraceptives, hormones, etc. The accumulated evidence suggests that cervical cancer is preventable and is highly suitable for primary prevention. Sexual hygiene, use of barrier contraceptives, and ritual circumcision can undoubtedly reduce cervical cancer incidence. Education, cervical cancer screening of high-risk groups, and improvement in socioeconomic status can reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality significantly.
PMID: 11016150 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Shanta V, Krishnamurthi S, Gajalakshmi CK, Swaminathan R, Ravichandran K.
Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai.
Abstract
Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women worldwide. The estimated new cancer cervix cases per year is 500,000 of which 79% occur in the developing countries. Cancer cervix occupies either the top rank or second among cancers in women in the developing countries, whereas in the affluent countries cancer cervix does not even find a place in the top 5 leading cancers in women. The truncated rate (TR) in the age group 35-64 years in Chennai, India, is even higher (99.1/100,000; 1982-95) than rate reported from Cali, Colombia (77.4/100,000, 1987-91). The cervical cancer burden in India alone is estimated as 100,000 in 2001 AD. The differential pattern of cervical cancer and the wide variation in incidence are possibly related to environmental differences. Aetiologic association and possible risk factors for cervical carcinoma have been extensively studied. The factors are: Sexual and reproductive factors, socio-economic factors (education and income), viruses e.g., herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in cervical carcinogenesis and other factors like smoking, diet, oral contraceptives, hormones, etc. The accumulated evidence suggests that cervical cancer is preventable and is highly suitable for primary prevention. Sexual hygiene, use of barrier contraceptives and ritual circumcision can undoubtedly reduce cervical cancer incidence. Education, cervical cancer screening of high risk groups and improvement in socio-economic status can reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality significantly.
PIP: Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women worldwide. The estimated number of new cervical cancer cases per year is 500,000, of which 79% occur in developing countries. Cervical cancer is ranked highest or second-highest among cancers in women in developing countries, whereas in affluent countries cervical cancer does not even rate within the top 5 leading cancers in women. The truncated rate in the age group 35-64 years in Chennai, India, is even higher (99.1/100,000; 1982-95) than the rate reported from Cali, Colombia (77.4/100,000; 1987-91). The cervical cancer burden in India alone is estimated to reach 100,000 by 2001. The differential patterns of cervical cancer and the wide variation in incidence are possibly related to environmental differences. Etiologic associations and possible risk factors for cervical carcinoma have been extensively studied. The factors are: sexual and reproductive factors; socioeconomic factors (education and income); viruses (e.g., herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, HIV); and other factors such as smoking, diet, oral contraceptives, hormones, etc. The accumulated evidence suggests that cervical cancer is preventable and is highly suitable for primary prevention. Sexual hygiene, use of barrier contraceptives, and ritual circumcision can undoubtedly reduce cervical cancer incidence. Education, cervical cancer screening of high-risk groups, and improvement in socioeconomic status can reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality significantly.
PMID: 11016150 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine News
India Approves Advaxis Trial In Cervix Cancer
Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 24 Sep 2010 - 1:00 PDT
As part of approving the human testing of ADXS11-001- the lead agent for the treatment of cervix cancer of Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) immunotherapy company - the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) required that the agent be tested to assure its safety prior to use. Testing will be completed in ten days and patient dosing will begin.
Currently nine (9) centers have been enrolled and have begun to screen patients with advanced, metastatic cervix cancer for enrollment in this trial. These centers include Tata Memorial, Apollo Hospitals and other centers of medical research excellence in India. Full enrollment is anticipated in approximately three (3) months after the DCGI releases the drug for human use.
"This design advances the clinical development of ADXS 11-001 greatly in a number of ways," said Dr. John Rothman EVP of Science and Operations. "If we can duplicate the results of our phase I or improve upon them with three (3) doses of our agent compared to two(2) doses in Phase I, or find improved outcomes with chemotherapy, we would be able to show ADXS11-001 to be a safe and effective therapeutic agent where no alternatives exist."
Source:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/202234.php
OTHER LINKS
aCancer Herbal Treatment - Improves quality of life and health Increase Life expectancy Naturally - www.cowurine.net
Clinical Trials Articles - Free access to key research for Cochrane Colloquium Delegates - www.clinicaltrialarticles.com
Anticancer TCM Drug - KLT - Treat lung, liver, breast & other cancers with over 550,000 cases. - www.kanglaite.com
Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 24 Sep 2010 - 1:00 PDT
As part of approving the human testing of ADXS11-001- the lead agent for the treatment of cervix cancer of Advaxis, Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS), the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) immunotherapy company - the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) required that the agent be tested to assure its safety prior to use. Testing will be completed in ten days and patient dosing will begin.
Currently nine (9) centers have been enrolled and have begun to screen patients with advanced, metastatic cervix cancer for enrollment in this trial. These centers include Tata Memorial, Apollo Hospitals and other centers of medical research excellence in India. Full enrollment is anticipated in approximately three (3) months after the DCGI releases the drug for human use.
"This design advances the clinical development of ADXS 11-001 greatly in a number of ways," said Dr. John Rothman EVP of Science and Operations. "If we can duplicate the results of our phase I or improve upon them with three (3) doses of our agent compared to two(2) doses in Phase I, or find improved outcomes with chemotherapy, we would be able to show ADXS11-001 to be a safe and effective therapeutic agent where no alternatives exist."
Source:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/202234.php
OTHER LINKS
aCancer Herbal Treatment - Improves quality of life and health Increase Life expectancy Naturally - www.cowurine.net
Clinical Trials Articles - Free access to key research for Cochrane Colloquium Delegates - www.clinicaltrialarticles.com
Anticancer TCM Drug - KLT - Treat lung, liver, breast & other cancers with over 550,000 cases. - www.kanglaite.com
Chikungunya: Key facts
•Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
•The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
•There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
•The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya.
•The disease occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In recent decades mosquito vectors of chikungunya have spread to Europe and the Americas. In 2007, disease transmission was reported for the first time in Europe, in a localized outbreak in north-eastern Italy.
Read More :http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs327/en/index.html
•The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
•There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
•The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya.
•The disease occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In recent decades mosquito vectors of chikungunya have spread to Europe and the Americas. In 2007, disease transmission was reported for the first time in Europe, in a localized outbreak in north-eastern Italy.
Read More :http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs327/en/index.html
Chikungunya count low as most cases go undetected
TNN, Oct 26, 2010, 12.51am IST
Article
NEW DELHI: After dengue, chikungunya is creating a scare among Delhiites and health agencies. MCD has reported 33 cases so far but its officials admit that cases are under-reported due to lack of availability of specialised kits to confirm the disease.
Both private and government hospitals are getting a large number of patients with acute to chronic joint pain. Patients are reporting to hospitals after high-grade fever. "It (chikungunya) is a poor cousin of dengue. It mimics dengue symptoms like fever, rashes, drop in platelets, etc, but the distinguishing symptom is acute joint pain," said Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO, Batra Hospital.
Most cases are not being reported as labs in the city are not equipped to test chikungunya antigen. "This has been a rare entity in this part of the country. In the last few years we have not reported too many chikungunya cases. Very few labs have the Elisa test for chikungunya. When the confirmatory test is not available in many labs, people don't get to know about it. And within 10 days the joint pain also subsides," said Dr Bagai.
MCD officials admit that this year chikungunya cases have been under-reported. " Delhi was never endemic for chikungunya. This year we have seen an exceptional rise in the number of cases," said Dr VK Monga, chairman, health committee, MCD.
Doctors say cases have been coming in for the past two months — ever since dengue outbreak was declared in the city, as the carrier of the virus — aedes aegypti — is the same.
Read more: Chikungunya count low as most cases go undetected - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Chikungunya-count-low-as-most-cases-go-undetected/articleshow/6811830.cms#ixzz13WwPg0hn
Article
NEW DELHI: After dengue, chikungunya is creating a scare among Delhiites and health agencies. MCD has reported 33 cases so far but its officials admit that cases are under-reported due to lack of availability of specialised kits to confirm the disease.
Both private and government hospitals are getting a large number of patients with acute to chronic joint pain. Patients are reporting to hospitals after high-grade fever. "It (chikungunya) is a poor cousin of dengue. It mimics dengue symptoms like fever, rashes, drop in platelets, etc, but the distinguishing symptom is acute joint pain," said Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO, Batra Hospital.
Most cases are not being reported as labs in the city are not equipped to test chikungunya antigen. "This has been a rare entity in this part of the country. In the last few years we have not reported too many chikungunya cases. Very few labs have the Elisa test for chikungunya. When the confirmatory test is not available in many labs, people don't get to know about it. And within 10 days the joint pain also subsides," said Dr Bagai.
MCD officials admit that this year chikungunya cases have been under-reported. " Delhi was never endemic for chikungunya. This year we have seen an exceptional rise in the number of cases," said Dr VK Monga, chairman, health committee, MCD.
Doctors say cases have been coming in for the past two months — ever since dengue outbreak was declared in the city, as the carrier of the virus — aedes aegypti — is the same.
Read more: Chikungunya count low as most cases go undetected - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Chikungunya-count-low-as-most-cases-go-undetected/articleshow/6811830.cms#ixzz13WwPg0hn
Monday, October 25, 2010
Now medical colleges on PPP model
TNN, Oct 24, 2010, 01.28am IST
Article
The apex body told the Union health ministry to relax norms for starting new medical colleges in areas with poor healthcare access and limited seats to study medicine. About 100 colleges will come up in the next two years.
Currently, 64% of colleges are in western and southern India and 54% are in private hands. The decision to start colleges in PPP models is designed to fight the shortage of doctors. "Most district hospitals already have 200-500 beds and by roping in private players, medical colleges can also be set up," a member said.
Read more: Now medical colleges on PPP model - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Now-medical-colleges-on-PPP-model/articleshow/6800893.cms#ixzz13LxhRsaP
Article
The apex body told the Union health ministry to relax norms for starting new medical colleges in areas with poor healthcare access and limited seats to study medicine. About 100 colleges will come up in the next two years.
Currently, 64% of colleges are in western and southern India and 54% are in private hands. The decision to start colleges in PPP models is designed to fight the shortage of doctors. "Most district hospitals already have 200-500 beds and by roping in private players, medical colleges can also be set up," a member said.
Read more: Now medical colleges on PPP model - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Now-medical-colleges-on-PPP-model/articleshow/6800893.cms#ixzz13LxhRsaP
Maharashtra govt mulls E-Library facility for medical colleges
Last Updated: 2010-10-20 09:51:07
Mumbai: Maharashtra Government, which is in the process of upgrading medical colleges in the state, is mulling over providing E-Library facility in these institutions.
Minister of State for Medical Education Varsha Gaikwad said that E-Library will help the students in easily availing educational references.
There are presently 14 medical colleges, three dental and four nursing colleges in the state. Since June this year, a new course Bachelor of Paramedical Technology (BAPMT) has been introduced.
The minister said her department had increased the number of seats for post graduate courses from 500 to 700.
"Three more government medical colleges with admission capacity of 100 will come up at Alibaug in Raigad district, Mumbai and tribal belt of Nandurbar from the year 2011," she said.
Similarly, the Centre has chosen Nagpur, Pune and Kolhapur medical colleges to have trauma centres. These trauma centres will be set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore each. These colleges will also be upgraded with operation theatre, CT scan and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Gaikwad said.
"The state government has demanded funds to start medical colleges on the lines of Mumbai-based J J Hospital and Medical college in Nanded, Solapur, Latur, Akola and Yavatmal," she said.
Source:http://sify.com/news/
Mumbai: Maharashtra Government, which is in the process of upgrading medical colleges in the state, is mulling over providing E-Library facility in these institutions.
Minister of State for Medical Education Varsha Gaikwad said that E-Library will help the students in easily availing educational references.
There are presently 14 medical colleges, three dental and four nursing colleges in the state. Since June this year, a new course Bachelor of Paramedical Technology (BAPMT) has been introduced.
The minister said her department had increased the number of seats for post graduate courses from 500 to 700.
"Three more government medical colleges with admission capacity of 100 will come up at Alibaug in Raigad district, Mumbai and tribal belt of Nandurbar from the year 2011," she said.
Similarly, the Centre has chosen Nagpur, Pune and Kolhapur medical colleges to have trauma centres. These trauma centres will be set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore each. These colleges will also be upgraded with operation theatre, CT scan and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Gaikwad said.
"The state government has demanded funds to start medical colleges on the lines of Mumbai-based J J Hospital and Medical college in Nanded, Solapur, Latur, Akola and Yavatmal," she said.
Source:http://sify.com/news/
Monday, October 18, 2010
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) India country report 2005
Available at:
http://www.unicef.org/india/ssd04_2005_final.pdf
http://www.unicef.org/india/ssd04_2005_final.pdf
Only 44% Indians have clean hands
Shruthi Balakrishna, TNN, Aug 31, 2009, 02.26am IST
Article
BANGALORE: Indians' hand-washing habits may not be up to sniffles, but Canadians have the cleanest hands, a hygiene survey shows.
While 90% of people surveyed in Canada feel that washing hands regularly is good protection against catching flu, only 44% of Indians believe the same, says an international survey, conducted by Global Hygiene Council supported by Dettol, in 2008.
Ideas of hygiene and health vary from country to country, and in India, food also comes into play: 20% of Indians believe that avoiding eating meat can keep the flu away, while other countries, especially Australia and South Africa, do not believe it at all.
The survey - which also covers South Africa, Malaysia, Italy, Great Britian, Australia and USA - revealed some interesting nuggets on people's perceptions. The questions, on measures to prevent flu and washing hands, were posed to 1,000 respondents.
Cross-country
Even as 58% of people in Italy believe that avoiding public places is another preventive measure to prevent the flu, only 12% of Indians agree. While 71% of Malaysians believe a rubbish bin poses the greatest risk of transmitting germs to a person or child, 16% of Indians think the bin poses the greatest risk, while 44% Indians think the toilet seat is a risk best not taken.
Though 27% of Indians wash their hands for a minute after using the toilet, in Italy, 28% do so. However, 41% of people in South Africa wash their hands after using toilets, but only for five seconds.
Kiddy habits
When it comes to children washing their hands before eating, 79% of Indian kids obediently do so, while only 29% of Australians do, and 80% of Malaysians wash up before eating.
The survey says 45% Indian parents believe in asking their children to wash hands as they come home from school or nursery, to prevent them from picking up germs and becoming ill.
The importance of teaching children good hygiene habits was highlighted by the survey, which revealed that 50% of Indians do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, thus pushing up chances of picking up germs from each other. When someone coughs or sneezes, millions of germs can be expelled into the air, so it's important that children understand the ways to protect themselves and their classmates from illness.
Suggestions
* Leftover food in lunch boxes should be discarded, and the box thoroughly cleaned. Crumbs in school bags can spread salmonella and cause gastrointestinal upsets
* Kids should be taught to clean even hard-to-reach areas like between the fingers, around the nails and even thumbs. They should know that just because they can't see dirt on their hands, it doesn't mean there are no germs
* When kids cough or sneeze, they should use tissue and dispose it in a bin. If they don't have a tissue, teach them to cough or sneeze into the crook of their arm rather than into their hands - this way, bacteria and viruses aren't transferred to their hands, and then on to the surfaces they touch, and on to other children
Top 5 illnesses picked up at school
Common cold
Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)
Ear infection
Conjunctivitis
Sore throat
INDIAN SOAP OPERA
12% believe avoiding public places prevents contracting flu
44% wash hands use regular soap
32% prefer anti-bacterial soap
3% use sanitizer
11% only running water
Read more: Only 44% Indians have clean hands - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Only-44-Indians-have-clean-hands/articleshow/4952572.cms#ixzz12gyPpbF8
Article
BANGALORE: Indians' hand-washing habits may not be up to sniffles, but Canadians have the cleanest hands, a hygiene survey shows.
While 90% of people surveyed in Canada feel that washing hands regularly is good protection against catching flu, only 44% of Indians believe the same, says an international survey, conducted by Global Hygiene Council supported by Dettol, in 2008.
Ideas of hygiene and health vary from country to country, and in India, food also comes into play: 20% of Indians believe that avoiding eating meat can keep the flu away, while other countries, especially Australia and South Africa, do not believe it at all.
The survey - which also covers South Africa, Malaysia, Italy, Great Britian, Australia and USA - revealed some interesting nuggets on people's perceptions. The questions, on measures to prevent flu and washing hands, were posed to 1,000 respondents.
Cross-country
Even as 58% of people in Italy believe that avoiding public places is another preventive measure to prevent the flu, only 12% of Indians agree. While 71% of Malaysians believe a rubbish bin poses the greatest risk of transmitting germs to a person or child, 16% of Indians think the bin poses the greatest risk, while 44% Indians think the toilet seat is a risk best not taken.
Though 27% of Indians wash their hands for a minute after using the toilet, in Italy, 28% do so. However, 41% of people in South Africa wash their hands after using toilets, but only for five seconds.
Kiddy habits
When it comes to children washing their hands before eating, 79% of Indian kids obediently do so, while only 29% of Australians do, and 80% of Malaysians wash up before eating.
The survey says 45% Indian parents believe in asking their children to wash hands as they come home from school or nursery, to prevent them from picking up germs and becoming ill.
The importance of teaching children good hygiene habits was highlighted by the survey, which revealed that 50% of Indians do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, thus pushing up chances of picking up germs from each other. When someone coughs or sneezes, millions of germs can be expelled into the air, so it's important that children understand the ways to protect themselves and their classmates from illness.
Suggestions
* Leftover food in lunch boxes should be discarded, and the box thoroughly cleaned. Crumbs in school bags can spread salmonella and cause gastrointestinal upsets
* Kids should be taught to clean even hard-to-reach areas like between the fingers, around the nails and even thumbs. They should know that just because they can't see dirt on their hands, it doesn't mean there are no germs
* When kids cough or sneeze, they should use tissue and dispose it in a bin. If they don't have a tissue, teach them to cough or sneeze into the crook of their arm rather than into their hands - this way, bacteria and viruses aren't transferred to their hands, and then on to the surfaces they touch, and on to other children
Top 5 illnesses picked up at school
Common cold
Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)
Ear infection
Conjunctivitis
Sore throat
INDIAN SOAP OPERA
12% believe avoiding public places prevents contracting flu
44% wash hands use regular soap
32% prefer anti-bacterial soap
3% use sanitizer
11% only running water
Read more: Only 44% Indians have clean hands - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Only-44-Indians-have-clean-hands/articleshow/4952572.cms#ixzz12gyPpbF8
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO
Kounteya Sinha, TNN, Oct 18, 2010, 01.15am IST
Article
NEW DELHI: Two "neglected diseases" -- dengue and cysticercosis -- are costing India nearly $45 million between them every year.
According to WHO, around 1 billion of the world's poorest people suffer from such neglected tropical diseases, mostly in urban slums. The global health watchdog said in its latest report the societal monetary cost of cysticercosis -- an infectious disease caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium -- is estimated to be $15.27 million while the economic burden of vector-borne dengue is estimated at $29.3 million.
According to WHO's first-ever report on neglected diseases, these diseases kill an estimated 534,000 people each year.
India also has a huge disease burden of rabies, caused by dog bites. In India, 20,000 rabies deaths (that is about 2/100,000 population) are estimated to occur annually. Asia and Africa account for the vast majority of rabies fatalities. In Asia, 31,000 deaths are estimated to occur annually (1.2/100,000 population).
WHO identified 17 such diseases present in 149 countries and found that more than one-third of the 2.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day were affected.
WHO said the number of cases of dengue, which recently caused havoc in India, saw a jump of 18% in 2007 compared with 2006 in southeast Asia.
Dr Margaret Chan, director general of WHO, said, "Though medically diverse, neglected tropical diseases form a group because all are strongly associated with poverty, all flourish in impoverished environments."
She added, "Most are ancient diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries. Today, though neglected tropical diseases impair the lives of an estimated 1 billion people, they are largely hidden, concentrated in remote rural areas or urban slums. They are also largely silent, as the people affected or at risk have little political voice."
Chan said neglected tropical diseases have traditionally ranked low on national and international health agendas.
According to WHO, close companions of poverty, these diseases also anchor large populations in poverty. Onchocerciasis and trachoma cause blindness. Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis deform in ways that hinder economic productivity. Without post-exposure prophylaxis, rabies causes acute encephalitis and is always fatal. Leishmaniasis leaves permanent scars and is rapidly fatal if untreated.
Dengue has emerged as a fast spreading vector-borne disease affecting mostly poor, urban populations. It is also the leading cause of hospital admissions in several countries.
"The consequences are costly for societies and for healthcare," Chan said.
Read more: Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dengue-costs-India-almost-30m-every-year-says-WHO/articleshow/6765033.cms#ixzz12gt3Lkjr
Article
NEW DELHI: Two "neglected diseases" -- dengue and cysticercosis -- are costing India nearly $45 million between them every year.
According to WHO, around 1 billion of the world's poorest people suffer from such neglected tropical diseases, mostly in urban slums. The global health watchdog said in its latest report the societal monetary cost of cysticercosis -- an infectious disease caused by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium -- is estimated to be $15.27 million while the economic burden of vector-borne dengue is estimated at $29.3 million.
According to WHO's first-ever report on neglected diseases, these diseases kill an estimated 534,000 people each year.
India also has a huge disease burden of rabies, caused by dog bites. In India, 20,000 rabies deaths (that is about 2/100,000 population) are estimated to occur annually. Asia and Africa account for the vast majority of rabies fatalities. In Asia, 31,000 deaths are estimated to occur annually (1.2/100,000 population).
WHO identified 17 such diseases present in 149 countries and found that more than one-third of the 2.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day were affected.
WHO said the number of cases of dengue, which recently caused havoc in India, saw a jump of 18% in 2007 compared with 2006 in southeast Asia.
Dr Margaret Chan, director general of WHO, said, "Though medically diverse, neglected tropical diseases form a group because all are strongly associated with poverty, all flourish in impoverished environments."
She added, "Most are ancient diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries. Today, though neglected tropical diseases impair the lives of an estimated 1 billion people, they are largely hidden, concentrated in remote rural areas or urban slums. They are also largely silent, as the people affected or at risk have little political voice."
Chan said neglected tropical diseases have traditionally ranked low on national and international health agendas.
According to WHO, close companions of poverty, these diseases also anchor large populations in poverty. Onchocerciasis and trachoma cause blindness. Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis deform in ways that hinder economic productivity. Without post-exposure prophylaxis, rabies causes acute encephalitis and is always fatal. Leishmaniasis leaves permanent scars and is rapidly fatal if untreated.
Dengue has emerged as a fast spreading vector-borne disease affecting mostly poor, urban populations. It is also the leading cause of hospital admissions in several countries.
"The consequences are costly for societies and for healthcare," Chan said.
Read more: Dengue costs India almost $30m every year, says WHO - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dengue-costs-India-almost-30m-every-year-says-WHO/articleshow/6765033.cms#ixzz12gt3Lkjr
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Search and browse any health sciences topic from over 50,000 courses, references, guidelines, and other learning resources.
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Source:http://hso.info/hso/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3aframe=form&frontpage=1&v%3aproject=HSO&
Search and browse any health sciences topic from over 50,000 courses, references, guidelines, and other learning resources.
Materials are selected from accredited educational sources including universities, governments, and professional societies, by HSO staff.
Source:http://hso.info/hso/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3aframe=form&frontpage=1&v%3aproject=HSO&
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010 awarded to Robert G. Edwards for the development of in vitro fertilization
Press Release
2010-10-04
Summary
Robert Edwards is awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize for the development of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large proportion of humanity including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.
As early as the 1950s, Edwards had the vision that IVF could be useful as a treatment for infertility. He worked systematically to realize his goal, discovered important principles for human fertilization, and succeeded in accomplishing fertilization of human egg cells in test tubes (or more precisely, cell culture dishes). His efforts were finally crowned by success on 25 July, 1978, when the world's first "test tube baby" was born. During the following years, Edwards and his co-workers refined IVF technology and shared it with colleagues around the world.
Approximately four million individuals have so far been born following IVF. Many of them are now adult and some have already become parents. A new field of medicine has emerged, with Robert Edwards leading the process all the way from the fundamental discoveries to the current, successful IVF therapy. His contributions represent a milestone in the development of modern medicine.
Infertility – a medical and psychological problem
More than 10% of all couples worldwide are infertile. For many of them, this is a great disappointment and for some causes lifelong psychological trauma. Medicine has had limited opportunities to help these individuals in the past. Today, the situation is entirely different. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an established therapy when sperm and egg cannot meet inside the body.
Source: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2010/press.html
Press Release
2010-10-04
Summary
Robert Edwards is awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize for the development of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large proportion of humanity including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.
As early as the 1950s, Edwards had the vision that IVF could be useful as a treatment for infertility. He worked systematically to realize his goal, discovered important principles for human fertilization, and succeeded in accomplishing fertilization of human egg cells in test tubes (or more precisely, cell culture dishes). His efforts were finally crowned by success on 25 July, 1978, when the world's first "test tube baby" was born. During the following years, Edwards and his co-workers refined IVF technology and shared it with colleagues around the world.
Approximately four million individuals have so far been born following IVF. Many of them are now adult and some have already become parents. A new field of medicine has emerged, with Robert Edwards leading the process all the way from the fundamental discoveries to the current, successful IVF therapy. His contributions represent a milestone in the development of modern medicine.
Infertility – a medical and psychological problem
More than 10% of all couples worldwide are infertile. For many of them, this is a great disappointment and for some causes lifelong psychological trauma. Medicine has had limited opportunities to help these individuals in the past. Today, the situation is entirely different. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an established therapy when sperm and egg cannot meet inside the body.
Source: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2010/press.html
Monday, October 11, 2010
AIDS stigma drives HIV in India: World Bank study
IANS, Jul 22, 2010, 01.55pm IST
Article
WASHINGTON: HIV prevalence in India and South Asia is growing among sex workers and other high risk groups due to widespread failure to prevent stigmatising of people living with AIDS, according to a new report.
Despite prevention and other efforts to reduce high-risk behaviours such as unprotected sex, buying and selling of sex, and injecting drug use, HIV vulnerability and risk remain high, says the report by a team from the International Centre for Research on Women and the World Bank.
Stigmatising attitudes in the general population and discriminatory treatment by health providers and local officials, among others, intensify the marginalisation of vulnerable groups at highest risk, driving them further from the reach of health services and desperately needed prevention, treatment, care, and support services, it says.
Daily harassment and abuse also cause health problems and adversely affect mental health, thereby leading to depression, social isolation, and an array of adverse socio-economic outcomes related to HIV, says the report launched at the global AIDS summit in Vienna on Wednesday.
"Discrimination against people in these high-risk, marginalised groups is so strong that they feel their lives aren't worth protecting or prolonging which stops them from reaching out for the prevention, care, and prevention services they need to fight the disease," says Mariam Claeson, co-author and programme coordinator for the World Bank's South Asia region.
"We have been supporting efforts that tackle prejudice about HIV and AIDS at community and national levels and break down the walls of fear and suspicion that poison the lives of people with, or at high risk of acquiring, HIV and AIDS."
Approximately 2.3 million people suffer from HIV/AIDS in India. According to UNAIDS, there were around 33 million HIV positive people globally, while there were 2.7 million new infections and 2.0 million deaths from AIDS in 2007.
As a result of a World Bank led regional competition to find successful 'grass roots' anti-HIV discrimination programmes, 26 programmes in six countries were chosen for the Bank's 2008 South Asia Development Marketplace with grants totalling $1.4 million.
These grants seeded considerable innovation. Project approaches reflected enormous creativity, ranging from beauty pageants to restaurants run by sex workers, the report said.
The grants led to new alliances, such as those between 'panchayat' (local government) leaders and the Indian community organisation Lotus Integrated AIDS Awareness Sangam, it said.
They also led to some unlikely partnerships between sex workers, police, lawyers, and health workers. In Afghanistan, one project partnered with the government to support religious leaders to pass on anti-stigma messaging in their Friday prayers.
Read more: AIDS stigma drives HIV in India: World Bank study - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AIDS-stigma-drives-HIV-in-India-World-Bank-study/articleshow/6200405.cms#ixzz127aVuq1J
Article
WASHINGTON: HIV prevalence in India and South Asia is growing among sex workers and other high risk groups due to widespread failure to prevent stigmatising of people living with AIDS, according to a new report.
Despite prevention and other efforts to reduce high-risk behaviours such as unprotected sex, buying and selling of sex, and injecting drug use, HIV vulnerability and risk remain high, says the report by a team from the International Centre for Research on Women and the World Bank.
Stigmatising attitudes in the general population and discriminatory treatment by health providers and local officials, among others, intensify the marginalisation of vulnerable groups at highest risk, driving them further from the reach of health services and desperately needed prevention, treatment, care, and support services, it says.
Daily harassment and abuse also cause health problems and adversely affect mental health, thereby leading to depression, social isolation, and an array of adverse socio-economic outcomes related to HIV, says the report launched at the global AIDS summit in Vienna on Wednesday.
"Discrimination against people in these high-risk, marginalised groups is so strong that they feel their lives aren't worth protecting or prolonging which stops them from reaching out for the prevention, care, and prevention services they need to fight the disease," says Mariam Claeson, co-author and programme coordinator for the World Bank's South Asia region.
"We have been supporting efforts that tackle prejudice about HIV and AIDS at community and national levels and break down the walls of fear and suspicion that poison the lives of people with, or at high risk of acquiring, HIV and AIDS."
Approximately 2.3 million people suffer from HIV/AIDS in India. According to UNAIDS, there were around 33 million HIV positive people globally, while there were 2.7 million new infections and 2.0 million deaths from AIDS in 2007.
As a result of a World Bank led regional competition to find successful 'grass roots' anti-HIV discrimination programmes, 26 programmes in six countries were chosen for the Bank's 2008 South Asia Development Marketplace with grants totalling $1.4 million.
These grants seeded considerable innovation. Project approaches reflected enormous creativity, ranging from beauty pageants to restaurants run by sex workers, the report said.
The grants led to new alliances, such as those between 'panchayat' (local government) leaders and the Indian community organisation Lotus Integrated AIDS Awareness Sangam, it said.
They also led to some unlikely partnerships between sex workers, police, lawyers, and health workers. In Afghanistan, one project partnered with the government to support religious leaders to pass on anti-stigma messaging in their Friday prayers.
Read more: AIDS stigma drives HIV in India: World Bank study - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AIDS-stigma-drives-HIV-in-India-World-Bank-study/articleshow/6200405.cms#ixzz127aVuq1J
Tax on tobacco products flouts WHO's norms, says study
Kounteya Sinha, TNN, Oct 7, 2010, 04.13am IST
Article
The findings have come to the fore, thanks to a comparative study conducted by Mary Assunta of South East Asia Tobacco Control Alliance ( SEATCA).
While the WHO's recommendation say that 65% to 80% of the retail price of a tobacco product has to be taxed, the current tax levels for bidi and cigarette are 9% and 38%, respectively.
Bidis are significantly under taxed as compared to filter cigarettes. Taxes on bidis in 2007-08 was Rs 14 per 1,000 sticks (for handmade bidis) and Rs 26 per 1,000 for machine-made bidis.
A recent report estimated that between 52% and 70% of all bidis consumed in India did not pay any tax.
Assunta's study reveals that in comparison to India, tax rate in Australia is 68%, Bangladesh (67%), Japan (63%), Malaysia (54%), Sri Lanka (77%) and Thailand (70%).
Some other countries, which are yet to increase taxes on tobacco products include China (39%), Indonesia (37%), Phillipines (30%) and Vietnam (45%).
Speaking to TOI, Assunta said, "research has showed that rising price of tobacco products by 10% in middle and low-income countries will result in reduction of consumption by 8%."
Harley Stanton, president of Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health (APACT), which gets underway here on Thursday, said, "taxation is the single most important measure that countries can take in reducing tobacco consumption. What government's fail to understand is that the cost of caring for people, lost productivity and impact on children through second hand smoke is nearly four times higher than the tax collected by the government from tobacco products."
"While the tobacco companies take home the profit, government and individuals have to pay for the tremendous health burden that tobacco causes. So it is absolutely essential that taxes on tobacco products are increased as per WHO's requirements. It's a win-win situation for a government, which not only collects more money from tobacco companies but the health care burden also decreases as smoking comes down," he added.
Tobacco smoking kills one million Indians a year. But a recent report said a rise in excise tax of bidis and cigarettes could save around two crore lives.
According to a recent report by leading Indian, American and Canadian economists as part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, if India increased its tax rate on bidis from Rs 14 to Rs 98 per 1,000 sticks (or, from 9 % to 40 % of retail price) and on cigarettes from Rs 659 to Rs 3691 per 1000 sticks (or, from 38% to 78% of retail price), 18.9 million Indians' lives could be saved.
The report -- Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation in India that was released by Dr Govinda Rao of the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy and Dr Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research --concludes that without strong action, over 51 million Indians face premature death due to tobacco consumption.
According to the experts, tobacco-related illness and death cost the Indian government around Rs 30,000 crore. Bidi and cigarette smokers die 6 to 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts.
Tobacco taxes in India are not regularly adjusted for inflation, and over time tobacco products are becoming increasingly affordable, the report said. By 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India, and it isestimates that without any intervention, more than 38.4 million and 13.2 million bidi and cigarette smokers, respectively, are likely to die prematurely.
Raising taxes on cigarettes and bidis to internationally recommended levels will generate more than Rs 18,000 crore annually in new government revenues, which could be used to support efforts to reduce tobacco consumption and help bidi workers. Bidis account for 85% of tobacco smoked in the country.
"Smoking accounts for one in 10 of all deaths -- half of them among the poor -- every year. The results highlight the crucial role that the government can play in reducing tobacco-related deaths by raising taxes on tobacco products," Dr Jha said.
"Identifying measures to dissuade consumption of tobacco should be a high priority," Dr Rao suggested.
Over 120 million Indians smoke, and 10% of the world's tobacco smokers live in India. India has the second largest group of smokers in the world after China. Almost a third of Indians -- 57% of all men and 11% of all women --consume some form of tobacco, and many use more than one type of tobacco product.
Read more: Tax on tobacco products flouts WHO's norms, says study - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tax-on-tobacco-products-flouts-WHOs-norms-says-study/articleshow/6703285.cms#ixzz127YnXGKP
Article
The findings have come to the fore, thanks to a comparative study conducted by Mary Assunta of South East Asia Tobacco Control Alliance ( SEATCA).
While the WHO's recommendation say that 65% to 80% of the retail price of a tobacco product has to be taxed, the current tax levels for bidi and cigarette are 9% and 38%, respectively.
Bidis are significantly under taxed as compared to filter cigarettes. Taxes on bidis in 2007-08 was Rs 14 per 1,000 sticks (for handmade bidis) and Rs 26 per 1,000 for machine-made bidis.
A recent report estimated that between 52% and 70% of all bidis consumed in India did not pay any tax.
Assunta's study reveals that in comparison to India, tax rate in Australia is 68%, Bangladesh (67%), Japan (63%), Malaysia (54%), Sri Lanka (77%) and Thailand (70%).
Some other countries, which are yet to increase taxes on tobacco products include China (39%), Indonesia (37%), Phillipines (30%) and Vietnam (45%).
Speaking to TOI, Assunta said, "research has showed that rising price of tobacco products by 10% in middle and low-income countries will result in reduction of consumption by 8%."
Harley Stanton, president of Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health (APACT), which gets underway here on Thursday, said, "taxation is the single most important measure that countries can take in reducing tobacco consumption. What government's fail to understand is that the cost of caring for people, lost productivity and impact on children through second hand smoke is nearly four times higher than the tax collected by the government from tobacco products."
"While the tobacco companies take home the profit, government and individuals have to pay for the tremendous health burden that tobacco causes. So it is absolutely essential that taxes on tobacco products are increased as per WHO's requirements. It's a win-win situation for a government, which not only collects more money from tobacco companies but the health care burden also decreases as smoking comes down," he added.
Tobacco smoking kills one million Indians a year. But a recent report said a rise in excise tax of bidis and cigarettes could save around two crore lives.
According to a recent report by leading Indian, American and Canadian economists as part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, if India increased its tax rate on bidis from Rs 14 to Rs 98 per 1,000 sticks (or, from 9 % to 40 % of retail price) and on cigarettes from Rs 659 to Rs 3691 per 1000 sticks (or, from 38% to 78% of retail price), 18.9 million Indians' lives could be saved.
The report -- Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation in India that was released by Dr Govinda Rao of the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy and Dr Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research --concludes that without strong action, over 51 million Indians face premature death due to tobacco consumption.
According to the experts, tobacco-related illness and death cost the Indian government around Rs 30,000 crore. Bidi and cigarette smokers die 6 to 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts.
Tobacco taxes in India are not regularly adjusted for inflation, and over time tobacco products are becoming increasingly affordable, the report said. By 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India, and it isestimates that without any intervention, more than 38.4 million and 13.2 million bidi and cigarette smokers, respectively, are likely to die prematurely.
Raising taxes on cigarettes and bidis to internationally recommended levels will generate more than Rs 18,000 crore annually in new government revenues, which could be used to support efforts to reduce tobacco consumption and help bidi workers. Bidis account for 85% of tobacco smoked in the country.
"Smoking accounts for one in 10 of all deaths -- half of them among the poor -- every year. The results highlight the crucial role that the government can play in reducing tobacco-related deaths by raising taxes on tobacco products," Dr Jha said.
"Identifying measures to dissuade consumption of tobacco should be a high priority," Dr Rao suggested.
Over 120 million Indians smoke, and 10% of the world's tobacco smokers live in India. India has the second largest group of smokers in the world after China. Almost a third of Indians -- 57% of all men and 11% of all women --consume some form of tobacco, and many use more than one type of tobacco product.
Read more: Tax on tobacco products flouts WHO's norms, says study - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tax-on-tobacco-products-flouts-WHOs-norms-says-study/articleshow/6703285.cms#ixzz127YnXGKP
Smoke exposure ups risk of ADHD
Kounteya Sinha, TNN, Oct 11, 2010, 03.12am IST
Article
A study conducted by American scientists, and presented at the Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health on Friday revealed children exposed to secondhand smoke had double the rate of both ADHD (10.6% compared to 4.6%) and stuttering (6.3%% compared to 3.5%), and an increased occurrence of headaches (14.2% compared to 10.0%). Adolescents also had significantly higher rates of headaches (26.5% compared to 20.0%). This finding could have serious implications for India, which is home to 10% of world's smokers.
Researcher Wendy Max, Professor of Health Economics at the University of California in San Francisco, said results showed children's exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke could have a negative impact on their learning and education as well as their health and all-round wellness. "Our research shows children who are exposed to tobacco smoke are impacted in three different areas of their development. These physical and mental problems are a disadvantage to a child's cognitive and social development," Prof Max said.
"Kids in countries with high smoking prevalence are most vulnerable. As smoking rates in developed countries fall, burden of childhood exposure to secondhand smoke will be disproportionately borne by countries that already face economic disadvantages," he added.
Read more: Smoke exposure ups risk of ADHD - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Smoke-exposure-ups-risk-of-ADHD/articleshow/6726719.cms#ixzz127X56APy
Article
A study conducted by American scientists, and presented at the Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health on Friday revealed children exposed to secondhand smoke had double the rate of both ADHD (10.6% compared to 4.6%) and stuttering (6.3%% compared to 3.5%), and an increased occurrence of headaches (14.2% compared to 10.0%). Adolescents also had significantly higher rates of headaches (26.5% compared to 20.0%). This finding could have serious implications for India, which is home to 10% of world's smokers.
Researcher Wendy Max, Professor of Health Economics at the University of California in San Francisco, said results showed children's exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke could have a negative impact on their learning and education as well as their health and all-round wellness. "Our research shows children who are exposed to tobacco smoke are impacted in three different areas of their development. These physical and mental problems are a disadvantage to a child's cognitive and social development," Prof Max said.
"Kids in countries with high smoking prevalence are most vulnerable. As smoking rates in developed countries fall, burden of childhood exposure to secondhand smoke will be disproportionately borne by countries that already face economic disadvantages," he added.
Read more: Smoke exposure ups risk of ADHD - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Smoke-exposure-ups-risk-of-ADHD/articleshow/6726719.cms#ixzz127X56APy
Monday, October 4, 2010
BLOOD BANKS IN DELHI
BLOOD BANKS PHONE NUMBERS
Indian Red Cross 23771551
Rotary Blood Group 29054066
AIIMS Trauma Centre 26594874
DDU Hospital 25129345
GTB Hospital 22130973
RML Hospital 23348033
Indian Red Cross 23771551
Rotary Blood Group 29054066
AIIMS Trauma Centre 26594874
DDU Hospital 25129345
GTB Hospital 22130973
RML Hospital 23348033
Few Medical Libraries of Delhi
Parent Institute: All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Library: B. B. Dikshit Library
Parent Institute: Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha
Parent Institute: Directorate General of Health Services
Library: National Medical Library
Parent Institute: Dr. B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital & Institute of Nursing Education
Library: Dr. B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital & Institute of Nursing Education Library
Parent Institute: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Parent Institute: Maulana Azad Medical College
Library: Maulana Azad Medical College Library
Parent Institute: National Institute of Health and Family Welfare
Library: National Documentation Centre
Parent Institute: National Institute of Communicable Diseases
Library: National Institute of Communicable Diseases Library
Parent Institute: University College of Medical Sciences
Library: University College of Medical Sciences Library
Parent Institute: Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
Library: Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute Library
Parent Institute: Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital
Source:http://sites.google.com/site/ilisdir/
Library: B. B. Dikshit Library
Parent Institute: Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha
Parent Institute: Directorate General of Health Services
Library: National Medical Library
Parent Institute: Dr. B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital & Institute of Nursing Education
Library: Dr. B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital & Institute of Nursing Education Library
Parent Institute: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Parent Institute: Maulana Azad Medical College
Library: Maulana Azad Medical College Library
Parent Institute: National Institute of Health and Family Welfare
Library: National Documentation Centre
Parent Institute: National Institute of Communicable Diseases
Library: National Institute of Communicable Diseases Library
Parent Institute: University College of Medical Sciences
Library: University College of Medical Sciences Library
Parent Institute: Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
Library: Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute Library
Parent Institute: Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital
Source:http://sites.google.com/site/ilisdir/
Centre to arm itself with powers to dismiss IMC, DCI heads
PTI | 11:10 PM,Oct 04,2010
Manipal (Kar), Oct 4 (PTI) The Centre would arm itself with powers to suspend or dismiss heads or members of Indian Medical Council and Dental Council of India if need be, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad said here today. "The union government will empower itself with powers to suspend or dismiss heads of regulatory bodies Indian Medical Council and Dental Council of India, if the need arises," he told reporters at the sidelines of a function here. He said the amendments proposed to the Indian Medical Council and Dental Council Acts would soon be brought up before the cabinet meeting for discussion. Under the existing Act enacted in 1956, these bodies enjoy autonomous status and the government has no power to act against anyone, he said, apparently referring to corruption charges faced by MCI head in the recent past. Under the proposed amendments, all four councils -- Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical and Allied Health would be brought under one roof, Azad said. He said the government has decided to accord top priority to population stabilisation programme. "We are sitting on a volcano... the population stabilisation programme will be implemented as a national programme", he said Later, addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Keshav Bandrakar Centre for Maternal and Child Health at Kasturba Institute Of Medical Science here, he said the government has set a target of bringing down maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate to at least 100 per one lakh and 30 per 1000 in the next four years. He outlined the initiatives taken by the government to augment strength of doctors and para medical staff.
Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/
Manipal (Kar), Oct 4 (PTI) The Centre would arm itself with powers to suspend or dismiss heads or members of Indian Medical Council and Dental Council of India if need be, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad said here today. "The union government will empower itself with powers to suspend or dismiss heads of regulatory bodies Indian Medical Council and Dental Council of India, if the need arises," he told reporters at the sidelines of a function here. He said the amendments proposed to the Indian Medical Council and Dental Council Acts would soon be brought up before the cabinet meeting for discussion. Under the existing Act enacted in 1956, these bodies enjoy autonomous status and the government has no power to act against anyone, he said, apparently referring to corruption charges faced by MCI head in the recent past. Under the proposed amendments, all four councils -- Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical and Allied Health would be brought under one roof, Azad said. He said the government has decided to accord top priority to population stabilisation programme. "We are sitting on a volcano... the population stabilisation programme will be implemented as a national programme", he said Later, addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Keshav Bandrakar Centre for Maternal and Child Health at Kasturba Institute Of Medical Science here, he said the government has set a target of bringing down maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate to at least 100 per one lakh and 30 per 1000 in the next four years. He outlined the initiatives taken by the government to augment strength of doctors and para medical staff.
Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/
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